Manila Standard - 2017 October 24 - Tuesday

Palace to Andy: Pack bags now COMMISSION on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista needs to start packing his bags after Malacañang accepted his resignation “effective immediately,” contrary to the poll chief’s earlier announcement that he Next page

US lauds PH success vs Mautes

VOL. XXXI • NO. 252 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

MARAWI CRISIS ENDS. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (left), with Armed Forces chief Eduardo Año, declares at a news conference in Clark Monday an end to five months of fierce urban warfare in Marawi City, saying government troops prevailed in the last stand against gunmen who clung on inside several buildings in the heart of the Lakeshore City. AFP

CLARK—US Defense Secretary James Mattis on Monday praised the Philippines for its successes in battling Islamic State supporters, as he began an Asian trip aimed at reaffirming American support for regional allies. Mattis echoed President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement last week that Filipino forces had liberated the southern city of Marawi, after five months of bitter urban fighting that had claimed more than 1,000 lives, even though battles have Next page continued.

Marawi free, terror over 42 terrorists killed in final battle

Abaya faces graft raps over MRT deal By Rio N. Araja, Darwin G. Amojelar and Macon RamosAraneta

budsman against its former chief, Joseph Emilio Abaya, for entering into an alleged anomalous contract for the Metro Railway Transit 3. In a 29-page complaint, Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Procurement Reinier Paul Yebra cited four components of the MRT3 project in which anomalies were noted--maintenance of the MRT3 systems, general overhauling of 43 units of light rail vehicles, total replacement of the signaling system and additional maintenance work.

THE Department of Transportation on Monday filed a graft case before the Office of the O m -

Yebra said it was anomalous that while the Busan joint venture (Busan JV) was the one that won the bid, the company that did the actual maintenance work and collected payments was Busan Universal Rails Inc. (BURI), “a totally different entity.” The notice of award was issued to Busan JV on Dec. 23, 2015, and on the same day, former assistant secretary for procurement and bids and awards committee chairperson Camille Alcaraz asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to facilitate the registration of a special purpose company consisting of Next page

Sereno insists rights to counsel, question witnesses LAWYERS of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Monday filed a motion asking the House Committee on Justice to recognize her constitutionally guaranteed rights to be represented by a legal counsel and to confront the witnesses against her through counsel representing her in the impeachment proceedings. In a four-page motion, Sereno’s lawyers, led by Alex

Poblador, sought confirmation from the committee that persons testifying as witnesses or as “resource persons” against the Chief Justice might be “cross-examined by her counsel on her behalf.” They also asked that they be allowed to object to improper questions during direct examination of the complainant’s witnesses and be furnished with all the

documentary and testimonial evidence in support of the charges against their client. “The confirmation was sought in light of public pronouncements by some members of this Honorable Committee, and in order to be clarified and assured that the procedure which the Committee would adopt during the hearings would respect the basic rights of the Chief

Trillanes charged with libel

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon RamosAraneta

LAST RESPECTS. President Rodrigo Duterte visits Monday the wake of Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who died Oct. 18 aged 86. Present during the visit at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral were Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Vidal’s brother Juanito, and Presidential Assistant for Visayas Michael Dino.Vidal will be laid to rest on Oct. 26, which Cebuanos wanted to be declared a holiday. Malacañang Photo

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HE battle for Marawi ended Monday after government troops wiped out the remaining terrorists in the city, bringing the country’s most serious security crisis to close exactly five months after it started. “We now announce the termination of all combat operations in Marawi,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters on the sidelines of a regional security meeting in Clark. Lorenzana said there were no more Maute group terrorists after an intense final battle that left 42 of them dead. “Those are the last group of stragglers of Mautes and they were caught in one building,”

he said. Earlier, ground troops pulverized the last fortified position of the Maute fighters. The dead included two women, believed to be the wives of foreign terrorists, as well as three Malaysian or Indonesian fighters. “Forty two cadavers were recovered…they were all fighting our troops so they were terrorists. No more hostages are left, as they were all

recovered a couple of days ago,” Lorenzana said. Both Lorenzana and Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año said among those killed was Malaysian jihadist leader Amin Baco and four other foreign terrorists. “In crushing thus far the most serious attempt to export violent extremism and radicalism in the Philippines and in the region, we have Next page

Justice as a respondent in an impeachment proceeding,” the lawyers stated in the motion. Meanwhile, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez dismissed the allegations against him by the group Filipino Alliance for Transparency and Empowerment as part of a hatchet job to divert public attention from the substance of the accusations raised against Sereno in the

‘Drug war worsened HR status’ DESPITE positive developments in some areas, the human rights situation during the second half of 2016 considerably worsened as a consequence of President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs, the European Union said in its Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World. Next page

By Francisco Tuyay, John Paolo Bencito and AFP

POLITICAL ALLIANCE. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio (3rd from left) leads Monday the launch of the Tapang and Malasakit Alliance aimed at gathering support for government campaigns like the rehabilitation of Marawi City. Also at the launch at the Bonifacio Global City are Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Dionisio Santiago, Undersecretary Karen Jimeno, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. Norman Cruz

Frat in Atio hazing likened to ‘criminal syndicate’

THE Department of Justice on Monday filed criminal complaint before the Makati City regional trial court against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV arising from his allegedly malicious statements against former Vice President Jejomar Binay in 2015. The DoJ approved Monday the filing of the libel Next page

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MEMBERS of the Aegis Juris fraternity acted like a “criminal syndicate” when they tried to cover up the death of hazing victim Horacio Castillo III, Senator Miguel Zubiri said Monday. “I was appalled. It was not just shock. I was appalled at what they were saying [in the chat group],”

Zubiri told ANC. “They were acting like a criminal syndicate reminiscent of drug syndicates and triads. As I said in the committee hearing, if this is what is happening to lawyers, I feel sad for the law profession.” During last week’s Senate hearing of the public order committee, the police said

they discovered a chat group created by members of the Aegis Juris fraternity hours after Castillo’s death. Some of the members, who are practicing lawyers, advised their fraternity brothers to make sure the fraternity library where the initiation rites were held was cleaned up and no CCTV footage was in Next page the area.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Nov. 13-15 non-working days—Palace By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has declared Nov. 13 to 15 special non-working days in Metro Manila, Bulacan and Pampanga following the Philippines’ hosting of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Meetings. He made the announcement in Proclamation 332 after the Asean 2017 National Organizing Council recommended that the dates affected by the summit be declared special non-working days because of the Asean activities in the provinces and in the capital. The Supreme Court likewise suspended work for all first- and second-level courts in Metro Manila, Bulacan and Pampanga. The suspension also covers the Supreme Court and thirdlevel courts: the Sandiganbayan, the Court of Appeals and the Court of Tax Appeals. The Metro Manila Development Authority on Sunday said the North Luzon Expressway and some areas in Metro Manila would be affected by the Asean Summit because of a stop-and-go traffic scheme to help delegates get around. Classes in both private and public schools will likely be suspended following the declaration. The Metro Manila Council earlier said it was suspending classes in all levels in Metro Manila for public and private schools on Nov. 16 and 17. The MMC is composed of all mayors in the metropolis. Under the pay rules set by the Department of Labor and Employment, the “no work, no pay” principle will apply unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement granting employees payments on special non-working days. Employees who will work during the special days will be paid an additional 30 percent of their daily rate for the first eight hours of work. With Rey E. Requejo

Palace... From A1

will step down from his post by the end of the year. In a letter dated Oct. 23, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said that upon instructions of President Rodrigo Duterte, Bautista’s resignation from the poll body is deemed accepted immediately. “Ginagalang ko ang kanyang pasya [I respect the President’s decision],” the Comelec chairman said in a news briefing, adding he has already informed the poll body’s commissioners about Duterte’s decision. Bautista’s term was supposed to expire on Feb. 2, 2022, but he resigned hours before the House of Representatives voted to impeach him from office on Oct. 11. He became the first official to be impeached under the Duterte administration. Earlier, Malacañang said it looks forward to a smooth transition from Bautista to the next chairman and preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections next year. The Comelec has yet to prepare for the upcoming midterm polls and if possible, plebiscites for the Bangsamoro Basic Law and Charter Change in 2019. With the President’s acceptance of Bautista’s resignation, the Comelec chief will no longer have to appear before the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, amid allegations of failing to declare certain properties and assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth. John Paolo Bencito

Frat... From A1 Zubiri, a friend of Castillo’s father, said the victim’s family will file obstruction-of-justice charges and seek the disbarment of the lawyers in the chat group. Castillo, a freshman law student at the University of Santo Tomas, died after undergoing hazing rites of the Aegis Juris last month.

Sara launches pro-Du30 alliance D

AVAO City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio on Monday led the launching of “Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines” consisting of groups that supported her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, during the 2016 presidential elections. The alliance aims to heal the political divide during the elections, Duterte-Carpio said at the launching held at the Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City. Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte-

Carpio was “simply gathering all the forces, all the people towards more engagement in nation-building.” He said it was contrary to the claims Tapang at Malasakit was a response to the alleged destabilization plot

Marawi...

and security analysts said the militants were trying to establish a Southeast Asian caliphate in Marawi. The ensuing military campaign to evict the militants claimed more than 1,000 lives, displaced 400,000 residents and left large parts of Marawi in ruins. Duterte traveled to Marawi on Tuesday last week and declared the city had been liberated, shortly after top terrorist leaders Isnilon Hapilon, the Southeast Asian leader for IS, and Omar Maute were shot dead there. Hapilon and Maute, along with hundreds of other militants, had been able to defy near daily bombing raids that left much of the city in ruins by sheltering in basements and traveling through tunnels, according to the military. Duterte warned Filipinos against the possible resurgence of terrorist threats, despite the victory in Marawi City. “I’m not trying to scare you,

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contributed to preventing its spread in Asia and [given] our share to maintaining global peace, stability and security,” Lorenzana said. Año described the remaining fighters as suicidal, fighting to the last despite exhaustion and starvation. Over the last five months, 920 Maute rebels and dozens of foreign fighters were killed, while 165 soldiers, three policemen and 47 civilians lost their lives. Government troops rescued 1,780 civilians, including the Catholic priest Chito Suganob, who was taken hostage by the terrorists. Hundreds of gunmen who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State rampaged through Marawi on May 23, then took over parts of the city using civilians as human shields. President Rodrigo Duterte

Abaya... From A1

the members of the Busan JV for the contract award of the project. BURI was incorporated on Jan. 4, 2016. “It shows that the respondents conspired and confederated with one another to enter into a contract that is grossly disadvantageous to the government,” Yebra said. “At the end of the day, our concern goes to our commuters. We can hear and feel their pleas. That is why the DOTr, through the leadership of Secretary [Arthur] Tugade, will do everything to serve the public with the truth and justice that they deserve,” he added. On Oct. 17, DOTr served a notice to terminate its contract with BURI due to poor performance, and failure to put in service and subsequently ensure the availability of the contractually obligated number of trains, to put in operation reli-

‘Drug... From A1 “The EU released last week its Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2016,” according to the report, sent to the media by Human Rights Watch. “In 2016, the Philippines had two different governments— that of President Benigno Aquino III who left office on June 30, and that of Duterte who succeeded him. Despite positive developments in some areas, the human rights situation in the second half of the year...considerably worsened as a consequence of the so-called ‘war on drugs’,” the EU report said. “It should, however, be noted that some trends and circumstances detrimental to human rights, such as extrajudicial killings [including killings of human rights defenders, indigenous people and journalists] and the climate of impunity, were already present under previous administrations,” it said. In a related development: – The Department of Justice has been asked to dismiss the criminal charges filed against the12 former Caloocan policemen in connection with the killing of teenager Kian Loyd delos Santos last Aug.16. Respondents—Police Of-

case against Trillanes before the Makati City RTC after finding probable cause in the complaint filed by Binay. “That on or about 19 August 2015, the above named accused did then and there willfully, unlawfully, feloniously, and with malice in fact, publicly made the following statement without regard to truth or falsity thereof and caused the same to be published... thereby defaming, maligning the reputation and

but let’s just be prepared for any eventuality. Terrorism is everywhere,” Duterte said in a speech at Bacolod City Sunday night. “No nation has escaped from the clutches of the evil of the ISIS,” Duterte said. “It’s an ideology that is dedicated to just kill human beings and destroy...[their] heritage.” The five months of fierce urban warfare held by pro-Islamic State militants marked the country’s biggest security crisis in years. The military had earlier warned against lone wolf attacks that might arise despite the fall of Islamic State strongholds in Syria and in Southeast Asia—saying that threats posed by the Daesh still remain as the jihadist group and its networks were “increasingly becoming better.” The Daesh are known to use propaganda to recruit lone wolves. The Department of Public Works and Highways

able and efficient trains, to implement a feasible procurement plan for spare parts and to procure and store the required volume of spare parts which affected its ability to effect immediate repairs on defective trains and other facilities of the MRT-3 system. BURI was given seven calendar days to submit a reply and a verified position paper citing why the contract should not be terminated. After that, the department will have 10 days to decide whether or not to terminate the contract, Yebra said. Senator Grace Poe, chairman of the Senate committee on public services, said it was high time the ax fell where it should. She said the complaint filed against former Secretary Abaya and other officials over the P3.81-billion MRT maintenance contract rests on solid ground, and that the Senate investigation into the deal proved the award to BURI was anomalous. “I thus expect that the Ombudsman will

ficers 2 Arnel Canezares, Diony Corpuz and Fernan Cano; and PO1s Reynaldo Dan Blanco Jr., Silverio Garcia Jr., Ronald Herrera, Myrldon Yagi, Christian Joy Aguilar, Ceferino Paculan, J-Rossillini Lorenzo, Erwin Romeroso and Ferdinand Claro—denied the charges, saying they could not be held liable for Kian’s death. “They were not present so apparently they shouldn’t be included in the case because they don’t have any participation. Some were on sick leave while some were assigned in other cases,” the respondents’ lawyer Oliver Yuan said after the hearing. They are facing charges of murder, torture, planting of evidence and violation of domicile under Article 128 of the Revised Penal Code. The additional respondents appeared before the DoJ and submitted their counter-affidavit to the complaint filed by Kian’s parents. In their amended complaint, Saldy and Lorenza delos Santos asked the DoJ to indict the additional respondents in court. The complainants, represented by Public Attorneys Office chief Persida RuedaAcosta, stressed that the additional respondents were part of the police team that conducted the anti-illegal drugs operation

Trillanes... From A1

against the administration. Abella said the launching of the alliance was not a show of force by the administration or part of preparations for the 2019 elections. Among those who joined the launch were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and his wife Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino.

said Monday it has set aside P241.69 million for the construction of at least 300 temporary houses in Sagonsongan Village, Marawi City, for families affected by the war. Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the budget would cover the construction of houses, asphalt overlays and drainage work. “The DPWH is now working on the transitory houses for Marawi siege evacuees,” Villar said. “The area being developed by DPWH in Barangay Sagongsongan, Marawi City, can accommodate 1,100 families. We are doing everything we can to finish it by November,” Villar said. “Currently, we are preparing a portion of the site where the National Housing Authority can build a total of 275 transitory houses,” he said. “Once the sites are developed, NHA may begin the construction stage,” Villar noted. With Vito Barcelo

find probable cause and file the appropriate charges with the Sandiganbayan against the culprits soon. This should deliver a stern warning and reminder that public officials past and present will have to be made accountable for their misfeasance in office in due time,” she said. Poe said the poor service rendered by BURI would not have happened had Abaya and his men exercised due diligence to ensure that the contractor was capable of handling such a huge responsibility. She added that this was another opportunity for the Ombudsman to show its independence and resolve to fight corruption in all levels, regardless of political affiliations, past and present. “The Ombudsman should also investigate those involved in the awarding of the contract if they were working at the behest of other personalities, as what we heard during the course of our Senate hearings,” she said.

where Kian was killed. The initial complaint named only four policemen as respondents—Chief Insp. Amor Cerillo, Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares, and Police Officers 1 Jeremiah Pereda and Jerwin Cruz of Caloocan City police community precinct 7. The four policemen also insisted innocence in an earlier answer, claiming they killed Kian after the student shot at them. Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Monday he directed his men to keep alive all motorcycle-riding suspects they will arrest. The PNP chief earlier said that riding-in-tandems would now be among their priorities after President Rodrigo Duterte removed from them the lead role in the war against illegal drugs. However, Dela Rosa said he could not give assurances the operations would not be bloody. “Keep them alive para walang problema, walang kaso. It’s so foolish of us to insist on killing these suspects unnecessarily. We have been facing a lot of criticisms already bakit namin patayin ‘yan na hindi naman dapat patayin,” he said at a press conference, in a mix of Filipino and English. He said he wanted his men to also stay alive as well. Following the publication of

causing the dishonor of then Vice President Jejomar Binay to his damage and prejudice,” read the information filed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edwin Dayog. It cited the senator’s public insinuation against Binay about the supposed P100-million racket per year at the Makati City hall involving ghost senior citizens when the former vice president was still mayor. “On our blue ribbon subcommittee hearing, we will be exposing the ghost senior citizens of Makati during the incumbency of the Binays who have been claiming the benefits. The whole

Hundreds of Duterte supporters wearing red shirts gathered at the Marquis Events Place to support the alliance. “Within a year of the Duterte administration, we have seen significant reforms and accomplishments that can have a tremendous impact on the lives of the Filipinos, especially the poor,” said the alliance’s statement read by Public Works Undersecretary Karen Jimeno. “For instance, the administration’s social development policy includes free education

the first GSP+ country report on the Philippines in January 2016, the EU’s priority has been to address the abovementioned shortcomings with the Aquino administration. In the second half of the year, the killings in the “war on drugs” as well as the possible reintroduction of the death penalty were the focus of the EU’s attention, the EU report said. The number of extrajudicial killings decreased under the Aquino government and a national monitoring mechanism for extrajudicial killings was launched by the National Commission on Human Rights. Various problems—in particular the culture of impunity and torture—remain, however, and a series of key legislative measures were not passed. The second half of the year was marked by a serious deterioration in respect for the right to life, due process and the rule of law. According to data from the Philippine National Police, as reported in the media, the ‘war on drugs’ led to the killing of around 6,000 people from July to mid-December, with one third of the deaths occurring in police operations. In addition, more than 40,000 persons were arrested in the same period. With Bill Casas and Rey Requejo

racket amounts to over P100 million per year,” Trillanes was quoted in a statement sent to reporters. Meanwhile, a member of the Majority Bloc in the Senate on Monday said Trillanes’ meeting with American officials where he presented “factual information” about the Philippines did not amount to treason. “While I am of the belief that we should not ‘wash dirty linen in public,’ so to speak, I don’t believe that it will fall on the provision of the Revised Penal Code on treason,” stressed Escudero. “I really just don’t think it will

program in state universities and colleges. “The President has also ordered the swift rehabilitation of the Typhoon Yolandaaffected areas, to address traffic problems and increase connectivity. The administration has also embarked on an ambitious Build Build Build program to construct subway and railway systems.” The alliance also highlighted the liberation of Marawi City from terrorists, saying the killing of terrorist leaders Isnilon

US...

From A1 “One of the first things I’m going to do when I get there is commend the Philippine military for liberating Marawi from the terrorists,” Mattis told reporters on the flight to the Philippines, according to an official transcript. “It was a very tough fight as you know in southern Mindanao [the local region]. And I think the Philippine military sends a very strong message to the terrorists.” Gunmen who had pledged allegiance to IS occupied parts of Marawi, the Islamic capital of the mainly Catholic Philippines, on May 23 in what Duterte said was a bid to establish a Southeast Asian caliphate there. Hundreds of insurgents withstood a US-backed military campaign, including near daily airstrikes and artillery fire, that displaced more than 400,000 people and left large parts of Marawi in ruins. Duterte last week traveled to Marawi to declare it had been

Sereno... From A1 impeachment case against her. Alvarez, in a radio interview, dismissed as baseless FATE’s allegations the House hearings on Sereno’s impeachment could be railroaded. He said such allegation betrayed the weakness of Sereno’s evidence in her defense. He pointed out this was the same public relations tactic employed against him and the House of Representatives when they investigated the P6.4-billion shabu smuggling though the Bureau of Customs but eventually the truth came out. Alvarez also laughed off the claim of FATE that the House was controlling the impeachment hearings because he had an ax to grind against Sereno for allegedly testifying against him in the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. case. He noted that all the cases against him related to the Piatco case were all dismissed and that Sereno did not testify against him as FATE alleged. Justice Commitee chairman Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali was previously quoted by media as saying Sereno herself must cross-examine the witnesses against her, and not her lawyers—a clear violation of her fundamental right to be heard through a legal counsel, the right to confront the witness and the right to due process before a fair and impartial tribunal. “The right to be heard and be defended by counsel in all stages of a criminal proceeding is a very basic right of an individual, which not even this Honorable Committee, indeed Congress, can take away from a respondent in an impeachment proceeding,” the lawyers said in their Oct. 3 letter addressed to Umali’s committee. According to Sereno’s lawyers, Section 12(1), Article III of the 1987 Constitution and Rule 115 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure guarantee the right to counsel of every person—including the Chief Justice—not only at the time of his presentation in a trial, but even as early as his investigation for

fall under treason. I guess that’s why Malacañang itself rightfully distanced itself from such an issue,” added Escudero. He said the DoJ, through the National Bureau of Investigation, always had the power to investigate violations of the law. However, he said it was up to the DoJ to investigate the appropriate charges if supported by charges. Trillanes, on the other hand, slammed Malacañang on Monday after it said claims he committed treason should be investigated first before any conclusions be made.

Hapilon and Omar Maute “exhibited the strong and decisive leadership” of the President despite “numerous challenges.” “We enjoin all Filipinos to help the government succeed in its plans to improve the country. Let us not be distracted by the noise created by clashing political interests. We support freedom of speech and expression, but we need to recognize the difference between constructive criticisms and destructive politicking,” the alliance said. “liberated,” a day after top terrorist leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were shot dead. Mattis flew to the Philippines to attend a meeting hosted by Southeast Asian defense ministers at the former American military base of Clark, two hours’ drive north of Manila. The two nations are bound by a mutual defense treaty. But relations have soured under Duterte as he has sought to build closer ties with China and Russia. Defense ministers from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Russia are also scheduled to attend the two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations event. Mattis’ Asia trip, which will also take him to Thailand and South Korea, comes ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to Asia next month. Some American allies in the region have become wary of Trump’s interest in Asia. Mattis sought to reassure allies. “The US remains unambiguously committed to supporting Asean,” Mattis said. AFP any offense. They said the “right to be heard” guaranteed under Section 14(2), Article III of the Constitution meant “the right to be assisted by counsel for the purpose of ensuring that an accused is not denied the collateral right to due process.” “There can be no due process accorded an accused if he is not be given the right to be heard through counsel or assisted by counsel,” they added. The lawyers also took exception to Umali’s statement that committee members would not allow Sereno’s lawyers to do cross-examination on behalf of the Chief Justice because the rules of the House would not allow it. They described the statement as alarming, pointing out that there was no provision in the Rules on Impeachment or the House’s own rules that expressly prohibited counsel for the respondent in an impeachment proceeding from conducting cross-examination. “Indeed, it makes little sense to recognize the right to crossexamine, and limit the exercise of such right to the person of the respondent alone,” the lawyers said in their Oct. 3 letter addressed to the Committee on Justice. They insisted the “prerogative to decide how to exercise the right to cross-examine, whether in person or through counsel of his or her choice, should be left to the respondent, as law and common sense dictate.” Alvarez said aside from the allegations against Sereno’s income derived as member of the government’s counsel, the Piatco case had nothing to do with the impeachment case against her. Among others, Sereno was charged by complainant lawyer Larry Gadon for failing to declare the estimated US$745,000 or P37 million she earned as a private lawyer from the Piatco case in any of her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth from 2010 until 2016. Alvarez also pointed out that as Speaker of the House he was duty-bound to comply with the constitutional mandate to refer impeachment cases to the House Committee on Justice.

The opposition senator then reiterated his murder accusations against President Rodrigo Duterte and asked how could we call the “protectors of a president who killed and ordered the killing of Filipinos.” “Are they heroes? Can you not do the right thing?” also said Trillanes, a known strong critic of the President. On Sunday, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar was asked in an interview over radio DZNN if Trillanes should be charged with treason. Andanar replied: “We have to study this first. It’s hard to make hasty pronouncements.”

News ‘No road works in MM from Nov. 1-Jan. 15, 2018‘ THERE will be no road diggings in Metro Manila beginning Nov. 1 until Jan. 15, 2018 to provide relief to commuters and motorists during the holiday season when traffic is expected to be heavy. This developed shortly following a meeting of the Metro Manila Development Authority with Public Works department officials, representatives of telecommunication companies and water utility firms in connection with the implementation of the moratorium to be imposed by the MMDA. Only flagship projects being undertaken by the national government are exempted from the moratorium on road excavations, including bridge repair/ construction, emergency leak repairs of water concessionaires, and construction of flood interceptors. Joel E. Zurbano

BI deploys more men at Naia booths

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PLDT-Globe-SMC deal legality upheld by CA By Rey E. Requejo

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HE Court of Appeals has upheld the validity of the P70-billion buyout deal of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Globe Telecom involving the acquisition of the telco assets of San Miguel Corp. In a 54-page decision, the CA Former 12th Division through Associate Justice Ramon Bato ruled that the Philippine Competition Commission committed grave abuse of discretion when it ordered a full review of the acquisition despite PLDT and Globe’s compliance to its Memorandum Circular 16002. With this ruling, the CA issued a writ of mandamus compelling the PCC “to recognize the subject acquisition as deemed approved by operation of law.”

Memorandum Circular 16-002 requires parties to a merger acquisition to merely notify the commission through a letter addressed to the commission containing certain information. The appellate court stressed that following its examination of the notice submitted by the petitioners, it was convinced that the said notice sufficiently contains the “Key Terms of the Transaction” and substantially complied with the requirements of MC No. 16-002.” “With the subject notice being compliant with the

requirements of MC 1602 and there being no false material statement therein, the subject acquisition is deemed approved by operation of law and may no longer be challenged under the PCA (The Philippine Competition Act),” the appellate court declared. “It follows that PCC is duty-bound to recognize that status and give effect thereto. The petition for mandamus is therefore, meritorious,” it said. But the CA clarified that the approval of the deal does not remove the power of PCC to conduct a post-acquisition review to ensure that PLDT and Globe would not engage in any anti-competitive conduct. “If the parties misuse the subject acquisition to engage in anti-competitive behavior, then PCC may very well exercise its powers to prevent and punish anti-competitive behavior under R.A. 10067 [or The Philippine Competition Act],” the CA warned.

In its letters dated June 7 and June 17, 2016, the PCC ordered the pre-acquisition review and investigation of the acquisition made by PLDT and Globe of all the issuing and outstanding shares and assets of Vega Telecom Inc., a subsidiary of SMC, for allegedly being violative of the Philippine Competition Act on suspicion of conspiracy on its sale. Pursuant to the Sale and Purchase Agreement executed on May 30, 2016, for an agreed purchase price of P52,080,764,982 under a deferred payment scheme (the sum of P26,040,382,490 was paid upon the execution of the contract, P13,020,191,246 to be paid on Dec. 1, 2016 and P13,020,191,246 to be paid on May 30, 2017). Both PLDT and Globe purchased on an equal sharing or 50-50 basis the entire issued and outstanding shares of stock of VTI. The PCC Letters issued

against both PLDT and Globe was hailed to the CA seeking to stop the former with its orders. In ruling against the PCC, the appellate court pointed out that the anti-thrust body violated the constitutional right of the petitions to equal protection of the laws when it refused to accord the deemed approved status of the acquisition despite substantial compliance with MC 16-002. Besides, the CA noted that while the PCC has original and primary jurisdiction in the enforcement and regulation of all competitionrelated issues, it nevertheless has no jurisdiction to conduct a full review of the subject acquisition. The appeals court also noted that the National Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission is the only government agency that has the authority to allocate, sub-allocate and grant permits for the use of radio frequencies under the Public Telecommunications Act.

MORE men will be deployed to man Immigration booths at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to cope up with the influx of passengers in connection with the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Marc Red Mariñas, Naia chief immigration officer, said at least 100 newlytrained personnel from the bureau’s Academy in Pampanga will be assigned to assist officers in their 24/7 operations at Naia terminals 1, 2 and 3. “Two hundred more men will be on standby. This is to prevent long lines at immigration booths because we’re expecting the number of air travelers increase this year,” said Mariñas. Joel E. Zurbano

Oil firms hike pump prices by P0.65/liter THE oil firms raised pump prices by as much as P0.65 per liter effective 6 a.m. Tuesday to reflect the movement of world oil prices. The oil firms raised the price of gasoline by P0.65 per liter, kerosene by P0.55 per liter and diesel by P0.35 per liter. “This is to reflect movements in the international petroleum market,” Seaoil Philippines said. Aside from Seaoil, other oil firms which issued price advisories of the increase are PTT Philippines, Eastern Petroleum, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines and Flying V. Alena Mae S. Flores

House tackles HIV/AIDS problem THE House of Representatives has made a concrete move towards finding a concrete solution to the problem of HIV/AIDS in the country. This came after Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles’ committee on appropriations approved the funding requirements of the substitute bill to the proposed Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act. “The as yet unnumbered bill is a consolidation of 17 House Bills filed by congressmen belonging to the Majority, Minority, and Independent blocs. Needless to say, we in the House are taking this matter very seriously,” three-term solon Nograles, the panel chairperson, said. “The Committee’s approval of the bill’s appropriation provisions is also very timely given the worsening HIV/AIDS situation in the country. We don’t want this to go out of hand,” Nograles added. Maricel V. Cruz

CASES FILED. DOTr Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs lawyer Reiner Yebra files graft cases against former DoTR secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and officials of MRT service provider BURI at the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City on Monday, Oct. 23, 2017. Manny Palmero

Govt agency bats for gradual jeepney modernization By Bill Casas LAST week’s twoday strikes and heated congressional hearing should serve as a wake-up call for the executive department to implement an inclusive, people-oriented approach to the jeepney modernization program. Terry Ridon, chairperson of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor made the statement on Monday as debates on the jeepney modernization program continued to rage following Piston’s two-day

jeepney strike. During a congressional hearing last week, transportation officials admitted that they have yet to map out a timeline for how the plan will be rolled out. “We are still working on preparations for the timeline. We are saying it’s going to be before the end of the year,” said Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Martin Delgra III. Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark de Leon said the modernization program

is part of a bigger plan to improve the country’s public transportation system. “Primordial to this PUV modernization is the route rationalization study,” said De Leon. Ridon said the pending timelines give social development agencies like PCUP an opportunity to conduct social preparation activities with the different jeepney organizations, particularly unaffiliated single operators-drivers. “Our intervention is premised on an inclusive, people-oriented approach to

the modernization program: a) existing operators-drivers have first priority in respect to routes, franchise, and preferential financing, and b) those who would opt out of the transport sector should be provided an alternative livelihood opportunity equivalent to their economic displacement,” Ridon said. Ridon added that the removal of jeepneys from the roads should be based not only on age, but conclusively as a result of the yet to be finalized route rationalization study. Meanwhile, Ridon lauded

the LTFRB for undertaking pilot areas in Taguig City, Pateros, and Pasay City. “You will see how the PUV [public utility vehicle] modernization program will come into being with the pilot programs,” Delgra said in the congressional hearing. Ridon said this was among his agency’s proposals on how to proceed with a gradual modernization plan, as this provides government an opportunity to show its proof of concept, economic viability and operational durability.

Immigration agents arrest American pedophile at Naia By Vito Barcelo IMMIGRATION authorities arrested an American pedophile at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport who was supposed to meet his victims in Manila. The suspect, identified as Robin Hoyt Alderman, was arrested by members of the bureau’s border control and intelligence unit led by Intelligence Officers Erwin Ortanez and Bienvenido Castillo at the NAaia 2 terminal. Alderman had just arrived aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam when he was intercepted by BI agents at the immigration arrival area of the Naia 2 terminal.

Morente said the US Embassy earlier tipped the BI about Alderman’s trip to Manila and his intention to meet with his minor victims whom he had contacted via the Internet while he was abroad. “His conversations with the would-be victims allegedly suggested that Alderman was going to meet them when he comes here and have sexual intercourse with them,” the BI chief added. BI port operations chief Marc Red Mariñas said the BI operatives were joined in the operation by elements from the Women and Children Protection Center of the Philippine National Police.

HALLOWEEN. Caloocan City Kagawad Addie Altiveros puts up Halloween decorations in and around the Barangay Hall in preparation for the coming All Saints’ Day. Andrew Rabulan

De Lima hits Andanar on ‘bully’ comment By Macon Araneta DETAINED Senator Leila de Lima on Monday blasted Communications Secretary Martin Andanar for calling the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) a bully following its decision to send a trial observer to monitor her cases. She said the IPU earned the ire of “Andanar and his minions” who characterized the move as bullying and meddling in the country’s judicial and democratic processes. “This conclusion once again reveals Andanar’s utter ignorance and sheer arrogance,” said De Lima, who has been detained at the PNP Custodian Center in Camp Crame over drug charges. De Lima said the IPU was not a bully but a neutral third party that wants to make sure the that the legal proceedings in the trumped-up cases against her are safe from the “machinations of Duterte and his minions, the real bullies.” She added that the designation of a trial observer forms part and parcel of the accused and the public’s right to speedy, impartial and public trial. She said that a trial observation can be a crucial tool in efforts to defend human rights and the primacy of the rule of law. “The right to observe stems from the general right to promote and secure the protection and realization of human rights. A trial observer is therefore part of our democratic and judicial processes.” She said that a “bully” is a person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker, adding that in the balance of power relations and of control over the state apparatus of terror and violence, it is Duterte and his cohorts who have the monopoly.

Palace lauds Japan PM Abe in poll victory By John Paolo Bencito MALACAÑANG on Monday congratulated the victory of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party, which swept to a resounding victory in a snap election Sunday and immediately vowed to “deal firmly” with threats from North Korea that dominated the campaign. “We wish to congratulate His Excellency Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the results of the elections this weekend,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement. “This fresh mandate augurs well for the excellent Philippine-Japan ties. We have many points of collaboration with our neighbor in the North, which include economic, socio-political security and defense cooperation,” he added. Abella said that the Philippines remains confident “that both countries’ solid and strategic partnership would continue to gain greater strength in the years to come.” Abe’s ruling conservative coalition was on track to win more than 310 seats in the 465-seat parliament, according to a projection from Japanese public broadcaster NHK, handing the premier a two-thirds “supermajority.”

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Opinion

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

The power of a diaper

I

T IS sheer coincidence, we know, but it is much too tempting to link Monday’s filing of graft charges against former Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya before the Office of the Ombudsman to the stoppage of the Metro Rail Transit Monday morning because of a diaper caught in its power lines.

The agreement was with the joint venture of Busan, the complaint said, but it was the entity BURI that was performing the maintenance work and receiving the payments. “We want to know the truth,” said Transportation Undersecretary Reinier Paul Yebra. The truth is, this should have been done a long time ago. Abaya, including his bosses at that time including former President Benigno Aquino III, are all accountable for the mess that Metro Manila commuters find themselves in. Abaya is facing charges for enter- In the curious incident involving ing into a contract that was grossly the diaper, tens of thousands of rushdisadvantageous to the government. hour commuters were stranded as

train service stopped between Taft Avenue and Boni Avenue stations. In some stations the passenger queue spilled onto the next block, as what happened at the Quezon Avenue terminal. Soon after the service resumed, southbound passengers were offloaded at the Shaw Boulevard station because one of the doors would not close. It’s hilarious, that bit about the diaper, but we don’t think anybody among those stranded thousands were smiling—the mildest among them were probably only shaking their heads in resignation. Resignation, however, is not the

appropriate reaction here. Neither is blame. The present administration took over nearly 16 months ago—between June 2016 and today, what did it do apart from ascribe accountability to its predecessors? That so much time has passed and that the condition has persisted—nay, worsened, says a lot about what the present crop of leaders are not doing. Forget the previous officials—they will have their day in court. A misplaced diaper may well be a metaphor for everything that is wrong with our public transport system. It is obvious who should clean up the mess, but not at all apparent why nothing has yet been done. TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

A truly troubled state IF I were a foreigner reading the newspapers and watching television, I would readily conclude that the Philippines is truly a troubled country. After nearly five months of battling IS-inspired Abu Sayyaf and Maute groups, the President has warned that terrorists may retaliate after two of its leaders were killed by the military. Where and when, nobody knows. There is also the war against illegal drugs by President Duterte. No less than four million drug users are presumed to be potential criminals. Santa Banana, this simply means that the war on illegal drugs will be relentless even as the President has stopped making the police the frontliners. Now it is the Philippine

If I were a foreigner, I would think twice about coming here.

Defending media LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES ONE online-only news organization has issued the call to defend media, of all things. And I would defend media, too—if media didn’t make defending it so damn hard. I’ve come to the sad conclusion that the loss of trust of ordinary Filipinos in their mainstream media, as shown by the inexorable rise of social media, for instance, is basically self-inflicted. It’s not just a question of technology, its portability and interactivity; media’s problem is a loss of confidence and trust, something that can’t be fixed by adapting to supposed new rules. It’s a whole new game,

the current media landscape is. And media, as we know it, can’t even seem play anymore by the rules of the old game that it’s still playing. Two recent incidents make me wonder if mainstream media is really serious about shoring up its eroding credibility and gaining back its audience. One is a huge unreported story ignored by the national press, while the other is a small-time crime in my own neighborhood. The first has to do with the disclosure last Friday of the filing of a new affidavit by an alleged narcotics syndicate member named Ricky Serenio, who implicated defeated presidential candidate Mar Roxas, Senator Franklin Drilon and Iloilo City Mayor (on indefinite leave) Jed Patrick Mabilog in the illegal

drug trade. Serenio’s sworn statement, published by a credible Iloilo-based media outfit, claimed that the three Liberal Party officials had been identified by slain local drug kingpin Melvin

Whatever happened to ‘breaking’ a story first instead of just killing it before it can air or see print?

Odicta as his protectors. Now, such an explosive report should make waves as far as Manila, which is always looking for the next

big story. Only it didn’t; by yesterday, only one broadsheet had picked up the story and the big Manila-based broadcast networks had not even mentioned it at all. In Iloilo, the Serenio story has gone through the entire media cycle, to the point where the motives of the affiant (who is out on bail on drug charges filed against him in the middle of this year) are already being questioned; his supposed ties of an influential local mayor, who is supposedly attempting to curry favor with President Rodrigo Duterte, are now being blamed for the belated release of his affidavit implicating Roxas, Drilon and Mabilog to the drug trade as protectors of Odicta. But the point is not the credibility of Serenio or his lack of it. For all we know, Serenio could really be a

pawn being used to bring down the three prominent Ilonggo politicians by their pro-Duterte rivals and would-be local kingpins and cannot really prove his allegations in court. The point is that the story was so obviously suppressed by the media in Manila. And it was ignored by the same organizations that religiously reported, say, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte’s alleged ties to some still-unidentified international drug ring based solely on his refusal to show a tattoo to Senator Antonio Trillanes. Whatever happened to “breaking” a story first and letting those on the receiving end give their side, instead of just killing it before it can air or see print? Why can’t the mainstream media seem to report unfavorable stories about leaders

of the Liberal Party, when they jump on anything that sounds like it can bring down Duterte? This is not a media strategy that I can defend. And some people in media want the people to rally around this? *** Meanwhile, closer to home, late on Sunday night, my usually quiet Quezon City neighborhood was all agog after it was treated to a rare occurrence: an all-star, over-the-top broadcast media coverage-fest. All over a small crime that didn’t even involve one extrajudicial killing. Motorcycle-riding gunmen held up a local laundry, taking P30,000 in cash and cellphones from three customers of the shop. Hey, it must have been a slow Sunday night, which explains

Drug Enforcement Agency that is the sole agency in charge of carrying out the war on drugs. The political noise gets louder by the day, given all these destabilization threats against the President. There are the Yellowtards, and there are the communists. There is also the news on government corruption. It tells the rest of the world that Filipinos in government are truly corrupt. They must have also heard that the Philippines has decided, as a matter of policy, not to accept aid or grant from the European Union because the help could come with strings attached; the EU is prone to interfere in domestic affairs like the war on illegal drugs. Foreigners must have also read that President Duterte, in one of his tirades, told EU representatives that they must pack their bags and leave within

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(Part 2) CORRUPT policemen near jeepney stands often demand a percentage of the total fares collected in every trip. Other crooked street cops accost the jeepney driver for real or imaginary infractions of traffic rules, and extort money from them, called “tong.” Jeepneys operating with no valid franchise are called “colorum.” Their drivers pay a regular bribe to the cops to avoid apprehension. In the early 1960s, the multi-colored jeepney became a symbol to promote tourism in the Philippines. Even the now-defunct Hotel Intercontinental Manila in Makati had a “Jeepney Coffee Shop” which had a facsimile of a jeepney inside its premises. There was daily newspaper comic strip called “Gorio and his Jeepney,” and it had a full-color version in the Sunday edition of the same newspaper. It also became a TV program featuring local comedian Chiquito. The quaint image of the jeepney began deteriorating in the 1960s when jeepney drivers and operators in the metropolis organized protests against fuel price hikes. “Pasang Masda” was notorious for jeepney strikes which caused a lot of inconvenience to office employees and students. It was the proclamation of martial law in September 1972 which ended the jeepney strikes. By the middle of the 1970s, radio sets became commonplace in every jeepney. The “music” was often irritating because of the poor quality speakers, which were located under the passenger seats. New jeepneys no longer used metal signs displayed on the windshield to announce their route. The route had to be written in paint under the windshield, and on each side of the vehicle, to discourage tripcutting. It was also during the 1970s when amusing sayings started appearing inside the available visible space inside the jeepneys. These signs include “God knows Judas not pay,” “Binata pa po ang driver, jingle lang ang pahinga” and “Basta driver, great lover.” After Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was assassinated in August 1983, many jeepneys displayed political stickers supporting the political opposition. Months after the incompetent President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino seized power in 1986, jeepneys displayed protest stickers like “Edsa —the Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” At the height of the strongman administration of President Ferdinand Marcos from September 1972 to August 1983, there were no jeepney strikes in the country. Strikes in sectors affected with public interest, which included public transportation, were declared illegal. Jeepney and bus operators who allowed their drivers to go on strike risked losing their franchises. To discourage jeepney strikes, the Marcos administration created the Metro Manila Transit Corporation, which operated hundreds of Hino regular passenger buses imported from Japan. The MMTC buses were painted in royal blue hue and were clean and comfortable. They plied the major routes in the National Capital Region. These buses were the first to use florescent lights. Other buses used incandescent bulbs. Upon the urging of First Lady Imelda Marcos, the MMTC introduced air-conditioned passenger buses on

bus routes in the metropolis in 1975. Each bus was called a “Love Bus.” Commuters preferred those buses to the jeepneys. Although the MMTC buses had specific routes, any part of the fleet could be redirected to any route anytime to address any serious shortage in public transportation. If the MMTC buses were not enough, military buses and trucks were always on call to ferry stranded passengers. By the turn of the twentyfirst century, jeepney drivers in Metropolitan Manila and in other urban centers in the country had become nefarious. Today’s jeepney drivers are rude and inconsiderate to other motorists. They violate traffic regulations with impunity, travel at breakneck speed, shorten their routes without justification, and even shortchange many of their passengers. Many of them smoke while they are driving. Most jeepney drivers keep rocks near their gas pedals which they hurl at motorists they quarrel with. Those who are able to drive continuously for several hours without resting are evidently into prohibited drugs. There are many jeepney drivers who do not have the requisite license to drive. Most jeepneys are not properly maintained, so they belch thick smoke that causes respiratory diseases and pollutes the environment. Many run on wornout tires, thus making them safety hazards, especially on rainy days when the roads are slippery. Most jeepneys do not have functioning brake lights. This makes them road hazards since they make indiscriminate stops anywhere their drivers want to. There are jeepneys who do not use their headlights at night to save on battery power, and on the stupid assumption that because they can see other motorists, other motorists can see them. Reckless jeepney drivers involved in a road collision say that they are just trying to make a living. How and why their making a living excuses them from complying with traffic and safety regulations is a mystery. Because jeepney operators and drivers do not carry insurance, they are unable to compensate any of their passengers who may get hurt or even die during a road collision or violent accident. That’s a clear violation of the law governing public transportation. Jeepneys are not practical means of public transportation because the road space occupied by two jeepneys is enough for a regular bus, which can accommodate a lot more passengers than the two jeepneys combined can. The void arising from a jeepney phase out can be filled by replacing the jeepneys with buses or similar bigger, more practical vehicles. Displaced jeepney drivers will have to seek other employment. It’s about time that public safety should not take a back seat to the employment of reckless, abusive jeepney drivers. Each time the government attempts to phase out the jeepney, operators and drivers go on strike to paralyze the nation. That’s akin to making the government a hostage! Sadly, past administrations had no political will to phase out the jeepney. President Rodrigo Duterte should be congratulated for his refusal to be hostaged by striking jeepney operators and drivers, and for his determination to phase out the jeepney and introduce a more efficient public transportation system for the country.

A5

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Inday Sara

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

Before the jeepney is phased out

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017

FORMATION GARY OLIVAR IT’S clear that this young lady’s looks do not favor her father. Those clear brown eyes and fair complexion could only be—shall we say—matriarchally determined. But it’s a safe bet where most—if not all—of that quick temper, fierce loyalty, and outspoken honesty of hers come from. That would have to be credited to the former mayor of Davao city whom she replaced in the last election. *** I first came across Mayor Sara Duterte’s name a few years back when, as vice mayor, she reportedly lit into a sheriff and punched him out, not just once but three times, for having gone ahead with a demolition of shanties without waiting for her. At the time, I thought she was just behaving like any other spoiled young warlord, or warlady in her case. Then, during the campaign, I was moved by her account of having been

sexually abused in her youth by some teen-ager. Having a daughter myself, I blanched at her father’s dismissive comment, “Masyado lang siyang madrama!” Only later, after reading more about them, did I come to appreciate how absolute must be the mutual trust that binds the Duterte pere et fils—certainly deep enough for the father’s rough remarks to slough off the relationship like water off a duck’s back. More recently, the public thrilled to the news of expected triplets from the lady mayor, only to be saddened when she had to lose one of them. One out of three may not seem like bad odds to some, but as an expectant grandfather these days, I’m starting to understand—together with the President, as well as his predecessor Mrs Arroyo who’s experienced a similar tragedy—that the loss of one grandchild is always one too many. However, it’s the public life of Mayor Sara that people are lately getting curious about, after Duterte’s recent remarks—perhaps only half joking—that she would be his top choice to

succeed him someday, as in fact she already has down in Davao city. The lady is not shy about giving people a piece of her mind, especially if they’re obnoxious types like, say, Senator Trillanes, whom she all but challenged to a fistfight. But that seems to be just one side of her, the same way that the foulmouthed public persona of her father is very different—as everyone will attest—from the sober lawyer who’s come to be called “Tatay Digong” by his fans. *** Lately, Mayor Sara has been showing a lot of political initiative and organizational savvy—qualities which will stand her in good stead, not just now as she goes about helping to build her father’s legacy, but also in the future as she sets about to build her own. Yesterday, Sara hosted the launch of a new movement called Tapang at Malasakit in Fort Bonifacio. I wasn’t able to attend, but it was quite a sight to see video grabs of an endless sea of red T-shirts inside the tented venue at the Fort. Ostensibly intended

to unify all pro-Duterte groups, this new alliance can—and should—become the umbrella for everybody who shares common cause against all the shady characters working to topple this administration— from multibillion-peso druglords, to traditional oligarchies in business and politics, to unrepentant rebels in the countryside, to well-heeled Fil-Americans lobbying to cut off US assistance to our country. Days earlier, in Davao, the mayor also launched another campaign called BantayDagat. Local government, barangay, and law enforcement officials spent all Saturday morning picking up trash from the beaches around the city. This new campaign is supposed to be the companion of an earlier initiative called BantayBukid, which seeks to bring the same environmental spirit to rural farmlands. These two campaigns may seem small-town, because in fact they are. But if they are picked up by the hundreds of other towns and cities where the rest of our people live—through the active support of agencies like DENR, DILG, and

the national federations of LGU officials—what seems small-time today may well become very large indeed. *** On the peace and order front, Sara has created the Davao City Peace Committee, a new body tasked to engage NPA forces in the region in localized peace talks. It’s a bold initiative which the NPA “Southern Command” has already called “auspicious,” and to which they are open. While peace talks at the national level remain on hold, such local peace talks may turn out to be the only way to give peace a continuing chance. In fact, they may be the only way, in our fractious country, that peace can be established— not from the top down, but from the ground up, one community at a time. There’s no reason why the Davao initiative can’t be duplicated elsewhere. These are big ideas and big actions coming from this feisty young mother and mayor. She does her gender and generation—not just her doting father—proud. Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

Concurring opinions in the De Lima decision OF THE majority opinion written by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, Justices Leonardo-De Castro, Martires, Del Castillo, and Tijam fully concurred with the ponencia while Justice Peralta submitted his separate opinion and Justice Perlas-Bernabe, her Separate Concurring and Dissenting Opinion. I summarize their opinions in this column, the third in a series on De Lima vs. Guerrero which is the recent Supreme Court decision that denied the petition of Senator Leila De Lima questioning the cases filed against her and asking for her release from detention. In fully concurring with the ponencia, Associate Justice Leonardo-De Castro notes petitioner’s patent disregard of the procedural rules including the filing of petition prematurely without first filing a motion for reconsideration and the lack of proper verification and certification of non-forum shopping. She points out the inconsistency of petitioner’s fundamental argument in her petition when she attributes grave abuse of discretion

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24 hours. A day later, he was corrected. And now we have no less than the presidential daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, forming an alliance against those destabilizing the government. If I were a foreigner, I would think twice about coming here. *** Santa Banana, here is another troubling report that a Malacañang official thinks drug dependents are all potential criminals. With this kind of thinking, where is the rule of law that presumes a person is innocent until proven guilty? The word “potential” does not make an addict a criminal. Drug dependents are victims of the proliferation of drugs. An addict becomes a criminal because he is physiologically and psychologically damaged. He lives in a shell that must be broken if he is to be rehabilitated. Shabu, the drug mostly used by the poor because it is cheap and readily available,

on the part of the respondent judge for not acting on her Motion to Quash and yet, according to the justice, petitioner argues that respondent judge’s issuance of the assailed orders, i.e. Order dated 23 February 2017, finding probable cause for issuance of warrants of arrest and the warrant of arrest should have been considered a denial of the very same motion. She adds—respondent judge should be accorded reasonable time to resolve the Motion to Quash. She also gives stress on the failure by the petitioner to file a motion for reconsideration to the adverse decision by the respondent judge and failure to elevate the matter before the Court of Appeals instead of filing directly with the Supreme Court her petition. Further, De Castro states that the alleged defects in the information do not warrant the quashal. For Leonardo-De Castro, “trading of dangerous drugs” covers more than just the sale of drugs and a singular buy-and-sell transaction. It connotes a series of transactions. For his part, Justice Martires also recognizes the procedural defects in the petition, and in addition he states that the Regional Trial Court has jurisdiction over crimes involving

illegal drugs as mandated by Republic Act. No. 9165 which is applicable in this case. He further says that the information charges petitioner and 2 others with conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading under Sec. 26(b) of the said law, explaining that by benefiting from the proceeds of drug trafficking, an elective official, regardless of his salary grade, and whether or not the violation of sec. 27 of RA No. 9165 was committed in relation to his office, automatically brings him to the fold of RA No. 9165; hence the RTC. In his five page concurring opinion, Justice Del Castillo notes that petitioner is being charged with conspiring to engage in illegal drug trafficking which is a case cognizable and within the jurisdiction of the RTC. Moreover, he clarifies that it is not the salary grade that determines which court should hear and has jurisdiction over the case but the allegations in the information. Associate Justice Tijam, after acknowledging the procedural defects of the petition, proceeds to discuss the substantive issues, concurring with the majority in saying that the RTC has jurisdiction to try the case of petitioner for the reason that conspiracy to commit

truly affects the brain. As I said before, the Duterte administration is mistaken in saying that the drug problem is a peace-and-order problem. *** The Court of Appeals has affirmed the legality of Globe Telecom’s and Smart’s purchase of San Miguel Corp.’s telecommunication assets, effectively dealing a death blow to efforts of the Philippine Competition Commission to question the P70-billion deal. The CA ordered the PCC to approve the P69.1-billion sale. The CA in August last year issued a preliminary injunction against the anti-trust body after the telecom giants claimed the deal was already approved. The writ of preliminary injunction or TRO directed the PCC to cease and desist from conducting further proceedings, If we analyze the transaction, it is all for the public good. *** There is a move at the House of Representatives to bar aliens from running automated polls in the Philippines. And indeed why should aliens intervene in a national

illegal trading under sec. 5 of Republic Act No, 9165 is within the ambit of the RTC. He further says that Republic Act No. 10660 cannot be used as a basis to wrest from RTC jurisdiction because the information alleged the involvement of the amount which exceeds P1,000,000.00. Further, he sees no reason to reverse the preliminary investigation of the DoJ Panel of Prosecutors since petitioner failed to present evidence to her claim that the criminal charge against her is merely political harassment. Neither can petitioners clamor to apply the rules of evidence meritorious since a preliminary investigation is not part of the trial, he adds. Justice Peralta separately submits that because of the novelty and transcendental importance of the jurisdictional issue of the case the respondent judge should have been allowed to resolve the motion to quash. However, he conforms to the majority that petitioner committed procedural lapses and that the RTC has jurisdiction over the case. The novel question of law Peralta refers to is “whether the Sandiganbayan has exclusive original jurisdiction over drug cases under R.A. No. 9165 committed by public officers or employees in relation

exercise? Look at what happened with Smartmatic. There are other AES experts aside from Smartmatic. The Comelec only has to look further than that. *** Businessman Roberto Ongpin, who was my student at Ateneo High School, just can’t stop improving on his signature development—the Balesin Island Club. Ongpin bought interests in a nearby island to build an international airport for foreigner-members of the club and guests. Not content with building a Grand Villa to accommodate wedding receptions and other affairs, Ongpin also built private villas. An eight-suite private villa would cost P275 million; a six-bedroom private villa sells for P200 million while one that has four bedrooms sells for P150 million. Ongpin is also building a modern Chinese style to eight-suite private villa. The only thing missing is a good private restaurant. But not for long—it will be operated by the well-known Seven Star Yacht Club, with Chinese chefs to boot.

to their office,’ pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1606, Revising Presidential Decree No. 1486 Creating a Special Court to be Known as “SANDIGANBAYAN” and for other purposes, as amended by R.A. No. 10660, x x x” Finally, Justice PerlasBernabe, while concurring with the majority opinion that the Information reflects the charge of Illegal Drug Trading, she is however of the view that although petitioner stands accused of the crime of Illegal Drug Trading, the latter is alleged to have committed the same “in relation to her office.” And because of this attending peculiarity, the case against petitioner falls within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan and not the RTC, which is where the case was filed. As a consequence, according to Perlas-Bernabe, the case against petitioner should be dismissed. In the next column, I will summarize the dissenting opinions of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Justice Benjamin Caguioa. This will be followed by a column on Justice Marvic Leonen’s dissent. The series will be completed with own analysis and critique of the decision. Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Defending... From A4

why news crews from all the major television stations—include cable news stations—and some radio reporters, descended on the neighborhood police headquarters. As a former news executive, I can forgive the blanket coverage more appropriate for the visit of a foreign dignitary. But what I don’t get is that the news crews returned the following day to do a follow-up story of the same robbery, which they had already reported on their Monday-morning shows. They had to have a followup, the reporters and cameramen explained, because they had primetime evening news reports to file. And they would not go away even if they knew that there were no new developments in the case. The police had arrested no suspects, had no new leads and didn’t even have anything like revealing new CCTV footage. And yet nearly all of the news crews returned on Monday to flog the same dead news horse for their evening broadcasts. These were the same news outfits, by the way, that still had nothing on the Serenio case. How can anyone defend this? Of course, some will ask why, if I’m so bearish on mainstream media, I still work there. My answer has always been the same: because I still hope that media will come to its senses and remember that its dwindling readers, viewers and listeners are its true constituents, and not the political or economic elites that it has increasingly become servile to, are its true constituents. I could be wrong. But I’m still waiting for media to defend itself before it demands that the increasingly skeptical populace comes to its defense.

World

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017 Barrioquinto Ceasar, Editor

Civil disobedience threatened B ARCELONA―A far-left Catalan party on Monday threatened “massive civil disobedience” if Spain dismisses the region’s government to stave off its threat to declare independence.

The Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) party denounced Madrid’s plans as the “biggest aggression” against the Catalan people since the Franco dictatorship. “This aggression will receive a response in the form of massive civil disobedience,” said the party, a key

regional power broker, in a statement. The CUP’s threat upped the stakes in the standoff over Catalan independence, which has raised fears of unrest in Spain’s deepest political crisis in decades. Half a million angry separatists took to the streets of

Abe wins election but voters wary TOKYO-Shinzo Abe has seized a “super-majority” in Japan’s parliament but failed to win the hearts and minds of voters suspicious of his nationalist instincts and unenthusiastic about his drive to change the country’s pacifist constitution. Abe now has the parliamentary numbers to start a process that would bolster the role of the military―an ambition he has long cherished. But the victory was far from a ringing endorsement of the 63-year-old veteran― whose popularity ratings have sagged in the face of scandal―and more a win by default after he trounced a disorganized opposition. The election confirmed Abe’s “difficult relations with the Japanese people”, said Tobias Harris, Japanese politics expert at the Washington-based Teneo Intelligence consultancy. “There is a certain amount of

Barcelona on Saturday after Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced he would remove Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and his executive. Rajoy said Madrid would take control of ministries under unprecedented measures to stop the region breaking away. The CUP is a key ally of the ruling separatist coalition in the regional parliament. It said the details of the protest actions it is planning would be unveiled later this week. Catalan parties were scheduled to meet on Monday to set a date and agenda for a gathering of the regional parliament

to debate their next steps. Such a session could give the ruling separatists another opportunity to declare unilateral independence. They have been threatening to do so since holding a banned referendum on the issue on October 1. “What happens now, with everyone in agreement and unity, is that we will announce what we will do and how,” Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull said. He denounced what he called “a fully-fledged coup against Catalan institutions”. Though polls indicate Catalans are divided on whether to break away from Spain, auton-

omy remains a sensitive issue in the northeastern region of 7.5 million people. Catalonia fiercely defends its language and culture and has previously enjoyed control over its policing, education and health care. Francisco Franco―who ruled from 1939 until 1975― took Catalonia’s political powers away and banned official use of the Catalan language. In the fallout from the referendum, Spain’s government says it had no choice but to use previously untested constitutional powers to seize control of the region in order to preserve the unity of the country. Madrid could take control

DRESS REHEARSAL. Actors perform at the Temple of Hera during a dress rehearsal of the lighting ceremony of the Olympic flame in ancient Olympia, the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 BC. AFP

appreciation for certain aspects of what he has done.” But, said Harris, “he is not loved.” An exit poll by Kyodo News showed more than half of voters (51 percent) do not trust their prime minister, while a survey by the liberal Asahi newspaper found 47 percent of those questioned would like to see someone else in charge of Japan. Only a few months ago, that was starting to look like a possibility. Abe was fighting for his political survival, embroiled in scandal and smarting from an embarrassing defeat in Tokyo municipal elections. When he suddenly announced snap polls last month, critics saw it as an opportunistic maneuver to take advantage of a weak opposition and divert attention from his own woes, including allegations of favoritism to a friend in a business deal -- which the premier strongly denies. AFP

In Communist China, it's still a man's world at the top BEIJING―When Xi Jinping warned against “pleasure seeking” in a stern message to the Communist Party congress last week, the audience included few women and some notable absentees―officials ousted by graft scandals involving illicit affairs. The scene was a reminder that China’s leadership remains a man’s world, where women have been excluded from the highest echelons of power and men have abused their positions in sex-for-favors scandals.

Women represent only a quarter of the 2,300 delegates attending the week-long congress held just twice a decade, highlighting the yawning gender gap in the world’s most populous nation. Since the Communists took power in 1949, under Mao Zedong who famously declared that “women hold up half the sky”, no woman has ever risen to the top ruling council. Delegates at the congress will choose the members of the party’s Central Committee,

where women account for just 4.9 percent of the 205-strong membership―down from 6.4 percent in 2012. The committee then has the task of selecting the 25-person executive Politburo, which currently has only two women, and its elite standing committee―which boasts seven aging men. When the new Politburo Standing Committee lineup is unveiled on Tuesday or Wednesday, no woman is expected to break the glass ceiling and join them.

Guo Jianmei, a leading lawyer and women’s rights advocate, had prepared a letter to the party congress criticizing China’s lack of attention to women’s participation in politics. “The letter describes this situation but there is no way to submit it, because no party representative is willing to help us,” Guo told AFP. “China has generally not given any thought on how to promote women’s leadership status.” Gender equality is en-

shrined in the constitution but analysts say traditional social structures have kept women from gaining more space in politics, pressuring them to prioritize family roles over their careers. The official All China Women’s Federation coined the derogatory term “leftover women” in 2007 to describe unmarried professionals after the government announced a campaign to improve population “quality” by encouraging educated women to have babies. AFP

Italy regions support 'big bang' autonomy MILAN―Two of Italy’s wealthiest northern regions on Sunday voted overwhelmingly in favur of greater autonomy in the latest example of the powerful centrifugal forces reshaping European politics. Voters in the Veneto region that includes Venice and Lombardy, home to Milan, turned out at the high end of expectations to support the principle of more powers being devolved from Rome in votes that took place against the backdrop of the crisis created by Catalonia’s push for independence. Veneto President Luca Zaia hailed the results, which were delayed slightly by a hacker attack, as an institutional “big bang”. But he reiterated that the

of the Catalan police force and replace its public media chiefs. Under the constitutional measures, new elections for the regional parliament must be called within six months. The Senate is set to approve the measures by the end of the week. Rajoy’s conservative Popular Party holds a majority in the Senate, where his approach to Catalonia enjoys support from other major parties. Deputy Prime Minsiter Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Catalan Puigdemont would lose all his powers once the measures were approved. AFP

region’s aspirations were not comparable to the secessionist agenda that has provoked a constitutional crisis in Spain. The turnout was projected at around 58 percent in Veneto, where support for autonomy is stronger, and just over 40 percent in Lombardy. The presidents of both regions said more than 95 percent of the voters who had cast ballots had, as expected, done so to support greater autonomy. The votes are not binding but they will give the rightwing leaders of the two regions a strong political mandate when they embark on negotiations with the central government on the devolution of powers and tax revenues from Rome. AFP

BRAZILIA―He may be Brazil’s most unpopular president in decades and charged with serious crimes, but Michel Temer, the ultimate teflon leader, is expected to breeze through a congressional vote on whether he should stand trial. In Portuguese, Temer means “to be afraid,” but the canny 77-year-old veteran of Brasilia’s notoriously corrupt political scene appears to be full of confidence ahead of Wednesday’s vote. The first president in the country to face criminal charges while in office, Temer is accused of obstruction of justice and racketeering. He denies any wrongdoing and has argued that the country needs him at the helm to bring in market-friendly reforms after two years of deep recession. A two-thirds majority is required in the lower house of Congress to have his case sent to the Supreme Court. Just as occurred in August when Congress threw out another charge, his allies are expected to reject the idea. Constitutional law professor Daniel Vargas is not surprised. “Temer is a professional in politics. He knows how to use the machine and to find the necessary support,” Vargas said. Ironically, what makes it easier for Temer is that many of those judging him in the lower house―185 of the 513 deputies―are themselves targets of anti-corruption probes. AFP

Cyprus tourism booms, but waste is a problem AYIA NAPA, Cyprus― Tourists on a crowded, sundrenched beach in the Cypriot resort of Ayia Napa tossed drinks cans into recycling bins as a record-breaking holiday season drew to a close. With more visitors heading to Cyprus than ever, the Mediterranean island’s waste disposal system is under pressure, despite efforts to cut landfill use and encourage recycling, waste management and tourism, experts say. Panicos Michael, manager of the five-star Alion Beach Hotel in Ayia Napa, said the rising number of visitors raised major issues. “I think that this will be a big challenge for the island in general to cope with the increased amount of waste that’s going to be produced,” he said. Cyprus―seen as a regional safe spot shielded from the unrest that has hit other popular Mediterranean destinations―hosted a record 3.2 million visitors last year and

looks set to top that by eight percent in 2017, official figures show. In response, authorities and tourism executives are backing efforts to separate waste and send as much as possible away from landfill sites and towards recycling. Cyprus landfilled some 79 percent of its municipal waste in 2013, according to the latest figure available on Eurostat, far above the European Union average of just 28 percent. Michael said his hotel had cut landfill output per guest by half since it introduced waste separation in 2003. The hotel divides glass, paper, plastic, metal, drinks cartons and other categories for recycling. The Ayia Napa municipality aims to offer organic waste collection from hotels by spring 2018. It has also installed recycling bins in visitor hot spots such as the waterfront directly below the Alion Beach Hotel. AFP

New pollution tax on cars comes into force in London

VISIT. Jordan's Queen Rania speaks during her visit to a Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhia. AFP

Bangladesh detains activist accused of rallying Rohingya refugees COX’S BAZAR-A Muslim activist accused of campaigning in refugee camps for the unconditional return of displaced Rohingya to Myanmar has been arrested in Bangladesh, police said. More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since August 25, when coordinated attacks by the Rohingya insurgency prompted a massive crackdown on the Muslim minority by Myanmar’s military.

Temer tipped to survive threat

Only accredited charities are allowed to operate in the sensitive border region and Bangladesh has heavily curtailed access to the vast camps. Mahbubul Alam Minar was detained more than a week ago but police only confirmed late Sunday he was being held on suspicion of erecting banners listing Rohingya demands in English and Bengali. An investigation has been opened

into Minar, who has links to Jamaate-Islami, the largest Islamist political party in Bangladesh, deputy police chief in the Cox’s Bazar border district Afrozul Haq Tutul told AFP. Bangladesh authorities are wary of Islamist groups―most notably the armed Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army fighting for the stateless minority-gaining a foothold in the vast refugee camps.

Police believe Minar acted alone in hanging the banners, which claim to represent the previously-unknown Committee on Rohingya Rights Establishment, and broadcasting his efforts on social media. The banners called for all displaced Rohingya to be granted safe passage back to Myanmar, compensation for their destroyed homes and return of seized land. AFP

LONDON―Drivers of the most polluting vehicles will face an extra daily charge for driving into central London on weekdays from Monday in a bid to improve air quality in one of Europe’s most polluted cities. London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced the new 10 (11.2-euro, $13.2) charge― which will be on top of a daily 11.50 congestion charge―in February, after the European Union ordered Britain to cut air pollution. “As mayor I am determined to take urgent action to help clean up London’s lethal air,” Khan said in a statement.

“The shameful scale of the public health crisis London faces, with thousands of premature deaths caused by air pollution, must be addressed,” he added. The charge applies to all petrol and diesel cars that were registered before the introduction of environmentally friendly Euro 4 emissions standards. Transport for London said that anyone with a vehicle registered before 2008 should check if it might be eligible for the charge. The charge is intended to prepare Londoners for the introduction of an Ultra-Low Emission Zone across the city center from April 2019. AFP

Sports

A7

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Pitched battle promises classic L

OS ANGELES—Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw and Houston hurler Justin Verlander lead the Dodgers and Astros into the 113th World Series here Tuesday seeking to capture a first Major League Baseball crown.

Kershaw and Verlander, perhaps the two greatest pitchers of their generation, boast a wealth individual honors, but neither has captured the ultimate prize. Kershaw, the southpaw from Texas whose resume includes one National League Most Valuable Player award, three NL Cy Young award and seven All-Star selections, gets his first chance after helping the Dodgers reach the World

Series for the first time since they last won it all in 1988. Verlander, a former American League Rookie of the Year, MVP and Cy Young award-winner, has pitched in two World Series, as a rookie with the Tigers in 2006 and again with Detroit in 2012 when they were swept by San Francisco. He’s 0-3 in World Series starts—a record he aims to change with the Astros, the

team he joined in a trade from Detroit on August 31 just in time to be included on their post-season roster. “Obviously he’s a premier performer at the highest times, the most intense times,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “And you can’t teach that. And you can’t buy it. You have to have it or you don’t. And Verlander has it.” Verlander is coming off two sensational starts that earned him MVP honors in the American League Championship Series triumph over the New York Yankees. He held the Yankees to one run over 16 innings, notching 21 strikeouts. “Verlander, if that dude wasn’t a first-ballot Hall of

Famer before this post-season, he is now,” Astros pitcher Lance McCullers said. “The impact he’s brought on this team, the way that he goes about his business after all these years, you cannot say enough about what he’s done for us and how he’s built his legacy.” Kershaw, who was long unable to translate his regular-season dominance into post-season success, allowed just one run on three hits with five strikeouts in six innings in the final game of the Dodgers’ National League Championship Series triumph over the defending champion Chicago Cubs. Four more wins He was promptly slated

to pitch game one of the World Series on Tuesday by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who says there was no sign that the back trouble that sidelined Kershaw for five weeks would be a problem. “Physically, Clayton feels good,” Roberts said. “Obviously, you saw the emotion after (the clinch). He’ll be ready to go game one.” Kershaw called reaching the World Series “an incredibly special moment” but made it clear it wasn’t “mission accomplished”. “You know, we have four more wins to go,” he said. “We’ve 1988 so long in LA, it feels good to say that we’re getting to the World

Series in 2017, and with four more wins, hopefully get to get one home.” The Dodgers are seeking a seventh World Series title while the Astros, in the Fall Classic for just the second time, are in pursuit of their first. The Dodgers led the major leagues with 104 regular-season wins while the Astros notched 101. The Dodgers disposed of the Cubs in five games in the NLCS while the Astros were pushed to the brink by the Yankees in the ALCS, falling behind 3-2 in the series before winning the last two games at home to deny New York a 41st World Series berth. AFP

Chiang Kai Shek five, La Salle Antipolo win CHIANG Kai Shek College and La Salle College of Antipolo dealt first loses to their foes over the weekend to gain the early leads in their respective groups in the 30th Women’s Basketball League at the Xavier School gym. The Chiang Kai Shek teens crushed their rivals from the Dalig National High School, 8248, for their second win in as many games and the early lead in Group A of the 18-Under Competitive Division of this tournament organized by the Best Center, sponsored by MILO and supported by Rain or Shine Elasto Paints, Chris Sports and Sklz. It was the first loss in two games for the Dalig cagebelles.

Milliam posts rare PPS 3-title net romp ALEXA Milliam dished out top form to claim three victories, including the girls’ 16-and-under division, as she dominated the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Bacolod leg regional age group tennis tournament at the Centercourt and Panaad Tennis Courts yesterday. While she was tipped to stamp her class in her agegroup and in the 14-U side, the 12-year-old Milliam added the 16-U diadem by trouncing Shyryn Salazar, 6-0, 6-4, to join the elite roster of three-title winners in the circuit sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger. The St. Michael Academy of Ponteveda Inc. ace earlier routed Jasmin Jaran, 6-1, 6-0, in the 12-U finals then repulsed Jufeann Cocoy, 7-5, 6-1, to clinch the 14-U plum in the Group 2 tournament backed by the Unified Tennis Group, including Cebuana Lhuillier, PPS-PEPP, Wilson, Toby’s, BMeg, Citigreen, Babolat and Tru-Flex. Fellow SMAPI mainstay Reynan Mahusay shared the MVP honors with Milliam as he toppled Cesar Po, 7-5, 6-1, to pocket the boys’ 16-U crown but fell short in his twotitle bid, bowing to Dumaguete’s Reyniel Marcellana, 6-1, 7-6(5), in the premier 18-U finals of the 43rd leg of the nationwide circuit put up by the country’s leading lending and remittance company. Other singles winners were Ormoc City’s Cedric Bravo, Khenz Justiniani of La Carlota, Giovani Dimate, also of La Carlota, and Jewel Milliam while Kiana de Asis-Salazar, Karl Baran-Fernando Po, Jezel Gavituya-Alexa Milliam, Pern Po-Pete Rodriguez, and Dimate-Louchela Estember led the doubles winners.

La Salle College-Antipolo, meanwhile, also dropped Escuela de Sophia to 1-1 via a 66-61 squeaker for their second win and the lead in Group B of the same division. De la Salle-Zobel smothered St. Paul College-Pasig (0-2), 69-22, for its debut win in Group B. Winners in the 18-Under Developmental Division were Immaculate Conception Academy and St. Scholastica’s Academy in Group A; Jubilee Christian Academy in Group B; St. Mary’s College-QC and New Era High School in Group C; and La Salle College-Antipolo and Quezon City Academy om Group D. De la Salle-College of St. Benilde clipped Assumption College,, 83-42, in the lone 25-Under game.

GATORADE DRAFT COMBINE. Philippine Basketball Association draft hopeful Kiefer Ravena (left) emerged as 3/4 Court Sprint, Lane Agility, Max Vertical Leap champion during the 2017 PBA Gatorade Draft Combine at the Gatorade Hoops Gym.

Wiggins, Timberwolves silence Thunder LOS ANGELES—Andrew Wiggins thwarted the Oklahoma City Thunder’s comeback bid, launching a game-winning three-pointer as time expired to lift the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 115-113 NBA triumph on Sunday. Wiggins’ banked in shot from near halfcourt denied new Thunder signing Carmelo Anthony a signature moment with his new club. Anthony had put Oklahoma City up with five seconds remaining. “I could see how much time was left,” Wiggins said. “I got as close as I could and let it go.

“Everything worked perfectly,” Wiggins added. “When it left my hands it felt amazing.” The result left the crowd in Oklahoma City—not to mention the Thunder—stunned by a second straight defeat. Anthony, acquired in September from the New York Knicks in a blockbuster trade, finished with 23 points. Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 27 points apiece. Towns also pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds. Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook,

coming off a six-point performance in a loss to the Utah Jazz on Saturday, shook off a slow start to score 31 points with 10 assists for Oklahoma City. But his late-game heroics weren’t enough after the Thunder’s lackluster start. He scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, including a threepointer with 30 seconds remaining that tied the game at 110-110. Towns answered with another basket, and after Anthony’s three-pointer put the Thunder up again Wiggins swooped for the win. Westbrook wasn’t con-

vinced that the hard screen set by Towns that freed Wiggins for the game-winner—and knocked down the Thunder’s Paul George—was legal. Thunder coach Billy Donovan said he’d leave it to NBA officials to “deal with that stuff”. Center Steven Adams was a lone bright spot for the Thunder in the early going, scoring 14 first-half points. But even though his efforts helped the Thunder outscore the Timberwolves by 10 points in the paint in the first half, it was Minnesota who led at the break 61-54. AFP

AFP Cavaliers edge Defenders, 72 to 71

Senate Defenders’ Sen. Joel Villanueva (#3) looks to create a play as he brings down the ball during their team’s game against the AFP Cavaliers on UNTV Cup Season 6 elimination round at the Pasig City Sports Center.

Lewis stunned by Vettel’s lack of fight AUSTIN—A happy and victorious Lewis Hamilton bounced with joy on Sunday, but said he was surprised that title rival Sebastian Vettel did not put up a tougher fight in the United States Grand Prix. The 32-year-old Briton, who started from a record 72nd pole position, recovered after losing his advantage at the start to regain the lead and steer his Mercedes to his ninth win this year, his fifth in Texas and the 62nd of his career. With three races remaining, Hamilton leads Vettel by 66 points and can take the championship by winning, or finishing in the top five, at next weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix. “That was one of the fun races I’ve

had in a while,” said Hamilton. “But I was expecting it to be more of a tough fight with Sebastian. “Maybe it will come next weekend in Mexico. I didn’t get away to a great start. Seb got a great start, but I was chilled about it as I know you can overtake here. “So I stayed cool and then it was great having that battle, trying to keep up, stay close, get within DRS. “For me, it was very reminiscent of 2012 here, seeing Seb up ahead and wanting to have that real battle. “That is what I looked for and that is what I enjoyed the most. “But as I said, I was a bit surprised Seb didn’t defend more, but it was still fair.” AFP

TWO-TIME champion AFP Cavaliers turned back a fighting Senate Defenders’ team, 72-71, in the main game of the UNTV Cup at the Pasig City Sports Center on Sunday. Coach Sonny Manucat of the Cavaliers said defense was the key to the soldiers’ victory on Sunday. “Number one, defense. Kasi alam ko talaga malakas ‘yung Senate eh, so sabi ko sa kanila we have to contain all players inside. Sabi ko, walang magre-relax. Focus lagi sa game,” said Manucat. Romero Almerol Jr. scored 17 points, while Rolando Pascual had 13 to lead the Cavaliers. On the other hand, Rommel Balboa struck for 17 points, while Jeffrey Sanders pitched in 14 points to lead the Defenders. Senator Joel Villanueva, meanwhile, contributed 12 points. In the second game, Malacañang-PSC Kamao knocked down PDEA Drug Busters, 91-85. Coach Louie Gonzales admitted that the Drug Busters posed a great challenge on them, so over confidence was out of the question.

“We don’t have to be overconfidence sa laban na to kasi, I watched their games. Alam ko hindi pa nagka-come together, it’s a brand new team, pero alam mo, mga matured na ‘yan. Mga marurunong na ‘yan, mag-aadjust na din ‘yan. Now, kung bibigyan pa natin sila ng fighting chance, maglalaro ng maganda ‘yan. Buti na lang nakalusot kami,” said Gonzales. In the third match, the PNP Responders routed the COA Enablers, 112-72. The Responders stayed on the top spot in group a 3-0 mark, while COA has a 0-3 standing. The Scores: Game 1 PNP Responders (112) —A. Yanquiling 18, A. Bayabao 17, J. Cabahug 14, O. Omiping 11, H. Decena 8, A. Tolentino 7, J. Saracho 6, R. Abaya 6, R. Ongutan 6, R. Cabrera 5, C. Elopre 4, J. Tacsay 4, H. Sta. Cruz 3, J. Misola 2, J. Criste 1 COA Enablers (71)—A. Gamboa 31, E. Ballestos 18, J. Angel 6, W. Paquera 5, R. Villanueva 4, J. Balgua 2, R. Garin 2, C. Sulay 2, P. Carpina 1 Quarter Scores: 31-11, 54-29, 80-50, 112-71

Timberlake to headline Super Bowl halftime show LOS ANGELES—Justin Timberlake will headline the halftime show at Super Bowl 52 in February, the 10-time Grammy winner and the NFL announced on Sunday. It will be the third time that Timberlake has performed in the halftime show of the league’s championship spectacular. He also performed at Super Bowl 35 as a member of *NSYNC and at Super Bowl 28 in 2004 with Janet Jackson—when an infamous “wardrobe malfunction” caused one of Jackson’s breasts to be exposed. Timberlake posed a video clip on Twitter announcing that he would be performing at the Super Bowl on February 4 at the US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Timberlake’s third appearance at the Super Bowl will give him the most appearances by an individual entertainer. Lady Gaga performed at last year’s Super Bowl, traditionally the most-watched television event of the year in the United States. The halftime show has become a spectacle in its own right. Last year’s halftime show was the most-watched musical event of all-time across all platforms and the mostwatched Super Bowl halftime performance in history through broadcast and digital channels, reaching more than 150 million unique people, the league said. AFP

San Juan, Navotas advance to MBT North semifinals NO. 2 seed San Games Tuesday, Oct. 24 ‘17 Juan outsteadied (San Andres Sports Complex) No. 7 Valenzuela, 4 p.m. Las Piñas vs. Taguig 5:30 p.m. MMDA vs Makati 88-86, while No. 7 p.m. Manila vs. Caloocan 5-ranked Navo- 8:30 p.m. Parañaque vs. Pateros tas shocked No. 4 Marikina, 78-75, Tuesday to advance to the semifinals in the North Division of the 2017 Metro Basketball Tournament seniors’ competition at the San Juan Gym. John Kenneth Zamora and Joshua Emmanuel Montero scored 19 points apiece as San Juan held off Valenzuela’s last-ditch rally to barge into the semis of the tournament organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority and sponsored by Synergy 88, San Miguel Corp., World Balance and Higer Bus. The Whatta Whatta, which finished in a three-way tie with Manila and Marikina at 4-2 after the classification stage, but took the higher seeding by virtue of a more superior quotient, await the winner of the No. 3 Manila vs. No. 6 Caloocan quarterfinal in the semis, which will also be a knockout affair in the tournament, which has Mobile App ng Bayan Barangay 143 as presentor, my|phone “Bida ang Pinoy” as official mobile phone and Spalding as official ball. San Juan, which lost to Valenzuela, 89-85, in the classification phase last Oct. 8, appeared headed to an easy win as it led 86-72 with 3:40 left. But Valenzuela, with Josiah Esplana and Jaymar Gimpayan combining for 39 points, came charging back via a 14-2 run to threaten at 86-88 with still 27 seconds left. Both teams, however, failed to score again until the final buzzer, enabling the Whatta Whatta to escape with the win at the start of the playoffs of the 24-and-under tourney also supported by Excellent Noodles, Nature’s Spring Water, 1-Pacman Partylist, Hopewell Sales Corp., Star Bread, Frabelle Foods, Regan Industrial Sales, Inc., Glitter.ph, Alcoplus and Archie’s Bespoke Bar + Grill.

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

P0 M+ P0 M

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

A8

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017

‘FIBA may consider 100M audience’

Sports

By Peter Atencio THE audience reach of around 500 million people is something to consider. Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan said this after the three-man FIBA Evaluation Commission met with officials of the SBP and government officials over the weekend. The meeting was conducted after the Commissioner, headed by FIBA Central Board and Commission president Hamane Niang of Mali, inspected facilities which will be used should the Philippines win the bid to cohost the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. “The audience that it will reach is 500 million. The Philippines and Japan have more than 100 million. That’s important to FIBA,” said Pangilinan. The FIBA Basketball World Cup is held every four years, with the Philippines, after a four-decade absence, competing in Seville, Spain in 2014.

Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter makes his move against Meralco’s Allen Durham in Game 5 of the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Philippine Arena, won by the Gin Kings, 85-74, Sunday night for a 3-2 lead in their finals series.

Slaughter proving why he’s Gov Cup’s top cager By Jeric Lopez

A

FTER winning the Best Player of the Conference award last week, Greg Slaughter struggled in two successive games in the finals of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. But when it mattered most, he showed everyone why he’s the BPC as he came up big when Barangay Ginebra needed him. With control of the finals at stake, Slaughter was called upon by Gin Kings coach Tim Cone to be a bigger factor and he didn’t disappoint. Cone, in a change of

ploy, suddenly inserted Slaughter in the starting line-up for the first time in the series against Meralco and that proved to be a difference. At one point in the third quarter, Cone even talked to Slaughter one-on-one to squeeze what he can from the 7-foot giant and the latter responded emphatically.

Slaughter unleashed 17 points and 15 rebounds to help the Gin Kings take Game 5, 85-74, Sunday night and more importantly move closer to winning the championship, having a 3-2 lead now. “I needed to step-up. We all needed to step-up because we treated this last game as a do-or-die for us,” said Slaughter. He also credited his teammates for helping him get back on track after two sub-par showings in Games 3 and 4, which Ginebra both lost. “My teammates were able to help me out as well

to play better by putting me in positions where I can be more effective,” said Slaughter, whose comeback from an ACL injur y that sidelined him for almost a year, is phenomenal. Now, he looks forward to once again help his team in its bid to finish off Meralco in Game 6 tomorrow. “We need to have this same hunger for us to close out. We’ll be ready,” said Slaughter. Game 6 of the series will again be held at the Philippine Arena in Bocuae, Bulacan. Tickets for the said game

Pasaol is now heart and soul of Warriors THE Red Warriors are slowly peaking in their quest to reach the Final Four this UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament, thanks to the play of hotshot Alvin Pasaol. Limping with cramps down the stretch, Pasaol never gave up and continued to play his heart out as he hit clutch baskets and finished with 32 points to carry the Red Warriors past University of the Philippines, 73-64, on Sunday to earn him this week’s UAAP Press CorpsChooks To Go Player of the Week award. It’s his second time to win the plum after he made a historic 49-point performance despite a sorry 100-106 loss to defending champion De La Salle. He delivered 32 markers in UE’s first win of the season — a 96-91 conquest over University of Santo Tomas two weeks ago. The Sophomore sensation was the main man of UE’s surge of winning three of its last four games for an improved 3-7 win-loss record just a game behind joint-fifth placers UP and National University, who have identical 4-6 slates. But the no. 2 scorer in the league, who is averaging 22.2 points per game including 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and as many as steals, did not take away the credit to the system of Head Coach Derrick Pumaren and the effort of his teammates. “Siguro nag-stick lang kami sa game plan namin para manalo kami ngayon. Maganda rin pinakita ng mga teammates ko, the way sila mag depensa,” said the 6’3” forward, who stood out among candidates Santi Santillan of De La Salle and Matt Nieto of Ateneo for the weekly plum given by the league’s beat writers from broadsheets, tabloids, and online publications.

La Union archers dominant

Kyrie fined $25k for spat with Sixers’ fan NEW YORK (AFP)--Kyrie Irving is off to a rocky start with the Boston Celtics after the league slapped the point guard with a $25,000 fine on Sunday for verbally abusing a Philadelphia 76ers fan. The exchange took place at halftime of the Celtics 102-92 win on Friday over the 76ers when a fan made a reference to Irving’s former teammate LeBron James as the teams were heading to the locker rooms at the Wells Fargo Center arena. “Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving has been fined $25,000 for using inappropriate language when responding to a fan,” league vice president Kiki VanDeWeghe said in a statement. The Celtics acquired Irving in an offseason move after he demanded a trade from the NBA finals runner-up Cleveland Cavaliers. It is the second time in as many days the NBA has fined one of its players for an incident with a fan. On Saturday VanDeWeghe announced that DeMarcus Cousins had been fined $25,000 after the New Orleans Pelican player got into a heated exchange with a female fan during a game in Memphis. The fan in Philadelphia reportedly yelled “Ky-

are available at Ticketnet and SM outlets. The PBA Commissioner’s Office also announced that free rides will be provided to fans coming from the metro. Rides will be on a first come-first serve basis. The Jam terminals in Buendia and Cubao have been designated as the pickup and drop-off points. Departures for the Philippine Arena are as follows: Buendia terminal (1:40 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 3:15 p.m) and Cubao Terminal ( 2:20 p.m., 240 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:20 p.m., 3:40 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:20 p.m. and 4:40 p.m.).

The participation came as a result of Gilas Pilipinas’ silver-medal finish in the FIBA Asia Championship the year before at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Cup is the most prestigious international tournament in the sport of basketball. It features the best 32 teams from 32 countries all over the world. The 2023 tourney will also serve as the qualifying tournament for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. The Philippines, together with its partners Japan and Indonesia, is taking the lead in bidding to co-host the 2023 World Cup. If granted the rights, the Philippines will house competition for 16 of the 32 teams in the eliminations and be the host for the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. The Evaluation Commission will be making its recommendation to the FIBA Central Board, and make their decision known on the bid winner in December.

By Randy Caluag

Dasmarinas Cavite chess team (from left) assistant coach Arman Subaste, gold medalist in the recent KL Paralympics SEA Games, is shown with gold medalists Daniel Quizon, Kylen Mordido, Jerlyn Mae San Diego, Michael Conci and head coach FIDE master Roel Abelgas.

VIGAN, Ilocos Sur—If it were a cottage industry, archery could become a major commodity of La Union. This northern Luzon province bagged six out of eight gold medals at stake in archery yesterday to lead the way at the start of bulk of competitions in the Luzon Leg of Batang Pinoy, organized by the Philippine Sports Commission for athletes aged 15 years old and below. Geriemee Ranchez and Francine Sophia Navor emerged as the first double gold medalists of this first of three Batang Pinoy legs hosted by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur, headed by Governor Ryan Singson. Ranchez topped both the Qualification and the

Olympic rounds of the 20-meter Boys’ Yeoman events, while Navor dominated both medal rounds of the 30-meter Girls’ Bowman event. Francine’s younger sister, seven-year-old Frances Alexa, bagged the gold in the Olympic round of the Girls’ Yeoman battle. Frances actually made up for her loss in the Qualification round to Carleen Sophia Flores in the same category. Completing the sweep of the Girls’ Yeoman was Kharlyle Angel Pinzon, who took both the bronze in both rounds. One of the main reasons for La Union’s growing excellence in archery is Olympian coach Henry Manalang, who has been training young archers from this province for eight years now. But Manalang, who

mentored Jasmin Figueroa in Athens Olympics in 2004, prefers to give credit to the parents of his wards. “Ang masasabi ko lang talaga sa mga players namin ay dahil din sa mga parents. Sila ang nag-push sa mga bata. Sa mga tournaments, mga gamit, lagi silang nandiyan,” said Manalang. “Masaya ako kasi namemaintain namin ‘yung domination sa archery. Masaya ako para sa mga bata.” Baguio City’s Jemuelle James Espiritu and Manila’s Erzet Nanez split the gold medals in the Boys’ Bowman Olympic and Qualification rounds, respectively. Dasmarinas, Cavite shared the spotlight with La Union as it swept the four gold medals at stake in chess competition held at the Baluarte Function Hall.

Generika-Ayala attempts to rebound, tests Cocolife’s mettle GENERIKA-Ayala tries to bounce back from a rusty opening-day performance as it battles Cocolife in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. Action starts at 7 p.m., following the encounter between Sta. Lucia Realty and rookie team Iriga City in the 4:15 p.m. appetizer of this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by Cignal, Mikasa, Senoh, Mueller, Grand Sport, Rebisco, Island Rose, Cloudfone, UCPB Gen and Asics. Both matches will be shown live via the league’s official broadcast partner, ESPN5. Formal opening ceremonies,

however, are set this Saturday at the same venue with no less than FIVB Hall of Famer and current United States’ women’s national team head coach Karsh Kiraly serving as guest of honor. A team hungry for redemption, Generika-Ayala marched into this season-ending conference with high hopes following the acquisition of reinforcements in Katarina Pilepic of Croatia, Darlene Ramdin of Trinidad and Tobago and Penina Snuka of the US. But the Lifesavers crashed back to earth as they fell prey to the powerful Petron side bannered by prolific imports Hillary Hurley

Games Today

(Filoil Flying V Centre) 4:15 p.m. – Sta. Lucia vs Iriga City 7 p.m. – Generika-Ayala vs Cocolife

and Lindsay Stalzer, as well as Japanese libero Yuri Fukuda, in straight sets, 25-13, 25-17, 25-19, last Saturday. Pilepic, who was dubbed as “Croatian Hammer” during her college days at Arizona, finished with team-high 14 points, but was obviously overwhelmed by the towering Petron blockers led by Mika Reyes and Ria Meneses, who chalked three blocks apiece. On the same note, Ramdin was

also quiet, delivering only nine markers as she has yet to regain her deadly form after leading her country in the FIVB World Championship Qualifying Tournament recently. “I feel that we still have something more to show. I expect the girls to go all out for a bounce back victory against Cocolife on Tuesday,” said Generika-Ayala head coach Francis Vicente, who is tipped to bank on local stars Gen Casugod, Fiola Ceballos, Kat Arado and team captain Angeli Araneta for this game. Vicente knows that it’s going to be an all-out war against Cocolife,

which campaigned in a pocket tournament in Vietnam in preparation for what is billed as the toughest, most serious women’s volleyball competition in the country. Despite parading only two imports in Taylor Milton and Tai Manu-Olevao, the Asset Managers are still billed as legitimate title contenders for having a reliable libero in Denden Lazaro and a solid opposite spiker in Michele Gumabao. Cocolife’s biggest asset, however, will be evergreen playmaker Tina Salak, who will be making a grand return to active playing after going on semi-retirement to focus on coaching.

PH readies next auction of coal exploration areas B3

Business

ICTSI spending $100m in Iraq

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017

International Container Terminal Services Inc. chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr. signs the expansion agreement for the second major development phase of the Basra Gateway Terminal in North Port, Umm Qasr, Iraq involving an investment of $100 million. Razon (left) shakes hands with General Company for Ports of Iraq director Chief Riyadh, while Basra Mas chief executive Ali Kh. Khalaf looks on.

By Darwin G. Amojelar PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. said Monday it will spend $100 million to develop the second phase of Basra Gateway Terminal in Iraq. ICTSI chairman Enrique Razon signed the expansion of agreement for the second major development phase of BGT in North Port, Umm Qasr, Iraq. ICTSI said two new berths would be developed covering a 20 hectare yard area which will raise annual BGT’s container handling capacity by 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units to a total of 1,200,000 TEUs. The berths will be configured and equipped with quay and landside container handling systems to handle container vessels of up to 10,000 TEUs. Combined with the adjacent Berth 27, it will offer a continuous berthing line of 600 meters. “This new $100-million investment follows hot on the heels of ICTSI’s development of Berth 27 and the rehabilitation and upgrade of berths 19, 20 and 21―a $150 million investment,” Razon said. “Our commitment to provide international standard port facilities and services in Iraq is plain to see. It also represents the fruit of a positive working relationship with the Iraq Ministry of Transport, General Company for Ports of Iraq and Governorate of Basra as well as other government agencies. This combined effort will, when the new facilities are completed in 18 months time, deliver the new facilities that are essential to support Iraq’s key economic objectives including the resurgence of the non-oil economy,” he said. The new $100-million investment will be undertaken by ICTSI subsidiary BGT with construction scheduled to start immediately.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

B1

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, October 23, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

51.5080

Japan

Yen

0.008783

0.4524

UK

Pound

1.318800

67.9288

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128171

6.6018

Switzerland

Franc

1.015538

52.3083

Canada

Dollar

0.792519

40.8211

Singapore

Dollar

0.734376

37.8262

Australia

Dollar

0.781900

40.2741

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653224

136.6623

Saudi Arabia Rial

0.266652

13.7347

0.731689

Brunei

Dollar

Indonesia

Rupiah 0.000074

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

1.5528

UAE

Dirham 0.272279

14.0245

Euro

Euro

1.176600

60.6043

Korea

Won

0.000884

0.0455

China

Yuan

0.151069

7.7813

India

Rupee

0.015378

0.7921

Malaysia

Ringgit 0.236742

0.030147

37.6878

12.1941

New Zealand Dollar

0.695000

35.7981

Taiwan

0.033088

1.7043

Dollar

Source: PDS Bridge

China firms investing $4.5b By Othel V. Campos

T

HE Trade Department on Monday welcomed $4.5 billion worth of investments committed by Chinese companies Huili Investment Fund Management Co. Ltd. and Yi Ding Tai International Corp.

The investments in iron and steel manufacturing and shipbuilding will generate 8,000 jobs, according to the department. “This is one of several investment proposals we have received on the steel industry that will allow us pursue President Duterte’s vision of having a globally competitive iron and steel industry, to support the growing economy, to alleviate poverty and to create jobs for every Filipino,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez. Huili Fund, a private equity firm based in Beijing, signed a letter of intent for the steel manufacturing investment in

March 2017. This was endorsed by China’s Ministry of Commerce. The two-phase project of a world-class integrated steel manufacturing facility will employ 6,000 people by 2022. Huili Investment Fund Management Co. Ltd. chairman Meng Xiaosu, who recently paid a courtesy call on Lopez, said the first phase of the project would include production of billets, long and flat products while the second phase would involve iron ore processing. A feasibility study is currently being conducted that includes the ideal location to set up the facility. The location’s proximity to the port and the cost of electricity are being considered in the study. “Producing the steel here will be favorable to both parties as it will generate jobs for Filipinos and be cost-effective for the company. This complements our drive to provide opportunities to uplift the lives of those at the bottom of the pyramid as we take a step forward to inclusivity and shared prosperity for all,” Lopez said.

Xiaosu said a facility in the Philippines which was a part of the Maritime Silk Road would help the company expand in the region while reaching other Southeast Asian countries with lower freight cost. Lopez said the project would also contribute to the Philippine Manufacturing Resurgence Program through knowledge-sharing of advanced technological know-how in support of the Philippines’ bid to be a major producer of high-quality and safe steel products by 2030. Meanwhile, Yi Ding Tai International selected the Philippines for the development of a shipbuilding and ship repair facility for frontier-island, regional size vessels with 15,000 deadweight tons. The project would include advanced ship and vessel designing, manufacturing, repair, sales and financial support. Feasibility studies are currently ongoing following international maritime safety standards as the company plans to investing in an SBSR facility with a local company in the Philippines worth $1.5 billion.

Ayala set to complete Indonesia wind project

Govt eyes ADB loan for electric jeepneys

By Alena Mae S. Flores PT UPC Sidrap Bayu Energi, a special purpose company led by the energy unit of Ayala Corp., expects its $150-million, 75-megawatt wind project in Indonesia to start commercial operations in the first quarter of 2018. AC Energy Holdings Inc. said in a statement the wind project was “nearing 70-percent completion.” The group “has started the installation of 30 Gamesa G114 2.5-MW wind turbine generators since August.” Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan, together with local government officials of South Sulawesi and high-ranking officials of the State Electricity Company in the Sulawesi region, visited the site recently. AC Energy said the visit “demonstrated the government’s support to the ongoing construction of the country’s first commercial wind farm.” AC Energy earlier signed investment agreements with UPC Renewables Indonesia Ltd. for the development of the 75-MW wind farm in Sidrap, South Sulawesi. The Sidrap project is the first greenfield offshore investment of AC Energy Holdings Inc. through affiliate AC Energy International Holdings Pte Ltd., a Singapore private limited company. AC Energy has been expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia.

IN BRIEF China donates to Marawi THE Chinese government will officially turn over to the Philippines its donation of $3 million worth of heavy equipment later this month to be used for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City in Mindanao, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Monday. Dominguez said in a statement Filipino and Chinese officials were currently facilitating the documents in preparation for the official turnover of the donation to be tentatively held at the Iligan Port in Iligan City. “We are thankful to the Chinese government for the swift and timely arrival of its donation at the Iligan Port. China was among the first countries to offer its assistance in rehabilitating Marawi City, a gesture that further cements our strong bilateral relations and reflects the warm friendship between our two countries,” Dominguez said. The donation, which consists of dump trucks, cement mixers, excavators and bulldozers, were delivered at the Port of Iligan on Oct. 9. Julito G. Rada

Anderson Group BPO acquires ISO ANDERSON Group BPO Inc., a shared services company with roots from the UK, officially acquires its ISO 27001:2013 certification in Information Security Management Systems, through its partner certification body—TÜV Rheinland Philippines Inc. in a awarding ceremony at the AGBI office in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Focusing on serving its clients better and providing comprehensive yet flexible business solutions, the ISO 27001:2013 certification is a significant milestone not only for AGBI but for its employees and clients as well. With this, AGBI ensures strict compliance to the international standards of quality assurance and standardization. The ISO 27001:2013 is a major requirement for implementing, maintaining and continually improving the Information Security Management System of the company.

PDIC schedules P37-m auction PHILIPPINE Deposit Insurance Corp. will conduct a public bidding on November 16, 2017 on 102 commercial and residential lots and two motor vehicles. The bidding will be held at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas–Legazpi Branch, Barangay 18 Rizal, St. Cabagñan, Legazpi City. Sealed bids will be accepted by the PDIC Real and Other Properties Acquired Committee from direct buyers only between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the venue. The properties with an aggregate minimum disposal price of P36.96 million will be bid out on an “as-is, where-is” basis. Commercial and residential lots are located in Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan. Prospective buyers are advised to physically inspect the properties they are interested to buy, examine and verify the titles and other evidence of ownership, and determine any unpaid taxes, fees, charges and/or expenses before submitting their bids.

Ayala coop backs rice farming AYALA Multipurpose Cooperative, Palawan ARC Cooperative Federation of Narra, Palawan and Ten Knots Development Corp. recently signed a tripartite agreement in support of the Agriculture’s Department’s Corporate Rice Farming Program. The department said it was the second time the Ayala cooperative signed an agreement supporting an agriculture project. The first was with a local farmer’s cooperative in Iloilo. “The coop is pleased that starting from a small seed in Iloilo we are now moving towards a bigger group, a bigger engagement, and partnership with the Department of Agriculture. On behalf of the coop, we ensure you with our cooperation and in every way that we can help the community and most especially in nation-building,” said Ayala Cooperative general manager Lourdes Orosa. Othel V. Campos

HAWAII GOVERNOR’S VISIT. Qualitek Asian Group of Companies chief executive Martin Han (left) welcomes to the Philippines Hawaii Governor David Ige who is in town for a five-day trade mission. Han, an international businessman based in the Philippines and who was raised and educated in Hawaii, pays his courtesy to the governor. Qualitek is the global company of Qualitek Delta Philippines Inc., a manufacturer of high-quality soldering products since 1988.

GDP seen growing nearly 7% in 2nd half By Julito G. Rada THE Philippine economy is expected to grow nearly 7 percent in the second half of the year, on sustained domestic demand and higher government spending on infrastructure, economists from First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia & the Pacific said in a joint report Monday. “Despite much political noise within and outside the Philippines, we don’t see much change in the growth narrative, as the economy continues to emit bright lights. We still see 6.7-percent to 7.1-percent gains in the third quarter and fourth quarter,” the economists said in the Market Call Capital Markets Research for the month of October. “Domestic demand’s luster should have undiminished shine, as government spending on infrastructure

and consumer spending, amidst rapidly rising peso OFW remittances,” it said. The report said despite a high base in 2016, infrastructure spending had picked up since May and should be hitting a growth pace approaching 20 percent toward the end of the year. “This, combined with a rebound in private construction, should boost total construction spending which should more than offset some weakness in durable equipment expenditures,” the report said. The economists said exports, with its double-digit expansion, would also provide the needed boost to achieve the original fullyear growth target of 6.5 percent to 7 percent for the year. Exports were seen to accelerate as the economic expansion in the US, eurozone and China gained traction and exceed-

ed expectations. The government earlier said the economy was expected to grow between 6.5 percent and 7.5 percent this year, anchored on higher fiscal spending, robust domestic demand and investments. Growth in the first half averaged 6.4 percent. Economists predicted that growth could be faster in the second half as the government ramped up fiscal expenditures particularly on infrastructure projects under the ambitious P8.4-trillion “Build, Build, Build” program. The economy grew 6.9 percent in 2016, near the upper bound of the target range of 6 percent to 7 percent. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said an average growth rate of 7 percent for the Philippines this year and beyond would be sustainable as macroeconomic fundamentals remained solid and strong.

THE Energy Department plans to apply for a new loan from the Asian Development Bank to roll out the government’s electric jeepney program, a year after the government cancelled the loan for the electric tricycle program. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the agency would apply for a new loan for e-jeepneys if the ADB would not agree to reallocate a part of the funding for the e-trike program. “We have said that maybe, we can use the funding originally for the e-trike to e-jeepney. If we can’t, we have to apply for a new loan,” Cusi said. He said the e-jeepney program of the department would involve the conversion to electric or battery operation of the jeepney but would still retain the original body. “We will only change the mechanism so we won’t discard anything… We are thinking if we can use the Green Technology Fund,” he said. Cusi said the loan would be used to provide financing to jeepney operators for the conversion while the operators and/or drivers could use the savings from the fuel to pay for the loan. Cusi said the department was waiting for the no objection letter from the ADB for the e-trike program. “We are waiting for the no objection letter because we had to revise the framework…We want to roll them out already,” Cusi said. Alena Mae S. Flores

B2

Business

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market drops; Lopez, Melco up

S

TOCKS fell Monday, pulling down the benchmark index below the 8,400-point level for the first time in seven days, as investors awaited the release of third-quarter financial reports of listed companies. The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, dropped 72 points, or 0.9 percent, to close at 8,348.32, as three of the six major sectors declined. The heavier index, representing all shares, also fell 28 points, or 0.6 percent, to settle at 4,885.79, on a value turnover of P13.3 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 111 to 90, while 37 issues were unchanged. Seven of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by casino operator Melco Resorts which jumped 10.4 percent to P7.73 and Lopez Holdings Corp. which climbed 9.2 percent to P6.40. Meanwhile, the dollar extended last week’s gains in Asian trade Monday on hopes for Donald Trump’s tax-cut plans, while Tokyo chalked up a record winning streak on

a weak yen and following a big election win for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. US markets powered to all-time highs on Friday after senators voted for a federal budget plan that permits them to introduce the tax cuts with a simple majority vote instead of a 60-40 majority. While there is a long way to go for the proposals to be implemented, the news provided a boost to already optimistic investors. Expectations that Trump’s tax cuts and big spending plans would boost the economy helped drive a months-long global markets rally that began after his November election. However, a series of White House crises and legislative setbacks pared those gains. Forex traders, betting the cuts will fan inflation and in turn lead to further US interest rate rises, briefly pushed the dollar above 114 yen on Monday for the first time since July. “The budget clears a hurdle to the much anticipated Trump tax cuts, which in turn are expected to both improve the US economic

and earnings outlook while at the same time strengthening hawks at the Fed’s hand to pursue at least four rate hikes in the next 14 months,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader. The greenback was also well up against most other currencies, with the euro struggling with the fallout from Spain’s Catalonia crisis after the national government imposed direct rule on the region following a controversial independence vote. Adding to the yen’s weakness was Abe’s resounding victory in the weekend’s general election, which gives him a mandate to press on with his easy money, big-spending “Abenomics” program to kickstart the Japanese economy. The Philippine peso also tumbled Monday to close at 51.51 against the dollar, near an 11-year low. Tokyo’s traders welcomed the latest developments in Japan, sending the Nikkei surging 1.1 percent—a record 15th straight gain. With AFP, Bloomberg

Chemphil sells 66% stake in LMG to Sytin for P405m By Jenniffer B. Austria UNITED Auctioneers Inc. founder and chief executive Dominic Sytin is acquiring a 65.92-percent stake owned by Chemical Industries of the Philippines Inc. in listed LMG Chemicals Corp. for P405 million. LMG Chemicals said in a disclosure to the stock exchange principal shareholder Chempil signed a share purchase agreement with Sytin and and Robinsion Siao on Oct. 20. “The company was also advised by Chemphil that the closing and

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.7 142,000 59.6 5,680 98 1,627,970 3.86 64,000 140.9 1,054,390 2.48 5,357,000 33.5 289,300 15.7 57,900 31.6 497,400 8.25 600 1.75 15,000 925.5 750 0.65 816,000 89.7 1,400,590 0.82 296,000 12.8 2,200 25 3,700 58.3 225,970 239.8 280 108 10 60.5 582,950 260 207,560 1,945 10 86.85 17,660

666,360 337,166 159,502,049 247,780 148,800,557 12,947,880 9,672,545 908,104 15,677,330 4,951 25,850 693,815 531,410 126,547,413 242,720 28,160 92,495 13,238,221 66,730 1,080 35,830,302 54,385,088 19,450 1,533,718

177,186 4,193,317 19,300 -5,121,766 239,990 4,021,700 -4,620,085 -83,697,087 27,060 -4,200,174 -16,722,880 32,485,858 -

42 11.02 0.74 1.36 19.22 0.213 101.1 5.03 15.14 180 44.9 18.7 63.4 72.5 1.91 6.44 11.5 10.02 14.8 13 6.93 5.65 17.14 62 16.44 12.18 18.1 1.75 245.6 4.6 3.21 23.3 30.7 19 16.3 287.6 0.214 10.84 2.89 6.29 9.84 5.84 9.7 1.73 11.5 61.95 6.8 308 4.7 4.6 2.2 13.1 4.7 0.14 1.2 137.1 3.28 2.11 28 0.95

INDUSTRIAL 42.55 1,359,100 11.54 3,212,500 0.74 267,000 1.36 238,000 19.9 19,000 0.213 130,000 102 70 5.03 1,505,400 15.14 3,251,600 180 630 45 430,800 18.8 3,400 64 20,210 72.5 10 1.91 77,000 6.5 83,500 11.7 48,900 10.06 7,112,400 15 257,500 13.14 113,000 7 1,520,900 5.65 5,752,100 17.22 2,833,700 62.1 234,280 16.5 42,500 12.2 55,900 18.8 1,902,800 1.8 699,000 249 965,550 4.65 2,292,300 3.21 18,000 23.3 100 30.85 1,049,900 19 118,600 16.32 539,500 288 373,650 0.215 20,000 10.84 28,000 2.94 256,000 6.41 142,400 9.85 1,202,000 6.9 195,800 9.88 34,900 1.74 348,000 11.68 347,700 62 594,570 6.8 4,700 308 5,100 4.7 779,000 4.65 16,000 2.27 531,000 13.18 90,700 4.7 5,000 0.14 1,140,000 1.2 86,000 140 619,400 3.3 27,000 2.13 3,448,000 28 200 0.95 660,000

57,793,635 36,536,728 198,500 324,910 374,549 27,690 7,113 7,640,351 49,270,084 114,868 19,537,205 64,050 1,281,476 725 147,930 544,635 568,952 71,646,110 51 3,841,518 1,483,812 10,602,343 32,586,537 48,780,308 14,714,200.50 708,590 686,414 35,044,646 1,224,690 240,820,416 10,963,538 58,480 2,330 32,521,865 2,272,436 8,824,478 ( 107,886,424 4,290 310,770 745,040 907,281 11,894,645 1,286,493 339,559 605,890 4,065,440 37,165,944.50 31,960 1,573,480 3,702,170 73,900 1,204,660 1,201,900 23,500 159,890 103,400 86,915,458 89,020 7,376,110 5,600 628,600

40,078,305 -754,596 10,940 -3,578,864 48,129,260 112,500 1,264,196 28,650 ,519,385.9999 314,104 62,320 -8,147,325 -20,096,637 -18,567,580 -8,027,292.50 -119,896 524,496.00 77,447,086 2,694,570 -616,126 487,974.0001) -61,408,958 -2,140 -443,700 -3,983,381 -12,844 2,448,965 18,360 -636,680 -732,930 23,250 7,618 -8,981,459 -75,900 418,000 -48,000

0.33 74.85 15.26 7 0.415 0.41 1,010 8.48 15.52 7.55 1,181 75 4.4 0.81 5.76 17.5 0.38 6.8 0.051 1.52 2.08 102.3 948 0.86 1.45 0.19 0.207

HOLDING FIRMS 0.33 560,000 75.75 303,210 15.32 4,397,300 7 152,100 0.46 68,450,000 0.46 21,970,000 1,017 546,135 8.5 7,934,000 15.6 2,895,900 7.78 2,700 1,181 46,680 75.4 456,720 4.5 3,000 0.84 1,244,000 6.4 20,396,600 17.68 231,500 0.38 250,000 6.81 17,993,500 0.053 12,930,000 1.7 6,312,000 2.1 920,000 103 441,600 950 135,690 0.86 1,000 1.45 363,000 0.195 70,000 0.207 90,000

186,700 22,902,314.5 15 67,718,886 1,068,740 30,877,200 9,857,200 568,751,350 67,433,320 45,211,524 20,551 55,408,515 34,443,782.50 13,400 1,040,580 130,439,343 4,100,018 95,450 122,683,507 676,670 10,665,650 1,927,890 45,327,688 130,137,970 860 528,270 13,550 18,650

,259,952.5003 7,494,700 -262,500 95,315,165 -8,853,788 -3,463,746 -21,641,910 11,479,413.50 -9,000 838,507 2,940,322 60,800 18,094,404 -21,000 17,015,407 -30,438,335 -1,900 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

4.46 59 98 3.9 142.6 2.27 33.5 15.88 31.15 8.25 1.71 930 0.65 92.5 0.82 12.8 24.95 58.9 238 108 60.3 263 1,945 86.8

4.79 59.7 98.5 3.91 142.6 2.51 33.5 15.9 31.7 8.26 1.75 930 0.66 92.7 0.82 12.8 25 58.9 239.8 108 63 264.8 1,945 86.9

4.46 59 97 3.83 139.1 2.27 33.35 15.3 31.15 8.25 1.71 920 0.65 89.7 0.82 12.8 24.95 58.3 238 108 60.05 259 1,945 86.8

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

42.65 11.2 0.74 1.38 19.5 0.213 101.1 5.15 15.16 184.8 45 18.7 63.4 72.5 1.92 6.53 11.5 10.12 14.8 13.6 6.97 5.68 17.14 64 16.8 12.36 18.8 1.75 246 5.28 3.25 23.3 31.75 19.06 16.38 290 0.214 11.1 2.95 6.29 9.84 5.84 9.88 1.74 11.5 62.6 6.8 310 4.8 4.6 2.33 13.3 4.7 0.143 1.21 137.1 3.3 2.13 28 0.96

42.65 11.54 0.75 1.38 20.4 0.213 102 5.15 15.18 190 46 19.2 64 72.5 1.93 6.6 11.7 10.2 15 13.6 7 5.68 17.4 65 16.8 12.36 18.8 1.8 251 5.28 3.27 23.3 31.75 19.48 16.44 290.8 0.215 11.44 2.95 6.42 9.98 6.9 9.88 1.75 11.84 63.35 6.8 310 4.83 4.65 2.33 13.3 4.7 0.143 1.21 141.6 3.3 2.17 28 0.96

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.345 75 15.3 7.02 0.42 0.41 1,072 8.5 15.6 7.55 1,191 76.2 4.4 0.87 5.87 17.8 0.385 6.9 0.053 1.59 2.08 102.9 985 0.86 1.48 0.19 0.209

0.345 75.75 15.68 7.05 0.47 0.47 1,087 8.5 15.74 7.79 1,200 76.2 4.5 0.87 6.4 18 0.385 6.9 0.054 1.85 2.1 103.1 990 0.86 1.48 0.195 0.209

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

4.93 1.08 9.28 2.4 1 43.15 3.76 4.87 0.51 1.21 1.23 0.211 0.465 42 0.69 0.143 1.93 1.52 0.82 5.3 0.315

5.07 1.09 9.28 2.4 1 44.05 3.76 4.9 0.52 1.25 1.25 0.216 0.465 42 0.69 0.143 1.97 1.56 0.82 5.35 0.32

4.9 1.07 8.99 2.4 0.98 43.05 3.71 4.83 0.5 1.21 1.22 0.21 0.465 40.6 0.68 0.143 1.93 1.52 0.79 5.2 0.31

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.405 0.51 6.5 25.95 1.84 3.16 36.5 1.05 6.94 0.85 5.89

0.405 0.51 6.57 25.95 1.84 3.16 36.55 1.05 6.94 0.85 5.96

0.4 0.5 6.44 25.5 1.81 3.14 36.15 1.02 6.93 0.85 5.83

0.405 0.51 6.48 25.6 1.81 3.14 36.15 1.02 6.94 0.85 5.89

2,120,000 2,607,000 887,800 659,000 348,000 139,000 6,765,200 1,868,000 2,700 30,000 1,985,800

854,350 1,304,340 5,792,750 16,919,210 633,010 436,480 245,440,015 1,918,640 18,734 25,500 11,668,526

-445,439 -194,520 -33,630 -48,318,295.00 -694 487,480

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

20 39 1.62 0.54 0.052 5.05 10.3 0.071 112 8.65 10.12 7.15 2.28 2,000 6 18.2 2.56 2.66 103.4 8.39 0.155 1.39 3.24 16.06 4.07 1.47 18.9 0.55 2.95 7.06 4.15 16.9 2.22 10.92 2.85 175 8.5 1,709 1.38 0.39 50.9 91.5 6.23 4.3 1.58 2.1 3.84 1.01 8.64

20.25 39 1.62 0.54 0.053 5.05 10.3 0.071 112 9.36 10.36 7.49 2.28 2,038 6.02 18.86 2.69 2.66 104 8.4 0.155 1.39 3.24 16.06 4.07 1.48 19.74 0.55 3.03 7.73 4.15 16.9 2.28 11.02 2.85 180 8.55 1,714 1.39 0.39 51.5 92.95 6.29 4.3 1.59 2.1 3.95 1.03 8.64

19.8 38.5 1.6 0.53 0.05 5.05 10.06 0.07 110.5 8.65 9.7 7.1 2.25 1,999 5.98 18.2 2.52 2.61 102.4 8.3 0.155 1.36 3.07 15 4.02 1.36 18.42 0.55 2.95 6.91 4.06 16.9 2.2 10.9 2.76 175 8.31 1,690 1.35 0.39 50.55 91.5 6.11 4.18 1.54 2.1 3.78 0.99 8.45

SERVICES 20.25 38.6 1.6 0.54 0.05 5.05 10.12 0.07 111.1 9 9.7 7.49 2.25 2,030 6 18.36 2.59 2.61 103 8.35 0.155 1.36 3.07 15.26 4.05 1.42 19.6 0.55 3.03 7.73 4.09 16.9 2.24 11.02 2.76 180 8.31 1,705 1.39 0.39 50.85 92 6.11 4.18 1.57 2.1 3.85 1.02 8.55

94,000 23,200 136,000 63,000 65,260,000 1,000 11,282,800 10,340,000 168,840 3,700 7,785,700 26,300 8,000 26,380 313,100 16,400 8,642,000 48,000 401,250 242,300 1,370,000 93,000 55,000 700 387,000 1,977,000 4,733,300 20,000 254,000 14,012,400 69,000 1,900 994,000 7,100 44,000 4,330 293,800 68,595 156,841,000 290,000 844,700 698,240 354,100 434,000 3,786,000 1,000 2,209,000 4,765,000 494,700

1,888,341 898,335 218,400 33,820 3,326,670 5,050 115,104,104 729,830 18,766,600 32,711 78,217,852 ( 187,193 18,090 53,381,450 1,878,688 303,752 22,532,150 ( 126,780 41,409,165 2,023,599 212,350 127,210 170,100 11,044 1,565,920 2,824,420 91,059,092 11,000 761,890 107,316,244 283,380 32,110 2,209,410 77,484 122,760 763,740 2,465,394 116,823,620 217,875,490 113,100 42,918,825 64,244,441.50 2,185,350 1,831,260 5,910,900 2,100 8,460,880 4,811,080 4,223,249

52,216,620 11,205,056 317,851.9998) -19,648,865 128,189.9997) 4,910,864 -594,750 576,764 -36,270 468,475 -8,090 150,960 -70,320.00 754,740 249,300 -10,930,635 -3,672,660 -5,799,541 -39,372,614 2,029,365 532,870 1,450,860 -45,140 -23,870 1,155,527.00

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

0.0024 1.72 4.86 14.84 1.85 1.81 1.6 0.38 8.21 2.54 0.26 0.185 0.196 0.01 1.87 6.68 1.72 0.53 1.01 0.012 0.011 2.43 7.56 8.84 41.4 0.0079

0.0024 1.72 4.86 16.18 1.85 1.81 1.6 0.38 8.36 2.58 0.26 0.185 0.196 0.01 1.87 6.83 1.77 0.53 1.02 0.013 0.011 2.45 7.65 8.92 41.5 0.0079

0.0024 1.69 4.83 14.84 1.85 1.81 1.58 0.38 8.21 2.54 0.255 0.183 0.195 0.01 1.84 6.66 1.72 0.5 1 0.012 0.011 2.42 7.53 8.65 40.05 0.0078

MINING & OIL 0.0024 4,000,000 1.7 5,802,000 4.83 164,000 16.18 5,300 1.85 3,000 1.81 5,000 1.58 1,042,000 0.38 250,000 8.25 7,200 2.57 1,108,000 0.26 30,000 0.183 3,090,000 0.195 850,000 0.01 100,000 1.85 80,000 6.67 5,350,900 1.77 124,000 0.51 43,000 1.01 204,000 0.013 9,700,000 0.011 10,000,000 2.45 114,000 7.57 415,800 8.65 3,253,700 40.9 4,058,900 0.0078 3,000,000

9,600 9,867,770 792,920 79,784 5,550 9,050 1,649,930 95,000 59,755 2,819,490 7,750 567,520 166,100 1,000 147,760 35,762,911 214,570 21,890 205,950 122,100 110,000 279,110 3,152,848 28,438,646 164,398,025 23,500

508,200 -72,480 -1,175,980 58,500 -17,196,268 -852,933 383,620 -76,235,920 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF F FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR LR PREF PF PREF 2 SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

38.1 532 520 107.5 107.9 115.3 5.66 1.06 1,013 2.4 76 81.25 79 79.5 79.55

38.1 532 520 107.5 107.9 115.3 5.69 1.06 1,013 2.4 76 81.5 79.5 79.5 79.55

38.1 532 520 105.5 107.9 115.3 5.66 1.05 1,012 2.25 75.95 81.25 79 78.2 79.55

PREFERRED 38.1 100 532 6,120 520 290 106 15,260 107.9 200 115.3 800 5.68 206,200 1.05 197,000 1,012 2,630 2.25 4,000 75.95 730 81.25 20,040 79.5 13,400 78.2 81,000 79.55 6,400

3,810 3,255,840 150,800 1,613,258 21,580 92,240 1,171,120 206,950 2,662,190 9,150 55,474.50 1,628,257.50 1,060,200 6,413,500 509,120

-1,146,684 -1,627,445 -

LR WARRANT

2.4

2.45

2.39

WARRANTS 2.45 15,000

36,010

-

6,827,567 117,170 2,067,602

-85,930 -110,289

277,303

3,840

MS

PROPERTY 4.96 1.09 8.99 2.4 0.98 43.9 3.72 4.83 0.52 1.25 1.25 0.21 0.465 41.8 0.69 0.143 1.95 1.53 0.8 5.28 0.31

979,000 2,737,000 7,700 1,000 2,192,000 17,393,100 791,000 371,000 10,898,000 173,000 278,000 19,190,000 640,000 119,100 103,000 250,000 12,942,000 2,627,000 1,241,000 27,499,000 14,150,000

4,848,670 2,963,320 70,176 2,400 2,162,160 763,417,425 2,950,630 1,801,810 5,550,880 213,450 340,970 4,079,860 297,600 4,967,100 70,730 35,750 25,222,840 4,020,280 998,140 145,305,236 4,459,500

-4,439,080 132,322,175 -21,480 372,340 42,200 493,015 -19,693,370 36,248,978 -516,600

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

5.56 4.34 5.6

5.84 4.34 5.6

5.45 4.33 5.49

FIRST METRO ETF

127.6

128

126.4

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

13,413,642

INDUSTRIAL

47,624,159

HOLDING FIRMS

176,289,524

PROPERTY

137,711,129

SERVICES

314,721,111

MINING & OIL

52,828,918

GRAND TOTAL

744,186,963

5.75 4.34 5.49

SME

1,193,200 27,000 375,400

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 126.7 2,180

VALUE 2,044.35 (DOWN) 23.55 653,411,665.46 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,848.31 (UP) 27.68 1,007,166,708.41 HOLDING FIRMS 8,526.91 (DOWN) 156.88 8,851,990,642.74 PROPERTY 3,930.88 (UP) 10.20 1,698.75 (UP) 0.74 1,321,037,103.80 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,867.69 (DOWN) 64.32 1,201,158,257.45 PSEI 8,348.32 (DOWN) 72.63 249,064,731.416 All Shares Index 4,885.79 (DOWN) 28.00 13,293,121,677.28 Gainers: 90; Losers: 111; Unchanged: 37; Total: 238

completion of the sale is subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions including the conduct of a tender offer by Messrs. Sytin and Siao in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Regulation Code,” LMG Chemicals said. “The company will immediately inform the exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission of any development in this transaction,” it said. United Auctioneers is a premier industrial auction company in the Philippines. It provides consignors and customers with a venue to buy, sell and trade industrial machines, trucks and other miscellaneous equipment. It has conducted 102 auctions and sold over 50,000 units of various industrial, transport and construction machines to more than 10,000 foreign and local buyers over the past 17 years. Following the disclosure, PSE suspended the trading of LMG Chemical for one hour from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. to allow investors sufficient time to digest the information. Share price of LMG Chemical fell 8.6 percent to P4.68 Monday. This is not the first time that Chempil entered into an agreement to sell its majority stake in LMG Chemicals. Chempilin in May also agreed to sell its entire stake in LMG Chemicals to Newmanholdings Inc.

PLDT unveils digital solutions By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. on Monday unveiled new digital solutions to help local government and communities to improve public services, advance people’s welfare and accelerate local economic and social development. Through PLDT Enterprise, the first initiative under PLDT’s Smart City program is #Ready which provides LGUs digital communications and information management solutions that enable them to manage public safety, emergency and disaster situations more effectively. “The #Ready initiative falls under Public Safety – the first main pillar of our Smart City campaign we are undertaking. The other three major pillars are economic growth, citizen welfare and digital infrastructure. These initiatives will equip our LGUs with the digital tools to build a connected, resilient, and sustainable community and move towards becoming a future-ready Smart City,” PLDT chairman, president and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan said. Under #Ready, PLDT is working with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council to help LGUs better perform their roles as first responders and front liners during emergencies and disasters with the aid of digital solutions. “Communication is essential in our operations, from disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Thanks to advancements in technology, we are able to better prepare for these incidents and effectively disseminate warnings to mitigate the impact of natural disasters, damages, and casualties,” Ricardo Jalad, undersecretary of NDRRMC, said.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Russia in October 1917 and a century later IT WAS entirely reasonable to expect that during the time immediately preceding 2017 lavish preparations would be made by Russia’s government for the commemoration of what New York Times correspondent John Reed, in his best-selling book “Ten Days That Shook the World,” described as one of the decisive events of the modern era. But no such thing happened, and as 2017 draws to a close there are no celebrations or any indications that there will be any festivities before the year ends. Why the unwillingness to commemorate an event that truly shook the world and placed Russia–now called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics–on the road to the superpower status that it enjoyed until the 1980s? Why has president Vladimir Putin, an exemplar of the USSR political system, had nothing to say by way of remembering Nikolai Lenin and the other hot-eyed communists who plotted against and eventually succeeded in overthrowing the centuries-old Tsarist regime? The answer is made up of two parts. The first part relates to how the political-social-economic philosophy created by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels has fared since the triumph of communism in Russia. The second part has to do with the political and economic changes that have taken place in Russia–now called the Russian Federation–since the implementation of the glasnost and perestroika policies laid down by president Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s and the removal of the Berlin Wall at the end of that decade. The Russian Communist Party still exists, but politically Russia is now a democratic State–in theory, at least– and the Russian economy now functions along capitalist, non-collectivist lines. One wonders whether Marx and Lenin are, from their graves, frowning or pleased about the presence of numerous Russian businessmen in the list of world billionaires. There is little resemblance between the structure of today’s Russian economy and the society advocated by Marx and Engels in their writings. The other part of the reason for the Russian authorities’ reluctance to commemorate the centenary of the October 1917 revolution has to do with how communism has fared in the world since those heady days one hundred years ago. Marx, Engels and their fellow-ideologues dreamed of a world in which one country after another would rally to the Hammer and Sickle, but the harsh policies adopted by Lenin and Josef Stalin during their first three decades in power–the forced collectivization of private farms, the pogroms, the extermination of the Kulaks, the Siberian prison camps–served to dissuade the lower income classes of the Western countries from embracing the communist ideology. The Eastern European countries that fell behind the Iron Curtain at the end of World War II were quick to switch to democracy upon the dissolution of the USSR, and the former Asian Soviet socialist republics were equally quick to establish democratic regimes in the wake of the demise of USSR. In the western hemisphere only one country–Cuba–is communist. In Asia only China and its client-state North Korea maintain communist systems, though the Chinese economy has gone capitalist, producing an enormous number of billionaires. Like China, Vietnam has a communist government operating alongside a capitalist economy. With so little to show after a century of proselytizational effort, and with its own political and economic systems having embraced democracy and capitalism, is it any wonder that Mr. Putin and his colleagues are not minded to commemorate the October 1917 revolution and thereby draw attention to communism’s utter failure to unite the world’s poor workers and peasants behind the Hammer and Sickle? Better for the fellows in the Kremlin to pretend that there never were “ten days that shook the world”. Save face that way. E-mail: romero.business.class@gmail.com

Business

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CYAN

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

PH readies next auction of coal exploration areas By Alena Mae S. Flores

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HE Energy Department is bidding out new coal exploration and development contracts in the Philippines as part of a plan to secure the country’s energy supply.

The department said it was now accepting applications for coal exploration and development after publishing the terms of the next round of Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program.

“We can now accept application for Coal Operating Contract thru nomination by publication at any given time. The development of indigenous energy resources like coal will contribute to our ultimate goal of energy self-sufficiency,” Energy Department director Melito Obillo said. The department said a new circular would govern the selection process in the awarding of coal operating contracts and the creation of the review and evaluation committee. The committee, which will be headed by the Energy Resource Development Bureau, will review or

reject the applications based on the criteria for selecting the highest ranked compliances to the criteria. applicants. “The selection process in the The criteria include legal qualification, awarding of COCs to qualified work program, technical qualification and applicants shall be conducted in financial qualification. a transparent, open, competitive Manila Per Order dated August 22, 2017, on the court provided that the court and expeditious manner,” Standard it this case is set for hearing on acquires jurisdiction over the res. October 30, 2017 at 8:30 am in the 20. A case which involves the marital TODAY said. morning at Room 238, Second Floor, status of the parties is an action in rem or quasi in rem. The Supreme Hall of Justice, Diliman, Quezon City. Court has affirmed that, in such an Under the directive, applicants REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES action, the purpose of service of REGIONAL TRIAL COURT summons is not to vest the trial court should nominate the areas for interest BRANCH 217 – QUEZON CITY with jurisdiction over the person of the respondent, but only to comply with in accordance with the procedures. MARNE GELACIO, due process . Petitioner, As a rule, when the defendant does The application will be published -versusnot reside and is not found in the Philippines, Philippine courts cannot Special Proceedings and other interested can make a No. [R-QZN-17-0750-CV] try any case against him because of the impossibility of acquiring For: Recognition of counteroffer. jurisdiction over his person unless he Foreign Divorce voluntarily appears in court. But when the case is one of actions in rem or The circular sets the qualification SEONGMAN HAN and/or CIVIL quasi in rem enumerated in Section Registrar General /or the Local 15, Rule 14 of the Rules of Court, for the evaluation, selection and Registrar of Quezon City, Philippine courts have jurisdiction Respondents. to hear and decide the case. In awarding procedures and the x---------------------------------------x such instances, Philippine courts 2

P ET IT I O N

TELCO SURVIVAL.

Globe Telecom Inc. presidenyt and chief executive Ernest Cu shares Globe Telecom’s digital transformation experience at the DigiCon 2017 conference. Cu says digital transformation is a must in order for a telecommunications business to survive.

BSP launching 1st payment clearing house BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas will launch next month the PESO Net, the first clearing house under the National Retail Payment System, as part of an effort to establish a safe, efficient and reliable payment framework in the country. “We earlier said the launch will be later this year. What we hope to launch in November is the first clearing house under the NRPS framework. There are several clearing houses but the priority one is the PESO Net,” Bangko Sentral Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. told reporters at the sidelines of an event in Manila. “It is a batch electronic fund transfer. What it will do, is it will enable the transfer of value from any

account to any account. The account can be a bank account or an electronic wallet account provided by a non-bank financial institution,” he said. Espenilla said the launching event would be a big development because it would make it easier to move payments across the country and potentially replace check payments. Industry players earlier committed to form within 2017 two priority automated clearing houses—the batch electronic fund transfer credit called PESO Net and the real-time InstaPay. Instapay would be useful for e-commerce payments in which people can just use a card or phone in paying

any transaction. Despite the bright outlook for electronic payments system in the country, Espenilla conceded the main challenge for the system was getting the players to “cooperate.” “The NRPS is all about creating the framework for cooperation and sharing of services so that you will allow payment to move from one entity to another. Remember, banks and non-banks are natural competitors, they want to keep their customers to themselves. But here, we explain to them that it is everyone’s goal to allow free movement of money across the system... ,” he said.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS (As of September 30, 2017 ) Robert B. Jordan, Jr. Acting Chairman Alan Roy V. Torio Director Michael A. Bautista Director Ruben Y. Lugtu II Director Atty. Patrick Austin R. Manalo Director Chito Francisco R. Dizon Director Jose Maria J. Marigomen Independent Director Vicente P. Ortuoste Independent Director Atty. Dennis Aldrich C. Del Rosario Corporate Secretary

Alan Roy V. Torio President/CEO Michael A. Bautista Senior Vice President/ CAO Raquel A. Sese Senior Vice President/ COO Manny M. Vidal Chief Finance Officer

1/ Common Equity Tier 1 is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary

Republic of the Philippines) TANAY, RIZAL ) s.s. I/We , ALAN ROY V. TORIO and MANNY A. VIDAL of the above mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matter set forth in the balance sheet are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief. SIGNED MANNY VIDAL CFO

SIGNED ALAN ROY V. TORIO President

SUBSCRIBE AND SWORN to before me this_________________day of_________________,2017 at __________________, affiant exhibiting his/her/their Community Tax Certificate No.____________________,Issued at_____________on__________and Community Tax Certificate No._____________,issued at___________on_____________. (MS-OCT. 24, 2017)

FOR RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN DIVORCE WITH MOTION FOR LEAVE TO SERVE SUMMONS BY REGISTERED MAIL AND/OR COURIER AND MOTION TO SET CASE FOR HEARING WITH ORDER OF PUBLICATION PETITIONER MARNE GELACIO, through undersigned counsel, respectfully states that: 1. Petitioner Marne Gelacio is a Filipino citizen, divorced, with residence at 904 Parc Royale Condo Ortigas Center, Pasig.She is represented by undersigned Counsel through whom notices and summons can be served. 2. Respondent Seongman Han is a citizen of the Republic of Korea. His address where summons, notices and court processes may be served on him is 18, Gomudari-gil, Seondu-ri, Gongdo-eup, Anseong-si, Gyeongido, Republic of Korea. (His Korean telephone number is 01087224630) 3. Public respondent Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics Authority has office address at 3/F Vibal Bldg., Times Street cor. EDSA, West Triangle, Quezon City. 4. Public respondent Quezon City Civil Registrar has office at the City Hall compound of Quezon City. 5. As government entities, public respondents shall be represented in these proceedings by the Office of the Solicitor General of the Philippines, which has its address at the Office of the Solicitor General with office address at 134 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City. 6. Petitioner and private respondent were married on 24 June 2008 at the Iglesia ni Cristo Central Temple, No. 1 Central Avenue, New Era, Quezon City. Attached is a certified copy of their Certificate of Marriage filed with the Office of the Civil Registrar General, marked as Annex “A”. 7. The parties have no children together. 8. In 2016, the Parties filed for divorce at Incheon in the Republic of Korea under Korean law. On 1 December 2016, the Family Court finding the same to be in accordance with law, made a decree dissolving the marriage between Seongman Han and Marne Gelacio. (Annex “B”) 9. The Republic of Korea allows divorce. Attached as Annex “C” are the relevant provisions of the Republic of Korea’s applicable law on divorce. The divorce obtained conforms to the laws of that jurisdiction. 10. Paragraph 2 of Article 26 of the Family Code states: Where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is validly celebrated and a divorce is thereafter validly obtained abroad by the alien spouse capacitating him or her to remarry, the Filipino spouse shall have capacity to remarry under Philippine law. 11. In Republic vs. Cipriano Orbecido III, G.R. No. 154380, October 5, 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that “before a foreign divorce decree can be recognized by our own courts, the party pleading it must prove the divorce as a fact and demonstrate its conformity to the foreign law allowing it.” 12. In Gerbert R. Corpuz vs. Daisylyn Tirol Sto. Tomas, et al., G.R. No. 186571, August 11, 2010, it was recognized that a foreign spouse has the legal interest to file the petition for judicial recognition of divorce and for the cancellation or correction of entries in the civil registry. 13. Corpuz ruled that the “(t)he recognition of the foreign divorce decree may be made in a Rule 108 proceeding itself, as the object of special proceedings (such as that in Rule 108 of the Rules of Court) is precisely to establish the status or right of a party or a particular fact. Moreover, Rule 108 of the Rules of Court can serve as the appropriate adversarial proceeding by which the applicability of the foreign judgment can be measured and tested in terms of jurisdictional infirmities, want of notice to the party, collusion, fraud, or clear mistake of law or fact.” 14. The case of Fujiki vs. Marinay, G.R. No. 196049, June 26, 2013 affirmed a foreign spouse’s personality to file a petition for recognition of a foreign court’s judgment dissolving marriage a marriage. 15. Fujiki further rules that “[f]or Philippine courts to recognize a foreign judgment relating to the status of a marriage where one of the parties is a citizen of a foreign country, the petitioner only needs to prove the foreign judgment as a fact under the Rules of Court. To be more specific, a copy of the foreign judgment may be admitted in evidence and proven as a fact under Rule 132, Sections 24 and 25, in relation to Rule 39, Section 48(b) of the Rules of Court.” 16. Thus this proceeding for recognition of foreign divorce. MOTION FOR LEAVE TO SERVE SUMMONS BY REGISTERED MAIL AND/OR COURIER 17. Respondent Seongman Han does not reside and is not found in the Philippines. His address where summons, notices and court processes may be served on him is 18, Gomudari-gil, Seondu-ri, Gongdo-eup, Anseong-si, Gyeongido, Republic of Korea. His Korean telephone number is 01087224630. 18. Under these circumstances, service of summons is governed by Section 15, Rule 14: Section15. Extraterritorial service.When the defendant does not reside and is not found in the Philippines, and the action affects the personal status of the plaintiff or relates to, or the subject of which is, property within the Philippines, in which the defendant has or claims a lien or interest, actual or contingent, or in which the relief demanded consists, wholly or in part, in excluding the defendant from any interest therein, or the property of the defendant has been attached within the Philippines, service may, by leave of court, be effected out of the Philippines by personal service as under section 6; or by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in such places and for such time as the court may order, in which case a copy of the summons and order of the court shall be sent by registered mail to the last known address of the defendant, or in any other manner the court may deem sufficient. Any order granting such leave shall specify a reasonable time, which shall not be less than sixty (60) days after notice, within which the defendant must answer. 19. Service of summons under Section 15, Rule 14 to a non-resident not found in the country was upheld in Velayo-Fong vs. Spouses Velayo,1 thus: Under this provision, when the defendant is a nonresident and he is not found in the country, summons may be served extraterritorially. There are only four instances when extraterritorial service of summons is proper, namely: (a) when the action affects the personal status of the plaintiffs; (b) when the action relates to, or the subject of which is property, within the Philippines, in which the defendant claims a lien or interest, actual or contingent; (c) when the relief demanded in such action consists, wholly or in part, in excluding the defendant from any interest in property located in the Philippines; and (d) when the defendants property has been attached within the Philippines. In these instances, service of summons may be effected by (a) personal service out of the country, with leave of court; (b) publication, also with leave of court; or (c) any other manner the court may deem sufficient. Thus, extrajudicial service of summons apply only where the action is in rem, that is, an action against the thing itself instead of against the person, or in an action quasi in rem, where an individual is named as defendant and the purpose of the proceeding is to subject his interest therein to the obligation or loan burdening the property. The rationale for this is that in in rem and quasi in rem actions, jurisdiction over the person of the defendant is not a prerequisite to confer jurisdiction

have jurisdiction over the res, and jurisdiction over the person of the non-resident defendant is not essential. Actions in personam and actions in rem or quasi in rem differ in that actions in personam are directed against specific persons and seek personal judgments. On the other hand, actions in rem or quasi in rem are directed against the thing or property or status of a person and seek judgments with respect thereto as against the whole world. At the time Abelardo filed the petition for nullity of the marriage in 1991, Margarita was residing in the United States. She left the Philippines in 1982 together with her two children. The trial court considered Margarita a non-resident defendant who is not found in the Philippines. Since the petition affects the personal status of the plaintiff, the trial court authorized extraterritorial service of summons under Section 15, Rule 14 of the Rules of Court. The term personal status includes family relations, particularly the relations between husband and wife. Under Section 15 of Rule 14, a defendant who is a non-resident and is not found in the country may be served with summons by extraterritorial service in four instances: (1) when the action affects the personal status of the plaintiff; (2) when the action relates to, or the subject of which is property within the Philippines, in which the defendant has or claims a lien or interest, actual or contingent; (3) when the relief demanded consists, wholly or in part, in excluding the defendant from any interest in property located in the Philippines; or (4) when the property of the defendant has been attached within the Philippines. In these instances, extraterritorial service of summons may be effected under any of three modes: (1) by personal service out of the country, with leave of court; (2) by publication and sending a copy of the summons and order of the court by registered mail to the defendants last known address, also with leave of court; or (3) by any other means the judge may consider sufficient.3 21. These facts are sworn to by the Petitioner in accordance with the requirements of the Rules of Court. Service to respondent Han by way of registered mail and/or courieris therefore prayed for. MOTION TO SET CASE FOR HEARING WITH ORDER OF PUBLICATION 22. A petition for recognition of foreign divorce follows the procedure under Rule 1084. Rule 108 provides for setting and for notice and publication of the time and place for the hearing of the petition in a newspaper of general circulation thus: Section 4. Notice and publication. — Upon the filing of the petition, the court shall, by an order, fix the time and place for the hearing of the same, and cause reasonable notice thereof to be given to the persons named in the petition. The court shall also cause the order to be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the province. 23. Due process will therefore be served under both Rule 14 and Rule 108 by the Honorable Court’s directing service of summons to respondent Arnwine by way of registered mail and/or courier, and by the Honorable Court’s issuance of an Order fixing the time and place for the hearing of the case, directing said Order to be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within Metro Manila. WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed that: 1. The Honorable Court order that summons be sent to respondent Seongman Han at his present address: Seongman Han 18, Gomudari-gil, Seondu-ri, Gongdoeup, Anseong-si, Gyeongi-do, Republic of Korea. (His Korean telephone number is 01087224630) by way of registered mail and/ or courier at Petitioner’s cost, and granting respondent Han until sixty (60) days after notice within which to file his answer. 2. The Honorable Court likewise issue an Order: a. Fixing the time and place for the hearing of the case b. Directing that said Order and notice be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within Metro Manila. 3. The Petition be given due course and the divorce of the Petitioner be judicially recognized; and, 4. A Decision be rendered directing the public respondent Civil Registrar General and the Quezon City Registrar to record the judicial recognition of divorce and to annotate the divorce/ Dissolution of Status in her marriage record. 5. Such other reliefs as are just and appropriate are likewise prayed for. Respectfully submitted: Quezon City, 18 June 2017. BRITANICO & BRITANICO LAW OFFICES G/F, 4 Matiwasay Street, U.P. Village Diliman, Quezon City Te l N o. ( 0 9 2 2 ) 8 5 8 - 8 6 7 2 E-mail: contact@lawyerphilippines.org

By: [Signed] FRANCESCO C. BRITANICO Roll No. 55262 PTR 3949419/1-16-2017/Quezon City IBP 1067974/1-16-2017/Quezon City MCLE Compliance No. V-0023046, 20 July 2016 CP#: (+63) 920-948-9949 Email: wardertrained@yahoo.com

VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATE OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING ================== I, Marne Gelacio, Filipino citizen, of legal age, divorced, with residence at 904 Parc Royale Condo Ortigas Center, Pasig, after having been sworn to in accordance with law, do hereby depose and state, That: 1. I am the Petitioner in this proceeding for recognition of foreign divorce. 2. I have caused the preparation of the Petition for recognition of foreign divorce. 3. The factual allegations in the said Petition are true and correct of my own personal knowledge and/or on the basis of authentic documents in my possession. 4. I have not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issues as presented in the foregoing Petition in any other tribunal or agency of government; nor such action or proceeding is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any other agency; and, if I should thereafter learn that a similar proceeding has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or in any other tribunal or agency, I undertake to report that fact within five days therefrom to the court or agency where the original or initiatory pleading had been filed. IN WITNESS whereof, I hereby affixed my signature this [JUN 19 2017]th day of ________ 2017 in Taguig City. [Signed] MARNE GELACIO Affiant SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this ____th day of [JUN 19 2017] 2017, Affiant exhibiting to me her valid ID, Philippine passport EB9378090 valid from 16 October 2013 to 15 October 2018 , bearing her photograph and signature, and issued by the Philippine embassy in Seoul, Korea, known to me to be the same person who executed this Verification and Certificate of NonForum Shopping, and manifesting to me that the same was knowingly and freely done by her.

(Sgd.) ATTY. JOWELL A. MENDOZA NOTARY PUBLIC FOR TAGUIG CITY UNTIL DEC. 31, 2018 APPT. NO 20 (2016-2018) PTR No. 2512930, 1/6/2017, PASIG CITY IBP No. 1058109, 1/6/2017 ROLL NO. 59661;MCLE COMPLIANCE NO. V-0023127-7/23/16 32ND ST. CAR PLAZA BONIFACIO GLOBAL, TAGUIG CITY Doc. No. 228; Page No. 47; Book No. 68; Series of 2017. (MST-Oct. 10,17 & 24,

2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN

QC group leaves for Paris, NY meetings

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

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tuesday, october 24, 2017

By Rio N. Araja

LGUs LocaL government units

MASSKARA FANFARE. A street dance contingent in colorful parade garb performs in front of President Rodrigo Duterte (right, seated) and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia during the 38th MassKara Festival at the Bacolod City Public Plaza in Negros Occidental on Tuesday. Later, the President and the Bacolod mayor flash the fist with the latter’s wife Elsa Leonardia (inset). Presidential Photo

DoH lauds Caloocan

By Jun B. David

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HE Department of Health has lauded the city government of Caloocan for its “relentless support and exemplary implementation” of various health programs in the northern city. In the citation, DoH acknowledged Caloocan for its “continuing partnership, invaluable commitment and support in strengthening the health systems within the National Capital

Region.” Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan welcomed the recognition and reiterated his support to DoH’s programs, and vowed to come up with more projects and

activities that will promote the health and well-being of his constituents. “We thank the Department of Health for recognizing our efforts and for fully supporting the Local Government of Caloocan in its endeavor to improve the health services for the residents of the city,” Malapitan said. “The city government will continue to be a partner of DoH in finding ways to create positive changes in the health system of the

country, particularly in Caloocan and the rest of the National Capital Region,” he added. DoH also bestowed the “Purple Ribbon Award” to Caloocan for successfully enforcing its reproductive health and family planning programs. The city government has been upgrading its health facilities on top of the free health services and medicines it provides for its residents.

Meanwhile, Malapitan issued a memorandum to city government employees on its dengue vaccination program. According to the order, relatives of employees aged nine to 18 may be vaccinated for dengue on a date and venue to be announced. Around 100 residents were recently given the vaccine at Caloocan City North Medical Center on susano Road, Barangay 177, Camarin.

In BrIef

Over 1k take part in Veggie Congress TACLOBAN CITY— East-West seed joined the recent 16th National Vegetable Congress here in support of the government’s commitment to boost the vegetable industry towards global competitiveness and resilience, as this city showed in the aftermath of super Typhoon “Yolanda.” Over 1,000 stakeholders from the Philippine vegetable industry gathered during the congress. East-West seed highlighted the company’s efforts that contribute to building climate-smart and resilient farming communities in the country. Dr. Roberto Acosta, EWPH Knowledge Transfer Manager, cited the following initiatives: breeding climate-resilient crops; promoting the use of grafted seedlings against soil-borne diseases; and educating farmers to adopt climatesmart technologies.

Beneficiaries of the vaccine should be in good health condition and have not received any other vaccination in the past month, and has not taken laxatives for the past three days. The free vaccine program will take place until Nov. 15 in CCNMC from Monday to Friday at 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and at Caloocan City Medical Center Annex on A. Mabini street from Tuesday to Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista is leading the city’s delegation to two high-profile international conferences in France and the United states. For steering the city into the most competitive highly urbanized city in the country and for winning various governance awards here and abroad, Bautista has become a sought-after resource person on local governmental management and sustainable development. The QC delegation is attending the Partnership for Healthy Cities in Paris, France, sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Bautista was personally invited to the forum by Michael Bloomberg, the three-term mayor of New York City. From Paris, the city delegation will head for the United Nations headquarters in New York to attend the 12th Global Forum on Human settlements and sustainable Cities and Human settlements Awards Ceremony from October 30 to 31. Quezon City is joining 45 other First World and developing cities in the Bloomberg forum that aims to help cities around the world deliver highimpact policy or intervention measures to reduce non-communicable disease risk factors in their communities. Before leaving the country, Bautista issued Office Order 148-2017 designating Vice Mayor Josefina Belmonte as acting mayor, with District 2 Councilor Precious Hipolito-Castelo as acting vice mayor until Oct. 28.

Business seminars in noveleta confab NOVELETA, Cavite—The local government led by Mayor Dino Reyes Chua, in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry through the Noveleta Local Economic and Investment Promotion Office, conducted seminars on Free Entrepreneurial Mindset and Basic Accounting for Non-Accountants on Monday at the Municipal Conference Room. Hundreds of residents, who want to put up small businesses, attended the free seminars. Chua also encouraged investors to put up businesses in the locality, a progressive coastal town of Cavite. The Noveleta LEIPO led by Rizalie Pinpin-Enero encouraged local business owners to register their businesses at their office at the ground floor of the Municipal Hall to get their business name registrations and renewal, business advisory services, and avail of free training and seminars.

‘cha-ching’ tour hits cebu, makati With Mayor Mel Aguilar (center) during the awarding ceremony are Dr. Loreta B. Torrecampo, CESO V (Schools Division Superintendent, Las Piñas City), Dr. Violeta M. Gonzales (Assistant Division Superintendent), and Eugenia V. Guerra (Chief, School Governance Operation Division), flanked by the Gawad Sikhay winners.

Aguilar, Las Piñas fete Gawad Sikhay winners MAYOR Mel Aguilar recently congratulated the winners of 2017 Gawad sikhay of the Division of City schools-Las Piñas. Gawad sikhay recognizes the outstanding services of school administrators, teachers,

and non-teaching staff of Department of EducationLas Piñas. The awarding coincided with the DepEd’s celebration of National Teachers’ Month. The 2017 Gawad sikhay winners are Carlos Alexander s. Rigon (Golden Acres

National High school) for the school Head Category, Lester John A. Cajes (Las Piñas National High school) for the Junior High Category, sheena D. Alonzo (Pamplona Central Elementary school) for the Elementary Level Catego-

ry, Nilo D. Magada II (Pulanlupa Elementary school – Camella Annex) for the Alternative Learning system (ALs) Category, and Marivic J. Guevarra (Las Piñas Central Elementary school) for the Non-Teaching Personnel Category.

16 Maguindanao towns flooded

BIZ-FRIENDLY LGU. Gerry Yson Laresma (center), Tanauan City Information Officer, represents City Mayor Antonio C. Halili in receiving the plaque of recognition for Tanauan as one of the eight finalists of the Most Business-Friendly LGU Award, City Level 2 category, of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Also in photo are PCCI officials led by MBF-LGU Award chairman Jose S. Alejandro (fourth from right) and 43rd Philippine Business Conference Awards chairman Samie C. Lim. (third from right). Roy Tomandao

COTABATO CITY—Floods brought by heavy rains the past several days have immersed 16 of 36 towns in Maguindanao in kneedeep waters, the provincial social welfare office reported Monday. Myrna Jocelyn Henry, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao–Humanitarian Emergency Assistance Response Team information officer, said they are coordinating with the Maguindanao social welfare office for the distribution of

relief goods on Tuesday to the affected areas. Henry said most families preferred to stay at home despite the floods, while others sought refuge in houses of relatives living on higher ground while waiting for the floodwaters to recede. A low pressure area caused by Tropical storm “Paolo” that affected most parts of Visayas and Mindanao last week triggered the heavy rains. PNA

BRITIsH life insurer Pru Life UK’s commitment to teach financial literacy to children continued with the most recent legs of the Cha-Ching World Tour at the Carreta Elementary school in Cebu City and Pitogo Elementary school in Makati City. Through its Cha-Ching Financial Literacy for the Youth Program, more than 500 Grade 4 students learned the money-smart values of Earn, save, spend and Donate. “All the student participants of the Cha-Ching World Tour in our school enjoyed every activity. Through these, they learned how to earn, save, spend and donate their money,” said Alma Adona, Principal of Pitogo Elementary school Principal. “It is important to inculcate financial literacy in their minds at an early stage, so they can carry these values through adulthood.” Both schools have been teaching Cha-Ching money smart lessons as part of the curriculum of their grade school students since 2013. This time, however, the sessions were led by 60 Pru Life UK agent-volunteers who are members of the Million Dollar Round Table—the gold standard in productivity and professionalism in the life insurance industry recognized worldwide. “It was very fulfilling to have extended our knowledge on financial literacy to children. This may be a different age group of audience, but the message is the same—we need smart money management in our everyday lives,” said Rosalinda “Inday” Panuncialman, Pru Life UK MDRT Agent-Volunteers Committee chairman. “We need money-smart kids to lead the future generation.” The Cha-Ching Word Tour legs are held in collaboration with Pru Life UK’s partner schools to further promote Cha-Ching and its core money-smart values through fun games and activities.

‘I can do all repatriation flights even if you do not pay me. It is a rewarding experience saving the lives of our heroes’ – Airbus A340 Chief Pilot Capt. Emmanuel ‘Butch’ Generoso

Life travel and leisure

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com tuesday, octoBeR 24, 2017

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FLights oF hope

More than 100 OFWs returned home from hurricane devastated islands in the Caribbean, thanks to PAL

S

alaMat po! Maraming salamat po!

These words resonated at the arrival area of NAIA Terminal 2 on Sept. 20 as more than 100 distressed overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) deplaned from a Philippine Airlines Airbus A340 aircraft that repatriated them from the Caribbean Sea islands that were hard hit by Hurricane Irma, the most catastrophic storm in the Atlantic since 2005.

Pierre John Capistrano of Talisay, Cebu who worked as a nurse in Anguilla in the Caribbean, is one of the repatriates welcomed by the government and PAL officials at the terminal. Pierre was teary eyed as he related the story of how Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on the island paradise. “Nandun ako sa second floor ng apartment na tinitirahan ko. On the day the hurricane hit, I saw giant tornadoes whirling outside the streets. Then it hit the building where I was staying. Our concrete apartment, a hurricane-proof building, was shaking so strong as if there was an earthquake. The winds banged and eventually broke the glass windows around my room. Good thing I was not hurt. Nagtago ako sa sofa at mga cabinet,” relates Pierre. “Devastated ang island. Economy is down as the territory relies heavily on tourism. No job, no power, no water. Safety was also a concern as people started looting,” added Pierre who was able to save only a backpack of clothes after the hurricane. Pierre, who has only been working in the island for a year, was grateful for the immediate arrival of the PAL repatriation flight that was arranged by the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC. “Wala akong masabi sa mabilis na tulong na ipinaabot sa amin ng gobyerno natin. It was service with a heart. Makikita mo na hindi lang sila tumutulong dahil trabaho nila but they were helping because they were sincerely concerned for us.” He shared how overjoyed he was upon seeing the PAL plane on the tarmac of the Luis Munoz Marin airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He felt that he was already home. “Nung nakita ko yung buntot ng eroplano ng PAL sa Puerto Rico airport I felt relieved kasi I know I am going home na talaga. ‘This is it!’ sabi ko. Naisip ko agad ang pamilya ko. lalu na nung nakita ko ang mga PAL crew, feeling ko parang nasa Pilipinas na ako! Masarap ang feeling nung binati kami ng mga flight attendants. Kinausap nila kami at kinumusta. Nakinig sila sa mga kwento namin. Binigay nila lahat – food, blanket, etc. para maging komportable kami. It was a very smooth 13.5 hours flight. Wala kaming masabi. Naramdaman namin nang sobra ang pagmamahal ng mga kababayan natin. Para sa akin, iyon ang importante kasi sa island kanya-kanya ang buhay namin doon,’’ shares Pierre.

Joel Natividad, who worked in a hospitality business in Sint Maarten for 20 years, also shared his experience of Hurricane Irma.

GOING HOME. Flag carrier Philippine Airlines and the government repatriated 136 Filipinos, composed of 129 adults and seven infants, from the islands in the Caribbean devastated by Hurricane Irma, the most catastrophic storm in the Atlantic since 2005.

PAL crew helping our kababayans deplane from Airbus A340 after a 13.5-hour flight from Puerto Rico to the Philippines

The PR 8115 crew, led by Chief Pilot Capt. Emmanuel ‘Butch’ Generoso

Joel was with his whole family when the hurricane hit. Fortunately, their house remained intact and Joel was able to help his Filipino kababayans who lost their homes and properties. “Nung tumama yung hurricane, na-witness ko how an island so beautiful was ravaged in a span of few hours. Good thing I and my family were safe. The first thing I did was to help our kababayans whose houses were devastated.” Witnessing chaos and devastation in the island, Joel immediately decided to sign up for repatriation. “Nakakatuwa isipin na hindi kami pinabayaan ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas. Hindi nila kami kinalimutan kahit nasa abroad kami. Nagpapasalamat kami sa tulong. Malaking tulong ito sa panibago naming simula. Babangon at babangon kami kahit anong mangyari, kahit anong dagok pa ng buhay,” he relates.

Two days after Hurricane Irma devastated the Caribbean islands including Anguilla (UK), Barbados, Barbuda, British Virgin Islands (UK), Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy (France), Sint Maarten (Netherlands), Turks and Caicos Islands (UK), U. S. Virgin Islands, United States and other unknown islands, the Philippine government immediately launched assistance for the Filipinos trapped in the Caribbean. The aid came in two forms-folds – distribution of relief goods to the survivors and repatriation of our kababayans who wanted to fly home. According to Consul Katrina Borja-Martin, secretariat head of the crisis management team, the government immediately launched the repatriation effort as many of our kababayans asked for it. “They wrote to the government to help them immediately fly home as situation in the islands was bad,” she states.

Consul Borja said it was a very challenging task but was thankful as the spirit of bayanihan prevailed. The repatriation team encountered various obstacles along the way including the complex logistics involved in traveling to the hurricane-hit islands where most of the ports were destroyed. They had to deal with not just one country, as the repatriates were assigned in territories of various nations. One major challenge was visa requirements. Many of the repatriates do not have US visas, which are required for a visit to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, the converging point of the repatriates and the only airport remaining operational in the Caribbean. “The DFA had to work it out with the US government to allow our kababayans entry to Puerto Rico without visa. It was a tough negotiation. Good thing they were given a ‘port parole’ for humanitarian reasons in a few days and

finally allowed entry to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the flight back home via San Francisco on PAL PR 8115,” relates Borja on how her team was able to bring home the 136 Filipinos composed of 129 adults and seven infants. The government is also providing livelihood assistance to the repatriates to help them start their lives again. According to Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Chief Hans Leo Cacdac, OWWA is providing economic and psycho-social assistance consisting of planning for sustenance initiatives or community-based revenue producing undertakings, skills training and finance facilitation, providing credit, counselling, stress debriefing and many others. Cacdac thanked PAL as the airline has always been the government’s partner in saving our kababayans abroad. “Aside from the quality service that PAL delivers, bihasa na sila sa repatriation with decades of partnership with the government,” he says. For Airbus A340 Chief Pilot Capt. Emmanuel ‘Butch’ Generoso, who led the flight crew in the repatriation, accepting these missions is priceless and rewarding. “I can do all repatriation flights even if you do not pay me. It is a rewarding experience saving the lives of our heroes!” he exclaims. He recalls an emotional encounter when he saw a group of Filipino passengers at the Puerto Rico departure area waving at him and the rest of the crew. “They could not believe that they were finally flying home until they saw the PAL crew in uniform. I saw faces of relief. I gave them further reassurance and reiterated to them ‘iuuwi namin kayong lahat kahit anong mangyari’. Tears rolled down their cheeks as they thanked us for being there.” There were challenges along the way: including an agonizingly slow trickle boarding process in the San Juan airport, as there were no people manning the terminal, and a cargo door that took time to close. Worse, they had to fly out immediately as another super hurricane was fast approaching. With everyone’s cooperation, including the heroic efforts of the Philippine government and the support team of PAL ground personnel in Manila and San Francisco, PR8115 finally took off from San Juan mere hours before Hurricane Maria arrived to crush Puerto Rico. After a long journey across the Western Atlantic, the continental U.S. and the Pacific Ocean, the repatriation flight landed in Manila, and our kababayans were safely home. PAL, since its inception, has been the nation’s partner in times of crises. In Dec. 1941, barely in its one year of existence, PAL was drafted into the Phil. Army Air Corps, the forerunner of the Philippine Air Force. PAL American pilots flew from Aparri to Jolo carrying allied forces officers, payrolls, medicine and other urgently needed supplies. After World War II, PAL helped rebuild the nation from ashes with missionary flights to various remote islands in Mindanao. In 1980, PAL was called upon to evacuate OFWs from Amman and Kuwait following the outbreak of war between Iran and Iraq. Five flights brought some 1,100 workers home. One of the biggest repatriations it conducted was during Gulf War in 1990 where PAL evacuated more than 10,000 OFWs from the Middle East on board 30 flights. It was the largest of its kind in PAL history. In 1990, the airline evacuated refugees from Baguio after a killer quake struck the city. In 2013, PAL, through the airline’s corporate social responsibility arm, PAL Foundation, flew more than 300 tons of cargo and thousands of rescue personnel to Tacloban to provide aid to Typhoon Yolanda victims. It also carried rescue and relief aid to Bohol after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the province in the same year. Also in 2013, PAL flew about 30 orphaned Muslim children from Cagayan to Manila after the Zamboanga siege. “For more than seven decades, Philippine Airlines has been the wings of a nation, playing its part to airlift Filipinos in times of armed conflict and calamities. We remain committed to this role – serve our kababayans in times of need so they can rebuild their lives,” said PAL President Jaime J. Bautista.

Life

C2

tuesday, october 24, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

An icon rebrands

W

HEN I was still working for an international airline, the job which occupied a good part of my professional career, I had to travel around the country, as called for by my management responsibility. Aside from that of my home city, of all the cities I had to visit, I would always look forward to my business trips to Iloilo because of the plethora of culinary specialties that are always available there to any visitor.

mercury rising BY BOB zOzOBRADO

I also enjoyed my de luxe accommodations at mansion to see” when visiting the city. Sarabia Manor, known then as the Grand Dame of The hotel’s 187 rooms, ranging in sizes of 40 the city. It was the biggest, the most elegant hotel, to 104 square meters, are now being completely and the closest to the places where I would be do- refurbished, for that feel and look of being new, ing business, and only 15 minutes away from the yet maintaining its heritage charm. And, dependArevalo Seafood District. ing on the guest’s budget, he has a choice of stayWhen I reing either in tired from my any of the upairline career, scale corporate YOUR TUESDAY CHUCKLE my Iloilo visits rooms or in stopped and I the value-forSON: Dad, I got selected for a role in a play for our Annual Day. became preocmoney budgetDAD: What role are you playing? cupied with friendly rooms SON: A husband. many other located in the DAD: Not that one. Ask for a role with dialogues! things. I had Wing, which forgotten my are ideal for periodic cravthose attending ings for La Paz Batchoy, or Pancit Molo or the conventions or conferences in the hotel. goodies from Panaderia de Molo…and how my The Mansion’s advantage over the other hotels king-size bed at a Sarabia Manor suite gave me to- in the city is its wide selection of dining options tally restful nights after a day filled with meetings. and banquet facilities---it has seven function halls, Recently, I learned from an Iloilo-based good three boardrooms that can accommodate 10 to friend that the hotel has rebranded and is now un- 1500 persons at any given time. dergoing a beautiful makeover to keep up with the Its international restaurants will also have new changing times, while still preserving its heritage interiors but still with the same quality culinary value. offerings that have made these dining venues the Now owned by Brightside Properties & Resorts, favorite of locals and visitors alike. For the healthInc., Iloilo’s “heritage hotel” is now called The conscious, the refreshing and beautifully designed Mansion, a fitting name for an iconic structure in a swimming pool, fitness center and spa beckon. city filled with beautiful, old world, heritage manThe owning company’s COO Noel Sinclaire sions owned by some of the countries “old rich.” Sy proudly announced that the hotel’s complete The new owners have promised that, after the ren- makeover will make it “exciting, delightful and ovations will be completed, the hotel will be “the surprising to the senses, and will make guests feel

The beautiful and elegant lobby of the hotel

The living area of a one-bedroom suite

My favorite king-size bed in the spacious bedroom

special from the moment they check-in.” I have to say that Iloilo has succeeded in preserving its charm by remaining rooted to its Chinese-Spanish-Filipino cultural heritage, and true to its plethora of locally inspired cuisine. And now, with its iconic landmark looking even more attractive than how it used to be, I will have no excuse not to visit it again.

I can almost smell my favorite La Paz Batchoy… and Pancit Molo…and those tasty delights from Panaderia de Molo…and see myself, at the end of the day, snuggling in my comfortable king-size bed at The Mansion. Makadto ko da. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

Luxurious spa and lifestyle haven by the bay

Ella Spa is the first full solar-powered spa in Palawan founded by Korean national Ralph Kim

SParadise in Palawan

Sauna and steam room at Marina Bay Spa and Lifestyle Club

CITy living can take a toll on your wellbeing. The stress from school or work, compounded by your daily drive can leave your muscles knotted and your mind out of focus. It is important to find the time to recharge and pamper yourself with a wellness experience that is unlike any other, one that can be found at the new Marina Bay Spa and Lifestyle Club. Here, members can enjoy a leisurely day, indulging in wellness activities in luxurious, relaxing and contemporary surroundings.

Complete and Exceptional Services and Facilities

The club offers a complete array of holistic services for the mind, body and spirit. These include pampering and de-stressing treatments such as hot and cold baths, sauna and steam room, and a heated floor, all designed to complement healing and relaxing therapies offered by trained spa specialists. There are 20 private massage rooms, which can accommodate only one person per room for guests to enjoy therapeutic massages like the Marina Signature Massage and the Crystal Chakra Healing Touch that use oils and scrubs made from the finest organic products. Those who want to decompress can also stay at the sumptuously designed relaxing lounge, a spacious and quiet area that resembles a mini-theatre complete with LED TV monitors. This space, equipped with ultra-comfortable relaxing chairs is best for lounging or sleeping before or after getting a massage. Guests can also admire the rooftop view of majestic Manila Bay from the infinity pool as they soak their stress away while getting a massage, watching the sunset or sipping specialty drinks from the sunset pool bar. For members who opt for more vigorous activities in order to decompress, Marina Bay Spa and Lifestyle Club of-

Relax at Marina Bay Spa which offers a wide array of holistic services for the mind, body, and spirit

fers a well-equipped fitness gym with the latest exercise equipment coupled with a sweeping view of the bay and a wellness studio that holds a variety of classes including TRX, Cardio Box, Boot Camp, yoga, and Pilates. Guests who want to go all out on the fun factor can check out the KTV Room for a musical respite, or the gaming room for a rousing round of billiards. The lifestyle club also accommodates groups, with a conference room that can comfortably seat 10 for a meeting, or the roof deck lounge that can be booked for private parties to celebrate special milestones. There are also foot spas and a salon where guests can avail of manicure and pedicure services.

Membership Types

Membership at Marina Bay Spa and Lifestyle Club provides members with full access and discounts to the spa, fitness, entertainment and dining facilities (relaxing area, mini-theatre, heated floor, cold and hot bath, sauna and steam room, dining/buffet, gym, fitness, studio and infinity pool). The club’s professional and

well-trained staff assures guests of personalized service. Whatever your age or fitness level, they will assess your health and wellness needs and develop a program just for you. Here are different membership packages: *Pearl - P90,000.00 (with P15,000 worth of spa vouches, 10% off on all spa services, valid for one year) * Shell – P60,000.00 (P7,500 worth of spa vouchers, 10% off on all spa services, valid for 6 months) *Coral/Corporate – P270,000.00 (P45,000 worth of spa vouchers, 10% off on all spa services, valid for one year) The club is also open to walk-in guests. Marina Bay Spa and Lifestyle Club, which is a brand under the Vikings Group, aims to provide a distinct holistic experience through carefully crafted treatments and superior facilities to fully cater to the client’s wellness, recreation, entertainment and fitness needs. The club is at the Esplanade Seaside Terminal, Seaside Boulevard, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City 1800; Tel. 0977.831.2888; 0920.976.8888; www. marinabayspa.com; FB/ IGMarina Bay Spa

PuERTO Princesa City is a paradise. It boasts of the world-famous underground River and Tubbataha Reef, beautiful Honda Bay and Sabang Beach, Cowrie Island and Lu-Li Island, Butterfly Garden, Tribal Village, ugong Rock, Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, Mitra Farm, and the Special Battalion WW2 Memorial Museum. Hundreds of fireflies light up the night, too! Puerto Princesa is not only home to these tourist attractions, but also the location of the first full solar-powered spa in Palawan – Ella Spa. The “Solar Man” himself, Korean national Ralph Kim, had a vision on his very first day in the city – to build a business entirely powered by the sun. In 2015, Kim came to the Philippines and saw the country’s energy problems. He has been around Asia but felt particularly drawn to the Philippines because he says the people are friendly. He set his heart in the Philippines and went back and forth before establishing his mission here, which is to use solar power for electricity. “Sunshine is a gift from God. It is clean and free. We should use it. you

have abundant sunlight here, but a shortage of electricity supply,” was Kim’s thought then. He established the unique Korean Corporation, a company that supplies solar energy to residential, commercial, and industrial clients from the Sky Taeho main factory in Korea. years later, Kim established the 600-square meter, 50-bed Ella Spa, 15 rooms, which harnesses the natural energy of the sun with 20kw solar power. Forty-eight solar panels and 40 batteries power the spa’s 13 air-conditioning units and almost 100 lights. TESDA-trained and licensed therapists await guests at Ella Spa. Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo herself is excited to visit the spa. “This will definitely help boost tourism in our country,” said Teo. Ella Spa is only five minutes away from the airport and is open from 11 in the morning to midnight. Perfect to cap off the day. “Try our specialty massages: Swedish, Aromatherapy, Hot Stone, Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, Thai, and Reflexology. We even have massages only for pregnant women,” said Kim. – Robbie Pangilinan

The solar-powered spa offers a variety of specialty massages and is open until midnight

tuesdAY, october 24, 2017

‘Spirit of the GlaSS:

the haunted’ on all Saints Day

W

ritten by Jose Javier Reyes, Spirit of the Glass: The Haunted sees three friends who gained popularity through social media. Bea, Lisette and Chelsea were called the instaglams since their popularity was rooted on social media. Filipino-American stand-up comedian Joseph Glenn Herbert, a.k.a Jo Koy, is headlining a tour in Manila

Stand-up comedian Jo Koy in Manila, Cebu StAnd-up comedian Jo Koy, known around the world for the comedic story telling of his Filipino family, will make his headlining debut in the philippines as he returns home for a series of shows in Manila and Cebu as announced by concert promoter MMi Live. the popular Fil-Am comedian is slated to perform nov. 30 and dec. 3 at the theatre at Solaire and Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu on dec. 1. From sell-out clubs and theaters across the globe to releasing his third stand-up special on Netflix, Jo Koy has come a long way from his modest start performing at a Las Vegas coffee house. With his infectious, explosive energy onstage, the comedian pulls inspiration from his family that inspires humor across all boundaries. In 2005, Koy had the “opportunity of a lifetime,” when he performed in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Since then, Koy has had two highly rated and successful comedy specials on Comedy Central, Don’t Make Him Angry and Lights Out. This year, Koy released his third comedy special, Jo Koy: Live from Seattle as a Netflix Original. Featured on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Last Call with Carson Daly, Koy has also appeared on over 100 episodes of Chelsea Lately as a season regular roundtable guest. Tickets to Jo Koy’s Manila and Cebu shows will are on sale today on ticketworld. You may also visit https://www.ticketworld.com.ph or call (02) 891-9999, or (032) 232-6888 for Cebu. For more information, please follow MMi Live (on Facebook), and @mmilive (on instagram, and twitter), or visit mmilive.com for details.

FiLipinO kids have more shows to choose from as SKYdirect Prepaid Plan 150, SKY’s newest plan, features top kiddie channels as part of its commitment to cater to everyone in the family. With plan 150, kids can enjoy top kiddie channels such as disney, nickelodeon, Cartoon network Hd, toonami, and ABS-CBn’s children’s channel, YeY. the varied content for kids allows them to explore different kinds of childfriendly stories from local and foreign channels, giving them an enriching and fun childhood experience. plan 150 also features ABS-CBn Hd, S+A Hd, Cinema One, tAG, and Knowledge Channel to complete the family tV bonding experience as television is still the main source of entertainment

Bea is a lifestyle editor of a popular magazine as well as a stylist, Lisette is an up and coming young actress while Chelsea is a popular model for mainstream and viral advertising. the three girls gained that much desired reputation of being the Girls of the Moment, basking on their youth and popularity. each had their own partners --- Bea with enzo, an athlete businessman whose best buddy is Jag, another scion of a rich family and Andre, Chelsea’s rich beau. Young, beautiful and unsuccessful, all are completely unaware that they would be ensnared in the complicated world of the supernatural because of an article inherited by Bea from her grandaunt --an Ouija board. Out of sheer boredom, the group decided to play with the board thinking it was a toy and unwittingly opening the gates of the other world for three spirits to connect with them. Without their knowledge, they agreed to help the spirits not aware of the consequences of such actions as they are now harassed by these disturbed souls to help them seek justice. the crime was committed 50 years ago involving one of the most beautiful young actresses

A student film on the coming-out experience of Filipino youth has been accepted at the Chéries Chéris Festival du Filme LGBTQ, a film fiesta focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals, nov. 14 to 21in paris, France. Yakap by Margo Manalo, a digital Filmmaking alumna of de La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (dLS-CSB), focuses on the reality of coming out of the closet in the philippines. “I wanted to write a different reality that LGBTQ people face, since we usually see coming-out stories that deal with two extremes: either your family is completely accepting, or they turn you away,” she shared. “But the reality, I knew, was somewhere in the middle, and i wrote it as a commentary on the kind of society we have, where sometimes we just brush things under the rug, and even though we’re called the

Kiddie channels in new SKYdirect Prepaid Plan 150

The talented kids of "Team Yey!," the show is available on Yey, a kids channel included in SKYdirect Prepaid Plan 150

tuesday, october 24, 2017

59 bespectacled dwarf 60 “— vincit amor” 61 toothy one 63 In the midst of 64 estate recipient 65 — — foot pole 66 Kitchen appliance 67 Lazily 68 classroom sound DOWN 1 studied hard 2 singer — cara 3 Looks over to rob 4 “ctrl” neighbor 5 brewers’ buys 6 cleveland’s waters 7 docks 8 L.A. zone 9 sioux territory 10 “I” trouble? 11 steiger and stewart 12 spoiled child 13 chatter 18 out in the country 22 “olympia” painter 24 by Jove! 26 check casher

in the country named Sabrina Villafuerte who was forced to marry a man she did not love named Budoy Carbonell --- the grandfather of Bea. the spirits haunt the girls and their partners until they are forced to connect with a blind medium named Anita who was quite aware of the haunting that was taking place. The finale is a showdown that completely caught the friends off guard and bewildered by what

they had accidentally unraveled. Spirit of the Glass: The Haunted stars Cristine Reyes, Daniel Matsunaga, Maxine Medina, Benjamin Alves, Ashley Ortega, Enrico Cuenca, Janine Gutierrez, Dominic Roque, and Aaron Villaflor. trailer link: https://facebook.com/ SpiritOftheGlass2/videos/1950855525185846/

Filipino student filmmaker in LGBTQ film festival in Paris

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 elite alternative 5 sharp bark 9 churchill downs event 14 spoken 15 time periods 16 Where Greek met Greek 17 Inhibiting influence 19 early camera 20 chemical suffix 21 Put into service 22 dewy 23 sandy expanse 25 GdP and cPI 27 Knife wound 29 Nail polish 32 Fable ending 35 Gawks at 37 Large parrot 39 Lacking moisture 40 dome 41 Legume 42 Abc rival 43 Father of sci-fi 44 bothersome 45 balls of yarn 47 sorrel or bay 49 stuck together 51 Makes a sound 55 Philadelphia gridder 57 Italian wine city

A scene from the film "Spirit of the Glass:The Haunted"

28 Husky-voiced 30 Makes do with 31 Faucet problem 32 big burger 33 Moon and sun 34 danger 36 desperado’s piece 38 some 40 Meeting’s location 41 Aptitude 43 Hamlet 44 Place for a grill 46 — on (inciting)

48 strong protest 50 took a chance 52 changes a manuscript 53 Jobs for actors 54 Aroma 55 Ms. thompson of films 56 Prolific auth. 58 dirt 60 thole filler 61 sweater letter 62 skip stones

most gay friendly country, discrimination still exists,” 1994 as a venue for original productions that center on gay experiences. It has since given out a number of she added. “It feels really good to work hard for something recognitions for deserving productions. and have it go far. it’s a humbling experience that’s teaching me to just work hard in everything i do. i’m inspired to keep creating,” this was Manalo’s undergraduate film thesis, under the mentorship of multi-awarded director and scriptwriter and dLSCSB faculty Jose Javier Reyes. it will be screened at the Mk2 Quai de Loire and Mk2 Beaubourg theaters. now on its 23rd year, Chéries Chéris was conceptualized in

especially to families living in remote areas in the philippines. SKYdirect’s prepaid plan 150 comes with no lock-in monthly fee and can capture signal and broadcast channels anywhere in the philippines. To apply for SKYdirect, visit mysky.com.ph. Alternatively, current SKYdirect prepaid subscribers can just text SKY150 <BOX id> to 23667 to convert their ABS-CBnmobile, Globe Prepaid or TM load to SKYdirect plan 150, which is good for a month. SKYdirect is the satellite TV service of SKY that aims to give Filipino families nationwide access to a rich channel lineup that will help nurture the relationship of families at home. SKY Cable Corporation is the cable, direct-to-home, and broadband unit of ABS-CBn that is now transitioning into a digital company.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017

ISAH V. RED

A

MOVIE about two people in love always has an audience and majority, if not all, most likely hope for a happy ending.

How the story unfolds and the major characters’ emotions in a roller coaster kind of love makes the strongest impact to the audience. In the newest Viva Films presentation, the push and pull of feelings are among the things you can expect. 12 is the story of Anton and Erika, a couple who have been friends for five years and eventually found themselves in a relationship lasting for seven years. In total, they have known each other for 12 years. Anton is a director of TV commercials, while Erika is a former band member who becomes his stay-at-home partner, lovingly and happily devoting her time taking care of her man. Finally, the day comes when he asks her to marry him… will they end up getting married and stay together forever? Fresh from the tremendous success of Kita Kita, Alessandra de Rossi plays the role of Erika with complete abandon, just like she is known to do in every performance. This film is an assurance that this award-winning actress really loves her craft despite her statement before about wanting to quit showbiz, which hopefully will not be anytime soon. Playing Anton is newcomer Ivan Padilla who was seen as Hunter, Bela Padilla’s boyfriend in 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, another blockbuster from Viva Films. Ivan is related to the famous Padilla actors, but he’s excited to show everyone in the Philippines that he deserves to be recognized for his own talent in acting. Just like Alessandra, he asserts that he has really put his heart and soul in playing his character. In an interview, Ivan revealed that he won an award in a film festival. His acting experiences include American TV shows Dexter, CSI:Miami, CSI:New York, and The Closer and movies like Here Comes The Boom, with Salma Hayek. He is also adept in martial arts, particularly Jiu-Jitsu. The chemistry between Alessandra and Ivan is something to look forward to in this romantic drama that is surely relatable to couples of today. 12 is showing in cinemas nationwide starting Nov. 8. *** The Hunk. The Actor. The Singer. The Gentleman. The Ultimate heartthrob. That’s Piolo Pascual for you. His name alone is guaranteed to make you jump off your seat in excitement. He’s had boxoffice records, certified music hits, innumerable endorsements, and he’s “Papa P,” the Dream Boy that every single ladies and certified mommies would want to spend a day with. But,

Janella Salvador signs a four-movie contract with Regal Entertainment

A story of

LOVE and FRIENDSHIP

Alessandra de Rossi teams up with newcomer Ivan Padilla in a new romantic film, "12"

behind all that glamour and fame, there’s also the Piolo Pascual that prefers a more laid- back life every once in a while. “I’ve learned not to take my work home. Iniiwan ko sa set. Pagkatapos mag-trabaho, uuwi ako sa bahay. Wala akong stress. Hindi ko ini-stress ang sarili ko.” It’s easy then to understand why when he is at home, he prefers the easy life and the taste of nakasanayang comfort food like corned beef. “Pag nasa bahay lang ako, comfort food ko ‘to. Yung nailuluto ko. Gisa-gisa, konting sibuyas.” A certified foodie, he is not afraid to try something new. That’s why Piolo considers it a blessing to be the face behind Highlands Gold Corned Beef. Just like the many young wives and mothers today who have made the switch from their old corned beef brand to Highlands Gold Corned Beef with Angus Beef, he is well-pleased. “I’m happy when I tasted it. It is so good!” Piolo adds. “It is something familiar yet new. And what I like best is that it’s not only made from 100 percent pure beef, it is also made with Angus beef.” “This is the only corned beef with Angus beef. I love its natural and superior beef taste!” “Hindi malitid ang Highlands Gold Corned Beef at hindi matabang. This is definitely my kind of comfort food.” And Piolo shares, “Walang bawal sa akin. I can eat anything. Malakas akong kumain, sobra. Kaya malakas akong magworkout. Ayokong i-deprive ang sarili ko. For me, eating is a reward.” H e

Miss World Philippines winners Laura Lehmann (second from left), and Wynwyn Marquez (center), and the pageant runners up sign a contract with Regal Entertainment

clarifies, however, how particular he is with things that he does and the food that he ingests, “Food intake and the kind of life that I live, it resonates with the brand of Highlands Gold because it gives the rich taste of corned beef. “And it’s something that when you hear it, it’s a reward. So parang for me, I treat myself to a reward. Something that is precious,” he expounds. “It’s the same thing with Highlands Gold. Talagang they made sure that what they’re offering to the public is a brand something that people will enjoy.” As an endorser, Piolo has proven many times how effective he is, “Based on social media, people see what you eat, what you do. I try as much as possible not to hard sell and let the product speak for itself. Kasi when I believe in a product, I’d like the people to see it, try it. With Highlands Gold Corned Beef with Angus Beef, I’m very proud of it.” The Pambansang Papa P also believes he has a responsibility to his public and now with social media chronicling his every moment, it is recorded for everyone to see. What you see is what you get. “People nowadays like it raw, like it real,” he shares. “Me as a host, a singer, an actor. It’s different characters.” “But what you put out there, it’s you, yourself. It’s private but it’s personal. I wanted to share my life. I want people to identify with me.” And that is exactly why people love Piolo Pascual. Real. Honest and never afraid to try something new. *** Regal Entertainment recently signed several stars and talents to its enterprise. And, the motherdaughter tandem – Lily Y. Monteverde and Roselle

– are glad they did as the new members of the Regal family would add to the star-studded film studio they have been running for decades. First on the step board is Janella Salvador. The 19-yearold Star Magic artist got her first big break into the movies via Regal Entertainment in the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry Haunted Mansion, and again in 2016 with Mano Po 7: Tsinoy. One of the most popular teen actresses in the biz today, Janella recently signed a four-movie contract deal with the 55-year-old movie company. “She’s a jewel,” said Regal matriarch Lily Monteverde as she joined the talented Janella who looked stunning in an auspicious red dress for the big day. Typhoon Maring was ravaging the metro that very moment but the actress’ youth and energy lit up the room. Indeed, Janella is bound to shine with Regal’s latest movie project for her, My Fairy Tail Love Story, where she plays a mermaid. “I really enjoyed Mermaid school and all the diving we’ve been doing for the shoot,” she enthused. “The only hard part is dealing with the sun burn— masakit talaga.” Charming as a mermaid character may sound the role is quite daring for Salvador who has to don a sexy suit in the fantasy movie. Paired again with Elmo Magalona for the project, her girlishness resurfaced when she confessed she couldn’t look at her leading man when he has to go topless for their scenes. “What can I say? Hindi ko siya matignan! Wala, nahihiya ako. Pag may damit na siya, tumitingin na ako!” she said between giggles. If this girlishness has been caught on camera, then it is safe to say it works, because this early, short online teaser has already stirred up the huge ElNella fan base on social media, ensuring Regal Entertainment a hit in their hands.

“Didn’t I tell you she’s a jewel?” smiled Mother Lily. Indeed she is. *** Then, Regal signed the Miss World Philippines 2017 winners – Miss World Philippines Laura Lehmann, Reina Hispanico Americana Filipinas Winwyn Marquez, Miss Eco Philippines Cynthia Thomalla, Miss Multinational Philippines Sophia Senoron and 1st runner-up Glyssa Leian Perez. Laura is now in Sanya, China where this year’s Miss World pageant will be held. The coronation night will be on Nov. 18. Winwyn Marquez, meanwhile, is now in Sta. Cruz, Bolivia for the Reina Hispanico Americana, the first time the Philippines is participating in the South American-based beauty pageant. Wynwyn said she is excited to be the country’s first representative. “Di familiar sa atin ang pageant but it has been going on for 28 years and now lang sila nag-invite ng Asian candidate and I’m flattered na ako ‘yun,” she says. “Lahat ng mga Latina na nanalo sa ibang beauty pageants dumaan and it’s like a training ground for them before they join other international competitions. Ang winner nila last year was Miss Colombia with Miss Mexico as runner-up.” *** Actress, television host and commercial model Janine

Gutierrez at first could not believe it when her mom, actress Lotlot de Leon, told her that she had won her first acting award. For her performance in Dagsin, Janine won the Best Supporting Actress trophy from the Urduja Heritage Film Awards. For the same project, she also received an Urian Award nomination. Being the daughter of actors Lotlot and Ramon Christopher comes with high expectations, and in Janine’s case, having such luminaries as Pilita Corrales, Eddie Gutierrez, Christopher de Leon and Nora Aunor as grandparent makes it doubly high. However, Janine has managed to breeze through it all with quiet confidence and a real desire to learn and hone her craft. Many would agree that she has gone a long way after having topbilled drama teleseryes such as Legally Blind, Once Again and Dangwa. Janine expresses her deep gratitude to GMA Network for giving her the break, and continuously building her up. Recently, this Ateneo graduate of European Studies completed a horror film, The Spirit of the Glass 2, which opens on Nov. 1. She is also taping for a digital series entitled Unbroken Hearts, produced by lawyer Joji Alonso and Planet A Media. Janine wants to achieve more of her dreams as an actress and wants to do more films, and she looks forward to new opportunities under her new management company, LVD Management, under talent manager Leo Dominguez. One of the newest experiences for Janine was music recording. According to the actress, she was tapped to sing the theme song for the digital series, which she recorded in Los Angeles as produced by RedOne, the same producer of Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez. She recorded the song both in English and Tagalog, and says she enjoyed the experience immensely. *** AiAi delas Alas was renewed her contract as endorser of Hobe (Chinese for “good noodles,” a brand of bihon) with Hobe boss Bobby Co. We congratulated Ai-Ai for being a popular endorser and her friends attributed it to good karma. You see, on her way to the top, AiAi hasn’t stepped on anybody’s toes and she continues to exude good vibes. Why be negative when you can be positive?” said Ai-Ai “If you are positive, tuloy ang blessings.” Aside from Hobe (it’s her third year with Bobby Co who disclosed that sales have been going up 50 percent every year), among AiAi’s other products she’s endorsing are Country Bankers, Maggie, Handy Picks and The Belo Clinic’s “tightening” procedure. Asked what other products she wanted to endorse, Ai-Ai said, “Yung pambahay, pang-linis. Ngayon, karamihan sa endorsements ko ay food. Talagang pang-housewife.”