Manila Standard - 2017 October 27 - Friday

MARAWI TUNNELS SHOW MAUTE HIDE-KILL TACTICS SMC offers P330-m aid to heroes’ kin

THE main battle zone in Marawi City seized by Islamic State supporters resembles a tsunamihit wasteland, with bullet-riddled mosques and a network of tunnels testifying to their hideand-kill tactics.

Two days after the military declared an end to the five-month conflict in which more than 1,100 people died, scrawny feral dogs and swallows flying above the ruins were among the few signs of life in Marawi’s devastated neighborhoods.

Many buildings were piles of gray rubble as if crushed by a tsunami roaring in from Lake Lanao just behind them.

The pink minaret of one mosque was so riddled with bullets that most of its plaster had been stripped off and just its iron beams remained.

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By Francisco Tuyay SAN Miguel Corp. on Thursday offered each of the families of the 165 soldiers and policemen who died to liberate Marawi City from terrorists P2 million that could be used as capital for a business start-up as a gesture to honor their ultimate sacrifice.

In announcing the P330-million livelihood assistance package in Camp Aguinaldo, SMC president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang expressed his gratitude to the military for “a job well done.”

“Because of your skill, dedication, patriotism and bravery, Marawi is free and our country is much safer,” Ang said during a ceremony with Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año hours before his retirement.

Año thanked Ang and said the gesture would go a long way toward helping the bereaved families Next page

Kim: US not rushing to war with NoKor

BULLET-RIDDLED ROOM. A room of a rented apartment believed to have been used by IS-inspired Muslim militant leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute before their siege of the lakeshore capital town of Marawi last May, is seen among the residential areas Thursday after the military declared the fighting over against the terrorists. AFP

BANGKOK—Washington is seeking a “peaceful resolution” with North Korea, US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said ahead of a visit to the divided peninsula amid heightened tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear threats.

In recent months the North has staged its sixth nuclear test and fired a flurry of missiles, sparking a fiery war of words between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Next page

‘No CIA role in oust-Rody plan’ UNITED States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim on Thursday denied that the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency wanted to oust President Rodrigo Duterte from power.

Kim told foreign correspondents in a forum that Washington respected Duterte’s win victory the 2016 elections and stressed the ties between the Philippines and the United States remained very strong.

“There is absolutely no effort by the CIA to undermine the Philippines’ leadership,” Kim said.

“President Duterte won a very impressive election. We respect his election and we are in fact working very well together with his administration.”

Kim also said US President Donald Trump’s decision to skip a major Association Next page

VOL. XXXI • NO. 255 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Witness links 23 to hazing UST law dean, 64 others in ‘persons of interest’ list

LP stalwarts slam ‘all-out’ squid tactics

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Aegis Juris member who turned state witness has implicated 23 fraternity brothers in the fatal hazing of University of Santo Tomas law freshman Horacio Castillo III.

By Macon R. Araneta DRUG allegations against Liberal Party stalwarts Senator Franklin Drilon and former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II was the Duterte administration “going all-out to demonize” their party and “divert attention” from pressing issues, Next page

Cussword on EU ‘out of context’

SALUTE TO THE TRICOLORS. President Rodrigo Duterte, outgoing AFP chief Eduardo Año (left) and incoming AFP chief Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero (right) salute the Philippine flag during the change of command ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City Thursday. AFP

By John Paolo Bencito and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

Cops insist UP student pulled a gun and fired

A SPOKESMAN for the President said Thursday there is no law prohibiting Communications Secretary Martin Andanar from blurting out lewd remarks against the critics of the adminNext page istration.

By Rey E. Requejo and John Paolo Bencito THE two former Caloocan City policemen tagged in the killing of former UP student Carl Angelo Arnaiz and his companion

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman on Thursday asked the Justice department to dismiss the criminal charges against them for alleged lack of evidence.

In their joint rejoinder affidavit, Police Officers 1 Jeffrey Perez

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

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and Ricky Arquilita insisted that Carl Angelo was killed in a shootout as the latter was robbing taxi driver Tomas Bagcal along C-3 Road in Caloocan City.

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo

manilastandard.net

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In a six-page affidavit submitted to the Justice Department, Marc Anthony Ventura said the 23 members of their fraternity were all present during Castillo’s initiation rites held in their library on Sept. 17.

Ventura, a member of the fraternity who participated in the hazing and who is now admitted to the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program, identified nine new individuals: Edric Pilapil, Zach Abulencia, Daniel Ragos, Dave Felix, Sam Cagalingan, Alex Cairo, Luis Kapulong, Kim Cyrill Roque and Ged Villanueva.

Ventura also confirmed the participation of their fraternity president Arvin Balag, master initiator Axel Munro Hipe and 12 other members already charged before

Marc Anthony Ventura

the Justice Department—Ralph Trangia, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Mhin Wei Chan, Daniel Hans Matthew Rodrigo, Karl Matthew Villanueva, Joshua Next page

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cops ease fears of IS attacks on Asean gab

By John Paolo Bencito THERE is no imminent danger of any terrorist attack that could disrupt the 31st Asean Summit in November or the All Saints’ Day activities, the National Capital Region Police Office said Thursday, even as it suspended all permits to carry firearms from Nov. 1 to 15.

In a Palace news briefing, NCRPO Director Oscar Albayalde said government forces remain on guard against terrorist threats, given the possibility of retaliatory attacks by groups supporting the Islamic State for the defeat of the Maute group in Marawi City.

A total of 5,355 police officers from NCRPO will be deployed to secure the 82 cemeteries, 21 columbaria, 182 churches, 75 bus terminals, two seaports and four airports in Metro Manila, augmented by 3,704 barangay tanods, 9,163 security guards, and 1,067 civilian volunteers, Albayalde said.

Advanced command posts will be posted outside the Manila North Cemetery and police assistance desks will also be established in all cemeteries, ports, major bus terminals, churches and other places of convergence to assist the public, he added.

Albayalde said that quick reaction teams will be on standby should any situation arise.

According to the NCRPO chief, Task Group Manila under his supervision is tasked to secure the venues, the routes, billets of the world leaders and delegates, and maintain public order during the Asean Summit.

“We will be securing 16 hotels, five venues and the various routes where our delegates will be passing through,” he said.

A total of 33,086 police personnel will be deployed during the Asean Summit to secure until the last delegate leaves the country.

Some members of the police from Regions I to V, Cordillera, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will also augment the need for warm bodies for security purposes, Albayalde said.

“We assure the public, both locally and internationally, that Metro Manila is safe and secure and is ready to receive our distinguished 22 foreign leaders and more or less 3,000 delegates who will be gracing our country for the 31st Asean Summit,” he added.

Albayalde said the suspension of permits to carry firearms covers the whole of Metro Manila, as well as Central Luzon.

LP...

From A1 the opposition party said Thursday.

The party said the current problems confronting the country are the rising prices of goods, extrajudicial killings, and corruption, including drug smuggling at the Bureau of Customs.

Ricky Serenio, a confessed bagman of the Berya drug cartel earlier arrested by police, has implicated Drilon and Roxas in the illegal drug trade in the Visayas, saying they were the protectors of notorious slain drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr. Odicta reportedly controlled the narcotics trade in Iloilo City, according to Serenio, in an affidavit he submitted to the La Carlota City prosecutor’s office in Negros Occidental last Oct. 18.

However, the LP said in a statement: “After efforts to link the party to destabilization, it is now being accused of being involved in the illegal drug trade solely because of a baseless testimony of a so-called bagman of a drug syndicate.”

“It appears this administration has the habit of manufacturing ‘witnesses’ who have questionable record and reputation, just like what it did to Senator Leila de Lima, who is now languishing in jail due to testimonies of convicted criminals serving jail sentences,” the party added.

This did not stop President Rodrigo Duterte from lashing out at another LP leader, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, by blaming him for the country’s problem on child criminality late Wednesday.

First in 10 years: Li sets PH visit in Nov.

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

CHINESE official on Thursday said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is scheduled to visit the Philippines in November, the first of this kind by a Chinese Premier in 10 years.

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In his speech during the China-Philippines Dialogue 2017, Chinese embassy counsellor Ethan Yi Sun said that the visit is separate from his attendance to the upcoming Association of the Southeast Asian Nation Summit in November which the Philippines is hosting as this year’s chairman.

“They are different,” Sun said, adding that there is no final schedule whether or not Li will attend the Asean.

“I think we have to still wait for the official announcement from our Foreign Ministry,” Sun said in an interview.

Normally, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson will make official announcement about

Li’s final schedule a week before the latter’s departure.

“I don’t have official announcement now. I hope it’s going to be soon,” Sun said.

“But I think it’s in the middle [of November]. I think Premier Li will be here for the summit [but not final announcement yet]. I think probably at the beginning of November there will be an official announcement,” he added.

During his official visit, Li will have a bilateral meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, the Senate President Koko Pimentel and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

Sun said in his speech the previous state visit of Duterte last October, is a sign of a new era between China and the Philippines relation.

“Our two countries are enjoying growing political mutual trust and frequent exchange of high-level visits,” Sun said.

“In just short span of past one year, the China-Philippines cooperation in various fields has reaped rich fruits,” Sun said.

Sun said, China is now the country’s largest trading partner, largest import market and fourth largest

export destination.

Based on China’s statistics, its bilateral trade volume with the Philippines hit $28 billion in the first seven months this year, representing a 7.6 percent year-on-year increase.

China’s FDI to the Philippines in the first seven months of 2017 registered $20 million.

“And I am pretty sure that more will come in the following years,” Sun said.

He added that there are pending infrastructure projects with the Philippines, aimed at synergizing China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” strategy.

Sun said China is committed to give grants to build bridges over the Pasig River, to help relieve the horrible traffic in Manila.

China will also provide concessional loans for the Philippines’ three priority infrastructure projects, namely the new water resource Kaliwa dam; Chico River pump irrigation project and the South line of the North-South railway.

Sun said China will also finance feasibility studies for the construction of Davao City expressway and a bridge linking Panay, Guimaras and Negros.

House assures Sereno of fair impeach trial Party-lister

By Maricel V. Cruz

MAUTE WEAPONS. Philippine Army Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Task Force Ranao, inspects a locally-made Barrett sniper and other weapons recovered from terrorists at the height of the fighting in Marawi City on Thursday, days after the military declared the fighting against IS-inspired Maute Group over. AFP

SMC...

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Witness...

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of the fallen soldiers and policemen.

At least 158 soldiers and seven policemen were killed in five months of fighting against the IS-inspired terrorists under Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and the Maute group led by Omar Maute.

“It is because of them and their stories that we want to become better people. We extend our sincere condolences to the families of our fallen heroes,” Ang said.

“This is perhaps the best way we can honor them, “ Ang added. “We cannot replace them nor can we repay them for their sacrifice but we can honor them and help fulfill their dream of better lives for their families.”

The Department of Labor and Employment, meanwhile, said the government has set aside P2.3 million for the soldiers who were killed or injured in the Marawi crisis through the Employee’s Compensation Commission.

“The awarded grant is available to all uniformed staff from January to September 2017,” said ECC executive director Stella Zipagan-Banawis.

The sum was broken down into P1.75 million for disability benefits and P640,000 for death benefits from the Government Service Insurance System.

Also, the United States played a “very important role” in defeating Islamic State (IS) supporters who occupied parts of a southern Philippine city for 5 months, the US ambassador in Manila said Thursday.

Ambassador Sung Kim highlighted American intelligence, urban warfare training, and drones as among the factors that helped end the conflict in Marawi city on Monday, which local authorities said claimed more than 1,100 lives.

“We did play a very important role in supporting the (Philippines’) efforts to retake Marawi,” Kim told reporters.

Marawi...

From A1 Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday ordered newly-installed Armed Forces chief Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero to destroy all the terrorists’ firearms in Marawi to mark the country’s victory against jihadists who laid siege on the city for nearly four months.

“I will now request the Chief of Staff General Guerrero to supervise the destruction of all arms whether high-powered or hand guns,” Duterte said during the change of command in Camp Aguinaldo.

“All of them will be destroyed in some place to show that we are able to meet the challenges of terrorism and violence.”

Cussword...

From A1 “I don’t think there’s any law that says... should, you know—,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said, as he struggled to explain why Andanar would refer to the President’s critics in the European Union as “palaiyot,” Visayan for a person who engages in excessive sexual activity.

Abella said this was just Andanar’s “Visayan humor” at work and was aimed at relaying his message to Duterte

SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez on Thursday said he could have easily sent the articles of impeachment against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to the Senate Impeachment Court for trial but he did not do so.

Alvarez said he would want the House committee on justice, chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, to conduct hearings on the ouster complaint filed against Sereno by lawyer Larry Gadon to ensure her a fair trial.

Alvarez said a mere signature from at least 98 lawmakers belonging to the supermajority-led

Joriel Macabali, Marcelino Bagtang, Zimon Padro, Jose Miguel Salamat, Leo Lalusis, Alex Bose and Robin Ramos.

He also recalled a female companion of Bose was present in the library during the initiation rites.

Ventura said the initiation rites started at 1 a.m. with a prayer so that nothing untoward would happen during the hazing.

He said they required Castillo to do some stretching before proceeding with the rites. Frat members then started the hazing by punching Castillo’s arms.

He said they then used spatulas to tap Castillo’s arms to reduce the swelling and calm the muscles, before hitting him with paddles.

After the third hit, the initiators asked Castillo if he could still endure the process, to which he answered yes, the affidavit said.

However, after the fourth hit, the neophyte collapsed at about 5 a.m.

Ventura said they then decided to summon another member who had a medical background, John Paul Solano, to help revive Castillo, who still had pulse at that time.

Ventura said they had already carried Castillo to a pickup and were set to bring him to a nearby hos-

Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan would be enough to elevate the impeachment document to the Senate for a full-blown trial.

“If the House of Representatives would want to railroad the Sereno impeachment case, we could have done so by a mere signature from 98 lawmakers. We can immediately transmit it to the Senate for trial,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez cited the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings where signatures of at least one-third or 98 lawmakers would be enough for the House to send the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate—acting as impeachment court—for trial.

pital when Solano came and they decided to bring the neophyte back to the library to see if he would be able to revive him.

When Solano failed to revive Castillo, they decided to bring him to the Chinese General Hospital where the neophyte was declared dead on arrival.

Ventura is among the 37 respondents facing charges for murder, robbery, violation of the Anti-Hazing Law, perjury and obstruction of justice.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said that because of his coverage in the WPP, Ventura will eventually be dropped as one of the respondents in the complaints filed by the Manila Police District and Castillo’s parents.

The Justice Department has put 65 “persons of interest”— including UST Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina and 13 other lawyers—under an immigration lookout bulletin order in connection with Castillo’s hazing death.

Last month, Aguirre issued a similar order but only for 16 members of the Aegis Juris fraternity.

On Thursday, Aguirre signed a supplemental ILBO against 49 individuals, including Divina, who are deemed as “persons of interest” in the Castillo hazing case.

The new names were added after Ventura expressed his readiness to testify against his fraternity brothers.

Among the new names on the lookout bulletin were fraternity members who

Duterte said the battle for the liberation of Marawi had resulted in “the neutralization of almost a thousand ISIS-inspired insurgents who include highvalue targets being [hunted] around the world.”

When the gunmen initially rampaged through Marawi, the principal Islamic city in the mainly Catholic Philippines, military commanders expected a relatively brief battle and were surprised at their enemies’ ability to hold out for so long.

The military maintained near-daily bombings, with state-of-the-art American radar helping to identify targets, yet the militants could often dodge the explosions.

A brief tour for journalists on Wednesday revealed some of their rat-like survival tech-

niques, including the digging of holes through concrete floors up to eight inches thick.

These connected to the city’s drainage system, allowing them to scurry to nearby buildings undetected, according to the commanders who fought the ground war.

“They didn’t want to pass open terrain, especially in the latter part [of the war],” Lt. Col. Samuel Yunque, commander of an army special forces unit that fought the entire campaign, told reporters.

But Yunque said the military also adapted to the militants’ tactics by blasting their own virtual tunnels or “rat holes” in walls between buildings so troops could move quickly without going back into the open streets. AFP, with John Paolo Bencito

supporters “in a more personal manner.”

Abella would not say, however, if he believed such language was acceptable for a government official.

In a radio interview, Andanar, who was still in the UK, defended his remarks, saying he was “taken out of context.”

“Of couse among friends, among DDS [Duterte diehards and supporters], you talk and exchange ideas,” he told radio dzRH in Filipino. “Most of the people there were from the Visayas, and you know our Visayan humor, right? It was on

Facebook Live, so many people reacted.”

He also said his telling EU officials to just have sex rather than criticize Duterte were uttered “out of frustration.”

“Respect our sovereignty, respect our independence the same way that we respect yours, that’s all,” he said.

“So—it’s also a statement out of frustration that the DDS also feel.”

Speaking to Duterte supporters in the UK, Andanar painted European officials who criticized Duterte as sex maniacs, using the Visayan term “palaiyot,”

“But we did not do so, because the House would like to accord a fair trial to the Chief Justice,” Alvarez said.

“If we speak of numbers [to impeach Sereno], we have it,” he added.

Alvarez made the statement as he defended the Lower House from allegations that his leadership is railroading the impeachment complaint against Sereno even as the President allegedly supported the ouster move against Sereno.

“We will give the Chief Justice, her camp, the chance to answer the allegations leveled against her at the House committee on justice,” Alvarez said.

gathered at the Novotel Hotel in Quezon City to discuss what they would do to avoid prosecution.

“Considering the gravity of the offense allegedly committed, there is a strong possibility that the following individuals may attempt to place themselves beyond the reach of the legal processes by leaving the country,” Aguirre said in his order to the Bureau of Immigration.

“In order not to derail the ongoing investigation, we thus deem the issuance of an ILBO against the subject individuals prudent in order to, at least, monitor the itineraries of their flight, travel, and/or whereabouts,” Aguirre said.

Persons on the lookout bulletin may not leave the country without Justice Department approval.

Aguirre said Ventura’s testimony was sufficient to pin down the respondents.

A Manila regional trial court judge, meanwhile, declined to recuse himself from the hazing case, after Solano asked that he do so because he gave the police and private complainants “unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference” when he granted a search warrant for the Aegis Juris fraternity library where the hazing took place.

Manila RTC Branch 53 Judge Reynaldo Alhambra, however, junked Solano’s motion questioning the validity of the warrants he issued.

In his affidavit, Ventura said it was the driver of Aegis Juris

‘No...

From A1 of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in Manila in November was “purely for a scheduling reason.”

The Asean summit and other related meetings will be held in Manila on Nov. 12 to 14. It will be capped by the Asean-led East Asia Summit, a regional forum for strategic dialogue and cooperation on the key challenges facing the East Asian region, where its dialogue partners the US, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, India and New Zealand are members.

“For very important reasons he needs to get back to Washington on the 14th and which means someone given to excessive indulgence in sexual activity, to describe lower-level EU officials who would criticize the administration.

“The noisy sex maniacs, you know, their problem is that all they can do is make noise. They can prove nothing. If you ask their prime minister or president, those who are really in charge of their country, even they support President Duterte,” he said in Filipino.

He said Duter te’s critics should just have more sex instead of criticizing the President.

president Balag, and not fraternity member Ralph Trangia, who took Castillo to the hospital.

Aguirre said the National Bureau of Investigation was looking for the driver.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri welcomed Ventura’s revelations, saying it was one step closer to obtaining justice for the Castillo family.

“The pang of conscience is the thin line that separates men from beasts. Young Marc [Ventura] gives me hope because his young conscience made him tell the truth and free himself from the sinister code of silence to cover up the crime within the walls of the Aegis Juris den called the library,” said Zubiri.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said Solano blew his chance of becoming a state witness in the case.

“With the tell-all tale of Marc Anthony Ventura…

John Paul Solano blew all his chances to become a state witness as he would have been the most probable Aegis Juris member to qualify as such,” Lacson said.

Lacson is the chairman of the Senate public order committee, which is conducting a probe of Castillo’s death.

Lacson’s committee earlier disclosed the names of the Aegis Juris members Solano claimed he saw in the fraternity library. One of the six names Solano mentioned in the executive session was Ventura. With Vito Barcelo, Bill Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta that’s why he will not be able to participate in the East Asia Summit,” Kim said as he downplayed the criticisms that Trump’s absence in the EAS was due to his lack of interest in Southeast Asia compared to his predecessor Barack Obama.

Duterte last week claimed that the CIA wanted him out of the government but did not go much into detail. Prior to the alleged ouster plot, Duterte said, he has also heard that the CIA was out to kill him.

Kim reiterated Washington’s commitment to the Philippines with continued military and humanitarian assistance.

He said Trump will also discuss “all important issues” with Duterte when he visits Manila next month.

Kim:...

From A1 But Mattis, who arrived in Thailand Thursday following a meeting with his Asean counterparts in the Philippines, said Washington was “not rushing to war” and looking for a diplomatic resolution.

“Do we have military options in defense if we’re attacked, our allies are attacked?

Of course we do,” Mattis said.

“But everyone is out for a peaceful resolution.”

Following talks with his South Korean and Japanese coun-

may join Palace men

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENTIAL Spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Thursday evaded questions over reports that he’s on his way out of the Cabinet.

Abella remained his usual self as he merely laughed off questions by Palace reporters if he will be staying in his post.

“There’s nothing official,” he said.

A Palace source confirmed that Duterte will be meeting with Kabayan Party-list Rep. Harry Roque at Davao City this weekend.

Roque was being considered for the post of presidential spokesperson who was a pastor in Davao before entering the government.

Roque, a party-list representative and human rights lawyer, is reportedly seeking a senatorial bid in 2019.

Cops...

From A1 Duterte said Thursday the public will soon find out the truth behind the death of 17-year-old student Kian delos Santos.

But in his speech during the Sixth Philippine Professional Summit, Duterte insisted there were people who were really fighting back the police in their campaign against illegal drugs.

On Wednesday night, a couple went to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to tell them they saw 19-year-old Arnaiz fire at policemen first before dawn of Aug. 18 in Caloocan City.

Perez and Arquilita appealed to the Justice department’s prosecutors to dismiss the charges for double murder, torture and planting of evidence filed against them by the parents of Carl Angelo and Kulot for lack of probable cause.

They reiterated that the incident took place around 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 18,contrary to an eyewitness account and forensic exam results that Carl Angelo was killed around 1:30 a.m.

Perez and Arquilita stressed that Bagcal approached and sought their help because he had been robbed by his passenger. After giving a detailed description of the alleged robber, they said they proceeded to the scene of the crime, which took them one to two minutes travel time.

However, their assertions have been disputed by the earlier testimony of the eyewitness who said there was no shootout and Carl Angelo even begged for his life when he was shot by the police officers.

The department will hold a final hearing on Nov. 7 before submitting the case for resolution. terparts on the sidelines of the security forum in Manila, the ministers agreed Pyongyang’s weapons program posed an “unprecedented and grave threat” and vowed to step up diplomatic pressure against the regime.

“And that’s really what— what it is all about, to keep DPRK efforts firmly in the diplomatic lane for resolution,” Mattis said, using the acronym for the North’s official name.

Mattis is on an Asian tour which will see him arriving in Seoul on Friday for annual defence talks, ahead of a visit to South Korea by Donald Trump next month.

News FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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Duque back as new DoH chief

By John Paolo Bencito

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed an old hand in Francisco Duque III as the new Health Secretary, replacing Paulyn Jean Ubial, whose ad interim appointment was rejected by the Commission on Appointments earlier this month.

Duque, 60, is the current chairman of the Government Service Insurance System and formerly Health secretary during the Arroyo administration from June 2005 to January 2010.

During his term, the DoH earned high approval and satisfaction ratings at the Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations surveys from 2005 to 2009 and a World Health Organization citation for being one of only three countries with excellent risk communication strategies against AH1N1.

Duque was also appointed chairman of the Civil Service Commission where he became pivotal in developing the commission’s Roadmap for Development and Reforms for 2010-2015, a five-year blueprint for priority programs for the country’s 1.4-million workforce.

Prior to his stint at DoH, Duque was president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. from 2001 to 2005.

Duque finished his Bachelor of Science degree major in Zoology in 1978 and post-graduate course in medicine in 1982 at the University of Santo Tomas. He obtained his Master of Science major in Pathology degree from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. in 1987.

Duque's appointment paper was signed by the President and released on Thursday.

In his first stint at the DoH, Duque moved for the historic passage of two major legislations—the Universally Accessible, Affordable Quality Medicine Act of 2008, better known as the Cheaper Medicines Law; and the Food and Drug Administration Law of 2009.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, meanwhile, said Malacañang welcomes Duque’s return to the DoH, pointing out that he is not new to the position.

“We wish him well in his present stint in the government,” Abella said in a statement.

Duque’s appointment also drew positive reactions from the Health department itselt.

In a text message, Undersecretary Herminigildo Valle, who has served as DoH officer-in-charge after Dr. Paulyn Ubial’s appointment was rejected, praised Duque's capability and lengthy experience as a public servant. With PNA

PH to pay families of slain Viet sailors

By Francisco Tuyay THE PHILIPPINES on Thursday apologized and promised compensation for two Vietnamese fishermen killed by its naval personnel during an antipoaching operation at sea.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana made the apology in a meeting with Vietnam's Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich as the two Southeast Asian neighbors discussed ways to improve cooperation, especially in naval matters.

"Secretary Lorenzana also relayed President Rodrigo Duterte’s assurance that the families of the Vietnamese fishermen who died in the incident will be properly compensated," a defense department statement said.

In response, Vietnamese De-

fense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich expressed his gratitude to the Philippine government’s gesture to the families of the slain Vietnamese.

Lich also suggested the establishment of a concrete mechanism between the navies of both countries to prevent similar incident from occurring in the future to which Lorenzana agreed.

Aside from apologizing over the unfortunate incident, the defense chief also assured the Vietnamese official of the expeditious resolution of the case.

“Our defense cooperation with Vietnam has been very positive and we intend to build on those successes,” Lorenzana said noting how Vietnam was able to develop its own military industry. With PNA

US Congress bestows highest honor on Filipino WW II veterans THE United States Congress last Wednesday awarded Congressional gold medals to Filipino veterans in Washington D.C., the American Legislature’s highest expression of national appreciation for their distinguished achievements and contributions.

“We are here to immortalize the legacy of these great liberators who have paved the way for generations to follow,” said US Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.

“On behalf of all of us, to the family members and the veterans, thank you, thank you, thank you for being here today,” Ryan told the veterans and their families present during the awarding ceremony.

The award was bestowed on the Filipinos after the US Senate and the House of Representatives enacted Public Law 114-265 or the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act. Six veterans, including 100-year-old Celestino Almeda, and their next of kin accepted the medal on behalf of the Filipino veterans.

“Many have passed away, waiting for 75 years for this time to come,” Almeda said, who received a standing ovation from the audience when he disclosed his age.

“After the war, thousands of us felt under-appreciated and unrecognized for fighting for our country. I wondered why and what else we could have done in defeating the enemy, in defending the United States of America and bringing victory during a long war in the Philippines. But we stand loyal to our country, relied on our faith and prayer, we thanked the Lord for watching over us throughout this long ordeal,” he said.

“To my fellow soldiers, present and many who could not be here, to our families, thank you for sharing this glorious day. As the saying goes, old soldiers never die, they just fade away,” he said.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said the medal recognizes the 250,000 veterans’ “extraordinary heroism” and honors their “fierce devotion to freedom and their noble sacrifice.”

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Opinion

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

‘Gargantuan tasks’

T

ASK Force Bangon Marawi will have its hands full on the very first day of its creation. Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia has conceded that the rehabilitation and recovery of Marawi City are “gargantuan tasks” that the state must see through, after a five-month siege that practically leveled the Muslim capital.

The National Economic and Development Authority, a key member of the task force, has initially recommended a frame-

Adelle Chua, Editor

work that aims to build safer, adaptive and disaster-resilient communities in Marawi.

It also suggested that the Maranao culture

be made integral in rebuilding Marawi and neighboring local government units, including concerns on overlapping land claims.

The plan is apart from improving economic and social conditions and ensuring peace and security in the ravaged city.

Bringing the city back to its feet may involve a complete redevelopment to avoid the common problems in urban centers

across the Philippines.

A rehabilitated Marawi must be free from traffic snarls, informal settlers, air and water pollution, and uncollected garbage.

The rebuilding must come out with detailed maps containing the proposed land-use and urban plans to make Marawi a truly modern city.

The task force must construct a great deal of infrastructure projects that will speed

up travel and the flow of goods and agricultural produce from and to the city.

Transportation or road networks will be key to the recovery of Marawi City.

Residents in the area transact business with the rest of Mindanao and across the strategic Lake Lanao. They must have infrastructure support, including a modern pier or port, to bring about a faster

economic recovery.

Bringing local and foreign investors as well as tourists to Marawi City, meanwhile, will not be an easy task but it can be done through sustained peace-building efforts. Rebuilding the city will not be an overnight job.

Every detail and step in the process must be weighed carefully to produce the longterm benefits that the Maranaos deserve.

PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

Do not move on!

“MOVE on” is the 11th commandment of our runaway world and its maddening pace.

Perfectly functional cellphones are replaced as soon as advertisements for new models make their appearance.

People let go of well-paying and stable employment to move on someplace else, preferably abroad no matter the uncertainty. After graduating from one of the institutions in the great city, no matter that these may be nondescript, one hardly ever entertains the prospect of returning to the barangay or sitio of one’s birth because... one must move on! Associations, movements and groups hardly have stable memberships because it does not speak too well of one to “stay on” for too long. There is an obsession with what has heretofore been tried, not necessarily because of an eager mind or an intrepid spirit, but because one is “fed up” with what has been and

High praise for AFP LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES IT WAS high praise that was heaped on the Armed Forces of the Philippines

by Jim Mattis, the visiting United States secretary of defense, for the AFP’s conduct of the five-month war against terrorists in Marawi City. Not only did Mattis congratulate the military for putting down the Islamic State-inspired attempt to take over the city, he also noted that the AFP did so while respecting human rights.

“Here’s an army that had to go in a fight like that, and they had not one human rights allegation against them with any credibility,” Mattis told reporters at Clark Field in Pampanga.

“Not one, and when you look at how bloody awful that fight was, that’s really a statement about the Philippine military that set a human rights condition in the midst of that fight the way they did so.”

Certain US officials, rights groups and media organizations, of course, have been the most vocal critics of the human-rights record of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Philippine president has repeatedly protested the charges hurled from across the Pacific by the Americans, leading some to believe that ties between Manila and Washington are now at historic lows.

But the US has also provided a lot of support to the Duterte administration in its battle against the terrorists in Marawi. Indeed, the anti-Duterte noise emanat-

ing from the US was dialed down significantly during the Marawi campaign, for the simple reason that the Americans have always supported efforts to con-

IS-style terrorism, as seen in the Middle East and exported to the Philippines, is the greatest enemy of human rights. tain the spread of terrorism throughout the world.

It’s true that the Philippine military acted with great professionalism during the fight to take back the

predominantly Islamic city.

When a platoon of Marines discovered a huge stash of cash and checks totaling P79 million in a terrorist stronghold that they liberated last June, the soldiers turned over all of money to their superiors; that’s how professional those troops were.

Local leftist and rights groups, always on the lookout for incidents of abuse by the military during the tense and bloody campaign, could not find any case that they could credibly use in their anti-government propaganda efforts. And when the military broke the back of the occupying force with the killing of Isnilon Hapilon and Omarkhayyam Maute, the Commission on Human Rights could only say that it would look into reports that the AFP had not followed the “rules of engagement” when they

took out the two high-value terrorist leaders.

The truth is, IS-style terrorism, as seen in the Middle East and exported to the Philippines, is the greatest enemy of human rights. Never mind if you never hear the local bleeding hearts denounce the documented cases of sexual abuse, forced labor, murder and the use of human shields as recounted by the residents of Marawi who were caught in the war.

But its refreshing to hear a top US official commend Philippine security forces for simultaneously repelling a terrorist takeover and safeguarding human rights.

And if the benighted and misled foreigners who have taken to denouncing the Philippine government for rights abuses on the basis of “evidence” presented by certain Filipino politicians

and other such partisan groups will only be more discerning, I’m certain that they, too, could become as convinced as Mattis is that they just fell for the antiDuterte propaganda. *** Speaking of discredited political partisans, the nowmoribund Liberal Party has accused the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte of attempting to demonize party bigwigs in a supposed bid to divert attention from his government’s own failings. According to the once-awesome former administration party, attempts to link LP stalwarts Senator Franklin Drilon and failed presidential candidate Mar Roxas to the drug trade were meant to distract people from national problems “such as rising prices, extrajudicial Turn to A5

Functions can be performed by others with the same competence, but friends cannot be replaced.

must tirelessly try out what is new. Substance addiction, quite sadly, is born of this same excitement about new experiences that ironically turns into quicksand from which there is hardly any moving on.

It is sadder yet when this kind of restlessness afflicts human relations. It is part of human development to move out of the nest but, unlike birds—as far as we can tell—that nurture no fondness for the nests that cradled them as hatchlings—there used to be, in us, a fondness for “home” that made “going home” always something to look forward to, a special event, a return not only to a place, but to one of the tenderest corners of the heart! One could really never “move Turn to A5

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Opinion

WITH authoritarian rulers ascendant in many parts of the world, one wonders what must happen for their countries to liberalize. The likes of Vladimir Putin in Russia, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey or Xi Jinping in China are entrenched, experienced and not unpopular—so should their opponents simply resign themselves to an openended period of illiberal rule?

According to Daniel Treisman, a Ucla political scientist, that’s not necessarily the case. For a recent paper, he analyzed 218 episodes of democratization between 1800 and 2015 and found they were, with some exceptions (such as Danish King Frederick VII’s voluntary acceptance of a constitution in 1848), the result of authoritarian rulers’ mistakes in seeking to hold on to power. The list of these errors is both a useful handbook for authoritarians and a useful reminder that even the most capable of them are fallible, with disastrous consequences for their regimes.

According to Treisman, deliberate liberalization— whether to forestall a revolution, motivate people to fight a foreign invader, defeat competing elite groups or make a pact with them —only occurred in up to a third of the cases. In the rest, democratization was an accident: As they set off a chain of events, rulers didn’t intend to relinquish power. Some of them— such as Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet president— have admitted as much.

Treisman’s list of mistakes is worth citing in full.

There are five basic ones: Hubris: An authoritarian ruler underestimates the opposition’s strength and fails to compromise or suppress it before it’s too late. King Louis Philippe of France was deposed in 1848 after, as Treisman puts it, turning “a series of reform banquets into revolution by refusing even mild concessions.” Romanian Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was making a routine speech when he realized he was being overthrown.

Indonesian President Muhammad Suharto believed he could get the country under control right up to the moment of his resignation.

Needless risk: A ruler calls a vote which he “fails to manipulate sufficiently” (like Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in 1988, when he lost a plebiscite on whether he should be allowed to stay in power) or starts a war he cannot win (like Leopoldo Galtieri in Argentina with the Falklands conflict of 1982).

Slippery slope: That’s Gorbachev’s case: a ruler starts reforms to prop up the regime but ends up undermining it.

Trusting a traitor: This is not always a mistake made by the dictator itself, although it was in the case of Francisco Franco in Spain, who chose King Juan Carlos, the dismantler of fascism, as his successor. In Gorbachev’s case, it was the Politburo—the regime’s elite—that picked the wrong man to preserve its power.

Counterproductive violence: Not suppressing the opposition when necessary can be a sign of hubris in a dictator, but overreacting is

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killings and corruption, including drug smuggling at the Bureau of Customs.”

The allegations against Drilon and Roxas were con-

also a grave mistake. The example Treisman gives is Bangladeshi President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who was forced to resign by an uprising that started after police shot an opposition activist at a rally. But the error was also made by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in 2013, when his riot police descended on a few hundred peacefully protesting students and brutally beat them, setting off the much bigger protests that resulted in Yanukovych’s ouster.

These are all very human errors of judgment. Dictators are people, too, and sometimes they’ll act on imperfect information or erroneous gut feeling. But Treisman makes the point that they may be prone to such errors precisely because they are dictators.

They’ll be fooled by polls which people don’t answer sincerely, taken in by their own propaganda (like Malawi ruler Hastings Banda, who called and lost a referendum in 1993 because he’d been impressed by the high turnout at rallies in his support even though people had been forced to attend them). And sometimes they’ll rule for so long that their mental faculties will be less sharp than at the outset.

I have a particular interest in watching Putin for any of the errors on Treisman’s list. So far, it’s as if he’d read the paper before Treisman wrote it.

His suppression has been timely and cleverly measured, his election manipulation always sufficient, his temporary successor, Dmitri Medvedev, avoided the liberal slippery slope, and he’s only started wars against much weaker rivals. He helps his regime’s propaganda by treating it as truth, but he doesn’t buy it to the point of losing vigilance. In the 2018 election, which he apparently intends to win, he’s keeping his main opponent, Alexei Navalny, out of the race, mindful that modern technology allows a rival to loosen media restrictions -something Treisman notes can lead a hubristic dictator to an electoral loss.

But even Putin, after 17 years in power, is in danger of making a miscalculation one day, perhaps finally misreading the mood of the increasingly cynical Russian public that keeps registering support for him in largely worthless polls. It’s easy to imagine the choleric Erdogan getting into an armed conflict Turkey cannot sustain or using disproportional violence as Turks’ patience with his reprisals wear thin. It’s a possibility, although a remote one, that, after Xi’s power consolidation, the Chinese Communist Party will opt for a more liberal successor and he won’t be able to hold the reins as tightly.

Treisman notes that in 85 percent of the episodes he studied, democratization was preceded by mass unrest. Sooner or later, people tend to get tired of regimes in which they have little say.

Then, it only takes a misstep from the one person at the center of such a regime.

Dictators often overestimate the external danger to their power, the plots of foreign or exiled enemies. In the final analysis, they are the biggest threat to themselves. Bloomberg tained in an affidavit signed recently by suspected drug ring member Ricky Serenio which went mostly unreported in the Manila-based media after the document’s disclosure last week.

But the LP statement was strangely silent on the same

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International terrorist

Most dictators self-destruct

By Leonid Bershidsky

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO HOW do you deal with a nut like North Korean leader Kim Jong Un? First of all, Kim may not be the unhinged fringe lunatic we think him to be.

He is actually an evil genius who’s gotten the attention of the United States, Japan and South Korea with his launching of ballistic missiles in the Asia Pacific region. It’s actually these three countries who have gone ballistic over the actuations of the boy-man who’s playing with deadly toys.

Kim is an international terrorist who must be taken down as threat to world peace.

Former United Nations Secretaries General Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon led thousands in a peace walk in the streets of London calling for restraint on North Korea’s missile madness. Kim has been threatening to unleash ballistic missiles against US allies, Japan and South Korea, plus the American territory

of Guam and as far the US West Coast.

US President Donald Trump, on the other hand, warned there is only way to deal with North Korea and that is to decapitate its lunatic leader Kim. US defense Secretary Buster Mattis said military option is on the table if Kim does not desist issuing threats and sending missiles across Japan. If so, Kim is in “deep kimchee.” As anyone who knows American slang and the connection with the spicy Korean food, that means in deep trouble.

To us, it’s less vulgar than that other American phrase connoting the icky and foul smell of barnyard droppings. I beg the reader to bear with me for talking in riddles because I know my editor won’t allow the use of foul language in her op-ed section. But here’s a clue: It’s something you don’t want to hit the fan!

While we are for restraint during this time of escalating global tension, there is a disconnect here. Mssrs.

Annan and Ban should be reminded that it was during their watch as UN SecGen and their policy of restraint that Kim Jong Un and the

Kim dynasty were emboldened to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles.

And Pyongyang now is on the threshold of developing nuclear weapons, according to international intelligence monitoring the situation in the Korean peninsula.

It seems the alternative to neutralizing “the little rocket man,” (Trump’s reference to Kim) is through the backdoor. The US and other concerned world leaders should sell the idea to the people of the North that ridding themselves of Kim might be best for everyone A reunification of North and South Korea would result in the reunion of families separated in the divided country. The best example of this constructive change is the reunification of East and West Germany. The problem, however, is that mental barrier Pyongyang imbued in the North Koreans is harder to crack than the Berlin Wall which collapsed when East Berliners scaled and demolished the Wall with sledge hammers.

When reunited, East and West Germany proved to be an even more powerful economy in Europe. An East German named An-

gela Dorothea Merkel nee Kasner is still in power since taking over in 2005 from former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder German technology particularly in car-making provided jobs for the East Germans. Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi are made even better with East German skill through transfer of technology from the West Germans.

President Duterte wants to disengage from the European Union because he felt slighted by a small Euro group of parliamentarians (which EU disowned.) who criticized alleged extrajudicial killings in his virulent war on drugs. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano announced the Philippines will no longer accept loans and grants from the EU. Fine. But it seems to us such a waste that we cannot also avail of the transfer of technology from Europe. The Philippines is way behind Japan, South Korea, and even Thailand in car manufacturing.

Well-made Japanese and Korean brand cars are now popular with Americans.

Toyota,Honda, Hyundai and

Mazda have a big share of the US car market . Where do you think these Asian brand cars got to be where they are now? From Europe because the US fell behind.

But now because of Asian and European competition—Ford, Chrysler and Chevrolet—are building better cars and making a return to the Asian market, including the Philippines.

The morale of the story is not to limit our foreign relations. There’s much more to be learned from other nations if only we open our eyes to a wider horizon.

Take the Philippines’ ménage a trois with China and Russia; these two powerful countries despite diametrically opposed ideologies with the US and the EU do not sever ties with them.

They know better that nations are interdependent and it’s a multilateral world out there. We have to play the global game instead of letting the big boys play us.

On a related note, the European Council which handles EU administrative matters said on Tuesday that a deal, or no deal with the UK or Brexit not happening at all in 2019 are all in the realm of the possible.

BSP’s new mantra: FINfrastructure five years. Of the infra projects, 75 have been identified as priority. Yet, only three of those 75 have the best chance of completion during the remaining five years of President Duterte. Why? Lack of money. Plenty of money.

Without that money, the infra program runs the risk of being a victim of a four-letter word that starts with the letter f. F---.

Thankfully, Governor Espenilla has another f in mind—the financial sector.

Finance sector infrastructure, specifically, access to credit and digital financial system.

At BSP, “our thrust is to ensure that the business and operating environment is sound and stable,” says Espenilla. “And that our policies and regulations encourage the build, build, build of a progressive and inclusive financial infrastructure.”

“We do not ourselves build the FINfrastructure,” clarifies the BSP governor. “Our task is to promote an environment for those that do… through implementation of rules and regulations, through the launching of initiatives, and through sound, prudent and progressive banking reforms.”

Espenilla says finfrastructure reforms “aim to enhance access to credit and other financial services, deepen local currency debt and foreign exchange markets, and digitalize our financial system.

These are strategic and complementary reforms that reinforce sustainable economic growth and push further our financial inclusion agenda.”

The governor talks of “virtual reach.” Examples:

• “We now allow third party retail outlets to function as cash agents as well as the implementation of reduced Know-Your-Customer (KYC) rules for certain low-risk accounts and the use of technology to comply with KYC requirements.”

• Efforts to build financial infrastructure and viable ecosystems to facilitate a more equitable allocation of credit.

In recent speeches, Espenilla sounded gung-ho about technology which he says has significantly changed the business of banking and finance. “Financial transactions can conveniently be made on the move, in the comfort of one’s home, using a smart phone. There is a shorter turnaround time for financial transactions.”

“Retail financial services are further being digitized via mobile wallets, payment applications, robo-advisors, equity crowd-funding platforms for access to private and alternative investment opportunities, and online lending platforms.”

“These breakthroughs are revolutionizing the financial landscape. Sound FINfrastructure is needed to support it, the governor says.

The BSP is leading banking’s initiatives to operationalize the National Retail Payment System to enable customers to make payments and transfer funds between and among accounts using any digital device.

“The goal is transition into a cash-lite economy,” Espenilla says.

There is progress.

First, with the establishment of the payment system

management body, incorporated as Philippine Payments Management, Inc., there is now an organized governance structure of retail payment systems in the country. BSP is also currently working with the industry on the formation of two priority Automated Clearing Houses (ACHs), the Batch Credit Push EFT (called PesoNet), and the Real-time EFT Credit (called InstaPay). The PesoNet is set to launch on Nov. 8, 2017.

Fintech has risks. Accordingly, “the BSP follows a test-and-learn approach that allows an enabling environment for new collaborations to prosper. We encourage bank and non-bank partnerships with fintech startups to maximize the benefits of innovative digital platforms, efficiency of gains, and cost savings,” says Espenilla.

Also, “new entrants may cause disruptions in the financial ecosystem since traditional players may be unable to immediately respond to increasing competition, he adds. Hence, we monitor fintech activities to better understand their business models, processes and systems.”

The BSP has enhanced existing regulations to ensure that non-banks such as pawnshops and money service businesses are properly supervised as they compete in delivering bank-like services. Relatedly, “we regulate entities that use virtual currency as underlying instruments for remittance,” says Espenilla.

The BSP is enhancing its information security framework to consider cybersecurity controls.

While the term, “financial

Infrastructure” refers broadly to a system that allows for the effective operation of financial intermediaries, encompassing even the legal and regulatory framework, Espenilla thinks of FINfrastructure as one that addresses the very heart of why infrastructure exists: to connect people, to enable inclusion and to provide a network for more Filipinos to enjoy the benefits of economic progress and development.”

The governor wants to intercalate fintech into banking to promote financial inclusion to reach out to 80 percent of Filipinos who are unbanked and small and medium industries who lack capital but only 10 percent of whose capital needs are met by banks, despite the fact that MSMEs are 99 percent of all registered enterprises, provide 61.6 percent of the jobs, and sadly, contribute only 35.7 percent to national economic output or the Gross Domestic Product. Only 6.1 percent of total bank loans go to MSMEs. Technology, however, is as simple as using the Internet.

Addressing La Salle students this week, Chinese techno billionaire Jack Ma noted that “1.8-billion people in the world are using Internet. In 10 years (it) should have five to six billion people in Asia we have the Internet.”

Jack arrived late Oct. 24 in Manila. “I tried to test the speed of Philippine (Internet),” he related. “It’s no good,” he exclaimed to the guffaws of his audience.

Our internet, indeed, is f*cked up.

on” from the home. It was the same with relations: Infidelity brought one low in the esteem of others, and abandoning one’s family was hardly ever a pardonable offense. Friendships were treasured and while new friends could always be made, folk wisdom was expressed in the rhyme: “Make new friends, but keep the old/ One is silver, the other, gold.”

Sentiment was definitely at work—but who ever said that there is something amiss with that? In some cultures, the bereaved put stones on the graves of their loved ones “so that the

sentiments may stay as firm as rock and not be blown off with the wind.” It is one thing to be “affected,” to be “emotional,” and quite another to engage perversely in a cult of the emotions.

To cry in anguish when someone we love leaves us—that is part of what it is to be human.

To trigger emotions so that one may take delight in their changing hues, that is perverse. But what has gone wrong is that in trying to avoid the latter, we have also smothered our capacity for the former.

No, there are some things from which we must not move on. While futurity is the mark of the human spirit, rootedness is as much a distinctive trait of being human. Plants

have roots, but only human persons root themselves by a thoughtful, sentimental appropriation and recovery of the past. When a pet dog dies, do not go shopping for a new puppy. One must grieve the death of a loved pet and not, in shallowness, distract oneself by “replacing” what really cannot be replaced. When one has just buried a loved one, it is the most thoughtless thing to purchase a ticket for a world tour in the hope of getting rid of the pal of gloom. This is not relishing the grief; it is grieving as one treasures the memories of a beautiful past.

One should never delude oneself into believing that a friend lost can be replaced by others.

Functions can be performed by others with the same competence, but friends cannot be replaced. One cannot and should not move on—away from genuine friendships.

It is a runaway world we are in, and the speed is increasing dizzyingly. “Stop the world, I want to get off”—that was popular decades ago, but it voices an existential ennui that comes with a lack of rootedness. We can in fact apply the brakes. We can slow things down by holding on to things that we treasure, by keeping the loves that make our lives fuller and that bring fullness to others’ lives, by treasuring the memories of those who leave us—staying by their graves, or

holding on to what they leave behind, resisting the temptation to “move on” to the next exhilarating experience and preferring to savor the depth of what can remain amid the flux.

Now we understand why Aristotle and the Scholastic philosophers thought of eternity in terms of the immutable. They were not dim witted after all.

They had an insight into what makes of persons who matter to us, or relations that make us, always things of beauty, “everlasting, ever ancient, ever new”!

charges, based on the same affidavit, hurled against Jed Patrick Mabilog, the mayor (on indefinite leave) of Iloilo City. Mabilog has been ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman for “serious dishonesty,” after he failed to explain a

significant increase in his net worth.

Even Manuel “Boy” Mejorada, who filed the original charge against Mabilog in 2015, expressed surprise that the mayor was given the maximum penalty of dismissal and a permanent

prohibition from holding public office. “I am happy because this decision is a vindication for me [but] also saddened because the penalty imposed is the harshest under the law,” Mejorada said.

But I understand per-

fectly why the LP defended Drilon and Roxas but failed to even mention Mabilog, who happens to be a relation of Drilon. Mabilog, after all, has been ousted by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, long known for her passion for defend-

ing members of the party.

Mabilog had to be thrown under the bus to save Drilon and Roxas. Mabilog has also effectively abandoned his post by going abroad and not returning—and now he’s probably never coming back.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla has coined a new word that blends the Duterte administration’s focus on infrastructure and the monetary authority’s thrust of financial inclusion: FINfrastructure.

It will open up credit to more people, reach out to 80-million Filipinos not served by banks, and help 99 percent of all enterprises, the small and medium industries.

“It’s original !” the BSP chief says of finfrastructure. “I Googled this and the search did not turn up any results.”

Actually, Google “finfrastructure” and the result is “infrastructure”, what defines as “the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, and power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.”

Espenilla merely prefixed one letter—f-- to the word and voila, he has a new mantra—FINfrastructure.

The “f” is supposed to stand for finance, which is what the government badly needs to push infrastructure.

“Infrastructure development is all about building networks of viable, productive and meaningful connections. The goal of having sound and reliable infrastructure is to include more and more people into development,” explains Espenilla.

The Duterte administration says it needs $160 billion for infrastructure over the next

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News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017 A6 Standard Manila

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Du30 to appoint retired AFP chief Año

By John Paolo Bencito

T

HE just-retired Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año would still be appointed as the next Interior secretary, President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday, but would still be appointed as special assistant to the President or as an undersecretary, “whichever the law would allow.”

WOMEN LEGISLATORS. The Association of Women Legislators Foundation Inc., represented by its president, Deputy Speaker Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4th from the right), Reps. Sol Aragones (2nd from the right) and France Castro (5th from the right), handed over to the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care Inc. Tuesday a check donation amounting to P200,000. The turnover ceremony was held during a Breast Care Forum and Workshop sponsored by the AWLFI and House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, in partnership with the PFBCI, to mark the celebration of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. PFBCI chairman Malu Cortez and treasurer Lizette Lim received the donation on behalf of their Foundation.

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health

SPECIAL CENTRAL OFFICE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID PROCUREMENT OF AMBULANCE TYPE III ADVANCE LIFE SUPPORT VEHICLE 1.

The Department of Health (DOH), through the General Appropriations Act CY 2017 intends to apply the sum of Three Hundred Twenty Million Philippine Pesos (PhP320,000,000.00) for the project listed below. Bids received in excess of each ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening: Name of Contract

IB No.

ABC (PHP)

Cost of Bidding Documents (Php)

Largest Completed Contract Within the specified period in the Section III. Bid Data Sheet: a.

Procurement of Ambulance Type III Advance Life Support Vehicle

IB No. 2017325

320,000,000.00

50,000.00

b.

TOTAL

At least two (2) similar contracts for local and/ or international contracts and the aggregate contract amounts should be equivalent to at least fifty (50%) of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) within the specified period in the Section III. Bid Data Sheet; and The largest of these similar contracts must be equivalent to at least half of the fifty percent (50%) of the (ABC) as required.

320,000,000.00

2.

The DOH now invites Bids from eligible Bidders for the procurement of the above-caption projects. Delivery of the Goods as specified in Section VI. Schedule of Requirements.

Bidders should have completed, within the specified years from the date of submission and receipt of bids a contracts similar to each of the above-cited procurement projects stated in the Bidding Documents. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

4.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the COBAC Secretariat, G/F, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila and inspect the Bidding Documents at 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents for each procurement package listed above may be acquired by interested bidders on 27 October 2017 to 16 November 2017 from the address above and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB Resolution No. 04-2012, dated 24 February 2012, in the amount specified above.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders who are interested to participate shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

Bidding Documents Fee may be refunded in accordance with the aforementioned Guidelines based on the grounds provided for under Section 41 of 2016 Revised IRR of RA 9184.

6.

The DOH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference and the Submission and Opening of Bids at the COBAC Conference Room, G/F, Building 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila, which shall be opened to all interested parties on the schedule given below: Activity (Date & Time)

7.

IB No.

Name of Contract

IB No. 2017-325

Procurement of Ambulance Type III Advance Life Support Vehicle

Pre-bidding Conference

03 November 2017; 10:00 A.M.

Submission and Opening of Bids

16 November 2017; 09:00 A.M.

Bids must Bids must be delivered to the address stated below. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated below: Amount of Bid Security (Not less than the required percentage of the ABC)

Form of Bid Security

Cash, Cashier’s/manager’s check issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank.

Bank draft/guarantee or irrevocable letter of credit issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank: Provided, however, that it shall be confirmed or authenticated by a Universal or Commercial Bank, if issued by a foreign bank.

Surety bond callable upon demand issued by a surety or insurance company duly certified by the Insurance Commission as authorized to issue such security.

Bid Securing Declaration

Two percent (2%)

Five percent (5%)

No percentage required

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

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

9.

For further information, please refer to: Special COBAC Secretariat Department of Health San Lazaro Compound Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. Nos. 651-7800 local 1625 to 1627; 1650 to 52 Facsimile No.: 741-9775; 740-6830

(MS-OCT. 27, 2017)

(SGD.) MARIO C. VILLAVERDE, MD, MPM, CESO I Undersecretary of Health Chairperson, Special COBAC

“But while he is prohibited from assuming the task for one year, that is the law … either he takes the title of special assistant to the President or the Undersecretary, whichever is tenable legally,” Duterte said in a speech at Camp Aguinaldo.

“General Año, you are always welcome to report maybe tomorrow, I will wait for you,” he said.

Duterte said Año would soon supervise the Philippine National Police with Cuy,” he said, referring to Department of the Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Undersecretary Catalino Cuy. Acknowledging prohibi-

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Please be informed that the following accountable forms of INVESTORS ASSURANCE CORPORATION (IAC) have been lost: TYPE OF POLICY

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Should you have any of the foregoing IAC forms in your possession, please coordinate with our office immediately and bring the said form/s to our office within thirty (30) days from the date of this publication, for possible replacement of the form/s or reimbursement of payments, if warranted. IAC reserves the right to require presentation of other adequate proof of issuance and/or payment in addition to the presentation of the original form/s.

INVESTORS ASSURANCE CORPORATION Unit 1, 20th Floor, 8737 BDO Plaza, Paseo de Roxas Ave., Makati Avenue, Makati City 1200 Tel Nos.: (632) 822-4000 / 822-5000 / 891-0994 / 891-0996 / 891-0976 (MS-OCT. 27, 2017)

tions under the law, Duterte was referring to Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6975—An Act Establishing the Philippine National Police Under a Reorganized Department of the Interior and Local Government, and For Other Purposes that prohibits any retired police or military officer from being appointed as Interior chief within a year after retirement.

“The head of the Department, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, shall also be the ex-officio chairman of the National Police Commission and shall be appointed by the President subject to confirmation of the Commis-

sion on Appointments.

No retired or resigned military officer or police official may be appointed as secretary within one year from the date of his retirement or resignation,” it read.

In the same speech, Duterte lauded Año for his “distinguished” leadership of the Armed Forces since assumption of its top post in December which he said resulted in a “stronger” military.

“The crowning jewel of his impressive career is the battle for the liberation of Marawi which resulted in the neutralization of almost a thousand IS-inspired insurgents which include high-value targets being hunted around the world,” Duterte said.

Año, a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983, was replaced by Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, who took over the helm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as its 49th chief of staff.

10-year passports up starting January 2018

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan advances and world standards, STARTING next Jan. 1, the Department of Foreign Affairs will issue and implement the 10-year validity of the Philippine passports, in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s executive order on the period of extension.

Department Order No, 0102017 issued by the DFA, or the implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10938 (2017), also known as “An Act Extending the Validity of Philippine Passport,” said the rules remained except for the 10-year validity passport.

The DFA said the 10-year validity passport would cost P950, which is the current price of a five-year passport.

“However, in accordance with the DFA’s mandate to improve the passport processing system to make it seamless, convenient and pro-people, and to ensure that the production and security of passports are at par with technological

additional fees may be imposed in the future for passports that will have enhanced features,” the DFA stated.

The changes in the IRR will be for those Filipinos with age of 18 years old and above, shall apply for the 10-year validity passport; while those individuals under 18 years old are not required to avail themselves of the 10-year passbook and can be issued a fiveyear validity instead.

DFA Office for Public Diplomacy acting director Geronimo Suliguin said those whose passport had yet to expire could still use the old passports.

“As long as the passport being held is still valid, there’s no need to renew unless you feel that you want to have the new 10-year valid passport immediately for whatever reason,” he adeed.

The DFA noted that it undertook extensive consultations with Congress and other stakeholders before the IRR was issued.

Voters’ registration for synch polls starts November 6

By Vito Barcelo A MONTH-LONG registration of voters for the May 14, 2018 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will start on Nov. 6, 2017 and ends on Dec. 4, 2017, the Commission on Elections said.

In a statement, the registration will be done at the offices of Comelec election officers nationwide.

The activities during the registration period include the registration of new voters, reactivation of registration, transfer of registration, correction of entries or change of name, inclusion of registration records, and reinstatement of name in the List of Voters.

According to the Comelec, any Filipino citizen may register as a voter for the barangay and SK elections, based on the following qualifications: at least 18 years of age, and at least 15 years of age for SK, actually residing in the barangay for at least six months on election day; not otherwise disqualified by law.

“Any person who, on the day of his application for registration, may not have reached the required age or period of residence but who, on May 14, 2018, shall possess such qualifications, may register as a voter,” the Comelec said.

The registrant should bring to the Comelec office any valid government IDs. “In the absence of any identification documents, the applicant may be identified under oath by any registered voter of the precinct, or by any of his relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity who are registered voters of the same city/municipality,” the Comelec said.

INC readies outreach program IN CELEBRATION of the 62nd birthday of Iglesia Ni Cristo Executive Minister Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo on Oct. 31, the Church will conduct its largest and widest-reaching Lingap sa Mamamayan socio-civic program in the history of the Church.

The simultaneous holding of free medical and dental services and the distribution of “goodie bags” which include home essentials, medicines and basic goods will be held on Oct. 29 at two sites in Metro Manila as well as in 104 other areas nationwide and abroad, INC said in a press release.

INC’s Lingap sa Mamamayan initiative aims to provide livelihood and assistance programs to needy but deserving communities.

The first site in Metro Manila will be in Barangay Maharlika in Taguig City, and will include at least 30 doctors and 15 dentists ready to treat an estimated 5,000 patients.

More than 100,000 goodie bags are expected to be distributed.

The second Metro Manila location will be in Barangay Culiat in Quezon City, with at least 10 doctors and eight dentists on standby for about 1,500 patients, in addition to 5,000 goodie bags that are ready for distribution, INC said.

The 104 areas nationwide will include 65 in Luzon, 17 in Visayas and 22 in Mindanao. Overall, approximately 400,000 goodie bags have been prepared for this historic outreach activity.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports Mabuhay Miles golf set Nov. 14 THE Mabuhay Miles Elite Invitational Golf Tournament marks its silver edition this Nov. 14 at the Orchard Golf and Country Club with exciting prizes and surprises for participants.

Golfers among PAL’s Mabuhay Miles Elite, Premier Elite members and Million Milers will pit skills taming the 36-hole Orchard golf course in Dasmarinas, Cavite, for trophies and miles (that can be converted to award tickets) under nine categories—Class A, B, C, D, Ladies, Seniors, Guest, Lowest Gross and Overall Net Champions.

The 25-year-old tournament is attracting participants from as far as Cebu, Davao, General Santos and the US. The world-class Orchard offers two 18-hole courses—Palmer (designed by Arnold Palmer) and Player (designed by Gary Player).

The one-day tournament will be an 18-hole stroke play event played in accordance with the Rules of Golf defined by the Royal and Ancient Golf of St. Andrews and the Local Rules of Orchard Golf Club.

Golfers are divided according to their handicaps.

Last year’s winners include Jenz Vincent Tecson, Bernabe Punsalan, Louis Bartolome Borja, Joseph Owen Fulo, Elson Jose Dagondon, Emeterio Dikitanan, Christine Marie Valdehueza, Tranquilino Magpantay, Rodrigo Perez and Vicente Solon.

A7

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Game-changer of a win hailed

L

OS ANGELES—Houston Astros star pitcher Justin Verlander believes his team may have landed a game-changing blow on the feared Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen with Wednesday’s stunning game two World Series win.

Verlander had pitched brilliantly through the early innings before being hit for two Dodgers home runs which saw the hosts take a 3-1 lead.

The story of this sea-

son has been the Dodgers’ bullpen’s ability to close out games once their noses are in front.

But Verlander said he had told his Astros teammates in a defiant dugout

rallying cry that they were still in the game.

“You see ever yone saying how great this Dodger bullpen is and how our offense hasn’t been going,” Verlander said.

“It’s so easy to say man, that, we’re probably not going to win this game, down two against one of the best bullpens in baseball.

“I just wanted to really remind these guys how great they are...remember how good you are and just

play the game. It’s only two runs.”

Verlander’s pep talk did the trick as the Astros had turned a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 lead after the 10th inning.

Although the Dodgers rallied to level at 5-5, George Springer’s two-run homer in the 11th proved decisive.

It was a chastening defeat for the Dodgers pitching unit. Manager Dave Roberts used nine pitchers throughout the game, but was ultimately unable

George Springer (4) of the Houston Astros celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the 11th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. AFP

of the two-division event, each hoping to keep the host’s winning mark in the Group 4 ITF (International Tennis Federation) 18-and-under event where Khim Iglupas reigned in the girls category in Week 2 of the annual championship last year.

But the Iligan City ace, now 19, won’t be around this year, leaving the cudgels to the local boys and

a bunch of rising stars in the girls ranks, headed by Shaira Rivera, Rafaella Villanueva, Melanie Dizon, Bea Acena, Renee Acena, Tracy Llamas Julia Ignacio, Raiana Aquino, Gennifer Pagente and Gabrielle Zoleta.

But while top seed Otico, No. 9 Pantino and No. 19 Eala have assured themselves of spots in the main draw, Rivera, Villannueva

and the rest will have to go through the qualifiers to gain spots in the tournament proper of the event sponsored by the Philippine Investment Management Consultants (Phinma) and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta).

Week I will be played on Nov. 14-19 with the qualifying round for boys and girls slated

Nov. 12-13. Sign-in deadline for Week I is on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. at the MPC tennis courts, according to tournament director Chris Cuarto with Malaysian Razmee Rawi as the tournament referee.

Week 2 will be held on Nov. 21-26 with the twoday elims slated on Nov. 19-20 and the sign-in deadline set on Nov. 13 at 6 p.m., also at the MPC.

DIMITY Lee Duke takes another crack at the jewel she missed to keep the last time out as she gears up for the Bellevue Resort 5i50 Triathlon unfolding Nov. 5 at the Bellevue Resort in Panglao Island, Bohol.

The Aussie ace said she can’t wait to race again in what she described as a “boutique location” where she hopes to atone for her setback to compatriot Amelia Watkinson in the 1.5k swim, 40k bike and 10k run Duke event last year.

“I’m looking forward to racing in such an iconic location showcasing what the Philippines has to offer,” said Duke of the world-class resort which boasts of natural wonders and attractions as well as artistic, cultural and historical treasures.

Panglao Island has also become a haven for weekend travelers and city folk looking for rest and relaxation.

“It’s a boutique location with a beautiful beach and a wonderful local community, making it a highlight in my racing calendar,” added Duke, who primed herself up for the event organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. and backed by title sponsor The Bellevue Re-

PH’s Rivera, Anton seeking hat-trick in Asian Gymkhana

By Nathanielle Punay A COUPLE of months fresh from their recent victory in Korea, the Philippine Team of decorated race car driver Milo Rivera and multi-titled veteran Carlos Anton aim to triple their success as they fly to Taoyuan, Taiwan this Oct. 28 and 29 for the 3rd Round of the FIA Asia Auto Gymkhana Competition.

The said race will once again be participated by 32 of the continent’s best Slalom/Gymkhana drivers, with the Philippines regarded as one of the teams to beat, alongside powerhouse Japan behind Tetsuya Yamano and Masaki Nishihara, South East Asian rivals Indonesia behind Indonesian no. 1, Demas Agil Ramadani, and hosts Taiwan.

at home. These guys play so well at home. For everything to be going right for the Dodgers tonight, late into their bullpen and for us to come back and win that game, that’s a gamechanger.”

Verlander meanwhile was left struggling to process the epic battle.

“I’ve been part of some pretty exciting games... this is an instant classic, and to be able to be part of it is pretty special,” he said. AFP

Redemption is Duke’s battle-cry in 5i50 tilt

Top, rising jr stars gear up for 2-week Phinma netfest

TOP and rising junior tennis players gear up for a two-week battle of power and wits as they slug it for top honors and ranking points in the 2017 PhinmaPSC Juniors Tennis Championships at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park next month.

John Bryan Otico, Arthur Pantino and Michael Eala gained the top seeding in the boys’ side

to contain the big-hitting Astros offense, for whom Marwin Gonzalez, Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve all hit home runs.

Verlander, who is chasing his first World Series title in three appearances, said game two could turn out to be a “game-changer” for the rest of the series.

“It’s huge,” he told reporters. “I think the ability to win this game tonight, I mean you can’t quantify how much that means.

“I mean, we play so well

However, Rivera, who is currently the two-time defending individual champion, believes that there are no favorites nor underdogs in this competition.

“We have to put all our success behind us for now and start from square one.

I’m sure everyone is wellprepared and out there ready to take the crown away from us. But we will make sure that we will not disappoint our country,” said the reigning four-time National Slalom Champion, who is backed by Federal Tires, United Auctioneers Inc., Blade Auto Center, AutoPerformancePH, and Placewell International Services Corp.

Aside from the individual plum, which Rivera aims to defend for a third straight time, he, along with teammate Anton will, too, defend

their team crowns.

“As always, we’re coming in prepared but we can never be too confident given the success we’ve had.

I’m sure Milo and I will be ready to give the country glory once again, but we’ll leave it all to God to decide the outcome,” said the Yokohama, Castrol, and Mark Young Cars-backed Anton who’s been a regular name in the Asian Gymkhana tourney.

The Philippine contingent will be well-presented in Taiwan as the two drivers are accompanied by delegates from the Automobile Association Philippines, the country’s governing body for four-wheel motorsports.

The delegation will be composed of Lito and Bing Bang Dulce, Chairman and President of RACE Motorsports Club National Sla-

CEU, San Beda to defend titles

The PH duo of Milo Rivera (left) and Carlos Anton are teaming up once again to defend their title for a third straight time in the Taiwan Round of the 2017 FIA Asia Auto Gymkhana Competition (Bong Boado)

lom Racing; head coach, 10-time National Rally Champion Vip Isada; and AAP Media representative Ramon Boado.

“This event will be another major milestone this 2017 for Philippine Motorsports and we at the AAP

firmly believe that our country can retain the title for a third straight time under Milo and Carlos, God-willingly,” said Mark Anthony Desales, the Motorsports Operations Manager of the AAP. The Philippine team will

fly out of Manila today before attending press conferences and ceremonies upon their arrival in Taiwan.

The qualifying stages will be held on Oct. 28, while the actual knockout phases will commence on the 29th.

Premier Volley League stars collide in All-Star Sunday on ABS-CBN S+A THE Premier Volleyball League wraps up a triumphant inaugural season on ABS-CBN S+A with an “All Star Sunday” on Oct. 29 featuring the finest PVL stars led by the likes of 2017 Open Conference MVP Myla Pablo and 2017 Open Conference Best Setter Jia Morado in the women’s division, and 2017 Collegiate Conference MVP Marck Espejo and 2017 Open Conference MVP Lorenzo Capate in the men’s division.

Volleyball fans can catch the action from the FilOil Flying V Centre

in San Juan live on premiervolleyballleague.com starting at 4 p.m.

The women’s exhibition match goes live on ABS-CBN S+A and S+A HD at 6 p.m., while the men’s All-Star game will be telecast on Monday (October 30) at 4 p.m.

The Women’s Division will be split into two teams, with BaliPure Water Defenders head coach Roger Gorayeb taking the coaching duties for Red Team while Rico De Guzman of Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors will serve as White Team’s coach for the Sunday spectacle.

sort by winning the Regent 5150 in Subic recently.

But she faces an uphill battle against a crack international field, led by Aussie Kerry Morris, third placer in this year’s Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines, with American Laurel Wassner also tipped to vie for crown and the top $2,000 purse in the event presented by the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines.

For details, visit www. bellevue.5150philippines. com.

Top triathletes from 23 countries are competing in the event sponsored by venue hosts Province of Bohol and The Bellevue Resort, Municipalities of Panglao and Dauis, 2GO Express, Powerade and Wilkins Pure, TYR, David’s Salon, Gu, Intercare and Pioneer, The Philippine Star, Trilife, Asiatri. com and Finisherpix.

Aside from the Olympicdistance race, SEI will also hold the Sunrise Sprint, a short distance race series and a sub-category of The Bellevue 5i50 featuring a 750m swim, a 20k bike and a 5k run also for the second time in Bohol.

Grethcel Soltones (BaliPure), Jerrili Malabanan (BaliPure/FEU), Diana Carlos (UP), Ces Racraquin (Creamline/SBC), Risa Sato (BaliPure/NU), Kathy Bersola (Banko Perlas), Jasmine Nabor (BaliPure/ NU), Jem Ferrer (Banko Perlas), Aiko Urdas (BaliPure/NU), Amy Ahomiro (Banko Perlas), and Alyssa Eroa (BaliPure) will be making up Gorayeb’s Red Team.

Meanwhile, Pablo (Pocari Sweat), Morado (Creamline), Isa Molde (UP), Nicole Tiamzon (Banko Perlas), Joy Cases (PAF), Jeanette Panaga (Pocari

Sweat), Pau Soriano (Creamline), Bea De Leon (ADMU), Gyzelle Sy (Pocari Sweat), Suzanne Roces (Banko Perlas), and Melissa Gohing (Pocari Sweat) will be De Guzman’s wards for White Team.

On the men’s side, the players are split between Coach Oliver Almadro’s Blue Team and Vhyl Verayo’s Yellow Team. Espejo (Ateneo) is joined in the Blue team by Mark Alfafara (Cignal), Capate (Cignal), Jayvee Sumagaysay (Phil. Army/ UST), Rex Intal (Cignal), Peter Torres (Cignal), Ish Polvorosa (Ateneo),

Timothy Tajanlangit (Phil. Army/ UST), James Natividad (NU), Ysay Marasigan (Cignal), Rence Melgar (IEM). Powering Yellow Team are Edwin Tolentino (Phil. Air Force), Fauzi, Ismail (PAF/ Megabuilders/ NU, Alnakran Abdilla (Phil. Air Force), Benjaylo Labide (Phil. Army), Kim Malabunga (PAF/ Megabuilders/NU), Francis Philip Saura (Magabuilders/NU), Vince Mangulabnan (Cignal), Nico Ramirez (Sta. Elena), Berlin Paglinawan (Sta. Elena), Rudolfo Labrador (PAF), and Sandy Montero (Cignal).

THE stage is set for the championship stage of the 48th Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball and volleyball tournaments this Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Six-time basketball defending champion Centro Escolar University will have a twice-to-beat edge against Philippine Women’s University in the seniors finals by virtue of its four-game sweep of the elimination round. The rematch between last year’s protagonists is set at 5 p.m.

CEU made the finals outright while PWU advanced after a 78-59 win over rookie team University of Makati in the semifinals.

The best-of-three juniors finals will also be a rematch pitting two-time defending champion Chiang Kai Shek College and De La Salle Zobel. Game 1 starts at 3:30 p.m.

CKSC beat La Salle College Antipolo, 83-69, while DLSZ trounced San Beda College Alabang, 79-24, in the Final Four.

St. Paul College Pasig and Miriam College finished on top of the tworound midgets preliminaries at 7-1 and will face off for the championship.

Game 1 of the best-of-three series will begin at 2 p.m.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Sports

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

A8

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

Lakers shut down Wizards LOS ANGELES—Lonzo Ball and the Los Angeles Lakers had the last word on John Wall and visiting Washington after days of NBA trash talk, prevailing 102-99 in overtime Wednesday.

Brandon Ingram scored 19 points, Larry Nance Jnr added 18 and each grabbed 10 rebounds while teen rookie guard Ball had six points, eight rebounds and 10 assists to spark the Lakers.

The Wizards missed out on their first 4-0 season start since 1978.

“We were a half-step slow all night,” said Wizards coach Scott Brooks. “The fourth quarter we were just standing around. They played better than us down the stretch.

They made big shots. They deserved to win.”

Lavar Ball, Lonzo’s famously outspoken father, began the verbal fireworks after a Sunday loss to New Orleans, saying of the Wizards, “They better beware. Because Lonzo ain’t losing again. Not in the same week.”

Wizards center Marcin Gortat tweeted in response that “JohnWall will torture (Ball) for 48 minutes.”

Wall vowed “no mercy” to the Washington Post and added, “His dad has been talking... that makes me want to go out there and lead my team and play the best I can play.”

It didn’t work out that way. Wall had 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting with nine assists, missed a tying 3-point attempt at the final buzzer and lost the ball out of bounds on a drive to the hoop late in overtime, his appeal for a foul unrewarded.

“A lot of contact. I thought I got fouled,” Wall said. “We’ve got to learn how to close them out. We had the game in our hand.”

LaVar Ball praised his son’s performance despite Wall producing more points. AFP

Uytengsu blasts looming trade ALASKA Aces team owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu questioned the potential trade between Kia and San Miguel Beer that could send consensus first overall pick Christian Standhardinger to powerhouse San Miguel Beer.

“The purpose of the draft is to strengthen the weaker teams. However, what we have seen lately is these weaker teams end up selling their top draft picks because if you look at who is being traded in return, it clearly doesn’t make basketball sense for the weaker teams, unless there is other consideration,” said Uytengsu.

“There is already a lot of talk about Kia benefitting financially if this trade were to go through and you have to wonder if they are even making the league minimum salary cap.”

Another concern Uytengsu expressed was league balance and salary cap compliance. He noted that SMB and Barangay Ginebra are stacked with high picks which came to them through curious trades. SMB’s starting five is: June Mar Fajardo (No. 1 pick), Arwind Santos (No. 2 pick), Alex Cabagnot (No. 2 pick), Chris Ross (No. 3 pick) and Marcio Lassiter (No. 4 pick).

Los Angeles Lakers rookie guard Lonzo Ball (2) glides to the basket against the Washington Wizards on October 25, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Ginebra, Meralco chase Governors Cup crown

Taguinod continues medal harvest

By Jeric Lopez

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur—Swimmers Jalil Taguinod and Samantha Therese Coronel again made waves in the pool to emerge as prime candidates to become the most bemedalled athletes in the Luzon Leg of Philippine Sports Commission’s Batang Pinoy here.

Taguinod, an 11-year-old prospect out of Santiago City, Isabela, dominated his favorite event—the boys’ 12-under 200-meter breaststroke—to bring his gold medal haul to four.

Playing in her final year in Batang Pinoy, Makati City’s Coronel topped the 15-years under 100-meter backstroke with the best time of 1 minute and 6.58 seconds and the 50m butterfly (30.27) to also bring her gold production to four.

The 15-year-old Grade 10 student at the Colegio de San Agustin also won the 200-meter backstroke and the 50m backstroke on the first and second day, respectively, of the swimming competition.

Taguinod, who towers over his opponents with his 5-foot-8 frame at a young age of 11, earlier grabbed the gold in the boys’ 12-under 50-meter breaststroke, 12-under 200m individual medley and boys’ 12-under 50m backstroke (32.92).

“Pangarap ko po talagang masuot ang uniform ng Pilipinas sa international competitions kaya tuloy tuloy na po ito,” said the 6th grader at the Infant Jesus Montessori School in Santiago, Isabela.

He idolizes multi-title Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and will have his first international stint when he competes in the Southeast Asian Agegroup Championship in Brunei in November.

W

HO will bring home the bacon?

It all boils down to one single game now as Barangay Ginebra and Meralco go to war one last time in their most important game of the season as they dispute the championship in Game 7 of their grueling best-of-seven finals in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. After six highly-competitive games, the only one that matters now is the winner-take-all rubber match scheduled at 7 p.m. tonight at the gigantic Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan

with one of the protagonists being crowned champion.

Will it be a repeat for the Gin Kings or will the Bolts finally breakthrough and win their first championship as a franchise?

Obviously, both teams have opposite sentiments.

Defending champion Ginebra aims to bounce back after blowing its first chance of keeping its title.

“We’re moving on to Game 7 now. This is what everybody wanted to happen,” said Gin Kings coach Tim Cone. “We hope we’ve learned our lesson and win the championship this time around.”

“Our focus is to bring home the trophy and defend the crown,” said Ginebra import Justin Brownlee. “I think we’re going to be prepared. We’re going to come out with great energy and aggression and we will be

ready to defend the crown.”

With more confidence than ever, Meralco’s goal is to finally get over the hump and hoist a championship trophy after six years in the league.

“Our goal is always to win the championship and for the first time for Meralco, this is that chance and we’re hoping we can finally get it,” said Bolts coach Norman Black.

“Chance na namin ito.

Hindi natin alam kailan ulit mag-finals ang Meralco kaya sana makuha na namin,” said Meralco veteran Reynel Hugnatan, who has been outstanding the entire finals for the Bolts.

On the brink of elimination, Meralco, unlike last season, stepped up to the plate this time around, taking Game 6, 98-91, Wednesday night in front of an all-time PBA record crowd of 56,342 to force Game 7 and give itself its first chance of capturing a championship.

An even bigger crowd is expected for Game 7 as the two squads fight tooth-andnail all for the sake of glory.

Hugnatan once again came up huge in Game 6, scoring 24 points off the bench to spark the Bolts and give the Gin Kings all sorts of problems with his veteran tricks.

ONE title contender balances life as college student IN a typical Filipino household, parents encourage their children to exert effort in their studies to have good grades on their report cards in order to eventually have a bright future.

When parents talk of a “bright future,” they refer to white-collared professions like donning a white medical gown with a stethoscope in hand, wearing a business suit in a corporate setting, or holding a blueprint on a high-rise site with a hard hat.

The story mood takes a dismally sharp turn when a child opts to instead wear four-ounce gloves to compete in three to fiveround bouts for cold cash.

Homegrown Filipino talent Danny “The King” Kingad is bent on breaking the stereotype

to prove that not all professional competitors fit into this erroneous category.

Team Lakay’s Kingad, who takes up a bachelor’s degree in education at the University of the Cordilleras, has pursued his dream to be a mixed martial arts athlete while diligently working on his homework to get a college diploma.

Similar to a comic-book superhero with two different lives, Kingad wears his school uniform in the morning with his books.

Meanwhile, he puts on his training clothes to hit some punch mitts and kick pads in the afternoon.

Kingad admitted that it is not easy balancing his time between mixed martial arts and his studies, but he is prepared to do what it takes for his passion.

“I am still studying, but

I learned how to manage my time with the help of my coaches and senior teammates,” he stated. “I love this sport. I love to compete because this is my passion.”

Kingad is still a secondyear Physical Education major as he had to minimize his units per semester to properly manage his professional career and his studies.

At age 22, Kingad has reaped dividends from his sacrifice as his name is starting to get recognized in the world of mixed martial arts.

A true warrior from the mountains of the Philippines and one of the top prospects to come out of Baguio City with an immaculate record of 5-0, Kingad is a tremendous striker who possesses well-rounded

Filipino MMA fighter Danny Kingad listens intently to instructions just before his ONE Championship fight inside the cage. ONE Championship

grappling skills.

Due to his outstanding run in local promotions, ONE Championship noticed King-

NU Bullpups gore Patriots, 91-69

By Peter Atencio THE National University Bullpups-B relied on their twin towers Carl Tamayo Kevin Quiambao in repulsing the Manila Patriotic School Patriots, 91-69, Sunday to claim the junior division honors of the 15th Fr. Martin Cup Division 2 basketball tournament at the at the St. Placid gymnasium inside San Beda-Manila campus in Mendiola.

The six-foot-six

Quiambao and James Pradella made 23 and 17 points while 6’7” Tamayo added 12 for the Bullpups, who have so far won titles in two of three finals appearances since last year in this cagefest supported by Slick Tight Hair Pomade.

Dominic Dayrit contributed 10 points, and he made all of it in the first period.

With the Patriots held to 10 points in the first 10 minutes of play, the Bullpups went on to

post a 22-10 advantage in the first period.

Quiambao, a transferee from Lyceum-Batangas, took charge in the shaded lane in the first half with Tamayo.

Tamayo, who just moved in from Adamson University, made eight points in the second period, and his efforts with Quiambao underneath helped the Bullpups move further ahead, 4529, at halftime.

Shawn Michael Umali banged in a game-

high 18 points for the Patriots.

“We started strong and we were consistent the whole game,” said new Bullpups coach Goldwin Monteverde, who recently transferred from the Adamson Baby Falcons.

Members of the the Bullpups’ team B are part of their developmental pool, and will most of them won’t be playing for the coming 80th UAAP junior basketball season.

ad and gave him a spot on the undercard of ONE: GLOBAL RIVALS in Manila in April 2016.

By Randy Caluag

SSC Stags battle JRU Bombers at start of NCAA Final Four MICHAEL Calisaan “I’m excited to play Games today seeks to ride the crest my first game in the Fi(MOA Arena, Pasay) of his best performance 11 a.m.- San Beda vs CSB (jrs semis) nal Four,” said Calisaan as a college player as he 1 p.m.- Mapua vs Letran (jrs semis) in Filipino.

3:30 p.m.- San Sebastian and the San Sebastian Jose Rizal, which is vs Jose Rizal (srs) Stags clash with the Jose making a Final Four reRizal Bombers today for turn after missing the cut a chance to remain in the title hunt in the last year, though should come in as the 93rd NCAA basketball tournament at the heavy favorites as it swept San Sebastian MOA Arena in Pasay City. in the elimination round, 73-62 in the Calisaan should be coming in con- first and the 60-58 in the second. fident after dropping a career high Bombers coach Vergel Meneses, 36-point effort in a 74-69 victory however, said its back to zero. over the Letran Knights Tuesday that “I’ve been in basketball for so secured the Stags their first semis ap- long that anything can happen in a pearance since making it that far five playoff game. For us, we just have seasons ago. to be focused and ready for anyGame time is at 3:30 p.m. thing,” said Meneses.

PSE cancels follow-on offering B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

B1

BSP seen increasing rates to tame peso depreciation

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas may consider raising interest rates if the peso continues to weaken further against the US dollar, DBS Bank of Singapore said Thursday.

DBS said in a report the peso declined 3.9 percent against the dollar this year, making it the worst performing unit in the region.

“From an export competitiveness perspective, the central bank’s stance on the currency may make sense for now. Exports of manufactured goods have grown by more than 12 percent in the year-to-date, strong compared to the 1.8 percent posted in full-year 2016,” it said.

DBS said the weak peso might have slowed down the pace of investment growth.

MANILA WATER SERVICES OBANDO. Obando Water District signs a 25-year concession agreement with Manila Water through subsidiary Obando Water Company Inc. to enhance the quality of life of its customers in 11 barangays of Obando, Bulacan through the provision of improved water supply and used water services. Signing of the agreement are (from left) Obando Water District chairman Honorato Danilo Guevara, Manila Water Company Inc. president and chief executive Ferdinand Dela Cruz, Obando Water District general manager Leonardo Landayan, Manila Water Philippine Ventures president and chief executive Virgilio Rivera Jr. and Manila Water Philippine Ventures head of Bulacan regional business cluster Arnold Jether Mortera.

Imports of capital goods, for instance, grew just 3 percent so far this year, compared to 46.6 percent and 21.4 percent in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

DBS said it was interesting to see if the Bangko Sentral would maintain its stance going into 2018. The regulator has been holding rates steady throughout this year amid a rather soft inflation patch, especially in the mid-year.

A manageable inflation environment and robust domestic economic growth prompted the Monetary Board of Bangko Sentral to maintain the current policy settings steady in its meeting on Sept. 21, 2017.

It retained the interest rates at 3.5 percent for overnight lending, 3 percent for overnight borrowing and 2.5 percent for deposit facilities.

PLDT allots P11b for broadband

By Darwin G. Amojelar

P

LDT Inc. said Thursday it is spending P11 billion over the next two years to modernize its fixed and wireless networks to provide high-speed broadband internet.

“We are leveling up their broadband experience with the migration of our DSL customers to Fibr-fast connectivity. This

IN BRIEF FDA may cancel Sanofi’s license THE Food and Drug Administration recently penalized French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and drug and beauty chain Watsons Personal Care Philippines for allegedly promoting and advertising the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia illegally.

The FDA said this was a violation of Republic Act No. 9711, or the Food and Drug Act of 2009 and Administrative Order No. 65.

Section 2.3 of AO 65 provides that “No pharmaceutical product classified by BFAD as prescription or ethical drug shall be advertised or promoted in any form of mass media except through medical journal, publications and/or literature solely intended for medical and allied professions.”

Dengvaxia manufactured by Sanofi is classified as a prescription product.

FDA, on a decision dated Oct. 19, slapped both companies with a fine of P5,000.00.

Sanofi and Watsons were given a stern warning by FDA that future violations of FDA-implemented laws, rules and regulations would warrant stiffer sanctions, including the revocation of their license to operate/certificate of product registration, and the closure of their establishments.

will fortify the foundation of the SmartHome for the digitally savvy Filipino family,” PLDT first vice president and head of Home business Marco Borlongan.

“With our network modernization program, we are bringing the power of Fibr to every Filipino home so that our subscribers can better enjoy their digital lifestyle through access to world-class Internet,” he said.

PLDT Home will invest P11 billion in the next two years to provide subscribers with Fibr-

fast internet with the rollout of over one million ports nationwide that will upgrade the experience of over 1.3 million subscribers.

PLDT is expected to expand the FTTH coverage to about four million homes by the end of 2017.

The company is also deploying hybrid fiber technologies to allow existing customers to enjoy fiber-like speeds.

PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications already finished its LTE rollout in the country’s top urban hubs Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, in the island resort of Boracay and in Rizal province. It is currently underway in Metro Manila.

“By end-2018, over 90 percent of the country’s population will have Smart LTE coverage,” Os-

car Reyes Jr., PLDT and Smart Airport and Iloilo International bus terminals and thoroughfares, first vice president and head of Airport, Roxas Airport, Zambo- as well as other public areas consumer business for market anga Airport, Clark International across the country, including development said.

Airport, Dumaguete-Sibulan Air- popular entertainment venues “We are complementing this port, Laoag International Airport, and food parks which are turned LTE rollout with our deploy- General Santos International Air- into Smart spots. ment of ultra-fast Smart Wifi, port, Kalibo International Airport “This comprehensive network which registers over 100 Mbps and Puerto Princesa Airport. modernization and expansion [megabits per second] download Smart Wifi is also present in program is at the core of the and upload speed, and is now the sea ports of Batangas City PLDT group’s digital pivot,” available at key airports, other and Calapan in Mindoro, major Reyes said. transport hubs, popular food parks, bars and restauManila rants as part of our SMART Standard TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION TODAY 32nd Floor G. T. Tower International, Ayala Avenue corner Spots Program all over the H. V. dela Costa Street,Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City country,” he said.

Among the airports with STATEMENT OF CONDITION super speed Smart Wifi are As of September 30, 2017 Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Davao City’s FranASSETS cisco Bangoy International Airport, Laguindingan Air- Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas P 9,429,199,326 837,894,035 port in Misamis Oriental, Deposit in Banks 425,000,000 Bacolod-Silay International GS Purchased Under Reverse Repurchase Agreement with BSP GS Purchased Under RRA Sold Under Resale Agreement Loans and Receivables (Net) (Long-Term Portion of P 52,144,790,354) Available-for-Sale Securities (Net) Real Property, Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment (Net) Real and Other Properties Acquired (Net) Other Assets (Net) TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES Bills Payable Accrued Taxes and Other Expenses Deposit for Future Subscription Other Liabilities TOTAL LIABILITIES

MRC Allied ventures into solar rooftop LISTED MRC Allied Inc. ventured into solar rooftop projects and entered into negotiations to install the solar rooftop systems of XRC Mall Developer Inc. MRC Allied said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday the discussions focused on the development of solar rooftops in various malls owned by XRC. XRC is a domestic corporation engaged in the establishment and operation of Xentro Malls, a community-based mall located nationwide.

“This partnership with XRC will be another milestone for MRC as it diversifies into the renewable energy business,” MRC president and chief executive Gladys Nalda said.

“This will be a significant step toward our foray into the solar PV rooftop industry,” she said.

Nalda said the solar rooftop opportunities would help the company achieve its goal of building a renewable energy portfolio of 1,000 megawatts.

“It will also bring us closer to our goal of developing at least 1,000 megawatts of clean and renewable energy in five years,” Nalda said.

MRC recently acquired a 15-percent stake in the 50-MW solar project of Sulu Electric Power and Light Philippines Inc. in Leyte. Alena Mae S. Flores

ABS-CBN brings programs to Africa ABS-CBN Corpo. Said Thursday it signed a deal with StarTimes, the leading digital TV operator across Sub-Saharan Africa to air the network’s drama programs.

The partnership covers the airing of more ABS-CBN series in the region in response to African viewers’ demand for more Filipino dramas.

“Despite the highly competitive global market, Africa has remained to be one of our constant and strongest territories,” Maria Cecilia Imperial, ABS-CBN officercharge for integrated acquisitions and international sales and distribution.

“We look forward to an even wider presence for Filipino content in the region via the StarTimes platform,” she said.

ABS-CBN said it was looking forward to reach new audiences and touch the hearts of more African viewers through its heartfelt Filipino stories.

“Filipino stories are full of youthful romance, pure love, and also dramatic plots.

They show how the young Asian people struggle with lives and how to love,” StarTimes chairman Pang Xinxing said.

ABS-CBN International Distribution is a premier source of high-quality Filipino programming in over 50 territories all over the world and sold over 30,000 hours of content worldwide. Darwin G. Amojelar

P

0 53,664,041,161 0 1,200,000 115,670,977 148,878,958 2,793,890,749 67,415,775,206

P

P

57,815,291,734 504,640,456 2,574,451,634 60,894,383,824

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

ROKU-GLOBE PARTNERSHIP. Roku Inc. and Globe Telecom announce the signing of a Roku-powered licensing agreement allowing Globe to leverage Roku’s streaming platform including its operating system, channel store and streaming players to launch a new Globe Streamwatch device in the Philippines by November this year. Shown during the signing of the partnership are (from left) Globe senior vice president for content Nikko Acosta, Roku director for communications Mike Duin, Globe chief commercial officer Albert de Larrazabal, Roku director for partner management Andrew Bernard, Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu, Globe At Home senior vice president Martha Sazon and Roku Asia-Pacific advisor Brandon Amber.

Capital Stock Retained Earnings Sub - Total Less: Treasury Stock TOTAL CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

P

P

2,900,000,000 3,621,391,382 6,521,391,382 0 6,521,391,382

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

P

67,415,775,206

COMMITMENT AND OTHER CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS Other Contingent Accounts

SMDC eyes P6b in sales from Las Piñas project

By Jenniffer B. Austria SM Development Corp., the residential unit of property developer SM Prime Holdings Inc., said Thursday it expects to generate P6 billion in sales from the four-tower residential condominium project along AlabangZapote Road in Las Piñas City.

SMDC assistant vice president for project development Therese Sonsing-Fernando said in a news briefing the four-tower residential project called South Residences would have a total of 2,010 units, of which 60 percent were sold.

The units, comprising of one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, are being sold at an average price of P111,000 per square meter, or for P2.5 million to P3.8 million per unit.

Fernando said South Residences would be a part of an integrated lifestyle complex including the SM Southmall, two mid-rise office towers ca-

tering to the business process outsourcing companies and a 200,000 sqm. commercial space for retail, food and beverage establishments.

Fernando said the first two residential towers are ready for turnover the residential by first quarter 2018 while the last two towers were slated for completion by the second quarter of 2019.

Fernando said the completion of two BPO office buildings by end-2017 boosted sales of South Residences, providing potential buyers an option to lease out their units to BPO employees to generate rental income.

The BPO office buildings are expected to generate 3,000 to 4,000 jobs.

The property firm said buyers who would want to rent out their units may do so at monthly rates of P15,000 to P25,000, which could be sufficient to cover the monthly amortization for their units.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, October 26, 2017

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

1.000000

51.7180

Japan

Yen

0.008793

0.4548

UK

Pound

1.326600

68.6091

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128162

6.6283

Switzerland

Franc

1.010611

52.2668

Canada

Dollar

0.781616

40.4236

Singapore

Dollar

0.735186

38.0223

Australia

Dollar

0.770300

39.8384

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653928

137.2558

Saudi Arabia Rial

0.266660

13.7911

0.732493

Brunei

Dollar

Indonesia

Rupiah 0.000074

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

1.5573

UAE

Dirham 0.272272

14.0814

Euro

Euro

1.181400

61.0996

Korea

Won

0.000887

0.0459

China

Yuan

0.150602

7.7888

India

Rupee

0.015404

Malaysia

Ringgit 0.236183

0.030111

New Zealand Dollar

0.688500

Taiwan

0.033050

Dollar

37.8831

0.7967 12.2149 35.6078 1.7093 Source: PDS Bridge

P

Note: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

P

0

Held for Trading Securities comprise of Government Securities of P0 and Equity Securities - Common Shares of P0 Non-performing loans and ratio to total loan portfolio: P 901,419,508 ; 1.38% Classified loans and other risk assets: P 2,599,696,904 General loan loss reserve: P 626,000,675 Specific loan loss reserve: P 627,731,405 Return on equity (ROE): 9.48% DOSRI loans/advances and ratio to total loan portfolio: None Past due DOSRI loans/advances and ratio to total portfolio: None

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) We, Marlon M. Pernez,Vice-President-Comptroller and Atsushi Murakami, President of the above-mentioned NBQB, do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the statement of condition are true and correct to the best of our knowledge and belief.

(Sgd.) MARLON M. PERNEZ Vice-President-Comptroller

(Sgd.) ATSUSHI MURAKAMI President

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 19th day of October 2017, affiants exhibiting to me their SSS No. 03-9877612-7 and Passport No. TZ1056363 issued at Japan.

(Sgd.) TEODORO D. VILLAPEÑA, JR. Notary Public for Makati City Appointment No. M-427/until 31 Dec. 2017 42/F GT Tower Int’l Ayala Avenue corner Doc. No. 352 Dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City Page No. 72 IBP No. 1056271-01/04/17-Batangas Book No. XXII PTR No. 5909853-01/04/17-Makati Series of 2017 MCLE Compliance No. V-0016626 Roll No. 47647

B2

Business

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market slides; URC climbs S

TOCKS fell Thursday on muted trading, tracking a retreat on Wall Street as fears over the progress of US President Donald Trump’s tax cut plans dampened investor sentiment.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 35 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 8,267.92, as four of the six major sectors declined.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also retreated 19 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,845.45 on a value turnover of P4.7 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 102 to 77, while 58 issues were unchanged.

Seven of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by miner Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. which climbed 2.3 percent to P2.70 and food manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. which rose 1.4 percent to P142. Manila Electric Co. went up 1.1 percent to P285.40.

Meanwhile, other Asian markets were mixed Thursday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.4 percent, or 100.51 points, to end at 28,202.38.

Tokyo edged up slightly, bolstered by positive corporate earnings and a weak yen that boosts Japanese exporters’ bottomline. A remarkable 16-day run of gains had also finally ended Wednesday when the Nikkei closed in negative territory for the first time this month.

But investors remained bullish amid hopes that re-elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would press on with his economic agenda.

Tokyo added 0.2 percent Thursday while Shanghai also rose 0.2 percent after China’s President Xi Jinping was formally handed a second term in power with no potential successor anointed, raising speculation that he would continue his reign as Communist Party chief beyond 2022.

Seoul, Sydney and Singapore were all flat.

In the US, underperforming corporate earnings as well as fears that bickering among Republicans would derail Trump’s tax reform plans weighed on investor sentiment.

Trump has struggled to marshall the 51 votes he needs to pass his proposal, as critics within his own party have lambasted his combative behavior.

With 52 Republican senators, more than one defection would cripple his reform bid, forcing him to seek support from Democrats who have attacked his plan, calling it a giveaway to the rich.

“Republican infighting once again threatens to derail the vote,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trading at Oanda.

“Uncertainty over the next Fed Chair has traders double and even triple guessing their best-educated guess. Indeed, the agonizing wait is taking its toll on positioning as the longer the process gets drawn out, the more nervous the market becomes,” Innes said.

Eurozone stocks also retreated ahead of the European Central Bank’s policy meeting Thursday, at which it is expected to announce a big reduction in its bondbuying stimulus as the eurozone economy picks up.

A spike in the pound hit London’s FTSE 100, which dropped 1.1 percent.

Oil prices edged lower as Russia’s energy minister Alexander Novak said Moscow would increase its output once again if a deal by producers from OPEC and non-OPEC countries to cut production by 1.8 million barrels per day is not extended.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, has said it will increase its share of the reduction in November, with the deal currently scheduled to expire at the end of March.

Global oil prices more than halved in 2014 because of oversupply and weak global economic growth.

With AFP, Bloomberg

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.66 52,000 98 1,732,980 3.9 10,000 135 2,091,300 2.3 2,175,000 33.8 284,400 15.3 1,100 31.05 1,173,100 8.23 50,000 1.7 3,000 935 120 0.64 360,000 87 1,260,570 0.82 28,000 58.2 177,530 240.8 3,010 88 2,000 59.85 297,920 255 137,060 1,930 5 87 7,160 1.27 108,000

243,860 169,099,067 39,000 279,335,769 4,918,460 9,566,480 16,830 36,273,410 411,500 5,100 112,200 231,220 109,832,350.50 22,850 10,373,878.50 724,814 176,000 17,641,264 34,847,848 9,650 622,920 137,170

-37,426,924 -135,506,975 -47,490 1,743,425.00 -6,964,505 -69,566,881 2,125,723.50 -176,000 -760,519 -8,451,354 52,200 -

41.4 11.8 0.73 1.36 19.22 0.21 102.1 4.99 14.94 44.85 18.42 64 70 1.89 6.35 11.7 10.2 14.72 12.84 6.8 5.69 17.58 63 15.9 12.18 18.34 1.74 248.6 4 3.19 20.75 30 19.02 16.32 282.4 10.8 2.9 6.1 9.86 7.18 9.66 1.73 11.5 62 6.52 307 4.68 4.65 2.02 12.96 4.6 0.14 1.22 138.6 3.22 2.1 0.94

INDUSTRIAL 42.1 253,100 11.98 1,344,100 0.74 185,000 1.36 432,000 19.88 2,200 0.21 770,000 102.1 490 5.03 38,804,000 15.3 439,900 44.9 471,900 19.44 1,500 65 5,310 70 700 1.9 116,000 6.35 50,900 11.7 100 10.3 5,498,600 14.76 487,100 12.92 20,200 6.99 4,293,900 5.75 9,471,800 17.62 406,400 63 92,100 15.9 28,500 12.24 70,100 18.4 801,900 1.74 712,000 250 736,740 4.12 866,000 3.19 2,000 20.75 1,000 30 1,618,700 19.2 38,100 16.34 1,444,500 285.4 241,420 11 69,600 2.9 798,000 6.35 43,400 9.99 1,482,600 7.31 137,400 9.69 16,300 1.73 653,000 11.5 539,000 62.65 120,910 6.7 6,500 307 3,350 4.68 86,000 4.76 232,000 2.05 997,000 12.98 92,400 4.6 123,000 0.14 20,000 1.22 15,000 142 868,460 3.25 3,000 2.12 30,462,000 0.94 165,000

10,629,880 15,984,354 136,860 593,380 42,836 161,740 50,046 194,436,120 6,615,174 21,209,075 28,504 339,850 49,815 219,630 327,559 1,170 56,629,028 7,187,050 261,320 29,605,089 54,314,014 7,164,376 5,830,747 453,170 857,970 14,827,848 1,241,230 184,366,650 3,552,570 6,380 20,750 48,832,680 730,230 23,614,914 68,716,168 753,882 2,349,460 264,990 14,732,564 999,653 158,003 1,129,690 6,300,774 7,548,437.50 42,696 1,028,778 402,480 1,093,530 2,062,080 1,202,408 566,720 2,800 18,330 121,418,690 9,690 65,755,520 156,150

-944,090 2,102,114 -13,264,120 298,746 338,550 1,186,734 1,047,610 -25,902 -14,537,410 24,933,062 -60 -4,393,119 -549,498 -2,463,088 267,420 50,067,826 -22,849,960 -30,720 -7,566,892 4,935,462 -229,600 6,705,886 588,200 860,926 -632,524 -1,429,190.00 252,336 23,250 1,250 -941,485 -23,246,710 -

0.345 74.9 15.46 7.05 0.465 0.46 1,040 8.54 15.66 7.7 0.193 1,157 7.97 76.85 5.1 5.39 0.86 5.88 18 6.89 0.057 1.56 2.1 102.8 2.59 960 1.44 299.4 0.19 0.21

0.34 73.6 15.2 6.91 0.45 0.455 1,008 8.38 15.24 7.6 0.191 1,130 7.77 75.1 5.05 5.39 0.8 5.72 17.3 6.63 0.053 1.46 2.07 102 2.58 944 1.43 290.2 0.186 0.203

HOLDING FIRMS 0.34 50,000 74 288,910 15.2 6,002,600 7 23,500 0.455 8,580,000 0.455 1,150,000 1,018 236,000 8.5 1,254,400 15.24 3,160,100 7.7 1,000 0.191 100,000 1,139 22,515 7.77 79,000 76.15 340,080 5.1 2,700 5.39 4,500 0.81 1,097,000 5.8 794,300 18 705,800 6.64 28,874,500 0.055 65,030,000 1.51 1,419,000 2.1 123,000 102.8 432,800 2.58 12,000 947 196,930 1.44 749,000 299.4 18,610 0.186 1,830,000 0.203 830,000

17,150 21,373,252 91,660,194 163,667 3,903,950 523,750 240,126,165 10,602,848 48,709,450 7,650 19,160 25,627,795 613,989 25,826,693 13,745 24,255 888,270 4,602,800 12,512,456 194,227,992 3,613,870 2,145,700 255,600 44,379,763 30,970 186,405,395 1,075,770 5,516,804 342,750 171,580

-6,800 -10,098,461.50 18,204,286 -34,106,455 5,632,512 233,580 -4,432,395 -11,306,470 -1,020.00 59,084 8,099,956 -78,496,451 -28,000 -147,380 113,850.00 9,510,046 -74,325,310 374,444 87,780

5.07 1.09 8.52 2.37 0.99 43.3 3.75 4.86 5.4 0.52 1.26 1.24 0.21 0.465 41 0.68 0.145 1.95 1.5 0.79 5.35 0.32

5.01 1.06 8.5 2.36 0.95 42.4 3.71 4.79 5.38 0.5 1.24 1.22 0.202 0.46 40.3 0.68 0.145 1.9 1.48 0.76 5.25 0.31

PROPERTY 5.05 96,000 1.07 3,650,000 8.5 33,700 2.36 74,000 0.97 819,000 42.8 7,460,300 3.75 316,000 4.8 830,000 5.4 172,500 0.52 6,825,000 1.26 151,000 1.22 64,000 0.202 7,130,000 0.465 620,000 40.6 177,700 0.68 123,000 0.145 200,000 1.95 13,893,000 1.5 4,522,000 0.77 737,000 5.29 14,399,000 0.315 13,650,000

484,984 3,897,010 286,990 174,940 792,950 319,320,355 1,178,180 3,995,480 928,500 3,480,680 190,220 78,680 1,450,470 287,350 7,205,460 83,640 29,000 26,511,280 6,724,700 569,530 76,238,820 4,321,000

-37,299 -94,400 -137,609,450 -399,700 106,380 0 55,200 -282,335.00 -2,984,210 -22,350 16,801,766 -

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 4.8 BANK PH ISLANDS 97.5 BDO LEASING 3.9 BDO UNIBANK 134.1 BRIGHT KINDLE 2.36 CHINABANK 33.8 COL FINANCIAL 15.3 EAST WEST BANK 31.15 FILIPINO FUND 8.23 IREMIT 1.7 MANULIFE 935 MEDCO HLDG 0.64 METROBANK 87.5 NTL REINSURANCE 0.82 PHIL NATL BANK 60 PHIL STOCK EXCH 241.4 PSBANK 88 RCBC 61.9 SECURITY BANK 255.2 SUN LIFE 1,930 UNION BANK 87 VANTAGE 1.27

4.87 98 3.9 135 2.36 33.8 15.3 31.15 8.23 1.7 935 0.65 88 0.82 60 241.4 88 61.9 255.2 1,930 87 1.28

4.6 96.75 3.9 132.1 2.21 33.5 15.3 30.65 8.23 1.7 935 0.64 86.6 0.81 58 240.8 88 58.2 250 1,930 87 1.27

ABOITIZ POWER 42 AGRINURTURE 11.9 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.75 ALSONS CONS 1.4 ASIABEST GROUP 19.9 BASIC ENERGY 0.21 BOGO MEDELLIN 102.1 CEMEX HLDG 5 CENTURY FOOD 15.1 CIRTEK HLDG 44.95 CNTRL AZUCARERA19 CONCEPCION 64 CONCRETE A 72 CROWN ASIA 1.89 DAVINCI CAPITAL 6.4 DEL MONTE 11.7 DNL INDUS 10.3 EAGLE CEMENT 14.76 EEI CORP 12.88 EMPERADOR 6.97 ENERGY DEVT 5.7 FIRST GEN 17.7 FIRST PHIL HLDG 63.95 GINEBRA 15.9 HOLCIM 12.22 INTEGRATED MICR 18.88 IONICS 1.75 JOLLIBEE 250.2 LMG CHEMICALS 4.3 MABUHAY VINYL 3.19 MACAY HLDG 20.75 MANILA WATER 31.4 MAXS GROUP 19.2 MEGAWIDE 16.36 MERALCO 282.4 PANASONIC 10.82 PEPSI COLA 2.95 PETROENERGY 6.1 PETRON 9.86 PHIL H2O 7.45 PHINMA 9.85 PHINMA ENERGY 1.73 PHX PETROLEUM 11.8 PILIPINAS SHELL 62.55 PRYCE CORP 6.72 PUREFOODS 307.2 RFM CORP 4.68 ROXAS HLDG 4.7 SFA SEMICON 2.15 SHAKEYS PIZZA 13 SPC POWER 4.68 SWIFT FOODS 0.14 TKC METALS 1.25 UNIV ROBINA 140.1 VICTORIAS 3.22 VITARICH 2.12 VULCAN INDL 0.95

42.3 11.98 0.75 1.4 20 0.214 102.2 5.17 15.3 45 19.44 65 72.5 1.9 6.5 11.7 10.36 14.8 13 6.99 5.78 17.78 63.95 16.1 12.28 18.88 1.76 252 4.36 3.19 20.75 31.4 19.38 16.4 285.4 11.28 2.95 6.35 9.99 7.45 9.85 1.73 11.8 62.7 6.72 307.2 4.68 5 2.15 13.2 4.68 0.14 1.25 142 3.25 2.2 0.95

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

0.345 74 15.46 7.05 0.46 0.455 1,016 8.51 15.52 7.6 0.193 1,135 7.78 76.85 5.1 5.39 0.86 5.88 17.88 6.89 0.056 1.49 2.07 102.7 2.59 960 1.44 292 0.19 0.21

8990 HLDG 5.01 A BROWN 1.09 ANCHOR LAND 8.52 ARANETA PROP 2.37 ARTHALAND CORP 0.97 AYALA LAND 43 BELLE CORP 3.75 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.79 CEBU HLDG 5.4 CENTURY PROP 0.51 CITY AND LAND 1.26 CITYLAND DEVT 1.23 CROWN EQUITIES 0.205 CYBER BAY 0.46 DOUBLEDRAGON 40.95 EMPIRE EAST 0.68 EVER GOTESCO 0.145 FILINVEST LAND 1.94 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.49 IRC PROP 0.79 MEGAWORLD 5.34 MRC ALLIED 0.31

VOLUME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PHIL ESTATES 0.38 PHIL REALTY 0.51 PRIMEX CORP 6.75 PTFC REDEV CORP 28.55 ROBINSONS LAND 25.55 ROCKWELL 1.82 SHANG PROP 3.1 SM PRIME HLDG 36.1 STA LUCIA LAND 1.01 SUNTRUST HOME 0.88 VISTA LAND 5.84

0.39 0.55 6.99 28.55 25.7 1.82 3.11 36.4 1.03 0.88 5.85

0.365 0.51 6.75 27.75 24.85 1.81 3.1 35.6 1.01 0.85 5.7

0.365 0.54 6.96 27.75 25.25 1.81 3.1 35.75 1.03 0.85 5.85

4,140,000 8,614,000 4,590,800 1,500 417,400 640,000 312,000 3,805,200 1,910,000 23,000 1,274,000

1,555,400 4,562,600 31,851,805 42,375 10,583,540 1,158,610 967,250 136,048,295 1,935,710 19,600 7,407,479

2,412,452 -3,218,160 812,690 12,400 -55,068,285 -236,250

2GO GROUP 20.1 ABS CBN 39.35 ACESITE HOTEL 1.58 APC GROUP 0.53 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.052 ASIAN TERMINALS 10.98 BERJAYA 5.02 BLOOMBERRY 9.83 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.071 CEBU AIR 107.1 CHELSEA 9.55 DFNN INC 7.55 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.1 GLOBE TELECOM 2,000 GMA NETWORK 5.99 GOLDEN HAVEN 19.22 HARBOR STAR 2.54 IMPERIAL 2.6 INTL CONTAINER 102 IPM HLDG 8.4 ISLAND INFO 0.154 ISM COMM 1.37 JACKSTONES 3.05 LBC EXPRESS 15.8 LEISURE AND RES 4.03 LORENZO SHIPPNG 1.33 MACROASIA 19.08 MANILA BULLETIN 0.55 MANILA JOCKEY 2.85 MELCO RESORTS 6.95 METRO RETAIL 4.11 MLA BRDCASTING 16.4 NOW CORP 2.22 PAL HLDG 5.05 PHIL RACING 7.8 PHILWEB 8.38 PLDT 1,720 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.39 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.4 PUREGOLD 51 ROBINSONS RTL 93 SBS PHIL CORP 6.02 SSI GROUP 4.16 STI HLDG 1.63 TRANSPACIFIC BR 1.92 TRAVELLERS 3.83 WATERFRONT 0.96 WILCON DEPOT 8.55

20.2 39.35 1.66 0.54 0.056 10.98 5.02 9.83 0.071 107.2 9.7 7.6 2.1 2,038 6 19.24 2.57 2.62 103 8.4 0.154 1.39 3.25 15.8 4.09 1.34 19.3 0.55 2.88 7 4.15 16.4 2.24 5.1 7.8 8.5 1,720 1.4 0.4 51.2 95 6.18 4.16 1.81 2.08 3.85 0.96 8.55

19.6 38.7 1.52 0.52 0.051 10.96 5.02 9.26 0.07 106.7 9.5 7.55 2 1,995 5.92 19.22 2.45 2.6 101.6 8.3 0.151 1.37 3.05 15.8 4.02 1.3 18.8 0.55 2.79 6.62 4.03 16.3 2.2 5.05 7.8 8.02 1,684 1.37 0.4 50 93 5.9 3.89 1.62 1.91 3.79 0.87 8.42

SERVICES 19.6 35,400 38.8 10,600 1.53 778,000 0.53 924,000 0.053 257,130,000 10.98 8,200 5.02 6,000 9.38 22,790,000 0.071 1,390,000 106.8 185,600 9.52 926,900 7.55 3,200 2 80,000 1,999 67,750 5.92 627,400 19.24 3,400 2.46 2,576,000 2.62 28,000 103 431,100 8.38 379,000 0.154 3,350,000 1.38 267,000 3.2 165,000 15.8 200 4.04 218,000 1.33 1,169,000 19.1 2,555,500 0.55 130,000 2.82 424,000 6.62 2,752,700 4.03 381,000 16.3 1,600 2.21 631,000 5.05 2,700 7.8 100 8.16 646,200 1,698 68,650 1.37 3,024,000 0.4 2,040,000 50.4 2,763,980 93.8 506,840 5.9 195,500 4.14 6,631,000 1.79 31,855,000 2.05 27,000 3.85 812,000 0.9 38,126,000 8.42 3,121,800

697,846 411,645 1,206,510 485,740 13,843,980 89,996 30,120 214,068,618 97,590 19,851,654 8,852,766 24,180 160,240 135,848,390 3,731,227 65,392 6,357,180 72,970 44,212,967 3,178,610 511,190 366,650 527,550 3,160 878,400 1,537,890 48,600,398 71,500 1,192,200 18,573,730 1,556,560 26,130 1,391,680 13,695 780 5,291,748 116,720,575 4,154,690 816,000 139,365,075 47,459,539.50 1,154,373 26,744,920 54,959,220 52,100 3,090,700 34,313,700 26,318,390

15,530 220,000 -107,425,516 17,098,333 17,244 -16,502,940 291,640 -1,641,762 -245,510 -3,189,636.00 -3,244,381 -191,660 -1,868,810 -50,809,915 -210,010 -18,483,834 -15,317,492.50 510,940 13,586,790.00 2,931,070 456,660 413,430 4,814,517

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

0.0025 1.77 4.9 15 1.81 1.73 0.38 8.17 2.65 0.183 0.191 0.011 0.012 2 6.87 1.77 0.5 1.01 0.011 2.43 7.5 8.5 42.55 0.0075

0.0025 1.78 5.1 15.42 1.82 1.74 0.385 8.29 2.72 0.186 0.195 0.011 0.012 2 6.87 1.77 0.5 1.01 0.011 2.43 7.74 8.5 43.2 0.0075

0.0024 1.72 4.9 15 1.81 1.68 0.38 8.17 2.62 0.182 0.191 0.01 0.012 1.91 6.72 1.68 0.5 1.01 0.011 2.25 7.5 7.83 42.4 0.0075

MINING & OIL 0.0024 29,000,000 1.74 5,451,000 5 134,200 15.42 300 1.82 89,000 1.74 5,145,000 0.385 110,000 8.2 1,300 2.7 27,450,000 0.183 5,070,000 0.195 270,000 0.011 23,600,000 0.012 100,100,000 1.99 506,000 6.74 2,326,000 1.76 104,000 0.5 323,000 1.01 101,000 0.011 5,500,000 2.35 118,000 7.56 1,394,900 7.98 13,269,300 42.55 1,160,400 0.0075 22,000,000

70,300 9,504,270 664,620 4,542 161,270 8,799,450 41,850 10,666 73,319,750 931,110 51,650 258,000 1,201,200 985,840 15,699,057 176,750 161,500 102,010 60,500 274,360 10,622,096 106,776,419 49,362,155 165,000

1,255,100 -2,940 -161,270 42,650 664,660 -4,455,028 6,376,300 1,164,529 7,075,090 -

AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

532 107.3 106.2 107.9 539.5 5.69 1,030 1.07 108.1 1,146 1,008 112.8 75.9 81.3 77.5 80.65 78.5 79.55

532 107.3 106.9 107.9 539.5 5.69 1,030 1.07 108.1 1,146 1,008 112.8 75.9 81.3 77.5 80.8 78.5 79.55

532 107.3 106 107.9 539.5 5.66 1,030 1.07 108 1,146 1,006 112.8 75.2 81.3 77.5 80 78.5 79.55

PREFERRED 532 10,000 107.3 3,000 106 5,250 107.9 90 539.5 2,990 5.67 631,500 1,030 200 1.07 66,000 108 40,000 1,146 45 1,007 2,490 112.8 300 75.2 43,500 81.3 13,250 77.5 6,000 80 190,100 78.5 500 79.55 9,690

5,320,000 321,900 556,531 9,711 1,613,105 3,579,667 206,000 70,620 4,320,030 51,570 2,507,655 33,840 3,277,483.50 1,077,225 465,000 15,222,068 39,250 770,839.50

-3,466,067 240,900 -

LR WARRANT

2.39

2.48

2.36

WARRANTS 2.39 146,000

347,090

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

6.02 4 5.4

6.82 4.09 5.44

6.02 3.93 5.34

SME 6.82 4.07 5.34

56,485,663 136,140 4,002,424

883,681 59,031

126.2

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 124.9 125.5 4,570

571,861

5,000

NAME

OPEN

MS FIRST METRO ETF 126.2

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

VALUE

9,956,186

674,660,010.40

INDUSTRIAL

106,824,636

1,023,764,016.02

HOLDING FIRMS

123,725,925

995,471,622.75

PROPERTY

108,141,971

689,366,876.285

SERVICES

391,095,996

994,609,499.48

FINANCIAL

MINING & OIL

243,293,952

279,421,160.151

GRAND TOTAL

992,582,036

4,718,493,929.09

8,758,700 34,000 744,900

FINANCIAL 2,000.95 (up) 5.30 INDUSTRIAL 10,877.71 (up) 17.88 HOLDING FIRMS 8,465.40 (down) 70.24 PROPERTY 3,872.06 (down) 32.00 SERVICES 1,682.47 (down) 10.15 MINING & OIL 13,150.04 (down) 4.91 PSEI 8,267.92 (down) 35.43 All Shares Index 4,85.45 (down) 19.11 Gainers: 77; Losers: 102; Unchanged: 58; Total: 237

PSE cancels follow-on offering plan

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange said Thursday it dropped a plan to conduct a share sale and will instead conduct a stock rights offering to finance the acquisition of Philippine Dealing System & Holdings Co. PSE said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board of directors approved the stock rights offering to stockholders of up to 11.5 million common shares.

“This replaces previous approval of the board to conduct a public offering of the same number of shares,” PSE said.

Other terms of the stock rights offering remain to be finalized. Proceeds from the fund raising activity will be used to fund the acquisition of PDS Holdings and support the capital expenditure requirements of the exchange.

PSE earlier planned to conduct a follow-on offering which could generate up to P3 billion in proceeds.

Aside from raising funds to finance the acquisition of PDS Holdings, the follow-on offering was supposed to enable the exchange to reduce broker ownership in the stock exchange to 20 percent from current 27.9 percent as required by the Securities Regulation Code.

Under the code, no single industry or group can own more than 20 percent of an exchange.

Complying with the ownership limit is also one of the conditions earlier given by the government before it agrees to allow PSE to acquire a majority stake in PDS Holdings.

It earlier tapped BDO Capital and Investments Corp. and First Metro Investments Corp. as domestic underwriters for the offering.

BDO Capital president Eduardo Francisco said in a text message the stock rights offering could also result in the reduction in brokers’ ownership in the local bourse.

PNB lists P6.35b worth of deposits

By Julito G. Rada PHILIPPINE National Bank, the sixth-largest lender in terms of assets, listed on Thursday P6.35-billion longterm negotiable certificates of time deposits due 2023 at the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

The notes have a tenor of 5.5 years and will mature on April 26, 2023. It has an interest rate of 3.875 percent, payable on Jan. 26, April 26, July 26 and Oct. 26 of each year.

The bank may, subject to the general banking laws of 2000, redeem all and not only part of the outstanding certificates of deposits on any interest payment date prior to maturity date, at an early redemption amount equal to the issue price plus interest accrued and unpaid up to but excluding the early redemption date.

PNB tapped Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. and ING Bank Manila branch as joint lead arrangers and selling agents. Other selling agents are PNB itself and Multinational Investment Bancorporation.

PNB executive vice president Nelson Reyes said the latest development enabled the bank to raise long-term and cost-effective funding and provide suitable investment requirements.

“PNB is determined to continue sustained path to stronger sustainable, taking advantage of available market opportunities with our expanding economy while addressing financial needs of our customer base,” Reyes said.

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

B3

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Myanmar faces pressure over crisis U

NITED NATIONS—The UN Security Council is weighing a draft resolution that would pressure Myanmar to address the violence that has driven hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee, according to the text obtained by AFP on Wednesday.

The proposed resolution drafted by Britain and France would call on Myanmar authorities to “immediately cease military operations” and allow the refugees now living in makeshift camps in Bangladesh to return.

The six-page text does not threaten sanctions, but lays out a series of con-

crete demands.

Diplomats, however, said the draft resolution, which would be the first formal response from the top UN body, faced strong opposition from China and they expected tough negotiations ahead to reach agreement.

“The Chinese are not on board,” said a

Security Council diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They want us to say nothing and do nothing on this issue.”

China, a supporter of Myanmar’s former ruling junta, maintains that it is using private channels to pass on the message that the violence must end and the refugee crisis addressed, according to diplomats.

Since late August, more than 600,000 Rohingya have fled an army campaign in Myanmar’s Rakhine state that the United Nations has denounced as ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar authori-

ties say the military operation is aimed at rooting out Rohingya militants who staged attacks on police posts two months ago.

The draft resolution condemns the violence in Rakhine state and attacks by Rohingya militants, while expressing “grave concern that the Myanmar security forces and vigilantes have been responsible for human rights violations and abuses.”

It calls on Myanmar to allow humanitarian aid workers to have safe access to Rakhine state, where the Rohingya who managed to escape the army campaign

are now fleeing dire food shortages.

The draft resolution also demands that UN rights investigators be allowed access to Rakhine to report on allegations of atrocities and calls for the appointment of a UN special advisor on Myanmar.

It urges Myanmar to implement the recommendations of a commission led by former UN chief Kofi Annan that said the Rohingya should be granted citizenship rights.

The 1.1 million Rohingya have faced decades of discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and been de-

nied citizenship since 1982, which has effectively rendered them stateless.

Rights groups have accused the Security Council of dragging its feet on Myanmar and are calling for tougher measures such as an arms embargo and targeted sanctions against those responsible for the attacks against the Rohingya.

A recent report by the UN human rights office accused Myanmar of seeking to permanently expel the Rohingya, by planting land mines at the border with Bangladesh where the refugees are sheltering. AFP

Whales drawing tourists to Iceland FAXAFLOI BAY, Iceland―Iceland’s whales have traditionally ended up as steaks on a plate.

But times are changing, and as tourists stream to the North Atlantic island, whales are now the stars of a flourishing eco-tourism scene.

“Minke whale at two o’clock, about 200 meters out!” shouts Spanish tour guide Alberto Alejandro, microphone in hand as a boat of whale watchers cruises slowly up the coast.

The sighting is fleeting: only the tail fin is visible when the whale resurfaces for air, but it’s enough to take the 60 passengers’ breath away, as they “oooh” and “ahhh” in delight.

“It’s one of the things we absolutely wanted to do on our first trip here,” says Joachim Holm, a Swedish tourist. “We don’t get many opportunities to see live whales.”

Animal rights activists opposed to whaling argue that whale watching boats disturb the majestic mammals in their natural habitat.

But the activists nevertheless concede that it is still better to pester the whales than to slaughter them. AFP

New giant dinosaur discovered WA S H I N G T O N ―A n international team of scientists have found the footprints of a giant carnivorous dinosaur that roamed southern Africa 200 million years ago, the first proof that T. Rex-like predators existed during the Early Jurassic period.

The newly discovered dinosaur, named “Kayentapus ambrokholohali,” had three-toed footprints measuring 57 by 50 centimeters, giving the creature an estimated body length of around nine meters (30 feet) -- four times the size of a lion, and slightly smaller than the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex which grew up to 12 meters long.

It is also the largest megatheropod―or giant two-legged carnivorous dinosaur―discovered on the African continent.

Researchers from the The University of Manchester, University of Cape Town, South Africa, and Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil published their findings on Wednesday in science journal PLOS ONE. AFP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES PROVINCE OF BATANGAS MUNICIPALITY OF BAUAN

Bids and Awards Committee Municipal Government of Bauan Bauan, Batangas Standard Form Number: SF-INFR-05 Revised on: July 29, 2004 INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID The Municipal Government of Bauan, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for the hereunder contracts: APPROVED SOURCE MODE PROJECT TITLE/ PROJECT DESCRIPTION BUDGET FOR OF OF LOCATION REF. NO. THE CONTRACT FUND PURCHASE Construction of Access Road at Barangay(s) of Aplaya, Sto. BINFR- Supply labor P19,448,000.00 General Bidding Domingo, San 2017-71 materials, Fund and equipment Andres Proper and San Andres I, Bauan, Batangas Prospective bidders should possess a valid PCAB License applicable to the contract, have completed a similar contract with a value of at least 50% of the ABC, and have key personnel and equipment (listed in the Eligibility Forms) available for the prosecution of the contract. The BAC will use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post qualification of the lowest calculated bid.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The complete schedule of BAC activities is listed, as follows: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

ACTIVITIES Issuance of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Opening of Bids Bid Evaluation Post-Qualification Notice of Award

SCHEDULE October 27 – November 15, 2017 November 03, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 16, 2017 November 17 - 20, 2017 November 21 - 24, 2017

The BAC will issue bidding documents only to bidders declared by the BAC to be eligible for the bidding upon payment of non-refundable amount to the Municipal Government Cashier.

The Municipal Government of Bauan assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of Bauan reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to declare the bidding a failure, not to award the contract, to annul the bidding process, to waive any defects or informalities therein, without thereby incurring any liabilities to the affected bidders and to accept the proposal considered most advantageous to the Government.

Approved by: (SGD) Dr. NOEL C. BAUTISTA Chairman, BAC

(MS-OCT. 27 & NOV. 2, 2017

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

Invitation to Bid for the Renovation of the Department of Finance Building – Package 3 1.

The Department of Finance (DOF), through the Government of the Philippines under the General Appropriations Act for CY 2017, intends to apply the sum of ONE HUNDRED THIRTY NINE MILLION NINETY FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY FOUR PESOS AND 31/100 (P139,095,554.31) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Renovation of the Department of Finance Building – Package 3 includes Architectural Works, Sanitary/Plumbing Works, Fire Protection Works, Mechanical Works and Electrical Works and Structural Works as maybe applicable, for the following areas/floors : a. DOF Building Facade b. Roof Deck Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The DOF now invites bids for the Renovation of the Department of Finance Building Offices – Package 2. Completion of the Works is required in 180 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. Prospective bidders must have bene at least 10 years in the Construction Industry with a PCAB Size Range of Medium B and License Category A.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat at the address given below during office hours.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested bidders starting on (October 27, 2017 up to November 20, 2017) at the BAC Secretariat, 8th Floor, EDPC Building BSP Complex, Pablo Ocampo Sr. Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila upon payment of a non-refundable fee in the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00).

INSPECTION. A Sharia policewoman inspects the pants of a woman during a sharia law inspection in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, on October 26, 2017. Aceh, on Sumatra island, began implementing sharia law after being granted special autonomy in 2001, an attempt by the central government in Jakarta to quell a long-running separatist insurgency. AFP

Over 73,000 Puerto Ricans flee to Florida after ‘Maria’ MIAMI―More than 73,000 Puerto Ricans have fled emergency conditions at home for Florida since Hurricane “Maria” devastated the US territory in the Caribbean.

The island of about 3.4 million was ravaged by the megastorm and a majority are still without electricity, while others in isolated areas continue to await services and help.

“As of October 3, 2017, more than 73,000 individuals have arrived in Florida from Puerto Rico through Miami International Airport, Orlando International Airport and the Everglades Port,” a statement from the office of Governor Rick Scott said.

The hurricane hit the island September 20, but Puerto Rican arrivals in Florida are being recorded from October 3, a spokesman for Florida Governor Rick Scott told AFP. That is because Florida was declared on that date to be in a state of emergency, to be able to respond to the expected migration impact.

Thanks to the emergency declaration, the state opened disaster relief centers at two airports and the port, which

have since served 15,000 people.

In the relief centers, hurricane migrants from Puerto Rico can access help provided by the federal emergency management agency (FEMA), as well as state agencies for children and families, transportation, health as well as Red Cross services.

Puerto Rico is an American territory and Puerto Ricans have US citizenship.

In his statement, the governor also reported that Florida schools have registered more than 3,500 students displaced from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, also affected by the hurricane.

In addition, universities eliminated enrollment costs.

The situation on the island is still precarious. As of Wednesday, 75 percent of customers were still without electricity and clean water is still scarce in many areas.

The island’s financial crisis had already driven a huge number of Puerto Ricans off the island.

Of the five million Puerto Ricans living in the continental United States, one million reside in Florida.

AFP

lines 4 to 6-1 by Road Lot 12, both of the conso. subdivision plan xxx containing an area of Three Hundred Seventy Nine (379) square meters. xxx xxx xxx”

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF QUEZON CITY BDO UNIBANK, INC., (formerly BANCO DE ORO UNIBANK, INC.), Mortgagee/s, -versus-

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 004-2017000713 Registry of Deeds-Quezon City

FRE NO. 11852

ERNIE C. TORRADO, Mortgagor/s x-----------------------------------x

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED)

*A parcel of land (Lot 52, Block 8, of the conso. subdivision plan, Pcs-04-000820, being a portion of the cons. of Lot 47-A and 47-B, Psd-9299, Lot 54-A and 54-B, Psd.-16445, LRC Rec. No. 1037), situated in the Capitol District, Quezon City, Metro Manila. Bounded on the NW.,along line 1-2-3-4, by Road Lot 12, along line 4-5 by Lot 53, Block 8, both of the conso. subdivision plan; and on the SE., and SW., along lines 5-6-1

by Lot 51 (Open space) Block 8, all of the conso. subdivision plan xxx containing an area of Four Hundred Two (402) square meters. xxx xxx xxx” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned at the aforesaid office on the above stated date and time.

UPON extra-judicial petition under ACT 3135, as amended

by ACT 4118, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Deed of Real Estate Mortgage executed on January 31, 2017

by ERNIE C. TORRADO – No. 159 Chico Street, Project 2, Quezon City/Lots 52 and 53, Block 8, Road Lot 12, Filinvest 2, Brgy. Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, Mortgagor/s in favor of BDO UNIBANK, INC. (formerly BANCO DE ORO UNIBANK, INC.), Mortgagee/s, Interested parties are hereby to satisfy the mortgage debt in enjoined to investigate for the amount of P 7,432,274.21 themselves the title/s to the as of September 1, 2017 said property/ies and the inclusive/exclusive of interest, encumbrances thereon, if there penalties, attorney’s fees and be any. other charges together with all the lawful fees and expenses In the event that public auction of foreclosure sale, the Ex- should not take place on said Officio Sheriff of the Regional date due to fortuitous event or Trial Court of Quezon City and/ if the same be declared a nonor his duly authorized Deputy working holiday, it shall be held Sheriff, hereby announces on DECEMBER 5, 2017 at the that on November 23, 2017 same time and place without between the hours of 9:00 further notice.

A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Office Quezon City, Metro Manila, of Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, OCTOBER 6, 2017.

Hall of Justice Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, (Sgd.) MANUEL S. PANLASIGUI will SELL through public auction Sheriff IV to the highest bidder and for cash, in Philippine Currency, (Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD Clerk of Court VII and the following described real Ex-Officio Sheriff property/ies with all the improvements existing thereon, WARNING: It is absolutely to wit: prohibited to remove, deface TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF or Destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or Before the TITLE NO. 004-2017000712 Registry of Deeds-Quezon City date of the auction sale under

*A parcel of land (Lot 53, Block 8, of the conso. subdivision plan, Pcs-04-000820, being a portion of the conso. of Lot 47-A and 47-B, Psd-9299, Lot 54-A and 54-B, Psd.-16445, LRC Rec. No. 1037), situated in the Capitol District, Quezon City, Metro Manila. Bounded on the NW.,along line 1-2, by Lot 54, Block 8 (Payatas Impt. Co.) on the SE., along line 3-4 by Lot 52, Block 8; and on the SW., along

penalty of the law.

Copy Furnished: BDO UNIBANK, INC. (formerly BANDO DE ORO UNIBANK, INC.) 11th Floor, South Tower, BDO Corporate Center, 7899 Makati Avenue, Makati City ERNIE C. TORRADO No. 159 Chico Street, Project 2, Quezon City Lots 52 and 53, Block 8, Road Lot 12, Filinvest 2, Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City (MS-Oct. 20, 27 & Nov. 3, 2017)

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. However, due to volume and size of files, the Technical Specifications and detailed plans may only be secured by interested bidders from the BAC Secretariat, 8th Floor, EDPC Building, Roxas Boulevard corner Pablo Ocampo St., Roxas Boulevard Manila.

6.

The DOF will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 10:00 a.m., November 6, 2017 at the DFG Conference Room, 4th DOF Building, Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:30 a.m. on November 20, 2017. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on 10:00 a.m. November 20, 2017 at the DFG Conference Room, 4th Floor DOF Building, Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use the non- discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Failure to submit the required document under the bidding documents or the submission of a document which does not comply with the legal formalities shall be rated “failed”.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (RIRR).

The schedules of activities are as follows: ACTIVITY 1. Advertisement and Posting of Invitation to Bid

October 27, 2017

2. Availability of Bid Documents

October 27, 2017

3. Pre-bid Conference

November 6, 2017, 10:00 a.m.

DFG Conference Room 4th Flr, DOF Building

4. Request for Clarification

November 10, 2017 (by email)

5. Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin

November 13, 2017

6. Submission and Receipt of Bids

November 20, 2017, 9:30 a.m.

BAC Secretariat 8th Floor, EDPC Building BSP Complex, Roxas Blvd.

Malate Manila

7. Opening of Bids

9.

SCHEDULE

November 20, 2017, 10:00 a.m.

DFG Conference Room 4th Floor, DOF Building BSP Complex, Roxas Blvd.

Malate Manila

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

10. For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat 8th Floor EDPC Buidling, BSP Complex, Pablo Ocampo Sr. Street corner Roxas Boulevard Malate , Manila Telefax No. 526-4786 Email Address : lte@dof.gov.ph / matienza@dof.gov.ph (SGD.) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and BAC Chairman (MS-OCT. 27, 2017)

LGUs

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

B4

friday, october 27, 2017

‘Fresh meat sold from Divisoria safe to eat’

LocaL government units

By Bill Casas

CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER. Life-sized Santa Claus sculptures are already on display along the national highway in Paete, Laguna, known as the country’s woodcarving capital. Roy Tomandao

foes seen for casino law

By Rio N. Araja

T

HE Quezon City council will welcome petitions before any court questioning a proposed ordinance on regulated gambling, if passed. in an interview, District 4 Councilor ivy Xenia lagman said: “i won’t mind if someone is opposing the measure.” “it is a welcome development if there is someone who would question the measure,” lagman told the Manila

Standard, when asked what the council would do once a petition for a temporary restraining order is filed.

“That would just be fine.

That way, we will be able to know their [true] sentiments about the measure,” she added.

lagman clarified she is not pushing for a casino to be established in the city. “But it is our job to legislate and impose strict regulations on any forms of gambling,” she added.

The solon said she is not taking District 2 Councilor Ranulfo ludovica’s stance of strongly opposing the ordinance against him. “i respect them. it is best to engage in a healthy discussion. after that, we are okay (and friends) again,” lagman said.

ludovica, in a previous interview, said gambling cannot be regulated, and that the city council’s proposed measure, once passed, could face a court battle for imposing an entrance fee of P500 per person for e-games parlors and P1,500 fee per person for casino.

He said the Philippine amusement and Gaming Corp.’s charter would not allow a local government to collect taxes and impose any other fees.

However, lagman said: “We are coming up with

such measure, not only for the purpose of a casino operation in the city but for all forms of gambling.”

Under the measure, a casino cannot be built without the issuance of a special permit from the city council. as far as she is concerned, lagman said billionaire Enrique Razon of Bloomberry Resorts Corp., the operator of Solaire Resort in Parañaque City, has already acquired a franchise to build a casino in Quezon City from Pagcor “two chairpersons

In BrIef

Fake news plagues ARMM officials

man who swindles grab drivers nabbed Manila Police District operatives have arrested a man who allegedly stole from Grab drivers after winning their trust.

Police said the victims identified the suspect as Romeo Francisco, who used the same modus operandi on all of them. He was arrested on Doroteo Jose Street in Manila, seemingly poised to victimize another driver.

Francisco would ask to be driven to las Piñas City, talk to them to win their trust, borrow their smartphones, and go to a gadget repair shop that would turn out to be non-existent, police said.

“He’s great at sweet-talking drivers, so they lose their smartphones,” said Police inspector Yolando Espina, deputy commander of the alvarez Police Community Precinct.

One victim, identified as Junar albong, told police the suspect had hypnotized him, because he just followed whatever Francisco told him. Bill Casas

By Nash B. Maulana COTaBaTO CiTY—a top port official of the autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is alarmed over the apparent “propagation” of misinformation ostensibly designed to destroy him and other regional officials.

Maguindanao port manager Hexsan Mabang said text messages apparently designed to generate “adverse media” circulated on his first week in office on Wednesday as concurrent aRMM regional port manager.

Mabang said “fake news posts on spurious Facebook accounts” started hitting him hard when aRMM Governor Mujiv Hataman designated him to lead all six ports in the region’s five provinces.

One text message purports that Mabang was “meeting miners in Davao City to collect money from (them),” and that Hataman should investigate [him].”

ahead of Pagcor chairperson andrea Domingo.”

She noted the city government has not yet received a formal application from Bloomberry.

The city council is legislating an ordinance on regulated gambling not because of the planned establishment of a P20-billion resort casino on Vertis north, agham Road in 2018, lagman said, “but because we do not want to be caught unawares of the situation just in case a casino is put up.”

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Thursday assured the public that fresh meat being sold at the Divisoria Public Market is safe for consumption.

Estrada pointed this out following the discovery and confiscation of 300 kilos of mishandled frozen meat from unlicensed street vendors a few meters away from the public market. “no meat traders and vendors in Divisoria Market sell meat and processed meat products that did not pass rigorous inspection. They all strictly follow proper meat-handling regulations,” Estrada said.

Estrada sought to clarify misleading reports that the 300 kilos of mishandled meat confiscated last Wednesday were found inside the Divisoria Market.

Citing a report from the city’s Veterinary inspection Board and Market administration Office, the mayor said ViB inspectors and those from the national Meat inspection Service stumbled upon the potentially contaminated meat from the makeshift stalls of street vendors at the corner of ilaya Street corner Claro M. Recto avenue, several meters away from the Divisoria Public Market.

“This is clear misinformation and damage has been done,” Estrada said, noting that the erroneous reports have unnecessarily alarmed the buying public and legitimate meat traders at Divisoria.

MaO chief annie Balboa said she was informed that the footage and photos aired by some media outlets were old files from earlier operations, not of Wednesday’s raid by ViB and nMiS personnel.

ONE-STOP SHOP. Cavite Rep. Strike Revilla (second from right) graces the opening of the new Bayad Center kiosk at Rustan’s Evia Lifestyle Center. ‘I still remember the City of Bacoor being the first LGU to have had the innovative concept of a one-stop shop (at the Bacoor Government Center), and to this day we are grateful to Bayad Center for agreeing to partner with us in bringing services closer to the city,’ Rep. Revilla said. Lino Santos

PDEA: 2 Ilocos Norte towns, 80 villages drug-free THE Philippine Drug Enforcement agency in ilocos norte has declared the towns of Carasi and Marcos, and 80 other barangays in ilocos norte, as completely free of illegal drugs.

The Dangerous Drugs Board can consider a local community as “drug-free” if supply of illegal drugs, transit

and trade, drug laboratories and warehouses, drug dens, marijuana cultivation sites, users and pushers, protectors, and financiers are absent. lanibel ancheta, provincial officer of PDEa ilocos norte, said the most effective method to eradicate illegal drugs in the province is through the implementa-

Cavite launches SIPAG project SilanG, Cavite—Police Senior Supt. William Segun, officer-in-charge of the Cavite Provincial Police Office, recently led the grand opening of SiPaG or Simula ng Pag-asa program at the Cavite State University campus here.

Segun was joined by Silang Vice Mayor aidel Belamide, General Mariano alvarez Vice Mayor Maricel Torres, barangay officials, volunteer pastors and 367 drug surrenderers of the “Carsigma” (Carmona, Silang

and Gen. Mariano alvarez) area.

The grand opening was initiated to sustain the Philippine national Police’s Community Based Recovery and Wellness Program for surrenderers, which includes SiPaG, a faith-based community rehabilitation program with pastors and volunteers as facilitators.

The activity was realized through the support of the local government executives of Carsigma, other concerned agencies and volunteer pastors.

tion of barangay clearings and community-based rehabilitation programs.

Earlier this month, President Rodrigo Duterte issued a memorandum directing PDEa to lead anti-drug operations after initially mandating the Philippine national Police to spearhead the said cam-

paign at the beginning of his term last year.

The latest directive was in accordance with the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs act of 2002 or Republic act 9165, which mandates PDEa to enforce the provisions of the law and serve as the implementing arm of the DDB.

Qc putting up own crematorium for poor THE Quezon City government is putting up its own crematorium to service the poor. in an interview, Ramon Matabang, head of the city civil registry, said the city’s first crematorium located inside Baesa public cemetery is undergoing construction “right now.”

“We are doing a comparative study to determine our fee for cremation against the fee for a private cremation,” he told the Manila Standard.

The facility will lie in a 200-square meter property of the city-owned Baesa cemetery on Quirino Highway. according to Matabang, the crematorium will be operational in December or in January 2018. The city government will set up at least two cremation machines, he said.

The civil registry personnel assigned to monitor three of the city’s public cemeteries shall be trained to operate the cremation machines, he added. Rio N. Araja

BEAUTY AID. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Camanava district directror Mariflor Liwanag (fifth from left) turns over to Cultural Affairs and Tourism officer Marianne Kathleen Mendoza the beauty care kits to be distributed to the beneficiaries (in background) of the Angking Ganda Program, a project of the Metro Manila Mayors’ Spouses and Mother Ricky Reyes in coordination with Tesda. With them are Reyes’ production manager Julius Gultiano, chairmen Jess Basmayor, of Barangay 187; Editha Labasbas, 178 and Rose Malapitan, 187. The 20-day program class will start this November. Jun David

Life

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

culture and media

fRIday, octoBeR 27, 2017

c1

OBJETS D'ART PURVEYORS. From left: Kelly Belbin of Gallery of Prints, Liza Esposo and Leo Esposo of Unang Panahon, Floy Quintos of Gallery Deus, Kit Roxas of Tawalisi Antiques, Nicole Whisenhunt of Whisenhunt Fine Jewellery, Maria Closa of Maria Closa Tribal Arts, designer Mark Wilson, Gigi Bermejo of Maria Angelica Rare Finds, and Buddy Lagdameo and Natalya Lagdameo.

T

HE organizers of Art Fair Philippines and Art in the Park introduce The Nonesuch: Fine Collectibles and Rarities, a new kind of fair that showcases a vetted selection of art, antiques, furniture, jewelry, books, maps and prints, rare objects and other collectibles in a unique setting.

The Nonesuch: Fine Collectibles and Rarities exhibition designer Gino Gonzales

exceptional showcase of

quaLity objects

From today till Oct. 29 at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City, The Nonesuch will be highlighted by the quality and rarity of the featured pieces.

“Those interested in art likely gravitate to singular, finely wrought, pieces that speak of heritage, carry interesting stories, and tell of the memories embedded in them,” said Trickie Lopa, co-founder of The Nonesuch. “We feel that after putting together events that focus on contemporary art, local enthusiasts will welcome a fair where they can revisit decorative art traditions. Launching The Nonesuch is a natural extension of what we do in terms of widening the exposure of Manila’s audience to craftsmanship,” Lopa added.

The three-day event will be staged by Gino Gonzales, one of Manila’s most creative set designers, who recently bagged the silver prize at the 2017 World Stage Design by the International Organisation of Sce-

nographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians (OISTAT) held in Taipei, Taiwan.

According to co-founder Lisa Periquet, The Nonesuch is patterned after well-known fine arts and antiques fairs such as Masterpiece London and The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht. “A wide range of top-quality objects will be displayed and offered for sale in a special setting that is designed to highlight their aesthetic, historical, and collectible aspects,” said Periquet.

Leading objets d’art purveyors will contribute special pieces for The Nonesuch.

The list of participating exhibitors include: Gallery Deus, Gallery Joshua, Gallery of Prints, Leon Gallery, Maria Angelica Rare Finds, Maria Closa, Natalya Lagdameo, Nicole Whisenhunt, Osmundo, Tawalisi Antiques, and Unang Panahon.

To complement the fair, the organizers also created The Nonesuch Salon – a speak-

ers’ series of talks that enhances visitor experience of the fair. The Nonesuch Salon will be held at the Nolledo/Hernandez and Garcia Villa function rooms of The Peninsula Manila.

“Aside from providing an opportunity to acquire choice pieces, The Nonesuch will also be a learning experience widened by a lecture series. It is our way of promoting connoisseurship, and art and design appreciation,” explains Dindin Araneta, also a co-founder of fair.

Emmanuel Breguet, Breguet France GM and the brand’s historian and archivist, will attend the event and speak on the brand’s heritage.

Other speakers are Floy Quintos, a specialist on traditional art and culture of the indigenous people of the Philippines. He will speak on the Ifugao bale; Ino Manalo, culture and heritage advocate and adminis-

trator, executive director of the National Archives, will speak on religious urnas, and; Prof. Ambeth F. Ocampo, Filipino historian, academic, journalist will speak on collecting and stewardship.

The Nonesuch: Fine Collectibles and Rarities is co-presented by Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Breguet, and sponsored by the Bank of the Philippine Islands and The Peninsula Manila.

Visitors can opt to purchase a three-day pass for P1,000 valid from Oct. 27 to 29, or a daily pass for P350. Ticket holders are also eligible to attend the Nonesuch Salon.

For more information on the choice pieces to be showcased at the fair, and for the final schedule of the lecture series, visit www. nonesuchfair.com or follow its social media accounts @nonesuchfair on Instagram and www.facebook.com/thenonesuchfair.

Philippine traditional musical instruments at SM City North Edsa

David Tarigan, Joe Kidd, and Alice Wong will present the dialogue on 'Independent Sound Archiving, Historicizing and Discourses' at the WSK 2017 conference

Japan Foundation Asia Center hosts new media art forum THE WSK: Festival of the Recently Possible - Asian New Media Art Forum was recently hosted by Japan Foundation Asia Center, at the School of Design and Arts (SDA) Cinema of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLSCSB) Center for Culture and Arts (CCA).

The conference was led by Hiroshi Yoshioka, an aesthetics professor from Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University and curator of Oggaki Biennale 2006, along with Manila-based new media practitioner and festival exhibiting assisting artist Tad Ermitano, and was moderated by WSK Exhibit curator Tengal Drilon.

Yesterday, Ermitano and Lena Cobangbang tackled Generations of Sound Practice in the Philippines, followed by the Scene Report on Sound Practices in Southeast Asia, featuring panelists Erick Calilan, Ryan Pangilinan, Markus Bulandus, Dexter Sy and PJ Ong. Today, Kim Ngoc and Nakagawa Katsushi explore the Scene Report on Sound Practices in Japan, Hanoi and Hong Kong, preceding the discussion on Jogjakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, with Indra Menus, Kok Siew-Wai, and Mark Wong.

On Saturday, Oct. 28, the dialogue on Independent Sound Archiving, Historicizing

and Discourses will be presented by David Tarigan, Joe Kidd, and Alice Wong.

These forums aim to trace these practices in the Philippines, across different generations and locations.

The talks are co-convened and organized by researchers in the specific topic, Dayang Yraola and Merv Espina, with a keen focus on Asia in the past decade.

WSK is the first and only annual international art festival dedicated to contemporary electronic, digital, and experimental art. Since its launch in 2009, it has explored the diverse range of cross-disciplinary artistic activities in the context of digital culture and performance with focus in collaborative projects among the Philippines, Southeast Asia and beyond. It aims to blur, deconstruct, and re-imagine the preconceived notions of how art culture and technology diverge, merge, and work together.

WSK 2017 is co-produced in partnership with official venue host De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, one of the nation’s top colleges pioneering in multimedia and new media arts program.

For inquiries, contact fetedelawsk@gmail.com or chesca@wsk.io.

MALLGOERS had the rare opportunity to view Philippine Traditional Musical Instruments up close during the recent exhibit at The Block at SM City North Edsa.

This joint partnership of SM and the Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. featured instruments from the collection of National Artists for Music Lucrecia Kasilag and Ramon Santos, including the Dabakan, Gangsa, and Bandurria. These instruments served as modes of communication during the olden times used to also create classic Filipino folk songs this present times.

This exhibit also featured different photo panels of other traditional musical instruments, giving mallgoers a glimpse of our rich musical tradition.

Another highlight of this exhibit was the performance of the PWU-JASMS Rondalla Group, who mesmerized the audience with their repertoire of Filipino classic folk songs. One of these was the folksong Kukudlong, which was arranged by Dr. Ramon Santos, who also graced the launch.

The Philippine Traditional Musical Instruments Exhibit is one of the many exciting cultural events in The PWU-JASMS Rondalla performing Filipino classic songs with their conductor, Noli Rodriguez at the Philippine Traditional Musical Instruments event SM City North Edsa.

The Gangsa, a musical instrument from the collection of Dr. Ramon Santos, is a flat gong which is usually played by a group of six by striking the surface of the gong with wooden sticks or with their bare hands.

Traditional musical instruments (from top) Kulintang, Togutok, and Bungkaka

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

…are talking about

...are not talking about Jake Zyrus In a recent interview, the artist formerly known as Charice said that he and his mother are now okay and they already ironed things out. But his mother Raquel belied her “former daughter’s” claim. After washing dirty linen in public and almost calling his mother an abusive and irresponsible parent with the way he told his story in an episode of Maalala Mo Kaya, he expected his mother would understand his situation.

Although people don’t know the entire truth, there’s something we are pretty certain about, that no matter how tough the situation is, you don’t do such thing to your mother.

Maine Mendoza The TV darling’s charisma seems to have never faded.

Suddenly, she’s all over the place again. The entire AlDub Nation, consisted of millions of fans that rabidly follow her on TV and social media, has been having a Twitter party since early Saturday last week following the premiere of the movie made for television, Love is, to the launch of her already sold out autobiography, Yup, I am that girl. Indeed, she just keeps on surprising people, including those who aren’t converts yet.

Mocha Uson She detests people who share and propagate fake news especially on social media. She calls them many names and even tries to put them in a very bad light by telling her minions to troll up any person or organization that she believes are sources of fake news. The funny thing is, Mocha has victimized and misinformed a lot of people, not just once but so many times, when she shared unverified stories on her Facebook page. And she doesn’t show any sort of remorse for the blunders she commits.

We’re very sorry, but we still have five years of our lives to endure this brick short of load.

Piolo Pascual Despite his fame, wealth, and packed schedules, this benevolent actor likes to pay it forward by helping others without making a big deal about it. We are all witness to Piolo’s philanthropic activities including his collaboration with big brands that support his foundation, Hebreo. This time, the actor extends his charitable efforts by donating P1 million to the rehabilitation of the war-torn Marawi. And for the record, he didn’t want this to reach the public. It was Robin Padilla who was so stoked for Piolo’s willingness to help his Muslim brothers.

Kim Chiu People got confused when she had a casual interview with Gretchen Ho recently. The latter asked about the state of her heart after being single for quite some time now. Kim responded with rather puzzling answer by asking where she got the notion that she’s single. Good thing, Gretchen was clever enough to rephrase the question. Did Kim just put herself in a protective blanket on TV to conceal her being unable to stay in a stable relationship? Well, your guess is as good as mine.

Bea Binene Probably unsatisfied with just appearing behind the camera, she also moves behind the scenes to promote environmental awareness.

Little did many people know, the Kapuso star spends her free time out of town marveling at nature’s wonders. As a result, she even produced and starred in an advocacy film that tackles climate change. The film premiered last week at QCinema and instantly received positive reviews. You see, at young, Bea has already found her purpose in life.

‘SESAME STREET’ on Knowledge Channel MORE sunny days ahead as Sesame Street, the longestrunning American children’s show, airs on Knowledge Channel.

The home to well-loved characters such as Big Bird, Bert, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Ernie, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, has taught children across the world how to become smarter, stronger, and kinder with the life lessons for over 40 years.

“A lot of Filipinos grew up watching ‘Sesame Street’ and they have learned valuable lessons from the show. This time around, Knowledge Channel would like to extend that enriching childhood experience brought by Sesame Street to the new generation of Filipino kids by airing it in crystal clear digital TV,” Danie

Sedilla, Knowledge Channel channel head said.

The show introduces a new character, Armando, a Puerto Rican who lives on the street, to show that it is still inclusive of varied cultures, as well as a new segment called “Cookie’s Crumbly Pictures,” which shows Cookie Monster in different situations as he learns how to control his emotions.

Adding excitement to learning on Sesame Street are the visits form Hollywood artists such as Charlize Theron, Usher, Anna Kendrick, Forrest Whittaker, and Pentatonix.

Meanwhile, Kapamilya stars have joined forces with The talented kids of "Team Yey" with the beloved "Sesame Street" character Elmo some of the Sesame Street characters to excite kids with milestone for Filipino kids of Darren Espanto, Ylona Ilacad, Krissha Viaje, Garcia, Bailey May, Kyle Echarri, and Yeng the airing of Sesame Street all ages.

Aguas, Alexa Constantino have teamed up Jolina Magdangal, Nash in the Philippines, marking a

to add a Pinoy touch to iconic Sesame Street opening song “Can You Tell Me How to get to Sesame Street?.”

Elmo, one of the show’s most loved characters recently flew into the country for a fun collaboration with the kids of Team YeY, the only original TV series for kids airing on YeY, the premium entertainment channel for kids on ABS-CBN TVplus.

Along with Team YeY hosts Nhizky Calma, Sam Shoaf, Noel Comia, Athena Guanzon, AJ Urquia, Raven Cajuguiran, Mitch Naco, and Sophia Reola, Elmo shot a Kidieoke, a singalong video for kids, and ‘TawaTime,’ short segments of jokes kids can share, for kids to watch across ABSCBN channels 2, YeY, and

Knowledge Channel.

“We are thrilled to be reaching a new generation of children in the Philippines.

From the very beginning, Sesame Street has always helped kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. With each new season, we continue to develop new content based on the latest research. Our mission is to educate and entertain, and to cover all the topics that families care about in the Philippines and around the world,” said Will De Pippo, assistant director for International Licensing at Sesame Street.

Sesame Street airs Monday to Friday at 7:30 a.m., with replays at 6 p.m. on Knowledge Channel, available on ABSCBN TVplus, SKYcable, and SKYdirect.

‘DAHIL MAY ISANG IKAW’ in Colombia COLOMBIA is experiencing heartfelt Filipino stories with ABS-CBN’s Dahil May Isang Ikaw, dubbed in Spanish and known as Corazones Cruzados.

This marks the entry of the Kapamilya network to the Latin American country via the free-to-air TV network Caracol.

Starring Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa, the 2009 series is the first Filipino content to air in the said country and the second to air in the Latin American region, following the successful telecast of the Puentes De Amor (Bridges of Love), with Rosales and Paulo Avelino and Maja Salvador, in Peru.

“Our shows already reached so many territories and I realized how important

it is to be part of these especially on a global scale.

We actually touch not just the hearts of Filipinos but also these people all over the world through our soap operas. I am so honored to be part of all these,” said Rosales, now dubbed as the Asian Drama King as foreign audiences from Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America continue to patronizes series he stars in.

In 2010, Dahil May Isang Ikaw earned an International Emmy nomination for the best telenovela category.

The story revolves around lawyers Miguel Ramirez (Jericho) and Ella Alferos (Kristine), long lost childhood friends reunited with each other after many years only to find out that their respective adoptive

parents shared a painful past. Also in the powerhouse cast were Lorna Tolentino, Gabby Concepcion, John Estrada, Karylle, and Sid Lucero.

ABS-CBN’s content is made available across other territories through ABS-CBN International Distribution. Since ABSCBN ventured into the content distribution business in 2012, the company has been recognized in the global arena as a reliable foreign content provider and has been a premier source of high quality Filipino programming in over 50 territories worldwide.

ABS-CBN’s Pangako Sa’yo, starring Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa, remains to be the most distributed Filipino

drama and the first to be adapted in a different country particularly in Cambodia.

ABS-CBN is also first to penetrate the Latin American region with the airing of Bridges of Love in Peru’s leading TV station PanAmericana.

To date, ABS-CBN has sold over 30,000 hours of content worldwide. ABSCBN continues to produce high-caliber programs and movies with cast and storylines that appeal to various cultures and wider viewers.

ABS-CBN, home to the Philippines’ top-rating TV programs, box-office films, and best-selling books and music, is rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company and continues to expand its services and businesses to

address the different needs of Filipinos worldwide.

It continues to be in the service of the Filipino by harnessing the power of transformative content and world-class talent to Filipinos and global audiences using relevant entertainment platforms and technologies to help strengthen the Filipino family, promote self-advancement, contribute to nation-building, and bring cultural pride to Filipinos.

Jericho Rosales earns the moniker Asian Drama King following the premiere of his TV series across and the region, in Africa and in Latin America

Motoring

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

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Grace and grit A

By Diana Noche

t the Circuit in Makati City, a stack of machismo past, recontextualized, and reborn, did not fail to elicit enthusiastic optical response. The reconstructed cars—one of the oldest, a gleaming ecru Volkswagen Karmann Ghia 1600—have unquestionably been lavished with fastidious artisanship and focused creativity. They were simply beautiful.

Drop-dead beautiful.

What exactly grabs the eyes of those who trooped to the event called Lord of the Wheels Retrospect and organized by the United Car Clubs of the Philippines, more than the cars’ diamond-sharp appearances is clearly whiffs of nostalgia, a recollection of the Jaguars, Mercedes Benzes, and Fords of the past. From a once hunk of petrified iron and steel, timescarred with age and careless overuse these aesthetic and

details entirely brought in from Wisconsin, USA then assembled in San Jose, Batangas. Its fiberglass body has not undergone the slightest conversion and instead retained its original Dune Buggy young appeal.

One of Volkswagen’s babies of yesteryears, the 1968 Karmann Ghia owned by Neal Medrano, is so much a rare sight during these days compact economy cars that in weaving in and out of complex metro traffic is a true attention-getter. Brash and energetic, the sleek silhouette knifes itself across roads like a seamless work of art.

Arvin Barcela, owner and prime designer/renovator of a 1986 AWII equipped with 4AGZE power, almost totally did his car’s metamorphosis— from the original body to its newly enhanced profile and contoured back fins for a much improved aerodynamics stability.

With true grace and grit these reborn macho machines are the most convincing proof that vintage cars will always have their irresistible desirability. No argument there.

technological innovations and body modifications now make a strong presence as they rip across any road with no visible effort.

A delicious apple green-colored thing, easily the crowd favorite, the 1974 Volkswagen IMP owned by Emmanuel Mendoza has undergone engine transformation from its original 1300 to an upgraded 2300 and brags itself up with a set of 15x275 tires and touches of magnesium for

MDPPA road safety reminder as Undas draws near

Tesla introduces pick-up truck

UNDAS, the yearly Philippine holiday commemorating loved ones who have passed on, is only a few weeks away. With the coming holiday, many Filipinos are expected to go home to their provinces to visit their dearly departed, troop to the cemeteries in the city with family or take advantage of the opportunity to grab a quick getaway.

The Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association, Inc. (MDPPA) hopes to remind motorcycle riders to practice road safety this coming Undas.

Magnus Mateo, MDPPA Road Safety Committee Vice Chairman, shares some tips to guide motorcycle riders as they go out to be with family and friends in the cemetery or the provinces: Ability. Motorcycle riders should know how to properly ride a motorcycle. First-time motorcycle owners are encouraged to take riding lessons. A road safety driving center in Metro Manila teaches would-be riders

Text by Dino Ray V. Directo III

first how to ride a bicycle properly and safely. Once they pass the bicycle driving test, students are taught how to ride an electric bike and then advance to learning the proper way to ride a motorcycle after passing the electric bike test.

Visibility. Motorcycle riders should ensure they are always seen by other motorists on the road. Avoid changing lanes or merging on other vehicles’ blind spots. Motorcycles are small so riders should take extra caution when changing lanes or squeezing between vehicles.

Predictability. Avoid sudden stops and immediate left or right turns as these will endanger the rider and passenger. Sudden stops are known to throw the rider over the front of the motorcycle.

Dependability. Always check the motorcycle’s condition before any trip, whether it is a long ride or just a short one. Make sure the motorcycle’s chain or belt is moving freely. Always do regular maintenance of chain-driven

bikes, and ensure the work includes cleaning and waxing of the chain. Also check for any oil or other fluid leakage anywhere on the motorcycle. Have the bike checked by an authorized motorcycle repairman if there’s a leakage. Remember to also check the brakes, tires, oil and controls.

Variability. Expect the unexpected. Always practice defensive driving. Give proper road courtesy but do not expect other

road users to provide the same treatment. Also share the road with other road elements such as other vehicles and pedestrians.

These reminders should be followed not only during holidays or long rides but every day, according to Mateo. For emergencies on the road, call 117 to alert the Philippine National Police (PNP) or 320 to get assistance from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Don’t be spooked with these common car troubles IF YOU think getting stuck in traffic is al- other parts or worse, more expensive repairs ready bad, then pray that your car never for your car. breaks down while you, along with thouDon’t dismiss the change in temperature. sands of other souls, are traveling to your If you notice that your engine is heating up respective Halloween holiday destinations.

Not only are the roads jammed like one giant parking lot, commuting will be like wrestling a hundred zombies.

So before that happens, follow these simple reminders so you won’t have any horrifying road trip stories to tell: Don’t let your battery die. Your car’s battery is similar to a human heart—it gives you the power to ignite your engine and push you to keep moving. Thus, neglecting it can result to serious problems and complications. Check your battery regularly and make sure your terminal connections remain clean, snug, and protected. Should you notice any sign of corrosion or leakage, this means your battery is no longer functioning as well as it should.

Stay alert. If your car behaves in a bizarre manner, like screeching, squealing, and emitting a weird smell, these are common indicators that your brake pads and shoes require inspection. Have it checked by a Hyundai mechanic immediately, because worn brake pads can lead to damages to

faster than usual, an empty coolant tank might be the culprit. If your car is leaking fluid—this could mean that you have a leak somewhere in your system, which can lead to more serious issues.

Follow steps 1 to 3 and trust the authorized experts. “Stranger danger” is also applicable to your car, because using fake parts or trusting run-of-the-mill shops may cause further damage to your ride AND blow your savings. The good news is, Hyundai’s PreHalloween Preventive Maintenance Service promo is NO TRICKS, ALL TREATS. 10% off on parts Limited edition freebie Package 3: Those with out-of-warranty units can enjoy 30% off on all parts But that’s not all! One Hyundai Family (OHF) members can enjoy twice the fun, because they’re entitled to an additional 10% discount.

This promo, as part of the Gusto Campaign, is Hyundai’s way of making sure that you get more out of life by enjoying the holidays to the fullest.

Hyundai’s NO TRICKS ALL TREATS runs from October 23 to 28, 2017 at authorized dealer service workshops. Please visit hyundai.ph for full promo mechanics.

WHILE the trucking industry is eagerly awaiting the launch of Tesla’s electric truck, the automotive industry is abuzz with the rumored introduction of an allelectric pick-up truck. For years, CEO Elon Musk has been dropping hints that his company is developing an electric pick-up, but was quick to answer that priorities at the moment were the launch of Tesla’s third generation vehicles, the Model 3, Model Y and the all electric “Nikola” electric truck.

Questions have been thrown into the air because earlier this year, Musk said that an unveiling of a concept electric pick-up will take place between six to nine months and a mock up will be ready by end of this year. Musk also revealed that production will commence within the next three to four years (2019-2020).

Not much is known about the vehicle at this point and we are stuck with only unofficial renderings from artists, to help us envision what a Tesla pickup truck could look like. Additionally, Musk did say that Tesla will likely build an all-electric cargo van on the chassis that it is developing for its pickup truck.

What will it look like?

We have seen how sleek Tesla cars are and we are left wondering how will it look like? Tesla has carved a name for itself by blending luxury with performance and cutting-edge technology, all things we’d expect in a truck offering, as well. Its front fascia blends a number of familiar Tesla features, and uses a similar grille design to that of the pre-facelift model S, though freshened up a bit with a livelier shape. The headlights are instantly recognizable and the hood is a macho take

on the swoopier lids of the current Teslas. A rising beltline and big Turbine wheels give it a distinctively sporty look. The stamped tailgate and flared fenders give this otherwise mold-breaking truck a whiff of pickup traditionalism.

While the look of a truck is a lot less important than what it can do, there are people choosing the better looking one of the bunch. The upcoming Tesla truck would likely borrow a lot from the S and X models which means a grille-less front end, slim headlights and a really subtle, yet aggressive, front end. The truck will likely use a bed integrated into the chassis and it would actually use a dedicated chassis which will also include the battery pack for extra strength.

The 2018 Tesla Pickup Truck would have to be quite impressive in order to compete with its competitors from Ford, GM and Toyota. Judging from the looks of it, this electric pick-up just might give its competitors a serious run for their money.

Musk is coy in revealing if his pick-up will either be rear or all wheel drive. Rumored output should be north of 400 horsepower and well over 500 lb-ft of torque across the range. The battery pack is expected to be at least double that of the Model X, so more than 160 kWh. This should give it a range of around 350 to 500 miles when empty.

The key differences will be when ti will have to tow something. The truck will have to offer at least 100 miles of range when towing its maximum capacity which is actually expected to be over 10,000 pounds. This would definitely give Ford and GM a serious fight for a slice of the consumer pie and it would make Tesla interesting for the pick-up market.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Edi tor DIN O DIREC TO III A ss t . Edi tor

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Motoring

Subaru’s Viziv sports concept ups the ante of AWD technology.

Toyota’s Tj Cruiser is an eco-friendly replacement for the Fj Cruiser.

TMS: Hottest ticket in town Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

T

okyo—The media and the public got a glimpse of the future, and judging from the concept cars on display and pronouncements from captains of the industry, hybrid and fuel cell powered cars will be available sooner than we think.

This year’s staging of the Tokyo Motor Show, one of the World’s largest and most highly anticipated motoring event is the Japanese car industry’s opportunity to showcase its latest developments and innovations to the global stage. Everything on display at the Tokyo Big Sight caters to everyone on the lookout for the high technology, innovative design and the outright weird.

Powerhouse Honda Motors drew first blood with their Urban EV and Sports EV Concept cars. Takahiro Hachigo, President of Honda Japan unveiled two of the show’s most exciting concept cars. Both the Sports and Urban EV Concept made their global debut at this year’s Motor Show.

Both and Sports and Urban EV incorporates a newly developed EV dedicated platform that suggests the future direction in terms of design and technology of mass

produced electric vehicles. Their compact proportions make both concepts ideal for modern city driving.

Dominant Toyota Motors unveiled the rumored replacement for the FJ Cruiser, the Tj Cruiser, a crossover concept that represents the harmonious balance between the roominess of a cargo van with the powerful design of an SUV. The Tj Cruiser is expected to be powered by a 2.0 liter hybrid powerplant.

Suzuki on the other hand handed a dash of wierdness with their futuristic e-Survivor , a Buck Rogers style rendtion of what the popular Jimny might look like.

The e-Survivor is built on a robust ladder frame which maintains its drivability. It offers new possibilities for an all electric sub-compact SUV. For AWD patrons, Subaru took off the covers of its Sti lineup with the Viziv Performance

Suzuki’s e-Survivor is weird looking but fully functional

Takahiro Hachigo, President of Honda Japan presents to the media the Honda Sports EV concept

Honda’s Urban EV concept is compact and perfect fir urban driving

Concept leading the charge. The Viziv is a sports sedan concept that personifies Subaru’s vision for making cars that offer peace of mind and the joy of driving. The

sports concept is characterized by an hexagonal grille, hawkeye headlamp clusters with a large air intake on the hood which gives away its performance persona.

Blade forays into movie making BLADE, the country’s largest automotive accessories lifestyle store is set to raise the bar and set new standards in the retail industry by way of a movie. Based on a real life love story, Blade’s Timog Love Story movie revolves around a woman named Nelia (played by Michelle Vito) who works as a saleswoman at Blade. The lead character then falls in love with Delfin, a mechanic, whose character is played by Jon Lucas.

The movie promises mixed emotions which is Tuwa, Luha and Saya, “This movie could also mean true love story depending on how the audience would interpret once they’ve already seen the film,” explains Albert Go, marketing manager of Blade Autocenter. Blade aims to reach a broader spectrum of the market with this feel good movie and promises an enjoyable experience. In a private screening hosted by Robertson Sy, President and CEO of Blade Autocenter at the SQ Film Lab in Mandaluyong city, the movie made this writer rekindle his courtship and how emotionally uplifting it is to experience young love. It is a movie set in Seventies, and the scenes would revolve around flashbacks of the young couple, and the present time where the “older” Nelia eventually reunites with Delfin at the end of the movie. It is a roller coaster of emotions but in the end true love prevails.

“This would be the same experience we’ve managed to provide our clients once they shop at Blade. The movie also has veteran actors and actresses led by Boots AnsonRoa, Freddie Webb and Rey “PJ” Abellana with the special participation of James Deakin in a cameo role. The movie is directed by Roderick Lindayag.

You will know that this is a car guy movie because aside from the veteran actors and actresses, the cars are the stars.

The cars of Aftermarket personality Sam Liuson are prominent in the movie such as his Evolution Pajero and customized Toyota FJ Cruiser, as well as “old school” cars provided

by Manny Martinez. “It’s a movie for car enthusiasts and romantics who believe in true love,” says Tan, who also has a cameo role in the movie as the Blade store manager.

With over 50 stores nationwide strategically located in SM, Robinsons and Ayala Malls, Blade is recognized as the country’s largest automotive accessories and parts retail chain.

All of their stores carry globally recognized brands such as Sparco, OMP, Goodyear, Polaroid and Chupa Chups. They also offer a complete line of car care products such as Blade signature products, Sonax, Mother’s, Meguiar’s and Wurth among others. “As an automotive lifestyle store, this movie is our way pf giving back our blessings to local consumers and loyal customers,” adds Go. Dino Ray V. Directo III