Manila Standard - 2017 December 6 - Wednesday

Parish priest gunned down

By John Paolo Bencito

VOL. XXXI • NO. 292 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

NPA GUERRILLAS. Maoist rebels from the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, declared by President Rodrigo Duterte (upper right) Tuesday as a “terror organization” following the collapse of peace talks, march during the turnover ceremony of captured government soldiers to officials and peace advocates in the hinterlands of Davao del Sur in this file photo taken on April 19, 2017. AFP

A CATHOLIC priest and a Christian pastor, believed to be sympathetic to the FATHER PAEZ causes of the Communist Party of the Philippines were shot dead in separate incidents this week—a move branded by leftists as part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown against militants.

Roman Catholic activist-priest Next page

CPP-NPA now terrorist Dengvaxia sale stopped; DoH seeks P3.5-b refund Palace cites Human Security Act,

fierce clashes mark proclamation

By Macon RamosAraneta

DISTRIBUTION SUSPENDED. Members of the women’s group Gabriela display placards during a rally Tuesday in front of the Department of Health following the suspension of the sale and distribution of Sanofi’s dengue vaccine Dengvaxia. The Philippines suspended this after the French pharmaceutical giant last week warned it could worsen symptoms for people who had not been previously infected. Norman Cruz

By John Paolo Bencito and Francisco Tuyay

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THE government on Tuesday suspended the sale and distribution of Sanofi’s dengue vaccine and may demand that the French pharmaceutical giant refund the P3.5 billion spent to procure the drug.

More than 733,000 schoolchildren have already received the Dengvaxia vaccine under the world’s first public immunization program for dengue that was suspended Friday, following Sanofi’s warning that the drug could worsen symptoms of people who had not previously been infected.

Authorities have now ordered a blanket suspension for private use as well.

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HE government has officially declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army a terrorist organization following the collapse of peace talks between the government and the rebels.

SC affirms Cops back in the saddle in war on drugs legality of

By John Paolo and Rey martial law Bencito Requejo in Mindanao

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court on Tuesday affirmed with finality the legality of President Rodrigo Duterte’s martial law declaration in Mindanao.

Voting 10-3-1, the high court sustained its decision in July dismissing three consolidated petitions seeking to nullify Proclamation 216 for their lack of factual basis.

The high court denied the motion for reconsideration filed by petitioners led

by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman for mootness and lack of merit.

The high court said there was sufficient basis for the declaration of martial law in Mindanao and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus there after the start of the Next page

THE Philippine National Police is back in the bloody crackdown against illegal drugs, Malacañang announced on Tuesday.

In a still unnumbered memorandum circular, President Rodrigo Duterte said he had directed the PNP “to resume providing active support” to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, which still remains as the overall lead agency in the

campaign against illegal drugs, citing “public clamor.”

Aside from the PNP, other law enforcement agencies, including the National Bureau of Investigation, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Postal Corp., will resume providing active support to the PDEA, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said.

“Take note though that the language of the memorandum is that they will resume, I quote, ‘They will resume, providing active

support in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, in the conduct of anti-illegal drug operations.’ Meaning, PDEA remains the lead but the PNP will again participate in the anti-illegal drug operation,” Roque said.

In a related development: • Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Tuesday asked government lawyers why the Duterte administration’s war on drugs was targeting small-time drug suspects and Next page

Jeepney strike leader arrested; Poe assails move

By Rio N. Araja and Macon RamosAraneta AUTHORITIES arrested transport leader George San Mateo of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide at the Quezon City Hall of Justice after he arrived to post bail for violating the Public Service Law on Tuesday.

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San Mateo was detained at the Quezon City Police District’s Station 10 in Kamuning.

ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, along with Piston members, accompanied San Mateo to post a P4,000 bail before the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court’s Branch 43, but police prevented San Mateo

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from proceeding to the court.

Misael Melinas of the No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition slammed the court’s issuance of an arrest warrant on San Mateo.

Assistant City Prosecutor Marvelous Madamda of the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office recommended the filing of the case before the Metropolitan Trial Court and a bail of P4,000. Next page

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The declaration, via a Presidential Proclamation, coincided with reports on intensified anti-insurgency operations by the military against the NPA which sparked renewed fierce clashes leaving at least eight rebels, including a pastor and two soldiers dead in Luzon and Mindanao Sunday and Monday, security authorities said.

A Malacañang statement said President Rodrigo Duterte had declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s

Army a terrorist organization following the collapse of peace talks between the government and the communist rebels.

According to Secretary Jesus Dureza of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the next step is for Secretary of Justice Vitaliano Aguirre II to file a petition for “proscription” in court under the provisions of the Human Security Act for a judicial affirmation.

An existing law—Sec 17 of RA 9372, or “Proscription of Terrorist Organizations,

Association, or Group of Persons”—says “any organization, association, or group of persons organized for the purpose of engaging in terrorism, or which, although not organized for that purpose, actually uses the acts to terrorize mentioned in this Act or to sow and create a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace in order to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand shall, upon application of the Department of Justice before a competent Regional Trial Court, with due notice and opportunity to be heard given to the organization, association, or group of persons concerned, be declared as a terrorist and outlawed organization, association, or group of persons by the said Regional Trial Court.”

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana welcomed Next page

‘No Sereno hand in benefits release delay’

By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz THE camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Tuesday rejected the claim in the impeachment complaint against her that she was liable for the delay in the release of the survivorship benefits of the spouses of deceased justices and judges.

Lawyer Jojo Lacanilao said there was no factual basis for the allegation made by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon in his impeachment complaint that Sereno sat on the applications for survivorship benefits before her office.

“The Chief Justice did not intentionally delay action on petitions for retirement and/or survivorship benefits, which applications are in the first place required to be decided

ALLEGATIONS SUPPORTED. Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, in his testimony Tuesday before the House justice committee in the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, says the chief magistrate allowed the delay in the release of retirement and survivorship benefits for justices and judges and their spouses. But he would refrain from ‘making any conclusions or opinions’ in the course of his narration of events and facts. Manny Palmero by the Supreme Court as a collegial body,” Lacanilao said in a statement.

He made his statement even as Court Administrator Midas Marquez confirmed Gadon’s allegations that Sereno was responsible for

the long delays in the release of the benefits due the surviving spouses of deceased judges and justices.

Testifying before the House’s justice committee, Marquez said that, before the Next page

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PH eyes pullout from 'meddling' ICC

By John Paolo Bencito

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HE Philippines might bring up its threat of possibly withdrawing from the International Criminal Court if it continued to meddle with the country’s domestic affairs, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said on uesday.

He made the threat as he was set to address state parties in his visit to New York on Dec. 7.

“We agreed to be a member of the ICC because of the principle of complementarity, that the court will only

Guerrero's term at AFP to be extended THE term of Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero as chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be “extended” despite hitting the mandatory retirement age of 56 on Dec. 17, a senior Cabinet official confirmed Tuesday.

“He will be extended but I will await the President’s order to see how long the extension would be,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told the Manila Standard in a text message.

The decision follows the joint command conference of the military and the police attended by Duterte himself, held at Malacañang.

Guerrero, a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Maharlika” Class of 1984, only received his fourth star last Nov. 9.

His predecessor, now Interior Undersecretary Eduardo Año, had his term as AFP chief extended by President Rodrigo Duterte himself.

Guerrero, then commander of the Davao-based Eastern Mindanao Command, only assumed command of the 130,000-strong Armed Forces of the Philippines last Oct. 26.

John Paolo Bencito

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After his temporary detention at Station 10, San Mateo was allowed to post a bail before the Acting Executive Judge Joel Lopena.

An arraignment is set on Jan. 24, 2018.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board filed the case against San Mateo for “knowingly and willfully instructed members of Piaron to conduct a nationwide strike in February 2017 to protest the public utility vehicle modernization program.”

The Palace expressed satisfaction over San Mateo’s arrest, saying the right to free expression and protest of jeepney driers are limited when they are holders of a certificate of public convenience.

Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said jeepney drivers and operators should directly engage with the relevant government bodies instead of holding “illegal” transport strikes.

“The freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by the Constitution, subject to limitations set by law. And one [limitation] is, if you’re a holder of a certificate of public convenience, you can’t engage in a transport strike,” Roque said.

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creation of the Special Committee on Civil Service and Retirement Benefits and two related TWGs, the high court normally issued its decision on the petitions for such benefits in two to three weeks’ time.

In his impeachment complaint against Sereno, Gadon claims that Sereno violated the constitution by delaying action on the petitions for the release of such benefits.

After the committee was created and the TWG was or-

exercise jurisdiction if our courts are unwilling or unable to exercise jurisdiction on any crime cognizable by the International Criminal Court,” Roque, who is one of the few Asians qualified to serve as defense coun-

CPP-NPA...

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sels before the international court, told reporters.

“To violate the principle of complementarity would be to violate the very basis of our consent to be bound by the Rome Statute, and if this will happen, then there may be a possibility that the Philippines, like the three other African states, may withdraw from the Rome Statute of the ICC,” Roque said.

Roque will be attending the Assembly of State Parties, the ICC’s management oversight and legislative body composed of representatives of the states that

Duterte’s signing of the proclamation declaring the rebels a terrorist group in accordance with the Human Security Act and international laws..

In a statement, Lorenzana said: “We have long since maintained that the CPP-NPA is a blight to the Filipino people, with its members engaging in constant criminal activities and wanton acts of terror.

“The government has walked the extra mile to accommodate them by resuming the talks. But they have imposed unreasonable conditions and continued their criminal acts such as kidnappings, attacks on the military and the police, destruction of property, and extortion.

“Clearly their aim is not the welfare of the Filipino but the pursuit of their selfish agenda. Henceforth, they will be called Communist Terrorists.”

Lorenzana added: “We enjoin the Filipino people to work closely with the military, police and local officials to safeguard our communities from the violence, treachery, and opportunism that the CPP-NPA are known for.”

AFP spokesman Maj. Gen Restituto Padilla also issued a statement: “The

have ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute.

Rights group Amnesty International said the International Criminal Court must urgently open a preliminary examination into the crimes against humanity, including the slaughter of dozens of children, committed as part of the Duterte administration’s bloody “war on drugs.”

“It is time for international justice mechanisms to step in and end the carnage on Philippine streets by bringing the perpetrators to justice. The coun-

Commander-in-Chief’s proclamation declaring the CPP-NPA as a Terrorist organization is a consequence of the end of formal peace talks.

“The government has done all it could to attain a much sought after just and sustainable peace throughout our country. Despite the numerous show of sincerity and compromises of the Government, it is apparent that the CPPNPA-NDF never aspired for peace but merely used it as an opportunity to fulfill it’s selfish ends.

“This proclamation clearly classifies and labels the group for what they really are and will simplify military and law enforcement operations as efforts against lawless elements and enemies of the state. “This will certainly ensure that the AFP can now fully execute and perform its mandate without reservation and restrictions.

“Having said that, the AFP’s Focused Military Operations will now become even more precise, simple and effective. We can now address without any hesitation and with all the means and resources available to us the increasing criminal and economic sabotage activities of these terrorists.”

The heavy death toll incurred by the NPA occurred at the tri-boundary of

try’s judiciary and police have proven themselves both unwilling and unable to hold the killers in the ‘war on drugs’ to account,” said James Gomez, Amnesty International’s regional director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

In January 2017, Amnesty International recommended that, unless Philippine authorities took key steps to end the drug-related killings, the ICC should open a preliminary examination into the crimes.

Thousands of people have been killed by the police

Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato after army troops seized a large guerrilla base, killing seven rebels and wounding two others.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, commander of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion, said among the rebels killed who were confirmed by Datu Dandee Denian, a tribal leader from Tulale village, were Datu Victor Denian and two of the latter’s sons while the wounded were Jeffrey Denian, 18.

At the height of the intense fighting, 10 rebels of Platoon Arado of Guerrillas Front 73, who were a kilometer away from the seized NPA camp and scene of fighting, forced to surrender to the military.

Cabunoc said the fighting erupted after NPA terrorists engaged the troops of the 27th Infantry Battalion near a rebel enclave in Sitio Datal Bonglangon, Ned village, Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, resulting in two soldiers dead and seven rebels dead.

Recovered at the scene of fighting were two firearms and subversive documents, while the military arranged a tribal burial rite for the dead rebels who were from the Dulangan Monobo tribe.

In Oriental Mindoro, a member of the Kings Glory Ministry in Brgy. Don

Pedro, Mansalay, whom the military claimed was a member of the NPA, was killed in an encounter with army troops at Sitio Bait, Panaytayan town.

Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Commander of the 203rd Infantry Brigade, identified the slain pastor as Jovelito Quinones, 57.

Quinones was in the company of seven motorcycle-riding comrades traversing the national highway of Panaytayan town when chanced upon by troops conducting combat patrol at about 1:55 p.m.

An exchange of gunfire ensued between the group of Quinones and the troops, killing the pastor on the spot while his companions escaped.

“It’s a legitimate encounter—based on our intelligence operations. He is an active NPA member,” Parlade said.

Clashes also erupted in Ilocos Sur and Abra between NPA rebels and army troops wounding undetermined insurgents.

So far, the series of an intensified military operations against the NPAs in two weeks of fighting across the country bring to 25 rebels dead and dozens of wounded after Duterte terminated peace talks with the communist party.

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In the 1980s, Paez was also a leader of the Central Luzon Alliance for a Sovereign Philippines (CLASP) and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Central Luzon, which campaigned for the removal of the US military bases and against the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

Tucay, an organizer of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson-Nueva Ecija was arrested in March this year by soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 56th infantry battallion from his house in Carranglan.

On Sunday, Lovelito Quiñones, 57, a pastor of Kings Glory Ministry in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, was shot by members of the Regional Mobile Group in Sitio Anapla, Brgy. Don Pedro.

According to the victim’s family, Quinones was on his motorcycle on his way home,

when he was allegedly shot by still unknown assailants coming from the RMG. While the 4th Infantry Division alleged there was an encounter in the area, the 203rd Brigade released another statement insisting that the pastor was a member of the New Peoples’ Army.

Karapatan said that the attacks even on the religious are part of the “chilling effect” of the Duterte regime’s fascist policies and pronouncements.

“Indeed, this fascist and terrorist regime has turned the entire country into a killing field, which renders nobody safe. Priests, doctors, lawyers, students, human rights defenders, peasant and indigenous communities, and urban poor communities are open targets by the State’s security forces, emboldened and reassured by their commander-inchief,” Palabay said.

A top ranking police official said a special task group has been formed to investigate Paez’s killing.

The leftist farmers group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas condemned the killing of Paez.

“It’s like Arroyo’s Oplan Bantay Laya all over again when political killing of activists happened daily. The worst is yet to come and we are bracing our ranks for it,” said Antonio Flores, KMP secretary general.

“This criminal and fascist government will spare no one, not even the religious and people of the cloth. Everyone that it ‘red tagged’ as ‘legal front’ or supporters and members of the New People’s Army [NPA] are moving targets. Paez is the first Catholic priest killed under the Duterte government,” Flores said. With Vito Barcelo, Bill Casas and PNA

Dengvaxia...

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The Food and Drug Administration, a regulatory agency under the Health department, said in a public advisory on Monday it had pulled the vaccine from the market to “protect the general public.”

The FDA ordered Sanofi to immediately suspend the sale, distribution and marketing of Dengvaxia and withdraw it from the market pending compliance with FDA directives.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday that the government would ask Sanofi Pasteur to refund the P3.5 billion the government paid for the vaccine used in its vaccination program.

At present, some P1.4 billion worth of vaccines are still stored in the cold storage facility of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the government has no choice but to follow the Procurement Law, which compels it to demand a refund of taxpayer’s money paid to the French manufacturer of ineffective dengue vaccines.

“RA 9184 has an anti-lemon provision. It is discussed extensively in Section 62, which deals with faulty, defective

substandard goods and services. The bottom line is that the government is entitled to restitution,” Recto said.

Sanofi’s announcement has caused major fears, particularly for parents of children immunized in the public program.

More than 1,000 people in the Philippines died from dengue last year, out of more than 211,000 suspected cases, according to the government.

Sanofi on Monday sought to allay fears about the new study that led it to release the warning, saying Dengvaxia would not cause anyone who was immunized to die.

But local authorities have given conflicting messages on the safety of the vaccine.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Sunday that the government would “leave no stone unturned” in making those responsible for putting “hundreds of thousands of young lives at risk” accountable for their actions.

The Justice department then on Monday formally launched an inquiry over “the alleged danger to public health.”

But Roque also said on Monday there was “no danger” for people who had been immunized with Dengvaxia.

“The worst that can happen is for those who have not had

dengue before... they may get infected with dengue but falling under our previous classification of ‘mild’, having fever and bruises,” Roque said.

Sanofi’s public relations officers were not immediately available to comment on the suspension of the vaccine’s sales.

The DoH is also asking for guidance from the World Health Organization on how to proceed with at least 500,000 children who have yet to complete the three doses of Dengvaxia dengue vaccine.

Health Assistant Secretary Lyndon Lee Suy said that the WHO is set to meet this week in Geneva to discuss Dengvaxia.

He said that among the issues that will be discussed is whether those who have begun the program complete the required three doses.

Lee Suy said more than 700,000 Filipinos, mostly public schoolchildren, have been vaccinated with Dengvaxia but only 200,000 were able to complete the three doses.

Lee Suy said the DoH will continue its five-year monitoring of those who have been vaccinated with Dengvaxia.

“We have a master list and addresses of [vaccinated schoolchildren] and we are coordinating with DepEd

[Department of Education],” he said.

Meanwhile, Liberal Party senators urged the government to be fair and impartial in its investigation of the dengue vaccine program, which was approved during the previous administration, when the Liberals were in power.

“We support calls for investigation of this issue as thousands of children’s lives are at stake here. We must ensure that the investigation will not be selective and will cover all periods of implementation of the program,” said LP president Senator Francis Pangilinan.

Pangilinan pointed out that the program was implemented by the Health department during the last year of the Aquino administration and continued by the Duterte administration upon the recommendation of the new DoH leadership.

Senator Franklin Drilon said nobody should jump to conclusions.

“Let us first listen to independent health experts before we judge. If lawyers have their own individual interpretations of the law, the same is true of the medical community, which will have different opinions on this health issue,” he said. With John Paolo Bencito and AFP

ganized, umaabot ng halos dalawang taon bago maaksyunan ang kanilang application,” Marquez told the committee.

The committee was created via Memorandum Order 43-2015.

Lacanilao said Sereno even took action to address the concerns of the surviving spouses of the members of the judiciary.

“The Chief Justice is sympathetic with the plight not just of retirees in the judiciary, but of the people who long for an expeditious resolution of their cases. To this end, she has even instituted measures

to rationalize and expedite the very process respecting retirement benefits that Complainant assails,” Lacanilao said.

Lacanilao also said Sereno was not the one who created the technical working group to review the applications for survivorship benefits, contrary to the testimony of Marquez during the hearing of the House justice committee on Tuesday.

He said the TWG was created upon the request of the high court’s special committee on retirement and civil service benefits through Memorandum

Order 43-2015 dated 16 November 2015, and approved by Sereno and the chairmen of the two other divisions of the high court, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. “CJ Sereno merely implemented the terms of the memorandum creating the special committee since it is empowered to recommend the creation of sub-committees to discharge its functions,” Lacanilao said.

Under the memorandum, the special committee has the power to propose policy guide-

lines and other relevant recommendations to the Office of the Chief Justice to streamline and expedite the financial approval process relative to the requests for retirement and civil service benefits.

The lawyer emphasized that the TWG was tasked to “screen applications for retirement benefits and/or similar or related benefits for the purpose of determining whether said applications require further study by the Committee and to study in more detail the legal concerns related to the grant of retirement benefits.”

Fr. Marcelito “Tito” Paez, 72, was driving his vehicle along a road in Jaen town, Nueva Ecija, at 8 p.m. when he was attacked by still-unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants Monday night. He was taken to San Leonardo Hospital but died while being treated, Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said in a statement.

Earlier that day, Paez assisted in facilitating the release of political prisoner Rommel Tucay who was detained at the jail in Cabanatuan City.

Paez was the coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines in Central Luzon at the time of his death, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said. The bishops condemened Paez’s killing.

since Duterte took office in June 2016, yet not a single police officer has been held to account for any of the crimes committed.

In April, a criminal case was filed against Duterte by lawyer Jude Sabio, the counsel of self-confessed hired gun Edgar Matobato, before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, alleging that the then Davao Mayor of ordering the killing of more than 1,400 suspected criminals through the Davao Death Squads without respect for due process of law.

Gadon's 'oligarch' bribe bid irks solons

By Maricel V. Cruz LAWMAKERS on Tuesday belittled the impeachment complainant that lawyer Larry Gadon had filed owing to his claim that he received information that an “oligarch” planned to bribe senators with P200 million to ensure the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

At the resumption of the House of Representatives’ committee on justice led by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, House deputy minority leader, and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. said Gadon should be cited in contempt for issuing unverified statements.

“There are many statements and assertions coming from you... This affects the very integrity of the proceedings, the very constitutional processes [and] casting aspersions, doubt of the supposed would-be justices of the impeachment court which are the senators,” Garbin told Gadon.

Garbin also said Gadon should keep his mouth shut if he had no solid evidence to back up his claims.

“I advise Mr. Gadon to keep his mouth shut if he cannot verify or reveal to us the source of this P200 million, and to conduct his position in observance of the codes of professional responsibility,” Garbin said.

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drugs in the Philippines and crimes” since the PNP and the other law enforcement agencies yielded in the antiillegal drug operations.

The new order supersedes the Oct. 10 memorandum circular Duterte issued, ordering all concerned agencies to yield to the PDEA as the “sole agency” in the conduct of anti-illegal drugs operations.

In the new memorandum, PDEA shall continue to be the overall lead agency pursuant to Republic Act No. 9165.

PDEA, as chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, while the Dangerous Drugs Board shall remain as the policymaking and strategy formulating body in the planning and formulation of policies and programs on drug prevention and control.

The Palace had earlier said the drug problem might worsen if the conduct of the bloody anti-drug operations would not be returned to to the PNP , whom Duterte once tagged as “corrupt to the core.”

Duterte had earlier pulled out the PNP and assigned the PDEA instead to take over the campaign due to mounting public criticism over the thousands killed associated in his bloody drug war, particularly in several cases involving teenagers allegedly at the hands of the Caloocan City police.

Minors Kian Lloyd delos Santos and Carl Angelo Arnaiz were both gunned down by police officers during separate operations in Caloocan City in August, sparking protests nationwide.

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Eufemia Campos Cullamat and a group of women from Marawi led by Norkaya Mohamad―claimed in their separate appeals that a key element in the act of rebellion―culpable purpose of removing allegiance from the Philippines and preventing the President and legislature from exercising their functions―was not present in the attack of the terror group Maute in Marawi City on May 23 that triggered the martial law proclamation.

However, Solicitor General Jose Calida sought the dismissal of the appeals in his comment where he again argued that the attack of the Maute Group was not just an act of terror but a clear rebellion and actually part of a plot to establish an Islamic State in Mindanao.

Those who voted to dismiss the appeals of the petitioners were Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo.

not the “big fishes” like the Filipino-Chinese or Chinese importers.

Carpio made the observation during the continuation of the oral arguments on the petitions against the PNP Command Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016 or “Oplan Double Barrel” and Department of Interior and Local Government’s Memorandum Circular 2017-112 or the “Masa Masid.”

In grilling Solicitor General Jose Calida, counsel for the government, Carpio noted that the thrust of the drug war apparently focuses on street level pushers and users when the drug trade was dominated

by Chinese and Filipino-Chinese drug lords behind the bulk smuggling in dangerous drugs in the country.

“I’ve been in this Court for almost 17 years. We affirm the conviction in a drug case and almost always we convict mostly pushers. I can remember only one drug lord convicted and he’s not even a big-time drug lord,” Carpio lamented.

While the PDEA has made significant strides in the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign, it has been “seriously hampered” in performing its huge mandate with “the lack of resources, specifically agents and operatives who can penetrate drug infected areas down to the municipal and barangay levels,” Duterte stressed.

He added there had been “a notable resurgence in illegal

terror attacks by the Maute group in May in Marawi City.

The tribunal reiterated its finding that the power to determine the scope of territorial application of martial law belonged to the President and that there was no constitutional provision that such emergency power should be implemented only in the place where actual rebellion existed.

The government had repeatedly said martial law was necessary to quell the rebellion since the ISISinspired local rebel groups had taken up arms against it to secede Mindanao from the republic and to deprive Duterte of his powers and prerogatives.

The petitioners filed motions for reconsideration, insisting that there was no sufficient basis to justify martial law as the informations cited in the proclamation were “false, inaccurate and contrived.”

Lagman and two other petitioners―local Mindanao leaders led by Lumad leader

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PDP-Laban to extend recruitment —Pimentel

Senate to tackle Open Access Bill —Bam

By Macon Araneta IN CELEBRATION of the World Competition Day, Senator Bam Aquino announced that the Senate is moving forward with measures to remove barriers to competition in telecommunications and data transmission services.

“I am happy to announce that the Senate will start tackling the Open Access Bill in my committee next week.” said Aquino, who is the principal author of Senate Bill No. 171, otherwise known as the Open Access in Data Transmission Bill.

On Tuesday, the committee on science and technology, chaired by Aquino, held its first hearing on the Open Access in Data Transmission Bill, which will formulate regulations to encourage the entry of more players in different segments of the telecommunications and data transmission industry, while ensuring that safeguards are in place to maintain fair competition.”

“The price of internet service in our country has been tagged as one of the most expensive in our region. Healthy competition is our best bet to promote for the Filipino consumers,” said Aquino who is also the principal sponsor and co-author of Republic Act 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act in the Senate during the 16th Congress.

It was during Aquino’s tenure as chairman of the committee on trade, commerce and entrepreneurship that the Philippine Competition Act was passed into law. This landmark legislation took twentyfive (25 years) to pass.

The Philippine Competition Act is expected to eliminate cartels, and penalize anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant players in the markets that lead to high prices of goods and services.

In addition, the law promotes a culture of healthy competition that inspires ingenuity, creativity, and innovation in addressing market needs.

The measure will also prohibit anti-dominant position that distort, manipulate, or constrict the operations of markets in the country.

DISMANTLED. Caretakers of pigpens in Baseco compound evacuate their pigs after workers from the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission dismantled their pigpens. PRRC executive director Jose Antonio Goita led the dismantling operation of the pigpens inside the compound following their discovery that pigpen owners unload animal waste into the Pasig River. Norman Cruz

Judiciary doing its part for transparency—CJ

By Rey E. Requejo

C

HIEF Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Tuesday said the judiciary has already been implementing measures aimed at promoting transparency in the judicial branch.

Sereno made the statement in response to the call of President Duterte for the Supreme Court to allow public access to information on affairs of the judiciary.

In a statement issued by

the SC public information office, the chief magistrate pointed out that the judiciary has already implemented reforms as part of its transparency program since 2012, even without the Freedom of Information

law, which remains pending before Congress.

Sereno cited several measures implemented by the high court for this purpose, including the release of summaries of the statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth of the justices since 2014 and fiscal and financial data like disbursements from Judiciary Development Fund and Annual Procurement Plans.

The chief justice also referred to the audio live streaming of the oral arguments of the SC and posting of relevant pleadings and legal documents on cases of public concerns in

its website.

She also pointed to issuance of updates on relevant and current developments through the SC PIO Twitter page, release of bar exams results every year since 2013 and approval of new rules and procedures and guidelines to judges.

Sereno said the SC PIO has been conducting press briefing on Tuesdays after each session of the high court.

She said that apart from the reforms already implemented, the high court is considering more measures for purposes of transparency

in its affairs.

“The Court is also deliberating on a draft Rule of Access to Information about the Supreme Court pursuant to its power to promulgate rules and its power to supervise the lower courts,” Sereno said.

President Duterte earlier called on both the legislative and judicial branches to join the executive branch “in strengthening our democracy institutions by following suit and instituting measures that would allow unfettered public access to relevant information about their affairs.”

Stakeholders urged to help in education reform AFTER the passage of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, Senator Bam Aquino called on education stakeholders and leaders to unite and work together for education reform to give more Filipino students a chance at a better future.

“Now that we’ve passed our major reform, giving more Filipinos access to a college education through the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Educa-

tion Act, we must move to strengthen the quality of education in the country,” said Sen. Bam during his speech at the 2017 Philippine Education Summit.

At the event, various stakeholders including the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Deveopment Authority presented their accomplishments over the past year, the challenges that lay ahead and their

plans to improve access to quality education in the Philippines.

“Let’s work together to ensure that there is a seamless transition from student to employee or entrepreneur through strong academic-industry linkages,” added Aquino.

During his time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress, Aquino worked with stakeholders in the crafting of reforms that can give more Filipinos access to

quality education.

While his chairmanship was a short one, Sen. Bam spearheaded the passage of one of the most important education reforms in the country–Republic Act 10931 or Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which he pushed in the Senate as principal sponsor and coauthor.

The law provides free education to students in state universities and colleges, local universities and col-

leges and Tesda-run vocational schools. Aside from tuition fees, the government will shoulder miscellaneous and all other mandatory fees.

Scholarship grants will be made available to students of both public and private college and universities. It also provides a new and improved student loan program, where students can apply for financing for other education expenses.

Macon Araneta

Nearly 900,000 new voters registered for 2019 SK, barangay polls

By Vito Barcelo NEARLY 900,000 new voters registered during the 22-day voters’ registration period for the 2018 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, bringing

the total number of voters in the country to more than 55 million, the Commission on Elections said.

The Comelec said a total of 843,588 new voters applied to different Comelec satellite office in the coun-

try. The registration started last Nov. 30.

The Comelec said that there are 54,363,844 registered voters nationwide in 2016 and with the new registrants, there is an increase of almost 900,000 in the

number of voters for a total of 55,207,432. This, however, do not yet include the 1,376,067 registered overseas Filipino voters.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimnez said the figure includes 45,927 people aged

18 and above who signed up as regular voters, and 249,925 people aged 15 to 17 who signed up as youth voters.

“This is because of the effectiveness of the Comelec’s information campaign,” he said.

Ombudsman chairs SEA confab vs corruption

RIDE SHARING. Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar and Uber country manager Laurence Cua on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, signed an agreement to promote the Uber ridesharing and carpooling app aimed at lessening the volume of vehicles on the road in Metro Manila. Norman Cruz

THE Office of the Ombudsman recently hosted the 13th Southeast AsiaParties Against Corruption in a two-day meeting on anti-corruption with an operational theme of “Prospects and Opportunities to Strengthen Cooperation.”

As chairperson of the event, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales urged the members in this year’s meeting to focus on reaffirming the cooperation among the parties under a memorandum of understanding on the prevention and fight

against corruption; review and adoption of the guidelines of cooperation to strengthen and guide the regional cooperation against corruption, and the strengthening of the SEA-PAC programmatic interventions and action plan in support of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations charter and its purposes and principles.

She also acknowledged the anti-corruption efforts of the SEAPAC in the region and the “formation and fortification” of SEA-PAC as

an organization.

“With the massive adverse effect of corruption, there remains no other option but to confront it and pursue effective means in a concerted effort that will tackle and thwart corruption,” she said.

“The war against the scourge of corruption must incessantly be pursued in all fronts. The battle does not end in jailing the corrupt, there remains an array of weapons in the legal armory that the region should utilize,” she added.

Rio N. Araja

THE PDP Laban leadership decided to extend its recruitment for membership due to the overwhelming number of applications that remain pending, said Senate President Aquilino ‘‘Koko” Pimentel III. Pimentel said it will be unjust to arbitrarily close the gates when so many applications for membership remain unacted.

“We decided to extend the recruitment deadline to give our countrymen the chance to be a part of PDP Laban and the change it advocates”, said Pimentel.

Previously, the Party had announced that it will cease accepting new members by the end of November of the current year.

But Pimentel clarified that despite the extension, the plan to consolidate the Party’s gains in time for the 2019 midterm elections is still in force.

“We have to deal with the influx of new members and ensure everyone in the Party is aware of our ideals, goals, and values. 2019 will be an issuebased election, not a personality contest,” he said.

The Senate President, who recently arrived from Beijing where he represented both country and Party in an international conference of political parties, said that the grassroots recruitment of PDP Laban is intended to effect change in the country’s political system, particularly in the adoption of a federal system of Government.

“Our country needs a mature, party-based political system. PDP Laban will lead the way in this change,” Pimentel said.

Macon Araneta

Japanese cops, PDEA join forces in fight vs Illegal drugs

By Rio N. Araja PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino on Tuesday welcomed the partnership with Japan’s National Police Agency to fight illegal drugs.

The PDEA chief warmly welcomed the arrival of the members of a Japanese delegation who paid a courtesy visit to PDEA and its officials, as the two agencies agreed to promote closer interaction and stronger bilateral cooperation against illegal drug trafficking.

“Their visit to the PDEA national headquarters in Quezon City served as an avenue to showcase PDEA’s accomplishments, operational capabilities and facilities for them to have a better understanding of our organization and the current drug trends affecting the national drug situation in the country,” Aquino said.

He added that the meeting was an excellent opportunity to open lines of communication, share operational experiences and knowledge about international drug syndicates engaged in drug trafficking and the best possible practices, he added.

According to Aquino, the diplomatic cooperation and exchange of information relative to drug trafficking between PDEA and Japan dates back 11 years ago with the signing of a record of discussion between the agency and the Japan Coast Guard on Oct. 3, 2006.

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

A

Chickens coming home to roost

MID the health scare caused by a major immunization program approved by the previous administration, senators from the former ruling Liberal Party have urged the government to be fair and impartial in its investigation of the P3.5 -billion deal to buy a new anti-dengue vaccine from the French company Sanofi.

The government last week suspended the world’s first public immunization program for dengue, after the French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi warned that the Dengvaxia vaccine could worsen symptoms of people who had not previously been

infected.

More than 733,000 schoolchildren have already received the vaccine, causing fear and concern among their parents.

“We support calls for investigation of this issue as thousands of children’s lives are at stake here. We must ensure that the investigation will not be selective and will cover all periods of implementation of the program,” said Liberal Party president Senator Francis Pangilinan.

Pangilinan pointed out that the program was implemented by the Department of Health during the last year of the Aquino administration and continued by the Duterte administration, upon the recommendation of the new DoH leadership.

If the implications were not so serious, the LP president’s talk of an impartial investigation would be

laughable, given the previous administration’s penchant for selective justice.

Also, while it is true that the new Health department leadership had agreed to continue with the immunization program, it was officials from the previous administration who signed off on the P3.5 billion deal to buy the vaccines from Sanofi, just weeks after then President Benigno Aquino III visited France and met with the pharmaceutical company’s executives. If the Sanofi contract was a midnight deal, it was not the officials of the present administration that benefited from it.

The truth of the matter is that the dengue vaccine mess is just yet another example of the LP chickens coming home to roost.

Over his six-year term, President Aquino and his Liberal Party pre-

sided over the decline of the country’s agricultural production by failing to make the right investments and doing nothing to stem the flood of smuggled produce. In that same time, Mr. Aquino and the Liberals, by their inefficiency and corruption, also allowed the deterioration of the public transport system to a point where commuter trains are no longer safe. Mr. Aquino and his fellow Liberals have also engendered ineptitude, inefficiency and corruption in the bureaucracy to a point where the government charges the public for goods—such as license plates and drivers licenses—but fails to deliver them after more than a year.

If a truly impartial investigation were conducted on all these crimes, the jails would be overflowing with former LP officials who simply didn’t do their jobs.

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

The vaccine fiasco IT DOES seem that the sins of former President Benigno Aquino III are making themselves known.

First it was that infamous massacre of 44 members of the Special Action Force in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

BS Aquino made his friend, then-suspended police chief Alan Purisima, in charge of Oplan Exodus, aimed at neutralizing two alleged terrorists.

The massacre happened because the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces did not do what was expected of him—get the military to provide assistance to the beleaguered SAF. To me, that is treason of the highest order. Former President Aquino decided military aid to the SAF would endanger the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Now the worst of the sins of BS Aquino and his administration—the P3.5-billion fiasco in-

What Aquino and Garin did was criminal.

Two actors, two roles LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES THERE are two main actors in the raging Dengvaxia scandal: One is the French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, maker of the controversial vaccine, while the other is the previous Philippine government of Noynoy Aquino that implemented the massive vaccination program using the drug.

Sanofi’s involvement concerns medical and ethical issues that must be addressed by the drug-maker, which sold P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia to the Philippines in order to allegedly conduct a large-scale but covert clinical trial that was necessary for final approval of the vaccine for use in most world markets.

Executives of Sanofi and its medical experts must reply to

the charges that they endangered hundreds of thousands of Filipino children with a vaccine that they admitted recently could actually cause severe dengue fever in those who had not yet been infected with the mosquito-borne virus.

Intimately linked with questions about Sanofi’s culpability —but totally distinct from it—is the role played by Aquino and his officials, who acted with undue haste to administer the controversial vaccine to those same children, despite the lack of solid medical proof of the efficacy and safety of the drug for use in such a large population. Aquino and his men must be called to explain allegations that corruption and official neglect may have attended the Dengvaxia rollout, thus making them as liable as Sanofi in the eyes of the law.

Why should the medical and ethical issues be separated from

the charges of corruption and official incompetence? Simple: Sanofi is a huge pharma company that should be responsible for its products and the manner by which it develops, evaluates and sells them.

The only acceptable denouement is the punishment of the guilty —both in Sanofi and in Malacañang.

And while the Aquino administration also has a responsibility to ensure that Dengvaxia is safe and efficacious, through its pub-

lic health agencies, that is not its primary role in the controversy.

The government’s job is making sure that it followed the laws on allowing the vaccine to be used in the Philippines, its procurement and its deployment through the Department of Health and the schools that it uses for its immunization programs.

In other words, Sanofi should answer the medical and other related questions raised concerning its controversial product. The Aquino administration needs to explain how and why it approved Dengvaxia’s actual use in this country, which is its responsibility alone.

No matter how many times Sanofi executives met with Aquino, after all, to persuade him to purchase its vaccine, it was still Noynoy’s administration that approved Dengvaxia’s use here. It was the government that found the public funds to buy the vaccine and administer it as quickly as it

did, thus belying accusations that it never acts acts with dispatch as a general rule on anything—not in war, in calamity or any other emergency situation.

The reason I want to make this obvious but all-important distinction is because I don’t want us to get bogged down in the medical issues related to the development and testing of Dengvaxia. That is what Sanofi and its medical experts need to explain, with no help at all from its enablers in Noynoy’s government.

And any investigation of Aquino, his health secretary Janet Garin, budget secretary Florencio Abad and other officials involved in the controversy should focus solely on the fast-tracking of the approvals for the purchase of the vaccine and its immediate inclusion in the national immunization program.

volving the Dengvaxia vaccine of Sanofi Pasteur—has been exposed.

This was negotiated

by Aquino because he met Sanofi representatives in Paris not once, but twice.

Later on, the vaccine program was implemented by Health Secretary Janet Garin supposed to arrest the dengue epidemic in most parts of the country.

Now it turns out that the Word Health Organization did not certify it, and now Health Secretary Francisco Duque has no choice but to suspend the DoH project.

Sanofi Pasteur admitted that the vaccine is not safe for children who did not have a dengue past.

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Opinion From A4

Philippines but in other countries as well.

Why would President Duterte now suspend the immunization program if it did not pose risks on us Filipinos?

For those Sanofi representatives to claim that there have been no deaths highlights the need for an investigation. *** Commuters and motorists have to suffer a daily nightmare on Edsa. Now we hear that the Boston Consulting Group said road congestion in Metro Manila may reach standstill levels by 2022.

The study was commissioned by Uber, a transport network vehicle company in the wake of government plans to increase the capacity of rail-based public transport facilities and services.

Thus, the survey of mega-cities like Metro Manila, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi and Surabaya—considered Tier 3 cities—were at risk of reaching standstill levels of congestion during peak hours by 2022 “because of the rate of vehicle growth.”

“Tier 3 cities have ambitious plans to expand transport networks. However, roll out will require considerable time and fund,” the study said.

The Department of Transportation would do well to take note of this fact: In 2016, there were more than 2.4-million vehicles registered in Metro Manila, of which 1.5 million were private cars. As of October this years, vehicle sales have grown by 16 percent.

All these boil down to one thing—the need for a good public transport system. *** I did not commit a mistake when I said that the usual bazaars that go with the season have ceased because people just go to the malls. We can now buy anything we need at malls.

I know all these because my wife and my daughter take me with them when they go shopping. It gives me the exercise I need.

Two...

From A4

Conflating the roles of these two actors will only add to the confusion that will benefit both of them.

And in the end, given the deep pockets of the French drug company and the propaganda savvy of Noynoy and his minions, it’s actually possible that they may get off scot-free in the shuffle.

That is not how this story should end. The only acceptable denouement is the punishment of the guilty – both in the executive suites and laboratories of Sanofi and in the halls of power in the previous government. *** It is worth noting that Aquino’s political allies have finally broken their silence on the dengue vaccination scandal that has swept the nation since last weekend. One after the other, Noynoy’s Liberal Party henchmen declared yesterday that while they were in favor of ferreting out the truth, President Rodrigo Duterte should not to “politicize” the investigation of the matter.

Of course, it would be stupid—even for LP members—to say that they are against the discovery of the truth in the Dengvaxia scandal. But the second

A5

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Urban decay

The vaccine...

My gulay, what Aquino and Garin did was criminal! They could both be criminally liable!

Expectedly, congressional investigations are coming, and Secretary of Justice Vitaliano Aguirre II has the National Bureau of Investigation looking into the matter to determine who is responsible and accountable for the mess.

I say the NBI need not look far. The facts are clear: Aquino negotiated the deal while he was in France, and his health secretary, Garin, implemented it.

The worst part is that more than 700,000 children were affected, and some adults as well. Sanofi Pasteur thought we were like rats to experiment on!

The Volunteers for Crime and Corruption claims there are already three deaths as a result of the vaccine. Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, has already scheduled hearings on this.

Now comes Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque playing down the impact of Dengvaxia and telling us we should not panic. Is he a doctor?

The local representatives of Sanofi Pasteur are clearly panicking at the idea that Filipinos were used as guinea pigs for an untested vaccine. Santa Banana, were Aquino and Garin just trying to impress on us that they were doing something for public health.

It is all for these reasons that Aquino, not only Garin, and everybody else involved in the project must be made to explain. What was in it for them?

The concern now of the Duterte administration is keeping track of the 733,000 children who have been given the vaccine. It can create panic!

Local government units should be made to handle the monitoring.

And, for heaven’s sake, Roque must be told to stop defending Sanofi and that deaths would not occur.

Only health experts can say that.

I am not buying the explanation of the local branches of Sanofi that the all studies in connection with Dengvaxia were completed, not just in the

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

part of their statement needs to be discussed in further detail.

It should be pretty obvious to anyone—yes, including to LP members—that the Dengvaxia vaccination program did not involve anyone in the political opposition at the time. In other words, it cannot help but be partisan, because it was a program of the Aquino administration and of the Aquino administration alone.

True, the Duterte administration continued the vaccination program through its own Department of Health. But that doesn’t make Duterte and his people culpable because they were merely continuing a program that should enjoy a presumption of regularity—until Sanofi blew the lid off the whole scheme by making its voluntary admission on the dangers of the vaccine last week.

It’s the LPs who are injecting politics into the equation, in a bid to protect Aquino and his officials. And politics was probably farthest from the minds of Noynoy, Garin, Abad and the rest when they made that deal with Sanofi.

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

FORCE of habit makes me go to the Binondo area, Manila’s Chinatown, every now and then. There I go to buy some comfort food my mom taught my taste buds to crave for. There I go to buy the best fresh vegetables and fruits at Arranque market. Or take some “pato misua” (duck soup), “ma-ki” (a soup of tender pork cooked in cornstarch), and fresh Amoy lumpia, the nearest thing to how my grandparents did it when they were still alive.

I actually grew up in Manila, even if we come from other parts of the country.

From the time I was five years old, and except for some brief intervals, residence has always been in the historic capital city of the Philippines. From Claro M. Recto, then called Azcarraga, to Sampaloc, and thence to the more genteel parts of Malate, where I and family have lived for some five decades now.

Which is why I always feel sad when I see how the once proud and noble city has become a victim of decades of neglect and poor planning, and how uncontrolled population pressures coupled with little or band-aid solu-

tions have made Manila a textbook example of urban decay.

Crossing the Pasig River through MacArthur Bridge last Saturday, past the Post Office Building of Juan Arellano’s artistic genius and the grand dame which is the Metropolitan Opera House, mercifully being renovated under the current city administration, I saw how some previous mayor installed such an awful lighting system that aside from being an exemplar of bad taste, never considered that such contraptions on the railings would surely become prey to vandals and thieves. One wonders, how many millions of pesos of taxpayer’s money (including my real estate taxes) were wasted on these useless projects.

Look at them now, and see how they exemplify the decay of the city amid the mindless waste of public monies.

Because of traffic, my driver took detours through the old streets of Dasmariñas and T. Pinpin to reach the heart of Chinatown in Ongpin, and what I saw was building after building built mostly post-World War II, beautiful examples of art-deco, that have now become shuttered, especially on the top four or five floors.

I could imagine how city hall contents itself with merely collecting real estate taxes on these decrepit properties, which abound not only in what used to be the metropolis’ commercial, financial and shopping district, but in the avenida named after the national hero, as well as the boulevard named after the first Commonwealth president. No creative mind even bothers to see how urban renewal could be implemented in these once beautiful areas.

I recall making a suggestion to a former mayor of my city: why not ask the owners of properties in the downtown area (Binondo and Sta. Cruz), many of whom have since transferred their offices and places of business to Makati and elsewhere, to convert the upper floors into residential condominiums? The most basic requirement would simply be plumbing, so that they could re-configure residential units out of empty spaces used as offices in the past. These property owners content themselves with leasing the ground floor to retail outfits, and some upper floors for warehouses, contributing to the urban decay.

Imagine if residents actually lived in the upper floors, that would make Manila’s downtown active once more, these being accessible to public transport systems. These

residents would become a market for better retail stores in the ground floor, and with wise and determined effort by the city government, what has become ugly can be restored to old glory.

It’s such a pity that so many do not have affordable housing, while so much empty spaces exist in the inner city.

You see beautiful examples of urban renewal in many cities around the world, but alas not in the Philippines, and most especially, not in Metro Manila. Even a formerly bustling financial and office center in Makati, Legaspi Village, now has pockets of urban decay.

People just move out of “old” areas into “new” developments, and the city governments do little, if anything, to revivify the old areas.

One wonders why most of Metro Manila is dark at night. Cities do not invest enough in street lighting, and in Manila for one, a former mayor left his successor in office hundreds of millions in unpaid electric bills, prompting Meralco to threaten to cut off power, which would have made a dark and decrepit place pitch black upon nightfall and adds to the dangers of being a pedestrian in the capital city.

About the only time our streets get lighted, as a Singaporean friend who loves Boracay and Palawan once

remarked to my embarrassment, is during the yuletide season, when city governments order the most outlandish and garish Christmas decorations, sometimes with their “proud” initials emblazoned, and perhaps make oodles of money on such temporary visual “delights”.

It happens everywhere in this benighted country.

Even simple things such as street signs are either vandalized, because they were never carefully thought out in the first place. And in Manila, a former mayor ordered new street signs, and after a year or so, visible till now, the paint has peeled off. Poor quality obviously, with the contracted maker and/or the city officials making hay.

Pity the tourist, the transient, or even the postman or delivery messenger who cannot identify which street is which. All because of corruption, and probably worse, bad taste.

I do not know when this tragedy of urban decay will ever end. Or when citizens will demand action from their local officials.

Maybe it is a cultural aberration. We just do not have any sense of history or pride of place. Maybe it is part and parcel of the “pwede na” attitude, the disdain for a culture of excellence in things we do.

As the insulares would say, “que lastima!” Sad.

Skytrain that will link Fort Bonifacio to the MRT Guadalupe Station, which hopes to benefit around 60,000 to 100,000 passengers daily.

The project, which will utilize the automated cable-propelled monorail technology, will reduce travel time from Fort to MRT Guadalupe to only five minutes.

Under the proposal, a station will be built in Guadalupe, Makati near the MRT station and another in Uptown Bonifacio, a township development of AGI’s real estate arm Megaworld, at no cost to the government.

“Given the country’s strong and stable economy, we see a huge opportunity to invest in infrastructure. We are excited to participate and optimistic about the government’s aggressive push for infrastructure developments,” says Kevin L. Tan, executive director of AGI and president of Infracorp.

The Skytrain monorail project will take three years to construct and it could be interconnected with the subway system project passing through Fort Bonifacio that the government is set to build.

Andrew Tan VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

SAVVY, with plenty of guts, and a strong sense of vision, Andrew, 68, pioneered the “live-workplay-learn” concept of real estate development in the Philippines. He became enormously successful and he is now one of the Philippines’ 10 richest with a net worth of over $2 billion.

Tan’s Alliance Global Group Inc. is his investment holding company.

AGI has a market cap of P159.76 billion. Andrew owns 57 percent of that or P91.06 bil-

lion. His Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. has a market cap of P16.698 billion. He owns 70 percent or P11.68 billion ($229 million).

Andrew is exceedingly richer than his $2 billion in AGI and GERI suggests. Andrew is the Philippines’ largest township developer, biggest hotel owner, biggest brandy maker, and second biggest fast-food operator.

AGI is one of the leading conglomerates in the Philippines, with interests in property development, food and beverage manufacture and distribution, quickservice restaurants and integrated tourism de-

velopment businesses.

Andrew’s son, Kevin Andrew Tan, 37, is executive director of AGI. He has over 11 years of experience in retail leasing, marketing and operations.

AGI is diversifying into infrastructure. The 24-year-old conglomerate has created Infracorp Development, Inc., a new company that will handle infrastructure projects, particularly to participate in the government’s Private-Public Partnership projects.

Infracorp has submitted an unsolicited proposal to the government to build a 2-km monorail project called

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Social-media shaming is good (in moderation)

By Kara Alaimo HAVE you ever lost your temper with a customer service representative, or argued with your partner in a restaurant? If so, you could become a YouTube celebrity.

That’s because a cottage industry has grown up around humiliating people and organizations by exposing their bad behavior online—otherwise known as public shaming. As Sue Scheff and Melissa Schorr report in their recent book “Shame Nation: The Global Epidemic of Online Hate,” now anyone can record your worst moments and sell the video evidence to one of several companies which buy the rights to embarrassing clips.

(Those companies then make money from YouTube ad sales and fees from television shows that replay the videos.)

In other words, there’s now a financial incentive for strangers to publicly shame you.

Sometimes, people are exposed for relatively minor errors of judgment that come to define them for the rest of their lives. Other times, they’re shamed for things they didn’t even do—like when people have been incorrectly identified as criminals or white supremacists online. Either way, good luck getting a job or a date afterwards. Such episodes can be so harrowing that they cause post-traumatic stress disorder, according to Scheff and Schorr.

It’s a situation early Americans tried to prevent. Benjamin Rush, who signed the Declaration of Independence, argued that the practice “is universally acknowledged to be a worse punishment than death.” Jon Ronson, author of “So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed,” reports that punishment by public shaming—such as parading criminals through the town square—was abolished in every state

but Delaware by 1837.

But shaming can also be good for society, because it allows us to hold people and organizations responsible for bad behavior. Witness the ad Dove posted in October showing a black woman turning into a white woman with its product.

The picture immediately generated lots of criticism online, and rightly so. The company apologized. Similarly, in January, activists exposed the identity of Mike Enoch, a prolific podcaster who founded the website The Right Stuff. Enoch, who peddles in horrific racism and anti-Semitism, deserved to be called out for his abuse. He was fired by his employer.

Or take Twitter’s decision to suspend the account of actress Rose McGowan in October while she was talking about sexual harassment. While Twitter said it was concerned that McGowan publicly posted someone’s personal phone number, it

should have removed that specific tweet rather than freezing her entire account. Some women (including me) responded by boycotting Twitter for a day. That was an appropriate way to demonstrate disapproval.

So, when is it okay to cyber-shame people and organizations, and when is it unreasonable and grotesque? I suggest a few rules. First, we should make sure we have our facts straight.

For example, if someone tweets from a verified Twitter account, an event is reported by a legitimate news organization, or a person is convicted of a crime, it’s safe to assume it happened. But we should never cybershame someone unless we’re absolutely certain they’ve done what we’re complaining about.

Second, we should consider whether the behavior we’re upset about is likely to be a fair representation of the actor’s character.

If a company or person

posts something on social media or gives a statement to the press, it’s fair to criticize them for it, because they’ve chosen to present themselves to the world in that manner.

But, even though people are always responsible for their behavior, we should consider not exposing others for minor infractions—like the exhausted mom who has a meltdown on the playground—unless there’s evidence the behavior is part of a larger pattern. Such episodes could represent their most terrible transgressions and not who they typically are—but if we share it on social media, it could define them forever.

In all instances, we must be civil. We shouldn’t call people names. Rather, we should rationally argue why we think they’re wrong.

Let the person who has never had a bad day be the first to tweet.

Bloomberg

News

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

P5k PEI for govt workers

by Dec. 15 SOME 1.5 million state workers will be given an additional P5,000 Productivity Enhancement Incentive before Dec. 15, the Budget Department announced Tuesday.

Following the issuance of Budget Circular No. 2017-4 on Monday, the Budget department said that it has allotted more than P7.5 billion for the incentive to government personnel this year.

The PEI is granted to government workers, alongside the upward adjustment of the salary schedule in the bureaucracy, and new benefits such as mid-year bonus equivalent to one month basic salary.

The incentive shall be given to government employees not earlier than Dec. 15, provided they are still in the service as of Nov. 30 and that they have rendered a minimum four months of “at least satisfactory” service as of end-November 2017, the DBM said.

Among those who will benefit from the bonus includes all civilian personnel, whether regular, casual, or contractual in nature, appointive or elective, full-time or part-time in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches, the Constitutional Commissions and other Constitutional Offices, State Universities and Colleges, and Government Owned and Controlled Corporations.

John Paolo Bencito

Access to education boosted

By Maricel V. Cruz

A

PANEL in the House of Representatives has approved a bill that will boost accessibility to education of underserved sectors of the country such as out-of-school youth and persons with disabilities or PWDs.

The House committee on basic education, chaired

by Rep. Ramon Durano IV of Cebu, approved on Moday night the unnumbered substitute bill consolidating several House Bills, including HB 3706 by Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez of Leyte.

The substitute bill received the strong support of the Department of Education and of all the committee members.

The bill institutionalizes the Alternative Learning

System in the basic education system for out-of-school children, youth, and adults; persons with disabilities; indigenous peoples; and other marginalized sectors of society. The bill also covers learners in unreached, underserved, and conflictaffected communities.

The measure seeks to provide these disenfranchised sectors equal opportunity to improve their informal, non-formal, and indigenous education through programs

tailored to meet their limited schedules.

The bill endeavors to “surmount the time, physical, emotional, economic, and other constraints” barring millions of individuals from benefiting from a traditional classroom learning experience.

It also seeks to promote lifelong learning in all streams of education to ensure the learners’ sustainable future, and to institute a mobile teacher program especially in far-flung communities.

With the approval of the bill, the ALS is established as a parallel learning system for learners who, for acceptable reasons to be determined by the DepEd, cannot be admitted to the existing formal basic education system.

Under the measure, DepEd will strengthen the implementation of Non-Formal

Education and Informal Education programs.

The NFE program, the bill states, is designed to be modular and flexible so that learning can take place anytime and anyplace that is convenient and available to the ASL learners. It is subdivided into the Basic Literacy Program for people who are illiterate and the Continuing Education: Accreditation and Equivalency Program for elementary education dropouts.

To deliver the ALS programs, DepEd may utilize learning modules which contain learning activities, and pre- and post-assessments, the bill says. The department may also use supplementary materials like text and nontext modules, self learning instructional materials, learning activity packages, online

Pinoy worker Daud lauded in S. Arabia PHILIPPINE Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto has commended Saripada Balindong Daud, a Filipino worker who saved a disabled Arab trapped inside his car during the floods that engulfed Jeddah.

In a simple ceremony held in Jeddah, Daud was awarded a certificate of commendation for his act of heroism, which “brought greater honor to Filipinos and the Philippines.”

On Nov. 21, a polio-stricken elderly man was stranded in his car in the middle of rushing rainwater, while a large crowd, including two Saudi Arabian Civil Defense staff, simply stood watching.

Daud, unmindful of his own personal welfare, waded through the flood and pulled the elderly man to safety. His heroic act was videotaped and quickly went viral on social media.

Sara D. Fabunan

Volunteers, and Instructional Managers—will augment the manpower resources needed in implementation of the ALS programs. These instructors will undergo the necessary training regularly throughout the calendar year to ensure the quality of their teaching skills.

Moreover, each municipality and city will have at least one ALS Community Center. The Centers, as much as possible, shall be situated at a place conducive for learning and accessible to the public.

The bill also mandates the establishment of a local ALS committee to oversee the implementation of the program within the municipality or city, coordinate with the necessary government agencies and local government units, and serve as an advisory board to the Sangguniang Panglungsod or Sangguniang Bayan.

DoJ gives Tan more time to answer BoC drug raps

By Rey E. Requejo

Palace ‘respects’ De Lima on mag list MALACAÑANG on Tuesday said that it respects the re-inclusion of arrested Senator Leila de Lima in Foreign Policy magazine’s list of “leading global thinkers”— but reminded the publication of her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

“What can I say? That’s the decision of the magazine.

So, c’est la vie (that’s life),” Presidentia Spokesman Harry Roque said.

“As far as the Philippine authorities are concerned, she stands charged—a very serious charges and there is in fact no bail recommended for her provisional liberty.

That’s the position of the State,” he added.

De Lima joined the list of this year’s Leading Global reThinkers of 2017, which included South Korea President Moon Jae-in, United Kingdom Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbin, French President Emmanuel Macron, US Senator Kamala Haris, artist and human rights activist Ai Weiwei, and US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Halley, among others. John Paolo Bencito

or digital modules, textbooks, e-modules or blended technology learning materials.

DepEd will also prescribe an appropriate number of session hours or days required for the completion of the ALS programs to ensure that learners receive adequate and quality schooling and training at par with the formal education system. Passers of the ALS are qualified to enroll in junior high school or senior high school education.

The bill taps the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Labor and Employment to promote technical vocational education and training programs and gainful employment opportunities for ALS passers.

ALS Learning Facilitators—comprised of ALS Mobile Teachers, Literacy

CHRISTMAS RUSH. Workers make their finishing touches on their ‘Belen’ (Nativity scene) display at the Senate offices in Pasay

City. Lino Santos

THE Department of Justice has given businessman Richard Tan until Monday next week to submit his counter-affidavit in response to the complaint filed by the Bureau of Customs against him for his alleged involvement in the P6.4-billion illegal drugs shipment.

Despite his attempt to escape the country, Assistant State Prosecutor Charles Guhit granted the request of Tan’s lawyer for more time to file his counter-affidavit, after Customs lawyers posed no objection.

After Tan submits his counter-affidavit, the BoC would file its consolidated reply to all of the counteraffidavits on Dec. 20.

Guhit said he hopes to wrap up the preliminary investigation of the BoC complaint by Jan. 4 when all of the parties will be

Du30 formally picks Miriam Santiago for Quezon Cross

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has nominated the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago for conferment of the Quezon Service Cross, the highest civilian award in the Philippines, Malacañang said Tuesday.

The Office of the Executive Secretary has already transmitted a letter signed by Duterte on Nov. 20, recommending Santiago’s posthumous conferment.

Duterte requested Congress to approve the posthumous conferment of the award to Santiago, saying that “she used her considerable talents for the service of the people and our nation while exhibiting remarkable

passion, courage and integrity. She inspired generations of Filipinos to aspire for excellence and remain steadfast against any challenge and adversity.”

Santiago was “an agent of positive and meaningful change in the country,” Duterte said, for having “authored and sponsored laws that strengthened our fiscal position, promoted reproductive health, preserved the environment, safeguarded our women, enshrined human rights, enhanced our education system, gave greater access to information communications technology, protected against cybercrime, and asserted Philippine sovereignty.”

Before Santiago could

be conferred with the award, both houses of Congress must approve the nomination.

Only five people have been given the award since its creation—former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo (November 2012), former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. (August 2004), former Presidents Ramon Magsaysay (July 1957) and Emilio Aguinaldo (June 1956), and former United Nations General Assembly President Carlos P. Romulo (April 1951).

The Quezon Service Cross is the highest national recognition conferred by the Republic of the Philippines by virtue of Executive Order No 236, series of 2003.

Last September, the Office

of the President welcomed moves to confer the Quezon Service Cross to Santiago, then-presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a Palace news briefing.

“The late Senator’s contribution to the country is beyond question. The President highly respects the lady. We look forward to receiving the resolution of the Senate,” Abella added.

Santiago’s husband, Narciso Santiago Jr., had lamented that the late senator should have been given the “admiration, love and recognition she well deserved” while she was still alive.

“The love and praises should have been given to her when she was still alive because her life, just like

the life of President Duterte, was spent for the service of the country and the people,” he said in October last year at the wake of his wife at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Grottos in Cubao, Quezon City.

Senator Santiago, a former Quezon City judge, was dubbed the “Iron Lady of Asia,” and served all three branches of government during her long career in public service.

In 1988, she won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service with a citation “for bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency” when she was head of the Bureau of Immigration.

‘Oplan Rody’ won’t stop in Caloocan, police vow

By Jun David

EYESORE. Garbage, garbage everywhere on Manila’s streets, like this uncollected pile of waste materials along Palanca Street in Carriedo district. Residents are up in arms against the uncollected garbage by the contractor assigned in this area of the capital city.

IN SPITE of the new controversy of the alleged murder of a half-naked man caught by the police, the implementation of “Oplan Rody” or “Rid the Streets of Drunkards and Youth” of the Caloocan City Police remains in force.

Caloocan City chief of police Senior Supt. Jemar Modequillo said the authorities continue to cope with the headaches of some of the residents’ disobedience to the city government’s ordinances, despite their initial enforced operations where hundreds of those caught were asked to do push-ups, and children caught violating the curfew ordinance were advised not to repeat the mistake.

“For as long as we see a violation, we will not stop op-

erating,” Modequillo said.

The Caloocan Police conducted Oplan Rody for two months under the “warning phase” where no one was arrested and detained. The local police removed the “warning phase” today and their operations are more serious because of the rampant violation of obnoxious law breakers.

Meanwhile, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan is set to meet their Peace and Order Council to conduct an investigation of another controversy.

This is in line with the ongoing investigation by the National Capital Region Police Office, which has issued a relief order against the Police Community Precinct 6 commander, Chief Insp. Narciso Cajipe Jr. and Senior Insp. Jun Silvertino.

asked to submit their respective memorandum.

Under the BoC complaint, all nine respondents are accused of unlawful importation in violation of provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Tan, also known as Chen Ju Long, is the chairman and general manager of Philippine Hongfei Logistics Group of Companies Inc. which owns the warehouse in Valenzuela City where 604 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or the illegal drug shabu was discovered last May 26.

He recently tried to leave for China after the DoJ filed charges last Nov. 22 before the Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court against him and eight others based on the complaint filed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in connection with the drug shipment.

DoLE lifts ban on issuing OECs

By Vito Barcelo THE Department of Labor and Employment has lifted the suspension on the acceptance and processing of all new applications for overseas employment certificates or OEC, which was halted due to illegal activities involving personnel of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered the suspension in the issuance of OEC for all overseas Filipino workers last Nov. 10, 2017 following reports of illegal recruitment activities victimizing OFWs. Bello said that while he had already lifted the suspension, the department will still continue to investigate and identify other persons involved in the illegal activities.

He said several top POEA officials and employees who were directly involved in the processing of OFWs’ documents were already removed from their posts.

“All security guards and janitorial staff at the POEA were replaced, as majority of them were reportedly being used in the conduct of anomalous activities, particularly in the processing and issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates, a major requirement needed by OFWs for deployment,” he said.

DoLE also ordered the installation of closed-circuit video cameras in all offices and other areas of the POEA, except in comfort rooms.

Sports Paras steers Titans to NCRAA triumph

By Peter Atencio SIX-FOOT-FIVE transferee Andrei Paras helped his teammates control the boards as the AMA Titans got off to a great start in the opening games of the 25th National Capital Region Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

The 6’5” Paras, who left the University of the Philippines two years ago, shared the ball with his teammates, dishing out passes and rebounds that propelled the Titans to 93-61 swamping of the Philippine Merchant Marine School Mariners yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Paras, who is busy juggling and balancing his time between his studies, a budding acting career and basketball, finished with 15 points.

The 22-year-old Paras, son of former PBA great Benjie, made his teammates look good, with Carlo Garcia and Genmar Bragais banging in 18 apiece for the Titans.

The Titans quickly broke away with a 9-0 blast in the start of the game.

From there, they took control with a 20-11 lead at the end of the first period.

A three-point play midway in the second allowed the Titans to take a 12-point edge, 25-11.

“First quarter pa lang, na control na. Pero sa third, nag-relax. Sabi ko, mahaba pa ang laro, huwag magrelax,” said Titans coach Mark Herrera.

The Titans are now in the early lead of Team B of this cagefest, which has 16 participating schools this year.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez was the keynote speaker and guest of honor.

Former PBA chairman and long-time Sta. Lucia executive Buddy Encarnado declared the games open.

Encarnado is the new general manager of the league while Bai Cristobal is the commissioner.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

AAA Agri hikes golf lead to 14

B

AGUIO CITY —AAA Agri slowed down at the Baguio Country Club and collected 77 points to push its three-day total to 279 for a 14-point lead in Am F in the 68th Department of Tourism Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament.

Rico Cajili top-scored for the team, which is 14 up on Gatorade 845 and another 14 on NBI Team 157, even as Luisita Golf and Country Club pits its longer hitting players against Manila Southwoods as play shifts at the longer Camp John Hay course starting Wednesday in the event presented

by San Miguel Corp.

“We are confident when games move to CJH because our players are much longer (hitters),” said team

captain and Luisita Golf manager Jeric Hechanova as they stare at a one-point lead, 234-233, against the Carmona, Cavite team.

“We feel we could take advantage (at the par-69 CJH course),” said Hechanova, who 20 years ago started the Southwoods’ team that has eventually dominated the regular Fil-Am. This time, Hechanova hopes to shape up a Luisita’s team that could yet be the major force in amateur

play with his team trying to earn a grand slam in amateur competition after winning the PAL Interclub earlier this year.

“We hope to pad the lead at CJH,” he added, confident of his players’ capability including former pro Eddie Bagtas.

“Eddie could play better now since he can now use a golf cart because he has a bad right foot the past days and has a difficulty walking,” said Hechanova of his top man, who scored a measly 27 and 28 at the par-61 BCC outlay.

Bagtas has been outshot by fellow former pro Raul Minoza, who leads the individual race with 71 points after shooting an even par for 36 and 35 in the first two days, 16 points up on the burly former

Philippine seniors champion.

“He’ll score better than the 28, and he promised to do so,” he added of Bagtas.

But man to man, Hechanova is confident that the rest of his players will deliver and outperform the 2nd to fifth players of Southwoods.

“They really only have one man and the tournament is four to count,” he said, “We just need neutralize or keep (Minoza) at a distance and let the other players do the works,” he said.

His Am team goes to the BCC carrying a “big” nine-point lead over co-host CJH. With a 237 total and a nine-point advantage, Hechanova goes to BCC knowing that the CJH players have

US high court asked: Legalize sports betting

PHILRACOM CHAIRMAN’S CUP. Former Philracom Chairman (third from left) Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II congratulates winning jockey Pat Dilema after his horse Salt and Pepper ruled the Philracom Chairman’s Cup at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite on Sunday. They are joined by (from left) Philracom Commissioners Ramon S. Bagatsing Jr., Wilfredo de Ungria, Bienvenido C. Niles Jr. and Victor Tantoco and trainer Ruben Tupas (background, left).

WASHINGTON—America may have invented slot machines and Las Vegas is a gambling haven, but one form of wagering still remains largely off-limits—unless the Supreme Court backs New Jersey’s bid to legalize sports betting in a closely watched case.

The nation’s top court on Monday began considering whether a ban on sports wagering in 46 of the 50 states is constitutional, a ruling which could potentially legalize a business worth tens of billions of dollars annually.

Theodore Olson, the lawyer for Governor Chris Christie and his state of New Jersey, which is challenging the ban, argued “there is illegal gambling going on” all over the state, which “can’t regulate that activity” as things stand.

Opposing Christie and supporting the ban are the four

major professional US sports organizations, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is also in favor of the existing law, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. The arguments for and against reflect an issue which has persisted for more than two centuries in the United States: how to delimit powers of both the states and the federal government, the latter by definition pre-eminent.

Christie, a onetime ally of President Donald Trump, was in the courtroom audience to hear the opening arguments.

His state has spent years and millions of dollars waging court battles after New Jersey voters approved sports betting in a 2011 referendum. AFP

Putin’s thirst for victory backfires with possible Olympic ban MOSCOW—Vladimir Putin has staked Russia’s prestige—and his own reputation—on sporting achievements but a possible ban from the Winter Olympics after claims of state-run doping threatens to wipe out any successes.

Observers say it was the Kremlin’s desire for victory that fuelled the cheating that spectacularly backfired, with the country losing its top ranking in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics after being stripped of 11 medals for doping.

More penalties are expected in the coming days as the International

Olympic Committee meets on Tuesday to rule on whether to ban Russia from competing in the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February as punishment for cheating at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

“Sport is a huge media and political resource and Sochi was very important for the country’s image,” said political commentator Sergei Medvedev, adding Russia had resorted to mass-scale doping to guarantee victory in the Sochi games.

“It turns out they overplayed their hand and the largest scandal in the history of the Olympic movement ensued,”

the professor at the Moscow-based Higher School of Economics told AFP. “It is a huge blow to Russian sport.”

Russia may not be barred from the world’s most prestigious sporting event altogether but IOC officials are likely to ban Russian emblems including its flag and anthem from the games.

An explosive 2016 report by the World Anti-Doping Agency detailing the “state-dictated” system to hide drug test failures said it was put in place after a dismal showing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Moscow has consistently denied running a state-orchestrated doping

programme, seeking to pin all the blame on sporting officials.

In September, a Russian court issued an arrest warrant for whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov, who has fled to the United States and spoken out about Moscow’s doping cover-up.

‘Bias against Russia’ Medvedev of the Higher School of Economics said the possible ban against Russia would only reinforce the Kremlin’s rhetoric which maintains the West is out to get Russia, in Ukraine, Syria and now in sport.

“What is happening now is just one more piece of evidence for the

Pru Life UK gears up for big bikefest BRITISH life insurer Pru Life UK aims to start the new year with a bang with the launch of PRUride PH 2018, expected to be one of the biggest cycling events in the Philippines.

Following the success of PRUride to London in 2016, the 2018 installment is set to gather some of the national team cyclists from the country and across Southeast Asia with two competition legs—Jan. 11 to 14 at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, and Jan. 21 at McKinley West, Taguig.

“More than a gathering of the country’s most passionate cyclists, PRUride PH 2018 continues Pru Life UK’s commitment to promote responsible and safe cycling. We also hope to increase awareness on cycling as

always been playing bad at the shorter course.

“We are really fortunate to get a lead at (CJH’s) home and now we are going to BCC where their players do not play that good (there),” he said.

Meanwhile, Ian Arcilla of Glutamex Man scored the tournament’s first sub par game when he submitted a two-under 67 for 38 points at the CJH course as the team wrested back the lead from Club Intramuros in Fil. Arcilla practically carried the brunt for Glutamex, which made 89 points for 248 points and a point off Intramuros. The overnight leader made 84 points after a flight-best 91 at BCC the previous day. Dexter See

an alternative mode of transportation so we can all work towards having a safe and environment-friendly community for the generations to come,” said Pru Life UK SVP and Chief Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga at a media launch held at The Brewery in Uptown Bonifacio.

With more than 5,000 participants expected to sign up, Pru Life UK arranged several racing segments to cater to a wider range of cyclists, from amateur and age-group riders to Union Cycliste Internationale license holders. Among the activities included are the Professional Individual Time Trial, Amateur Time Trial, and the 100-kilometer Gran Fondo—all to be held in Subic—and a repeat of the

2016 Criterium races in Taguig.

Seasoned cyclists—including national athletes Marella Salamat and George Oconer—can put their skills to test at the PRUride Professional Road Race, a UCI-accredited (class B) event and a platform for young athletes aspiring to be in the national cycling team to show off their talents. It will also take UCI license holders and elite professionals to a 160-kilometer course, leading them to the historic peak of Mount Samat in the town of Pilar, Province of Bataan.

Likewise, cyclists of all expertise levels are also expected to flock at the PRUride Gran Fondo, which will bring them into the picturesque roads of Bataan province on a leisurely but timed 100-kilometer ride.

LaVar Ball pulls son from UCLA college program

Pru Life UK Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga (left), Members of the Philippine National Cycling Team in George Oconer (second from left) and Marella Salamat (third from left) and PhilCycling Road and Track Chairman Jun Lumibao offer a toast during the launch of the Pru Ride PH 2018. Lino Santos

Senate Defenders clobber COA Enablers

Senator Sonny Angara (#2) and Sen. Joel Villanueva (#3) give high fives to their teammates during their UNTV Cup Season 6 game with the COA Enablers at the Olivarez Gym in Parañaque City.

THE Senate Basketball Team, led by Senators Joel Villanueva and Sonny Angara, showed no mercy on the Commission on Audit as it pulled off a 105-72 win in the UNTV Season 6 last Sunday at the Olivarez Sports Complex in Parañaque City.

Hailed as Best Players of the Game are Michael Dan Omega and Sen. Joel Villanueva.

“Natutuwa kami dahil ‘yung game-plan na tinuturo ni Coach Mike Fermin ay nagagawa namin, na-eexecute namin.

And of course, kudos sa teammates namin na

Kremlin that Russia is at war with the outside world,” he said.

Putin said last month that doping allegations against Russian athletes had been invented by the United States to influence a March presidential election he is widely expected to contest and win.

Tatyana Stanovaya, a Paris-based analyst for the Centre of Political Technologies in Moscow, said the Kremlin is sure that performancebased substances are used by athletes everywhere but the West singles out Russia to punish it for its increasingly assertive political stance. AFP

Games on Sunday

(Olivarez Sports Complex) 2 p.m. - Ombudsman vs DOJ 3:30 p.m. - GSIS vs PNP 5 p.m. - AFP vs DOH

willing to walk the extra mile to get a win,” Senator Villanueva said.

“Sabi lang ni Coach, play hard lang at saka kung ano ang game ng Senate, ‘yun lang ang gagawin namin,” Omega seconded.

The loss sent the COA Enablers into an early vacation and fortified the Senate Defenders’ campaign for the next round of the season.

“We’re definitely hungry and lesson sa amin ‘yung last year kaya every single game, we treat it as a championship game at last game namin.

Kaya kung makikita mo ‘yung hustle ni Omega, hustle ng mga teammates namin, talagang patay kung patay basta makuha lang ‘yung bola, basta maka-depensa.

So, we’re very happy.

At the end of the game, hindi importante sa amin who gets the best player, who gets the score kungdi manalo kami and ang rhythm ng team namin ay hindi

mawala.” Senatpr Villanueva added.

Meanwhile, the GSIS Furies extinguished the BFP Firefighters in the second game of a triple-header with a final score of 81-75.

James Patrick Abugan was hailed as the Best Player of the Game with 34 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.

The Furies also got a solid performance from Rene Boy Banzali with 25 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.

With the win, the GSIS Furies advanced to next round, while BFP bid goodbye to the season.

LOS ANGELES—LaVar Ball said on Monday he will withdraw his son LiAngelo from the college basketball program at UCLA in protest at his suspension for shoplifting in China.

LiAngelo was one of three UCLA players arrested in China earlier this month and later released after the intervention of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He was later suspended indefinitely by UCLA over what became an international incident and led to a war of words been LaVar and President Donald Trump.

LaVar, however, told ESPN on Monday he was withdrawing his son from UCLA. “We are exploring other options with Gelo,” LaVar told ESPN. “He’s out of there.”

“I’m not sitting back and waiting.

“He wasn’t punished this bad in China. We get back over here and the consequences were even stiffer than China. So basically they’re in jail here.”

LaVar said LiAngelo would not transfer to another school but would rather concentrate on entering the 2018 NBA draft.

LiAngelo is the younger brother of Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball, who joined the NBA powerhouse this year after playing one season at UCLA. AFP

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

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

Blu Girls nail slots to Asian, world tilts

The PH Blu Girls pose for posterity after their runner-finish in the 11th Asian Women’s Softball Championship in Taichung City, Taiwan.

Jr chessers are Asean champs T Standard and Girls’ Rapid.

She placed second in the Girls’ 16 Blitz for a total haul of two gold medals and a silver.

Also winning two gold medals was Kaye Lalaine REgidor, who dominated the Girls’ 8 Rapid and Blitz events. Mecel Angela Gadut took the silver and the bronze in the said events.

Daren Dela Cruz and Berthe Antonella Racasa made a 1-2 finish in the Girls’ 10 Standard.

Also bagging the gold and silver were Alexander Milagrosa and Edmundo Gatus, respectively in the S50S, same as Jia Allaney

By Randy Caluag

HE Philippine Team amassed a total of 83 gold, 27 silver and 29 bronze medals to bag the overall championship trophy in the 18th Asean Age-Group Chess Championship held recently at the Grand Darulmakmur Hotel in Kuantan Pahang, Malaysia.

Doroy Ynna and Sophia Canape in the Girls’ 18-20 Standard.

Michael Concio captured the gold in the Under 12 Standard, while Mark Jay Bacojo settled for the bronze behind Shah Mahmood of Malaysia.

Danie Quizon emerged the gold medalist in the Under 14 Standard, while compatriot Justine Mordido took the bronze behind Dicky Aditya of Indoensia More than 250 players competed in three events, namely, Standard, Rapid and Blitz.

GM Jayson Gonzales, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines executive

director, said it was the first time for the Philippines to win the overall trophy after 17 years.

Gonzales said the Philippines is hard-pressed to defend the title when the country hosts the tournament on June 18 to 28 next year in Davao City.

“That’s why our players should start training immediately. We are expecting tough opposition next year in Davao as more countries have expressed their interest to participate. We expect at least 500 players,” said Gonzales, who also revealed that China will send a huge delegation.

Gonzales said that

if NCFP president Rep. Butch Pichay approves of the program submitted, eliminations will start as early as January to select the new batch of the national pool.

“We should prepare our players at least two months before the tournament. There must be a scientific and systematic training, no need for bahala na system at sabog sabog na preparation, Hindi uubra ang talent lang,” Gonzales said.

The hosting was officially turned over to the Philippines during the closing ceremony of the tournament.

THE Philippines settled for a runner-finish after suffering a 7-0 loss to world no. 1 Japan in the 11th Asian Women’s Softball Championship in Taichung City, Taiwan.

It was a worthy stint for the PH Blu Girls, though, as they qualified for a slot in the 2018 Asian Games and the World Championships—a pair of tournaments that will determine the competing teams in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Vowing to make their country proud, the Filipinas took on three powerhouse teams in one day, beating world no. 9 Chinese Taipei, 5-3, and world no. 6 China in a thrilling come-frombehind win, 4-3.

The PH Blu Girls, who are made up of both locals and Division 1 Fil-Am players, earlier shut out Hong Kong, 18-0, before trouncing Korea, 6-4.

In their championship duel, however, the Japanese proved too much for the Filipinas.

“I’m so elated with PH Blu Girls’ performance in the Asian Women’s Softball Championships.

Their wins against world no. 6 China and World no. 9 Chinese Taipei, in a span of a few hours, proved that their wins this summer against powerhouse teams such as world no. 3 Canada, no. 4 Australia were no flukes,” said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier.

“I’m so excited about this team and I think they have a legitimate chance of being one of only six teams who’ll play in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” Lhuillier added.

The team came back from its Taiwan stint yesterday. Randy Caluag

Represented by 47 youth chessers, the Philippines won the most number of medals among seven participating countries.

Placing second was Malaysia with 83 golds, 33 silvers and 41 bronzes. At third was Indonesia (12G,

6S, 4B), followed by Vietnam (5G, 2S, 0B), Singapore (2G, 5S, 5B) China (1G, 0S, 0B) and Australia (0G, 0S, 1B).

Among those who delivered for Team Philippines were Kylen Joy Mordido, who topped the Girls’ 16

Pro league now offers Conference ‘18 Passes

NU Bullpups extend streak to 5; Jr Archers turn back Jr Warriors

THE Philippine Basketball Association is offering the 2018 PBA Conference Pass at the following prices: P45,00.00 for Patron A seats and P35,000.00 for Lowerbox-B seats at the SMART Araneta, MOA Arena and Cuneta Astrodome; P20,000.00 for Upperbox-A at SMART Araneta and Lowerbox-C seats the MOA Arena and Cuneta Astrodome.

A Conference Pass holder is assured of a seat from the eliminations to the finals games of the conference. Only a limited number of conference passes are available.

The PBA will also start entertaining renewals of its Privilege Membership Cards for the 2018 Season from Dec. 11 to 16, while new applicants may apply starting Dec. 18.

PMC prices are P8,000.00 for Premium/ VIP, P7,000.00 for Patron seats at the SMART Araneta Coliseum and Special Ringside seats at the MOA Arena and Cuneta Astrodome, P5,000.00 for Patron C and Lowerbox A to C at the SMART Araneta Coliseum and Courtside at the MOA Arena and Cuneta Astrodome.

Interested fans are requested to call Gerry Mesias or Nestor Noblejas of the PBA Ticketing Office at 470-3258/59.

The 2018 Season promises to be another year of top-notch sports entertainment that is sure to excite fans here and around the globe.

By Peter Atencio MIGUEL Oczon and Rhayyan Amsali showed the way as the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups put away the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws, 80-68, last Sunday at the Blue Eagle gym in Katipunan Ave.,

Quezon City.

Miguel Oczon tallied 21 points and was part of a big scoring run in the fourth period powering the Bullpups to their fifth straight triumph in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior basketball tournament.

Oczon’s triple in the last

7:51 came on top of a decisive scoring run that gave the Bullpups a 16-point, 6953 edge when it was over.

Amsali banged in 15 points for the Bullpups, who joined the Ateneo Blue Eaglets in the lead.

Scoring twice off Matthew Manalang’s pass, Amsali found his range

during a pivotal 12-0 blast at the start of the fourth, handing the Bullpups a 6053 edge.

Michael Malonzo eked out 14 points, with his split charity in the last 9:27 touching off the Bullpups’ breakaway that gave NU a 58-53 edge.

LJ Gonzales knocked in

18 points for the Baby Tams, who now have a 2-3 winloss record.

The La Salle Zobel Junior Archers, who also have a 2-3 card, leaned on the heroics of Chris Calimag and Nat Consejo at endgame to turn back the University of the East Junior Warriors, 77-74.

Consejo made 23 points, with his drive off Shan Vesaga’s assist allowing the Junior Archers to overtake UE, 75-74, in the last 49 seconds.

Calimag drilled in 16 points, including two charities in the finals 13 seconds that gave DLSZ the threepoint win.

Cone: Gin Kings match up well with champ Beermen

By Charles Dantes GINEBRA’S head tactician Tim Cone believes that his Ginebra is the best team to challenge reigning Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beermen this coming 43rd season of the PBA. “We match up well against San Miguel Beer as well as anybody can,” said Cone in a short interview during the team’s thanksgiving celebration with

their fans at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City last Dec. 1.

As an exciting rivalry is brewing between the sister teams, the multititled coach showed confidence that Ginebra players have the components to go head-to-head against the defending champs.

But he was quick to address their supposed achilles hill—their lack of speed.

“We probably match up

better than San Miguel than we do like a team like Talk N Text that runs up and down the floor,” explained Cone.

With the rejuvenated game of Greg Slaughter, the return of versatile forward Art Dela Cruz and the recent addition of rookie gunner Jett Manuel to the already stacked team of Ginebra, the Kings are ready once more to dominate the coming PBA season.

Members of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings are shown during a thanksgiving party for their die-hard fans at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. Peter Paul Duran

Curry twists ankle, but still sparks Dubs past Pelicans LOS ANGELES—Stephen Curry sparked a second-half comeback to inspire the Golden State Warriors to victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, but suffered a late ankle injury to take the shine off a dramatic win.

Curry rolled badly on his right ankle in the final minute of the Warriors 125-115 win in New Orleans, limping off the court and later leaving the Smoothie King Center on crutches.

X-rays taken after the game however indicated no serious

damage although Curry was taking nothing for granted having already suffered an injury to his right ankle earlier in his career.

“I sprained my ankle and I’ll see how it feels tomorrow and kind of go from there,” said Curry, who scored 31 points in the win.

“Obviously, it’s the second situation, but ... this is more on the concerned side. I’ve been through this before on this ankle, and knowing the surgical repairs from like five or six years ago are fine, I should be able to bounce back.”

Earlier, the reigning NBA champions had overturned a 69-49 halftime deficit to grab a victory which improved their record to 19-6.

It was the second time this season that the Warriors had come back from 20 points down or more to claim victory. No other team in modern NBA history has posted 20-point halftime comebacks in the same season.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr however was unimpressed that his team had once again been required to dig themselves out of a hole of their own making.

“It’s absolutely too much,” Kerr said. “We’re not composed out there. We’re a championship team.

We’ve got to be poised and we’ve got to execute.

“We’re getting way too emotional, myself included. We’ve got to show some poise when things aren’t going our way and stop worrying about everything else and just worry about the game.”

Lack of composure That lack of composure was evident in an ugly confrontation between Warriors star Kevin Durant and Peli-

cans DeMarcus Cousins. Both players were ejected after facing off in the closing minutes of the game.

Durant, who scored 19 points, later reproached himself for his loss of control.

“I can’t get involved with that type of stuff,” Durant said. “I’ve just got to stay locked in and stay focused on the game.

“I’m not going to fight nobody. I don’t want to get injured. I don’t want to get suspended. I love to play. I love making money for my family, so I’m not trying to get suspended.” AFP

Global Business buys 50% of Alsons’ unit for P2.377b B2

Business

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

B1

Big consortium to rebuild Naia

By Jenniffer B. Austria

IN BRIEF

A

ADB vows to increase infra loans

“SUPER consortium” composed of the country’s seven largest conglomerates is being formed to undertake the rehabilitation, modernization and expansion of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, industry sources said.

THE Asian Development Bank increased its available funding for the Philippines’ infrastructure-related investments from 34 percent of actual lending approvals covering the 2011-2016 period to 48 percent over the next three years in support of the Duterte administration’s massive infrastructure program.

It said on top of the available funds under the ADB’s Country Operations Business Plan, sovereign loans for the country’s infrastructure-related projects would account for almost 40 percent of the $3.68-billion Philippine Sovereign Lending Program for 2018 to 2020.

ADB president Takehiko Nakao updated Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on the bank’s four new lending programs for the Philippines this year amounting to $1.08 billion in a recent meeting in Manila.

Dominguez thanked the ADB for continuing to extend its assistance to the Philippines, especially for its ‘Build, Build, Build’ infra program and for approving the new loans, which include Encouraging Investment through Capital Market Reforms Subprogram 2 ($300 million), Improving Growth Corridors in the Mindanao Road Sector ($380 million), the Facilitating Youth School-to-Work Transition ($300 million) and the establishment of an Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility (IPIF) ($100 million). Julito G. Rada

Ocean power firm seeks govt support

INVEST AND GIVE. BPI Investment Management Inc., the investment management company of Bank of the Philippine Islands, launches “Invest and Give” program that allows clients to invest in mutual funds and make a social impact with their investment at the same time. For every P100,000 investment in any of the ALFM Mutual Funds managed by BIMI, the company will donate P200 on behalf of the client to Ayala Foundation, BPI Foundation or Hero Foundation. At the signing of the agreement are (seated, from left) BPI Foundation executive director Maricris San Diego, Ayala Foundation chief financial officer Romualdo Katigbak, Ayala Foundation senior director Joanna Duarte, BIMI president Ruben Enrique Espiritu, BIMI Business Development’s Fredrik Carlo Liu, Hero Foundation executive director Victor Bayani and Hero Foundation marketing officer Mauwi Villar. With them are (standing from left) Ayala Foundation president Ruel Maranan, BPI president and chief executive Cezar Consing, BIMI assistant vice president and chief operations officer Jose Mari Valmayor and BPI senior vice president Sheila Marie Tan.

Inflation eased to 3.3% in November—PSA

By Julito G. Rada

SAN BERNARDINO Ocean Power Corp. expressed support to the government’s plan to merge and create a single government guarantee agency, as it will help the company raise international funding.

SBOPC, a joint venture of local company H&WB Asia Pacific (Pte. Ltd.) Corp. and Sabella SAS of France, is building a $25-million pilot phase of an ocean tidal power plant in San Bernardino Strait, envisioned to be the first in the Philippines and Asean.

The company, in a statement, urged the government to approve the creation of a single state-run guarantee agency.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III announced in July that he wanted to consolidate Philippine Export-Import Credit Agency with Home Guaranty Corp., Quedan and Rural Guarantee Corp. and Small Business Corp.

“Ocean power needs strong government support. The kinetic energy of tidal currents produces stable electricity supply. This is real ‘grid smart’ technology because it can provide steady ancillary service supporting the transmission of electricity from generation to customers up to far-flung areas,” said Antonio Ver, president of H&WB Asia Pacific (Pte Ltd) Corp.

Alena Mae S. Flores

INFLATION rate eased to 3.3 percent in October from a three-year high of 3.5 percent in October, on lower increases in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.

The November figure brought the average inflation in the first 11 months to 3.2 percent, within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent this year.

“Inflation during the last eleven months suggests that the full-year average might settle slightly above midpoint, but will still be well

Cebu airport taps UK firm food outlets

MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. tapped UK-based SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage outlets, to operate and develop world-class food and beverage concepts within Terminals 1 and 2 of Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

GMR-Mactan-Cebu International Airport president Louie Ferrer said Megawide awarded to SSP Group the contract to design, develop, set-up and operate Food & Beverage units covering 1,000 square meters. Megawide is the local partner of GMR Group of India.

The contract will begin with the opening of Terminal 2 in June 2018. “SSP operates in some of the world’s busiest airports. We are proud to partner with them in delivering the world class standards that Filipinos deserve,” Ferrer said.

“We’re also looking forward to showcasing the best of our local delicacies to international travelers, such as Cebu’s famous lechon and dried mangoes, alongside the best of international cuisine,” he said.

Ferrer said they were now in talks to finalize the brands that would be featured in MCIA. Jenniffer B. Austria

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, December 5, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.5570

Japan

Yen

0.008889

0.4494

UK

Pound

1.346600

68.0801

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127925

6.4675

Switzerland

Franc

1.014919

51.3113

Canada

Dollar

0.787340

39.8055

Singapore

Dollar

0.742115

37.5191

Australia

Dollar

0.759300

38.3879

Bahrain

Dinar

2.650692

134.0110 13.4811

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

Brunei

Dollar

0.739372

37.3804

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.030675

1.5508

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

13.7649

Euro

Euro

1.185900

59.9555

Korea

Won

0.000921

0.0466

China

Yuan

0.151135

7.6409

India

Rupee

0.015533

0.7853

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.246305

12.4524

New Zealand

Dollar

0.685000

34.6315

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033371

1.6871 Source: PDS Bridge

within our target of 2 to 4 percent. This already considers expected price spikes owing to holiday season spending this December,” Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said Tuesday.

Inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages eased to 3.2 percent in November from October’s 3.6 percent. This was the lowest rate recorded since October 2016, as prices of vegetables, sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery, fruits, oils and fats and rice declined.

“We are starting to see year-on-year price declines

for ampalaya, cabbage, carrots, tomato, white potato, and imported garlic in the National Capital Region.

This signifies that supply is starting to stabilize again,” Pernia said.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said the easing of inflation in November was expected, following the October peak.

“We are still on track with 3.2-percent inflation for 2017, just about the midpoint of the target range,” Espenilla said.

Meanwhile, non-food inflation slightly increased to 3.3 percent in November

from the previous month’s 3.2 percent.

“Over the near term, we still expect risks coming from both domestic and external fronts,” Pernia said.

He said that on the external front, higher international crude oil prices was anticipated following oil production cuts from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries until end of 2018.

On the domestic front, higher electricity rates and increasing coal and domestic fuel prices would also continue to exert pressures on headline inflation in the near term.

Sources said the seven groups were planning to work together to finally have the important infrastructure project implemented.

The seven groups include Ayala Corp., LT Group Inc., Filinvest Group, JG Summit Holdings Inc., Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Megaworld Corp., sources said.

Metro Pacific president Jose Ma. K. Lim confirmed the plan in a text message.

“The idea is being discussed, but we have not formally agreed on anything at this point,” Lim said.

These groups previously expressed interest in Naia redevelopment.

Sources said the consortium did not include SM group this time, because the latter has a pending unsolicited proposal for the P50-billion new international airport and seaport at Sangley Point, Cavite.

San Miguel Corp., which has a separate P700-billion unsolicited bid for the Bulacan airport project, is also not included in the consortium.

The National Economic and Development Authority approved the redevel-

Jollibee-Cargill joint venture opens biggest PH meat plant CARGILL Joy Poultry Meats Production Inc., a joint venture of Cargill Inc. of the US and Jollibee Foods Corp., on Tuesday inaugurated the largest poultry processing plant in Santo Tomas, Batangas.

Jollibee said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the plant would have a capacity of 45 million chicken per year, making it the biggest in the country.

“We are bringing protein to family’s tables across the Philippines. Cargill and Jollibee came together to start this plant because of our common commitment to the highest standards in product quality and food safety. This is reflected in this new plant which harnesses technology and global experience to deliver tasty chicken products in an environment which is safe for our employees and is environmentally sustainable,” C-Joy president and chief executive Paul Fullbright said.

The new poultry processing facilities will not only ensure the ample supply of dressed and marinated chicken of various brands under Jollibee group, but will also offer income opportunities to local poultry farmers in Batangas and nearby provinces as they will be able to supply the chickens to be processed at the JFC facility.

Jollibee chief executive Ernesto Tanmantiong said the partnership with Cargill would ensure the supply of highquality chicken products through Cargill’s technology and quality standards. Jenniffer B. Austria

Uber faces sanctions for breach of privacy

By Othel V. Campos TRANSPORT network ve-

INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVENESS. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (left) and Japan International Cooperation Agency - Philippines chief representative Susumo Ito sign the records of discussions for the Enhancement of Industrial Competitiveness through Industrial Human Resource Development and Supply & Value Chains Development. The discussion records include agreements in the implementation of projects in industrial development planning and human capacity-building in the Philippines. These projects will push for the growth and development of the manufacturing sector, complementing the global value chain development of the Philippine automotive industry via skill trainings and through the development of the Industrial Masterplan for Central Luzon and Calabarzon.

Money supply, bank loans sustained strong growth in October BOTH money supply and bank loans posted a double-digit growth in October, on strong corporate and household demand for cash, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said domestic liquidity or the money supply circulating in the financial system grew 14.8 percent year-on-year to about P10.3 trillion in October, slightly faster than the 14.5-percent rise in September.

Data showed that on a monthon-month seasonally-adjusted basis, liquidity or M3 increased 1.3 percent.

“The growth in M3 remains consistent with the BSP’s prevailing outlook for inflation and eco-

opment Naia last year.

The project had an indicative cost of P74.56 billion or $1.65 billion.

Under the plan, the private sector partner will improve, upgrade and enhance the operational efficiencies of all existing terminals of Naia, covering both landside and airside (except air traffic services), to meet the International Civil Aviation Organizationstandards and develop the main gateway airport.

The Transportation Department, as implementing agency, has yet to issue an invitation to bid for the major project.

The government is also open for unsolicited proposals for new airport projects to address concerns of air congestion in Manila.

Various groups called for the immediate expansion and upgrade of Naia which is currently congested because of increased passenger traffic.

Naia accounts for nearly 90 percent of all domestic passengers in the Philippines and more than 80 percent of all international passengers. It handled 39.5 million passengers in 2016, higher than its designed capacity of 31 million passengers annually.

nomic activity. Going forward, the BSP will continue to monitor domestic liquidity closely to ensure that monetary conditions are conducive to maintaining price and financial stability,” the regulator said.

Domestic claims grew increased 15.2 percent in October, slower than the 16.1-percent increase in September as growth in credit to the private sector eased to 16.5 percent from 18.3 percent in the previous month.

“Nevertheless, growth in bank loans remained robust on account of lending to key production sectors such as electricity, gas, steam and airconditioning supply; real estate activities; wholesale and retail

trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; financial and insurance activities; information and communication; and manufacturing,” the Bangko Sentral said.

Net foreign assets in peso terms grew 6.1 percent year-on-year in October, up from a revised 0.1 percent in the previous month.

“Foreign exchange inflows coming mainly from overseas Filipinos’ remittances and business process outsourcing receipts continued to be the drivers behind the increase in the BSP’s NFA position. The NFA of banks likewise expanded due to the growth in banks’ foreign assets asa result of higher loans and investments

in marketable debt securities,” it said.

Meanwhile, outstanding loans of commercial banks, net of reverse repurchase placements with the BSP, expanded at a slower rate of 19.9 percent in October compared to 21.1 percent in September.

The growth in bank lending inclusive of RRPs slowed down to 18 percent in October from 20.1 percent in the previous month.

Loans for production activities―which comprised 88.3 percent of banks’ aggregate loan portfolio, net of RRP ― grew 18.7 percent while loans for household consumption rose 23.4 percent.

Julito G. Rada

hicle service provider Uber may face administrative and criminal liabilities for data breach concealment, the National Privacy Commission said Tuesday.

NPC commissioner Raymund Liboro asked Uber Philippines its full cooperation to probe the data breach case involving Filipino users.

“Under the Privacy Law, the minimum penalty for concealment of breach is about 1 1/2 to 5 years imprisonment and at least P1 million in fine,” Liboro said in news a briefing Tuesday.

Uber kept its data breach case for a year before coming out in the open, saying the breach involved several nationalities including Filipinos.

Despite the ongoing investigation, Uber failed to release more information about the 2016 breach incident that affected 600,000 drivers in the US and some personal information of 57 million Uber users around the world.

The information included names, email-addresses and mobile phone numbers.

“Unfortunately, Uber failed to provide the level of detail that we expect from personal information controllers about data breach notifications, such as the actual number of Filipinos affected and the scope of their exposure,” the commission said.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Global Business buys 50% of Alsons’ unit for P2.377b

By Alena Mae S. Flores GLOBAL Business Power Corp., a unit of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Group, is acquiring a 50-percent stake in Alsons Thermal Energy Corp. of Alsons Consolidated Resources Corp. for P2.377 billion.

Alsons disclosed to the Philippine Stock exchange on Tuesday it sold 14.9 million shares equivalent to a 50 percent stake in ATEC for P159.03 apiece.

“Following the sale, the issuer’s parent company financial statements will reflect a temporary decrease under investment in subsidiary while the cash item will increase substantially,” Alsons said.

Alsons said the liquidity arising from the sale of a portion of its equity interest in ATEC and the un-

derlying assets would enable it to invest in other projects or possibly reduce a portion of its debt.

ATEC own a 70-percent stake in Sarangani Energy Corp., 100 percent of ACES Technical Services Corp. and 100 percent of San Ramon Power Inc. Alsons “will gain a strategic partner for the coal power plant projects it owns, and future energy projects it will undertake through ATEC,” the company said.

The partnership is seen to greatly benefit power consumers with the combined technical competencies and strengths of GBPC in the Visayas and Alsons’s long years of experience in Mindanao as the island’s first independent power producer, especially in light of the planned interconnection of the Mindanao and Visayas grids.

Market snaps five-day slump; SM Prime rises

T

HE stock market rose Tuesday on bargain hunting to stop a five-day slump that saw the Philippine Stock Exchange Index break previous support barriers.

The PSEi climbed 60.55 points, or 0.8 percent, to 8,145 points on a value turnover of P7.8 billion.

Gainers beat losers, 102 to 97, with 49 issues unchanged.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. gained 2.1 percent to P36.50, while Bank of the Philippine Islands, the thirdbiggest lender in terms of assets, rallied 2.8 percent to P102.50.

Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc., a major cement producer, ad-

vanced 6.4 percent to P4.79, while retailer Puregold Price Club Inc. of tycoon Lucio Co. rose 2.5 percent to P49.20.

Meanwhile, tech giants including Samsung and Tencent sank in Asian trade on Tuesday, tracking a sell-off in their US rivals and dragging most regional markets lower.

While investors welcomed news that the US Senate had finally passed controversial tax reforms, the deal must still be reconciled

with a House bill, while the probe into alleged Russian meddling in last year’s election continues to dog Donald Trump.

The Dow closed at a record high on Wall Street but the Nasdaq tumbled more than one percent as dealers shifted out of the tech sector, which has enjoyed a healthy rally through the year, and into financial firms.

“The high-tech sell-off has worsened overall sentiment,” said Toshihiko Matsuno, chief strategist at SMBC Friend Securities.

“Investors seem to be rebalancing (their portfolios) to take profits towards the end of the year, moving out of high-performing technology and health care issues into financial

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.3 251,000 59.5 6,050 102.5 3,645,550 3.8 2,000 146.5 2,465,750 2.05 1,272,000 33.2 125,900 15.5 36,100 33.6 1,198,900 7.73 2,100 0.65 1,000 1.65 8,000 955 10 0.56 354,000 92.75 4,137,370 0.82 222,000 12.12 1,100 24.5 4,000 55.6 5,240 239.8 80 96 60 57 1,708,190 237 590,410 87 107,800 1.26 5,000

834,020 358,090 368,236,551.50 7,600 358,129,898 2,591,450 4,188,345 555,530 40,319,380 16,236 650 13,200 9,550 196,440 383,804,338.50 182,990 13,072 98,450 292,944.50 19,146 5,760 97,205,669.50 141,290,490 9,378,954 6,280

278,813 28,143,913.50 1,431,186 6,090 -675,140 2,825,550 -52,130 121,130,066 81,261 14,388 7,269,752.50 -102,279,856 -1,833,062 -

38.65 12.2 0.68 1.35 16.76 0.212 100 4.47 15.42 152 41.5 19.2 63.95 65 1.89 5.31 11.04 10.82 14.76 10.4 7.25 5.53 17.1 61.5 22.8 11.4 17.14 1.99 241.4 58.5 4.08 3.1 16.44 28.25 17.8 17.06 300 0.188 8.02 2.38 5.95 9.4 7.37 8.8 1.55 11.2 58.6 6.6 500 4.8 1.95 4.4 2.05 12.82 5.43 0.134 1.17 132.6 3.01 1.88 0.61

INDUSTRIAL 38.8 1,150,700 12.34 865,900 0.68 166,000 1.38 810,000 17.04 2,400 0.213 1,170,000 105 200 4.79 23,905,000 15.58 306,400 152 40 42 536,400 19.9 7,700 64 5,000 65 410 1.95 268,000 5.31 19,800 11.38 18,200 11.16 6,333,800 14.9 2,615,000 10.48 686,700 7.29 284,000 5.62 4,882,700 17.22 339,400 61.6 51,130 23.15 162,200 11.4 28,600 17.24 2,630,600 2.19 5,137,000 243.8 447,580 58.5 640 4.15 78,000 3.2 64,000 20 1,700 28.4 1,222,000 17.84 226,600 17.1 818,300 302 482,010 0.188 2,440,000 8.1 44,600 2.44 176,000 6.07 137,400 9.55 537,800 7.7 93,600 9 119,100 1.56 922,000 12 230,200 58.7 18,940 6.6 14,000 505.5 4,540 4.87 26,000 1.95 1,000 4.41 22,000 2.12 502,000 12.9 286,200 5.5 379,100 0.134 560,000 1.2 179,000 133 744,320 3.19 3,000 1.89 8,244,000 0.64 182,000

44,627,805 10,684,434 113,290 1,111,120 40,680 250,370 20,400 113,154,660 4,743,132 6,080 22,411,000 149,705 319,961.50 26,699.50 512,070 106,763 207,802 69,942,642 38,893,896 7,206,902 2,070,262 27,392,656 5,851,720 3,148,645 3,777,905 326,964 46,096,104 10,838,770 108,944,560 37,440 320,520 201,540 30,658 34,905,015 4,041,426 14,001,414 145,628,762 459,450 358,216 428,710 836,078 5,108,832 710,217 1,072,758 1,430,050 2,683,478 1,112,010.50 94,289 2,308,115 125,420 1,950 96,840 1,058,520 3,690,584 2,076,087 75,600 214,250 99,017,822 9,400 15,787,160 113,370

-22,498,090 3,328,622 1,372,210 213,922 303,835 -270,720 -380,720 55,538,204 19,071,124 -4,460,574 -943,750 -1,836,479 -1,150,230 -163,774 -106,684 -7,622,810 -365,950 -21,294,372 -25,600 19,083,265 2,242,398 -4,661,396 36,667,930 -231,950 98,578 -2,485,220 -314,373 992,000 -62,250 185,336.50 820,745 2,100 2,160,238 -5,727,506 -4,545,350 -

0.32 68.85 15.82 0.95 7 0.38 0.385 999 7.45 14.58 7.97 4.01 1,155 69 5.23 5.85 5.35 0.62 5.75 19 6.58 4.01 0.047 1.15 109.9 2.71 963.5 0.79 1.79 286 0.24 0.181 0.225

0.31 67.5 15.68 0.93 6.93 0.375 0.38 975 7.39 14.2 7.71 4.01 1,141 67.2 4.63 5.8 5.35 0.6 5.6 18.7 6.46 3.55 0.046 1.05 108 2.7 952 0.79 1.75 281.2 0.24 0.18 0.19

HOLDING FIRMS 0.315 1,950,000 68.85 763,210 15.74 11,468,400 0.93 126,000 7 2,600 0.375 850,000 0.38 610,000 999 197,080 7.42 567,100 14.4 5,066,500 7.9 10,300 4.01 1,000 1,145 92,640 67.2 1,056,330 5.23 1,100 5.85 2,000 5.35 500 0.6 339,000 5.75 304,700 18.9 2,131,600 6.58 8,669,700 3.64 680,000 0.046 4,300,000 1.13 233,000 109.9 121,630 2.71 4,000 960 1,159,680 0.79 1,000 1.76 2,422,000 286 6,040 0.24 40,000 0.18 120,000 0.193 460,000

606,500 52,467,146.50 180,607,362 117,840 18,186 320,550 231,850 195,750,925 4,205,345 72,948,172 81,035 4,010 106,091,570 71,775,129 5,633 11,690 2,675 204,210 1,729,441 40,316,268 56,699,628 2,635,960 198,300 251,720 13,281,008 10,810 1,113,268,675 790 4,263,180 1,721,556 9,600 21,630 92,390

3,930,221 -68,271,826 8,195,815 -2,375,574 -25,623,772 13,448,690 -11,557,210.50 954,790 -1,198,888 9,390,257 35,800 7,420 2,900,616 -79,265,800 -130,140 -

5.73 1 11 2.41 0.88 42.55 3.7 4.78 5.45 0.47 1.12 1.21 0.209 0.45 38 0.67 0.145 1.81 1.37 0.74

5.61 0.97 10.06 2.36 0.85 41.7 3.63 4.74 5.25 0.46 1.11 1.18 0.205 0.45 37.8 0.65 0.144 1.8 1.31 0.69

5,544,948 3,691,760 117,136 274,650 2,450,720 188,578,950 729,310 3,299,060 50,611 1,194,050 122,180 149,910 1,513,310 616,500 2,871,145 1,944,300 2,890 4,575,870 19,875,600 793,990

-1,320,251 277,300 -77,050 -28,327,045 -217,410 14,250 24,165 -156,500 -2,050 11,400 -1,646,040 -154,380 -6,697,070 35,000

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.33 59.65 99.85 3.8 145.1 2.14 33.25 15.4 33.1 7.74 0.65 1.65 955 0.58 93 0.84 11.86 24.5 55.4 236 96 54 242 87 1.25

3.64 59.65 102.5 3.8 146.9 2.14 33.4 15.5 33.8 7.74 0.65 1.65 955 0.58 93 0.84 12.12 24.95 56.45 239.8 96 57.45 246 87.3 1.26

3.3 57.75 99.7 3.8 142.8 2 33.15 15.3 33.1 7.73 0.65 1.65 955 0.55 92 0.82 11.86 24.5 55.4 236 96 54 236.2 87 1.25

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

38.7 12.22 0.68 1.35 17.18 0.216 100 4.55 15.5 152 41.5 20.05 63.95 67.95 1.91 5.34 11.42 10.9 14.76 10.8 7.4 5.6 17.8 61.5 22.8 11.5 18 2.04 241.4 58.5 4.11 3.29 16.8 29.35 17.84 17.18 300 0.194 8.1 2.38 6.3 9.4 7.62 9.47 1.55 11.2 59.25 6.8 500 4.85 1.95 4.4 2.08 12.9 5.61 0.136 1.17 132.7 3.2 1.96 0.61

39 12.4 0.69 1.39 17.2 0.216 105 4.86 15.58 152 42 20.05 64 67.95 1.95 5.51 11.42 11.16 14.98 10.8 7.4 5.65 17.8 61.75 23.8 11.5 18.12 2.19 244.6 58.5 4.18 3.29 20 29.35 17.86 17.2 303.8 0.194 8.1 2.44 6.3 9.55 7.84 9.47 1.56 12 59.25 6.8 521 4.87 1.95 4.41 2.14 12.94 5.61 0.136 1.2 134 3.2 1.97 0.64

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

0.32 67.5 15.72 0.95 6.93 0.375 0.38 984 7.45 14.2 7.97 4.01 1,149 68.4 4.63 5.8 5.35 0.62 5.6 19 6.49 3.55 0.046 1.15 109.9 2.7 958 0.79 1.78 281.8 0.24 0.181 0.19

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

5.64 1 11 2.36 0.86 41.9 3.63 4.75 5.37 0.46 1.12 1.2 0.207 0.45 38 0.67 0.145 1.8 1.33 0.73

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

5.14 0.37 0.38 0.57 6.4 21.7 2.24 3.19 35.75 1.01 0.82 5.72

5.15 0.37 0.385 0.58 6.46 22.75 2.35 3.2 36.75 1.01 0.87 5.72

5.08 0.35 0.375 0.56 6.24 21.7 2.22 3.05 35.7 1 0.82 5.55

5.1 0.35 0.375 0.57 6.31 22.75 2.29 3.05 36.5 1.01 0.83 5.66

25,613,100 88,320,000 2,160,000 6,509,000 1,207,500 1,584,000 3,313,000 46,000 32,438,700 313,000 224,000 5,108,500

130,710,859 31,352,600 813,850 3,699,630 7,612,241 35,259,120 7,596,870 144,490 1,177,833,315 316,120 188,030 28,805,545

20,554,162 -79,650 -150,000 -386,379 10,128,235 31,600 29,425,670 100,600 -15,997,687

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

16.5 34.5 1.43 0.48 0.046 11.2 4.51 10.5 0.07 99.1 8.92 8.55 7.06 2.89 3.26 1,760 5.8 18.12 11 4.52 2.28 103 12 8.35 0.142 1.34 3.05 15.5 3.85 1.19 20.5 5.1 7.25 3.86 2.89 11 4.7 145 8.8 1,459 1.28 0.32 48 96.95 5.78 3.18 1.67 1.85 3.96 1 8.39

16.6 35 1.44 0.485 0.046 11.5 4.51 10.7 0.072 99.35 8.92 8.63 7.07 3 3.44 1,800 5.85 18.14 11 4.93 2.45 104.9 12 8.36 0.143 1.36 3.06 15.5 4.05 1.21 20.8 6.5 7.61 3.98 3.03 11 4.8 145 9 1,472 1.32 0.34 49.2 96.95 6.14 3.25 1.69 1.85 4.17 1.03 8.4

16.3 34.5 1.4 0.47 0.045 11.2 4.51 10.46 0.069 99 8.8 8.31 7.06 2.7 3.26 1,757 5.71 17.26 10.1 4.52 2.26 102.5 12 8.35 0.142 1.34 3.05 15.2 3.83 1.17 20 4.9 7.25 3.86 2.84 10.94 4.7 140 8.68 1,445 1.28 0.32 47.95 92.1 5.78 3.18 1.65 1.85 3.96 0.98 8.12

SERVICES 16.6 34.85 1.41 0.485 0.045 11.5 4.51 10.5 0.07 99.2 8.85 8.34 7.06 2.8 3.43 1,800 5.8 18.14 11 4.93 2.45 102.5 12 8.36 0.142 1.34 3.06 15.2 4.03 1.2 20.3 5.9 7.43 3.98 2.88 10.94 4.8 140 8.73 1,450 1.3 0.34 49.2 93.4 5.81 3.21 1.68 1.85 4.17 1 8.26

26,300 17,600 119,000 530,000 7,100,000 2,300 1,000 8,309,400 22,250,000 70,330 900 3,694,100 78,000 82,000 8,000 24,420 170,100 19,400 26,200 29,258,000 7,000 388,240 8,100 365,000 250,000 243,000 23,000 800 3,943,000 204,000 5,457,800 10,912,600 9,205,500 644,000 5,922,000 8,000 6,000 8,910 1,359,200 80,775 2,666,000 60,000 2,344,900 685,620 76,400 1,326,000 5,270,000 1,000 5,077,000 4,379,000 1,902,000

433,944 613,050 169,130 250,600 323,200 25,790 4,510 87,492,602 1,565,690 6,972,313 7,937 31,040,260 550,730 233,180 27,030 43,790,190 979,916 351,444 287,516 139,637,830 1 16,030 40,044,905 97,200 3,048,700 35,600 326,220 70,290 12,190 15,692,590 242,300 110,763,175 63,864,764 68,559,608 2,534,910 17,305,360 87,820 28,300 1,247,800 11,888,610 117,741,815 3,474,110 19,800 112,908,920 64,058,985.50 458,296 4,239,910 8,838,510 1,850 20,804,800 4,393,140 15,718,849

158,320 22,370 14,029,204 709.9999 -1,516,032.50 3,087,432 -8,472 17,937,765 ,210,349.9997 -1,809,470 -4,962,760 -28,543,795 -369,364 14,935,605 84,770 -275,680 -448,300 -36,317 -47,877,525 -585,130 -2,023,870 -40,504,410 286,055 -2,691,960 5,542,250 -189,620 -10,000 3,351,637

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

0.0024 1.63 4.8 15 1.69 1.67 0.33 7.1 2.67 0.236 0.152 0.15 0.01 0.01 1.63 6.13 1.43 0.89 0.012 0.011 2.05 6 8.93 35.35

0.0024 1.65 4.8 15 1.84 1.85 0.33 7.39 2.7 0.236 0.152 0.152 0.01 0.01 1.69 6.17 1.53 0.89 0.012 0.012 2.05 6.3 9.2 36.2

0.0023 1.61 4.8 15 1.69 1.67 0.32 7.1 2.62 0.219 0.151 0.15 0.01 0.01 1.63 6.1 1.43 0.86 0.012 0.011 2.03 5.82 8.5 35.35

MINING & OIL 0.0023 28,000,000 1.62 6,122,000 4.8 4,000 15 7,600 1.72 24,000 1.78 40,568,000 0.325 1,190,000 7.32 1,500 2.63 1,539,000 0.234 60,000 0.152 5,470,000 0.152 2,540,000 0.01 4,900,000 0.01 100,000 1.64 38,000 6.16 667,400 1.51 28,000 0.89 24,000 0.012 18,900,000 0.011 54,500,000 2.03 18,000 6.1 587,200 8.6 9,623,500 35.7 1,715,700

64,500 9,955,220 19,200 114,000 40,960 72,172,810 381,400 10,787 4,053,550 13,460 830,410 381,080 49,000 1,000 62,360 4,099,851 42,520 21,300 226,800 619,400 36,720 3,525,873 84,735,122 61,654,075

-49,200 -25,500 558,730 611,922 -802,414 -443,916 -20,080,245

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A HOUSE PREF A LR PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H

34.2 524 108.4 104.7 109 5.4 1,040 101 1.09 77.3 82.5 77 78.15 78.95 78.4

34.25 524 108.4 104.7 109 5.42 1,040 101.2 1.09 77.3 82.5 77 78.15 78.95 78.4

34.2 524 108.4 104.6 109 5.4 1,035 100.8 1.09 77.3 81.25 76.6 78.15 78.5 78.4

PREFERRED 34.25 9,300 524 560 108.4 1,870 104.7 205,790 109 500 5.4 452,300 1,035 1,700 101 51,430 1.09 3,000 77.3 120 81.35 26,000 77 15,400 78.15 2,800 78.5 1,200 78.4 2,000

318,085 293,440 202,708 21,545,665 54,500 2,444,932 1,761,000 5,194,350 3,270 9,276 2,116,025 1,182,760 218,820 94,515 156,800

-30,780 0 -1,813,072 -37,270 -1,418,875 -156,800

LR WARRANT

2.41

2.48

2.32

WARRANTS 2.48 1,067,000

2,593,590

-

19,736,994 1,210,910 428,600 15,024,350

161,732 -274,870 -7,147,740

635,509

9,848

40,060

-

MS

PROPERTY 5.62 0.98 10.96 2.41 0.85 42.5 3.68 4.76 5.44 0.47 1.11 1.18 0.208 0.45 38 0.65 0.144 1.8 1.36 0.74

979,100 3,766,000 10,900 115,000 2,866,000 4,444,100 198,000 694,000 9,400 2,580,000 110,000 125,000 7,370,000 1,370,000 75,700 2,946,000 20,000 2,540,000 14,870,000 1,113,000

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

10.7 2.89 3.27 3.22

10.9 2.89 3.3 3.57

10 2.89 3 3.1

FIRST METRO ETF

123.3

123.7

122.8

USD DMPL A1

10.06

10.06

10

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

20,792,398

INDUSTRIAL

71,771,849

HOLDING FIRMS

43,808,283

PROPERTY

215,532,301

SERVICES

135,314,970

MINING & OIL

176,835,629

GRAND TOTAL

672,027,272

10 2.89 3.17 3.49

SME

1,935,900 419,000 139,000 4,468,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 123.5 5,170 10

DDS

4,000

VALUE 2,074.38 (up) 14.18 1,881,082,425.64 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,653.00 (up) 7.33 884,801,187.076 HOLDING FIRMS 8,273.15 (up) 51.59 1,925,890,968.12 PROPERTY 3,847.26 (up) 61.33 SERVICES 1,581.54 (up) 4.63 1,777,948,876.12 MINING & OIL 11,357.86 (up) 51.66 1,059,180,171.81 PSEI 8,145.00 (up) 60.55 243,124,263.3074 All Shares Index 4,786.06 (up) 27.41 7,809,079,721.01 Gainers: 102; Losers: 97; Unchanged: 49; Total: 248

stocks that are likely to fare well next year,” Matsuno told AFP. Samsung fell 0.2 percent, while Tencent sank 1.9 percent and Sharp lost more than two percent.

On broader markets Tokyo ended 0.4 percent lower and Hong Kong had eased 0.5 percent in the afternoon, while Sydney and Shanghai each dipped 0.2 percent by the close.

Wellington, Taipei, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur were also lower but Seoul and Singapore edged up.

Shane Chanel, equities and derivatives adviser at ASR Wealth Advisers, also warned of the possibility of a delay to a key corporate tax cut as part of the Senate-House talks.

“I still believe that the market is pricing in a lot of optimism and if lawmakers delay implementation of this policy to 2019, I would expect to see a correction accordingly,” he said.

On currency markets the pound continued to struggle against the dollar after falling on news that British and European negotiators had failed to reach an agreement on Brexit.

With AFP

UCPB registers P3-b net income S TAT E - C O N T R O L L E D United Coconut Planters Bank registered a net profit of P3.03 billion in the first nine months of the year, up 5 percent from P2.88 billion year-on-year, driven by growth in consumer loans portfolio and the performance of the bancassurance business launched this year.

Loan portfolio rose 16 percent P157.57 billion from P135.97 billion on year as consumer spending confidence and investment appetite continued to grow. Deposits increased 11 percent to P277.96 billion on year.

The bancassurance business, which was launched in April this year, posted an income of P38 million.

Net interest income rose to P8.30 billion, up 15 percent in the first nine months, while non-interest income dipped 23 percent to P1.86 billion on year due to lower trading opportunities.

Operating expenses were kept at a minimum, increasing just 9 percent, even as the bank continues to respond to growing manpower requirements.

“All of our business segments contributed strongly to our record performance this quarter, notably consumer and corporate loans on the back of steady economic growth,” said UCPB president and chief executive officer Higinio Macadaeg Jr. UCPB in October completed the transition of all its automated teller machines and replacement of ATM cards to the EMV technology, the global standard in card payment security.

The bank also successfully implemented its Check Image Clearing System, resulting in one-day check clearing to give clients faster access to their funds at 12 noon of the next banking day.

“As the year draws to a close, UCPB will be relentless in continuing to achieve operational efficiencies and raising productivity. Judging from our performance these past nine months, we look forward to an even better year in 2018 for UCPB,” said Macadaeg.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

World

TODAY

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

B3

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

Strong resolution urged on Myanmar

GOING FOR A STROLL. African penguins clad in Christmas-themed costumes go for a stroll at Hakkeijima Sea Paradise amusement park in Yokohama, a suburb of Tokyo, on December 5, 2017. AFP

YANGON―Amnesty International is calling for a “strong resolution” over Myanmar’s treatment of its Rohingya Muslim minority, as the country enters the spotlight of a rare UN Human Rights Council special session later Tuesday.

Myanmar’s military denies accusations by the UN and US that it has committed ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya in northern Rakhine state.

An army-led crackdown has forced some 620,000 people to flee over the border into squalid camps in Bangladesh in recent months, leaving hundreds of villages burned to the ground.

Ahead of the council’s session in Geneva, Amnesty urged members to keep the pressure on and said authorities in Buddhist-majority Myanmar are committing crimes against humanity that are continuing on a “daily basis”.

Envoy flies to N. Korea as nuclear tensions soar

B

EIJING―A senior United Nations official traveled to North Korea on Tuesday for a rare visit aimed at defusing the soaring tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program.

Jeffrey Feltman’s visit―the first by a UN diplomat of his rank since 2010―comes less than a week after North Korea said it test-fired a new ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.

Feltman arrived in a UNflagged car at Beijing’s international airport in the morning before North Korea’s Air Koryo flight took off for Pyongyang in the early afternoon.

His trip comes a day after the United States and South Korea launched their biggest-ever joint air exercise―maneuvers slammed by Pyongyang as an “all-out provocation”.

The five-day Vigilant Ace drill involves 230 aircraft, including

F-22 Raptor stealth jet fighters, and tens of thousands of troops, Seoul’s air force said.

Feltman, the UN’s undersecretary general for political affairs, arrived in China on Monday as Beijing is one of the few transit points to North Korea in the world.

He met with a Chinese vice foreign minister while in Beijing.

China, which is Pyongyang’s sole major diplomatic and military ally, has called on the United States to freeze the military drills and North Korea to halt its weapons tests to calm the tensions.

Once in the North, Feltman will discuss “issues of mutual

interest and concern” with officials, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, adding he was unable to say whether Feltman will meet with the reclusive state’s leader Kim Jong-Un. It will be Feltman’s first visit to North Korea since he took office five years ago.

The UN Security Council has hit the isolated and impoverished North with a package of sanctions over its increasingly powerful missile and nuclear tests, which have rattled Washington and its regional allies South Korea and Japan.

Pyongyang ramped up the already high tensions on the Korean Peninsula five days ago when it announced it had successfully test-fired a new ICBM, which it says brings the whole of the continental United States within range.

Analysts say it is unclear whether the missile survived re-

Manila

Standard

entry into the earth’s atmosphere or could successfully deliver a warhead to its target―key technological hurdles for Pyongyang.

A Cathay Pacific crew flying from San Francisco to Hong Kong said they spotted what they believed was the missile, with one airline official saying the crew described seeing it “blow up and fall apart”.

In recent years, Pyongyang has accelerated its drive to bring together nuclear and missile technology capable of threatening the US, which it accuses of hostility.

US President Donald Trump has engaged in months of tit-fortat rhetoric with Kim, pejoratively dubbing him “Little Rocket Man” and a “sick puppy”.

North Korean state media has hit back with a flurry of its own colorful insults, calling Trump a “dotard”, a “frightened dog” and a “gangster.” AFP

Republic of the Philippines Province of Northern Samar MUNICIPALITY OF LAOANG

TODAY

6411 E. Lagrimas St. Barangay Guilaoangi, Laoang, N. Samar INVITATION TO BID SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF VARIOUS SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE ENTERPRISE DISASTER RECOVERY SOLUTION OF TRANSCO Reference No. PB171012-RM70/CISIT-17-95330/95332/95270 1.

2.

1.

The National Transmission Corporation, through the 2017 Corporate Budget approved by the TransCo Board intends to apply the sum of PHP 18,100,000.00, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Supply and Delivery of Various Systems and Equipment for the Enterprise Disaster Recovery Solution of TransCo Reference No. PB171012-RM70. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The National Transmission Corporation, now invites bids for the Supply and Delivery of Various Systems and Equipment for the Enterprise Disaster Recovery Solution of TransCo Reference No. PB171012-RM70.

Schedule

Description

Quantity

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) in PHP

1

NEXT GENERATION FIREWALL

1 lot

4,500,000.00

2

MICROSOFT OFFICE 365 BUSINESS PREMIUM

1 lot

2,600,000.00

3

HYPER CONVERGE INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTION

1 lot

11,000,000.00

Delivery of the Goods is required to be delivered within forty five (45) calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within the last five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Invitation to Bid forthe Construction of Evacuation Center at Barangay Guilaoangi, Cangcahipos and Candawid

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

2.

3.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during working days from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders during office hours Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM from December 6 up to 28, 2017 from the address below upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by GPPB. Note: For lot procurement, the maximum fee for the Bidding Documents for each lot shall be based on its ABC, in accordance with the Guidelines issued by the GPPB; provided that the total fees for the Bidding Documents of all lots shall not exceed the maximum fee prescribed in the Guidelines for the sum of the ABC of all lots.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from LGU Laoang Bids and Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00AM to 4:00PM.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested bidders on December 6, 2017 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Pesos (Php15,000.00).

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

6.

The Local Government Unit of LaoangBids and Awards Committee will hold a Pre-Bid Conference2 on December 14, 2017, 11:00 a.m. atthe Conference Room, 2nd Floor, New Executive Building, E. Lagrimas Street, Bgy. Guilaoangi, Laoang, N. Samar,which shall beopen to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 11:00 o’clock in the morning, December 28, 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.

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.

6.

The National Transmission Corporation will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 14, 2017 10:00 AM at GSD Conference Room, Ground Floor TransCo Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before December 29, 2017 10:00 AM. 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 December 29, 2017 10:00 AM at GSD Conference Room, Ground Floor TransCo Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City. 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.

9.

The National Transmission Corporation 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.

Bid opening shall be on 11:00 o’clock in the morning, December 28, 2017 at theConference Room, 2nd Floor, New Executive Building, E. Lagrimas St., Bgy. Guilaoangi, Laoang, N. Samar.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.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from LGU-Laoang BAC Secretariat at cellphone number 09273751816 during office hours.

9.

The Local Government Unit of Laoangreserves 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: Ms. Rossana F. Paguio BAC Secretariat Manager, General Services Division National Transmission Corporation (Transco) Power Center Complex BIR Road corner Quezon Avenue Diliman, Quezon City Telephone 902-1520 and Fax No. 921-3306 rfpaguio@transco.ph

(MS-DEC. 6, 2017)

(Signed) ATTY. ZITA MARIE ATIENZA-FAJARDO BAC Chairperson

The Local Government Unit of Laoang now invites bids for the Construction of Evacuation Center1. Completion of the Works is required within One Hundred Twenty Four (124) 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 Error!

Reference source not found..

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

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.

4.

The Local Government Unit of Laoang, through funds from the Local Government Support Fund LGSF-Assistance to Disadvantage Municipalities (ADM), F.Y. 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA) with counterpart funding from the LGU intends to apply the sum of Fifteen Million Three Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Eight Hundred Forty Nine and 05/100 Pesos.

(Php15,335,849.05) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Construction of Evacuation Center at Brgy. Guilaoangi, Cangcahipos & Candawid. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

For further information, please refer to: SALVADOR P. ACEBUCHE BAC Secretariat Municipal Planning and Development Office 2nd Floor, New Executive Building Laoang, Northern Samar Cell phone No.09498927931 & 09273751816 bac_lgulaoang@yahoo.com (SGD) GENARO T. ADORA Chairman-Bids and Award Committee

1

2

A brief description of the scope of Works should be provided, including quantities, location of project, and other information necessary to enable potential bidders to decide whether or not to respond to the invitation.

May be deleted in case the ABC is less than One Million Pesos (PhP1,000,000) where the Procuring Entity may not hold a pre-bid conference.

(MS-DEC. 6, 2017)

“The Council must now step up and pass a strong resolution that sends a clear message to Myanmar’s government and military that their abhorrent treatment of the Rohingya must end immediately, and that perpetrators will not enjoy impunity,” said James Gomez, Amnesty’s regional director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Rights groups say people are still fleeing Myanmar, joining refugees who give consistent accounts of rape, murder and arson.

The army has justified the crackdown as a proportionate response to deadly attacks by Rohingya militants on border police on August 25.

Myanmar’s state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar on Tuesday claimed there had been a “gradual return to normalcy in the region”.

The rights council rarely holds

special sessions, which can only be convened at the request of at least a third of its 47 member states, or 16 countries.

The session comes amid mounting scrutiny from UN member states. In March the rights council approved a mission to Myanmar to investigate alleged crimes by security forces, particularly in Rakhine.

Myanmar refused to cooperate and blocked access to the team of investigators, who have begun their work outside the country.

After months of wrangling, Myanmar and Bangladesh signed a deal on November 23 to start repatriating refugees within two months. But rights groups say the conditions are not in place to ensure safe, voluntary and dignified returns.

The council meeting comes a week after an emotional visit to both countries by Pope Francis. AFP

NOTICE OF DECREASE OF THE AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK OF TUESDAY LICENSING AND ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Notice is hereby given that on separate meetings held on 13 September 2017at Unit 203 Alegria Building, 2229 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City, the Board of Directors, by a majority vote of its members, and the stockholders, by affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding capital stock ofTuesday Licensing and Entertainment, Inc. (the “Corporation”), respectively approved the decrease of the Corporation’s authorized capital stock from Twenty Five Million Pesos (Php25,000,000.00) divided into Twenty Five Million (25,000,000) common shares with a par value of One Peso (Php1.00) per share, to Thirteen Million Pesos (Php13,000,000.00) divided into Thirteen Million (13,000,000) common shares with a par value of One Peso (Php1.00) per share.

The subscribed and paid-up capital stock was also decreased from Twenty Two Million Nine Hundred Ninety Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty Nine (22,990,789) to Three Million Three Hundred Twenty Seven Thousand Three Hundred Forty (3,327,340) with a par value of One Peso (PhP1.00) per share.

The excess paid in capital shall be utilized to wipe out Nineteen Million Six Hundred Sixty Three Thousand Four Hundred Forty Nine Pesos (PhP19,663,449.00) indicated as Retained Earnings (Deficit) in the Audited Financial Statements of the Corporation for the year ended 31 December 2016.

CLARO JOSE F. FELICIANO President (MS-DEC. 6, 2017)

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF THREE (3) YEAR JANITORIAL SERVICES FOR CASINO FILIPINO - MALATE (REBIDDING) UNDER ITB NO. PB18-00-001MAL The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming rebidding for the Procurement of Three (3) Year Janitorial Services for Casino Filipino - Malate under ITB No. PB18-00-001MAL.

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

The annual ABCis in the amount of Twenty-Eight Million Six Hundred Twenty-Two Thousand Eight Hundred Forty-One Pesos and 48/100 (PhP28,622,841.48), VAT-Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction,while the total ABC for three (3) years is in the amount of Eighty-Five Million Eight Hundred Sixty-Eight Thousand Five CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Hundred Twenty-Four Pesos and 44/100 (PhP85,868,524.44), VAT-Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction.

Location:

Casino Filipino – Malate # 1588 New World Manila Bay Hotel, Mabini corner Pedro Gil Sts., Ermita, Manila

Approximate Floor Area:

14,454.27 sq. meters

Required Personnel:

Ninety-seven (97) regular, trained, reliable healthy, legal aged janitors, including working supervisors, broken down as follows: Male - 63 Female - 34 TOTAL 97 (PAGCOR has the option to change the number of janitors as the need arises)

Janitorial Shift Rotation:

First Shift - 6:00am to 3:00pm (35 janitors) Second Shift - 1:00pm to 10:00pm (31 janitors) Third Shift - 9:00pm to 6:00am (31 janitors) (Inclusive of one (1) hour break)

No. of Days Work:

Seven (7) days a week; Three Hundred Sixty-Five (365) days a year

Contract Duration:

Within a period of Three (3) Years commencing from the date of receipt of the winning contractor of the Notice to Proceed.

Source of Fund:

Corporate Budget for CY 2018

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) yearsbefore the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

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

PAGCORwill hold a Pre-Bid Conference, which shall beopen to prospective bidders.

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

Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents

Date, Time and Venue December 6, 2017 to December 27, 2017, 11:00 a.m.

2. Pre-Bid Conference

December 14, 2017, 11:00 a.m.

3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids

December 27, 2017, 11:00 a.m.

4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

December 27, 2017, 11:00 a.m. onwards

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Procurement Section (PS), acting as the BBAC Secretariat, of PAGCOR and/or inspect the Bidding Documents at Ground Floor SVIP, #1588 Mabini St., corner Pedro Gil St., Malate, Manila during office hours of PAGCOR from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Fifty Thousand Pesos (PhP50,000.00).

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

Prospective bidders should present to Casino Filipino Malate’s Cashier located at 2nd Floor #1588 Mabini St., corner Pedro Gil St., Malate, Manila either the Fee Slip which may be secured from PS or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents.

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

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

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

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

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

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - TieBreaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC)shall use a non-discretionary and nondiscriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: a) b)

In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCORreserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Please address all communications to the Branch Bids and Awards Committee thru PS, Ground Floor SVIP, #1588 Mabini St., corner Pedro Gil St., Malate, Manila, Tel No.: 245-9763 local 380.

(SGD) LEAH MAE M. CLEMENTE Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC)

(MS-DEC..6, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

ARMM builds firm foundation for its future

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

B4

wednesday, december 6, 2017

By Ayunan Gunting-Al Hadj

LGUs LocaL government units

FUND RAISER. Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco fires the starting gun for the ‘Takbo ni Juan Para sa Iskolar ng Bayan’ fun run on Tuesday. The race raised more than half a million pesos as a total of 2,617 students, teachers, residents, city government officials and employees, and business owners in the municipality joined the annual event. Andrew Rabulan

COTABATO CITY―Despite the Mamasapano massacre and the terrorist-led siege of Marawi City, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao continues to build a strong foundation for its future.

Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman said in his recent State of the Region Address at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex here that ARMM HELPS, which was launched in 2013 before either controversial incident happened, remains the region’s flagship program for health, education, livelihood, peace, and governance and synergy.

ARMM HELPS aims to give barangays the ability to create their own peaceful and progressive communities. Since 2014, Hataman said the program has helped 403 villages do just that, each receiving P10 million to put up infrastructure such as houses, barangay halls, public markets, health centers, daycare centers, and children’s parks, and even seed funding for startup businesses.

Another community program, Hataman noted, is the Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development for Growth and Empowerment or ARMM BRIDGE. Started in 2015, it aims to uplift the poorest residents in each community in the region, the governor said.

Makati gift giving starts

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE city government of Makati has started distributing Christmas bags to more than 300,000 residents, including 78,000 senior citizens and 100,000 elementary students, in line with the “Pamaskong Handog” (Chrismas offering) program of Mayor Abigail Binay.

Binay ordered the early distribution of the bags for the convenience of the elders, and to ensure that students would get their bags before they go on Christmas break.

She said senior citizens who are Blu Card holders can get their bags upon claiming their yearend cash gift in their respective barangays on designated dates

from Nov. 23 to Dec. 11.

The distribution of bags for students in preschool to senior high school, as well as special education centers, also started last Nov. 27 and will run until Dec. 13.

“We want our beloved Makatizens, especially the children and the elderly, to get their bags early and with ease so that they could fully enjoy the contents.

We have customized the goods contained in each bag according to their age

groups,” said Binay.

In sum, the city government has allotted over 300,000 bags under the Pamaskong Handog project this year. The Christmas tradition started several years ago for residents and city employees, and was expanded in 2013 to include public school students as beneficiaries.

Last Dec. 1, the mayor led the ceremonial opening of the “kubol” (booth) of Pamaskong Handog bags at the City Hall

Quadrangle, and personally distributed the bags to a number of senior citizens.

This year, the city government is giving away over 58,000 bags for students in daycare, kindergarten, elementary, special education and other city public schools.

Each bag contains the following items: one T-shirt, two small boxes of raisins, five single-serve packs of instant oatmeal, a mediumsized slab of cheese, a box of ready-to-cook chocolate

hotcake, a box of quick-cook champorado, 12 single packs of tonic food drink, two packs each of single-serve choco flakes and fruit cereals, 10 single packs each of crackers and stick biscuits, 20 single packs of kiddie biscuits, and an 18-piece pack of assorted fruit-flavored jelly.

For high school students, each of over 41,000 bags being distributed contains one t-shirt, six packs of instant oatmeal, a slab of cheese, a box of ready-to-cook

chocolate hotcake, a box of quick-cook arroz caldo, two boxes of champorado, a box of choco milk powder, 12 single packs of tonic food drink, 10 single packs of crackers, eight packs of instant pancit canton, and a small can each of pineapple tidbits and pineapple juice.

Meanwhile, over 200,000 bags have been allocated for city residents, City Hall employees, public school teachers, and students and faculty of the University of Makati.

Upi farmers’ co-op selling quality seedlings (Second of two parts)

By Nash Maulana UPI, Maguindanao―The Upian Farmers’ Cooperative Inc. is now supplying long-term crop seedlings to farms nationwide, including leading corporate coffee plantations in Batangas and Mindoro.

Muncipal Agriculture office Ismael Kamad said the cooperative’s partnership with the Mindanao Development Authority for the Double-Up Program stemmed from an agreement the Philippine government entered into with Japan, providing support for the foreign marketing of Philippine-produced cacao.

The partnership has also brought in more nursery nets and an enhanced water system, Kamad said.

There were instances, he said, when the municipal government published bidding calls for supply of seedlings. But the Upian hardly participated in bids because of an imminent violation of the principle of “conflict of interest” with Municipal Mayor Ramon Piang, who is the father-inlaw of cooperative chairman Jonathan Acupio.

Piang is a multi-awarded local official for good governance.

Senior Agriculturist Hadja Jalika Mangakop said the regional Department of Agriculture and Fisheries-High Value Crops Development Program also put up a small building here to serve as the stockroom for the seedling farmers.

As the cooperative sells more seedlings, both Acupio and orlando ortega,

who heads the co-op’s Committee on Mediation and Reconciliation, would always look back to their difficult years when the government provided them gradual support.

That started with seedling bags, water sprinkler containers, and eventually, a level 2 water system, and nursery nets through the DAF-ARMM-HVCDP. Senior Agriculturist Hadji Jalika Mangakop, head of the high-value crop program, said DAF Regional Secretary Alexander Alonto Jr. has also connected the cooperative with the MinDA to support further local cacao production.

DAF-ARMM planning officer Mariam Abutazil said MinDA’s P 1.3 million “Double-Up” assistance package for the Upian seedling farmers was inau-

In BrIef taguig celebrates cityhood on Dec. 8 MALACAñANG has declared Dec. 8 (Friday) as a special non-working holiday in Taguig City to mark its 13th year as a city in Metro Manila.

Classes in all levels both private and public, as well as government offices in the city are suspended.

By authority of President Rodrigo Duterte , Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed Proclamation No. 358, declaring the special holiday to “give the people of the City of Taguig full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion.

Mayor Laarni Cayetano said transparency and accountability, coupled with good business policies, makes Taguig City the successful and competitive financial district it is today.

Taguig City is known for its low tax rates, ease of doing business, efficient services and corruption-free policies. The city also conducts the Business one-Stop Shop, which takes fast-tracking of procedures to the next level. Joel E. Zurbano

mountaineers fear nPa near mt. Pulag BAYoMBoNG, Nueva Vizcaya—Local mountaineers have cancelled their journey to Mt. Pulag in Benguet province due to the threat of the New People’s Army.

“We were informed of the presence of communist rebels near the route towards Mt. Pulag and we eventually cancelled reservations for our assistance to the mountaineers in Luzon,” said Raymond Zamorra, a mountaineering consultant here.

He said the unstable peace negotiations between the government and the NPA has greatly affected the influx of mountaineers in the province.

Zamorra said they have only accommodated several mountaineers who passed the province in going to Mt. Pulag in September and october this year through the Ambaguio road. Ben Moses Ebreo

gurated recently by Alonto Jr. and representatives of MinDA Chairman Abul Khayr Alonto.

Acupio shared his secret of growing successful leadership as this: “good intentions, honesty and transparency.”

Cooperative Chairman Acupio said there were times when pressure seemed enough reason to resign from their collective endeavor at seedling farming. However, he would also end up mulling about who will follow their path from among the young generation if he gave up. That thought pushed him to engage the future by investing on the education of cooperative members’ children.

Counting the number of times they would seem to fall, Acupio and ortega said the hot El Niño season of April 2016 took a toll of the cooperative’s seedling farm.

Seedlings of high-value crops, including coffee, cacao and rubber, grow in the Upian Farmers’ Cooperative Inc.’s farm in Upi, Maguindanao. The cooperative is the lone accredited seedling farm supplier in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Nash B. Maulana

“We sold only to get even, but still losses were pegged at close to P2 million. We have learned our

lesson. We had―as we still “Since then, sales slowly do today―to pump-in wa- rose back to an even level, ter direct from the Matuber and eventually to some point River,” ortega recalled. at profit margin,” he added.

Cafgu, mom of 2, passes teachers’ exam 1k in Manila

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY―A woman Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit reservist here was among 49,626 secondary teachers who passed the September 2017 Licensure Examination for Teachers, thus fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher.

Miriam Plaza, 33 and a mother of two, is currently detailed at the Task Force Davao in Barangay Sirawan, Toril detachment site. She recalled that she was at her post when she received the good news from her mother, who is also a teacher.

“I could really hear the happiness in my mother’s voice when she told me the good news. I was so overwhelmed at that time when I found out that I passed the LET exam,” she said.

Plaza has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Banking and Finance degree from Surigao del Sur Sate University in 2004, and in 2016 added a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education at the Rizal Memorial College.

Plaza is also a first-year law student of the University of Mindanao. She was forced to skip the

second semester because she was unable to take the Philippine Law School Admission Test (PhilSAT), as it was the same day of the LET. Students who failed to take the PhilSAT were not allowed to enroll for the second semester of law school.

Plaza always dreamed of becoming a soldier. However, she was not accepted owing to various circumstances, until an opportunity came for her to join Task Force Davao in 2011. She said she applied as many times as she could remember―and failed all of them.

DONATION.

Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan (right) witnesses the turnover of 10 Toyota Vios cars to the local city police after their headquarters were damaged by fire last month. City chief of police Senior Supt. Jemar Modequillo (second from left) also accepts five computers from Willy Chua (center) of the Caloocan FilipinoChinese Chamber of Commerce. Jun David

complete job-training program

ANoTHER batch of 1,100 underprivileged residents of Manila has completed the job-and-livelihood skills training program being offered by the city government, which Mayor Joseph Estrada said would help them find jobs or start their own businesses.

Estrada said he was elated by the graduation of 1,149 students of the Manila Manpower Development Center at Dapitan Sports Complex which took place just a few months after the recent batch of 1,833 students completed the same program.

“We are very pleased that more Manileños have successfully finished this skills training program. I’m hoping this will herald a better future for you and your family,” Estrada greeted the graduates in a message. Bill Casas

Life

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

wednesday, decemBeR 6, 2017

fashion & beauty

c1

Christmas sound and sparkle LIGHTS UP. Bright lights dancing to the tune of jolly Yuletide carols usher in the Christmas season here in the Philippines. SONNY ESPIRITU

By Bernadette Lunas

Conrad Manila’s glass tree

T

HERE are two things that usher in the holiday season here in the Philippines: when radio stations start playing Christmas songs and when malls and estates deck their halls and walls with bright lights and decors.

The jolly and nostalgic music and the visually-arresting Yuletide displays have their way of uplifting weary spirits and bringing people together amid the madding holiday rush. Shopping malls, hotels, and mixed-use communi-

ties in Metro Manila and nearby Luzon provinces are quite generous in giving that magical and vibrant experience to everyone.

We list down five establishments and estates where Christmas comes alive.

Luxury hotel Conrad Manila lights up its 12-foot art tree by visual artist Impy Pilapil. Dubbed “Celeste Yule” the contemporary Christmas tree of the contemporary hotel is actually a sculpture of high grade steel and glass, which allows interaction with viewers through image reflection.

A Christmas concert by the Philippine Youth Symphonic Band and Hail Mary The Queen Children’s Choir added a captivating note to the official tree lighting event led by Peggy Angeles, executive vice president of SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation; Sung Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines; bita rasoulian, Austrian Ambassador to the Philippines; Felicidad Sy; Elizabeth Sy, president of SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation; Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto; Hans Sy, chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime and Harald Feurstein, Conrad Manila general manager.

Vast Imaginarium (Photo from Estancia at Capitol Commons Facebook page)

Magical mirrored rooms at Estancia

This Ortigas mall becomes a selfie paradise as it opens its psychedelic installation made of colorful lights and mirrors called Vast Imaginarium. Each room, named The Enchanted Room, The Lit Room, The Abyss Room, and The Green Room, has its own distinct theme perfect for different kinds of selfies.

The Estancia Vast Imaginarium is located at the North Wing and Capitol Commons Park.

Sparkle of Christmas at Filinvest City

50-meter light tunnel (Photo by Sonny Espiritu)

Magical field of lights in Nuvali

The football field in Ayala Land’s eco-community estate in Sta. Rosa, Laguna becomes a garden of lights dancing to Christmas medleys from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. as Nuvali opens its lights and sounds show, dubbed the “Magical Field of Lights,” to its residents and guests.

For its second year, over 5,000 LED bulbs are scattered all over the field, dancing to the tune of popular Christmas songs, like “Kumukutikutitap,” “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit,” and “Joy to the World.” There’s also a 50-meter light tunnel, festive LED Christmas trees, and dandelion light installations where guests can take their photos.

A Christmas fair that showcases traditional Filipino Christmas culinary treats complement the nightly spectacle on the fields. The lights and sounds show runs until Jan. 8, 2018

Celeste Yule (Photo by Rex Perzeus Sardinia)

The master-planned urban and business district in Alabang goes to the future to celebrate Christmas with its 3D-mapped Christmas tree and state-of-theart musical lights show.

The “Sparkle of Christmas at Filinvest City,” which runs every weekend until Dec. 31, includes the Festino Market, a chic and tastefully set-up al fresco market; arts and craft workshop sessions; the Festino Café offering third-wave brews; weekend performances

by Spongecola, Ebe Dancel, Sandwich, among others; and the first-ever Building Christmas décor contest.

3D-mapped Christmas Tree (Photo from Filinvest City Facebook page)

‘Project Runway’ finalist designs Manotoc-Manglapus wedding gowns

Cara Manglapus wears a bridal gown made by Amor Albano

Amor AlbAno, grand finalist of Project Runway Philippines (Season 3), designed the second bridal gown of Carina Amelia “Cara” G. manglapus who married lawyer michael Ferdinand “mike” m. manotoc, grandson of the late President Ferdinand E. marcos.

Albano who is from Laoag City, Ilocos Norte rose to fame when she joined in the fashion design competition based on the American reality TV show and won as third runner-up. Prominent winners and finalists of the show include mika redoble, Cheeta rivera, and nel Claveria.

Albano’s design philosophy focuses on the impeccable construction of garments. She shared that the show taught her to bring out the best craftsmanship in every dress regardless of immense pressure, and to never compromise quality for quantity of projects. She draws inspiration from the likes of rajo laurel, Jojie lloren, Jerry Katigbak, and Inno Sotto.

Among her top clients are Ilocos Norte Governor Imee r. marcos, Laoag City Mayor Chevylle Fariñas, and former beauty queen miriam Quiambao.

She was in charge of Cara’s bridal gown as well as that of the mother of the bride. She also designed the gowns of the children of Ilocos Norte mayors attending the wedding held at the San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

“The bride does not want anything extravagant,” Albano explained, “she just wanted the dress to be simple and elegant but comfortable.” She followed a palette of off-white and pale pink accents.

“We wanted to incorporate the Ilocano heritage fabric, which is the abel, so that everyone would appreciate it. We wanted to showcase its potential when translated into clothing, and we

Albano incorporated Ilocano fabric abel to the offwhite with pale pink accents bridal gown

want to highlight the touch of Ilocano through these gowns.”

The abel Iloco is a hand-woven textile made from spun cotton threads grown in the region.

The weaving tradition in Ilocos Norte dates back to the province’s pre-colonial history, with the most popular fabrics being the binakol of of Sarrat and sinukitan of Paoay, which

feature optical patterns and embossed designs, respectively.

The integration of the abel fabric to the gowns was inspired by the Ilocano kimono, which is a part of the traditional Ilocano two-piece ensemble attire. It is a blouse that is either plain white or colored, and usually has a cowl neckline. It is traditionally worn with the pandiling, a conical floor-length skirt.

In line with the “modern Filipiniana” motif of the wedding and the Ilocano setting, Albano’s creations are dominated by traditional pieces and palettes of off-white and shades of pink.

Meanwhile, June Pugat, an Ilocano fashion designer and visual merchandiser based in Manila, was in charge of the rest of the entourage, including the outfit of Governor Marcos.

The Manotoc-Manglapus union is significant due to the history of the couple’s grandfathers. Former Foreign Affairs Secretary raul S. manglapus had run against Marcos in the 1965 presidential election, in which the latter triumphed. He had also been a prominent opposition figure during the Marcos era, spending the martial law years in exile in the United States and founding the Movement for a Free Philippines (MFP).

When Marcos passed away in 1989, Manglapus opposed the return of his remains to the Philippines. Little did he know that 25 years later, their grandchildren would meet, fall in love, and initiate reconciliation for their “rival” families.

While neither Mike nor Cara have expressed any interest in politics, their unlikely romance has moved Governor Marcos to quip, “If you can’t beat them even with just one vote, marry them.”

Life

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wednesday, december 6, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Marian celebrates K

local luxury at Kultura

As a celebrity, hands-on mom, and entrepreneur, Marian represents the modern Filipina with a global outlook, whose eclectic tastes have made her appreciate all things Filipino. Like many young women today, she is rediscovering her heritage and appreciating the artistry of handcrafted accessories and beautifully embroidered apparel.

“Filipiniana can be so elegant. I love the unique clothes and accessories. My favorites are the pearls!” shares Marian.

With that, she is confident enough to mix pieces from international designers with touches of Filipiniana in her everyday style, resulting in a look that is not costume-like, but effortlessly chic and contemporary.

“The idea to get Marian Rivera as a brand ambassador started with a post of her in our silk barong dress for the inauguration of VP Leni Robredo,” says Kultura. “This post was met with a remarkable response, which included numerous inquiries to this day, about the dress she was wearing and its availability in our stores.”

“Marian’s love for our local products is matched by her enthusiastic support

for local communities, manufacturers, exporters who are the heart of gawang Pinoy. Through their partnership, Kultura hopes to strengthen an overall appreciation for local artistry and Marian and Kultura are both advocates of helping local communities. Part of the day’s proceeds during the store re-opening will support the 6,000+ surgeries that Smile Train provides annually to Filipino children in need.

“Since 2001, Smile Train has performed close to 50,000 cleft surgeries in the Philippines,” says Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, country director for Smile Train Philippines. This would not have been possible without our local partners who are committed to helping children with clefts and our donors who continue to believe in our cause.”

Uniquely Filipino select items are available at Kultura in SM Makati, Megamall, Mall of Asia, SM Aura Premier, SM City Cebu, SM Seaside, SM Lanang Premier and the newly opened Kultura at The Podium and at most SM Stores. Its boutiques are located at Taal Vista Hotel, Pico de Loro, Molo Mansion Iloilo.

Marian checks out the hand-painted piňa silk scarves available at Kultura

Marian Rivera in embroidered red organza bolero paired with silk skirt and pearl bracelets from Kultura

Trendy tutu skirts for kids

Acccent Manicure is a fun and fashionable way to make your nails stand out

Fab Nails for the holidays at California Nails The merriest month of the year is also the most colorful season everyone looks forward to. Not only does it spell breezy air; it also exudes that vibe that sends a certain rush of joy. This season, California Nails & Day Spa lets you celebrate the colors of the happiest time of the year through its Accent Manicure.

It’s a fun and fashionable way to add twist to your usual manicure, wherein one nail on each hand will have an accent polish shade. Acrylics is used to allow nails and polish to last for as long as three weeks, giving you more time to truly enjoy your Accent Manicure.

Acrylics is used to enhance, lengthen, and strengthen the nails using a special nail brush, powder, and liquid monomer. Those who prefer shorter nails can have their acrylics cut, as well.

As with Accent Manicure, what’s all the rave right now are nails that are slightly tapered with a straight edge.

Shorter nails usually come with square shapes with rounded corners. Longer nails with tapered look go with straight edges. This is usually finished off with nail accessories like gems and rhinestones in various fun shades and colors.

In some cases, clients can opt to have a hand-painted image or a sticker in place

uLTuRA celebrates local luxury as it recently reopened its store at the second level of SM Makati and formally introduced its new brand ambassador Marian Rivera.

of rhinestones.

Accent Manicure by California Nails & Day Spa takes its inspiration from Los Angeles California where high fashion nail art started. From what used to be a plain nail color, nail art has evolved to one that uses a mix of trendy of accessories like rhinestones, hand-painted images, and stickers. Accent Manicure is currently an eye candy for everyone. It answers customer’s clamor for fun nails without being too flashy. hence, only one nail is dressed up. Accent nails can be the one carrying the nail design; it can also be the one with the plain shade while the rest of the nails are the ones that are accentuated.

Accent nails, however, are the ones that are most noticeable right away.

Accent Manicure by California Nails & Day Spa is perfect this holiday season, as it brings out the feels of a bright, colourful, and truly joyful season.

California Nails & Day Spa branches are located at Market Market Taguig, Vista Mall Taguig, Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang hari Las Pinas, Greenhills, Festival Mall Alabang, SM Southmall, SM Mall of Asia and the newly opened SM Center Lemery, Batangas.

TuTu-INSPIReD skirts have been making their way from the ballet studio into mainstream fashion lines lately.

And while this has been a childhood dress-up staple for some time, SM Accessories Kids and SM Kids Fashion shows us how to transform this into a stylish piece for little girls without looking like a ballerina. After all, it takes tulle to tango.

Make it edgy with a themed jacket. A leather jacket can help toughen up the look of a tulle skirt. This mix of feminine and edgy has been a very popular combination of late.

Do it with denims. Denim tops work in the same way as theme jackets with a tutu skirt, in that they play down the ballerina vibe and care a more casual, wearable look.

Feel cozy by layering with a sweater and button down shirt. Sweaters, cardigans, sweat shirts can give a tulle skirt that warm and wonderful look.

Try something fun and feminine. Go boho with an off-shoulder blouse, or play it pretty with pastels.

Go preppy with plaids. Plaid shirts are the unofficial uniform of fall, and they’re in almost every little girl’s wardrobe. Give hers a new look by teaming it with a tulle skirt.

It’s tee time! For day, a plain t-shirt or tank top often works well with a tulle skirt as it gives a low-key, casual vibe and street style cred.

Boho chic with tutu skirt and off-theshoulder blouse combination

Christmas...

From C1 Vertis North’s cathedral

In the northern part of the metro, a giant cathedral exquisitely covered with thousands of lights comes ablaze as Vertis North in Quezon City celebrates its first Christmas. Veering away from the traditional red and green Christmas colors, the cathedral is draped with thousands of LeD lights, which include cyber spheres, meteor lights, intelligent lights, and laser lights that produce a variety of hues. It is designed by Voltaire de Jesus.

Aside from this giant spectacle, the Vertis Northern Lights, a lights and sound show patterned after Makati’s Festival of Lights, will dazzle everyone this holiday season.

The Cathedral

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

An adorable fan movie Paolo Ballesteros in character as Barbi in a film inspired by the '90s movie series starring Joey de Leon

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HERE’S this beauty pageant question that goes: Is it better to be beautiful than intelligent?

While being beautiful can only get you so far in life, and being intelligent can take you places, it’s hardly for anyone to really get the best of both worlds. While it’s ideal to be intelligent and pretty at the same time, there are specific episodes that only require you to look good especially in today’s society where everyone is overly cynical, narcissistic, and obsessed with looks.

And that’s where Barbi: D’ Wonder Beki, which stars Paolo Ballesteros, steps in.

The film is obviously written by someone who just wanted the audience to feel good, to always look on the brighter side of things, and to always trust in the love of family. It is not embellished with convoluted subplots. It’s just a simple story that is honest to its intention – that is, to make you laugh.

The strength of the movie lies on its local humor. It creates a powerful rapport with the audience that understands and enjoys local comedy. So don’t bring a foreigner into the movie house and expect him to react and laugh in the same way that you do.

In the movie, Paolo reprises the iconic character played by Joey de Leon in a series of blockbuster movies in the late ‘80s and in the mid-90s. In his version of the film, Paolo is Billy Bayagan, a

closeted gay in a family of strict and conservative policemen.

He works as an all-around body to a wealthy businessman.

Unfortunately, his boss gets involved in a syndicate, and Billy witnesses his murder. And just like in any telenovela where the witness tries to help the victim but becomes the prime suspect for some reason, Billy is mistakenly blamed for a crime he did not commit.

With the help of a local bar owner (Joey de Leon), Billy takes on the identity of Barbi and begins performing in a drag show. There, he is able to finally embrace his sexuality as he becomes the star

THERE was a time when music and medicine were the life of 27-year-old Bien Lugtu, daughter of Andy Lugtu, president, CEO and chairman of Manila Nature’s Link Corp. (MNLC), manufacturer and distributor of Malungai LifeOil. Bien graduated from medical school in May 2017 (University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center) and is currently a postgraduate intern at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center. She will take the Philippine Licensure Examination in September 2018.

“After which, I am hoping to enter an otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency program. My parents have always given me the freedom to pursue my passions and to find my purpose and I think that this is a good fit for me.

I still have a long way to go,” says Bien, who has always dreamed to become a doctor while she was growing up.

But her heart longed to play music. Bien started

playing the guitar when she was 13. She looked up to Marcus Miller, Abraham Laboriel, Tal Wilkenfeld, Lalay Lim and Paul Yap. She played for the church and for a few bands throughout the years.

“Tetelestai was the name of the band I was in with my cousins and our music mentor. We regularly played in church, around three times a week, we had events here and there and we were in an episode of Solemn Sessions for Light Network. Later on, I also joined this band called The Fix and we played a few times a week in Resorts World and sometimes a few small gigs here and there. We played a lot of Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Michael Buble, Norah Jones, etc.

In my spare time I taught kids how to play the guitar as well,” shares Bien, who likes smooth jazz/vocal jazz, funk, blues, soul and rock.

Bien tried to juggle music and medicine, playing on weekends and summer, semestral, and Christmas breaks, except during examination week. Eventually she had to make a choice.

“It was one of the hardest decisions I had to make. I chose medicine and I have no regrets.

Medical school was no joke and I had to give my time for a greater purpose; to serve my future patients,” says Bien who admits that once in a while she would still play with med school friends for small competitions in school.

Though she once ended up in a different career path, Bien knew in her heart that she belongs to the

Bien Lugtu (second from right) with OPM rock legend Pepe Smith (second from left)

field of medicine.

“I remember the day I decided to enter medical school was when my dad took me to East Avenue Medical Center. At the time he was the Chairman of the Breast Care Foundation. He showed me around and I saw the patients that the foundation was helping. We talked and he offered me support if ever I decided to get into the field. I realized I wanted more; I remembered my dream as a child.

And I said yes,” Bien says.

She gets inspiration from her parents, who always encourage her to do something novel, something purposeful, something original. Her entrepreneur dad has taught her that taking one profession and merging it with entrepreneurship would create something remarkable. Her mom has been handson and supportive throughout the years and from her Bien learned about compassion, patience and resourcefulness.

“I also remember my professor telling me, ‘You can be great if you decide to be.’ My decision was not only about becoming a great doctor, but becoming the best person I can possibly be,” she adds.

It also helped that the family business was about health and wellness. Though Bien is not yet involved as she focuses on her studies, she has once researched and made the first package insert for LifeOil. She hopes that she can one day contribute in the company’s health and wellness and research and development.

“I don’t just want to continue the family business.

I want to create something that could expand it or enhance it. The family business is all about health and wellness and I want to contribute something to that as a doctor,” she says.

She wants to use her profession and LifeOil as an avenue to advocate for health, wellness and primary prevention.

Bien may not be into music as much as she used to. But now, medicine is the music of her life, and she plans to continue playing it to help others.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, December 6, 2017

ACROSS 1 Japanese verse 6 Graceful horse 10 Extinct bird 14 Novelist — Drury 15 Pay-stub acronym 16 During 17 Did a lawn chore 18 Very uncommon 19 Heal, as a bone 20 Put out of joint 22 Hill builders 23 Unconscious state 24 Unit of work 26 Part of a fist 30 Painter Georgia — 34 Specks 35 Snakes do it 36 Hawaii’s Mauna — 37 Adorn with ornaments 38 Animal’s track 40 Avec’s opposite 41 PC bailout key 42 Hauled into court 43 Put — (save) 44 Very hot 46 More than two 48 House addition 49 Hold one’s own 50 Boat runway

53 Mountain hazards 59 Sandwich cookie 60 Japanese soup 61 Hotel patron 62 Tunes 63 Aspirin target 64 Use Artgum 65 Show enthusiasm 66 Work doggedly 67 Scatter DOWN 1 Difficult 2 Range in Asia 3 Classes 4 Faint, with “over” 5 Leaves the space station 6 Ski-lodge type (hyph.)

7 Lariat 8 Real estate unit 9 Guidebook for travelers 10 Injure 11 Prophetic sign 12 Force 13 Bookie’s figures 21 Rank above maj.

25 Stop signal 26 Wind catchers 27 They wrote in runes 28 City in New York

29 Motor part 30 Discoverer’s shout 31 Natural talent 32 “Klute” star 33 Studio feature 35 Grassy surface 38 Artificial tan sources 39 Cribbage counter 40 NNW opposite 42 Part of RSVP 43 Gets even for 45 Sleep

Joey de Leon

It is easy to say that Barbi:D’ Wonder Beki is a film tailored fit for Paolo given his flair for creating numerous characters being social media’s transformation king.

The support cast just fades in the background when they appear with Paolo’s character in one frame, including the roles played by Miguel Tanfelix and Bianca Umali.

The only downside of the film is that it is so optimistic, it forgot that most of its endeavors wouldn’t

A scene from the T-Rex Entertainment, M-Zet and OctoArts collaboration entitled "Barbi: D' Wonder Beki"

Music and Medicine

Med school graduate and aspiring musician Bien Lugtu

performer of the bar.

Not content with being incognito, Billy tries to find ways to resolve the murder case and to finally clear his name. He goes back to his boss’s house and finds a USB that contains all the files that pinpoint the real culprits.

In the end, Billy gets reunited with his family. And to his surprise, he is accepted by her father and siblings with open arms.

The makers of this film managed to create something witty, joyful and charming. At the same time, they managed to avoid overdoing it; the comedy is just enough and Paolo’s comedic timing is always on point.

46 Casual goodbye (2 wds.)

47 PCB regulator 49 Timex rival 50 Waterfall sound 51 La Scala highlight 52 Griffin of game shows 54 Small bottle 55 Short-spoken 56 Get wind of 57 Latin I verb 58 Burgoo or daube

really happen in real life. And the conflict it presented is impossible to be resolved by a one-man team.

The film also easily jumped into conclusion that murder can be solved by a simple phone call and someone’s heart can be changed overnight. Nonetheless, if someone’s goal is just to laugh and not think of anything else, the not-so-intelligent Barbi: D’ Wonder Beki can be a beautiful choice.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

ISAH V. RED

Magical Christmas at SM

SM Mall of Asia’s Very Merry MOA Christmas

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HRISTMAS, the longest and most exciting season in the Philippines, is finally here! SM Supermalls, the Christmas destination for all Filipinos, has put together the biggest and grandest magical Christmas celebration for the entire family to enjoy.

SM Aura Premier’s Christmas Under the Sea

Steven Tan, senior vice president for operations, SM Supermalls; and Veronica Cabalinan, Disney Philippines country manager

New shows and specials on History

HISTORY is closing the year with two new epic series that are sure to keep you glued to the television, plus not-to-be-missed specials and the best episodes of your favorite shows.

This month on HISTORY is the gift that keeps on giving.

Start December by tuning into the premiere of Knightfall at 9:55 p.m. tomorrow. Follow the Knights Templar—the elite warriors of the Crusade and the most powerful, wealthy and mysterious milit ary order of the Middle Ages—on their mission to find the lost Cup of Christ.

The knights struggle with belief, sacrifice, politics, love, revenge, and eventually, the demise of the Order.

"Knightfall" follows the journey of the elite warriors of the Crusade and the most powerful, wealthy and mysterious military order of the Middle Ages Continue the journey on Dec. 9, 9:55 p.m. with Pirate Treasure of The Knights Templar. Join underwater archeologist and adventurer, Barry Clifford, and his team as they dive into a world-

Renowned underwater explorer Barry Clifford and historian Scott Wolter in "Pirate Treasure of The Knights Templar"

The whole family can experience a oneof-a-kind magical holiday at SM Supermalls with a series of exciting activities, enchanting events and amazing Christmas deals featuring dazzling Disney centerpieces that kids and kids-at-heart will surely love.

“As we usher the joyful spirit of Christmas, allow us to thank you for celebrating this season with us and for choosing SM to create these special moments with your loved ones,” said Steven Tan, SM Supermalls senior vice president. “From our SM family to yours, we wish you a memorable and meaningful Christmas filled with love and wonderful cheers.”

SM Megamall features a Royal Holiday wonderland complete with a 45-feet tall Christmas tree centerpiece.

At SM Aura Premier, experience an enchanting Christmas under the sea. Visit SM’s first-ever digital underwater adventure and capture magical moments with larger-thanlife sea creatures on display. Feast your eyes on the mall’s 30-feet tall Christmas tree decked with mermaids, starfish and jellyfish.

Meet Santa and celebrate a Very Merry MOA Christmas at SM Mall of Asia (MOA).

Take a photo with Leo the lion, Hannah the panda, Gerry the giraffe, Hailey the hippo, Macky the monkey, Benny the bunny, Cyril the squirrel, and Ellie the elephant in front of the majestic 50-feet Christmas tree centerpiece.

Go see the biggest and cutest Disney Tsum Tsum Christmas tree at SM North EDSA. Towering 45-feet tall, the well-loved Disney Tsum Tsum Christmas tree is in the heart of Tsum-tacular Christmas village where shoppers can stroll around the winter town and ride the majestic train with their favorite Disney characters.

Featured in 65 SM Supermalls nationwide, magical SM décor and Disney- and Pixarthemed holiday displays also include Mickey Mouse and Friends, Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, Disney Princesses, Cars, and Sofia the First.

Aside from these amazing centerpieces, SM also presents pyromusical shows, illumination festivals and grand Christmas parades.

From carols in the malls, festive music and wide investigation to find a link between 17th century pirates and the Knights Templar.

On Dec. 22 at 9 p.m., the History Friday Feature: Untold Story of the 90s offers a look into how the events at the end of last century shaped the world we live in today.

Of course, it won’t be December without Christmas Time on History. Catch The Jesus Code on Dec. 24 at 5:20 p.m., as the show investigates the incredible legend of the True Cross, the actual cross Jesus died on and considered the greatest relic in Christianity.

Have Yourself A Merry Pickers Christmas as The Pickers have their special holiday episode on Dec. 25 at 8:05 p.m. with Mike trying to get Frank into the Christmas spirit while exploring two super packed picks.

Continuing on Dec. 25 at 9 p.m., watch The Pope From The End Of The World, the story of Pope Francis, the Argentinean Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio who broke the hegemony of centuries of European Popes, and the first Jesuit Pope.

As the leader of the Church which has lost many worshippers and embroiled in scandal – what is he like?

Following that, from Dec. 26 to 31, from 6:15 p.m., catch the “Best Of” of your favorite shows—Counting Cars and Pawn Stars; and The Pickers to recap the most exciting episodes of the latest seasons.

SM City North EDSA’s Tsum-tacular Christmas

This year’s magical holiday celebration continues SM’s tradition of offering a whole new Christmas experience for everyone – families, millennials, and the elderly alike – to remember and cherish forever.

Spend a grand and magical Christmas at SM Supermalls.

SM China’s Bowen Zhang, Kico Du and Shen Yin

lights to grand centerpieces and amazing deals, SM is truly an amazing one-stop Christmas wonderland.

SM Supermalls also features Bears of Joy, an annual advocacy campaign dedicated to making more children happy every Christmas. This enables the customers to buy a pair of bears for PhP200 – one bear for the customer to keep while the other bear is donated to charities, such as the Nayon ng Kabataan orphanage.

Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos and Councilor Charisse Abalos

*** Quezon City’s pioneer, artisanal, 78-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café revivified by 14-time CMMA and threetime Palanca award-winning writer, realty entrepreneur and college teacher Wilson Lee Flores is featured in ANC’s The Boss.

Hosted by Cathy Yang, full episode of The Boss is also available on iWantTV and tfc.tv. It is also replayed on ANC Thursday at 11 p.m.; Friday at 3:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday at 4:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.; Sunday at 10 p.m.; and Monday at 9:30 a.m.

Since 2013, Flores has been donating public school buildings to poor rural barrios in support of the noble socio-civic project “Operation Barrio Schools” of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), because he believes democratizing access to good public education is the best way to change society.

In December 2014, he bought Kamuning Bakery, revived it in 2015, then holding the annual civic project “World Pandesal Day” on Oct.16 giving away 50,000 pugon-baked breads. He also holds free medical/dental/optical missions for urban poor families.

Flores also hosts the non-partisan “Pandesal Forum” at Kamuning Bakery Café to help elevate public discourse on issues. He has been invited to host “Pandesal Forum sa Veritas” Monday to Friday, 5:30 p.m. on Radio Veritas AM 846 kHz, online live stream www.veritas846.ph and Cignal TV channel 313.

His co-hosts are actor/comedian Jojo Alejar and business leader George T. Siy of the IDSI think tank.

Minnie and Mickey Mouse

Congressman Bingbong Crisologo and Asia’s Next Top Model Maureen Wroblewitz

*** GMA Network’s First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari R. Abacan was part of the esteemed panel of jurors at the 45th International Emmy Awards held on Nov. 20 at Hilton Hotel in New York City.

Abacan has been selected by the Academy’s Committee to recognize excellence in the best television programs produced from various countries around the globe.

GMA Network’s First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari R. Abacan

This year, he served as one of the jurors that evaluated numerous entries for the Semi-Final Round of Judging for the TV Movie/Mini-series category.

Abacan previously participated as a juror in the Final Round of Judging for the comedy category in 2013 and 2011; and for the TV Movie/ Mini Series category in 2010 and 2007.

“It is a great honor to be given another opportunity to participate in screening high quality programs from different countries alongside other respected executives from the international television industry. Also, being a juror does not only give me pride to represent GMA Network but it has also been a learning experience for me to further broaden my perspectives in TV programming,” he shared.

The International Emmy Awards, the Oscars of the TV industry, is an annual event organized by The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

It is an organization comprised of leading media and entertainment figures from over 60 countries and 500 companies from all sectors of television including Internet, mobile and technology.