Manila Standard - 2017 October 6 - Friday

Watch for Manila Standard’s Special Report on the Economy October 9, 2017

SERENO IMPEACHMENT CASE TO PROCEED

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives’ committee on justice voted Thursday to proceed with the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Voting 25-2, the committee, headed by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, found sufficient grounds for the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon, setting the stage for the panel to find probable cause to deliber-

ate on the ouster complaint against the chief magistrate.

“With 25 votes in favor and two against, the motion is carried and approved,” Umali said after the committee voted in favor of the motion filed

by Occidental Mindoro Rep. Henry Oaminal.

“So the chair hereby declares there is sufficient ground to impeach [the Chief Justice]… and we will now move to the next stage, which is the determination of probable cause,” Umali said.

“In determining grounds, we take into consideration the pleadings filed [by both parties], if there are sufficient grounds to conduct further hearings,” Umali said.

Gadon accuses Sereno of violations of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption and other high crimes for her alleged litany of lapses―including the alleged untruthful declaration of her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

The two lawmakers who

voted against the motion were Reps. Arlene Bag-Ao of Dinagat Islands and Jose Christopher Belmonte of Quezon City, both identified with the Liberal Party of former President Benigno Aquino III, who had appointed Sereno.

Bag-ao said she was not convinced that the impeachment complaint filed against Sereno contained solid evidence to back up the allegations.

Belmonte held a similar Next page view.

Chief Justice Ma.Lourdes Sereno

EO sets off graft probe of Palace appointees VOL. XXXI • NO. 234 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

ISIS plan to replicate ‘Marawi’ exposed

By John Paolo Bencito and Macon Ramos-Araneta

‘Traders, media among plotters’

ISLAMIC State-inspired forces are planning to infiltrate other municipalities in Mindanao in a bid to “replicate” the siege Marawi City, newly appointed Philippine Army commanding general Maj. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista said Thursday.

Bautista, who led ground operations against Maute terrorists before being appointed to the Army top post, cited reports that the pro-ISIS Maute group wants to replicate in other municipalities what they did to Marawi, as part of diversionary tactics.

He said it would be

By Francisco Tuyay, John Paolo Bencito and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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OP administration officials on Thursday vowed to unmask and “cripple” groups that are plotting to overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte.

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Bato draws flak over ‘ingrates’

By Macon RamosAraneta and John Paolo Bencito SENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III took potshots Thursday at Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa for calling critics of the government’s anti-drug war “a bunch of ingrates.”

“Where is the peace and order that Dela Rosa says the people are ungrateful for?” Pimentel asked.

His remarks came as President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to kill any policeman involved in the drug trade.

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RIGHT AWAY, SIR. President Rodrigo Duterte (left) sits next to newly installed Army Commanding General Maj. Gen. Rolando Bautista (center) and military chief Gen. Eduardo Año (right) during the turnover ceremony at Fort Bonifacio Thursday. Bautista said in his speech the Army hoped to end the war in Marawi at the end of October. AFP

“They will not succeed. We will cripple them before they can walk,” Solicitor General Jose Calida told radio dzRH in a mix of English and Filipino.

“The best defense is offense. We will file cases against those who break the law,” he added.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, meanwhile, said efforts are underway to unmask the people behind the plot to overthrow Duterte.

“We are still trying to find out who they are, and what is their purpose,” Lorenzana said shortly after a ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in which China turned over high-powered firearms to the Philippine military.

Calida earlier accused the “yellow” opposition, referring to the Liberal Next page

Manila, Beijing soft pedal on Sino vessels in WP Sea CHINESE Ambassador Zhao Jinhua and Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday downplayed the supposed presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippines Sea as disclosed by Magdalo PartyList Rep. Gary Alejano.

Zhao said it was natural

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA-Among the heroes during the Oct. 1 carnage in Las Vegas were two Filipino Uber drivers Catherine Berney and Vina Alibangbang,

who saved the lives of several victims wounded by a gunman who fired from the 32nd floor of a hotel into an outdoor concert, killing 58 people.

Berney said that she just dropped passengers at the

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Standard reporter wins award FORMER Manila Standard business reporter Gabrielle Marie Consuelo Binaday has received an award from the Philippine Statistics Authority for her reports in 2016 on the economy, using statistics and economic data.

Binaday, who covered the Department of Finance and the National Economic and Development Authority for the Manila Standard until her resignation on Feb. 20, 2017, is this year’s winner for the print category of the 7th National Statistics Month Media Awards.

She received the award on Oct. 2.

Her articles, while with

US-PH war games up for encore

to see Chinese vessels in the disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea, and that China was strictly adhering to the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea. He said Article 5 of the DOC said China and Asean

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino at 10 p.m. Sunday when she heard a volley of gunshots.

“At first, I thought it was just fireworks from a concert being held just across

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2 Pinays among heroes in Vegas massacre

By Rey Garcia

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday issued an executive order creating a fact-finding body investigating allegations of corruption among all presidential appointees-including the Ombudsman and the Chief Justice herself.

In his Executive Order No. 43, signed on Oct. 4 but was made available to the public Thursday, the newly formed Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission shall directly assist the President in investigating and/or hearing administrative cases primarily involving graft and corruption cases against presidential appointees.

Upon the instructions of the President or motu propio—on his own inmitiative and personally signed by him—the Commission may investigate presidential

CHINESE DONATIONS. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (left), Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua (center) and AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año (right) inspect Thursday the second batch of assault rifles donated by the Chinese government during a handover ceremony at the Canopy Area of the General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

PAO AFP

manilastandard.net

THE Philippines’ military chief hailed the United States as his nation’s “number one ally” and announced a return of regular war games, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for warmer ties.

Duterte last week vowed to be “friendly” with the United States, signalling an end to Next page

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

'Rohingya' may cost Suu Kyi Oxford title AUNG Aung San Suu Kyi will be stripped of the Freedom of Oxford by the city’s council for her response to the Rohingya crisis.

Myanmar’s de facto leader was bestowed with the honorary title in 1997 in recognition of her long struggle for democracy and her ties to Oxford where she studied.

But City councilors considered a cross-party motion to withdraw the honor on Monday night and concluded it was “no longer appropriate” for her to hold it.

The council said it had written to Suu Kyi and asked her to “do whatever she can to stop the ethnic cleansing in her country” but had not received a response.

Over the years, Suu Kyi had often spoken of the warmth and kindness she received during her time in Britain.

It was while studying at Oxford University between 1964 and 1967 that she met her late husband, Michael Aris, before starting a family there.

“The most important thing for me about Oxford was not what I learnt there in terms of set text and set books we had to read, but in terms of a respect for the best in human civilization,” she reportedly said after receiving an honorary doctorate in civil law from her alma mater in 2012.

In recent weeks, Suu Kyi has come under fire for her response to the plight facing the Rohingya Muslim minority.

Almost half a million people have fled violence in Rakhine state to neighboring Bangladesh since August 25.

‘Traders...

From A1 Party; the communists; and some members of the clergy of launching “black operations” against the President.

He told dzRH that some businessmen, members of the media and bloggers were also involved in the plot.

Calida said these groups wanted to overthrow Duterte by the first quarter of 2018.

While he would not reveal the names of those whom he accused of plotting against the President, he hinted that some had lost during the previous elections.

These people started to plot against Duterte after he took office, and waited for key events—such as the death of Grade 11 student Kian delos Santos, to make their move, Calida said.

He also said that students in Catholic universities were being brainwashed, comparing these to Islamic schools that radicalized their students.

But Calida said plots to overthrow the government would not succeed because of Duterte’s popularity and high trust ratings.

Lorenzana, however, seemed less certain who was behind the plot, or even if there was one.

Asked if there were destabilization efforts underway, he said: “I don’t know, I don’t

Bato...

From A1 “There are 9,000 to11,000 police in the country who are into drugs. Ask me what I will do with them if they are part of the organized crime. Son of a bitch, I will kill you,” Duterte said in an agribusiness exhibit at Pasay City Thursday.

Dela Rosa earlier told reporters that anyone who criticizes the PNP’s war on drugs should be considered ingrates as they should be thanking the police for the benefits they now enjoyed in terms of better peace and order.

“You can criticize us to the high heavens but I can tell you straight in the eye, you critics, I tell you, you are a bunch of ingrates, I know you also benefit from the peace and order brought by the war on drugs,” he said.

“I am just being frank: You’re ingrates. Go and criticize us, I have no problem....My response to you is that you’re an ingrate, your children enjoy going to school without any anxiety, without any fear because street crimes have gone down because of the war on drugs, and then you

Paddock was ‘quiet, caring man’ L

AS VEGAS―The girlfriend of the Las Vegas shooter said Wednesday she had no idea he was planning the attack, describing her boyfriend as a “quiet, caring man” as President Donald Trump declared the United States a nation in mourning.

In her first public comments over the shooting at a country music concert that left 58 dead and 489 wounded, Marilou Danley said she had hoped for a quiet future with Stephen Paddock.

In Las Vegas, Trump visited with the survivors and first responders, eulogizing parents and spouses who “used their own bodies to protect their loved ones” from the onslaught that eliminated any future for many.

He toured the Las Vegas Police Department Command Center and the city’s University Medical Center, where he met, among others, officer Tyler Peterson who was injured while responding to the shooting.

“In the months ahead, we will all have to wrestle with the horror that unfolded this week.

But we will struggle through it together,” the president said.

Air Force One touched down at McCarran International Airport as the FBI was

questioning Danley for clues to what drove Paddock to mass murder.

The 62-year-old returned to the United States from her native Philippines late Tuesday and was met by FBI agents.

In a statement read by her attorney Matthew Lombard, she said she had no hint of what was to come: “I knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man.”

“I loved him and hoped for a quiet future together with him,” she said.

“He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen.”

Danley added that two weeks ago, Paddock had told

her he found a cheap plane ticket for her to visit family in the Philippines and had wired her money to buy a house while she was there.

She said she became concerned at that point, thinking he wanted to break up with her.

“It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone,” said Danley, an Australian citizen who moved to the United States 20 years ago to work on the casino strip.

US authorities have been at a loss as to how a 64-year-old gambler and retired accountant hauled a vast arsenal of weapons to his hotel room and launched his assault.

Investigators say the shooting appeared to be extensively planned: Paddock set up one

camera in the peephole of his hotel room door and two in the hallway.

The attack unfolded in just 10 minutes from the first shot to the last, but Paddock was not confirmed dead for more than an hour after that, Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told journalists on Wednesday.

Lombardo said the scale of the preparations for the attack―including the weapons, ammunition and electronics he stockpiled―raised questions about Paddock potentially having had an accomplice, but none has been identified.

He also updated the number of people wounded in the attack, putting the latest figure at 489.

As the victims’ harrowing stories emerged in the media,

America once again grappled with calls for reforms to its permissive firearm control laws.

Trump largely stuck to a talking point repeated by dozens upon dozens of Republican officials: “Well, we’re not going to talk about that today.

We won’t talk about that.”

US officials have reacted cautiously to a claim by the Islamic State jihadist group that the shooter had carried out Sunday night’s massacre on its behalf.

Authorities said Paddock, who had no criminal record, smashed windows in his hotel room shortly after 10 pm on Sunday and rained fire on a crowd of some 22,000 attending the country music concert below. AFP

Faeldon seeks dismissal of shabu raps FORMER Customs officials led by Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon showed up at the Justice department Thursday for the preliminary investigation of the criminal charges filed against them by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arising from the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu in May. Faeldon sought the outright dismissal of the complaint against him, arguing that the Justice department had no jurisdiction over the case.

Former Customs Investigation and Intelligence Service chief Neil Anthony Estrella also appeared at the hearing and vowed to disprove PDEA’s allegations.

He also took the opportunity to assail the camp of Mark Taguba for presenting what he described as a “fake witness” before the Senate inquiry on Wednesday.

Faeldon said the Office of the Ombudsman had no jurisdiction to investigate the charges against him because he had a salary grade higher than salary grade 27.

He said that since his post as Customs commissioner had a salary grade 30, the case should fall within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman under the Sandiganbayan law.

"We want the cases to be filed at the right forum because later on, if the regional trial court will dismiss this complaint because of lack of jurisdiction, it will be wasted,

Faeldon told reporters after the hearing.

But he welcomed the filing of the criminal charges by PDEA, saying it would give them an opportunity to clear themselves.

“We are confident that these charges will be dismissed because these are impossible allegations,” Faeldon said.

“They accuse us of conspiring to import drugs. How could anyone do that in four hours?”

Estrella said May Escoto, who claimed before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Tuesday that she had received payoffs or "tara'' funds from Customs fixer Mark Taguba for Estrella and CIIS Acting Division Chief Joel Pinawin, was “a fake witness” with close ties to Taguba.

know really.”

He said he had intended to talk to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II about it during their last Cabinet meeting, but they were busy attending to other matters.

After accusing the communists of colluding with the political opposition to oust him, the President on Thursday ruled out a resumption of peace talks, saying it may take “another president to do it.”

Speaking to troops during the Philippine Army’s change of command at Fort Bonifacio, Duterte said that he will no longer to talk peace with the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army or the National Democratic Front, saying their demands were “not really possible” to meet.

“We are fighting the New People’s Army. At this stage, I am not ready to talk to them because it is not good for the country,” Duterte said.

He said 50 years of listening to the communist rebels has done no good.

Duterte also repeated his appeal to the military to overthrow him, if they find more than P40 million in his bank accounts— referring to accusations by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and the Office of the Ombudsman that he had ill-gotten wealth.

“Please oust me if I tell a lie to you,” he said.

On Wednesday, Duterte claimed there is a concerted ef-

fort by the leftists and the opposition Liberal Party—which he referred to as “the Yellows”—to oust him.

“They want to evict me from Malacañang, so give me time to pack,” he said in Filipino.

Aguirre earlier said that the government is working to counter actions by “enemies of the state,” including Islamic State-inspired terrorists, the communists, drug cartels, “seditious political opposition or ‘Yellowtards’,” and foreign intelligence agencies that seek to generate international support for regime change.

Two Liberal Party senators branded accusations of an ouster plot as another “diversionary tactic” to divert public attention from the President’s real problems.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, LP president, said it was a “fake ouster plot,” because even Lorenzana had said he had not monitored it.

“They are looking for something to divert the attention of the media and the public from the scandal of corruption, drug smuggling by the Davao Group, and the failed drug war in which people are killed every day,” Pangilinan said in Filipino.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV had earlier implicated the President’s son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and his son-in-law, Manases Carpio, of being in the Davao Group, which allegedly took money to

facilitate shipments through the Bureau of Customs.

The vice mayor and Carpio have denied the allegations.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV maintained that the LP is not involved in any ouster plot against Duterte, even as he criticized efforts by the administration to silence dissenters and critics.

“This is no longer healthy for our democracy. In a democracy, we should be able to say what we truly feel. Dissent and opposition should be allowed. We can see that many Filipinos oppose this administration’s policies,” he added in Filipino.

Aquino also criticized Aguirre for branding “yellowtards” as enemies of the state during the launching of a group that intends to protect President Duterte’s administration.

He said this was out-and-out political persecution.

Aquino emphasized that the minority will continue to work on important matters crucial to the country, like the 2018 national budget and the tax reform.

He said Duterte’s ouster plot claim was probably another lie, just like the one he admitted to making up about Trillanes’ alleged offshore bank accounts.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, an administration ally, said it was possible that someone had considered a plot to oust Duterte, but with the President’s approval rating of 82 percent, it would be difficult.

attack us,” he added.

Pimentel’s response was to cite the killing of Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro councilor Melchor Arago and his son by unidentified gunmen on Tuesday.

Arago, 52, was in his car parked in front of his house, when two motorcycle-riding men approached and shot him and his son Kenneth, when he went out of the house.

Pimentel, who was instrumental in the passage of the NBI Modernization Law, challenged the PNP to shape up.

He noted that criminals are being emboldened by what they see as the incompetence of the PNP in catching them.

Citing the PNP’s own figures, Pimentel said there were 6,225 drug-related deaths between July 2016 and September 2017.

He said these deaths were broken down into 2,290 drugrelated deaths or homicide cases under investigation, 3,850 deaths during police operations, and 85 police or military personnel killed in action.

The Senate President said that the large number of unsolved “deaths under investigation” is unacceptable.

US-PH. From A1

“The president said: ‘I want to be friendlier to the US’. So we have a closer relationship and more exercises,” Ano told reporters in Manila.

“He [Duterte] said to continue engagement with the United States. They are still our number one ally.”

Año said the joint exercises next year would focus on counter-terrorism, disaster response and even territorial defense.

As he sought to loosen his nation’s alliance with the United States, Duterte also looked to build warmer relations with China and Russia. AFP

By Rey E. Requejo

relentless criticism that included a vow to end all joint military exercises and branding then US President Barack Obama a “son of a bitch.”

Military chief Gen. Eduardo Ano, returning from Hawaii where he met US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris last week, said Thursday the allies had agreed to increase joint military exercises for 2018 after they were scaled down this year.

Standard...

From A1 the Standard, were: Ph now more crowded; Ph ends boom-and-bust cycle; Investment pledges in Q3 down sharply Criteria for judging: Accuracy and timeliness of data based on reliable sources - 35% Effectiveness of the style or approach of articles released - 35% Frequency of reports and articles with statistics - 30 % Print category winner rating 90.7%

The PSA recognized Binaday’s articles published in 2016--contest period from August 2016 to July 2017.

Binaday, who studied Journalism at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila, now works for the Social Security System.

The NSM Media Awards recognizes television and radio programs and reporters from print or online news service from both government and private media organizations who have made significant contributions to promote and popularize statistical information.

Filipino Uber drivers Vina Alibangbang (left) and Catherine Berney recall how they were able to save lives at the height of the Las Vegas massacre on Oct. 1, 2017.

2FromPinays...

A1 the hotel,” Berney said. She ignored the blast sound and continued to drive towards the concert area along Koval Street to look for her next rider.

“When I started seeing wounded people running from the concert area to different directions, that was the only time I realized [what was happening]” Berney said.

In that instance, two young female victims with blood splattered on their shirts thumped her window crying for help.

Berney said that she immediately opened the doors of her Toyota Siena van being used for Uber to let the two come enter.

As she was about to leave,

ISIS...

From A1 necessary to implement military rule in Mindanao as the rehabilitation efforts continue.

“Martial law is a big help.

Our operation does not stop when we liberate downtown Marawi,” he said.

Bautista likewise said that they are still verifying reports that the so-called ‘emir’ of Islamic State forces in Southeast Asia, Isnilon Hapilon and other

Manila,...

From A1 countries agreed there would be no reclamation nor rehabilitation or habitation of the uninhabitant maritime features in the area.

“Both China and the Philippines would adhere strictly to article 5 of DOC. But you may see some presence of Chinese ships or presence of Filipino ships, those are the part that are overlapping or disputed area [sic], so it’s quite natural for you to see some of the boats, fishing boats to be there,” he told a press briefing.

Zhao said Chinese ships in the area “are carrying their daily fishing.”

“You don’t have to be alarmed and both Chinese and

EO...

From A1 appointees in the military, police and conduct “lifestyle checks” even those outside the Executive Branch who are accused of vio-

she spotted two more female victims needing help and hurriedly picked them up along the same road as bullets continued to rain over the concert area.

Berney sped away from the scene and brought the four victims to a safer place near the McCarran International Airport, where she sought the help of other Filipino rides-hare driver identified as Jun Tanada, who volunteered to transport the victims to a nearby hospital.

“She saved our lives and we will be forever thankful for what she has done for us,” one of the victims said as they arrived at the hospital.

Alibangbang tearfully recalled what happened that tragic night when she rescued and saved the lives of six victims.

She said that she was few

blocks away from the concert area where people dashed towards Reno Street for safety. As she arrived, she saw a man with gunshot wounds being carried over by his shoulder by several female companions who were pleading for help.

“I let them enter my Uber car not realizing there were six of them but they were able to squeeze in my mid-sized vehicle,” she said.

She said that there were Las Vegas Metro policemen and first-responders in that same place helping victims, and she was then told by a police officer to follow the patrol car in front of her which was heading to nearby Sunrise Hospital, where most the victims were transported for medical treatment.

top leaders of the rebellion were dead.

He said the Marawi crisis would be over by the time of the 31st Asean Summit in November.

Bautista, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Sandiwa Class of 1985, was commander of the 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Marawi before his appointment as Army chief.

He had also served as commander of the Presidential Security Group early into Duterte’s tenure.

Sereno...

From A1

the Filipino side have a clear understanding of what they are doing,” he said.

There was no immediately available comment from the Department of Foreign Affaris.

According to Alejano, three vessels of Chinese maritime militia and a ship of the People’s Liberation Army were spotted between one and five nautical miles from the sandbars of Pag-asa Island.

He said the Chinese vessels were “harassing our patrolling vessels by continuously sounding their sirens to signify their opposition to our vessels visiting or patrolling the sandbars.”

Zhao said China was committed to a peaceful solution to the dispute in the South China Sea.

Umali stressed that the committee will soon decide on the appeal of Sereno’s camp to allow them to cross-examine the witnesses. He maintained that only Sereno may be allowed to cross-examine her witnesses.

“This may be an interesting proceeding that may happen before this committee because, if we allow cross examination by either party, then this will enrich our proceedings,” Umali said.

“If we allow the lawyers [of Sereno to do the cross examination], how can we cross examine the lawyers? How can we ask clarificatory questions from (a lawyer) who is not a party himself or herself?”

Umali asked.

This developed as the House justice panel voted on the committee report dismissing the impeachment complaint filed against Commission on Elections head Andres Bautista.

The House justice panel affirmed its earlier decision to declare the complaint filed by lawyers Ferdinand Topacio and Jacinto Paras who sought the ouster of Bautista over his alleged P1-billion ill-gotten wealth and alleged non-disclosure of his assets.

The committee report will then be referred to the plenary for voting.

lating the Constitution, or contrary to law, and/or constitute misconduct tantamount to betrayal of public trust.

While the President, as appointing authority, is not prohibited by law or by the Constitution to conduct lifestyle

checks on his own appointees, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said “he will not usurp the power to discipline certain independent constitutional officers such as the Ombudsman and judicial officials.” John Paolo Bencito

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ex-Army officer faces cases of sex harrassment

UST Law dean slams Castillos’ lawyer UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law dean Nilo Divina on Thursday slammed the plan of the family of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III to file charges against him and other school officials over the freshman law student’s death due to the hazing rites conducted

by Aegis Juris Fraternity in September.

Divina slammed Lawyer Lorna Kapunan, the legal counsel for spouses Horacio II and Carminia Castillo, who disclosed the plan at the start of the preliminary investigation on the criminal complaint against 18 individuals at the Department of Justice on Wednesday.

“It’s unfortunate that Atio’s family is being manipulated by their lawyer into doing something that is patently baseless,” Divina said.

“Our objective should be to find justice for Atio and find out the truth.

Instead, the obvious objective is now to lay the blame on innocent people to further the lawyer’s personal agenda,” Divina also said.

The Castillo family plan to file the supplemental complaint against Divina and other UST officials on October 9. Bill Casas

Du30 names ex-Army chief to BCDA board PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday named a former military man to sit at the Bases Conversion and Development Authority board, in a bid to utilize proceeds from the lease of military lands to fund the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and raise funds for the education of soldiers.

“Nobody is taking your land, it’s yours. Go into a joint venture or lease it on a long term. The money that is generated would be yours,” the President said in his speech during the Philippine Army’s change of command ceremony at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

“Lahat ng kikitain niyo, diretso sa inyo. Gawin niyo ang gusto niyong gawin to modernize,” he added.

To make good of his promise, Duterte named outgoing Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda to the BCDA, soon after relinquishing his post.

John Paolo Bencito

QC councilor indicted for graft OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio-Morales on Thursday indicted Quezon City’s District 1 Rep. Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo for supposed involvement in an P8-million Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.

Crisologo is set to be tried for two counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019), two counts of malversation and two counts of malversation through falsification of public documents.

Also included in the filing of charges were former Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary Esperanza Cabral, former undersecretary Mateo Montaño, Lualhati Pablo, Leonila Hayahay, Vilma Cabrera, Pacita Sarino, and Cenon Mayor, Kaloocan Assistance Council Inc. president.

Rio N. ARaja

By Maricel V. Cruz

PROPER HANDWASHING. As part of the international call for awareness on the importance of proper handwashing in preventing the spread of com-

municable diseases, Manila Water Foundation will once again lead a month-long celebration of the Global Handwashing Day. Shown in photo are (from left), Geodino V. Carpio, president of Manila Water Foundation and Celebrity advocate Bettina Carlos together with the children from Erda Foundation in Muntinlupa who performed the proper handwashing way during the Global Handwashing Day Launch held at the Mind Museum, JY Campus Park in Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Manny Palmero

Marcos son confident he will soon be Philippine VP

T

HE son and namesake of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared Thursday he was confident of ousting the current vice president in a legal challenge, which would place him a heartbeat away from leading his country.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also confirmed his family was in talks with President Rodrigo Duterte, a political ally, to end the government’s three-decade hunt for billions of dollars worth of national assets allegedly stolen by his father and mother during their reign.

Marcos, 60, narrowly lost the vice presidential election last year but he filed a case with the Supreme

Court alleging the victor, Leni Robredo, cheated by manipulating computerized vote counting machines.

“We are definitely sure that when the recount starts the true result will emerge and prove that the votes in the vice presidential election had been incorrectly counted,” Marcos told reporters.

Victory for Marcos would cement his family’s remark-

Grant unoccupied housing units to homeless—House

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives has adopted a joint resolution granting the National Housing Authority the authority to award unoccupied and unassigned housing units previously reserved for uniformed personnel of the government to other qualified beneficiaries.

In a unanimous vote from 212 lawmakers, the House approved House Joint Resolution authored by Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez and several other members of the House committee on housing and urban development.

Benitez, the panel head, pushed for the approval of the resolution to address the

housing controversy involving the illegal takeover of members of the Kadamay urban poor group into NHA housing projects in San Jose del Monte and Pandi in Bulacan that was intended for uniformed personnel of the police and the military.

“Instead of leaving the finished units to deteriorate and go to waste, it has become imperative for government to let other homeless families to benefit from its low cost housing program.” Benitez said.

He noted that even President Rodrigo Duterte has also backed the reawarding of government constructed housing units if the original awardees are no longer interested.

British author Ishiguro wins Nobel Prize for Literature BRITISH author Kazuo Ishiguro, best known for his novel “The Remains of the Day,” won the Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday, the Swedish Academy said.

The 62-year-old, “in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world,” the Academy wrote in its citation.

Ishiguro has written eight books as well as scripts for film and television. He won the Man Booker Prize in 1989 for “The Remains of the Day.” Born in Nagasaki, he moved to Britain with his family when he was five

years old, only returning to visit Japan as an adult.

Both his first novel “A Pale View of Hills” from 1982 and the subsequent one, “An Artist of the Floating World” from 1986, take place in Nagasaki a few years after World War II. “The themes Ishiguro is most associated with are already present here: memory, time, and self-delusion,” the Academy said.

“This is particularly notable in his most renowned novel, ‘The Remains of the Day’,” which was turned into a film with Anthony Hopkins acting as the dutyobsessed butler Stevens.

able political comeback, 31 years after a famous “People Power” revolution saw millions of people take to the streets to end his father’s 20year rule and force the family into US exile.

Ferdinand Marcos Sr. died in Hawaii in 1989, his reputation mostly in tatters with the government accusing him and his cronies of embezzling up to $10 billion from state coffers during his time in power while overseeing widespread rights abuses.

But his family, led by flamboyant matriarch Imelda, returned to the Philippines after his death and began rebuilding political power.

Imelda, 88, remains a member of Congress representing the family’s stronghold in a northern Philippine province.

She has said she dreams of Bongbong, who was a senator from 2010 to last year, of becoming president.

In the Philippines, the president and vice presi-

dent are elected separately.

The vice president takes over should the president die or becomes incapacitated.

Duterte, 72, has admitted to having a range of health problems, including a cardiovascular illness caused by smoking called Buerger’s disease.

Duterte said last year he had dealt with chronic pain by taking higher doses of fentanyl, a highly addictive opioid, than his doctor had prescribed.

THE Sandiganbayan has charged a former Philippine Army colonel with three separate counts of violation of Anti-Sexual Harassment Act for allegedly asking her female subordinates to perform lewd acts on him.

Former Colonel Jessie Mario Borja Dosado, who served as commanding officer of the Philippine Army Procurement Center, was charged by the Office of the Ombudsman with two separate counts of violation of Republic Act 7877 or the AntiSexual Harassment Act of 1997 based on the complaints filed by his secretary, and another lady subordinate.

Based on the information, in one incident on May 16, 2013, Dosado was accused of using his position to allegedly ask sexual favors from a female subordinate, “Jane” [not her real name] at the PAPC, in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Dosado allegedly asked “Jane” to watch him while having sex with another woman, even as he also alleged asked the former to join them in an orgy.

“By ordering her to watch him, as she did in fact, watch him having sexual intercourse and performing other sexual acts with one Miss Glacy, and asking her to join them in an orgy, which sexual favors and advances resulted in a hostile or offensive working environment for the victim,” the information stated.

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Opinion

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

I

Infrastructure and the economy

NCREASED investment in infrastructure is one of the key elements in sustaining Philippine economic growth. It is the catalyst that will expand the economy to greater heights and put the Philippines at least at par with its neighboring countries in Southeast Asia like Malaysia and Thailand.

panding the economy and making growth inclusive to the benefit of the greater population. But slow government spending and delays in the construction of big-ticket infrastructure projects will defeat the objective of the state.

The World Bank, this early, noted the sluggish pace of the government’s infrastructure program, prompting the multilateral institution to slightly downgrade the 2017 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.6 percent from the The Philippines’ ambitious previous estimate of 6.8 percent.

P8.44-trillion “Build, Build, Said the World Bank: “The deBuild” program is a shot at ex- lay in the anticipated push of the

planned government infrastructure program has been contributing to the moderation of fixed capital formation growth, softening the growth prospect for the year.”

“The pace of economic growth could be slower if the government is unable to timely deliver on its planned infrastructure program.

Complementary reforms to address budget execution and implementation bottlenecks and to ensure high quality of spending are needed,” it added.

Infrastructure projects like toll roads, bridges, airports and seaports, post-harvest facilities and rail

networks increase the flow of goods and services. They give the countryside access to the market that is usually found in urban centers. They serve as an incentive to produce more and create a multiplier effect that would translate into increased employment. With more jobs created, the Philippines would effectively reduce poverty incidence.

Authorities and policymakers, thus, must see to it that the spending program on infrastructure is on track to achieve the economic growth target. Sluggish spending and delays in the execution of projects should be the exception rather than the rule.

Go ahead, order that cheesecake

By Faye Flam

Fake news PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO A NEWS reporter chronicles what happens. A columnist dishes out his opinions—for those who care about them. A news reporter who is not fair should be fired. A columnist is opinionated. That is why he has an audience.

A blogger—well, blogs! I think Mocha Unson had a point: bloggers do not follow the same rules as do journalists. The latter are a self-policing lot, and public expectation always gives currency to the ethics of journalism. Bloggers are free spirits because people treat them—or should treat them—as exactly that: Bloggers! They are newcomers that have made

their appearance with the opening up of cyberspace.

What is fake news? Most directly put, it is something that is not a fact but is reported as a fact. It is a falsehood foisted as a fact. In the very least, it is something dubious announced as a certainty.

When a journalist or a reporter reports what is false, an apology, an erratum, a corrective is expected and will usually be forthcoming. No journalist deliberately spins fibs. Those who do imperil their own future in the business. But the matter becomes a little more tricky when we remember that our access to reality is never direct, never unmediated. Language is among the prime mediators of human knowledge, and stepping outside language is impossible. Was it a whirl-

wind or a tornado? Red or crimson? Was he boastful or was it being assertive?

And that is just skimming the surface of the complication. I think it can be conceded without too much difficulty that there really is no such thing as a completely “objective”

It is no simple matter.

report. Quidquid recipitur, ad modum recipientis recipitur….Whatever is received is received according to the mode of the receiver. It all depends really on the standpoint, the experiences, the personal history, the affectivity of

the perceiver.

But a journalist can be called to account for what he reports through such formal institutions as the editorial mechanism of the medium, or an in-house ombudsman, or a critic.

More often it will be the public that will take him to task for sloppy reportage.

Except when she posts libel, however, the blogger it seems is free to blog what her lucid or perverse mind might be occupied with.

And because blogging is new, not too many are familiar with the genre and its rules (or non-rules). Communication, however, does have its in-built norms: the first of these is that the responsible communicator assumes the burden of vindicating her claim when so challenged and advancing such grounds and such warrants are reasonable per-

sons take to be supportive of her claims. Flaunt your disregard of the rule and no one will take you seriously.

You ex-communicate yourself from the community of responsible speakers and even bloggers, I assume, want to be taken seriously: whether they intend to be sarcastic, satirical or acerbic. The point is that blogger or not, unless you are a responsible communicator, no one should really bother to read you.

And precisely because blogging is a rather recent phenomenon, it can become the means that deliberate falsehoods are disseminated as truth. Blame it, one might cavalierly say, on the gullibility of the reader. Why should we not blame it on the deceit and dishonesty of the blogger? A blog should be taken as a blog: But, re-

ally, what does one find on a blog? Opinions, but these cannot be built on thin air.

So there is, on the part of a blogger’s followers, an expectation that there is some factual bedrock for the commentary. But to calculatedly use a blog to disseminate a falsehood— that goes a fundamental rule of decency: Do not lie—on the basis of which alone reasonable people can live well-ordered lives. And it is even more vicious and malicious when one uses the free medium of a blog to bear false witness against one’s neighbor. Then, even Sinai quakes in protest! r a n n i e_ a q u i n o @ c s u . edu.ph rannie_ aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph r a n n i e_ a q u i n o @ o u t look.co

IN THE latest science shocker, researchers discovered that a number of people around the world are eating foods such as cheese, butter and fullfat yogurt without doing deadly harm to their bodies. This was treated as health heresy, yet this study’s findings weren’t all that out of line with previous research on moderate consumption of so-called saturated fats, found primarily in animal products.

But people tend to greet any study with skepticism if it suggests a food that tastes good might not be killing us. There’s something about deprivation we seem to associate with health and virtue.

It’s hard to find commentary about nutrition that doesn’t feature some version of the trope that we humans evolved in a state of semi-starvation, scrambling for whatever we could scrounge up. And now that food is abundant, the story goes, our innate wiring compels us to commit the deadly sins of gluttony by stuffing ourselves with globs of fat. It’s like a version of the expulsion from Eden for the science literati. But it doesn’t quite square with the data.

This recent fat-exonerating study, led by researchers from McMaster University in Canada, followed 135,000 people in 18 countries for around seven years. Its conclusion: Those who ate the most fat lived the longest. And it didn’t seem to matter whether they ate saturated fat or the unsaturated kind, which is found in vegetable oils, fish and nuts.

Nutrition researcher Russell de Souza, who was involved in a previous analysis out of McMaster, said many doctors still believe in eliminating saturated fats because there have been several clinical trials on heart-disease patients comparing a standard diet to one in which saturated fats were replaced by vegetable oils— so-called polyunsaturated fats. The people whose diets were changed did suffer fewer heart attacks than Turn to A5

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Opinion Gun massacres won’t stop until voters demand action Bloomberg view IN THE immediate aftermath of a mass shooting in America, the usual response is twofold: Mourn the victims and wait for the facts. It’s getting increasingly hard to justify the second.

In other realms of public debate, the facts can be used to guide an analysis of any proposed policy response. The problem is that dispassionate analysis of gun-safety laws, no matter how long delayed, never penetrates the panic room in which politicians hide out from their responsibilities.

After a deranged young man used his mother’s readily accessible firearms in 2012 to shoot schoolchildren and educators in Newtown, Connecticut, issues such as proper gun storage and the challenges of balancing legal gun rights and mental health risks were frighteningly obvious. Nothing happened in Congress.

Instead, the gun lobby and the extremist movement it has long nurtured went on a legislative rampage through conservative states—pushing for guns in churches, in bars, on playgrounds, and on campus, concealed and open. Right now, Republicans in the House of Representatives are focused on legislation to make crime more convenient by ending regulations on silencers and enabling concealed guns to be carried in places where they are expressly unwanted, and by people with no training or background check.

With each massacre— from a church in Charleston, South Carolina, to a club in Orlando, Florida

Go ahead,...

From A4

the control group.

These are controlled studies, which makes them very credible, he said. But their results don’t back the

conclusion that saturated fats are evil. In a subsequent study tracking 20,000 nurses, he said, some were asked to follow a normal diet of around 37-percent fat, and others were asked to cut that to 20 percent. What they found was that lowering fat didn’t make the nurses healthier. Still, some noted that low-fat group only got down to 29 percent, leaving open the possibility that had they been more diligent about starving themselves of fat, they would have reaped great health benefits.

But such assumptions aren’t particularly scientific.

Alan Levinovitz, a professor of religion at James Madison University in Virginia, said that indeed, food gets tied up with people’s suspicion of pleasure and desire.

That’s a central premise in his recent book, “The Gluten Lie and Other Myths about What You Eat.” Food fads and fears, he said, can stem from the same human cravings that underlie religious beliefs —myths, sin, ritual and the promise of salvation.

“Ultimately, people want to believe that our problem is our sinfulness and our sinfulness can be indexed to our choice of impure foods,” he said. He sees a religious parallel in the culture surrounding the so-called paleo diet. Evolution stands in for God, he said, and the stone age for the Garden of Eden: “It was beautiful and everyone was happy and had rockhard abs, and then we started eating the wrong foods and were kicked out of paradise.”

To be fair to the paleo diet, there is growing evidence that certain modern inventions are harmful—especially so-called trans fats, which are chemically altered to have a solid texture and were common in cheap

—and with each pointless, preventable shooting in which a child picks up a loaded firearm left by a reckless adult, the gun lobby and its culture warriors issue the same sick call: to counter the effect of too many guns with a rash of more guns, and fewer restrictions on using them. In Las Vegas, one of the National Rifle Association’s favorite maxims—the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun—was exposed yet again as not just false but tragically absurd.

If the gun debate in the US appears stalled, it is because argument in the absence of reason and facts is circular. Thus a White House spokeswoman for President Donald Trump, who previously called himself the NRA’s “true friend,” said that it’s inappropriate to discuss remedies to gun violence so soon after a mass incidence of gun violence.

There are legitimate disputes about the scope of the Second Amendment, the efficacy of specific gun regulations and the right to self-protection.

None of these is debated in Congress, and few in statehouses, because too many politicians subscribe to aphorisms and claptrap in lieu of an honest reckoning that more guns, and less regulation, is a recipe for mayhem.

This cycle of preventable violence and pointless debate will not end until more political leaders, and responsible gun owners, acknowledge the obvious: that sensible restrictions on gun possession and use are both constitutional and necessary.

baked goods and margarine. But one has to wonder why the medical community and government assumed that trans fats were healthy enough to launch on the public despite little initial data, and yet they are so reluctant—even now, despite a growing body of evidence —to say a little butter and cheese are okay. Could it have something to do with the fact that nobody really likes margarine?

It’s not just fear but a mean-spiritedness that surrounds attitudes toward food and health, at least here in the United States. Popping up as the first comment on a recent New York Times story on fat and health was this sentiment: “How about [you] don’t make a pig out of yourself every time you eat?”

But when it comes to fat, people aren’t pigs. What’s interesting about this newest study, said de Souza, is that it compared people with a wide range of eating habits from all over the world, and virtually no one among the thousands of thousands of participants ate more than 40 percent fat.

Fat consumption tends to be self-limiting—much more so than sugar. People don’t routinely binge on sticks of butter, but they often consume massive amounts of sweet stuff in the form of big sodas. The sugar goes down easier, and it’s cheap.

In the study, the people who had the shorter lifespans and higher disease rates were not the rich gluttons of the world who shirked the holy duty of personal responsibility. They were people from poorer countries who ate starchy diets—most likely because that’s what they could afford. It’s nice imagine that a just God arranged things so that the starchy, cheap diets of the world’s poorer people would endow them with health and longevity denied to all the rich gluttons dipping lobster in drawn butter. But if such salvation exists, there’s no evidence it’s happening in this life. Bloomberg

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

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Seniors’ week BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO OFTEN when people of a certain age bracket forget something, they themselves or others say it’s a case of “senior moment.”

But one cannot dismiss it simply as a “senior moment.” It could be portents of what is dreaded as the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. To the family and friends of the afflicted person, succumbing to total loss of memory is near to losing a loved one. Alzheimer’s, it can be said, is a great leveler of life. It can afflict both rich and poor.

In this day of more sensational news like internecine politics, crime, and countercharges of corruption, it is noteworthy that the country is observing Seniors’ Week (Oct. 1 to 7) lest we forget the elderly who are at the sunset of their lives.

“It is fitting that we honor and remember the elderly who have contributed a great part of their lives for their children so they turn out to be upright and good citizens,” said Buhay Party-List Rep. Lito Atienza.

Aside from sheltering and feeding abandoned babies in a halfway house called the House of Angels, the one other passionate advocacy of Atienza is the welfare of senior citizens. This goes all the way back when he was a young man working in the office of the late Mayor Ramon Bagatsing at the Manila City Hall.

Lito was the object of fun and joke by his coemployees for launching the program “Mahal ko si Lola, Mahal ko si Lolo.”

Atienza’s co-workers poked fun at him for spending time on voters they say have a near-expiration date.

It sounds cruel but people can be cruel. Despite the jeers, Atienza carried on until politicians realize the

potential voting block of senior citizens. Because of Atienza’s efforts, discounts and other benefits for senior citizens was put into effect by Manila even before it became a national law.

Last week, Atienza proposed a measure in the House of Representatives increasing the benefits of senior citizens. Included in his House bill is the proposal to raise the discount airlines give to senior citizens traveling in domestic routes from 20 percent to 50 percent. This is not going to endear Lito to the airline companies. But he explained that old, infirm people have to travel with a relative or a caregiver and therefore gives added revenue to airline companies.

Atienza also seeks the same 50-percent discount to senior citizens booking into hotels subject to room availability. Like empty seats on a plane, empty hotel rooms are not good for business. So why not give

them to senior citizens at half the cost?

The Social Security System and some local governments like the City of Makati grant P100,000 to senior citizens who reach the age of 100 years old.

Atienza suggests giving the centennial gift as early as when seniors reach age 90.

“Give the P100,000 gift earlier when senior citizens can still enjoy or use it for their maintenance medicines,” said Atienza who received a round of applause from a visiting group of senior citizens to the House of Representatives. He said he will go the extra mile to pass a law for the setting up of more senior housing projects like “Tahanang Walang Hagdan” and hospices for the elderly whose children can no longer look after them because , they too, have their own families.

Persons with disabilities should also be given as much attention as senior

citizens since more often than not, the elderly and the handicapped are one and the same person. We welcome the proposal to require public utility buses including tourist buses to have a lift for PWDs in getting on and off these vehicles.

There are some persons who are suffering from certain disabilities but do not look like it. These are people slightly under 60 but unlike senior citizens whose age are visibly obvious, are also handicapped.

These are persons suffering from vertigo or a physical balance disorder. They trip, they fall even when just walking. They certainly also need as much help as senior citizens do.

What ever happened to the 20-percent discount to senior citizens, persons with disabilities and students? It’s not being implemented by the taxi drivers—or has that discount policy been rescinded by the proper authorities?

Taxing expectations FORMATION GARY OLIVAR THE latest news from the World Bank about our growth prospects isn’t good.

Earlier this year, the international lending agency projected the Philippine economy to grow by 6.9 percent this year and next.

That was a pretty rosy beginning for the new Duterte administration. It coincided with the initial announcements about Duterte’s ambitious Build Build Build infrastructure program, as well as his equally ambitious calls for comprehensive tax reform to raise the revenues needed to fund infrastructure.

Since then, however, the bloom has gradually faded off the rose. In its latest prognosis this week, the Bank forecast our growth this year at only 6.6 percent. That is a full 30 basis points drop, and after only half a year.

There are still three more months left until year-end for the numbers to go even farther south in the worst case. Clearly we’re taxing the Bank’s expectations. *** The Bank minced no words in blaming “the slower-than-expected pace of government infrastructure projects” for the downgrade in its forecast. That

lies squarely at the door of the two main infrastructure agencies, Transportation and Public Works & Highways, and secondarily on other agencies that also build their own infrastructure—Education, Agriculture, Information and Communications Technology, even BCDA, the guys who’re developing the former US bases.

I don’t have any problem with the agency heads.

DOTr’s Arthur Tugade is a born salesman who built his own billion-peso business empire around providing logistics services. It should be a cinch for him to shift from moving goods around to moving people around. DPWH’s Villar is another billionaire, albeit soft-spoken, who presumably layered his US-learned MBA skills on top of the business acumen he should have inherited and/or studied from his famous developer-father.

The general suspicion among knowledgeable observers about the cause of this delay implicates the competence and culture of the folks who make up the headcount in these agencies.

My fellow columnist Boo Chanco recounted the response of DOTr’s lawyers to his nagging about their slow pace: “It takes months, months, even YEARS to study these projects!” While over at MMDA, when a congressman brought up the novel

suggestion of converting Edsa and C-5 into one-lane highways in opposite directions, the haughty response was: “Let’s not be impulsive. It will take time to study this idea!”

Well, time is a commodity we’re running out of. Not with a President who, at 72, is feeling his mortality and, we’re told, wants nothing more than to retire back to his native Davao, even as he’s single-handedly fending off a gang of destabilizers who’re slinging all sorts of mud at him in order to hasten his retirement.

If someone his age is showing some respect for urgency and the value of time, those of us who’re a lot younger owe it to him to be able to keep up. *** Looking farther ahead, the World Bank also dropped its growth forecast for later years, from 6.9 percent to only 6.7 percent next year, a full 20 basis point drop. This is most likely due as well to the slow pace of infrastructure takeup that’s being expected to continue past the year-end.

But what we hope the newfound pessimism doesn’t reflect is a gloomier outlook for tax reform.

After all, with no funds available for government to spend on its ambitious projects, how will government build all that infrastructure needed to spur growth?

Unfortunately, our expectations about taxes are

mixed at best. Consider these updates: The Department of Finance has finally come out with its projected tax take from the heavily slashed Senate version of tax reform. It will be a measly P60 billion, barely enough to finance free tuition in state colleges and universities, let alone build all those highways and railways.

Nonetheless, Senate ways and means committee chairman Senator Sonny Angara insists that his version will raise a lot more than that. Unfortunately, he still has to share with the rest of us how he arrived at his much more optimistic numbers. It’s high time his people got together with the bright young boys and girls at Finance in order to agree on what the hard numbers really look like.

Most recently, we’re hearing scuttlebutt that a number of senators, on both sides of the aisle, are actually contemplating a reduction in the VAT rate, from 12 percent to 10 percent, in exchange for giving up some VAT exemptions and many of their objections to the original tax reform bill.

I cannot for the life of me understand how a full 2 point reduction in the VAT rate will be able to improve revenue performance. *** The outlook for tax reform has gotten so gloomy in the Senate that a bunch of former finance secretar-

ies and other senior economic officials in past administrations got together at a recent press conference to issue a common call for greater fiscal responsibility on the issue.

There were Bobby de Ocampo and Romy Bernardo from FVR’s time; Philip Medalla who was Neda head under Erap; and Gary Teves from the Arroyo years. Despite their obvious differences in background and outlook, they clearly thought that the issue of saving tax reform was important enough to jointly raise red flags about.

Former Finance undersecretary Romy put it very well in his own column: Without sufficient tax revenues, either we abandon those projects—thereby stalling our growth—or else we borrow more money to fund them. The deeper we end up going into debt, the more we raise our borrowing costs, impair our access to capital markets, and ultimately endanger the gilt-plated triple-B rating that we worked so hard to earn, first under Arroyo and then under Aquino II. It’s a stark choice the senators have to make.

Let’s hope that, for all the hundreds of millions of pesos they sank into their respective campaigns to get elected, they turn out to be worth it.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

Fake news, guns, rice, libel VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ WEDNESDAY’S Senate Public Information Committee hearing on fake news was a revelation: Our senators do not have adequate understanding of what is freedom of speech and freedom of expression.

These rights are enshrined in Section 4, Article III (Bill of Rights) of our Constitution.

Section 4 declares: “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”

Of all the professions in the world, including the oldest ones (prostitution and spying), only one profession is protected by the Constitution to guarantee its practice— journalism. The basic law of the land is very clear—“No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press.”

Now, blogging is part of the freedom expression and of the press. To pass a law abridging it, as the senators

are inclined to do, violates the Constitution.

Fake news (basically lying) is a very old phenomenon. It was in the Revised Penal Code 80 years ago.

The common name for fake news is propaganda. The best antidote to propaganda is truth. Truth is said to be a defense against libel.

Sadly, however, truth does not always make you free.

Jesus Christ said He is God. True.

Nobody believed Him. So He was executed.

As a fugitive, rebel and subversive.

President Duterte is right.

You cannot pass a law against fake news. “That you must draft a law to set a standard?

Ah patay, that’s censorship,” he claimed. “Hindi lulusot ‘yan [It won’t pass].”

Interestingly, lying is part of freedom speech and freedom of the press.

Lying is also part of the arsenal of government to protect itself. That is why it lies and lies often. Politicians lie habitually. They lie more often than journalists do. President Trump lies.

President Duterte lies. All politicians lie.

Even economists lie.

When an economist says the economy is strong, has strong fundamentals and is

growing robustly, and yet you cannot find a job, you cannot buy food, you have to no access to basic education, basic health care, and basic government services —he is lying.

Any politician who says he/she is for the poor automatically lies. There is no such animal as a pro-poor politician.

So when bloggers lie, there is no shame when they do so.

It is part of the internet of things, part of the fun of things. Lying is a form of humor. Humor is an escape valve in the face of a corrupt and incompetent government.

Unless an enraged citizen has an outlet, the alternative is worse—he becomes violent.

Speaking of humor, why do critics score Duterte for employing Mocha Uson as a subcabinet official? He has all the right in the world to do so. At least, he does not behave like Roman Emperor Caligula who appointed a horse as his consul and wanted it to be a senator. A horse for senator? That would be the day. One thing going for a horse. You can train it.

Senators? They are what you call inveterate.

Being a victim of lying is better than being the victim

of another weapon of government—killing. That is why the government keeps the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Combined, the PNP and AFP have easily more than 400,000 armed men.

In the current priorities of the government, killing enjoys a higher scale. The PNP and the AFP, separately and jointly, have a higher budget than the Department of Agriculture.

The Department of Defense (which is the AFP) has a P145-billion budget; while the Department of Interior and Local Government (which is PNP) has P172.3 billion. The DA? It has a paltry P54.2 billion next year.

Now, Agriculture means food. Food is 55 percent of the consumer food basket for the poor. On rice alone, which is 15 percent of the consumer basket, the country is short by 1.5 million to two million tons annually.

That is why we keep importing—and smuggling—rice.

I do not recall that a gun is part of the consumer price index (CPI). The only link you can make between food and guns is that of another verity—a hungry stomach

knows no law. Which gives a man an excuse to use violence to feed himself. That is why you have robbery, thievery, revolutions, and drugs. The government’s answer to robbery, thievery, revolutions and drugs— guns.

So what to do then with bloggers? There must be a way to register them or to trace them. Bloggers have a source code or HTML address. They are hosted by their web host or ISP. Google and Facebook host bloggers.

They are in a better position to regulate their bloggers.

Press freedom belongs to their owners. Google and Facebook own websites.

They are run as businesses.

When going after a business, governments can always stick to the old rule—follow the money.

Finally, there is no such thing as a right of reply. The right not to publish the other side is part of press freedom.

Media has a right to refuse to air the other or opposing side. As I said, press freedom belongs to their owners. If you want your views read or heard, get, or buy your own media. Or run your own blog. biznewsasia@gmail.com

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Listup for barangay, SK polls in November THE Commission on Elections on Thursday said it will resume the registration for new and qualified voters in the first week of November this year for the village and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, which was moved to May 2018.

The Comelec said President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law a measure postponing the barangay and SK elections originally scheduled on Oct. 23.

Under Republic Act 10952 signed on Oct. 2, the President moved the barangay and SK polls to the second Monday of May 2018.

“Subsequent synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections shall be held on the second Monday of May 2018 and ever y three years thereafter,” the new law reads.

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting also expressed relief for the postponement of the village elections, saying the government can focus more on other important matters to serve the people well.

PPCRV chairman Rene Sarmiento said the postponement was a prudent decision, allowing all stakeholders to focus on other pressing matters.

“It is good the President finally signed the law to postpone the barangay elections,” Sarmiento said.

“Time, effort, and expense can be channeled to other constructive nation-building concerns,” he added.

The poll body said it can formally begin the preparations for the 2018 elections, which is seven months away, now that the bill on the postponement of the October 2017 elections has been signed into law. Vito Barcelo

BI braces for holiday passengers

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Bureau of Immigration on Thursday ordered its personnel at Ninoy Aquino International Airport and other gateways to brace for the influx of passengers, mostly overseas Filipino workers and balikbayans coming home for the long holidays starting November this year.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente ordered the bureau’s Port Operations Division to designate more personnel for the airports’ immigra-

tion arrival areas.

He also instructed the Immigration personnel to extend the utmost courtesy to the returning Filipinos and process their arrival

with dispatch to avoid long queues at immigration counters.

Morente issued the appeal after receiving reports of a noticeable increase in the number of passengers entering and exiting the Naia during the past few days.

“The peak travel season has started. I am asking our immigration officers at the airport to be punctual and avoid unnecessary absences,” Morente said.

The BI chief, however, assured that there are ad-

equate personnel manning the NAIA immigration counters to cope with the increased volume of passengers during the holidays.

Morente also instructed POD chief Marc Mariñas to report the names of immigration officers who have been habitually absent from work during the past several months.

He said notices will be issued to the errant employees directing them to explain why they should not be administratively charged for habitual absenteeism.

Under civil service rules, frequent unauthorized absences or habitual absenteeism are grave offenses punishable by suspension of six months and one day to one year for the first offense and dismissal from the service for the second offense.

For his part, Mariñas warned immigration officers at the Naia to avoid tardiness and refrain from loafing during their duty, as the offenses are also punishable with suspension or dismissal

from the service.

According to Mariñas, an employee is considered a habitual absentee if he incurs unauthorized absences of more than two and a half days for at least three months in a semester or for three consecutive months in a year.

“We have also noticed that some of our personnel tend to file leaves of absence before and after their days-off and during weekends and holidays,” he said.

“This practice should be stopped.”

PCOO execs don’t agree on blog posts

By Macon R. Araneta

IN DEFIANCE. Former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon raises his fist in defiance as he attends the preliminary investigation on drug trafficking at the Department of Justice on Thursday. Norman Cruz (Story on A2)

TWO Presidential Communications Operations Office executives on Thursday gave conflicting statements on the alleged “fake news” appearing on the blog posts attributed to Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson.

While PCOO social media strategist Trixie Cruz Angeles told the Senate committee on public information that her job is to “feed” information for the popular blog of Uson, the latter insisted all posts on her blog were her own.

Responding to the query of committee chairperson Senator Grace Poe on her job description in the PCOO, Angeles replied: “Actually what we do is we assist Asec. Mocha, among other things, in dealing with her social media account.”

“May I clarify, my position at Asec. Mocha’s office is not to handle her accounts, but simply to feed

to her priority government information that she can put out in her blog,” Angeles later said.

But Uson disputed the testimony given by Angeles under oath, and insisted Angeles has nothing to with her social media account.

“She does not handle my social media accounts, this is what’s being spread now in Twitter,” stressed Uson, who has been accused of a propensity for circulating fake news.

PCOO Undersecretary Marie Banaag, for her part, also clarified their office “is not associated” with Uson’s posts about opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s supposed offshore accounts.

“If I may comment on Asec Mocha’s status. As reiterated, Asec Mocha’s blog is personal to her. When Senator Trillanes filed a case against Asec Mocha, it was not the PCOO. [Uson] will always be liable for whatever contents or posts [it] would have,” Banaag said.

Bill exempting electricity system loss from VAT approved InvItatIon to BId for the Procurement of fIve (5) Lots materIaLs and servIces for offIce InterIor fIt-out Works for PaGcor corPorate under ItB no.PB17-058COR-08a-10 (reBIddInG) The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming rebidding for the Procurement of Five (5) Lots Materials and Services for Office Interior Fit-Out Works for PAGCOR Corporate under ITB No. PB17-058COR-08a-10 (Rebidding).

Brief Description

Delivery Schedule Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

Lot No 1 2 3 4 5

The complete schedule of deliveries is provided in Section VI (Schedule of Requirements) of the Bidding Documents which will commence from the date of receipt by the winning supplier/contractor of the Notice to Proceed.

The total ABC is Seventeen Million Five Hundred Seventy-Seven Thousand Thirty-Two Pesos and 58/100 (PhP17,577,032.58), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction with breakdown as follows: Lot

Description

1

Supply and Delivery of Various Electrical Fixtures and Materials Supply and Delivery of Wires, Panel Board, Pull Box, Gutter and Cable Tray Supply and Delivery of Various Plumbing, Hardware and Construction Materials Supply and Delivery of Various Ventilation Materials

2 3 4 5

Source of Funds

Description Supply and Delivery of Various Electrical Fixtures and Materials.

Supply and Delivery of Wires, Panel Board, Pull Box, Gutter and Cable Tray Supply and Delivery of Various Plumbing, Hardware and Construction Materials Supply and Delivery of Various Ventilation Materials Supply and Delivery of Exhaust Fan and Emergency Lights

Supply and Delivery of Exhaust Fan and Emergency Lights

ABC (VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction) Four Million One Hundred Three Thousand Four Hundred Five Pesos and 84/100 (Php4,103,405.84) Five Million One Hundred Five Thousand One Hundred Six Pesos and 13/100 (Php5,105,106.13) Five Million Five Hundred Ninety-Seven Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Seven Pesos and 39/100 (Php5,597,997.39) Two Million Four Hundred Seventy-Eight Thousand Five Hundred Twenty-Four Pesos and 67/100 (Php2,478,524.67) Two Hundred Ninety-One Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Eight Pesos and 55/100 (Php291,998.55)

Corporate Budget for CY 2017

NOTE: Bidders may bid in any or all lots Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before 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 Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (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.

PAGCOR will hold a Pre-Bid Conference, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of bidding activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference

Date, Time and Venue October 6, 2017 to October 30, 2017 October 16, 2017 (Monday), 10:00 a.m. Corporate Lounge, 6th Floor, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M. H. Del Pilar cor. Pedro Gil Streets, Malate, Manila 3. Deadline for the Submission and October 30, 2017 (Monday), 10:00 a.m. Corporate Lounge, 6th Floor, New World Manila Receipt of Bids Bay Hotel, 1588 M. H. Del Pilar cor. Pedro Gil Streets, Malate, Manila 4. Opening and Preliminary October 30, 2017 (Monday), 10:00 a.m. onwards Corporate Lounge, 6th Floor, New Examination of Bids World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M. H. Del Pilar cor. Pedro Gil Streets, Malate, Manila

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Procurement Department (PD), acting as the BAC Secretariat, of PAGCOR and/or inspect the Bidding Documents at Eight (8th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Annex, Carmen Building, UN Avenue cor. Orosa St., Manila during office hours of PAGCOR from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, based on the following schedule: Approved Budget for the Contract More than 1 Million up to 5 Million More than 5 Million up to 10 Million More than 10 Million up to 50 Million

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos) 5,000.00 10,000.00 25,000.00

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee of the Bidding Documents not later than the deadline for the submission and receipt of bids.

Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth(6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Payment Slip which may be secured from PD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents.

Bidders shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of his bid, and PAGCOR will in no case be responsible or liable for those costs, regardless of the conduct or outcome of the bidding process.

Bidders should note that PAGCOR will accept bids only from those that have paid the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents.

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause Error! Reference source not found..

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

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC)shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two (2) or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: a) In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper. b) The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids 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.

Please address all communications to the BAC thru PD, Eight(8th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Annex, Carmen Building, UN Avenue cor. Orosa St., Manila, Tel No.: (02) 708-0307.

(SGD) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and awards Committee (BaC) 1 (MS-OCT. 6, 2017)

By Maricel V. Cruz

Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, principal author THE House of Representatives’ of House Bill 1616, welcomed the committee on ways and means has bill’s passage, saying its eventual approved a bill seeking to exempt enactment should help power conthe system loss on electricity from sumers put aside their hard-earned money for other vital expenses. the payment of value-added tax.

“This is indeed a positive development NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION especially since the OF prices of basic comSANO ASIA PVT. INC. modities and services like electricity Notice is hereby given that a special are skyrocketing. If meeting of all shareholders of Sano enacted this bill will Asia Pvt. Inc. was held at its head give a welcome relief office in Quezon City, Philippines and that a Board Resolution has been made thereby dissolving its operation last December 22, 2014.

to consumers,” Zarate said.

The House ways and means committee, headed by Quirino Rep. Dakila Cua, approved HB 1616 last Wednesday.

“This bill also seeks to address the injustice in charging and taxing consumers for something that they did not use,” Zarate said.

Zarate said the system loss charge is that part of one’s electric bill representing the cost of electricity lost during transmission, pilferage, and technical and administrative inefficiency.

HB 1616 proposes to amend the Na-

tional Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended by Republic Act 9377 and 10378, by exempting the system loss charge component in the electricity bills from the VAT coverage.

Citing the IBON Foundation study, Zarate said the system loss charge is computed at eight percent of the total electricity bill.

“As a consumption tax, VAT ought to be imposed upon the goods and services people actually buy and consume. By its very definition therefore, the imposition of VAT upon this system loss charge is unfounded and illegal,” Zarate said.

(SEPT. 29 OCT. 6 & 13, 2017)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that CORDILLERA HOSPITAL OF THE DIVINE GRACE, INC. with office address at Puguis, La Trinidad, Benguet, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Operator of General Hospital - Level 2 Project (Cordillera Hospital of the Divine Grace, Inc.) with capacity of 74 beds on a non-pioneer status, with project site located at Puguis, La Trinidad, Benguet 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.) MARY ANN E. RAGANIT Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-OCT. 6, 2017)

Medco Holdings, Inc. TO ALL STOCKHOLDERS: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Medco Holdings, Inc. will be held on November 24, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Brasserie 21, 21st Floor, Security Bank Centre, 6776 Ayala Avenue, Makati City.

Only stockholders of record in the books of the Corporation at the close of business on October 20, 2017 (record date) will be entitled to vote at the meeting. Please bring some form of identification, such as passport, driver’s license or company I.D. in order to facilitate registration, which will start at 9:00 a.m.

(Sgd.) Pauline C. Tan Asst. Corporate Secretary 31/F, Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave., Makati City 811-0465 to 66, 840-3549 (fax)

( m s-o C t. 6 , 2 0 1 7 )

US AIDS PDEA. The government of the United States of America has helped renovate a twostory classroom building at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Academy in Camp Castañeda, Tartaria, Silang, Cavite. The renovated building will be used for academic training of PDEA Drug Enforcement Officers undergoing a six-month comprehensive and regimented training program at the PDEA Academy under Superintendent Bryan Babang. Photo shows (from left) Brandon Hudspeth, director for International Narcotics, and Michael Klecheski, Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in the Philippines, turning over the building’s keys to PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino following its inauguration and blessing ceremonies on Thursday. Manny Palmero

PCSO boosts daily medical aid to P13.55m THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has increased the daily allocation of 40 of its branches across the country for its Individual Medical Assistance Program from P8.98 million to P13.55 million, general manager Alexander Balutan said on Thursday.

Balutan said the PCSO board approved the increase as it took effect immediately

on Oct. 1.

The increase allows the agency to help more patients, as the IMAP provides daily financial support for medical expenses such as hospitalization of patients who will avail of the program.

“We increased the IMAP daily allocation as our branch offices have limited IMAP funds to cover the needs of its clients, resulting in delayed and

inefficient delivery of services to the public,” Balutan said.

The PCSO board is still reviewing the allocations of 20 other branches and determining the availability of funds.

The daily IMAP allocation for the Southern and Bicol Region increased from P3.225 million to P4.05 million, while that of Northern and Central Luzon increased from P2.8 million to P4.55 million.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

Sports

TODAY

A7

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Halep sends Sharapova packing; Kasatkina wins B EIJING—Maria Sharapova opened up on the despair she feels in defeat after she was ruthlessly knocked out of the China Open in the third round by Romania’s Simona Halep on Wednesday.

The world number two was an emphatic 6-2, 6-2 winner to leave five-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova still searching for her first title since returning from a doping ban in April.

It was the 26-year-old Halep’s first victory over the Russian in eight meetings and she will play another Russian, Daria Kasatkina, in the quarter-finals.

The unseeded Kasatkina, 20,

stunned defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska in the final match of the day, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

After her defeat Sharapova, a former number one now ranked 104 following her 15-month suspension for taking meldonium, gave an insight into the rollercoaster of emotions in top-level tennis.

“Hard work is not good enough any more, maybe it was—I don’t know how many years ago—but

that’s just not a factor any more,” said the 30-year-old, asked about comments in a book she recently released.

“The reason I say that is there’s some incredible moments, very high moments, and there are very low moments.

“There have been times where I get off the court and you think, I don’t wish this on my future child.

“The feeling is so tough and disappointing.”

Halep, the second seed on Beijing’s outdoor hard courts, is now the favourite with world number one Garbine Muguruza exiting

in the first round with a virus.

Sharapova said it was the best Halep had played against her— and Halep agreed.

The two met in the first round at the US Open a few weeks ago and Halep said she was delighted to finally taste victory against Sharapova: “I’m really happy that I could do this.

“It’s my first victory against her and I just want to enjoy the moment.”

Nick Kyrgios said he wanted to make up for his notorious meltdown in Shanghai last year as he beat Mischa Zverev in the second round in Beijing. AFP

Celebrities spice up Powerman Asian tilt LOCAL celebrities take time out from their busy schedules to compete on a tougher stage— the Powerman Philippines Asian Championship Presented by Summit Natural Drinking Water, which unwraps Sunday at the Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

Gerald Anderson, Jake Cuenca and Kim Chiu have signed up in the individual competition while Aubrey Miles, Troy Montero and coach Al Gonzales will vie in the Classic distance (relay) and Sitti Navarro and Joey Ramirez are entered in the Short distance (relay) of the premier run-bike-run event organized by F&F International Events Group.

Their presence will not only add glamour and class to the event but

also provide the competitive spirit that has marked their stints in a number of endurance events that they had competed in as part of their healthy lifestyle.

They will be among the 1,127 participants set to compete in the event also held to help produce world class Filipino duathletes.

Meanwhile, Aussies Thomas Bruins and Matt Smith, along with Malaysians Ziq Junaidy and Jason Loh banner the centerpiece Elite division with John Chicano, Joey delos Reyes and Cipriane Topia leading the local challenge.

Chicano, delos Reyes and Topia placed fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively, in last year’s staging of the event, also a qualifier for the next Powerman World Championships.

When basketball closed its door, Sepak Takraw opened a big window

By Peter Paul Duran WHAT difference a year makes.

Around this time a year ago, Justine Roy Reganot, Bjay Quinawayan and Reidge Magallanes saw another season of their basketball stints with Malanday Elementary School come to yet a disappointing end.

They’ve been part of their varsity basketball program since the past year but have never made it past the district meet.

They love their sport, mind you, there’s no question of desire here. But somehow, they were still underachieving.

“Magkaka-team po talaga kaming tatlo sa basketball nu’ng una,” said Reganot, MES Boys’ Sepak Takraw team captain while pointing to the other two vital cogs of their campaign during the closing ceremonies of the Milo Little Olympics 2017 in SM Masinag.

“Pero umayaw na po kami sa basketball nu’ng pasukan kasi wala naman pong nangyayari sa amin du’n (laughs),” added Reganot, who together with Quinawayan, watched at the sidelines as Magallanes received his Most Outstanding Athlete in the Elementary Division for Sepak Takraw.

Tired of warming the bench and the early exits, the three chose to quit the basketball team. They closed the door on one sport, but another one came knocking not long after.

“Biglang nag-announce na lang po si sir Manny (Tardio) sa flag ceremony na kailangan niya po ng players sa Sepak Takraw,” recalled Quinawayan, and out of jest they signed up right then and there. “Sabi po namin, sige

bahala na, try lang natin.”

Now under the tutelage of manytime NCR representative coach and multiple Palarong Pambansa titlist mentor Mariano “Manny” Tardio, that seemingly impulsive decision would turn their fates around overnight.

Though their route to success was already laid out, nobody said it would be smooth sailing.

They had to go through rigorous training everyday after class, whole day on Saturdays and a quick session after morning mass on Sundays. They had to live and breath Sepak Takraw even if they were neophytes in the sport. The boys gladly obliged and are now part of the five players who remained from a pool of 15.

It was also their first time to enter a tournament as prestigious as the Milo Little Olympics, so they were a little shaky during their opening match. They managed to eke out a win even after trailing most of the match en route to an unbeaten run and a gold medal.

There’s a lot of lessons, they say, that can be imbibed from their experience. But apart from humility, hard work and perseverance, it is the choice to improve as an athlete and embark on new challenges that can catapult one to succeed.

“Siguro ang masasabi namin sa ibang atleta, ‘di naman ‘yung isport na una mo sinalihan, hanggang du’n ka na lang habambuhay.

Huwag dapat makuntento na lang,” said the MVP Magallanes, while holding his school’s 4th place overall trophy for a photo op. “Kailangan, mag-try ka din ng iba. Kasi malay mo, doon ka pala sa ibang sport magiging mahusay.”

PHILRACOM DONATES P1.2M TO MARAWI. THE Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) turned over a donation of P1,239,414.92 to the victims of the Marawi crisis as a result of the charity races the racing body sponsored for the city. Represented by Commissioners Wilfredo de Ungria (6th from left) and Lyndon Guce (7th from left) and Executive Director Andrew Rovie Buencamino (4th from left), the Philracom handed over the check to Senate President Koko Pimentel (5th from left), who is an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte. With them is Rotary Club of Manila Foundation president Bong Cruz (8th from left) and board members. Philracom Chairman Andrew Sanchez said that the Philracom, being under the Office of the President, is duty-bound to aid the Chief Executive in his advocacies. “The rehabilitation of Marawi City is a priority of the President and we in the Philracom are behind him in this endeavor,” said Sanchez.

Lyceum scores twin-kill in Got Skills Basketball Showcase LYCEUM got off to a good start on two fronts recently in the opening games of the 207 Milcu Sports-Got Skills Elite Basketball Showcase at the Lyceum gym in Intramuros.

Carl Lumbao led with 10 points as the Lyceum Pirates won over the University of Perpetual Help Altas, 78-72, in the 25-under category.

The Junior Pirates, led by Miguel Bairan with 13 points, demolished School of St. Anthony, 67-37, in the 18-years old and under action.

Andrei Romero shot six points in leading College San Benildo to a 66-56 triumph over the Perpetual Help Junior Altas in the 19-under division.

The San Sebastian Staglets, behind CJ Austria with 10 points, won over University of Santo Tomas, 50-49, in the 17-under hostilities.

In other games at the Far Eastern University gym in Morayta, Dharelle Caranguian made 19 points as de Ocampo Memorial College defeated National University, 76-71, in another 25-under encounter.

Terrence Fortea knocked in 20 points in NU’s 69-50 smashing of CKSC, also in the 25-under clashes, while University of Baguio downed FEU, 62-40.

University of Baguio repulsed Letran, 71-67.

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Invitation to Bid The National Housing Authority (NHA), through the Corporate Receipts approved by the NHA Board for the year 2017 intends to apply the sum of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payment for the following contracts: Ref. No.

Project

ABC/ Source of Funds (P)

Duration (c.d)

Work Description

Provision of security 2017 Procurement of Security 3 Years/ services at various 44,638,516.80/ -10- Services – Batch 1 (NCR Corporate renewable per appointed posts with Receipts 237 Projects) year one hundred sixty (160) guards Provision of security of Security 2017 Procurement 3 Years/ services at various – Batch 2 (SLB 38,385,463.20/ -10- Services per appointed posts with and Select NCR Corporate Receipts renewable 238 Projects year one hundred sixty two Projects) (162) guards Provision of security of Security 2017 Procurement 3 Years/ services at various – Batch 3 (NCL 41,694,694.20/ -10- Services renewable per appointed posts with Projects, Select NCR & Corporate Receipts 239 Regional Projects) year one hundred sixty eight (168) guards

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Justine Roy Reganot (left), Reidge Magallanes (center) and Bjay Quinawayan display their MILO Little Olympics trophy. Peter Paul Duran

DanceSports Council tilt set THE DanceSport Council of the Philippines will hold the 21st DanceSport National Championship at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena, Pasig City on Saturday.

DSCPI President Becky Garcia said there are 362 dance athletes all over the country that will compete in the ranking competition supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Flawless, Muebles Italiano, Retro DCG-FM 105.9, Studio 116 Dance School and The Greenery Bulacan.

The competition will be facilitated by seven World DanceSport Federation licensed adjudicators and Filipino WDSF Licensed Adjudicators Crisaldo Rendon and Julie Plummer and Philippine National Licensed Adjudicator Ronnie 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ Steeve Vergara.

Tickets for the 21st DSCPI 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ National DanceSport Championships are available at the DanceSport Training DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 Center, Philsports Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City and at the entrance of the DIGITS 00-00-00 Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena on Oct. 7. For inquiEZ2 00-00 ries, call 637-2314.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 6/42 6 3 2

The NHA now invites bids for the above-cited project. Delivery of the Goods is required within the duration herein cited upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within five years from the date of submission of bids, a single contract similar to the Project costing at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the 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.

A complete set of Bidding Documents shall be issued only to bidders/authorized official representatives or employees of the bidder who can show proof of Notarized Authority to secure bid documents for the specific Project and Official Company ID upon submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and upon Cash Payment of non-refundable fee of P25,000.00 for Ref. No. 2017-10-237, P21,500.00 for Ref. No. 2017-10-238, and P23,350.00 for Ref. No. 2017-10-239 at the Office of the NHA-BAC 2 Secretariat, 2nd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City starting on October 6, 2017.

For further information, the NHA BAC 2 Secretariat may be contacted at Tel/FAX No. 928-8272.

The NHA will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on October 17, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the SLB-AMO Conference Room, Annex Building NHA Main Complex, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be OPEN to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered at the SLB-AMO Conference Room, Annex Building NHA Main Complex, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City on October 31, 2017, not later than 10:00 a.m. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount as stated in BDS. Bid opening shall follow immediately after the deadline of submission of bids at the same venue. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders representative who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The NHA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

JR Urmeneta tallied eight points Gerry Abadiano shot 17 points for Chiang Kai Shek College as they as National University overpowtripped Trinity University of Asia, ered Team Delta, 69-46, in the 60-45, also in the 17-under class.

19-under side.

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 PROPOSED DREDGING OF OZAMIZ PORT, OZAMIZ CITY, MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2017, intends to apply the sum of P 126,056,648.80 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Dredging of Ozamiz Port, Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, (LFP MOZ No. 026-2017).

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Dredging/Excavation along the berths and maneuvering areas of the Port to a designed depths of 5.0, 10.0 and 12.0 meters below Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) B. Total Volume to be dredged = 250,000.00 cu. m. C. Disposal of dredged/excavated soil materials 16.00 kms. away from the project site. Completion of the Works is required in 300 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using 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, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects 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 06 October 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 FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 50,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the 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 for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 16 October 2017 at 2:00 p.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 9:00 a.m. of 03 November 2017. 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 03 November 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 bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Required PCAB Registration: Medium B – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

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 Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP)

(SGD) AR. SUSANA V. NONATO Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee 2 ( M S - O C T. 6 , 2 017 )

M. Standard – Oct. 6, 2017

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

A8

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

NU guns for seat in PVL finals Games tomorrow

(Saturday) 8 a.m. – FEU vs NU (men’s) 10 a.m. – UST vs ADMU 4 p.m. – FEU vs AdU (women’s) 6:30 p.m. – NU vs AU

THE rampaging National University Lady Bulldogs gun for a berth in the finals of the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference when they battle the Arellano University Lady Chiefs at 6:30 p.m., tomorrow, Saturday.

NU will be looking to follow up a convincing 2517, 25-16, 25-23 win over Arellano to advance.

The Far Eastern University Lady Tams on the other hand try to make the necessary adjustments as they seek to stop Adamson and force a sudden death.

The Lady Tams blew a 2-1 set lead, lost steam in the stretch and dropped a 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 14-25, 8-15 decision to the Lady Falcons late Wednesday but vowed to strike back in Game Two of their bestof-three semifinal series tomorrow.

Despite playing without top hitter Bernadeth Pons, the Morayta-based squad still took control after three sets but suddenly groped for form in the fourth, enabling the Lady Falcons to come back before sustaining their momentum in the decider.

FEU actually kept it close in the fifth but failed to neutralize Adamson’s strong finishing kick on anchored on Mary Joy Dacoron, Bernadette Flora, Christine Soyud and Chiara Permentilla.

The Lady Tams also fell into a maze of errors in the clutch, including a rotation error that fueled the Lady Falcons’ decisive closing 4-0 binge.

Wong hikes lead PAOLO Wong slowed down with a 73 but padded his lead to two halfway through the men’s Championship Division even as Yuka Saso stamped her class and fired a 65 in the opener of the ladies play in the Canlubang Amateur Open at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club’s South and North courses in Laguna yesterday.

Wong, who turned in a bogey-free 67 Wednesday, stumbled with a double-bogey on the opening par-four hole and hit just two birdies against one more bogey for a 37-36 card and a 140.

Jolo Magcalayo, who kept Wong in sight with a first round 68, grabbed the lead with an opening par but bogeyed the next and fell by two again with bogeys on Nos. 5 and 8.

The club bet closed out with a birdie against a bogey at the back to card a 74 for a 142 heading to the final 18 holes of the 17th staging of the event put up annually by the host club and the Yulo family as part of their continuing effort to help develop the sport.

Gido Mandanas, another club entry, blew a 35 start with a bogey-riddled backside stint, needing to birdie the 18th to save a 73 and stay in the hunt at 143, three strokes off the Manila Southwoods ace.

National University’s Jaja Santiago (3) executes a quick attack to spike the ball over the net while Arellano defenders could only watch helplessly. NU guns for a berth in the finals against Arellano today.

Chiefs stay in hunt for berth in Final 4

By Peter Atencio

T

HE Arellano University Chiefs are still in the hunt for a Final Four semifinals slot in the 93rd Season of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Kent Salado and his teammates kept the Chiefs in contention with their 9565 swamping of the College of St. Benilde Blazers yesteday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Salado, who took the place of court general Jiovani Jalalon, tallied

16 points and 11 assists in carrying the Chiefs to their seventh win in 15 matches.

The Chiefs went on to have a 50 percent field goal performance as they bounced back from their loss to the San Beda Red Lions.

The victory allowed the Chiefs to gain a share of sixth place with the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals.

“This win is very important for us. Hindi ko maexaggerate ang importance.

Hindi mo pa alam ang mangyayari,” said Chiefs coach Jerry Codinera.

So far, the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers are in third at 9-6 while the Letran Knights are in fourth at 8-7. The San Sebastian College Stags are fifth at 7-7.

Games Today

(At the Arena in San Juan) 8 a.m. San Beda vs EAC(jrs) 10 a.m. JRU vs San Sebastian (jrs) 12 nn. San Beda vs EAC (srs) 2 p.m. JRU vs SSC (srs) 4 p.m. Lyceum vs Letran (srs) 6 p.m. Lyceum vs Letran (jrs)

Rence Alcoriza hit nine of his11-point total production in the first period, allowing Arellano to start strong with a 28-16 edge.

On the other hand, Salado banged in eight in the second period in leading the Chiefs to a 48-33 halftime spread.

In the junior action, the Arellano University Braves also kept their slim chances of reaching the Final Four alive after their 71-63 stoppage of the La Salle Greenhills Greenies.

Fred Segura knocked in 18 points in leading the Braves to their seventh win in 15 matches.

Inand Fornillos made 17 points for the Greenies, who now have a 10-5 slate in second spot.

This kept the San Beda Red Cubs(9-5) in contention for the no. 2 seeding.

TNT KaTropa, Barangay Ginebra continue showdown

By Jeric Lopez WHO will move a step closer to the finals?

TNT KaTropa and Barangay Ginebra know the importance of having an edge at this critical stage as they resume their best-of-five semifinals series with a lot on the line in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. With the series knotted at 1-1, Game 3 will prove pivotal as the Tropang Texters and the Gin Kings both aim at moving a game away from the finals when they meet again at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

Having a 2-1 advantage in a short five-game series is huge considering that the protagonists are evenly matched.

“Game 3 is very important. It will put the winner halfway to the finals and we hope to continue our improvement and hopefully have another win,” said TNT KaTropa coach Nash Racela.

Racela’s wards, following an abysmal Game 1 showing where they got

ran out of the building, bounced back in Game 2 to equalize the series and avoid a 0-2 hole.

Once again, the one-two punch of Jayson Castro and Glen Rice Jr. led the way for TNT in Game 2, taking charge as their squad held off Ginebra, 103-96, last Wednesday night in Batangas City to level the series.

The defense of the Tropang Texters also made life difficult for the potent Ginebra core of Justin Brownlee, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, Joe Devance and LA Tenorio as the Gin Kings’ fluidity on offense wasn’t consistent the last time out.

Now, it’s a question of which team will come out and play better to take a giant step towards reaching the big stage.

As of this press time, Meralco is trying to earn the first ticket to the finals as it is currently looking to end its own semifinal series against the Star Hotshots.

The Bolts are up 2-0 in the other best-of-five semis and only need one more win to make a return trip to the finals.

TNT KaTropa import Glen Rice Jr. (41) tries to drive past a pair of Barangay Ginebra defenders in guard Scottie Thompson (6) and import Justin Brownlee.

Squires, Bullpups reach playoffs THE National University Bullpups and the Letran Squires fought off separate rivals last Saturday to formally earn quarterfinal slots in the 15th Fr. Martin Cup Division 2 Basketball Tournament at the St. Placid gymnasium inside San Beda-Manila campus in Mendiola.

Kevin Quiambao fired 19 points, while James Pradella contributed 16 points for the Bullpups as they stopped the Malayan Red Robins, 98-57, in Group B of the junior division.

The Squires drew big baskets from Justine Latonio and Jethro Cerveza in turning back the Rich Golden Shower Montesorri School Spartans, 75-72, in Group A of another junior contest.

The two teams, along with the Spartans reached the quarterfinals, which begins this weekend.

The Bullpups topped Group B with their 6-1 win-loss record. They will meet San Beda-Manila B at 9:30 a.m. in a crossover quarterfinal encounter this Saturday.

Latonio and Cerveza drilled in 14 and 13 points for the Squires, who took the top Group A berth with their 6-1 win-loss slate.

The Spartans, led by John Ospeg with 13, settled for third place and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 5-2 record.

The Squires take on San Beda-Rizal A at 12:30 p.m. also on Saturday while the Spartans, will meet the Diliman Preparatory School Baby Blue Dragons at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Peter Atencio

Bulldogs advance to badminton championship

DEFENDING NBA CHAMPIONS. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China on Oct. 5, 2017 in Shenzhen, China at Shenzhen Universidade. AFP

MEN’S TITLEHOLDER National University cruised to a 5-0 victory over University of the East to gain an outright passage to the championship round in the UAAP Season 80 badminton tournament yesterday.

Singles players Alvin Morada, Keeyan Gabuelo and Alem Palmares and the doubles tandems of Christian Cuyno and Mike Minuluan and Morada and Palmares were in the zone as the Bulldogs went undefeated in six ties at the Rizal

Memorial Badminton Hall.

Winners of 33 consecutive ties dating back to 2014, NU will have a luxury of a week-long rest before going into the best-ofthree championship series.

Women’s titleholder University of the Ph i lippi nes, meanwhile, t u r ned back Ad amson University, 4-1, to jump straight to the Finals.

The Lady Maroons also completed a six-tie sweep of the elimination round.

UP nailed the twice-

to-beat bonus in the men’s stepladder semis after a 4-1 conquest of De La Salle.

The Fighting Maroons, who drew the best from aces JM Bernardo and CK Clemente and doubles specialists Betong Pineda and Paul Gonzales, finished second with a 5-1 slate.

University of Santo Tomas, meanwhile, scored an emphatic 5-0 win over Ateneo in the last elimination round tie to secure the third semis berth.

The Growling Tigers actually tied the Green

Archers and the Blue Eagles at 3-3, but the España-based shuttlers took the No. 3 ranking by virtue of a better quotient.

De La Salle and Ateneo will dispute the remaining semis slot at 8 a.m. tomorrow the same Malate venue.

The Lady Archers clinched the twice-tobeat semis incentive bonus following a 4-1 conquest of the Lady Bulldogs, while the Lady Eagles blanked the Tigresses, 5-0.

Ateneo and NU will face off in the first step-ladder on Sunday.

FNI hikes Surigao mine output projection B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

Phinma eyes three gas-fired facilities

B1

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, October 5, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency Unit US Dollar Peso United States Dollar

1.000000

50.9510

Japan

Yen

0.008870

0.4519

UK

Pound

1.324800

67.4999

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128089

6.5263

Switzerland

Franc

1.025746

52.2628

Canada

Dollar

0.801860

40.8556

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Singapore

Dollar

0.734808

37.4392

Australia

Dollar

0.786300

40.0628

PHINMA Energy Corp., the power arm of Phinma Group, is studying the feasibility of putting up three gas-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 904 megawatts, a top executive said Thursday.

The three projects include the 383-MW Sta. Ana combined cycle gas turbine power plant in Cagayan; the 383-MW floating CCGT power plant in Barangay Baquioen, Sual, Pangasinan; and the 138-MW Argao floating CCGT power plant in Barangay Bulasa in Cebu City.

“The area is conducive.

We need a port for LNG [liquefied natural gas] CCGT,” Phinma Energy president Francisco Viray told reporters.

Viray said Phinma Energy requested for a grid impact study of the proposed projects.

“That’s the planned project. The technology we will use is combined cycle. We will import the gas,” Viray said.

He said the feasibility study would determine whether the project would be viable or not. It will also take into consideration transmission issues and supply and demand.

Phinma Energy announced last year it planned to put up an LNG import terminal and natural gas plant in Sual, Pangasinan.

Phinma Energy executive vice president Raymundo Reyes Jr. earlier said the planned LNG facility would be enough to power a 500-megawatt gas-fired power plant.

The company said the facility would supply gas for power generation and for industrial, commercial and transport applications.

Phinma Energy was also previously looking at a 900-MW coal fired power plant also in Sual, Pangasinan, but put the plan on hold amid increased supply.

It owns a 50-percent stake in the 270-MW South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp. in Calaca, Batangas. The company also owns power barges 101, 102 and 103 with a combined capacity of 96 MW.

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653364

135.1915

VC SECURITIES LAUNCHING. VC Securities Corp. launches VCTrade, an online stock trading platform for securities listed at the Philippine Stock

Exchange. VCTrade, which can be accessed at www.vcsecurities.biz, allows users to get real-time access to market information and trading capabilities without human intervention. Shown during the bell-ringing ceremony at PSE are (from left) Margie Ortiz-Luis representing VC Securities independent director Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., director Van William Co, independent director Donald Dee, Jasper Ong, corporate secretary Dr. Veronica Co Ong, independent director Paterno Dizon, Val Constantine Co, Vichelli Say, president and nominee Wilhelmino Agregado, treasurer Dr. Vivien Catherine Co-Say, chairman William Co, PSE chairman Jose Pardo, PSE directors Ma. Vivian Yuchengco and Edgardo Lacson, PSE chief operating officer Roel Refran and PSE director Alejandro Yu.

Saudi Arabia Rial

0.266660

13.5866

Brunei

Dollar

0.732118

37.3021

Indonesia

Rupiah 0.000074

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

1.5282

0.029994

UAE

Dirham 0.272287

13.8733

Euro

Euro

1.176000

59.9184

Korea

Won

0.000876

0.0446

China

Yuan

0.150218

7.6538

India

Rupee

0.015379

0.7836

Malaysia

Ringgit 0.236630

New Zealand Dollar

0.716600

Taiwan

0.032896

Dollar

12.0565 36.5115 1.6761 Source: PDS Bridge

Inflation rate accelerates to 3.4% I

By Julito G. Rada

NFLATION rate accelerated to a five-month high of 3.4 percent in September from 3.1 percent in August, led by higher food prices, the National Economic and Development Authority said Thursday.

The September figure was also faster than 2.3 percent recorded a year ago. This brought the average inflation in the first nine months to 3.1 percent, slightly higher than the mid-point of the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2017.

This was also within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ forecast of 2.8 percent to 3.6 percent for the month. Core inflation,

which excludes volatile food and energy prices, also increased to 3.3 percent from 3 percent in August.

“We are still positive that inflation for full year 2017 will settle within the government’s target of 2 to 4 percent. However, we still face several risks to inflation such as higher domestic fuel prices, weaker peso, and minimum wage hike that will be effective today in the National Capital Region,” Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said the inflation environment would continue to be manageable over the policy horizon after taking into account the latest assessment of price levels in September.

“Inflation is projected to settle with the national government’s target range of 2 to

4 percent in 2017 to 2019. Firm domestic economic activity, sufficient liquidity and well-anchored inflation expectations continue to support current policy settings,” Espenilla said.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that food inflation in September increased slightly to 3.6 percent from the previous month’s 3.5 percent.

Faster price increases were recorded for corn, fish, vegetables, cereals, flour, bread, pasta, and oils and fats.

Higher annual increments in other commodity groups were also recorded, such as alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 6.4 percent; clothing and footwear, 2 percent; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 3.8 percent; transport, 4.8 percent; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, 2.4 percent.

Pernia said the accelerated adjustments in food, particularly corn, fish and vegetables, could be partly traced to the lingering effects of typhoon Jolina and tropical depression Maring, which caused damage to agriculture and fisheries in the Calabarzon region, particularly Quezon province.

Total reported losses from tropical depression Maring were estimated to have reached P77 million.

“We must continue to strengthen the resiliency of communities not only to support low-income farmers but also to stabilize prices of agricultural commodities,” Pernia said.

He said that this could be done through programs on increasing access to technology, improving access of agriculture products to trade partners, and upgrading credit programs to include crop insurance so farmers are able to recover from losses.

Study: 65% of college graduates lack training

Senator dismisses TransCo’s power bid

By Othel V. Campos A STUDY conducted by a Delhi-based assessment company found out that about 65 percent of college graduates in the Philippines do not have the right skills and training to qualify for the jobs of their choice, while one out of three Filipinos is employable.

The National Employability Report―Philippines, conducted and released by employability assessment and job credentialing leader Aspiring Minds, showed that Filipinos would need more training and educational help.

The study, in partnership with the Contact Center Association of the Philippines, is an industry assessment that is trying to determine the gaps on skill sets and the required intervention to fill them.

Contact Center Association president Benedict Hernandez said the study would help the industry adjust to the needs of the members of the association to properly address the demands of clients.

“This will also aid the industry to increase hiring rate to 15 percent,” said Hernandez, noting that the group teamed up with Aspiring Minds to create programs that will increase the graduates’s hirability.

The industry hiring rate in the last three years is 8 percent to 10 percent from 6 percent to 8 percent five years ago.

IN BRIEF Harbor Star renews contract HARBOR Star Shipping Services Inc. said it renewed a marine tugboat service agreement with Pearl Energy Philippines Operating Inc. for another three years.

Harbor Star under the agreement will provide three tugboats to assist the arriving ship vessels at the Mauban port of Pearl Energy from November 1, 2017 to October 31, 2020.

Harbor Star has been the tugboat service provider of Pearl Energy since it started commercial operations in May 2000.

Harbor Star president and chief executive Geronimo Bella Jr. earlier said the company was in talks with the Port Authority of Myanmar, which was building a tank farm to serve as an oil depot for an oil company.

Bella said Harbor Star planned to provide tugboat assistance services to the tank farm, which was slated for completion by the third quarter of 2017.

Harbor Shipping is also in talks with a company in Indonesia, which needs two tugboats to support existing operations, he said. Harbor Star has operations in Malaysia.

Bella said with the planned international expansion, the company was looking to add six tugboats to the current fleet of 52.

Port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. earlier teamed up with Harbor Star to operate the Cavite Gateway Terminal on a six-hectare property owned by the former in Tanza, Cavite.

Darwin G. Amojelar

WB sees SE Asia currency risk MALAYSIA, and to a lesser degree Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, remain more exposed to exchange rate risk than other developing economies in East Asia and the Pacific as global financial conditions tighten, the World Bank said.

Companies and banks in these countries have sizable external debt, although foreign exchange reserves

currently appear adequate, the Washington-based multilateral lender said in a report on Wednesday.

Monetary authorities need to be prepared to tighten their policy stance if capital outflows prompt currency weakness. In the case of depreciation pressures in China, authorities should allow greater adjustment through relative prices and closely monitor financial sector vulnerabilities as monetary policy further tightens.

Growth in the region will continue to benefit from an improving global environment and strong domestic demand, the World Bank said, raising its forecasts for China, Malaysia and Thailand for 2017 and 2018, compared with estimates published in April. China is seen expanding 6.7 percent this year and 6.4 percent next year.

Most Asian currencies have surged against the dollar this year as stronger growth prospects lured inflows.

Bloomberg

Help for debt-ridden teachers FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on Thursday urged the state-run Land Bank of the Philippines and the Government Service Insurance System to come up with an easy-to-pay, low-interest refinancing program for loans incurred by public school teachers to free them from exorbitant borrowing rates.

Dominguez said the loan restructuring scheme would enable debt-saddled teachers to pay their loans to private lending institutions and provide them with better borrowing rates than those offered by private money lenders.

Th refinancing program, Dominguez said, would prove to be highly beneficial for teachers, as they get to pay lower interest on their existing loans and at the same time allow them to save up for their retirement funds.

“The teachers pay less, [the government financial institutions (GFIs)] earn more than leaving (their money) in government securities, and the funds that teachers earn anyway goes back to the them as their retirement fund,” Dominguez said.

A report by the GSIS during a recent Executive Committee meeting of the Department of Finance showed the Department of Education had a high default rate of almost 40 percent on its GSIS loans.

Julito G. Rada

SYKES’ NEW SITE. Sykes Asia Inc., the country’s first multinational call center, continues its expansion in the Philippines with the inauguration of its newest site—Sykes Robinsons Galleria Cebu. Sykes RGC is the company’s second site in the Queen City of the South and its seventh overall. Sykes Cebu head and vice president for area operations and shared services John Sneed (left) leads the inauguration ceremony of the 4,757-square meter facility. With him is senior director for human resources for Asia-Pacific Doodoo Marcos.

PH puts up a fight as automation steals jobs

By Ditas Lopez and Siegfrid Alegado SINCE the early 2000s, the Philippines added more than a million jobs as foreign companies outsourced customer support and sales tasks to the Southeast Asian nation.

Now a looming wave of automation is threatening employment at call centers and forcing the industry to retrain workers to meet the demand for higher skilled jobs in areas such as healthcare, banking, finance and insurance.

“The biggest challenge is people,” Jojo Uligan, president of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines or CCAP, said in an interview at his office in Manila on Wednesday. “We lack people with enough technical expertise and experience to service emerging needs.”

The Philippines is the world’s top call center destination with companies like Accenture Plc and American Express Co. among those that have set up shop in the Southeast Asian nation. They’ve been lured by cheaper wages, Filipinos’s cultural affinity with the West, and a 100 million population that’s mostly fluent in English.

With technology constantly advancing, machines are now able to replicate some of the tasks that people do, including customer relations. More than half of outsourced jobs could be lost in a few years unless significant retraining is done, according to a study by Tholons Capital, a New York-based consultancy.

In India, robots are now replacing warehouse workers, for example.

Leaders of some of the biggest outsourcing companies in the world will meet this month in the Philippines to craft fresh strategies to counter the impact of automation, Uligan said.

Companies are increasingly seeking workers who are college educated, experienced, have technical expertise and can easily be retrained, he said.

“There is a lot of complex work now,” Uligan said. “It’s no longer mere directory assistance or taking orders.”

These concerns are tempering the outlook for the industry. The CCAP estimates that revenue will grow as much as 8 percent this year until 2022, compared with growth rates exceeding 10 percent in the past.

“People don’t evolve as fast as technology,” Uligan said. Bloomberg

SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian says there is no need for state-run National Transmission Corp. to go into power generation to address ancillary reserves.

“It is not needed. There are a lot that can offer ancillary, just make it competitive. We have to remember, as a principle, government is not a good operator,” Gatchalian, head of the Senate Committee on Energy, said.

“There are sectors with healthy competition like generation. I don’t think we should go into that,” Gatchalian said.

TransCo president Melvin Matibag earlier announced plans to engage in power generation and put up 2,000 megawatts of capacity to serve the ancillary requirements of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

“We also want TransCo put up power plant for purpose of addressing ancillary reserve... TransCo is not forbidden to build,” Matibag said.

Ancillary services refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads, while maintaining the reliable operation of the grid Matibag said TransCo could forge joint venture partnerships for the 2,000 -MW reserve capacity, which is equivalent to 20 percent to 25 percent of the power grid’s current capacity.

“We will not compete with the gencos... We (are) preparing policy paper to Congress... Secretary (Alfonso Cusi) agreed with the policy,” he said.

Matibag said TransCo’s charter would have to be amended as the agency was created under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001. Alena Mae S. Flores

B2

Business

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

MPIC buys Mindanao hospital

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE healthcare holding company of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. said Thursday it completed the acquisition of a 54-percent stake in St. Elizabeth Hospital Inc. for P1.64 billion.

Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc. acquired 108,350 shares in St. Elizabeth Hospital from the prominent Veneracion family of General Santos City.

MPHHI may also infuse additional capital in SEHI in the future to expand and improve its facilities and purchase the latest medical equipment that may increase its ownership to 80 percent .

SEHI is a 248-bed tertiary level

hospital located along Santiago Boulevard corner National Highway in General Santos City.

“Our family is very pleased and excited to partner with MPHHI, the largest private hospital group in the country, and we welcome the Metro Pacific Group to General Santos City,” Antonio Veneracion, representative of the Veneracion family, said.

“We wanted to work with no less than the biggest and the best in the industry in leapfrogging to the next level of growth for SEHI, which my parents nurtured into the top hospital in the city for the past 55 years. We have seen how MPHHI has not only preserved but enhanced the legacy of all the hospitals in its portfolio and how well they work with their shareholder

partners. And so we are very confident that our vision of firmly establishing SEHI as the premier hospital in Region XII will soon be fulfilled,” Veneracion said.

MPHHI president and chief executive Augusto Palisoc Jr. said: “We thank the Veneracion family for allowing us to invest in their hospital, and for their continued active participation in both the board and management of SEHI.” SEHI brings to 14 MPHHI’s nationwide portfolio of hospitals. It was a decade ago when the group first invested in Makati Medical Center.

MPHHI has five other provincial hospitals including Davao Doctors Hospital, Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod, Central Luzon Doctors’

Hospital in Tarlac, West Metro Medical Center in Zamboanga and Sacred Heart Hospital in Malolos, Bulacan.

The company also owns Makati Medical Center, Asian Hospital, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, De Los Santos Medical Center, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Marikina Valley Medical Center, and Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital.

Completing MPHHI’s healthcare portfolio are two healthcare colleges―Davao Doctors College and Riverside College in Bacolod, two primary care clinics Megaclinic in SM Megamall Ortigas and TopHealth in SM San Lazaro and a newly built cancer center in joint venture with Lipa Medix in Batangas.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.54 15,000 59.75 7,780 101.9 442,790 4.02 2,513,000 134.4 3,436,520 2.85 1,803,000 35.4 168,200 15.9 800 32.55 725,500 1.7 53,000 950 380 0.69 1,431,000 88.5 2,304,250 0.84 225,000 13 36,000 57.85 76,300 238.6 1,050 110 3,320 48.8 216,300 249 305,520 1,900 365 86.6 187,590 1.31 695,000

68,330 463,232 45,156,087 9,904,260 462,043,833 5,079,330 5,980,525(1, 12,760 23,485,080 91,560 361,200 987,530 205,915,328 189,720 468,012 4,420,998.50 250,080 373,565 10,555,245 76,040,718 692,425 16,228,043 949,640

372,110 -12,304,256 8,160 -35,720,698 45,990 526,894.9996) -11,359,895 36,437,652.50 -1,259,396 3,137,420 49,021,136 525,979 -

42.45 10.22 0.76 1.39 19.38 0.234 100.1 5.2 16.74 41 20.2 63.45 72.5 1.92 6.49 11.4 10.1 15.02 13.4 7.25 5.72 19.42 67.2 14.3 12.4 18.72 1.87 241.6 4.9 3.15 23.35 30.6 19.9 16.14 282 0.222 11.3 3 6.71 10.1 5.8 9.9 1.76 11.8 66.3 6.55 307.8 4.53 4.4 2.66 13.32 4.55 0.142 1.2 153 3.43 2.09 26 0.97

INDUSTRIAL 42.75 663,300 10.4 1,345,000 0.79 2,441,000 1.4 696,000 19.92 6,300 0.234 800,000 127 1,620 5.34 4,538,800 16.76 770,000 41.95 534,800 20.2 800 67 37,940 76 1,210 1.94 135,000 6.9 2,675,300 11.4 23,400 10.1 4,547,800 15.1 368,900 13.64 589,000 7.25 163,600 5.77 18,521,700 19.48 2,503,300 67.3 257,860 14.3 3,737,000 12.42 67,800 18.74 3,438,900 1.89 840,000 241.8 968,270 5.34 4,112,900 3.28 15,000 23.35 15,100 31 443,000 19.98 79,400 17.38 13,177,600 284 576,280 0.222 310,000 11.68 133,100 3 11,604,000 6.84 80,200 10.1 776,600 6.19 170,400 9.9 700 1.77 629,000 12 346,100 66.45 1,906,690 6.56 199,300 307.8 2,000 4.53 6,000 4.4 6,000 2.71 323,000 13.34 84,500 4.64 71,000 0.143 80,000 1.21 104,000 154 547,470 3.5 2,000 2.12 1,267,000 26 7,600 0.97 121,000

28,344,345 13,935,288 1,892,680 971,420 124,162 189,550 192,900 24,006,395 12,922,208 22,350,155 16,310 2,560,389 90,820 261,460 18,464,913 267,036 46,103,406 5,560,232 8,037,600 1,193,096 107,335,613 48,835,884 17,422,380.50 53,439,100 841,044 65,606,464 1,587,880 234,216,252 21,393,632 47,380 352,585 13,689,510 1,585,156 227,053,808 163,780,890 69,200 1,547,864 34,812,260 545,277 7,921,066 1,007,150 6,930 1,115,880 4,109,648 126,767,736.5 ( 1,309,646 615,780 27,190 26,400 875,190 1,133,294 326,230 11,370 126,170 84,278,315 6,930 2,664,790 198,600 117,390

5,321,435 -333,900 79,900 -3,848,252 -9,997,662 1,146,860 2,542,725 -23,418 -21,233,186 3,439,236 215,102 -70,092 -23,896,444 3,981,570 -842,962 -25,339,600 -746,764 3,031,880 374,000 -68,006,728 1,142,168 2,722,830 631,056 101,600,998 17,093,258 -876,240 -2,789,816 356,000 47,200 555,965.0004) 701,850 -277,060 181,234 -3,670 12,395,079 -84,400 130,000 -

0.345 73.45 16.8 6.7 0.34 0.355 991.5 8.41 15.7 7.61 0.2 1,217 7.8 74.25 4.63 0.85 5.79 17.5 6.85 3.2 0.049 1.23 2.11 97.2 2.59 898 0.86 1.42 282.4 0.275 0.19 0.214

HOLDING FIRMS 0.35 430,000 73.45 575,170 17.18 4,655,800 6.99 325,800 0.35 3,970,000 0.355 440,000 997 323,570 8.44 2,535,200 15.8 12,020,800 7.79 1,900 0.21 260,000 1,237 90,975 7.8 300 74.25 1,160,840 4.63 1,000 0.86 319,000 5.85 1,387,500 17.84 3,835,800 6.9 15,476,500 3.2 2,000 0.053 97,100,000 1.28 740,000 2.11 19,000 98 996,110 2.59 45,000 899.5 539,730 0.9 13,000 1.42 258,000 294.8 5,400 0.275 10,000 0.191 4,120,000 0.224 4,030,000

149,850 42,587,972.5 ( 79,269,726 42 2,278,378 1,367,850 157,050 322,610,485 21,410,253 189,672,218 14,675 52,850 112,013,210 2,340 87,944,185.50 4,630 273,880 8,165,810 68,436,124 106,694,343 6,400 4,993,900 932,180 40,170 97,580,255.50 117,200 485,795,005 11,470 366,840 1,588,580 2,750 788,820 881,740

12,134,656.5) ,144,518.0006 -82,703,685 4,362,044 39,194,508 61,577,155 -32,914,419 -530,827 -13,142,644 3,520,573 29,626,265.50 4,679,035 -441,800 -9,700 -321,570

4.96 1.04 8.65 2.3 1.13 43.15 3.82 5.05 0.51 1.31 1.29 0.224 0.47 42.8 0.69 0.143 2.05 1.55 0.89 4.16 5.27 0.35 0.47

PROPERTY 4.98 702,000 1.1 32,848,000 9.24 53,700 2.39 291,000 1.16 28,405,000 43.15 13,420,700 3.85 447,000 5.07 1,420,100 0.52 58,000,000 1.31 91,000 1.3 486,000 0.226 16,140,000 0.48 460,000 44 530,100 0.7 1,633,000 0.146 4,120,000 2.06 26,721,000 1.58 16,589,000 0.9 730,000 4.16 4,000 5.3 7,829,500 0.36 21,390,000 0.47 6,150,000

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 4.56 ASIA UNITED 58.2 BANK PH ISLANDS 102.3 BDO LEASING 4 BDO UNIBANK 135 BRIGHT KINDLE 2.85 CHINABANK 35.55 COL FINANCIAL 16 EAST WEST BANK 32.7 IREMIT 1.7 MANULIFE 950 MEDCO HLDG 0.69 METROBANK 89 NTL REINSURANCE 0.84 PB BANK 13 PHIL NATL BANK 58 PHIL STOCK EXCH 237.8 PHILTRUST 119 RCBC 48.95 SECURITY BANK 245 SUN LIFE 1,895 UNION BANK 86.5 VANTAGE 1.35

4.56 59.8 102.5 4.08 135.1 2.9 35.7 16 32.7 1.75 960 0.7 89.7 0.86 13.1 58.9 238.6 119 48.95 250.2 1,900 86.7 1.43

4.54 58.2 101.6 3.94 134 2.7 35.4 15.9 32.1 1.7 950 0.69 88.5 0.84 12.98 57.8 237.6 110 48.7 245 1,895 86.5 1.31

ABOITIZ POWER 43 AGRINURTURE 10.44 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.77 ALSONS CONS 1.42 ASIABEST GROUP 20.05 BASIC ENERGY 0.238 BOGO MEDELLIN 107 CEMEX HLDG 5.2 CENTURY FOOD 17.04 CIRTEK HLDG 42.6 CNTRL AZUCARERA20.5 CONCEPCION 67.5 CONCRETE A 74 CROWN ASIA 1.95 DAVINCI CAPITAL 6.5 DEL MONTE 11.74 DNL INDUS 10.26 EAGLE CEMENT 15.02 EEI CORP 13.6 EMPERADOR 7.3 ENERGY DEVT 5.72 FIRST GEN 19.56 FIRST PHIL HLDG 67.7 GINEBRA 14.3 HOLCIM 12.4 INTEGRATED MICR 19.98 IONICS 1.93 JOLLIBEE 242.8 LMG CHEMICALS 5.1 MABUHAY VINYL 3.15 MACAY HLDG 23.35 MANILA WATER 30.7 MAXS GROUP 20 MEGAWIDE 16.14 MERALCO 285.2 MG HLDG 0.224 PANASONIC 11.3 PEPSI COLA 3 PETROENERGY 6.75 PETRON 10.38 PHIL H2O 6.1 PHINMA 9.9 PHINMA ENERGY 1.78 PHX PETROLEUM 11.8 PILIPINAS SHELL 66.3 PRYCE CORP 6.6 PUREFOODS 308 RFM CORP 4.53 ROXAS HLDG 4.4 SFA SEMICON 2.69 SHAKEYS PIZZA 13.46 SPC POWER 4.55 SWIFT FOODS 0.142 TKC METALS 1.21 UNIV ROBINA 153.7 VICTORIAS 3.43 VITARICH 2.1 VIVANT 26.5 VULCAN INDL 0.99

43 10.46 0.8 1.42 20.05 0.239 130 5.36 17.04 42.6 20.5 67.5 76 1.95 7.18 11.74 10.26 15.1 13.96 7.34 5.85 19.6 68 14.3 12.42 19.98 1.93 242.8 5.38 3.28 23.35 31 20 17.5 286 0.224 11.7 3.04 6.84 10.38 6.3 9.9 1.78 12 66.6 6.6 308 4.54 4.4 2.72 13.46 4.65 0.143 1.23 154.2 3.5 2.12 26.5 0.99

ABACORE CAPITAL 0.355 ABOITIZ EQUITY 75.3 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 17.02 ANSCOR 7 ATN HLDG A 0.345 ATN HLDG B 0.36 AYALA CORP 998 COSCO CAPITAL 8.42 DMCI HLDG 15.76 FILINVEST DEV 7.79 FORUM PACIFIC 0.2 GT CAPITAL 1,217 HOUSE OF INV 7.8 JG SUMMIT 77.85 JOLLIVILLE HLDG 4.63 LODESTAR 0.88 LOPEZ HLDG 5.98 LT GROUP 17.66 METRO PAC INV 6.86 MJC INVESTMENTS 3.2 PACIFICA 0.049 PRIME MEDIA 1.27 PRIME ORION 2.12 SAN MIGUEL CORP 98 SEAFRONT RES 2.61 SM INVESTMENTS 909 SOC RESOURCES 0.86 SOLID GROUP 1.43 TOP FRONTIER 294 UNIOIL HLDG 0.275 WELLEX INDUS 0.192 ZEUS HLDG 0.214

0.355 75.5 17.18 7 0.35 0.36 999 8.47 15.88 7.79 0.21 1,237 7.8 78.9 4.63 0.88 6 17.96 6.91 3.2 0.053 1.34 2.12 98.05 2.61 909 0.9 1.43 294.8 0.275 0.207 0.23

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

0.49 6.74 26.3 1.81 3.18 35 1.07 7.45 0.87 6.37

0.495 6.8 26.6 1.82 3.18 35 1.08 7.45 0.89 6.37

0.485 6.63 26.1 1.81 3.17 34.8 1.05 7.45 0.86 6.25

0.49 6.7 26.5 1.81 3.17 34.9 1.07 7.45 0.86 6.29

1,520,000 859,400 3,298,300 235,000 80,000 6,639,500 768,000 4,600 402,000 1,737,200

744,600 5,759,134 87,224,370 426,030 253,770 231,785,235 817,060 34,270 348,760 10,919,915

1,413,041 32,735,455 302,270 85,760 2,653,365 14,620 -3,998,568

2GO GROUP 19.98 ABS CBN 40.65 ACESITE HOTEL 1.8 APC GROUP 0.56 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.054 BERJAYA 5.06 BLOOMBERRY 10.94 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.074 CEBU AIR 106.1 CENTRO ESCOLAR 8.7 CHELSEA 9.94 DFNN INC 7.7 GLOBE TELECOM 2,064 GMA NETWORK 6.07 GOLDEN HAVEN 17.1 HARBOR STAR 2.5 IMPERIAL 3 INTL CONTAINER 104.9 IPM HLDG 8.4 ISLAND INFO 0.158 ISM COMM 1.43 JACKSTONES 3.12 LBC EXPRESS 15.88 LEISURE AND RES 4.26 LORENZO SHIPPNG 1.3 MACROASIA 15.02 MANILA BULLETIN 0.56 MANILA JOCKEY 3.12 MELCO RESORTS 7.57 METRO RETAIL 4.21 MLA BRDCASTING 17.8 NOW CORP 2.35 PAL HLDG 5.05 PAXYS 3.07 PHIL SEVEN CORP 164 PHILWEB 9.5 PLDT 1,702 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.57 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.395 PUREGOLD 54.9 ROBINSONS RTL 104 SBS PHIL CORP 6.19 SSI GROUP 4.25 STI HLDG 1.55 TRAVELLERS 4.32 WATERFRONT 1.21 WILCON DEPOT 8.8

19.98 40.65 1.8 0.57 0.054 5.14 10.98 0.074 109.5 9.05 9.99 7.98 2,086 6.08 17.9 2.54 3 106 8.4 0.159 1.43 3.14 15.88 4.3 1.32 15.22 0.56 3.12 7.81 4.3 18.8 2.39 5.12 3.07 170 9.5 1,710 1.58 0.395 55 105 6.35 4.28 1.55 4.32 1.21 8.9

19.94 40.55 1.7 0.55 0.05 5.06 10.76 0.072 105.1 8.68 9.92 7.7 2,050 6.03 16.9 2.43 2.88 104.9 8.37 0.158 1.37 3.12 15.8 4.24 1.29 14.8 0.56 2.95 7.57 4.2 17.8 2.35 5.05 3.07 164 9.35 1,699 1.51 0.395 53.8 103 6.12 4.23 1.54 4.16 1.18 8.5

SERVICES 19.96 37,200 40.55 29,200 1.74 226,000 0.55 1,373,000 0.051 185,400,000 5.08 13,400 10.92 6,015,000 0.072 18,420,000 109 175,330 9.05 1,500 9.92 760,100 7.98 23,300 2,086 24,205 6.05 369,000 17.9 239,200 2.49 731,000 2.91 104,000 105 1,807,680 8.39 375,700 0.158 1,100,000 1.37 305,000 3.14 10,000 15.88 16,300 4.25 406,000 1.3 646,000 14.96 1,692,300 0.56 60,000 2.98 938,000 7.73 1,007,100 4.27 2,131,000 18.6 800 2.38 478,000 5.12 1,600 3.07 1,000 170 2,560 9.45 305,600 1,705 55,775 1.52 25,282,000 0.395 160,000 54 2,579,990 105 342,110 6.29 2,503,800 4.24 317,000 1.54 4,448,000 4.18 1,631,000 1.19 19,312,000 8.53 3,079,800

742,546 1,185,480 387,520 767,400 9,461,200 68,080 65,677,660 1,332,670 18,723,572 13,433 7,557,870 181,192 50,218,640 2,232,699 4,228,814 1,811,330 303,140 190,210,544 3,151,486 174,310 423,830 31,380 258,546 1,726,520 841,350 25,260,198 33,600 2,803,800 7,802,914 9,065,800 14,706 1,126,490 8,125 3,070 431,420 2,873,638 95,076,830 39,073,320 63,200 139,676,899 35,743,006 15,578,021 1,345,130 6,887,350 6,892,890 23,022,130 26,495,224

9,990 5,600 -25,500 7,028,198 -740 249,494 797,593 -6,029,050 -708,600 -36,992,680 -97,300.00 -360,560 3,610,876 -60,200.00 2,161,812 496,430 -2,048 -314,500 -4,700 46,013,410 575,840 8,896,873.50 12,045,689 8,578,302 398,570 5,524,410 1,149,950 154,310 -3,458,694

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 ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING

0.0026 1.91 4.9 15.52 1.9 1.54 0.38 8.59 2.81 0.265 0.185 0.195 0.01 0.011 1.98 6.88 1.69 1.02 0.012 0.013 0.012 2.64 8.12 8.32 46

0.0026 1.91 4.97 15.7 1.9 1.55 0.385 8.59 2.84 0.265 0.199 0.207 0.011 0.011 2.01 7 1.73 1.03 0.012 0.013 0.012 2.64 8.15 8.5 46.2

0.0025 1.86 4.9 15 1.9 1.5 0.38 8.45 2.74 0.25 0.185 0.19 0.01 0.011 1.97 6.85 1.66 1.01 0.012 0.013 0.012 2.64 8.09 7.98 43.6

MINING & OIL 0.0025 205,000,000 1.87 8,620,000 4.9 87,000 15.7 16,400 1.9 9,000 1.54 4,209,000 0.38 370,000 8.58 800 2.8 24,886,000 0.25 2,840,000 0.197 99,520,000 0.201 17,100,000 0.011 19,700,000 0.011 6,000,000 1.97 302,000 6.94 1,091,100 1.73 101,000 1.03 171,000 0.012 4,000,000 0.013 300,000 0.012 5,100,000 2.64 1,000 8.15 853,700 8.05 12,125,800 43.6 555,100

529,100 16,195,460 426,410 249,578 17,100 6,416,710 141,900 6,829 69,261,350 715,100 19,225,340 3,447,240 206,700 66,000 600,510 7,578,776 171,400 174,790 48,000 3,900 61,200 2,640 6,936,434 ( 99,954,310 24,979,070

1,121,070 -4,940 -34,338,850 -99,530 229,700 1,640,466 -68,000 171,916.9998) 2,958,820 -5,529,570

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

40.45 525 107 106.4 118.7 5.78 1,040 110 1,066 1,014 105.5 109.5 75.5 81.2 77.5 78 80.25 78.2 78 80

40.5 530 107 106.5 118.7 5.78 1,040 110 1,066 1,014 105.5 109.5 75.5 81.2 77.5 78 80.25 78.2 78.5 80

40.4 520.5 107 106.4 118.7 5.77 1,040 110 1,065 1,014 105.5 109.5 75.5 80.45 76 78 80.25 78.2 78 80

PREFERRED 40.5 102,500 530 50 107 15,100 106.5 15,860 118.7 20 5.78 56,000 1,040 150 110 30 1,065 2,000 1,014 690 105.5 20 109.5 500 75.5 3,370 80.5 5,130 76 13,510 78 140 80.25 5,100 78.2 14,150 78.25 178,770 80 16,300

4,149,020 26,305 1,615,700 1,689,048 2,374 323,580 156,000 3,300 2,130,500 699,660 2,110 54,750 254,435 413,223.50 1,026,775 10,920 409,275 1,106,530 13,999,207.50 1,304,000

1,775,760 -265,880 -254,435 -8,050 -

LR WARRANT

2.52

2.55

2.5

WARRANTS 2.55 45,000

113,710

-

5.3 2.88 4.73 5.88

4.9 2.88 4.58 5.68

SME 5.03 2.88 4.58 5.75

3,635,825 17,280 289,770 3,357,272

99,740 62,445

126.2

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 125.9 126.2 6,320

796,412

-

10.9

DDS 10.9

9,810

-

NAME PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

MS ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

5.15 2.88 4.6 5.79

FIRST METRO ETF 126.2 8990 HLDG 4.98 A BROWN 1.08 ANCHOR LAND 8.97 ARANETA PROP 2.44 ARTHALAND CORP 1.14 AYALA LAND 43.9 BELLE CORP 3.84 CEB LANDMASTERS 5.09 CENTURY PROP 0.52 CITY AND LAND 1.34 CITYLAND DEVT 1.31 CROWN EQUITIES 0.224 CYBER BAY 0.475 DOUBLEDRAGON 42.9 EMPIRE EAST 0.7 EVER GOTESCO 0.146 FILINVEST LAND 2.08 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.55 IRC PROP 0.89 KEPPEL PROP 4.16 MEGAWORLD 5.31 MRC ALLIED 0.355 PHIL ESTATES 0.48

4.98 1.12 9.48 2.44 1.19 43.9 3.86 5.09 0.54 1.34 1.34 0.228 0.48 44 0.71 0.15 2.11 1.62 0.9 4.16 5.35 0.36 0.49

3,492,780 35,473,550 480,905 678,290 33,057,700 ( 581,930,775 1,718,130 7,195,603 30,485,660 120,080 636,660 3,633,760 220,150 23,168,220 1,132,410 596,310 55,300,650 26,329,300 656,500 16,640 41,506,708 7,632,500 2,940,250

-3,338,630 26,750 18,733.00 158,720.0001) -274,829,110 430,900 15,240 187,500 57,640 13,000 204,440 14,511,555 169,430.00 17,747,300 64,070 15,949,352 -330,650 -

USD DMPL A1

10.9

TRADING SUMMARY

10.9

SHARES

VALUE

FINANCIAL

15,347,689

945,634,864.78

INDUSTRIAL

89,879,996

1,449,697,562.38

158,104,319

1,800,206,825.038

PROPERTY

274,491,651

1,386,017,451.16

SERVICES

292,698,483

915,802,087.05

HOLDING FIRMS

MINING & OIL

413,177,458

257,446,653.919

GRAND TOTAL

1,245,086,217

6,762,907,189.53

724,700 6,000 63,000 585,500

900

FINANCIAL 2,002.91 (up) 0.18 INDUSTRIAL 11,169.64 (down) 11.05 HOLDING FIRMS 8,372.82 (down) 80.16 PROPERTY 3,884.31 (down) 25.06 SERVICES 1,751.65 (up) 4.57 MINING & OIL 13,625.57 (down) 304.48 PSEI 8,294.01 (down) 50.04 All Shares Index 4,884.65 (down) 23.19 Gainers: 90; Losers: 106; Unchanged: 50; Total: 246

FNI hikes Surigao nickel mine projection

By Othel V. Campos GLOBAL Ferronickel Holdings Inc. said Thursday it now expects to extract higher nickel resources from the Cagdianao ferronickel project in Surigao del Norte province of subsidiary Platinum Group Metals Corp.

FNI said the latest resource update for the Cagdianao ferronickel project was raised to 54.16 million dry metric tons of indicated mineral resources.

Based on data gathered after the completion of drilling activities at Cagdianao deposit areas 2 and 3, the indicated mineral resources increased by 3.846 million DMT from 50.314 million DMT with an average grade of 1.1 percent nickel and 31.4 percent iron.

“The updated exploration information is very encouraging as it continues to add great value to our assets,” said Global Ferronickel president Dante Bravo.

“Even as we are continuing to mine Caga 2 and 4, our exploration program allows us to successfully increase our resource inventory and continually upgrade resource confidence level. And we still have significant scope for further exploration. We expect to report new drill data for Caga 1, 6 and 7 in 2018,” he asaid.

Material mix from deposit areas 2 and 3 consists of 69 percent medium-grade, 20 percent low-grade and 11 percent high-grade.

Inferred resources also increased by 5.9 million DMT, from 18.081 million DMT to 23.982 million DMT, with an average grade of 1.2 percent nickel and 21.5 percent iron.

The Cagdianao nickel project is a 4,376-hectare project located in Sitio Kinalablaban, Barangay Cagdianao Claver, Surigao del Norte.

SSS wants to defer rate hike

SOCIAL Security Commission chairman Amado Valdez said Thursday the pension fund is still studying the possible implementation and effects of a monthly contribution rate increase, contrary to reports that it will implement a contribution adjustment by January 2018.

“The contribution increase is our last option.

However, should the institution be pushed to do such action, to secure the fund life of the Social Security System and for the benefit of our current and future members and pensioners, we would like to assure the public that the contribution rate increase will be at the minimum amount only. We are trying our best to find ways to generate income for the pension fund,” Valdez said in a statement.

Valdez said that under the current administration, collection from members’ contributions as of end-June 2017 increased 9.62 percent to P78.64 billion. SSS investment income also increased 12.27 percent in the same period from P16.09 billion to P18.35 billion.

“We are looking at various income-generating schemes including disposal of sub-optimal properties to maximize revenues from these real estate properties,” Valdez said.

Talks on SSS contribution rate increase happened in the wake of ongoing Senate hearings on the SS Reform Act of 2017.

Senator Richard Gordon, author of the bill, said the SS Charter Amendment would be a landmark bill which he would push for passage by end of this year.

World Bolkiah’s golden jubillee BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN―Brunei’s allpowerful and fabulously wealthy sultan marked 50 years on the throne in lavish style Thursday, traveling in a gilded chariot through the streets and holding a tradition-filled ceremony at his goldendomed palace.

Tens of thousands of well-wishers waving the country’s flag lined the streets and cheered as Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the world’s second-longest reigning monarch, passed by in a chariot pulled by dozens of his subjects.

Marching bands took part in the colorful procession as it made its way through the streets, the highlight of about two weeks of celebrations to mark the golden jubilee of one of the world’s richest men.

An absolute monarchy with strict Islamic laws, Brunei is one of the world’s wealthiest nations thanks to abundant oil and gas reserves, although analysts warn it faces serious challenges to diversify the economy as oil prices fall and its reserves dwindle.

Among the crowds was Melissa Ibrahim, an airline employee, who sang Hassanal’s praises.

“His majesty cares about the people, their welfare, education and health,” she told AFP. “Everything is subsidized by the government, so for that we are very, very thankful.” AFP

Widodo forced to leave car JAKARTA―Indonesia’s notorious traffic congestion was on display for the world Thursday after the country’s president was forced to walk two kilometers through the scorching heat to attend a military parade.

Graft-ridden Indonesia is home to one of Asia’s most inefficient bureaucracies and gridlock plagues many of the archipelago’s largest towns.

The country’s traffic nightmares were aptly illustrated when President Joko Widodo had to walk more than two kilometers to attend a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of the Indonesian military’s founding.

Widodo and senior government officials were held up by gridlock as they approached the military parade in Cilegon, a port city about two-and-a-half hours drive from the capital Jakarta, the presidential palace said.

After a 30-minute wait, “the president then decided from inside the car that he would walk,” Widodo’s guard Ili Dasili said in a statement.

National police chief Tito Karnavian, who was also stuck in the jam, joined the president. AFP

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

‘Dreamers’ line up for last chance to renew their status in US LOS ANGELES―Melissa Garcia was just three years old when she crossed the US border from Mexico in her mother’s arms.

She remembers almost nothing of the perilous crossing that turned her into an undocumented migrant in a country that she now calls home.

She is one of thousands of

so-called “Dreamers” set to be plunged into legal limbo with the phasing out of the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, a program which allowed them to live and work legally in the United States―but which can only be renewed for the last time on Thursday.

“Under DACA I can go out in the street without wor-

rying that I’ll be deported,” said Melissa, who is 23 and works in a shop.

Her mother Leticia crossed the border with Melissa and her five-yearold brother, traversing the border fence and the desert of Sonora before trying to build a new life for her family in the United States.

“They didn’t find out that

they didn’t have any papers until they were grown up,” said their mother, who is now 43. “I wanted them to have a normal childhood. I wanted the best for them.”

The administration of President Donald Trump said on September 5 that it was winding down DACA in six months, and Thursday is the last chance that the Oba-

ma-era scheme’s beneficiaries have to submit renewal applications if their permits expire before next March.

“By March 5th they want to have already processed all of those applications,” said Luis Perez, director of legal services at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles (CHIRLA), which offers free advice to

Spain rejects mediation calls B

ARCELONA―Spain’s government has defiantly rejected the calls for mediation over Catalonia’s push for independence as the two factions headed towards another showdown.

THE EXODUS GOES ON. Rohingya Muslim refugees walk toward the refugee camps after crossing the border from Myanmar at the Bangladeshi shores of the Naf river in Teknaf on October 5, 2017. More than half a million Rohingya have fled ethnic bloodshed in Rakhine since late August, many by boat across the Naf River that divides Myanmar and Bangladesh. AFP

VX found on clothes of women accused of murdering Kim SHAH ALAM―Traces of a nerve agent used to murder the half-brother of North Korea’s leader were found on the clothes of two women on trial for assassinating him, a chemist testified Thursday.

His testimony is the first evidence directly linking the women to the poison VX, which was used to kill Kim Jong-Nam as he waited at a crowded airport in the Ma-

laysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong are accused of smearing VX on Kim’s face in February in a Cold Warstyle hit that stunned the world.

Kim died an agonizing death within 20 minutes of being attacked with a chemical so deadly it is listed as a weapon of mass destruction.

The women, who were arrested a few days after the killing and face death by hanging if convicted, have pleaded not guilty to murdering the estranged halfbrother of Kim Jong-Un as he waited to board a flight to Macau.

The defendants, both in their 20s, say they were duped into believing they were taking part in a prank for a reality TV show, and

their lawyers blame North Korean agents.

The murder sparked a fierce row between Malaysia and North Korea, which is suspected of ordering the hit. Pyongyang denies the allegation.

Giving evidence Thursday, government chemist Raja Subramaniam said he found traces of VX on the clothes of Aisyah, 25, and Huong, 29. AFP

The European Union has urged dialogue to ease the standoff between the separatists in the northeastern region and Madrid, but Catalan leaders said they could unilaterally declare independence as early as Monday.

The tone of the crisis sharpened with Catalonia’s president denouncing the king’s intervention and Spain’s government rejecting any possible talks.

“The government will not negotiate over anything illegal and will not accept blackmail,” said a statement from Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s office.

“Negotiation in democracy only has one way, the way of the law.”

The dispute is Spain’s worst political crisis in decades and images of police beating unarmed Catalans taking part in Sunday’s banned independence vote sparked global concern.

Catalonia’s president Carles Puigdemont called the central government’s policies “disastrous” as the region’s leaders pushed on with its bid to break away from Spain, angering Madrid and raising the risk of further unrest.

Spain’s key IBEX 35 stock index plunged by more than three percent Wednesday in the ongoing turbulence, with some big Catalan banks down more than five percent.

“Political risk is back on

Iraq forces retake Hawija, stronghold of IS bastion

BAGHDAD―Iraqi forces said Thursday they had retaken the center of the Islamic State group stronghold of Hawija, one of the jihadists’ last enclaves in the country.

Troops, police and paramilitaries “liberated the whole of the center of Hawija and are continuing their advance,” the operation’s commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, said.

Government and allied forces launched an offensive last month to oust IS from Hawija, a longtime insurgent bastion.

The town is among the final holdouts from the territory seized by the jihadists in 2014 and its recapture would leave only a handful of remote outposts in IS hands.

of deep tensions and distrust between police and the communities they serve.

“It’s been positive,” said Officer Librada Godinez about her conversations at the Chicago McDonald’s, all prompted by an initial offer of a free cup of coffee. “(It) puts a smile on their face and they’re more comfortable talking to us,” Godinez told AFP. Law enforcement in many American cities have a lot of work to do to build public trust.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday for talks on the campaign against IS, which is backed by a US-led coalition including France.

The United Nations said this week that an estimated 12,500 people had fled Hawija since the launch of the offensive to retake the town and surrounding areas last month.

The UN’s humanitarian affairs office said the number of people still in the town was unknown but could be as high as 78,000.

It said humanitarian agencies have set up checkpoints, camps and emergency sites capable of receiving more than 70,000 people who could flee. AFP

The last year and a half alone has been searing for American police, with one highly-publicized case after another of questionable police shootings, often involving minorities.

Prosecutors have had difficulty securing convictions against cops, resulting in street demonstrations that sometimes turn violent― leading to even more tensions.

St Louis, located along the Mississippi River southwest of Chicago, was the most recent example. AFP

the agenda in Europe,” NFS Macro analyst Nick Stamenkovic told AFP. After meetings in the regional parliament on Wednesday, pro-independence lawmakers called a full session next Monday to debate the final results of the vote.

“According to how the session goes, independence could be declared,” a regional government source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Mireia Boya of the radical left-wing separatist CUP said it would be “a plenary to proclaim the republic” of independent Catalonia.

King Felipe VI on Tuesday branded the independence drive illegal and undemocratic, throwing his weight behind the national government.

Catalan leaders “with their irresponsible conduct could put at risk the economic and social stability of Catalonia and all of Spain”, he said.

Accusing them of “disloyalty”, the king said that the state had to “ensure constitutional order”.

Puigdemont angrily rejected this, saying in a televised address: “The king has adopted the (national) government’s position and policies which have been disastrous with regard to Catalonia. He is deliberately ignoring millions of Catalans.” AFP

Russian journalist expelled

US policemen offer coffee and a friendly ear CHICAGO―In a diverse Chicago neighborhood where dozens of languages are spoken, two police officers are visiting a McDonald’s restaurant.

They have a jug of coffee in hand and are offering a friendly ear, willing to listen to anyone who wants to have a chat.

Welcome to “Coffee with a Cop” day, an initiative held Wednesday in Chicago and across the United States for police to bond with the public.

The effort comes at a time

dreamers.

Around 150,000 permits that are due to expire between September 5 and March 5 are to be processed for renewal. If a permit expires on March 6, there is nothing that can be done.

Many other immigrant organizations have also scrambled to defend the Dreamers.

AFP

LENIN REMEMBERED. Lenin statues are pictured at the open-air museum in FrumushykaNova, some 170 km from the south Ukrainian city of Odessa, on October 4, 2017. Ukrainian businessman Aleksander Palariyev collected in his “Museum of the Social Realism Monuments”, located in the abandoned village, some 128 monuments of Vladimir Illitch Lenin, which were dismantled after the Ukrainian parliament adopted the Decommunization Law in 2015. AFP

KIEV―Ukraine’s security service said Thursday it had expelled a Russian state television journalist for allegedly preparing a program that hurt the “national interests” of the crisis-torn country.

NTV state television reporter Vyacheslav Nemyshev is the second Russian journalist to be deported from Ukraine in just over a month.

Anna Kurbatova, a reporter with Russian Channel One television, was kicked out for similar reasons at the end of August.

The SBU security service said Nemyshev had prepared a series of “deceitful anti-Ukrainian” reports that propagated the separatist cause of the two Russia-backed fiefdoms of Lugansk and Donetsk in Ukraine’s east.

NTV television said on its website that Nemyshev was detained in Kiev on Wednesday while he was slicing up a popular “Kiev cake” for one of his reports, without providing further details.

The dessert is made by a confectionery company founded by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

The SBU banned Nemyshev from returning to Ukraine for three years.

AFP

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

B4

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

LGUs

DoE task force to protect energy facilities activated

By Alena Mae S. Flores

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

NEW MALL OPENS. Megaworld senior vice president and Lifestyle Malls head Kevin Tan (center) leads the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Southwoods Mall in the City of Biñan, Laguna. With Tan are (from Left) Primer Group of Companies VP for Business Development Paul Sy, Rustan Coffee Co. store development head Quito Lopez, Lucerne Group president and CEO Ivan Yao, Suyen Corp. VP for Business Development Bryan Lim, Global Estate Resorts Inc. president Monica Salomon, Biñan Rep. Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat, Biñan City Mayor Arman Dimaguila, and Breadtalk Philippines chairman and CEO Wilson Chu Sr.. The Southwoods Mall is Megaworld’s 14th lifestyle development in Biñan. Roy Tomandao

ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi has convened the Inter-Agency Task Force on Securing Energy Facilities (IATSEF) to coordinate the restoration of the power services in affected areas of the toppled tower in Mindanao.

Cusi made the directive following the attack on Transmission Tower 106 along Kibawe and Sultan Kudarat by suspected terrorists at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, a member of the IATSEF, managed to tap an alternative power transmission line to temporarily supply the needed electricity.

After the bombing of Tower 106, power was temporarily sourced from an alternative route through the Tacurong 69kV line. Because of this, the voltage was being maintained at 45MW due to load limitation.

NGCP also reported that a rotating load curtailment is being implemented in the franchise areas of Maguindanao Electric Cooperative, Cotabato Electric Cooperative, and Palma and Cotelco Light and Power to maintain the delivery of power services in the affected areas.

The Department of Energy said a bypass line is being constructed through an excavation for anchors and the setting up of two sets of Emergency Restoration System from the Baloi Substation to improve delivery service.

Manila eyes ‘lenient curfew’

By Bill Casas

F

OLLOWING the Supreme Court’s decision striking down its curfew ordinance for being unconstitutional, the city government of Manila will introduce a new regulation that will be more lenient and less restrictive to minors, Mayor Joseph Estrada said on Thursday.

Estrada said the new draft curfew ordinance will not in any way unnecessarily infringe on the constitu-

tional rights of the minors and their parents or guardians but its goal will just be the same: Protect them

IN BRIEF Use of Pangasinan seal pushed by NHCP urged LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Gov. Amado I. Espino III has asked all chiefs of offices and chiefs of hospitals for the use of the updated seal of the province of Pangasinan as officially recommended by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

“All chiefs/heads of office/hospital and all employees are hereby enjoined to adopt/use the new seal of the province recommended by the NHCP in all their letterheads, calling cards and other official usages deemed appropriate/necessary effective immediately,” Espino stated in the memorandum he issued on Sept. 29.

Last April 24, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved Provincial Resolution No. 309-2017 entitled “Approving the Modified Design and Symbolism of the Proposed Seal of the Province as Recommended by the NHCP.” The resolution ratified the use of NHCP—reviewed official seal and official flag of the province of Pangasinan.

Resolution author, Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario, said the SP interposes no objection to the NHCP’s modified design and symbolism of the proposed seal of the province, which is in pursuance to the basic heraldic rules as provided in Republic Act 8491, otherwise known as the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines and Memorandum Circular No. 9230 issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Dexter A. See

from crimes at nighttime.

“We are balancing the rights of the people and the government’s duty to protect them from harm. This new [curfew] ordinance will not be as harsh as the old one, in fact it will be more lenient, but I assure you, we will implement this strictly,” he said.

Estrada has asked the City Council to prioritize the passage of the proposed ordinance but reminded the councilors to hear the people’s views first and change some of the provisions if

necessary before they pass it for implementation.

Councilor Ricardo “Boy” Isip Jr. of the 5th District, the principal author of the draft ordinance, said the proposed law has been approved during the first reading on last week of August before the council went on recess and is now set for a series of public hearings starting this Friday, Oct. 6.

Isip’s curfew legislation bans minors below 18 years old to wander or loiter in streets and public places

during nighttime, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

But unlike the old City Ordinance No. 8046 passed in 2002 during the incumbency of then mayor Lito Atienza, the provisions of the new curfew ordinance are more “relaxed” and “child-friendly,” according to Isip.

“For one, we took out the provision that penalizes the offending minor, including putting them to jail. This time, we will hold their parents or guardians responsible, not them,” Isip pointed out.

“Our aim here is ensure the welfare of our youth, ‘yung kanilang development, protection from criminality,” he added.

In the wake of the recent killings of teenagers, Isip lamented that it is always the government that gets the blame if minors get victimized by crimes in the streets.

Under Isip’s bill, minors who are apprehended for curfew violations for the first time will be “surrendered” to the nearest barangay hall, police station, or

Makati starts citywide flu vaccination for kids, govt workers

By Joel E. Zurbano MAKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay has ordered a city-wide anti-influenza vaccination for children and city government employees in a bid to lessen cases of flu among residents.

Binay tapped Makati Health Department officer-in-charge Dr. Bernard Sese to begin with the “quad-

rivalent” flu vaccine program to public school students from kinder to grade six pupils, which covers four strains of the flu virus.

The mayor said the program aimed to minimize hospitalization and complications which accompany the flu, especially during the rainy season.

“The flu is a serious disease

that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes death. Apart from the physical and financial burden of being sick, children who contract the flu virus are unable to go to school while adults need to be absent from work. This hampers productivity and inconveniences family members and co-workers,” Binay explained.

The vaccination period for public elementary school children has been set for Oct. 3 until Nov. 29, 2017.

MHD teams are being set up to go to designated public elementary schools in the city. On the other hand, all Makati City government employees will also be given free flu vaccines from Oct. 3 to Dec. 15, 2017.

Valenzuela gains Seal of Good Education

Philex employees start seed bank TUBA, Benguet—Padcal mine, Philex Mining Corp.’s gold-and-copper operations in this province, has collected about 14,000 seeds of various forest and fruit-bearing trees from the personnel of its 15 departments, following the launch of a seed-bank project that aims to boost the number of seedlings at the company’s nursery.

Dubbed “Sa Buto, May Buhay” (“In a Seed, There’s Life”), the project kicked off in mid-July, with the Geology and Exploration Division leading the number of seeds contributed at 4,546, followed by the Medical Dept. at 2,308, and the Legal Dept. at 1,659 as at end-August.

Julius Bayogan, manager at Padcal’s Environmental Quality Monitoring and Enhancement Dept., said the collected seeds have been sent to the 10,000-squaremeter (sq. m.) or 1-hectare (ha.) nursery for germination. “This project will surely increase the number of seedlings that we can prepare for tree-planting activities in the future,” he added.

There are 30,000 seedlings of various species of forest and fruit-bearing trees, and tropical ornamental plants left at the nursery, following the planting of 120,000 seedlings starting from May 31 in line with Philex Mining’s annual reforestation program, according to Leon Mocate, senior forestry coordinator at the EQMED. Dexter A. See

government social welfare center.

The minor’s parents or guardians will then be immediately summoned and made to sign a notarized undertaking promising that their child or ward would not again violate curfew hours.

Both offending minor and parent will then be released within the night.

For the second offense, the parent or guardian of the apprehended minor will be fined P1,000 and/or a 48hour community service.

PAG-IBIG PARTNERS. Pag-IBIG Fund has recognized its top 10 partner-developers in South Luzon based on housing loan takeouts, during its Home Lending Accomplishment Report for the first half of 2017 in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. For the first semester, Pag-IBIG financed the purchase or construction of 5,069 housing units in South Luzon, valued at P3.96 billion.

Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairperson Eduardo D. del Rosario (top row, 5th from left) and Pag-IBIG Chief Executive Officer Acmad Rizaldy P. Moti (4th from left) led the recognition ceremony together with acting vice president for Home Lending Operations for Luzon Group lawyer Joseph P. Quiboloy (3rd from left), acting Senior VP for Business Development Sector Benjamin R. Felix, Jr. (6th from left), and Manager for Business Development Department for South Luzon engineer Sigfred T. Briones (8th from left).

Regional DND-OCD office opened at QC City Hall

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista has allowed the Department of National Defense’s Office of the Civil Defense to open its National Capital Region office inside the city hall compound.

This was after the 36-member Quezon City council passed a resolution authorizing Bautista to

enter into a usufruct agreement with the OCD regarding the use of an office space in one of the buildings within the Quezon City Hall Complex.

District 1 Councilor Alex Herrera authored City Resolution 7128 to allow the OCD-NCR to locate its office at the second floor of the Civic Center C Building near the Bureau of Immigration satellite office.

Under Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1992, the mayor is vested with the power to render an office space to government officials and employees entitled under the law to such spaces.

Meanwhile, District 2 Councilor Juliene Alyson Rae Medalla urged authorities to implement the 11 p.m. curfew for minors in computers shops.

VALENZUELA is the only city in Metro Manila that was awarded the “Seal of Good Education Governance” with 23 local governments in different parts of the country for their educational programs that focused on the youth.

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian accepted the award from Synergeia Foundation sa National Education Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center last week.

PLDT and Smart Communications gave P1.5-million worth “technology packages” for the city’s information and communications requirements.

Among the other localities that accepted the same award were: Argao, Cebu; Bacnotan, La Union; Balamban, Cebu; Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; Cabatuan, Iloilo; Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental; Concepcion, Iloilo; Dalaguete, Cebu; Dao, Capiz; Datu Paglas, Maguindanao; Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya; Diffun, Quirino; Ivisan, Capiz; Lambunao, Iloilo; Miagao, Iloilo; Mina, Iloilo; North Upi, Maguindanao; Santol, La Union; Simunul, TawiTawi; Solano, Nueva Vizcaya; Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya and Tuba, Benguet. Jun David

Life

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

CULTURE AND MEDIA

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

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ORIGINAL EIFFEL TOWER STAIRCASE at Greenbelt

A brief history of Janat Paris and Gustave Eiffel and how the Eiffel Tower came to be.

A

YALA Malls delivers yet another new, exciting opportunity—the first in the world—an exhibition of the original Eiffel Tower Staircase at Greenbelt 3.

For the first time in history, the Eiffel Tower Staircase will leave Paris for Filipinos to see. Architecture enthusiasts and mall visitors can look at this incredible piece of historical architecture until Jan. 15 next year.

It is at the Greenbelt 3 Sunken Garden.

The grand Eiffel Tower Staircase, measuring 5 meters in height and 1.7 meters in diameter, and weighing 1.7 tons, is part of the iconic French monument, the tallest tower in the world when it was unveiled in 1889. Demonstrating France’s industrial and cultural strength to the world, the Eiffel Tower became the global symbol of French ingenuity, craftsmanship and engineering perfection.

The Eiffel Tower stood an impressive 300 meters tall, and was built in two years, two months and five days by 250 workers.

Today, Filipinos can see first-hand and appreciate the exceptional structural engineering and proud French heritage through the Eiffel Tower Staircase, in the Philippines through the partnership of Ayala Malls Greenbelt and Janat Paris, the renowned Parisian Tea House.

Janat Paris is owned by the Janat family, who—through Janat Dores—shares

a unique history with Gustave Eiffel, renowned engineer and architect behind the French monument. Dores’ and Eiffel’s common history and friendship led to the creation of the Janat French Oak Tea, which was first served at the inauguration of the Exposition Universelle in 1889.

Today, Janat Paris celebrates its history and enduring legacy of its patriarch through its premium tea lines. Janat Paris, as a responsible tea producer, also upholds its social responsibility to its women workers through the Foundation Femmes du Monde.

Janat empowers its women, who comprise 90 percent of the work force, by enabling them to create value for themselves and their community.

“Ayala Malls is elated to be the chosen partner of Janat Paris for such a historic event,” says Joseph Reyes, Ayala Malls assistant vice president, and Area head of Central & South Malls. “We, at Ayala Malls, have always strived to deliver new, exciting experiences, and now, we’ve pushed that even further by bringing worlds/countries together. This unique and rare opportunity celebrates not only the enduring friendship between France and the Philippines, but also our shared vision and values.”

A PART OF PARIS.

The original Eiffel Tower Staircase is displayed at the Greenbelt 3 Sunken Garden until Jan. 15.

From left: Ayala Malls Greenbelt General Manager Mina Domingo, Ayala Malls Assistant Vice President and Area Head for Central Manila Joseph Reyes, Ayala Malls Group Chief Operating Officer Myrna Fernandez, International President of Janat Paris and part of the founding family Bejit Dores and French Embassy Charge d’ Affaires Laurent Le Godec.

By Pablo A. Tariman THE classical guitar was the centerpiece of several cultural events in Metro Manila in the last two months.

It started with special tribute to guitar maestro Jose Valdez who has long championed the cause for the classical guitar.

Prof. Valdez has taught and lectured on the rudiments of classical guitar for 45 years, enriching guitar studies by introducing subjects such as “Applied Music with an 8 Level Course,” “Progressive Studies in Philippine Guitar Music,” “The Art of Transcribing and Arranging for the Guitar” and “Guitar History and Literature,” among others.

These pioneering efforts resulted in the recognition of classical guitar studies by the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) as a major and degree instrument.

Ramoncito Carpio, organizer of the Manila Guitar Festival noted, “His guitar arrangements of traditional and popular Philippine music as well as his own compositions, contributed greatly in expanding the Philippine guitar repertoire. In his long teaching career, Sir Joe has trained many students who have become competent teachers and performers. He is also instrumental in the formation of the Guitar Friends, a group of guitar aficionados consisting of business people and professionals that support guitar activities and festivals. He also made me realize the importance of including Philippine music in our repertoire. I know how impor-

Classical guitar fever

Composer Jeffrey Ching talks about his work in the Manila Guitar Festival, which promotes new works for classical guitar. tant it is to study the works of Bach, Tarrega and Rodrigo but it is also important that we pay attention to our own music. He has been championing Philippine guitar music in his whole career and his dedication has inspired me to do the same.”

Valdez has also done extensive research from the Philippine music archives and has published 31 books on classical guitar.

Meanwhile, the Manila Guitar Festival

saw the gathering of classical guitar practitioners in Metro Manila.

Among them were the masterclass and recitals of Margarita Escarpa (Spain), Agustin Avila (Spain), Yvonne Zehner (Germany), Bin Hu (China/ USA), and special performances of the Manila Guitar Quartet and Sparrow Music Guitar Ensemble.

The Filipino participants were classical guitarists Aaron Aguila, Adrik Cristobal,

Iqui Vinculado and the Metropolitan Guitar Ensemble with special participation of flamenco guitarist Adolfo Timuat.

Guitar fest director Carpio said the festival organizers were lucky to get support from the Rotary Club of Makati Poblacion and the University of Makati.

Added Carpio, “For years, we were always looking for ways to bring guitar music to new audiences and these groups were

very instrumental in helping us achieve that goal. One of the highlights of the fest is the premiere of Jeffrey Ching’s work Canon for the King of Zhou for guitar ensemble specially written for this festival. Aside from the outstanding performance of international guests, we were able to highlight upand-coming soloists and guitar ensembles from different music colleges and conservatories.”

He pointed out it was a difficult job commuting between performing and organizing.

“It’s really tough since we are understaffed and working on a very limited budget. As a performer and organizer, the key really is time management. I knew that once the festival starts, I won’t be able to touch my guitar, so I tried my best to squeeze in at least an hour of practice time every day weeks before the festival. It’s not a question of how long you practice but how you practice.”

Moreover, Carpio noted that the festival highlighted the notable increase for the appreciation of classical guitar. “The situation now is way better than what we have years ago. Today, it’s easier to disseminate information and invite people with the help of social media. The guitar community is more united now. Everyone is helping whenever there is a guitar event. The guitar community is growing through the years, and hopefully, it will continue to grow so that more people will be able to experience the beauty of the sound of classical guitar.”

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017 Isah V. Red, Editor • Nickie Wang, Writer

PEOPLE ...are not talking about

…are talking about

Sharon Cuneta The Megastar took to social media to express how upset she was for receiving a last minute invite to the annual Star Magic Ball. The 51-year-old singer and actress said she didn’t have anything spectacular to wear and didn’t have any more time to prepare, too, that’s why she had to decline. Surely, people understand where she’s coming from but what they couldn’t really comprehend was her being too distraught about the whole situation. Aren’t older people relieved whenever they don’t get invited to a gala attended mostly by millennials?

Xander Ford His half-a-million-peso transformation was so phenomenal it got the whole Internet talking.

The video of his post-plastic surgery look, which was featured in Rated K, garnered six million views on Facebook and two million views on YouTube in less than 24 hours. That’s a massive attention, we must say. But most people didn’t know that they’re just watching an expensive advertising ploy. We know what was running on your mind when his transformation was revealed on TV. Your eyes couldn’t believe it, right? And at one point you also imagined yourself going under the knife.

Jason Abalos Look who has just jumped over the bakod. Jason was officially welcomed as a Kapuso on Tuesday after 13 years of being a Kapamilya. While it’s normal for talents to shift loyalty when they aren’t receiving any offers and assignments, but TV networks should also consider the value of the talents they’re signing up to be their contract stars. In Jason’s case, we don’t think he’s that worthy of an investment. Kapuso network has a talent pool of better looking and younger stars that are just waiting to be utilized.

Why take someone in who will just eventually wait in the wings?

Andi Eigenmann Has she already quit showbiz? Well, that’s according to one of her Instagram posts. Andi had been responding to a netizen, who told her she’s a snob.

Probably fumed for being trolled by a stranger, who basically didn’t know anything about her life apart from the occasional scandal on and offline, she responded that she already left showbiz because she wasn’t happy and that she wanted to be a fulltime mom. People find this situation interesting though since it’s only now that she realized that her five-yearold kid needs a fulltime mom after so many years of partying.

Star Magic Ball No doubt, this annual gathering of Star Magic talents is the biggest and the most important, not to mention the most outlandish, gathering in showbizlandia. The annual gala is also an interesting source of major fashion news and entertainment headlines. And this year wasn’t an exception.

From the stars’ preparation to the gathering to the red carpet event, social media was flooded by everything Star Magic Ball. We were just curious though what the other stars felt when they realized that they were not invited and will never get invited in this glitzy event. For sure they wished they were Star Magic talents, too.

Dingdong Dantes He’s very lucky to have a wife who supports him all the way. And people think he’s even more fortunate for being a Kapuso star that can work in a different network without encountering any issue. Dingdong is in the cast of Seven Sundays, a family drama produced

by Star Cinema. It’s good to note that it’s already his sixth project with ABS-CBN’s film production arm. And yet, no one questions his loyalty to GMA Network.

New weekday morning habit

Thailand’s rising millennial stars Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying (left) and Chanon Santinatornkul in a scene from the regional hit coming-of-age drama, “Bad Benius”

International hit ‘Bad Genius’ comes to RP this month AFTER lording it over the tills in Cambodia, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, Thailand’s biggest international movie hit Bad Genius is coming to the Philippines on Oct. 18. The movie is an exciting, fun thriller based on real-life news of school cheating, and features themes of class inequality, and relatable teen social issues.

The movie, directed by Nattawut Poonpiriya, stars the phenomenal Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying in her acting debut as Lynn, a straight-A student who devises an examscheating scheme which eventually

rises to international levels.

Bad Genius has received critical and commercial success during their screenings at different film festivals around the globe.

On the festival circuit, Bad Genius was screened as the opening feature of the 16th New York Asian Film Festival on June 30. It was the first Southeast Asian film to be chosen to open the event. The film was also screened at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Canada and the New Zealand International Film Festival to a full house. Due to its impressive attendance, the movie received encore screenings in

both festivals. It has been selected for the Fukuoka, Vancouver, BFI London and Fantastic Fest film festivals.

Hollywood Reporter heaped praise for the movie saying, Bad Genius scores high marks as a ceaselessly entertaining thriller,” while Variety noted, “the film is executed with that studio’s trademark technical slickness and hip style, but director also offers subtle yet stinging insight into Thailand’s class inequalities and corrupt school system.”

Bad Genius is distributed in the Philippines by Silverline Multimedia.

IT HAS been said a million times over that laughter is the best medicine. But with the phenomenal Lolas around, laughter can be heightened to a sense of positive wellbeing.

Lola Nidora, Lola Tinidora, and Lola Tidora were first brought to the TV screen via Eat Bulaga’s “Kalyeserye,” which also featured ALDUB or Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza. In that afternoon segment, the three Lolas became household names, and even became well known in social media, making the trio a stellar success among the young and old alike, in and out of the country.

The Lolas were human representations of clean fun and age-old values that never run out of style among Filipinos. They can talk to the older set and remind them lessons on life as well as engage the millennials in a lesson or two about adulting. Suffice to say that “relatability” among viewers is indeed the Lolas’ primary asset, making them the most sought-after trio that can “speak” to the hearts and minds of most Filipinos— as simple as turning sadness into positive vibes. They have set a standard on trends as well. Who would ever forget Lola Nidora’s “Babala!” or Lola Tidora’s “Whooo!” and who would not recall Lola Tinidora’s comic dance to “Mambo No.5”?

Surely, these are some of the things that the viewers miss in Eat Bulaga. But because of insistent viewers’ demand, the

Lolas are finally returning on television.

All of these antics plus A-List guest celebrities will surely fill up those weekday longings for laughter in a new talk show featuring the three Lolas!

So catch your daily dose of fun and laughter with The Lolas’ Beautiful Show, Mondays to Fridays,11:30 a.m. on GMA-7.

BEAUTIFUL LOLAS. (From left) Paolo Ballesteros, Wally Bayola, and Jose Manalo take their popular “Kalyeserye” characters in a new late morning talk show

Motoring

Subaru’s pound for pound fighter

This BRZ is based on Subaru’s performance Super GT race car

Text by Dino Ray V. Directo III

S

UBARU has always been known as a manufacturer who pushed the boundaries of performance. With the impending launch of the Honda Civic Type R in the domestic market, the only manufacturer who can step up the plate to counter Honda’s prize fighter, pound for pound at present is Fuji Industries.

Initially developed for expansion of Subaru’s performance division Subaru Tecnica International (STI) in the United States, this STi tuned variant made quite a splash and was very popular in other markets outside of Japan as well.

With its three core business areas; aftermarket

parts, STI-tuned cars and motorsports, This pocket rocket features more extensive modifications from the factory than previously offered, such as suspension, performance, braking, chassis and aerodynamic upgrades.

At STI we know from our racing that to win, it is

important not only to have high power, but also that all aspects of performance are balanced over the whole car,” said Yoshio Hirakawa, president of Subaru Tecnica International, Inc. “When we achieve this balance, the driver feels that the car is easy to handle and reliable, and he can use it fully to the limits of its performance.

Our plan is to produce cars and accessories that drivers can really enjoy.”

The STI Performance Concept is a showcase for the engineering prowess and tuning capability of STI, featuring the racing engine developed by STI for the BRZ Super GT racecar, suspension and chassis components and aerodynamic upgrades.

This special edition veers away from the garden variety BRZ with its aggressive aerodynamic styling start-

ing from the front fascia, down to the massive rear wing and splitter that generates enough down force to hug fast corners. The car is also equipped with special edition LED front headlamp clusters and rear tail lights. Twin exhaust pipes give away the nature of this mechanical beast.

The best part of the package lies underneath the hood, a 300bhp boxer four which is the same engine that powers the BRZ Super GT racecar. Add other features such as a lightened chassis, race tuned suspension and you have a car that can go head to head with the Type R. Complete cars (extensive tuning by STI) and performance parts are available in Japan focus on the WRX STI, Forester and BRZ models. The Japanese domestic market uses the nomenclature “S model” as its

naming for the WRX STI and uses “tS” on BRZ and Forester vehicles that have STI components. The question now is, will this model ever make it to our shores?

STI was founded as Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries’ motor sports division in 1988.

In 1989, a first-generation Subaru Legacy, tuned by STI, broke the FIA-certified world speed record over 100,000 kilometers.

From there, STI moved on to the World Rally Championship, winning 3 constructors championships and 3 driver championships for Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Petter Solberg.

It currently competes in the Nurburgring 24 Hour Challenge race winning its class two times in 2011 and 2012 and also in the Super GT series with its BRZ-based Super GT.

Bike Fair 2017 wraps up Manila Leg MOTORCYCLE riders in the Philippines continue to grow in number every year. According to the Industry Government Online, Metro Manila has 860,517 registered bikers, making it the largest motorcycle community in the country. The two-wheeled vehicle has become a common and essential mode of transportation for Filipinos.

To thank bikers for their unceasing support and to emphasize its commitment to the growing motorcycle community, the global fuel giant geared up for its annual Shell Bike Fair 2017 with a series of exciting events across the country. Made possible by Shell Advance Motorcycle Oils and the newly launched Shell VPower fuels, the aim is to delight drivers, enthusiasts, and bike club members alike. The two brands are any bikers’ reliable companion on the road: Shell Advance allows for a smoother ride by protecting the engine from wear and maintaining clean pistons, while the new and improved Shell V-Power is designed1 to deliver both performance and efficiency. These offerings are born out of Shell’s groundbreaking technology in developing smarter products and concept lubricants, which are designed to give motorists convenience and efficiency while on the road.

Shell Bike Fair 2017 Manila Leg Manila is the country’s motorcycle capital. More and more motorists use bikes to efficiently drive around the city. Pilipinas Shell recognizes this growing community and aims to help them outride anything on the road with Shell Advance Motor Oils and deliver better performance and efficiency to their engines through Shell V-Power. Shell Advance Motor Oils and Shell V-Power

come together in an event that celebrates the passion for riding – Shell Bike Fair 2017.

The festivities took place at the World Trade Center in Metro Manila, where guests enjoyed powerful performances by Soupstar Band, Northdrive, Skylight, Imago, Go Girls, Imago and Parokya ni Edgar, as well as appearances by celebrities Max Collins, Jackie Rice, Andrea Torres, Roxanne Barcelo, Sam Pinto, and Bella Padilla. Several motorcycle clubs received special prizes and 3 lucky winners brought home brand new bikes: a Yamaha Aerox, Suzuki Raider, and Honda CBR 150.

Partners on the road A frontrunner in promoting smarter mobility, Shell aims to be the trusted partner of every Filipino motorist in their everyday journeys. With their bikes filled with Shell Advance motor oil, riders have the confidence to face different challenges, from rough terrains and pollution, to traffic and harsh weather conditions. Shell Advance’s PurePlus/ Active Cleansing Technology’s formulation pro-

vides the benefits of horsepower, superior wear, high temperature protection, piston cleaning, and better fuel economy.

Shell’s world-class lubricants go hand-in-hand with their most advanced2 Shell V-Power fuels, now with DYNAFLEX Technology.3 Shell V-Power Gasoline has a new breakthrough formulation that targets dirt and helps remove up to 80% of performance robbing deposits on key fuel system components4.

“For over 100 years, Pilipinas Shell’s products and services have evolved to meet the current needs of Filipino motorists. We want our customers to know that Shell is every Pinoy motorists‘ partner as they face challenges on the road.

Shell has evolved into more than just a gas station; it is a pit stop that fuels both you and your motorcycles,” says Anthony Lawrence Yam, Pilipinas Shell Vice President for Retail. Shell is a global leader in power and energy, and is working to meet the increasing energy demand and supply challenges by delivering smarter products and cleaner energy.

Thousands of motorcycle riders gather for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the biggest Shell Bike Fair. from left: Shell V-Power Brand Manager Mark Malabanan, Shell Lubricants General Manager Dennis Javier, Shell Advance Brand Manager Recca Menchavez-Malabanan, and Shell Lubricants Marketing Manager Serge Bernal opened the gates to the grand celebration.

Ever heard of Pagani Automobili ?

FOR hardcore motorheads, hypercars represent the ultimate in automotive technology, a notch above supercars in terms of performance, technology, design, luxury, exclusivity, and rarity. With price tags in the millions of dollars, hypercars exist only in the rarefied world of the rich and famous, and ordinary mortals might never get to see one in their lifetime, except on a movie screen―or in a scale model box.

Some hypercars offered in the market are the Bugatti Chiron, the Lamborghini Centenario, and the Porsche 918. Exclusively creating only hypercars, Pagani is a marque that many Filipino motorists may not be familiar with. Founded in 1992 by Argentinian Horacio Pagani, the company is based in the Motor Valley, just outside of Modena, Italy, and is manned by just 130 employees.

The Pagani Zonda was first introduced at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show. Although it does not share the names of its customers, it is well-known that Lewis Hamilton owns a purple 2012 Pagani Zonda.

The Pagani Huayra, which was featured in the 2013 Transformers 4 movie, retails for US$2.5-million. It has a top speed of 378kph, and 0-100kph acceleration time is 3.2-seconds.

Only about 40 units are built each year.

How do you recognize a Pagani? Its most distinctive feature is the 4-tube exhaust―the Quattro Scarichi, in Italian―coming together in a circle.

There are currently no Pagani hypercars in the Philippines, but that may change very soon!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

C3

FASTLANE Hippo techmat UNLIKE basic universal floor mats which are expensive and hassle to install, Hippo techmats are designed to precisely fit specific vehicles, providing edge-to-edge coverage of the foot wells.

Aside from being the most affordable 3D digital mapped floormats in the market today, Hippo also have raised edges around their perimeters to trap and contain liquid. All of this better protects your car’s carpets from water, dirt, mud and other messy things that can get trapped into the vehicle’s carpets or spilled onto the floor.

“Our products also have patterns around the techmats that channel away fluids from your feet to a reservoir at the rear edges. Our 3D digital mapped techmats are easy to install, remove and fits most cars, pickups and SUV’s,” explains Lance Chua of Autospecs, distributor and a popular car accessories and parts shop in Banawe Quezon City. “Our floor mats are also designed to not move around or slip on the floor and the best thing about it

is they are easy to clean,” adds Chua.

With countless hours spent on research and development, Hippo Industries 3D digital mapped techmats are the most affordable and best designed in comparison to its nearest competitor which is double the price. It is also the techmatsof choice of automotive dealers due to its competitive pricing and innovative material Thermo Plasti Vulcanisil B which is weather and scratch proof. Hippo Floormats have precise fitments for the Mitsubishi Montero, Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest, Honda Mobilio and BRV, Chevrolet variants, and pick-ups such as the Toyota Hi-Lux, Mitsubishi Strada and the Ford Ranger.

Check out a full range of luggage, off-road accessories and floormats at the GW2 Trading Corporation showroom in 16B Kabignayan Street, Brgy. Dona Josefa, Quezon City or call 0917-7103846/+6322420959/0929 or e mail at gw2tradingcorp@gmail. com

Digital Art tilt launched HYUNDAI Asia Resources Inc. (HARI), the Philippines’ official distributor of Hyundai vehicles, embraces innovation that goes beyond vehicle technology. This extends to supporting Filipino artistry as an expression of HARI’s love and zest to empower everyone to get more out of life.

To celebrate Filipino ingenuity, HARI holds an OPEN CALL for its first ever 2-part Digital Art Competition.

Filipino students and professionals, aged 18 and above, who are into digital design are encouraged to join the preliminaries by submitting a digital artwork that captures the theme, “VISION OF FUTURE SELF”.

The preliminaries are divided into two (2) categories: Student (those currently enrolled in duly recognized academic institutions for SY 20172018), and Professional (working individuals engaged in digital art or design from any industry). Twelve shortlisted entrants (comprised of six students and six professionals) will advance to the final round.

The shortlist winners will each receive a certificate, P15,000 cash prize and a host of PR opportunities in the form of

exhibits and print/online features. Most importantly, they are to attend a once-in-lifetime workshop to be facilitated by renowned proponents of creatives and storytelling.

The grand prize winners will be given trophies, plus P80,000 for the Gold Award, P60,000 for Silver and P40,000 for Bronze. Their artwork will be exposed to more channels like merchandise, billboards and the like.

This is just the beginning of the many initiatives HARI has in store for today’s homegrown talents. As kasama sa biyahe ng buhay, the company aims to recognize those who are driven to create and inspire, by providing the perfect platform to showcase their passion—be it through arts, films, wall murals, and more.

Additionally, HARI believes that this collaborative journey will jumpstart a creative community bound with a purpose.

If you live and breathe creatives, stand up and be counted —magbahagi, makibahagi! Join HARI’s digital art competition by visiting digitalart. hyundai.ph for more details. Deadline for submission of entries is on October 13, 2017.

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Edi tor DIN O DIREC TO III A ss t . Edi tor

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

The long wait is over for fans of the red badge

Honda Type R

lands in Manila Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

I

T WAS an exciting week for the domestic automotive market as the first batch of Civic Type R’s were unloaded at the Batangas Port early this month, which Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) say is intended for display purposes in choice Honda dealers nationwide. Fans of the red badge can visit the iconic Type R in dealers starting the second week of this month.

After years of waiting for Honda to sell the Type R locally, a limited run of 100 units were sold out in a matter of hours last July 10 to an eager and lucky few would be owners. When asked if Honda were to sell another batch next year. HCPI said that the chances of this happening will be a matter for review and study by Honda Japan.

The Type R badge has denoted the highest performance version of its respective model, derived from philosophy of crafting racing-inspired road cars. Honda’s Type R models have always represented the pu-

rity of the original concept of minimizing weight while maximizing power, responsiveness, dynamic stability and braking performance.

The Type R’s concept aims to deliver the most rewarding driving experience, both on the road and on the race track.

Engineered from the ground up, this Fifth generation variant sits on a global platform and brings to the fight a potent 2.0-liter VTEC TURBO engine with a maximum power output of 310 PS at 6,500rpm, and peak torque of 400 Nm from 2,500rpm to 4,500rpm. The engine is

mated to a six-speed manual transmission that is further enhanced by a rev match control system which enables the car to sustain maximum power during gearshifts. The rev-matching function can be switched on or off in the user settings for the car, regardless of which driving mode is selected.

All of the power is transmitted to its front wheels through an exceptionally responsive helical limitedslip differential (LSD) that provide the Type R’s with strong cornering traction.

The All-New Civic Type R features a bespoke chassis, suspension, and steering setup for a more responsive handling as well as improved highspeed stability. Up front, the Type R sports a lowerarm-type front MacPherson strut suspension that minimizes torque steer and maximizes handling.

While at the rear, a multilink suspension setup helps the All-New Civic Type R improve its stability when braking as well as reducing the vehicle’s body roll movement when cornering. It also features a re-

vised four-wheel Adaptive Damper System that delivers superior ride quality and exceptional road performance The Type R is also equipped with a new lightweight aluminum hood with hood scoop to provide higher air intake to the turbo.

And to keep the All-New Civic Type R’s massive airflow, three fully-functional tailpipes are positioned at the rear lower center of the car. Main tailpipes on either side deliver exhaust from the engine, while a unique, smaller center tailpipe controls the sonic tone of the engine. Similar to previous Civic Type R models, it is adorned with Honda’s famous red ‘H’ badge. Filling the enlarged wheel arches are 20-inch Berlina Black alloy wheels with 245/30 R20 tires.

The All-New Civic Type R is available in two color hues: Championship White and Rally Red and as a special treat to the first owners of the All-New Civic Type R in the country, HCPI will be holding an exclusive event early 2018 once deliveries are completed.

Formula 1: Heat on Hamilton after Verstappen ambush LEWIS Hamilton is looking to hit back from his defeat in Malaysia at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, scene of a bizarre ‘Snapchat’ row that overshadowed last year’s race.

Britain’s triple world champion was forced to play second fiddle to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in Sepang on Sunday after securing his ninth pole of the season and 70th of his career.

Despite stretching his Formula One world championship lead over Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel to 34 points with five races left, Hamilton took a swipe at his Mercedes team.

“There are some real big problems that I can’t really explain to you,” he said. “There is stuff that has been happening through the weekend that is not acceptable for this great team.”

Hamilton came into last year’s Suzuka race in a foul mood and seeking solace after raising the possibility of a Mercedes conspiracy against him following an engine fire in Malaysia.

But the Briton triggered further controversy when he was criticised for posting photos on social media during a press conference.

Furious with tabloids for labelling him “snap prat” and the “berc in the Merc”, Hamilton sulkily refused to answer questions after qualifying in Suzuka as

the row rumbled on.

Hamilton, a three-time winner in Japan, will be hoping for a better performance from his car this week than in Malaysia.

“Every point counts,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

“We got lucky again (in Malaysia) and we expect a very close fight between ourselves, Ferrari and Red Bull at Suzuka.”

Hamilton, who has 281 points to Vettel’s 247, had warned Ferrari would push Mercedes hard in Malaysia.

But they dodged a bullet as Vettel finished fourth after starting from the back of the grid, while Kimi Raikkonen suffered a calamitous engine failure that knocked him out of the race.

Hamilton snatched the title lead from Vettel at Monza last month but Mercedes, who have dominated the sport in recent years, face a growing threat from Ferrari and Red Bull.

Max factor Verstappen capped a fairytale 20th birthday weekend in Malaysia with his second Formula One victory, as Australian team-mate Daniel Ricciardo took third.

But with Valtteri Bottas finishing fifth, Mercedes will need to find some extra speed at Suzuka, where

Nico Rosberg’s 2016 victory completed a hat-trick of wins for the Silver Arrows in Japan.

Verstappen’s sizzling performance in Malaysia suggests he may have turned the corner after retiring from seven of the first 15 races this season.

More alarmingly perhaps for Hamilton will be the pace shown by Vettel, who set the fastest lap and a new lap record as he dashingly carved through the field.

However, Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has ordered the team to fix the reliability problems that sabotaged their race in Malaysia.

“It’s really ugly when you’re in second place on the grid and you can’t start the race,” he said of Raikkonen’s cruel blow.

“This kind of problem makes us angry.”

Vettel, a four-time world champion with Red Bull, needs a reversal of fortune after squandering a golden opportunity to reclaim the championship lead after crashing from pole in Singapore three weeks ago.

There could be a further twist for Ferrari at the highspeed Japanese circuit as the German faces a possible five-place grid penalty if he needs a new gearbox after a collision with Lance Stroll’s Williams following Sunday’s race. AFP

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