Manila Standard - 2017 December 11 - Monday

VOL. XXXI • NO. 297 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Watchdog draws fire over ‘off track’ remark

By Bill Casas

‘TOKHANG’ DRAMA. Militants, marking the International Human Rights Day on Sunday, dramatize a scenario of ‘knock and plea’—popularly known as tokhang (of a law enforcer) to knock on a suspected drug trafficker or drug addict’s home to persuade them to surrender and stop their illegal activities; to fall victim, in slang, to extrajudicial killing—where bodies of extrajudicial victims are bound and placed in garbage bags during a protest rally. Ey Acasio

MALACANANG described Sunday the claims of an official of an international human rights organization the Philippines had not made any genuine efforts in seeking accountability on the alleged rights violations amid war on illegal drugs, as “off track”.

“The latest remarks of the Human Rights Watch the Philippine government had not made genuine efforts to seek accountability on alleged abuses in our antidrug campaign are simply off track,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a statement.

Roque’s statement followed the weekend joint statement by different sectors who decried what they called the worsening state of human

rights in the country.

In their statement, incumbent and former legislators, lawyers and doctors, artists and members of the media, academics and religious leaders, representatives of NGOs and peoples organizations, and prominent individuals warned of a “new and wider wave of killings and human rights violations in the country” under the Duterte government.

Among the signatories to the “Joint Statement of Concern on the Deteriorating Human Rights Situation” are: Sen. Francis Pangilinan and former senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada; congressmen Edcel Lagman, Jose Christopher Belmonte, Sarah Elago, Carlos Zarate, Emi de Jesus, Antonio Tinio, France Castro, Ariel Casilao and Tom Villarin; Next page

Martial law: 1 more year Palace asks Congress to extend military rule amid terror threat

Dengvaxia: More to testify, conspiracy eyed

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte wants martial law in Mindanao, imposed in May, extended for one more year and, senior officials said, will again seek Congress’ approval following the recommendations by the military and the police.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, in a text message to reporters, confirmed the President would

be transmitting his latest appeal to both chambers of Congress today.

In related developments: • Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the terrorist group Daulah Islamiyah, connected to the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups, had been planning to attack another city in the country.

Andanar revealed this as he stressed the need to extend martial law in Mindanao, based on the proposal

of the AFP. In an interview over Super Radyo dzBB, Andanar said the Daulah Islamiyah group had continued its recruitment activities.

The Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, in separate recommendations to the President, said that military rule would help in rebuilding the Islamic city as “the threat of terrorism remains.”

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4 justices to tell all on Sereno—panel VACCINATED COPS. Not just children, but policemen who received the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, are anxious over the effects it may have on their bodies, like these Quezon City policemen who received Dengvaxia vaccination. The cops attended a dialog Sunday with Philippine Children Medical Center officials, to thresh out their concerns and calm down their anxieties. Manny Palmero

By Rio N. Araja HOUSE Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Sunday believed those behind the corruption in the procurement and implementation of the Dengvaxia vaccine could not get away with the law as Sen. Richard Gordon saw “conspiracy” in the acquisition of the vaccines.

Gordon raised the “conspiracy” theory in reply to questions in a radio interview whether there was irregularity in the meeting between then Health secretary Janette Garin and Sanofi executives in Paris in May 2015.

Garin admitted in a television interview she met with Sanofi Pasteur officials in Paris for a briefing on the vac-

cines in the presence of officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

In related developments: •Executrive Director Julius Lecciones of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center on Sunday said he was willing to testify before a Senate inquiry to shed light into the P3.5-billion procurement of the dengue vaccine.

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By Rey E. Requejo

A MANILA City Regional Trial Court has ordered a Chinese firm and its three local partners to pay a Filipino publisher more than P24.7 million in damages after being found guilty of copyright infringement.

In a 35-page decision on Dec. 8, Judge Maria Victoria Soriano-Villadolid

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The court required MITC, Uy, Allianz and Fujian to pay the complainant P24,695,830, including P18.06 million in actual damages, P1 million in moral damages, P2 million in exemplary damages, P500,000 in attorney’s fees and P3,135,000 million in costs of suit.

The judge also ordered the defendants to desist from

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By Robert A. Evora

printing, copying, reproducing, importing, distributing and selling 12 original and revised editions of textbooks that they had earlier illegally sold to the Department of Education-Zamboanga, Municipality of Matnog in Sorsogon, and Municipality in Cabuyao in Laguna without the approval of SMPC, the copyright owner of the books.

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ORIENTAL Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, House committee on justice chairman, said Sunday it was likely Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo

Two school officials die in bus crash

Pinoy wins landmark ruling vs China firm, 3 partners of Branch 24 granted the copyright infringement complaint and damage suit filed by St. Mary’s Publishing Corp. and owner Jerry Vicente Catabijan against M.Y. Intercontinental Trading Corp., its owner Tedwin Uy, Allianz Marketing and Publishing Corp. and China-based firm Fujian New Technology Color Making and Printing Co.

By Rio N. Araja

MAGSAYSAY, Occidental Mindoro—Two school officials died and 23 others were injured, four seriously, when a bus they were riding on fell off a 10-foot steep ravine in a mountain barangay here Saturday night.

Police investigators said 44 students and school officials were on their way to Next page

would come forward to testify in the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in January next year.

“There is another justice who [has] conveyed his desire to testify in the impeach-

ment proceedings against the Chief Justice,” he said.

“I have no personal knowledge about his intention to testify, but his willingness to face us was relayed to my committee secretariat,” he added.

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Medic one of Tourism’s ‘Women of Significance’ CHARLEANNE Jandic, the medical intern who helped save a woman from an accident at a Metro Rail Transit-3 station in November this year, was named one of the Department of Tourism’s “Women of Significance” at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila on Saturday night.

Jandic said that while she was “overwhelmed” by the recognition she received, people must understand it was not really outstanding. Next page CHARLEANNE JANDIC

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Miscue to spark Korea conflict—UN U

NITED NATIONS—A senior UN envoy warned Saturday there was a grave risk that a miscalculation could trigger conflict with North Korea as he urged Pyongyang to keep communication channels open after a rare visit to the reclusive state.

Jeffrey Feltman’s trip to the North―the first by such a high-ranking UN diplomat since 2010―kicked off less than a week after Pyongyang said it test-fired a new ballistic missile capable of reaching the US. The United Nations said Feltman met North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho and Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-Kuk and they

“agreed that the current situation was the most tense and dangerous peace and security issue in the world today”.

Noting the “urgent need to prevent miscalculations and open channels to reduce the risks of conflict,” Feltman said the international community was committed to finding a peaceful solution.

Feltman, the UN’s undersecretary general for politi-

cal affairs, also stressed the importance of the full implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions.

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.

Earlier, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA said “the US policy of hostility toward the DPRK [North Korea] and its nuclear blackmail are to blame for the current tense situation on the Korean peninsula”.

But it added the North

2 former Cabinet men join chorus of protests on fag tax

By Macon R. Araneta

TWO former Cabinet secretaries on Sunday led farmers and the labor sector in calling on the members of the bicameral panel tasked to finalize the TRAIN bill to take into consideration their plight before making another round of “painful” increase in the tobacco excise tax.

Former Labor secretary Ruben Torres, TUCP president, and former Agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor said the farmers were yet to recover from the imposition of the sin tax law.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, PhilTobacco Growers Association and the Federation of Free farmers are objecting to the plan to again raise the tobacco excise, tax citing the significant drop in crop production, the reduction in the size of the farmlands planted to tobacco and the loss of jobs following the big annual increases in the tobacco tax since 2013.

In separate letters to Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on ways and means, the groups aired their concern that any drastic increase would be damaging to the economic situation of the tobacco farming and labor sectors.

“What the proponents of a radical increase in the sin tax fail to recognize is that every time a move to

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increase the tobacco sin tax is proposed, thousands of tobacco farmers and laborers are faced with the threat of losing their primary source of income and livelihood,” wrote Torres.

In 2015 alone, Torres said, data from the National Tobacco Administration showed the number of workers in the tobacco industry was reduced by 9,232 farmers. Another related NTA report showed there had also been a decline in the area of land planted to tobacco, or from 38,264 hectares in 2014 to only 32,761 hectares in 2015―a reduction of more than 5,500 hectares.

He said the fall in employment was supported by the latest Labor Force Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority, which showed an increase in the country’s unemployment rate of from 5.8 percent in January of 2016 to 6.6 percent in January of 2017, or 2.8 million unemployed.

The Ilocos, a tobacco-farming region, registered the highest unemployment rate of 8.7 percent.

Torres said the TUCP was supporting the call of various farmers’ organization in opposing the inclusion of the tobacco tax in Package 1 of the TRAIN bill.

The tobacco industry has nearly 3 million Filipinos engaged in the production, trading, processing and marketing of tobacco and tobacco products.

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“There is no need for an award. I just did my job, but if it brings to attention the need for emergency medical services in places such as train stations, then I guess it’s a good thing,” Jandic said.

She hoped “it would open the mind of the lay people to understand” that their job as medical practitioners does not stop once their shifts end.

MRT passenger Angeline Fernando, 24, fell on the tracks seconds before a train departed from Ayala station.

She was then caught between the first and second coaches and lost her arm.

Recounting what happened, Jandic said she initially hesitated but “instinct” took over.

“Initially, I hesitated because I did not know the extent of her injury, because I didn’t see what happened,” she said.

“But there was a patient, and there was the nervous feeling that said what if it was beyond what I knew?”

Later, doctors were able to reattach Fernando’s severed right arm.

Apart from Jandic, seven other women were recognized for making a difference in the community.

Also named 2017 DOT Women of Significance were Aileen Apostol, a special education teacher, Nadine Casiño, founder of “Modern Nanays of Mindanao”, Sol Balbero, Kanlungan sa ERMA executive director, SPO3 Esnairah Lucman, filmmaker Baby Nebrida, former DOT Secretary and sustainable tourism advocate Mina Gabor, and Nurture Wellness Village founder Catherine Brillantes-Turvill.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo said the gala night also capped the Miss Universe delegation’s visit to the Philippines.

“It’s a charity ball so part of the proceeds goes to Kanlungan sa ERMA, a place where abused children stay.

So part of the proceeds, though it may not be a big amount, will be given to he foundation,” Teo said.

He admitted his direct involvement in the procurement of the vaccines on orders of Garin.

“The Department of Health through the health secretary directed us to procure Dengvaxia. I did not see any... legal or illegal since from time to time, we procure on behalf of the DoH,” he said.

“The P3-billion budget was transferred to me which was paid to Zuellig [Pharmaceutical], the supplier, distributor,” he added.

He maintained the procurement of the Dengvaxia vaccines was above board and was awarded to a winning bidder under under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. “That was a competitive bidding, and not a negotiated bidding,” he said.

had agreed with the UN “to regularize communications through visits at various levels”.

The KCNA report did not mention any meetings with leader Kim Jong-Un, who has ramped up his impoverished nation’s missile and nuclear program in recent years in order to achieve Pyongyang’s stated goal of developing a warhead capable of hitting the US mainland.

Feltman’s visit also came after the United States and South Korea launched their biggest-ever joint air exercise.

Pyongyang reiterated its view that these maneuvers were a provocation, accusing

• The Commission on Human Rights said Sunday the extension of martial law in Mindanao beyond the Dec. 31 deadline might be a prelude to a “strongman rule.”

CHR Commissioner Roberto Cadiz said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB that the military and the police’s recommendation to extend the Mindanao martial law was “alarming” because it had no justification.

DND public affairs chief Arsenio Andolong said in an interview: “It will help us to continue our momentum in our campaign against the Daesh [Arabic word for ISIS] and their sympathizers and not to do so will allow them to regroup again. “[And] as you know there have been reports that they are recruiting already in the Lanao area so I think this will help curb their activities on the ground.

“If we dont have martial law, it will be very difficult for the rehabilitation of Marawi and the other war torn areas in the area.”

House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said the Lower House was expected to receive Monday the letter

signed by Duterte seeking Congress’ approval for the extension of martial law in Mindanao beyond Dec. 31.

Fariñas said Medialdea informed him about the matter through a text message.

As to how long the martial law in Mindanao shall be extended, Fariñas said he would not know until the matter was discussed by the House leadership.

Congress, which upheld Duterte’s first request to extend martial law in Mindanao last July 22, will be going on a Christmas break on Dec. 15, and will resume sessions on January 15 next year.

Recently, the Supreme Court, in a 10-3-1 vote, affirmed the constitutionality of Duterte’s order to place Mindanao under martial law.

Former Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla in a news briefing last Friday said while terrorist groups in Mindanao were largely “scattered,” “disorganized,” and “leaderless,” recruitment still continued in most parts of Mindanao, promising fabulous pay just to join the jihadist movement.

“Those who survived that siege still remain at large and are attempting to recover by recruiting other

• The Philippine Children’s Medical Center has started to closely monitor 839 members of the Quezon City Police District and their 489 dependents who have been inoculated with a first shot of the dengue vaccine in September.

Dr. Julius Lecciones, PCMC executive director, along with QCPD’s Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, spearheaded an intensified monitoring and surveillance strategies dialogue at Camp Karingal to allay fears of the adverse effects of the anti-dengue vaccine.

He advised the police officers not to panic, and instead to wait for the World Health Organization to finish its investigation.

“If you ask me, too, if one who has not completed the three shots of the vaccine could be prone to severe dengue just like those who have completed the three shots, I cannot really answer that,” he said.

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SMPC’s lawyer, intellectual property rights expert Oscar Manahan, said the landmark case provided a model for copyright owners pursuing suits against violators.

“This decision recognizes the Philippine government’s commitment to the Berne Convention to fully recognize, protect and enforce IPRs in the country,” Manahan said.

“The Berne Convention on Copyrights where the Philippines and China are signatories have committed to fully recognize and to enforce the Philippine decision under the reciprocity provisions in the treaty.”

Manahan said that while Fujian was a foreign firm based in China, its act constituted copyright infringement pursuant to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works on 1 August 1951, to which China became a signatory in 1992.

The case stemmed from the printing contract forged between SMPC and the defendants for the printing of SMPC textbooks in Fujian’s factory in China. SMPC issued the Authority to Print Textbooks three times to Fujian in September, October and November 2009.

SMPC also issued a Purchase Order in December 2009 to Fujian for the printing of additional textbooks (Development Reading Power for Grade 1 to 6 and Pagpapaunlad Ng Kasanayan Sa Pagbasa) for P11,347,781.08 covering a total of 301,000 copies worth P300 each.

But Fujian did not deliver the textbooks to SMPC and instead issued to MITC the Authority to Enter into a Contract to Market and to Sell the textbooks.

Allianz imported the textbooks from Fujian, China, and sold them in the Philippines.

“As December 10, International Human Rights Day, nears, we decry the continuing deterioration of human rights in our country,” the statement said.

Roque accused HRW of “refusing to acknowledge the efforts of the administration in addressing alleged abuses of scalawag policemen,” noting that it had a “penchant for playing blind, deaf and dumb.”

“Perhaps this HRW must be reminded that an entire police force in Caloocan was relieved because of alleged abuses, and the PDEA [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency] was designated to be the lead agency in the government anti-drug operation,” Roque said.

“Lest we forget, as much as due process governs the cases of alleged victims, the same must likewise be accorded to state agents accused of being perpetrators,” Roque also said.

Last Friday, HRW associate director for International Justice Program Param-Preet Singh belied Roque’s claims the government was conducting probe on the alleged abuses by

the drills of “revealing its intention to mount a surprise nuclear preemptive strike against the DPRK”.

The Chinese foreign ministry on Saturday published a speech from earlier in the week by foreign minister Wang Yi in which he warned that the Korean Peninsula “remains deeply entrenched in a vicious cycle of demonstrations of strength and confrontation.”

“The outlook is not optimistic,” Beijing’s top diplomat added.

Fears of a catastrophic conflict with the nucleararmed regime have spiked as Kim and Donald Trump

members of the society, particularly the vulnerable sector of our population, and they are students, children, women and the like, as well as relatives of those who lost their lives in the fight,” he added.

The military also cited continuing significant violent activities of other terrorist groups affiliated with the Islamic State, such as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters controlling Maguindanao, Lanao and Cotabato, along with the Abu Sayyaf in the islands of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Padilla also cited threats by the communist New Peoples’ Army as a growing threat in Mindanao, which grew in number during the lull in the peace negotiations.

Amid the perceived criticism on the possibility of a second extension of martial law, presidential spokesman Harry Roque, in an earlier news briefing, insisted that what mattered most was the opinion of those on the ground, and not those far from the battle zone.

“What matters most is the view of the stakeholders, the view of the Mindanaoans on martial law...why should people from Luzon complain?” he earlier said.

Duterte, in less than 24 hours during his trip to

Records show that 839 QCPD personnel together with 498 dependents and other civilians were injected with the vaccine on a voluntary basis last September.

Even walk-in clients have been inoculated with a first shot of Dengvaxia.

According to Eleazar, of the 839 police officers inoculated with the vaccine, seven percent had dengue history.

Because of a looming Senate inquiry, Alvarez said he was reluctant to back the reopening of a congressional inquiry into the P3.5-billion mass dengue immunization program to be initiated by the House committee on good government and public accountability chaired by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel.

“We are still thinking it over because the Senate will be investigating. Besides, there is still the impeachment we have to attend to as well as the other pending bills,” he said.

authorities in anti-illegal drugs operations.

“The government has made no genuine efforts to seek accountability for drug war abuses. There have been no successful prosecutions or convictions of police implicated in summary killings despite compelling evidence of such abuses,” Singh said in statement.

Roque asked the 16th Assembly of state-parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to respect the country’s proceedings on terrorism and illegal drugs, adding the Philippines could leave the international tribunal following Duterte’s pending case over the slays blamed on his anti-illegal drugs campaign.

The government’s war against illegal drugs has caught the attention of local and international human rights groups due to the increasing number of killings under the Duterte administration.

In a separate statement, Roque also said the Duterte administration was working hard “with the best interest of every Filipino, especially the poor and the marginalized and most vulnerable, as its main concern.”

The Philippines is an ac-

have taunted each other in recent months, with the US President pejoratively dubbing his rival “Little Rocket Man” and a “sick puppy”.

Kim has called the 71-year-old president a “dotard”, meaning a weak or senile old man―an insult that was renewed Saturday as the North condemned Trump for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“Considering the fact that the mentally deranged dotard openly called for a total destruction of a sovereign state at the UN, this action is not so surprising”, KCNA quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying. AFP Moscow, Russia on May 23 placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law after the ISIS-inspired Maute group laid siege in Marawi City.

The initial declaration was supposed to end after 60 days, but Congress, in joint session, approved Duterte’s request to extend it until the end of the year.

Last October 17, Duterte declared Marawi City free from terrorists after security forces were able to neutralize terrorist leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute.

According to Article VII, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution, the President as Commander in Chief can place the Philippines or any part of it under martial law or suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus “in case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it.”

The President must submit a report to Congress in person or in writing within 48 hours of the proclamation of martial law.

Congress, in turn, voting jointly, by at least a majority of all its members in regular or special session, may revoke the proclamation, and the President may not set aside the revocation.

With PNA, Maricel Cruz and Bill Casas

“We will renew our probe in light of Sanofi Pasteur’s admission that Dengvaxia is unsafe for people who never had dengue fever, plus evidence that payments for the supplies of the vaccine were not authorized in the 2016 General Appropriations Act,” he added.

Garin blamed her predecessor, Enrique Ona, for the Dengvaxia vaccine procurement, saying it was during Ona’s term when the campaign for vaccine started.

Ona, for his part, said the country was just part of the Dengvaxia clinical trials when he was then the health secretary.

Pimentel said Sanofi-Pasteur had not yet admitted the adverse effects of Dengvaxia when Congress began its probe.

“Also at that time, the committee was not aware that funding for the vaccine was simply sourced from budget savings, which might be illegal,” said Pimentel.

tive member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, and respect for human rights as State policy is enshrined in our 1987 Constitution, Roque said.

The Duterte Administration works hard with the best interest of every Filipino, especially the poor and the marginalized and most vulnerable, as its main concern, he said.

These are the women and children in crises situations, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, migrant workers, older persons, people and communities displaced by natural and human-induced calamities, among others, he said.

Roque said the best way to do this was to ensure government efficiency and effectiveness that would translate to every Filipino getting a fighting chance to overcome poverty, to uplift one’s status in society and to live a life with higher dignity.

He said that direction was what inspired the government’s compliance with its human rights obligations.

“As a Nobel Peace Prize winner once said, ‘poverty is the absence of human rights.’ This government shall strive to bestow upon every Filipino an equal share in the nation’s pro-

gress. And we are pleased that this direction has been accepted by no less than the highest peer review body in the world on all matters of human rights, which is the UNHRC, when it unanimously accepted and commended the Outcome Report on the Philippines’ Universal Periodic Review this year,” he said.

Roque’s remarks came after militant groups, on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, condemned the rise of the number of killings under the government’s war on drugs.

Roque said the best way to fight for human rights was “to ensure government efficiency and effectiveness that will translate to every Filipino getting a fighting chance to overcome poverty, to uplift one’s status in society and to live a life with higher dignity.”

“That direction is what inspires the government’s compliance with its human rights obligations,” Roque also said.

Various groups have started to conduct protest actions such as marches, Eucharistic celebrations, and candle-lighting activities, to voice their sentiments on alleged human rights violations.

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A1 In a related development, Umali said the impeachment proceedings could be cut short to accommodate the ratification of the P3.767-trillion General Appropriations Bill for 2018, Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion and extension of martial law in Mindanao after the emergency ends by yearend.

He said the committee was considering ending the impachment hearings today and resume in 2018.

Del Castillo may testify in the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon involving Sereno’s supposed betrayal of public trust for the purchase of a brandnew and latest model of a Toyota Land Cruiser worth P5.1 million.

Gadon accused Sereno of the procurement of an overpriced luxury vehicle at P5.1 million against its original cost of P4.5 million and its P4million bullet-proofing.

Should Del Castillo surface, the committee can only accommodate him in January 2018, Umali said.

The committee on justice is set to hear the testimonies of three other associate justices--Noel Tijam, Francis Jardeleza and Teresita Leonardo-de Castro--and retired associate justice Arturo Brion are set to testify today.

“Barring unforeseen circumstances, we look forward hearing their testimonies. We hope that necessary clearances are given to them by the Supreme Court to face and testify before my panel,” Umali said.

Another Supreme Court associate justice--Samuel Martires--would not be spared to shed light into the accusations against Sereno.

According to Umali, the committee is set to discuss today the allegations that Sereno issued a resolution inconsistent with the decision of the court en banc by altering a temporary restraining order and manipulating judicial appointments.

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Jess Venturanza, Magsaysay municipal risk reduction management officer, identified the fatalities as Director Jonathan Peniada and professor Elmer Dacillo, all of Rizal University System in Morong, Rizal.

Venturanza said four of the injured had suffered fractured bones and were immediately brought to the San Jose District Hospital in San Jose.

The victims were part of the school delegation of Rizal University System.

Forty-four students were on board the tourist bus while the other 19 passengers, believed to be RUS school officials, were on the coaster.

In its initial report, SPO1 Daniel G. Rabanera said the student athletes were on board a two-vehicle convoy, a tourist bus, operated by the Charm Aloha Travel, and a coaster van, alleged to be a government-owned vehicle.

The convoy was negotiating downhill a two-kilometer zigzag road in sitio Bunga, Bgy. Nicolas, this town, when the bus driver, Julius Villeno, lost control of the brakes.

Villeno tried to avoid crashing on the coaster ahead, driven by Ramil Concepcion San Jose, of Teresa, Rizal.

While not hitting the coaster van, the bus instead fell into a 10-foot ravine on the left side of the road.

Magsaysay Mayor Bing Barrera Fajardo, a medical practitioner herself, personally supervised the rescue operations for the victims.

The victims were initially brought to the rural health center for emergency treatment. Except for the four seriously injured who were transferred to the San Jose District Hospital, others were released.

Fajardo said the elevated zigzag road in Bgy. Nicolas had been the scene of accidents, resulting in deaths and serious injuries. “That Nicolas road is too risky for travellers,” she said.

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Govt rejects truce with Reds to observe the traditional Christmas truce with the which President EFENSE and military authorities NPA Rodrigo Duterte has dehave slammed the door to a clared a terrorist entity. “ The Defense Secretary unilateral Christmas ceasefire has already spoken that he with the New People’s Army in a is not inclined to declare move that they called a strategic a suspension of military operations this Christmas move to prevent the terror group from it will give them consolidating forces through recruitment because chance also to continue and attacks in the countryside. their attacks on our outposts,” said DND Public Their decision came de- sectors including the reli- Affairs Head Arsenio Anspite appeals from various gious sects for authorities dolong.

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“They are taking potshots at our troops and policemen and he Lorenzana does not relish that and we will be giving them a chance to do all during the Christmas season,” Andolong added.

AFP’s Public Affairs Chief Col. Edgard Arevalo also shared a parallel view on the matter saying, “the communist terrorist has since been taking advantage of the declared truce.

And the AFP sees no dif-

ference this Christmas season.”

Earlier, President Duterte categorically rejected any probability of a suspension of military operations against the NPAs whom he branded as criminals and terrorists.

“The AFP supports the wisdom and wise discretion of the Commanderin-Chief. He has already declared that there will be o unilateral ceasefire this December. The Secretary

of National Defense has made a similar announcement of his position on the matter,” Arevalo said.

NPA rebels, despite an existing observance of bilateral truce, persisted in attacking military outposts while the government was talking peace with the outlawed organization.

So far, the NPA has suffered 25 casualties in the series of skirmishes with government forces in vari-

ous parts of the country.

Military commanders, meanwhile, said they would be fortifying their defenses against potential attacks from terrorist elements during the Christmas holidays.

“We would not just be fortifying our barriers from the NPAs, but we will conduct widespread offensive against them to stop their illegal and criminal activities,” a military officer.

P1-m donation to Marawi casualties

A LOCAL charity institution and a beverage company donated P1 million to the families of troops who were killed-in-action during the five-month Marawi siege, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Sunday.

AFP Vice Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Melchor Mison Jr. received the P1-million cheque in a simple ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City last week.

“The foundation and beverage company, who requested to remain anonymous despite the large amount of donation, also pledged to support the AFP’s educational program that will benefit dependents of soldiers, especially those of combat casualties,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said in a statement.

This was the third time that they donated to the beneficiaries of soldiers who were killed-in-action in Marawi, Arevalo said.

The donation has been deposited in the AFP’s Marawi Casualty Landbank account which was opened in June in order to extend assistance to the families of troops who died in the line of duty.

“The Vice Chief of Staff AFP expressed gratitude on behalf of the soldiers and their families who will benefit from the donation,” Arevalo said.

“The AFP is immensely grateful for the gestures of generosity and kindness of these donors and many others who selflessly and silently give their material and monetary support to our soldiers,” he added. PNA

OF COPS AnD rOBBerS. A body of an alleged robber lies on a bridge in Manila on Dec. 10, 2017, after he and two other accomplices attempted to snatch the motorcycle of a policeman. The knife-wielding suspect was shot when the suspect attacked the policeman. AFP

Strategic ties with Australia, Japan may temper Sino aggression IN LIGHT of China’s continuing expansion in the disputed West Philippine Sea, the Philippines should explore more strategic partnerships with other countries in the Asia Pacific, especially Japan and Australia, security experts said.

A way to counter Beijing’s aggression is to explore set-ups such as a common Visiting Forces Agreement with Japan

and Australia or a trilateral deal among the three countries, said Dr. Renato de Castro at the roundtable discussion organized by private think tank Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute with theme: The Special Japan-Australia Strategic Partnership Within the Ambit of Democratic Security Diamond.

“Japan and Australia hold a common view on the

importance of encouraging third countries in playing active roles in regional security and the need to develop closer ties with them,” De Castro added.

What exists at the moment is the bilateral Philippine-Australia Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, ratified in 2007, on the status of armed forces from each country while in the territory of the other.

“The Philippines might consider either negotiating or signing a separate VFA with Japan or it may extend its existing VFA with Australia to include Japan,” De Castro said.

Another arrangement is something like the Democratic Security Diamond, an informal partnership among Australia, Japan, India, and the United States, which De Castro

said could help the Philippines in enhancing its maritime capabilities and contributing to the establishment of a rules-based order in the region.

Stratbase ADRI President Dindo Manhit said, “Democratic Security Diamond is relevant to the Philippines in order to develop and enhance the maritime capabilities of the Philippines in the face of China’s expansion in

East Asia. Specifically, capacity building efforts and attempting to reorganize regional security architecture through establishing a rulesbased order in East Asia.”

“Maximizing the JapanAustralia Strategic Partnership efforts for capacity building in parallel with healthy relationships with the US will greatly benefit Philippine interests,” Manhit said.

Bird-flu hit Pampanga gets P7.7-m China aid

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan CHINESE Ambassador to Manila Zhao Jianhua handed over P7.7 million (or RMB 1 million) to the provincial government of Pampanga to help it uplift local farmers and their families out of the difficulties resulting from a severe outbreak of avian flu.

In his remarks, Zhao said that as a country affected by the avian flu for quite a few times in the past, China felt for Filipinos in Pampanga.

“A friend in need is a friend indeed. We sincerely hope that this humble share of assistance would add strength to the endeavor by Pampanga government and people in recovering from their losses in an effective and productive manner,” Zhao said.

Zhao also mentioned that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang paid an official visit to the Philippines recently, which was the first of its kind by a Chinese Premier in a decade.

During the visit, the two sides firmed up 14 cooperation agreements on infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, finance and so on, which are well poised to bring forth more tangible benefits to the two peoples.

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said that it is ready to strengthen cooperation with Pampanga, and work with the Philippine side to advance China-Philippines relations.

Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is also present in the ceremony, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the kindness and generosity on the Chinese side for rendering a helping hand to Pampanga in a difficult time.

On behalf of Pampanga, Governor Lilia Pineda said she was grateful for the valuable donation from the Chinese Embassy, which will effectively enable the Pampanga Gov. to enhance its capacity in the monitoring, prevention and containment of the avian flu in the future.

MineS SAFeTy AwArDS. The two companies that comprise the Masbate Gold Project, Filminera Resources Corp. and Phil.Gold Processing and Refining Corp, received a total of five awards in the recently concluded Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award during the Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference. Cris Acosta (second from left), Filminera president, Danilo Tandoc, Filminera exploration manager (4th from left) and Sulpicio Bernardo III, Filminera vice president for operations (extreme right) receive the award on the safest mining operations category. With them are Joey Ayson, PMIEA selection committee representative and Philippine Mining Exploration Association president (extreme left) and Wilfredo Moncano, Mines and Geosciences Bureau acting director (4th from left).

Legarda expounds climate impact

By Macon Araneta

SENATOR Loren Legarda said the Philippines, which remains to be one of the highly vulnerable countries to climate change, must pursue climate justice in the international arena for the millions of Filipinos whose basic human rights are curtailed because of prevailing climate change risks and impact.

Legarda, chairman of Senate Committees on Climate Change, Finance, and Foreign Relations, UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience, and UNFCCC Adaptation Champion, said that the Philippines must amplify the demand for pre-2020 commitments from the developed countries— such as the discussion on loss and damage for the irreparable effects of climate change and the provision of finance through the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund—in anticipation of the full implementation of the Paris Agreement by 2020.

“We cannot truly address climate change if we do not recognize the fact that climate change impinges on our very basic human rights, such as access to food, water, shelter, livelihood, and the right to life itself,” Legarda added.

A4

Opinion

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2017

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

She will always have Paris

W

HAT a difference a dinner in Paris can make.

Faced with incontrovertible proof that her earlier denials were untrue, former Health secretary Janette Garin finally admitted that she had dinner with officials from the French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi in Paris in May 2015 to discuss plans to buy Dengvaxia, its anti-dengue vaccine—at the time still an experimental drug—for widespread use in the Philippines.

On Garin’s watch, the country eventually bought P3.5 billion worth of the drug from Sanofi, and began the world’s first large-scale anti-dengue vaccination program. This month, however, the Department of Health suspended the program after Sanofi warned that Dengvaxia could worsen symptoms for vaccinated people who contracted the disease for the first time. By this time, more than 700,000 people, including schoolchildren aged nine and up had already re-

ceived Dengvaxia shots as part of a nationwide school immunization program that Garin had set up rapidly.

Garin has since been trying to duck responsibility, first claiming that the World Health Organization had signed off on the vaccination program, then saying that her predecessor had begun talks about dengue immunization as early as 2010.

But at every step of the way, Garin seems to stumble upon a troublesome obstacle—the truth. Such is the case with her 2015 meeting with Sanofi officials.

In her own defense, Garin said she could not recall the meeting when she was first asked about it because it happened two years ago.

Fortunately, her memory was jogged by a detailed Department of Foreign Affairs report that said Garin met with Sanofi officials during her May 2015 trip to Paris to discuss the Dengvaxia vaccine. The report also said Sanofi gave Garin and her delegation a tour of a dengue facility in Lyon, Eastern France.

During her visit, the DFA report said, Garin met the vice president in charge of the dengue vaccine program, Sanofi’s senior director for vaccination policy and advocacy, and Sanofi’s country manager in the Philippines. At those meetings, Sanofi promised to finish a cost and pricing proposal for the Philippines by June 2015.

Garin last week insisted there was no malice in her actions back in 2015, then tried to pass on the responsibility for the program to her predecessor Enrique Ona, saying talks on the planned dengue vaccination program began as early as 2010.

Former Health undersecretary Ted Herbosa contradicted Garin’s claim, however, saying neither he nor Ona ever contemplated using the dengue vaccine because it was still experimental. This meant they would have to wait for the final results of the study and go through a long process of development.

But Garin, who announced she was pushing through with the vaccination program in January 2016, was in a hurry. Bidding was conducted

March 9, 2016 and vaccines were delivered by March 18 and administered to hundreds of thousands of students beginning in April.

Contrary to Garin’s claims today that there was no malice in her actions, Herbosa correctly criticized her meeting with Sanofi officials in 2015, saying it was “highly inappropriate” for any government official to meet with suppliers before a bidding.

The WHO has also since denied Garin’s claim that it recommended the Philippines undertake the vaccination program, saying it never recommends solutions to a sovereign country but merely issues expert guidelines that countries may consider. The WHO also pointed out that Garin launched the vaccination program in April 2016, two weeks before WHO came up with its final report on the dengue vaccine.

With the truth quickly catching up with Garin, she can take some solace by telling herself that she will always have Paris. Given the mess that followed, however, that memory will probably be far from being a cherished one.

From dying to living (First of a two-part article)

most comprehensive, it is able to harness the deepest levels of the human sense of obligation and of commitment. Saddam Hussein will not be forgotten when the West threatened an invasion of Iraq: first, he called on his people to defend Iraq; second, he progressed to the moral level and characterized the conflict as one between good and evil; finally, he appealed to religion as rallied his people to champion the cause of God against infidels. He was tapping on the very nature of religion—as so many had done before him. One need not think only of the Crusades (which were certainly examples of the power of religion to stir peoples to armed action).

One must also think of Muslim expansionism that triggered the Crusades, in the

SERENDIPITOUSLY, our article which came out on Wednesday last week was followed by the president going to the former Clark Air Base facility in Pampanga, where he predicted that Manila will be a “dead city” in 25 years.

Last Wednesday’s article, entitled “Urban decay” was about how the once “royal and noble city” beside the Pasig River has transmogrified through decades of neglect into an almost unlivable mess. And when I speak of Manila, I refer to most of Metro Manila as well, north and south of the Pasig.

To be sure, the decay is principally attributable to three major causes: One, the unbridled growth of our population (105 million residing in an archipelagic geography of a mere 30 million hectares); Two, the Urban Land Reform Act during President Cory Aquino’s time where “bleeding hearts” in government goaded by the numerous Church virtually legalized squatting on both public and private land; and three, the lack of any forward urban planning.

According to DoTr and MMDA, the two national government agencies most distressed (and that adjective is an understatement) by the un-planned urbanization of our NCR, there are some 8 million to 9 million residents living here, which balloons at daytime to 14 to 15 million. The so-called “daytime” population refers to those who come to the metropolis but reside in other provinces, mostly Cavite, Laguna, Batangas in the south and Bulacan, Bataan and Pampanga in the north.

Even describing them as “daytime” transients has become a misnomer.

Most nights they are still trapped in the horrendous traffic that we have come to live by each

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Religion and conflict IT WAS a recent post of my esteemed colleague, Professor Clarita Carlos, that got me working on this piece.

As always she posed an intellectually stimulating question with eminently practical entailments. Why is it, she observed, that most of the world’s religions profess the high values of justice, peace and brotherhood but are, quite paradoxically, the very reasons of conflict and of violence? If there were indeed a correlation, then one would be justified in entertaining the proposition—so damming to religion—that not only is it the opiate of the people but that which sows the detestable seeds of

violence. I have taught and written on the philosophy of religion for some time now, and obviously, this is a question that concerns me, both as a priest and as an assiduous practitioner of phenomenology.

It is a fact that many of the major conflicts today are played out in a religious context: there is the Catholic v. Protestant rumbling that has refused to quiet down in Ireland, the Jew v. Muslim Palestinian conflict that has flared up after Trump’s surprise proclamation of a capital for the State of Israel, and of course the all too obvious Muslim v. Christian conflict in other parts of the world, to which we must add the rather interesting, if deplorable, development as of late: Muslim extremists v. moderates and progressives.

But what is it about reli-

gion that links what light it to conflict really is, and to viofor exlence? Few reample: But what is it ligions, if any, particle, about religion teach the virtue or wave. that links it to of violence, The next and Ayn Rand level of conflict and to who wrote on interpreviolence? the virtue of tation is selfishness, as moral, did Mo tze in but this ancient China l e v e l were thought leaders, not presupposes the first. There religious founders. Hick’s are many who traverse the examination of the religious pedestrians’ overpasses in phenomenon allows him to Manila, and many “interpret” recognize three levels of in- the prone figures in rags terpretation. One interprets as beggars with nowhere on the physical level: the to go, completely mired in glistening drops we find on their privation. While some leaves early in the morning, pass by nonchalantly, others we interpret as dew. Some stop by to drop a few coins. interpretations are so funda- Ever so rarely, someone will mental that they are univer- stop to take them to sanctusal, other physical interpreta- ary or to hospice care. The tions are more complicated point is that while most do and engender disagreement: not interpret the situation as

morally compelling, others do. As in the physical level, there will be arguments for one interpretation, as for its contrary, but there will always be an”epistemic distance” that never forecloses alternative explanations. The most comprehensive of all interpretative levels is the religious level, once more presupposing both physical and moral interpretations.

Within this all-encompassing sphere, this overarching level of explanation every physical event, every noble, worthy and humane act of the moral agent is explained in relation to a Divine plan, design, scheme, purpose or initiative.

The concrete forms of explanation are reposed in the narratives of each religion and systematized in their theologies.

Precisely because the religious interpretation is the

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Opinion

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2017

A5

Thucydides trap I FIRST heard the phrase “Thucydides Trap” from former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile over coffee at our regular Saturday morning 365 Club.

But recent and unfolding events in Asia and the Pacific had stoked my curious mind to look up the phrase.

It was only then that the full dimension and implication of the phrase “Thucydides trap” dawned on me.

“Thucydides Trap,” according to history professor Gordon Allison , is a situation when a rising power threatens an established power. The origin of the phrase was named after Greek historian Thucydides who wrote the history of the Peloponesian War between rising power Athens and preeminent power Sparta.

A well read and ardent student of history, Enrile connected the war clouds

looming in the Korean Peninsula and a collision course between a rising China and Pacific power America. The situation becomes even more incendiary when China’s surrogate state North Korea threatens the peace and stability of the region by launching longrange missiles across Japan, a US ally.

Then too, there are the high stakes of oil, gas and mineral reserves under the South China Sea which is the subject of territorial dispute among China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia. Seeing that it cannot be passive in the escalating tension in the region, the United States adopted a pivot to Asia and a rebalancing of its forces from Europe.

All we need for war to break out is a miscalculation.

With the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as shield, Europe can defend itself against Russia if it crosses the red line in Ukraine.

The US, together with Great Britain and France, still form the core group of Nato.

Asia is where superpower US feels it must flex its muscle against a rising China whose growth as a military and economic power threatens its smaller neighbors. The Philippines, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are US treaty allies and must not be left to a dominant China seeking hegemony in the region.

This US alliance with the four Asian countries, on the other hand, is seen by China as a strategic ring of steel to stop its rise as a global power. This is why the world will not see China reining in North Korea and the belligerent Kim Jong Un. In the grand scheme of things, the North Korean leader is the raging pit bull in Beijing’s backyard..

Goldberg to Cuba In another part of the world, former US Ambassador to Manila Philip Goldberg is Washington’s new chief envoy to Havana, Cuba. That Goldberg a career diplomat in the State Department has been named US ambassador to Cuba is an attribute to the man. It will

be recalled that Goldberg nearing completion of his posting to Manila was vilified by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte who called him all sorts of name.

Naming Goldberg as the first ambassador to Cuba reflects President Donald Trump’s high esteem of the man to repair the decades— long strain between the US and the Castro-ruled island.

The US has finally realized the importance of reopening diplomatic relations with Cuba. In a way, it is also seen by local observers as a rejection if not a rebuke of Duterte’s diatribe against Goldberg.

To Ambassador Goldberg’s credit, he kept his cool and just let Duterte go ballistic. He knew that by not taking on Digong, it was the Philippine president who was making a fool of himself. It was not the silence of the lamb but of a fox who knew how to play the game.

What brought on Duterte’s scathing, senseless spiel that included a reference to Goldberg’s sexual

preference? Manila is a town which thrives on gossip. It must have been rumors that Goldberg who left Bolivia for allegedly attempting to destabilize President Evo Morales government was sent to Manila to do the same thing to Duterte. Actually, the American ambassador’s fault was expressing the US concern about the alleged extrajudicial killings in President Duterte’s bloody war on drugs. The bodies were piling up which drew the United Nations attention which also drew the ire of Duterte. Fast and furious with words, Duterte lashed out at the UN, former US President Barack Obama and the European Union. But that’s another story in the never ending saga of the colorful Philippine president.

I met Goldberg at the Manila Standard’s relaunch event held at the New World Hotel in Makati. He struck me as the quintessential diplomat. He was quiet yet observant, and you know he’s sizing up the person he has been introduced to.

The US has way too many secrets

By James Gibney HOW much does it cost to keep a secret? Well, the US government sort of has an answer: $16.89 billion.

That’s how much it spent in 2016 to classify information that it deems too sensitive to be released to the public.

Some secrets are worth keeping, of course—like how to cook up chemical weapons, for instance. But others, less so. Rodney McDaniel, a top National Security Council official during the administration of President Ronald Reagan, estimated that only 10 percent of classification was for the “legitimate protection of secrets.” Former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean, a head of the 9/11 commission, said that “three quarters of what I read that was classified should not have been.” In fact, he argued that overclassification had left the US more vulnerable to the 9/11 attacks. And that’s to say nothing of its everyday effects on government accountability and efficiency, congressional oversight and public awareness.

Shortly after the government released a trove of documents on the assassination of John F. Kennedy, I sat down with Tom Blanton, the director of the National Security

Religion...

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first place.

Religion then is not at all like affiliation or membership with some civil society or other, from which one can take a safe, existential distance when necessary. It has to do with the definition of a meaningful life, one’s existential concept of “the good life” (so fundamental to Aristotle’s thought), and one’s world of values. Ethics that are hardly anything more than the conventions of a profession do not hold much persuasive power. But when the ethical precept is born of religious belief, it becomes almost irresistible and irrepressible in its persuasive force! Any threat to one’s

From...

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unspeakable day.

Because most jobs are available only in the NCR area, everybody is “compelled” by microeconomic realities to come to the “big city”. The result was predictable decades ago, as architect and urban planning specialist Jun Palafox rues.

Big apple is rotting. And rot cannot be made fresh.

Which probably drove a Davaoeno now living in the palace beside the stinking

Archive, to talk about America’s dysfunctional mechanisms for classifying and declassifying information.

Here, in an edited transcript, he weighs in on why historians should be extra-grateful for Hillary Clinton’s private server; what really needs to be declassified; and how history is likely to judge Julian Assange, Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning.

James Gibney: Tom, let’s start with the new Kennedy documents: Was there anything that changed the historical narrative in your mind?

Tom Blanton: I don’t think the JFK release changed the historical narrative, partly because the US is still withholding so much of it—stupidly. To me, the most striking thing about what did get released was why it was withheld from 1998 until now. It should have come out back when the JFK Assassination Records Review Board was doing its work.

So much of the information was already available in other documents.

JG: If we were to do Declass 101, isn’t it the case that most material is supposed to get declassified within set periods of time?

TB: It actually doesn’t work that way. The classified universe is so enormous, that

basically classified records are going to stay secret unless somebody asks for them.

Thanks to the National Declassification Center, there’s now a good process for pressuring the system from the outside. We’ve done it, other historians have done it.

JG: So, there’s no magical process by which those things that should be declassified by a certain time frame because of laws on the books actually do get declassified.

TB: Yeah, there are no magic wands. Steven Garfinkel, who used to run the Information Security Oversight Office, the government’s internal watchdog on classification, once described coming into a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, or SCIF, that was wall-to-wall with boxes dating back to the 1920s, ‘30s, ‘40s, ‘50s. He took about an hour and sampled stuff and then waved a wand and said, “let it go.” Few people within the government are willing to take that level of responsibility. But with the tsunami of electronic records that’s coming, the idiocy of this page-by-page, line-byline review is a total failure.

The backlog is enormous, and it’s only growing.

JG: And as you’ve noted, a lot of the email traffic isn’t

even being logged and stored.

TB: Part of that was a deliberate government decision back in the 1990s. We brought the original lawsuit to force Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton to save White House email. We won. But when we tried to expand that principle to the rest of the government during the 1990s, the socalled decade of openness, the government fought tooth and nail. We only found out because of the Hillary Clinton email business that no secretary of state has systematically saved their email, until John Kerry did.

JG: Isn’t it true that as a result of Clinton’s private server, we have a lot more of her emails than we would otherwise have had?

TB: Yes, much more than if she’d stuck with state.gov.

JG: Has WikiLeaks made your job easier or harder?

Are they competition or a complement?

TB: They’ve made it harder because they’ve made the government so much more paranoid, and more likely to protect stuff that doesn’t need to be protected.

One of the lessons from the 257,000 diplomatic cables WikiLeaks threw up on the wall with ultimately almost no redactions – well, I asked

Michael Posner, who was the assistant secretary for democracy and human rights, about what real diplomatic damage they caused. He wouldn’t tell me until his retirement party, when he said that part of the cost was that the US was forced to withdraw some of its ambassadors. But the real cost was the time that was spent reacting to them, including the time it took to warn and protect some sources. That kept diplomats from doing other, more constructive work that they should have been doing.

JG: So what are the two or three things that would make the declassification ecosystem work better? You’ve talked about some of the shortcomings. What is it you want that you don’t have to make this system work better?

TB: I would love to have more high-level focused mass declassification efforts, like the JFK Assassination Records Board. Congress hasn’t stood up many more. They created one on Nazi and Japanese war crimes that had a huge impact by opening up clandestine files about the Nazis we brought to the US and protected. They beat down the intelligence community. Our board warned us at the outset to stay away from assassinations and UFO’s. Bloomberg

religion therefore shakes the ground from beneath one’s feet and really poses a “cosmic” threat in that in threatens to undo one’s sense of order, sense and purpose. It will be defended with fervor and with zeal.

That, of course, is true no only of religious, but of all attempts at providing comprehensive cosmic maps or of offering a zeitgeist. Marx’s attempt at a philosophy of history and his own version of Nirvana—the classless society—had the same effect. It so took hold of the imagination of the Bolsheviks and then of the Maoist insurrectionists in China that aside from the brutal execution of the Romanov Family and the numerous executions attending the purges, gulags also sprung up in the vast and

bleak nothingness that was Siberia, and hundreds, if not thousands, lost their lives in the bloody purge of the Cultural Revolution. Several times in the past, the world came very close to the brink of disaster not because of religious dissension, but because of ideological fissures.

And the writings of existentialists from the rubble of the two world wars should be ample proof that besides towns and cities, those lofty ideals whose colors nations flew and in whose name they unsheathed their swords were likewise in shambles.

The point to this all is not the suppression of religion, and much less, of its marginalization.

Militant Islam is partly a result of the marginalization of religion.

Militant Muslims—very like

many fundamentalist Christians—are prepared to slash and burn, torture and maim, when they are convinced that the “infidels” are poised at converting the whole earth into a playground of unbelief. Religion is a stubborn phenomenon because the human person asks the perennial questions to which religion provides answers. And labelling religion as “irrational” only takes upon the conflict a notch higher because it forecloses any opportunity at dialogue.

What is needed is the insistence, in all religions, that there be a critical moment: that philosophers be allowed to ask critical questions, and that theologians be challenged to provide intelligible systematizations and to reexamine assumptions. On

the part of secular society, what it must desist from is the outright rejection of religion as unworthy of engaging in dialogue and consigning all its precepts, particularly its ethical commands, to the dustbin of obsolescence.

And in our contemporary societies markedly qualified by pluralism, it would be as deleterious to the cause of peace for the state to impose secularism—state-sponsored indifference if not rejection of religion—as it would be to make one religion prevail over others.

The sin really lies in turning difference to hatred, and making of “the other”, “the enemy.”

river Pasig state that Manila will be “dead” in another 25 years.

I have lived in Manila since I was five years old, when we transferred from San Pablo City in Laguna (which has also become an ugly mess, by the way) to an apartment owned by wealthy relatives at the corner of Azcarraga and Magdalena (now Claro M. Recto and Masangkay).

I have seen with my own eyes and smelled with my own nose the slow rot that my city has degenerated into.

President Duterte has proclaimed it to be a dying city. So let it be.

Requiescat in pace. Rest in peace?

The first step, and the opportunity is now, with a president like Duterte is to jumpstart plans for the transfer of the national government to a place like Clark or its surrounding hillsides. Imelda Marcos once thought of Tanay, the valley ensconced between the Sierra Madre and Antipolo.

But that is too close, and the infrastructure requirements are too expensive.

So Clark, methinks, should be it. Seventy kilometers away, connected by the SCTEX, is a deep port, Subic, once America’s naval base in the South China Sea. And Clark is itself an international airport, so basically, the infrastructure is already in place. All these major hubs need is modernization, and there are enough funds, both government and private, which are available.

It has enough land, some 40,000 hectares of it, of which more than 9,000 hectares BCDA’s team of Greg Garcia and Vince Dizon, in

tandem with CDC’s Ping de Jesus and Noel Manankil are fast-tracking into a new Green and Global City.

How much land does a national government center need? Look at it this way: all of the present Bonifacio Global City (where former BCDA executives and the private developers who “developed” The Fort could have allocated more parks and open spaces and controlled the drive for rental profits) is some 160 hectares.

Tame the height of the skyscrapers to mid-rise

rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

The harmful message of SSB tax THE impact of the proposed taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages on ordinary consumers has been highlighted by government officials and industry experts alike, but its implication on the country’s economy can even be more farreaching. As the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion bill reaches the bicameral conference committee of Congress—in time before their December 16 recess—more quarters are sounding the alarm.

Already disastrous for the common consumer, the SSB and what it signals in terms of government policy is also worth scrutinizing.

In particular, the new slew of taxes in spirit seem to overlook the consumers, an important engine for the domestic economy, and for good reason: they want lower prices for their foods and drinks and, more crucially, the right to choose what they consume. If passed, however, the new law would not only raise prices of key commodities for Filipinos. It would restrict choice and, much worse, dampen overall investor sentiment.

Reduced investments, of course, translate to lost jobs and, if unabated, could precipitate a cycle of sending a harmful message to foreign investors that the Philippine policies are too volatile and has little respect for global trading rules in favor of envisioned revenues and half-baked health-related conclusions. As it is, the Philippines lags behind its neighbors when it comes to Foreign Direct Investments, a position that is bound to worsen at a particularly important juncture of increasing regional integration.

After all, the target sweeteners of the doubled tax rates are produced largely outside the We would country but nevertheless play do well to a critical role in meeting Filipino demand for high quality learn from and affordable food and bever- lessons from age products. This means that such bold policy decision is a other countries’ strike against Philippine com- dalliance with petitiveness, which is anchored something on, among other things, a stable and pragmatic tax and fiscal similar. environment.

It is not unthinkable, for instance, for the discriminatory tax provision to draw complaints in the World Trade Organization, creating a chilling effect on what should be a vibrant and accessible investment climate. The Department of Foreign Affairs itself has warned that the two-tier SSB tax structure can be considered discriminatory under WTO rules. Thus, the bill, in attempting to solve problems like regressive taxation and obesity, seems to create more problems and at a scale far larger than its framers perhaps imagined.

It would do well to learn from lessons from other countries’ dalliance with something similar. Attempts at taxing SSBs in countries like Indonesia, Mexico, Denmark, and cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, and others have virtually crippled beverage manufacturing industries, resulting in significant job losses and loss of revenue for small businesses. The backlash against politicians who favored the taxes was also considerable. Worse, the intended revenues from the additional taxes rarely reached expected levels.

The impact on a country like the Philippines might be even more dire. Beverages constitute one of the key export sectors identified in a key government plan, and the imposition of such an exorbitant tax will unsurprisingly hamper its further development. The domino effect is feared to extend to the agricultural sector and the beverage and food processing sectors, all the way to the neighborhood sari-sari stores and carinderias.

The tax, then, as disruptive as it is intended to be, can signal a broader policy that doesn’t bode well for the entirety of the country’s investment climate. The benefits of FDIs, of course, go beyond job creation, although that is important. Attracting the world’s best companies also translate to the transfer of technologies, the development of communities, and the improvement of infrastructure.

The message that the SSB tax sends therefore is one of regression at a time when the rest of the world are increasingly integrating. The Philippines, our legislators hopefully realize, could ill afford to be left behind. If they don’t, get ready for more expensive times. buildings for the use of national government agencies properly clustered in an area replete with parks and green spaces, and you could fit the entire national government bureaucracy in a thousand hectares.

Consider further that many government agencies rent their office spaces.

Why, even the Senate of the “august” twenty-four are mere tenants of GSIS. Now they want to move to another part of The Fort.

DTI and DoT lease buildings in Makati. DoTr used to rent a building in Ortigas and now rents in Clark, the first to move out of NCR. The Department of Education retro-fits in what was once an Imelda sportscum-cultural enclave in the rolling hills of Pasig. DoH is squeezed into a hospital complex. DA, DENR, and DAR are in the Quezon Circle complex, but many of its attached agencies are tenants in privately-owned buildings.

Have you been to the Department of Justice, or

the RTCs of Manila? Weep at the congestion. See how formerly high-ceilinged storeys have been retro-fitted to include mezzanines where only employees five feet high can stand erect.

Through the years, both Congress and Malacanang have created more and more agencies, commissions, offices, task forces, whatever, ostensibly to “serve the people better”, or make “government closer to the public”. To do so, the national government has had to lease space more and more, paying exorbitant rents.

President Quezon’s vision of a government center in the eastern hills which became a “new” city named after him has not come to fruition. The national government is still a dispersed lot.

There is no other lasting solution but to transfer the national government elsewhere, and begin the process of bringing a certifiably “dead” city back to life.

(To be continued)

A6

World/News

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2017 Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

Minority languages on rise in Singapore SINGAPORE―Kevin Martens Wong reels off sentences in Kristang, which is among several minority languages in Singapore enjoying a new lease of life after a decades-long drive to encourage the use of English and Mandarin.

“Teng bong, ozi nus prendeh sorti-sorti di tempu,” the linguist told his eager students in the 500-year-old mish-mash of Portuguese and Malay―a greeting, and information that the class would be about the weather.

A former British colonial trading post that has long been a melting pot of different cultures, Singapore has an ethnically diverse population whose ancestors mostly came from across Asia, principally China, India and the Malay archipelago.

On independence in 1965, Singaporeans spoke an array of tongues.

English was common, but many used Chinese dialects, such as Hokkien, as well as Tamil from India, Malay and a smattering of more obscure languages.

But authoritarian founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew believed change was necessary to ensure a secure future for the tiny city-state, which had been thrown out of neighboring Malaysia following a brief and stormy union.

He made the study of English compulsory in schools as he positioned the country as a global commerce and finance hub, as well as one other “mother tongue”. AFP

Chinese billionaire wants to introduce democracy in China NEW YORK―From a luxury Manhattan apartment, Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui is plotting a “change of the regime” in Beijing and developing a new media platform with the aim of introducing democracy in the world’s most populous country.

The fugitive real estate mogul settled in April in New York, on the 18th floor of a

hotel facing Central Park, where he’s now waiting with his wife for a decision on his claim for US political asylum.

“I want to try and to have rule of law, I want to try and have democracy, freedom, that’s my ultimate goal... A change of the regime,” he told AFP in a recent exclusive interview. He’s set a time

line of three years.

For several months, Guo has been flooding social networks with searing accusations of corruption against China’s rich and powerful.

Few Chinese tycoons choose dissent. But Guo, whose property was seized and two brothers imprisoned since he fled from China in 2014, says his campaign has

been brewing for 28 years.

Amid the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989, “my little brother died in front of me... I was detained for 22 months.”

It was in prison that he decided to “wrestle with this system under the Communist party that is inhumane, not democratic, unlawful.”

While some accuse the businessman, who is not shy about publicizing his ostentatious lifestyle, of hypocrisy in his allegations of corruption among China’s political elite, Guo denies accusations that he himself is also guilty of graft.

“Why would I do this? I don’t need the money, I have money,” he said, ticking off possessions such as apart-

ments in New York and London and a yacht, as well as “a wonderful family.”

“But I am a Buddhist, I want to be kind to other people... I want to change the evil regime,” said Guo, who gives his age as 47 despite uncertainty about his birth date due to the upheaval of the Cultural Revolution in China at the time. AFP

California hopes for fire relief O

JAI―The brutal winds that fueled southern California wildfires finally began to ease Saturday, giving residents and firefighters hope for a respite as the destructive toll of the blazes came into focus.

PREMIERE. A view of the atmosphere at the ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Premiere at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. AFP

After a five-day siege, some Californians were finally able to return home to inspect the damage wrought by the wildfires, which forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee and destroyed more than 850 structures including multimillion-dollar mansions.

Despite the intensity of the fires that raged on multiple different fronts-stretching from areas north of Los Angeles down to the San Diego region―authorities have reported only one fatality.

With gusts of up to 95 kilometers per hour, relentless seasonal winds had continued to stoke the fires Friday, spitting embers and creating “extreme fire danger”.

“There’s still tons and tons of hot spots out there,” Captain Jon Heggie of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said early Saturday.

Immigration arrests convicted British child sex offender

By Rey E. Requejo IMMIGRATION authorities arrested over the weekend a British fugitive, a convicted child sex offender wanted by the United Kingdom police.

A report of the Bureau of Immigration

to the Department of Justice showed that the agency’s fugitive search unit arrested Mark Christopher Wyatt, 42, in an operation along Quezon Avenue in Camiling, Tarlac at 4 a.m.

Wyatt, a convicted child sex offender, was arrested as an undesirable alien who

poses risk to public safety and security.

The British is also a fugitive from justice for breaching supervision and notification requirements pursuant to the British Sex Offences Act of 2003, according to an official communication received by the Philippine govern-

ment from International Liaison Officer Stephanie Mc Court of the National Crime Agency of the British embassy in Bangkok.

Wyatt was brought to the BI detention center in Taguig City for deportation proceedings.

Lifetime mobile number pushed

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian is optimistic that the Lifetime Cellphone Number Act will encourage the entry of new players and stimulate healthy competition within the telecommunications industry.

The Lifetime Cellphone Number Act aims to provide convenient movement of mobile subscribers from one service provider to another while retaining usage of their existing cellphone numbers, whether prepaid and postpaid.

This flawless subscriber-transfer among telco players is seen to generate improved services with better deals to offer which will greatly benefit consumers.

During a Technical Working Group hearing on the measure, Gatchalian, who is the chairman of the Senate Economic Affairs Committee and principal author of the bill, stressed the need to provide mobile portability completely free of charge to subscribers.

He stressed that imposing an added cost “has always been a barrier to any competition.”

He suggested that the National Telecommunications Commission should be given the responsibility to determine guidelines on whether the costs will be absorbed by the recipient provider, or the new service provider of the mobile subscriber.

“The regulator and the policy maker, we are in harmony to make it free. But we will include a provision in the law to let the NTC determine who will absorb the costs, if ever,” he said.

“I think that should be left with the regulator to determine. It is too fluid to include in the law, but we will give the NTC flexibility to determine. But from a consumer’s standpoint, it will be free,” Gatchalian added.

PLAYING SANTA. At least 150 kids from the Baseco compound in Tondo, Manila and Brgy. Iruhin of Tagaytay City were given a special Christmas treat by the Villar SIPAG Foundation at the Christmas Village of Crosswinds in Tagaytay. The event is a way to give back to the kids of Tondo where former senator Manuel Villar was born. Ey Acasio

A “red flag” warning issued by the National Weather Service is in effect until 8:00 pm Sunday (0400 GMT).

The strongest winds are expected in the San Diego County mountains and foothills, with gusts over 60 miles per hour, the NWS predicted.

Winds were expected to calm somewhat but a red alert was extended into Sunday due to expected low humidity.

And despite the easing of the winds, meteorologists warned that smoke and ash could linger, prompting several counties to maintain airquality warnings.

In the mountain town of Ojai the air-quality index was hovering over 500―at the top of the “hazardous” scale―as fumes from the “Thomas” fire hung trapped by the mountains. AFP

Campaign vs malaria continues

By Macon RamosAraneta THE Department of Health sssured there will be no let down in the fight for the elimination of malaria in the Mimaropa region.

“We will provide all support to attain our objective of eliminating malaria by 2020 or sooner,” Health Regional Director Eduardo Janairo said.

“We will ensure that every resident of these affected municipalities will be malaria-free. We have all the studies, the data and the resources needed at we have already started implementing these strategies,” he added.

Speaking during the 9th Malaria Congress held in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, Janairo underscored the need to boost strategies and approaches to get rid of malaria in the region.

He cited the need to sustain community intervention, such as regular cleanup drives and information dissemination activities.

He added that both public and private schools must be protected and fitted with Olyset-treated nets.

According to the 2017 provincial malaria data of Palawan, the top five municipalities with the most number of cases are Rizal with 1,294; Balabac with 686; Bataraza with 656; Brooke’s Point with 360; and Quezon with 142.

From Jan. 1 to Nov. 30, a total of 3,360 positive cases have been recorded out of the 146,256 patients tested in Palawan.

Sports

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Lomachenko keeps WBO light crown as Rigondeaux quits in 6

N

EW YORK—Vasyl Lomachenko continued his meteoric rise up the boxing ladder, retaining his WBO junior lightweight title Saturday night after challenger Guillermo Rigondeaux quit on his stool after six rounds.

The 29-year-old Lomachenko was awarded the victory when Rigondeaux elected not to come out for the seventh round in the first world title professional showdown between two multiple Olympic gold medal winners.

The outclassed Rigon-

deaux becomes the fourth straight boxer to quit midfight against Ukrainian Lomachenko.

“Maybe I should change my second name, now my name is ‘No Mas Chenko’,” Lomachenko joked in the ring, referring to Roberto Duran when he threw in

the towel against Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980.

Lomachenko improved to 10-1 as he handed the Cuban defector the first loss of his career in front of a crowd of 5,100 at the Madison Square Garden Theater.

Lomachenko humiliated Rigondeaux, using his size and hand speed to dominate every round except the first.

He grew increasingly frustrated with Rigondeaux’s tactics which included low blows and more clutching and grabbing than throwing punches. Lomachenko landed 55 punches overall while Rigondeaux

landed just 15.

Rigondeaux, who was booed loudly after the fight, looked the much smaller of the two fighters as the 37-year-old moved up two weight classes to challenge for the title.

Rigondeaux (17-1) said after the fight that he hurt his hand in the second round and that was the reason he couldn’t go on.

“I lost, but it was because of my hand,” he said. “In the second round I injured the top of my hand and I could no longer continue.”

It marked the first time double Olympic gold medal

winners battled for a world title as professionals.

Lomachenko, who won gold in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, has rocketed to the top of his weight class since turning pro in 2013, winning nine world championship fights in his first 11 contests.

Lomachenko lost his second pro fight to veteran Orlando Salido but then won a world title in his next bout by beating Gary Russell. He became a two division champion by moving up in weight in just his seventh fight to beat Roman Martinez.

“He is a technical fighter.

Very quick and very explosive,” Rigondeaux said of Lomachenko.

A product of Cuba’s storied amateur program, Rigondeaux won more than 450 amateur fights and is a two-time Olympic champion, having won gold in 2000 and 2004.

Since turning pro in 2009, his biggest fight before Saturday was a dismantling of Nonito Donaire in 2013.

His last fight, against Moises Flores, was ruled a no contest after he inadvertently landed a fight-ending punch after the bell. AFP

MVP Stanton goes to New York Yankees NEW YORK—The New York Yankees will acquire National League Most Valuable Player Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins, US media reported Saturday.

USA Today was among the outlets reporting that the teams had agreed terms for a deal, which the 28-year-old Marlins slugger must approve under the no-trade clause in his contract.

The newspaper, citing an unnamed source, said the Yankees were one of four teams Stanton was willing to be traded to.

A day earlier, the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants both said they had agreed to terms with the Marlins but Stanton declined to waive his no-trade clause and they were out of the running.

The Cardinals and Giants had both had Stanton in their sights from the time that the new Marlins ownership group, led by former Yankees great Derek Jeter, made

it known they wanted to trade Stanton in order to cut their payroll.

He is owed $295 million over the next 10 years.

Miami is set to receive Yankees infielder Starlin Castro and minor league prospects in the deal.

In Stanton, the Yankees add another power hitter to their lineup. Stanton led the major leagues in home runs this season with 59, in runsbatted-in (132), extra-base hits (91) and slugging percentage (.631). He became just the sixth player to win an MVP award while playing for a losing team.

In eight seasons with the Marlins he is a .268 hitter with 267 home runs and 672 RBIs. In New York he’ll join a lineup that already includes American League Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge, who blasted 52 home runs in the regular season to break Mark McGwire’s rookie record of 49 homers. AFP

KITEBOARDING KING. Christian Tio (center) poses with runner-up Dong Manuel (right) and third placer Abdul Maotaouakil of Morocco after claiming the men’s Freestyle crown in the fifth ICTSI Philippine Kiteboarding Tour’s first leg in Lakawon island off the coast of Cadiz Viejo, Negros Occidental recently.

Daquigan...

From A8

family for their never ending support, and my friends who comes with me to the races and cheer me on,” Daquigan said.

The year 2017 is turning out to be a banner season for Daquigan and the Mus Mini Malaysian Job x MohSpeed Racing Team. Taking his talents for the first time overseas, Daquigan earned a podium during his first Classic Mini Championship Asia debut last May, before bouncing back with a podium and a race win during his second Sepang stint in October. What followed was a guest drive at the K car Global Sepang 24H Endurance a month later, where his Team JB King Kong plaved 3rd in the M1 Class.

For Daquigan, racing helps his character.

“It makes me feel more recognized and more confident. I am able to face different kinds of people. I was able to build up connections through our business, making me feel more determined and organized,” Daquigan said. “It is a never-ending learning experience. I believe that I still need to improve my driving skills and always have seat time (number of hours) driving in the track.”

A facsimile check of P3 million for this year’s champion is shown by MMTC Chairman and President Dr. Norberto Quisumbing Jr. and PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan.

Global reaches finals vs Ceres XI THE end of the road for FC Meralco’s title dream arrived on Saturday night as Global Cebu came from behind to draw the Sparks 1-1 in the second leg of their Philippines Football League semifinal.

Coupled with Cebu’s 2-1 triumph a week earlier in the first leg, Cebu reached its first-ever PFL championship match on Dec. 16, thanks to a better 3-2 aggregate score.

The Cebuano club will square off against Ceres Negros in a one-game contest.

The Busmen’s 2-1 second-leg victory over Kaya on Saturday gave them a 3-1 aggregate win.

Curt Dizon struck for Manila in the second minute, but the visitors got the vital equalizer from Rufo Sanchez late.

The big crowd at Rizal Memorial had barely settled in their seats when Dizon controlled a Tyler Matas long throw from the left flank and artfully lobbed the ball over a static Global defense. Cebu keeper Pat Deyto got fingers to the attempt but not enough to prevent the ball from trickling into the net.

As it stood, Meralco was through to the final at this point. Although the teams were level on aggregategoals, Manila did get a tie-breaking away goal in the first leg, even though Global, the nominal away team then, actually played both games on Manila’s turf. Scheduling issues in Cebu prevented Global from hosting a semis game.

The goal woke Global up, and the visitors responded with several chances. Pika Minegishi was wide off a free kick midway through the half, and at the half hour mark Paolo Salenga shot weakly at Manila goalie Jun Badelic.

Fitness in spotlight at star-studded Golden Fiesta camp POWER couple Solenn Heussaff and Nico Bolzico of the wildly popular ‘hubby vs. wifezilla’ videos took their “feud” to the Golden Fiesta Heart Healthy Camp Celebrity Edition as they led other stars and fitness enthusiasts in trying out various fitness routines at the Bonifacio Global City recently.

The celebrities were split into two groups—Team Solenn and Team Nico—as they engaged health buffs, competed in circuit training, and sweat it out with camp participants.

The second leg of the free-admission Golden Fiesta Heart Healthy Camp was also be graced by former Philippine Azkals player Anton del Rosario and his fiancée, fashion designer royalty Sam Richelle; Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong; Mr. World Philippines 2016 Sam Ajdani; volleyball superstar Rachel Daquis; actress Maricar de Mesa; Miss World Philippines 2015 Hillarie Parungao; model-mom Angel Jones; singer-actress Ana Roces; and model June Macasaet.

Team Nico eventually emerged as winner, but Team Solenn did not give up without a fight. The celebrities tried out various workout activities like the Heart Pumps! Plyometric Box Jumps, Heart Skips! Low Hurdles, Heart Beats! Agility Ladders, Elastic Heart!

Fitness Band, Heart Swing! Kettle Bells, and Heart Waves! Battle Ropes.

Footballer and former Philippine Azkals member Anton del Rosario watches on as his fiancée Samantha Richelle tries out the Heart Waves Battle Ropes during the Golden Fiesta Heart Healthy Camp at BGC.

As early as 5 a.m., scores of young professionals who aspire to be hearthealthy trooped to the camp to interact with their celebrity fitspirations as they learned and enjoyed new fitness techniques—all for free.

Aside from joining various stations of workout activities manned by professional coaches and trainers, participants were also treated to a live

cooking demo—using heart-healthy Golden Fiesta Canola Oil—by celebrity chef and fitness buff Jose Sarasola.

The chef-actor taught participants how to prepare simple but healthy recipes at home, like Golden Fiesta Lettuce Salad with Guyabano Vinaigrette, Golden Fiesta Bangus Back Fillet and Adobo Kangkong Duo, and Golden Fiesta Japanese Chicken Katsu in Curry

Sauce. A food sampling will follow.

“It’s not every day that we get a chance to train with our celebrity idols and fitspirations, not to mention jump-starting a new fitness regimen with them—for free. This is why we are so happy that our participants took this chance to sign up for the Golden Fiesta Heart Healthy Camp,” said Carl Constantino, category marketing manager at NutriAsia.

“It is a great opportunity for you to evaluate your lifestyle and initiate positive changes, including making the right food choices. After all, it’s an event made possible by heart-healthy Golden Fiesta Canola Oil.” After the BGC leg, the Golden Fiesta Heart Healthy Camp will be held at Eton Centris Walk in Quezon City on December 3, Sunday.

The Golden Fiesta Heart Healthy Camp is coming soon to a venue near you, so don’t forget to check out Golden Fiesta’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GoldenFiestaPH/ for updates on upcoming legs.

Golden Fiesta by NutriAsia, the country’s number one cooking oil brand, is available in leading supermarkets nationwide. NutriAsia is a powerhouse of beloved, timeless, and iconic Filipino food brands that include Datu Puti, UFC, Silver Swan, Papa, Jufran, Mafran, Mang Tomas, and Golden Fiesta.

McDowell grabs share of QBE Shootout lead with 64 MIAMI—Irish golfers Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell fired an eight-under par 64 on Saturday to join Sean O’Hair and Steve Stricker atop the leaderboard at the QBE Shootout in Naples, Florida.

The only internationals in this year’s edition of the 24-player team event, Northern Ireland’s McDowell and Ireland’s Lowry opened with an eagle at Tiburon Golf Club and added six birdies in the modified alternate shot round to join overnight leaders Stricker and O’Hair on 18-under par 126.

Stricker and O’Hair combined to card a 69 in blustery, soggy weather.

Keegan Bradley and Brendan

Steele posted a 70 and were in solo third on 16-under 128.

Lexi Thompson, the only LPGA player in the field this year, and teammate Tony Finau fired a sixunder 66 to put themselves in contention three shots off the lead.

“Alternate shot is a very tough format,” Thompson said. “But I knew if I had Tony on my team and he could hit some of those tee shots out there we would be taking his ball for the most part.”

Thompson and Finau could find it tough to gain ground on Sunday, however, when the final round’s better ball format will require Thompson to play her own ball and the

men’s greater length off the tee puts her at a disadvantage.

The better ball format should suit McDowell and Lowry, who played together representing Ireland in the 2016 World Cup of Golf.

Lowry and McDowell moved up the leaderboard with their eagle three at the first hole. They added three more on the front nine before McDowell holed a 15-foot birdie putt at the 10th.

After a birdie at 13, McDowell birdied 15 after Lowry’s superb approach shot. One off the lead when their round ended, the two gained their share of the lead when Stricker and O’Hair bogeyed the 17th. 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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MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2017

James carries Cavaliers; LA wins LOS ANGELES—LeBron James posted his third triple double of the season and 58th of his career as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 105-98 on Saturday night.

James had a hand in Cleveland’s final 22 points of the game as he finished with 30 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists in 39 minutes.

James’ late-game productive streak is the most points scored or assisted on for any player this season to close out a game.

“That’s a crazy stat,” said James. “I didn’t know that, that’s for sure.

“I don’t need to score to be productive and to help win a game. I just stay with it. I was able to get to the freethrow line tonight. I was able to get some rebounds and my teammates made some huge shots for me.”

Jeff Green, Kyle Korver, and Dwyane Wade all came off the bench to score 13 points each. Jae Crowder tallied 12, including a clutch three-pointer from James with 40 seconds left for a 104-98 lead.

J.J. Redick and Robert Covington led Philadelphia with 19 points each. Covington was hurt trying to save the ball out of bounds with 68 seconds remaining and did not return.

J.R. Smith moved ahead of Kobe Bryant (1,827 threepointers) for 12th place on the NBA’s all-time threepoint list by draining two from beyond the arc Saturday for Cleveland.

Elsewhere, Lou Williams’ three-pointer was the final dagger in the Los Angeles Clippers’ wild 113-112 triumph over the Washington Wizards.

A frenetic finish saw the lead change hands three times in the final 13 seconds, but Williams had the last word with a 30-foot jump shot made over the outstretched arms of Washington’s Bradley Beal. AFP

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Dario Saric #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers won, 105-98. AFP

Angara: Government help is key in PH’s FIBA hosting

By Peter Atencio

T

HE Philippine government must do its share to ensure the success of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Senator Sonny Angara, Senate Committee on Games, Amusement and Sports Chairman, said this after learning that the Philippines, through the winning bid of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, will be one of the hosts.

Angara, who is a huge basketball fan, called on the government to go all out and “show the world not just world-class basketball skill, but also world-class Philippine hospitality.”

“We have five years to prepare.

Hopefully, by that time, train service in Metro Manila has improved, there will be less traffic, so we can encourage basketball fans from neighboring countries

to come here,” said Angara.

The 2023 FIBA World Cup will be a private undertaking, but Angara called for “government equity.”

“What government can do is to fix the roads, spruce up the city and take charge of the security,” he said stressing that the international sports event will be a great opportunity for the country in terms of tourism and showcasing Filipino hospitality.

On Saturday evening (Manila time), the Asian consortium, consisting of the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan, got the vote of the majority within the FIBA Central Board.

The three countries received

the nod for the joint hosting rights over the joint bid of Argentina and Uruguay.

“Millions of our kababayans, I am sure, are thrilled with the thought that they will be seeing the best basketball players in the world play in our very own soil,” the SBP chairman Manny Pangilinan said.

This is the second time that the country will be staging the world championships since hosting the 1978 edition.

“Under SBP and MVP’s leadership, we reached the first World Cup since 1978 in 2013 in Seville and our first win in many years against Senegal,” the senator said, adding that bringing the basketball World Cup to Manila is a “world-class coup” and “we must pull out all stops in staging an unforgettable tournament that will be watched by billions of people.”

Angara

The Philippines, Indonesia and Japan won a joint bid to host the 2023 edition of the event, marking the first time in its history that the World Cup will be held in multiple countries.

Indonesia and Japan will each host eight countries, while the Philippines will host the other 16.

The playoffs, including the semifinals and the final, will be held in the Philippines.

“We are very happy. It’s a good partnership with Philippines and Japan and we will deliver the best FIBA Basketball World Cup that we can,” said Erick Thohir, the president of the Indonesian National Olympic Committee and a member of the FIBA Central Board.

Thohir noted that the three countries “can support each other and present a vast diversity,” while also giving FIBA a massive audience of about 500 million people.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the World Cup will be “a great opportunity for a basketball-loving country like the Philippines to show the world our love for the sport and our unity as a people.”

“Together, let us make the 2023 FIBA World Cup in the Philippines a great success,” Roque said.

Higher flight schedules of Fil-Am golf tourney start today BAGUIO CITY—Competitions in the higher flights of the regular 68th Department of Tourism Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament starts today (Monday) after the ceremonial tee this afternoon at both the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay golf courses.

With more than 600 players seeing action in the second half of competition, expect Manila Southwoods to banner the three-team field Fil Championship flight with expectedly the same line up last year, led by Yuto Katsuragawa, who shot an eight under in

four-day of competition.

“Definitely we’re on,” said both co-chairs Anthony de Leon of BCC and Tim Allen of CJH. It will be a four flight schedule in the first day of competition with Flights A, B, D and E taking off. Games in Flight A are Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, while flight B sked is on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday also. Flight D games are also played on the same days as A and E games are also on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Games in the premier Championship

flights are on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, while C games are on the days.

This time, the first two rounds in the Fil division will be at CJH and the last two are at BCC, the Am games are reversed.

Last year, Southwoods romped off with the titles in the Championship flight Forest Hills and Mizuno X-1R, both challengers have won one title a piece.

Southwoods’ opponents in Am Championship are Team Time Cargo Logistics, Leeward – Fil-Am and Razons of Guagua.

Last year, the Southwoods Am team led

by veteran Junjun Plana won by a whopping 88 points. Plana has been with Southwoods since 1997.

Last week, Luisita Golf and Country Club swept the Seniors’ Championship flight by 30 and 10 points over their nearest rivals Southwoods and CJH in Fil and Am divisions, respectively.

It was a win Luisita its members will cherish since it was the first time the team played in Fil-Am after 23 years. It was also an icing of sorts after the win in the PAL Interclub earlier this year. Dexter See

Daquigan extends reign at Sepang Circuit THE Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is turning out to be Dexter Daquigan’s own, private playground.

The Filipino vintage car racing champion, who only last October ruled the Classic Mini Championship Asia, extended his dominion in the premier racing course as he once again ruled the racefest, which was one of the highlights of the Malaysia Speed Festival last weekend.

A many-time Classic Aspirated Cup Series champion

Dexter Daquigan raises his hands in triumph at the podium.

on Philippine soil, Daquigan of Mus Mini Malaysian Job/ Mohspeed Racing Team steered his #981 Mini, built by Engr. Muslim Harvin of Mus Mini Malaysian Job, to another scintillating win on Malaysian soil, proving that his previous win in the same circuit two months ago was no fluke and installing him as a certified racer to beat.

“My number one goal early in the year was to place first. I don’t think it’s all about luck, but rather, all about the hard work and dedication. These are the two reasons why I was able to achieve my goal,” said Daquigan.

Like in his October conquest, the 36-year-old Daquigan showed that preparation is the key.

Daquigan had every right to be confident after his Mini has already claimed two podiums and a race win on past occasions in Sepang, making it a good contender for the racefest, which staged its season ender.

But his racing machine was checked and double checked upon the team’s arrival at the Johor Circuit on Thursday morning, a day before its shakedown as the set up was tuned in anticipation for a wet race, where Daquigan claimed P2 with a best lap of 2:54.727.

Daquigan wasted no time taking the lead early on in Race 1 as he put the hammer down and kept his focus on every lap despite the scorching Malaysian weather, en route to a sizeable margin of over five laps to finish Class A in 1st place.

In a mixed grid of 37 cars during Race 2 later in the afternoon, Daquigan banked on a good a start to hold on to the pole, making sure to stay away out of trouble and unleashing a clean

Dexter Daquigan, aboard his Mini, drives to victory in the Classic Mini Championship Asia at the Sepang International Circuit.

race that netted him another victory against his same Race 1 rivals #766 Alvin Ong of 66 Motorsports Racing Team and # 320 Thillai of Cella Auto Garage-Malacca.

“I’ve always wanted to race in Sepang and this a dream come true. We had a bit of luck and help from good friends to be able to finish the year well, but the main highlights for me were the experience competing with other cultures, making new friends, and to drive on a MotoGP circuit. I’d like to thank my engineer Muslim Harvin of Mus Mini Malaysian Job, my whole Turn to A7

PH paddlers win 4 golds in Malaysia FILIPINO paddlers showed how tough they are in the recent 38th International Penang Dragon Boat Championships in Malaysia.

The national squad came away with four golds and three silvers in the mixed open at the end of the two-day meet last week.

Gold-medal victories came to the Philippines in the 200- and 500-meter Open Under 24 in Short Boat events .

Then, two more came in the 200- and 500-meter Mixed squads in Long Boat.

Head coach Len Escollante said in a statement sent on Facebook that the competition was hard.

The national squad encountered opposition from the Thailand National Team, China’s Under-24 squads, and clubs from Chinese Taipei and Malaysia.

She said the event served as a good international exposure for the Philippine paddlers.

The national paddlers will continue their training even during the holidays.

This will get them ready for the the Indonesia SEA Games, which is slated eight months from now. Peter Atencio

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Standard Stock mart Manila

TODAY

poised to move sideways before strong rally B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2017

B

Shell seeks partners in renewables IN BRIEF

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

Tieza wants to tax foreign visitors to PH TOURISM Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority wants to impose a levy on foreign tourists visiting the Philippines to raise funds for tourism infrastructure projects, a top official said.

Tieza chief operating officer Pocholo Joselito de Dios Paragas said the agency planned to remove the P1,620 travel tax on Filipino tourists traveling abroad and instead collect $20 in tourist development fund from foreigners visiting the Philippines.

“We submitted it to the president and they are reviewing it. We also submitted a copy of our proposal to Senate and House of the Representatives,” Paragas said.

Under its proposal, Paragas said the tourist development fund would be included in the airfare tickets, the same as in Japan and the United States. Paragas said Japan was collecting $40 in tourist development fund and while the US was charging $60.

“The tourist development fund is a fund that we get from the tourists coming in and it would be same fund that will make their next trip better,’ Paragas said.

Tieza currently collects P1,620 in travel tax from Filipinos traveling abroad. Darwin G. Amojelar

CebuPac, PAL top airlines CEBU Pacific flew the most number of domestic passengers in the first nine months of 2017, according to the Civil Aeronautics Board.

Data from CAB showed the Gokongwei-led airline carried 9.14 million domestic passengers in the first nine months, followed by PAL Express with 6.35 million and Philippine Airlines with 2.76 million.

Philippines Air Asia flew 1.44 million domestic passengers , while Cebgo carried 2.97 million domestic passengers/ Magnun Air served 841,040 domestic passengers.

AirSwift Transport Inc. and AirJuan Aviation Inc. flew 335,517 domestic passengers and 139,260 domestic passengers, respectively.

Carmelo Arcilla, executive director of CAB, said he expected the domestic air travel to grow at double digits this year and next.

“We continue to grow we are the fastest growing in Southeast Asia now, despite the infrastructure limitations. We have been double digits for many years,” he said.

Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines carried the most number of passengers with 5.15 million in Janary to September followed by Cebu Pacific with 3.53 million passengers.

Philippines Air Asia flew 984,954 international passengers in the ninemonth period. Darwin G. Amojelar

Triconti eyes more wind projects TRICONTI ECC Renewables Corp., a joint venture of local company Triconti Elements Corp. and Corporate Energy of Germany, is developing a 75-megawatt wind project in Nabas, Aklan which is expected to be completed by 2020.

Theo Sunico, Triconti ECC vice president for operations, said the company was also looking at an additional 300 MW of wind projects under development.

“Our pipeline is by 2021, we want to focus on Nabas. But then, in terms of our pipeline under development, it’s between 200 to 300 MW maybe until 2025. Those are all wind,” Sunico said.

The company owns service contracts for wind projects in Batan, Aklan; Ivisan, Capiz; Anda, Bohol; and Ubay, Bohol.

Sunico said the company had not yet signed power supply agreements with offtakers because the market was still monitoring regulatory developments.

The company decided to pursue wind projects due to the need for mid-merit load generation in the Visayas. Alena Mae S. Flores

Tax reforms to generate 500,000 jobs THE National Economic and Development Authority said about half a million jobs could be created over the next half-decade which could also lift 250,000 Filipinos out of poverty with the implementation of the administration’s comprehensive tax reform program.

Neda national policy and planning director Reynaldo Cancio said an analysis showed the bulk of the jobs to be created by tax reform would come from the construction and retail sectors.

“We say that in terms of employment, the tax reforms could generate about half a million additional jobs over the next six years. With respect to poverty, our analysis is that it could lift about 200,000 to 250,000 Filipinos out of poverty. So that’s out of the six million that’s been targeted over the next six years,” Cancio said at one of the public hearings conducted by the Senate ways and means committee chaired by Senator Juan Edgardo Angara on the first package of CTRP. The bicameral conference committee tasked to reconcile the conflicting versions of the House and Senate versions of the Train began its meeting onDec. 1. It is expected to wrap up its final report this month. Julito G. Rada

said.

CARGILL’S NEW PLANT. Cargill opens its first animal nutrition premix plant in the Philippines which it built at a cost of $12 million at First Bulacan Industrial Park in Malolos, Bulacan. Shown during the the ribbon cutting ceremony are (from left) Dr. Ma. Fe Cabullo of the Bureau of Animal Industry; Chuck Warta, president of Cargill Premix and Nutrition; Philippa Purser, group director of Cargill Provimi in Asia; Noel Kim, general manager of Cargill Provimi in the Philippines; Philip Soliven, president of Cargill in the Philippines; and Lu Yuan, managing director of Cargill Provimi in Southeast Asia.

Megaworld unit investing P8b in Caliraya project

By Jenniffer B. Austria GLOBAL-Estate Resorts Inc., a unit of property developer Megaworld Corp., is spending P8 billion to develop a 300-hectare property surrounding Lake Caliraya in Laguna province into an integrated lifestyle community.

Megaworld said unit Geri would develop The Hamptons Caliraya into a mixeduse development that includes 11-hectare lakeside

residential villages and villas with lots ranging from 500 square meters to 2,100 square meters.

A marina club will also be built to offer a wide range of water sports activities such as boating, jet ski and kayaking, a shophouse district, a resort hotel district, a town center, two 18-hole golf courses and clubhouse.

“The development’s key highlight is Lake Caliraya as the community revolves

around the lakeside concept, inspired by The Hamptons New York, which has become a major vacation spot to America’s elite society.

Aside from having an exclusive, upscale residential community, The Hamptons Caliraya is envisioned to be another tourist destination in the South,” Glenn Heraldo, vice president for sales and marketing of Megaworld Global-Estate Inc., said.

The village, which will

Coal tax to hit power customers CUSTOMERS of Manila Electric Co. will experience higher generation charges of P0.0455 per kilowatt-hour, once the government slaps a P300 excise tax on every metric ton of coal.

Meralco said in a position paper on the coal tax that any move of government toward increasing the excise tax on coal would impact significantly on electricity consumers across all sectors― residential, commercial and industrial.

“An increase in the excise tax on coal would result in higher generation charge and would impact distribution utilities depending on how much they are sourcing from coal,” Meralco’s position paper signed by first vice president Ivanna dela Pena stated.

Meralco said based on simulations, consumers of electric cooperatives that secured 100 percent from coal sources

would see a potential P0.1412 per kWh increase in their bills once the higher excise tax on coal was implemented.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi earlier warned that a higher excise tax on coal would negatively affect the Philippines’ global competitiveness ranking. “Coal tax…will make our tariff higher and make the Philippines more uncompetitive,” Cusi said.

Cusi expressed concern that the higher coal tax would push up power prices. “It’s a problem that we are facing because we all know that our tariff is one of the highest, if not the highest in Asia. With the passage of additional tax for coal, that would really have an impact,” the energy chief said earlier.

Meralco sources 31.4 percent of its generation supply to captive end-users from coal. Alena Mae S. Flores

Foodsphere sees 12% growth FOODSPHERE Inc., one of the largest food manufacturers in the country, said it expects a double-digit growth in sales this year, underpinned by robust demand for hams and cheese products during the Christmas season.

“In the midst of a challenging business environment, our company managed to grow at double digits and we expect to end 2017 with a 12-percent growth year-on-year. This is almost doubled the country’s GDP growth of about 6.8 percent,” Foodsphere president Jerome Ong said in a statement.

The 12-percent growth for the total business was driven by key product categories like hotdogs, ham, bacon, canned tuna, corned beef and cheese, he said.

Foodsphere has also expanded

its distribution network to reach more Filipino consumers nationwide.

“Over the years, we have built very good relationship with the supermarket chains, with our network of distributors, our foodservice accounts, our banking and supplier partners―all of who are instrumental in our continued growth,” Ong said.

This enabled Foodsphere to increase its market share in various segments of the meat business. “We have managed to increase market shares across our businesses despite increased competition. Our core business, which is processed meats, along with canned meats, canned tuna, sweet preserves, as well as our emerging cheese business all posted healthy revenue growth,” Ong said.

have a close access to the lake and the proposed Marina Club development, will have its own clubhouse and a private marina.

Geri said the P8-billion programmed spending for The Hamptons Caliraya would be spread over the next 10 years.

The Hamptons Caliraya will be the 23rd township and integrated lifestyle community across the country of the Megaworld group and the 6th for Geri.

HE Royal Dutch/Shell Group is in talks with potential partners for its venture into renewable energy, a top executive

Cesar Romero, Shell Companies in the Philippines president, said the group was in the process of setting up a renewable energy firm.

“Maybe, it should be ongoing by next year. We expect to have our real estate company… Because of the citizenship requirement, you need partners. When you set up a company with partners, it’s a bit tricky,” Romero said.

“Our vision is not anchored on setting up a generation facility. It’s being a renewable energy provider, which includes hybrid. It’s a blended energy provision with renewable component,” Romero said.

He said Shell would provide “a combination of hybrid” renewable energy solutions which is not limited to solar installation. “The intention is to have a very good and differentiated offer.. We won’t be traditional solar installer,” he said.

He said Shell, being a foreign company, needed a local partner. “We need a 60-percent Filipino partner…It’s challenging. Instead of us doing it on our own, you have to work with a partner, come up with a JV arrangement,” Romero said.

Romero said last year the company was in the ‘”scouting phase” for its renewable energy project in the Philippines. “But globally, we have declared that as a global priority for us,” Romero said. “[We are] scouting for RE, in general. We’re prepared to use a number of platforms depending on what maybe commercially viable opportunity. Common start is solar but then you can explore various combinations―solar, gas, hydro, usually very location-dependent. [It would be a] combination with gas, or even diesel genset, [but it] depends on what is suitable,” he said.

Shell’s business in the Philippines primarily focuses on oil and gas exploration and downstream oil industry sector. Shell has been involved in the Philippine business sector for over 100 years.

The company owns the second largest oil refinery in Batangas. Shell also operates the Malampaya deep-water-to-gas project in northwest Palawan.

“We’re considering that, either a holding company or if it can be housed somewhere. This is very much still in the early phase. It’s one of the priorities in the Royal Dutch/ Shell Group that we want,” Romero said.

He said Shell Global formed a new organization called New Energy “that demonstrates how serious we are in the area.”

CDO Funtastyk for Christmas breakfast Waking up to an early morning breeze, the sound of Christmas carols echoing from neighbor’s house, a living room full of ornaments, and a table filled with holiday treats is a picture of an ideal Filipino Christmas.

And Christmas season in this country lasts longer than you think, usually starting in September and ending in January. During this season, household kitchens tend to be busier, thanks to our mothers who exert extra effort in preparing our meals.

There is the all-time sinful crispy pata, the ageless Holiday Ham, the omniscient barbeque, roasted chicken, and many more.

Of course, mothers also want to make Christmas mornings more special by preparing their families’ favorite breakfast like Tocilog using CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino, the country’s top-selling tocino.

As what actress Maine Mendoza had put it, CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino is made of 100 percent young pork, no salitre, and no need to boil, providing convenience to more and more moms.

“In most things, wala talagang forever.

Buti pa sa tocino, meron. Aside from 100-percent young pork and no need to boil, tinatangkilik din ng marami ang CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino dahil wala itong salitre at hindi gaano lumillit kapag niluluto,” said Mendoza, who is CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino’s brand ambassadress.

“Basta tocino, forever young, forever Funtastyk lang talaga. Sobrang tender nito, hindi tulad nung kino-consume namin before na tough ang meat,” she added. “Kaya parami na ng parami ang nag switch to my favorite tocino brand!”

A recent Kantar survey showed that more and more Filipinos are using CDO Funtastyk. The brand continues to dominate the tocino market nationwide This, as moms across the country become more determined to satisfy the appetite of their families not just during breakfast but also during lunch and dinner.

“We are glad that more and more mothers from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are shifting to CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino,” Inna Ong, brand manager for CDO FYPT, said.

“Our desire to ensure consumer satisfaction is very strong. Definitely, our 100-percent young pork proposition is one strong reason why our consumers remain loyal to the brand. This is also a major reason for non-users to switch to us,” she added.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B2

Business

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

SMC Global gets SEC nod to sell P35-b bonds THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved the P35-billion bond shelf registration of SMG Global Power Holdings Inc., a unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp.

SEC commissioner Ephyro Luis Amatong said SMC Global’s bond shelf registration had an initial tranche of P20 billion to be issued in three series with tenors of five, seven and 10 years.

SMC Global has set indicative interest rates of between 5.375 percent and 5.75 percent for the fiveyear bonds, 6 percent to 6.25 percent for the sevenyear bonds and 6.375 percent to 6.625 percent for the

10-year bonds.

SMC Global plans to issue the first tranche within the third week of December this year.

The power generator plans to use net proceeds from the bond offering to refinance the short-term loans extended by BDO Unibank Inc. and Philippine National Bank amounting to ₱20 billion SMC Global has tapped BDO Capital and Investments Corp., PNBCapital and Investments Corp., Standard Chartered Bank, BPI Capital Corp., China Bank Capital Corp. and RCBC Capital Corp. as joint lead underwriters of the offering. Jenniffer B. Austria

Stock mart poised to move sideways before strong rally

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to move sideways this week as the market continues to build momentum toward the anticipated Santa Claus rally.

Analysts said discussions

by Congress’ bicameral conference committee on the government’s tax reform would continue to influence the market this week.

“We expect further developments in the bicameral conference committee on the tax reform bill to move the market, particularly stocks and sectors directly

affected by yet-unresolved differences in proposed tax rates,” RCBC Securities research analyst Jeffrey Lucero said.

BDO Unibank chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said the market could test 8,400 and 8,500 points before the end of the year.

“Chartwise, the week’s

close at 8,304.70 highlights some buying support emerged near the 8,050/8,100 levels. With the market closing above the 8,300 levels, the market is poised to try the 8,400/8,500 levels,” Ravelas said.

The PSEi last week jumped 1.97 percent to 8,304.70 after the previous week’s decline on bargain hunting and renewed optimism with the pending passage of the tax reform program of the government.

The broader All Shares Index advanced 1.53 percent to 4,858.86.

All sub-indices ended in the green led by industrial, which rose 3.52 percent, holding firms which climbed 1.78 percent, financial which gained 1.64 percent, and property which increased 1.55 percent.

Mining and oil also rose 0.8 percent while services climbed 0.5 percent.

Foreign investors, however, were net sellers for the week by P1.68 billion, while the average daily value fell to P6.9 billion from the previous week’s average of P10.9 billion.

Weekly top price gainers

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

DECEMBER 4-9, 2017 Close Volume

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

3.2 59.8 148.00 103.50 33.1 3.89 2.14 9.06 15.1 33.7 7.73 0.65 1.7 975.00 0.570 96.15 0.83 11.86 25.00 55.10 87.5 100 239.8 54.5 250 1875.00 86.95 1.25

852,000 82,120 10,784,430 8,947,360 1,129,400 73,000 3,049,000 200 4,222,600 3,580,900 2,100 9,000 21,000 280 2,208,000 15,127,000 1,888,000 13,000 54,900 525,510 16,280 1,320 12,090 5,184,690 3,724,150 95 296,690 1,051,000

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp.

Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ MG Holdings Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Phil H2O Pilipinas Shell Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

38.6 12.5 0.68 1.34 16.88 0.223 105 19.20 4.56 16.04 152 68 42.1 64 1.92 5.4 11.28 11.480 14.9 7.24 5.77 11.40 1.59 17.3 62 25.50 11.40 18.04 2.310 248.80 60.00 4.37 3.17 21.00 28.9 17.86 17 323.40 0.197 8.39 2.4 9.50 6.04 7.78 60.5 8.74 1.57 12.00 6.62 4.99 2.06 4.7 563 2.15 13 5.55 0.134 1.17 144 3.19 1.93 24.05 0.75

8,827,400 7,277,800 3,593,000 3,505,000 15,900 20,260,000 230 52,500 83,522,000 2,905,500 80 2,070 2,751,200 406,660 949,000 170,400 40,700 34,932,400 4,368,500 1,463,600 30,370,000 4,697,100 176,000 2,356,300 294,700 1,627,900 102,600 11,178,000 26,511,000 2,120,410 2,790 777,000 173,000 6,100 4,664,100 978,600 9,194,400 4,622,930 4,960,000 119,600 1,047,000 9,884,400 803,600 1,244,100 3,486,550 232,900 4,227,000 1,425,300 165,900 598,000 21,000 80,000 202,210 3,839,000 1,865,400 1,515,200 1,360,000 998,000 6,777,600 34,000 16,593,000 2,100 8,017,000

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ BHI Holdings Inc. Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ F&J Prince ‘B’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Transgrid Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.305 70.90 15.72 0.99 6.93 0.375 0.370 1030 1486.00 7.42 14.32 5 5 7.80 0.184 1175 7.45 69.00 4.76 5.5 5.7 5.69 0.62 19 6.4 3.79 0.0450 1.100 2.060 2.60 109.90 2.66 980.50 1.94 0.79 183.10 284.600 0.2300 0.1800 0.198

6,790,000 3,829,150 31,490,100 191,000 52,500 5,690,000 2,170,000 1,308,570 5 8,125,800 30,490,600 190,000 1,700 45,800 380,000 585,695 13,800 6,784,600 2,700 22,700 2,600 2,741,500 1,891,000 9,196,800 83,503,200 1,276,000 86,900,000 658,000 1,009,000 2,000 922,650 270,000 2,192,820 65,221,000 154,000 100 42,200 510,000 500,000 620,000

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings CEB Landmasters Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’

5.690 10.74 1.04 2.320 0.890 43.000 3.66 5.44 4.75 0.475 1.12 1.180 0.211 0.450 38.45 0.650 0.140 1.39 1.80 0.75

1,999,000 38,400 25,606,000 575,000 9,827,000 36,029,000 2,447,000 321,400 4,524,000 15,500,000 214,000 1,210,000 44,760,000 2,830,000 750,900 11,490,000 140,000 56,174,000 49,713,000 2,872,000

Value FINANCIAL 2,797,520.00 4,859,310.50 1,567,573,713.00 908,768,984.50 37,552,185.00 274,340.00 6,327,820.00 1,812.00 63,377,790.00 119,891,440.00 16,236.00 5,850.00 35,150.00 268,995.00 1,234,280.00 1,412,717,440.50 1,562,870.00 154,570.00 1,345,935.00 29,054,425.00 1,422,059.50 127,445.00 2,870,200.00 288,182,978.50 898,780,912.00 178,375.00 25,809,058.50 1,314,210.00 INDUSTRIAL 341,017,130.00 90,238,970.00 2,441,460.00 4,734,540.00 267,548.00 4,542,850.00 23,550.00 1,041,040.00 394,829,800.00 46,155,850.00 12,160.00 136,713.00 114,970,895.00 25,225,213.50 1,813,260.00 906,479.00 457,424.00 393,989,104.00 64,834,526.00 10,628,171.00 170,943,974.00 52,077,344.00 282,510.00 40,456,362.00 18,467,329.50 39,613,595.00 1,175,558.00 197,075,588.00 57,628,550.00 518,734,834.00 164,932.50 3,328,350.00 536,610.00 122,458.00 133,466,275.00 13,420,094.00 156,241,326.00 1,439,396,388.00 943,360.00 968,470.00 2,549,350.00 92,868,482.00 4,873,722.00 9,733,438.00 210,546,550.50 2,070,592.00 6,573,470.00 16,682,074.00 1,079,281.00 2,912,560.00 45,570.00 355,290.00 109,615,309.00 8,266,550.00 24,156,470.00 8,283,595.00 182,820.00 1,191,680.00 930,003,562.00 106,540.00 31,833,680.00 50,600.00 5,771,280.00 HOLDING FIRMS 2,083,600.00 261,993,786.50 493,704,868.00 179,380.00 364,999.00 2,106,450.00 817,350.00 1,311,869,850.00 7,430.00 60,369,748.00 435,030,336.00 950,530.00 8,500.00 358,458.00 69,780.00 669,731,420.00 102,457.00 459,229,864.00 13,249.00 123,826.00 14,610.00 15,458,279.00 1,152,020.00 138,722,312.00 536,195,497.00 4,827,060.00 3,877,100.00 718,010.00 2,076,580.00 5,200.00 100,639,363.00 731,800.00 2,112,522,640.00 128,537,380.00 122,460.00 18,310.00 11,933,076.00 122,680.00 90,230.00 123,490.00 PROPERTY 11,333,070.00 411,456.00 25,593,410.00 1,339,770.00 8,564,570.00 1,527,068,850.00 8,914,250.00 1,734,033.00 21,391,710.00 7,226,900.00 240,750.00 1,402,370.00 9,198,050.00 1,277,950.00 28,244,445.00 7,523,120.00 19,650.00 75,781,210.00 88,630,770.00 2,030,680.00

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 1, 2017 Close Volume Value 3.48 59 147.00 100.20 33.35 3.90 2.20

1,972,000 65,370 11,504,080 9,403,940 430,900 161,000 27,097,000

7,320,840.00 3,875,865.50 1,679,759,520.00 959,041,453.00 14,370,240.00 627,780.00 64,250,640.00

15.3 32.95 7.73 0.65 1.65 955.00 0.570 92.9 0.82 12.1 25.10 56.50 87.35 100 240 55.15 247 1841.00 87.00 1.24

164,400 10,751,300 4,900 147,000 4,000 560 7,143,000 11,701,390 1,914,000 119,800 854,100 636,900 9,510 1,430 7,230 3,435,450 1,913,930 995 263,620 895,000

2,549,718.00 365,554,715.00 37,877.00 95,670.00 6,840.00 532,050.00 4,070,370.00 1,111,566,729.50 1,558,580.00 1,443,898.00 20,945,090.00 36,200,983.50 849,393.50 141,675.00 1,732,446.00 37,383,760,633.00 478,165,046.00 1,845,910.00 22,939,125.50 1,119,680.00

38.5 12.52 0.71 1.37 16.98 0.216 113.7 20.10 4.31 15.36 160 61.05 42.1 62 1.93 5.36 11.04 11.140 14.8 7.35 5.46 11.18 1.61 17 61.1 23.15 11.48 18.9 2.040 245.40 58.50 4.08 3.13 21.50 28.25 17.92 17.18 305.40 0.195 8.39 2.4 9.60 5.92 7.74 58.55 9.48 1.55 11.68 6.83 4.90

13,345,300 5,272,300 1,216,000 6,884,000 84,000 5,340,000 200 18,700 76,563,000 5,358,500 160 5,320 3,095,300 89,410 3,985,000 125,500 3,882,600 30,987,500 1,099,100 1,529,200 54,034,400 1,480,500 5,000 6,107,000 414,500 1,053,100 90,900 4,070,800 80,640,000 6,780,570 380 425,000 226,000 15,000 6,743,900 1,090,800 15,664,600 24,468,680 3,050,000 207,900 11,847,000 15,046,900 515,400 3,548,100 675,510 49,800 2,068,000 1,074,000 10,300 1,108,500

525,438,625.00 64,958,112.00 855,300.00 9,292,170.00 1,407,456.00 1,163,630.00 22,775.00 384,883.00 334,627,030.00 82,328,076.00 24,820.00 325,834.50 129,107,570.00 5,721,114.00 8,008,660.00 681,385.00 41,653,094.00 339,339,320.00 16,219,692.00 11,194,433.00 303,820,331.00 16,391,204.00 8,050.00 104,481,712.00 25,495,944.00 24,780,975.00 1,059,098.00 77,689,844.00 188,306,490.00 1,670,689,482.00 22,367.50 1,718,080.00 764,210.00 311,685.00 190,672,840.00 19,626,730.00 274,703,192.00 7,700,459,296.00 599,560.00 1,756,743.00 28,956,630.00 141,382,590.00 3,114,887.00 27,581,501.00 39,345,381.00 463,154.00 3,215,890.00 12,793,834.00 68,015.00 5,372,293.00

4.41 500 2.12 12.9 5.41 0.135 1.17 132 3.15 1.97 25.00 0.63

404,000 145,920 8,946,000 2,063,200 10,958,300 2,040,000 604,000 7,082,940 21,000 31,336,000 1,800 3,471,000

1,833,380.00 76,128,345.00 17,277,450.00 26,500,430.00 66,401,206.00 277,910.00 702,600.00 947,625,735.00 66,230.00 62,281,130.00 45,065.00 2,232,490.00

0.325 68.30 15.74 0.97 7.01 0.380 0.390 1006 1490.00 7.45 14.50 5.1

1,790,000 8,782,640 20,420,700 11,000 114,500 25,350,000 3,070,000 1,126,665 30 13,145,900 29,254,600 4,800

564,100.00 132,880,518,018.50 318,467,710.00 10,910.00 802,251.00 9,573,050.00 1,159,000.00 1,144,818,825.00 44,700.00 97,948,722.00 429,712,706.00 24,480.00

7.90 0.185 1134 7.90 67.05 5.24 5.45

407,800 310,000 704,675 148,600 10,530,260 11,900 1,600

3,222,230.00 57,480.00 816,605,965.00 1,119,916.00 725,374,158.00 61,184.00 8,759.00

5.55 0.62 19.42 6.5 3.4 0.0460 1.210 2.050 2.60 110.00 2.69 963.00 1.74 0.80 183.10 286.000 0.2290 0.1820 0.185

3,410,200 3,348,000 9,688,900 74,041,000 91,000 40,800,000 3,413,000 3,562,000 2,000 1,939,330 1,032,000 1,516,340 49,102,000 116,000 120 14,580 370,000 1,190,000 790,000

19,161,980.00 2,065,920.00 187,219,122.00 486,455,647.00 313,700.00 1,890,300.00 4,196,910.00 7,333,720.00 5,200.00 216,443,806.00 2,938,300.00 1,466,754,160.00 90,078,420.00 92,800.00 22,662.00 4,120,202.00 85,010.00 214,980.00 148,440.00

5.550 10.98 1.02 2.350 0.890 42.200 3.66 5.44 4.85 0.465 1.15 1.170 0.208 0.470 37 0.670 0.144 1.39 1.80 0.74

1,585,300 8,500 34,756,000 185,000 12,382,000 48,998,400 6,247,000 92,800 9,585,000 73,410,000 132,000 359,000 104,770,000 4,410,000 1,692,000 945,000 420,000 64,426,000 27,571,000 3,009,000

8,713,393.00 88,720.00 34,227,470.00 434,970.00 11,102,520.00 2,107,547,200.00 22,631,430.00 502,196.00 45,998,300.00 34,473,750.00 147,440.00 421,430.00 22,653,520.00 2,044,500.00 63,120,150.00 627,090.00 57,190.00 92,536,910.00 49,209,920.00 2,262,700.00

STOCKS

DECEMBER 4-9, 2017 Close Volume

Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

5.2 0.365 0.3800 0.610 6.32 22.20 2.65 3.19 36.50 1.03 7.48 0.870 5.650

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Chelsea Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

18.36 34.5 1.45 0.475 0.045 11.5 5.03 10.50 0.0730 100.5 8.8 8.68 2.79 7.14 3.45 1000 1760 5.80 18.14 11.00 4.67 104.5 2.48 12.3 8.36 0.143 1.3400 3.07 15.2 4.40 1.21 21.35 15.90 0.520 6.49 7.3 3.90 2.830 11 4.81 3 8 137.20 8.33 1515.00 0.345 1.290 49.30 92.85 6.00 3.02 1.730 1.85 4.1 1.070 8.190

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Phinma Petro Semirara Corp.

United Paragon

0.0023 1.62 4.65 14.90 1.6900 1.7100 1.64 0.325 7.30 2.590 0.235 0.151 0.151 0.010 0.0099 1.7 6.22 1.51 0.4400 0.9000 0.0130 0.0120 5.80 8.52 0.0120 2.0600 36.95 0.0060

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ Alco Preferred B DD PREF First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I

34.25 524 530 107.8 105 106 116 522 5.42 1020 1018 100.2 1.09 106.3 1050 1174 1002 103 77.3 82.5 76.25 78.15 81.05 79 78.1 80.1

LR Warrant

2.850

Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Philab Holdings Xurpas EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS First Metro ETF

2.88 10.12 3.22 3.75 125.8

USD DMPL A1

10

NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 1, 2017 Close Volume Value

Value

163,772,200 403,970,000 16,730,000 90,412,000 13,914,500 6,832,200 31,546,000 549,000 76,651,300 2,043,000 4,200 768,000 34,964,000

843,328,747.00 145,736,650.00 6,293,400.00 54,332,640.00 87,743,217.00 150,180,115.00 76,390,780.00 1,744,940.00 2,769,213,575.00 2,080,210.00 31,183.00 642,080.00 169,780,142.00 SERVICES 379,400 6,688,942.00 243,600 8,508,630.00 374,000 530,720.00 980,000 468,850.00 87,400,000 3,927,200.00 141,800 1,620,716.00 8,027,000 40,370,030.00 43,943,200 459,316,600.00 140,380,000 9,899,670.00 651,570 64,937,542.00 29,900 263,217.00 8,473,300 71,923,741.00 446,000 1,227,560.00 110,500 780,460.00 184,000 682,390.00 55 55,000.00 202,595 359,276,100.00 1,392,800 8,077,846.00 45,800 829,410.00 28,100 308,416.00 107,975,000 509,860,280.00 3,433,160 356,798,982.00 57,000 137,740.00 72,400 870,780.00 1,789,500 14,945,529.00 4,510,000 638,830.00 1,178,000 1,582,770.00 223,000 679,750.00 7,900 122,840.00 34,242,000 143,382,750.00 1,336,000 1,610,000.00 16,491,300 342,300,085.00 21,100 320,338.00 663,000 345,220.00 37,871,600 189,571,797.00 24,011,600 175,584,601.00 2,176,000 8,488,930.00 22,989,000 65,094,840.00 38,300 421,598.00 58,400 285,336.00 2,000 6,000.00 100 800.00 18,600 2,584,076.00 7,119,300 62,380,699.00 663,635 993,092,275.00 1,510,000 515,150.00 6,725,000 8,734,270.00 13,226,500 639,775,530.00 6,305,190 575,717,428.50 279,500 1,645,113.00 6,811,000 21,160,200.00 38,602,000 66,029,190.00 6,000 11,300.00 11,166,000 45,311,280.00 40,208,000 41,519,270.00 9,730,800 80,407,410.00 MINING & OIL 739,000,000 1,701,200.00 19,821,000 32,044,090.00 847,000 3,973,810.00 13,800 206,110.00 10,000 17,070.00 211,000 361,460.00 95,498,000 162,929,000.00 3,060,000 974,500.00 26,900 194,525.00 9,524,000 25,030,280.00 400,000 90,110.00 15,080,000 2,282,070.00 14,310,000 2,155,060.00 37,600,000 374,950.00 228,400,000 2,283,470.00 609,000 1,024,620.00 7,626,500 46,267,166.00 290,000 426,870.00 1,220,000 538,600.00 1,215,000 1,059,390.00 36,500,000 438,700.00 209,000,000 2,913,200.00 2,127,700 12,649,497.00 40,599,900 361,484,014.00 125,100,000 1,436,600.00 65,000 134,170.00 20,473,800 754,995,895.00 4,000,000 27,000.00 PREFERRED 3,226,300 110,824,310.00 700 366,800.00 60 31,715.00 20,070 2,164,668.00 851,280 89,303,118.00 22,150 2,298,516.00 34,400 3,978,224.00 5,210 2,717,065.00 4,208,000 22,712,066.00 8,490 8,644,085.00 1,750 1,796,710.00 130,810 13,202,698.00 7,493,000 8,242,970.00 500 53,150.00 50 52,500.00 30 35,220.00 460 461,105.00 1,290 132,875.00 1,980 153,024.00 26,900 2,189,675.00 85,600 6,542,000.00 27,870 2,178,390.50 46,600 3,785,115.00 1,600 126,110.00 493,040 39,033,870.00 163,570 13,101,957.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 11,132,000 29,852,890.00 SME 422,000 1,219,550.00 9,507,900 96,543,173.00 480,000 1,503,240.00 17,969,000 62,712,710.00 106,450 13,179,023.00 DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 11,000 110,060.00

5.19 0.355 0.3700 0.570 6.66 21.95 2.17 3.18 35.80 1.02 7.48 0.840 5.910

131,483,300 1,074,540,000 49,830,000 55,909,000 14,741,800 14,780,800 47,461,000 2,364,000 41,765,600 3,907,000 32,000 74,000 16,729,100

699,356,855.00 441,075,250.00 19,783,350.00 31,852,350.00 94,924,886.00 326,127,545.00 110,540,770.00 7,575,520.00 1,506,606,520.00 3,972,060.00 210,409.00 62,250.00 99,936,611.00

16.4 35 1.4 0.465 0.046 11.2 4.95 10.50 0.0720 100.3 8.98 8.74 2.6 7.06

141,600 306,000 1,472,000 3,270,000 244,500,000 5,000 3,000 34,551,100 182,610,000 808,000 3,200 10,218,000 1,225,000 237,400

2,367,620.00 10,822,415.00 2,135,860.00 1,532,950.00 11,455,200.00 57,122.00 15,130.00 360,704,792.00 13,926,870.00 80,788,164.50 28,606.00 90,363,164.00 3,576,510.00 1,647,515.00

1000 1796 5.78 18.12 11.00 4.34 106.5 2.39 12 8.36 0.142 1.3600 3.17 15 3.59 1.19 21.05 15.80 0.520 4.21 7.37 3.90 2.870 11.1 4.90 3.03 7.7 145.00 8.98 1464.00 0.345 1.300 48.00 96.95 5.80 3.32 1.680 1.91 3.87 1.010 8.330

270 555,410 905,700 42,600 2,900 168,534,000 4,226,630 49,000 556,600 1,338,200 8,230,000 871,000 144,000 36,700 3,613,000 3,225,000 8,046,100 1,600 1,261,000 16,641,000 62,999,600 2,768,000 46,398,000 1,200 11,000 10,000 1,800 25,790 7,147,800 716,770 1,550,000 12,271,000 11,704,000 1,235,580 708,100 5,995,000 48,348,000 18,000 5,040,000 122,721,000 21,555,100

259,600.00 996,212,230.00 5,267,486.00 752,078.00 32,004.00 724,779,230.00 448,689,331.00 113,740.00 6,696,540.00 11,182,935.00 1,183,840.00 1,181,400.00 443,730.00 552,852.00 13,277,380.00 3,883,450.00 173,492,570.00 25,450.00 706,200.00 67,079,820.00 457,453,451.00 10,777,400.00 141,474,600.00 13,320.00 54,350.00 30,300.00 13,871.00 3,800,825.00 64,151,045.00 1,077,359,015.00 517,350.00 16,018,430.00 570,728,170.00 118,366,494.00 4,174,471.00 19,225,280.00 83,413,070.00 34,420.00 19,535,700.00 130,259,890.00 178,789,442.00

0.0023 1.67 4.85 15.00 1.7000 1.6500 1.62 0.300 7.37 2.800 0.235 0.152 0.151 0.011 0.0100 1.72 6.13 1.5 0.4500 0.8600 0.0120 0.0130 5.85 9.70 0.0110 2.1000 35.40 0.0070

279,000,000 17,843,000 1,601,100 12,400 185,000 199,000 11,544,000 5,880,000 54,100 34,818,000 2,850,000 20,390,000 53,690,000 71,400,000 6,200,000 2,710,000 17,715,800 139,000 670,000 3,744,000 45,900,000 857,500,000 4,352,000 44,452,500 404,900,000 151,000 11,917,400 19,000,000

641,900.00 29,713,710.00 7,849,119.00 175,480.00 314,640.00 344,310.00 18,592,840.00 1,877,450.00 384,966.00 54,883,490.00 633,500.00 3,071,040.00 8,087,050.00 719,100.00 65,000.00 4,654,090.00 110,345,309.00 207,920.00 302,800.00 3,243,550.00 551,000.00 11,583,100.00 27,049,894.00 470,555,354.00 4,661,600.00 307,890.00 427,086,095.00 133,000.00

34.75 522.5 531 108 105.5 110 115.7 521.5 5.4 1040 1030 100 1.08 106.3 1049

1,345,000 20,000 1,690 20,850 22,690 100 55,420 12,400 818,100 9,715 12,000 208,550 111,000 7,950 5,000

46,681,900.00 10,450,000.00 887,300.00 2,255,803.00 2,405,085.00 11,000.00 6,406,560.00 6,525,400.00 4,436,383.00 9,822,170.00 12,300,750.00 21,146,980.00 119,880.00 859,531.00 5,249,500.00

1005 103.7 77.5 81.25 77 79 81 79 78.4 80.1

6,600 36,130 4,470 55,330 30,040 20,000 132,290 101,210 100,050 132,100

6,617,940.00 3,725,290.00 344,658.00 4,496,183.50 2,313,080.00 1,580,000.00 10,564,135.00 7,921,277.50 7,912,795.00 10,591,260.00

2.270

1,550,000

3,550,670.00

2.9 10.88 3.24 3.51

1,000 5,102,500 467,000 16,695,000

2,900.00 57,885,188.00 1,515,780.00 61,465,180.00

124.7

113,890

14,230,606.00

10

3,500

35,000.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining MRC Allied Ind. Manila Mining `B’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Megaworld Boulevard Holdings Philodrill Corp. `A’ Harbor Star Century Peak Metals Hldgs Phil. Realty `A’

VOLUME 739,000,000 403,970,000 228,400,000 209,000,000 163,772,200 140,380,000 125,100,000 107,975,000 95,498,000 90,412,000

STOCKS SM Prime Holdings SM Investments Inc. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Ayala Land `B’ Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Metrobank Ayala Corp `A’ PLDT Common Universal Robina Bank of PI

VALUE 2,769,213,575.00 2,112,522,640.00 1,567,573,713.00 1,527,068,850.00 1,439,396,388.00 1,412,717,440.50 1,311,869,850.00 993,092,275.00 930,003,562.00 908,768,984.50

were San Miguel Pure Foods Co. Inc., which rose 12.6 percent to P563; Universal Robina Corp., which advanced 9.1 percent to P144, and Energy Development Corp., which gained 5.6 percent to P5.77.

Weekly top price losers were Philweb Corp., which declined 7.2 percent to P8.33; Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc., which dipped 4.4 percent to P5.65; and Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp., which lost 4.1 percent to P4.65.

Meanwhile, global stocks rocketed higher Friday, with Wall Street indices ending at fresh records, following strong US jobs data and a breakthrough in Brexit talks between Britain and the European Union.

Investors greeted an unusual confluence of positive trading catalysts that also included strong economic data out of China and Japan.

“From a macro standpoint, today has produced a lot to chew on, and thus far, the stock market isn’t choking on any of it,” said Briefing. com analyst Patrick O’Hare in a note.

“On the contrary, the news has gone down smoothly, leading to a positive bias in the futures trade.”

US stocks were in positive territory the entire session after the Labor Department reported the US economy added 228,000 jobs last month and unemployment held steady at a low 4.1 percent.

Del Monte raises $100m from sale of shares DEL Monte Pacific Ltd. has successfully raised $100 million from the sale of dollardenominated preferred shares, the underwriter handling the transaction said Friday.

BDO Capital and Investments Corp. president Eduardo Francisco said in an interview Del Monte raised $100 million at the end of the offering period Friday.

The sale represents second tranche of the issue.

“We are happy that we were able to raise $100 million from the offering which was widely distributed,” Francisco said.

He said the company might issue the balance of $60 million worth of preferred shares next year.

The shares offering, which offered a dividend rate of 6.5 percent a year, coincided with another dollar-denominated preferred offering of Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp., which generated $67 million out of the $140 million it planned to raise.

Del Monte’s preferred shares offered a step-up feature in which the dividend rate will be adjusted to the sum of the 10-year US Treasury Bond rate plus an initial spread plus margin of 2.5 percent per annum for those not redeemed by the company on the fifth year, There is no adjustment on the dividend rate, however, if it is higher than the applicable step-up rate. The preferred shares will be listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange on Dec. 15.

Del Monte last week raid it swung back to a net loss in the three months ending October 2017 due to lower sales recorded by its unit in the United States.

Del Monte posted a net loss of $2.8 million from a net profit of $19.97 million in the same period last year.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Business CRYSTAL ANNE J. FRANCISCO

GREEN LIGHT

IT WAS July in Seoul, mid-Korean monsoon. Seoul was hilly, or maybe I was just used to the flatness of Manila. It was raining HARD. And by hard, I mean the streets were flooded by a good two or three inches (albeit unlike Manila, where you run the risk of leptospirosis; in Seoul, the flood waters were clear). Water rushed down the hill of Chung-Ang University, where our debate competition was being held, and the rain just would not let up. It was eight o’clock in the morning, and already, my flimsy sandal had broken, the glue holding it together having long melted away from having been soaked in the flood.

My umbrella had overturned. I was soaked. And we still had a debate competition to get to.

I had one teammate with me; the rest were already inside, having taken a different taxi to the university. At that point, all we could think about was getting inside the university. At that point, it was useless to think about how we looked or where we were going to get dry clothes. We just had to arrive at the auditorium in fifteen minutes, before the first

Soaked in Seoul (or why we must keep the Lower Lights burning) round. And so, we ran across the campus of Chung-Ang University. Barefoot. Wet. In the middle of a Korean monsoon.

After we had run for a good five minutes, two Korean women, both under one umbrella, stepped out of a building and stopped us in our tracks. Our instinct was to apologize. We didn’t know if we were allowed to run around campus, or if we had done something illegal like jaywalking. We didn’t understand any of the signs, nor were we familiar with the campus. “Sorry, sorry. We didn’t know. Sorry. We have a competition to get to.” The ladies shook their heads. One of them reached into her big shopping bag and pulled out… an umbrella. She shoved the umbrella in my arms.

My eyes went wide. For us? But they didn’t know us. And they couldn’t share one umbrella with their huge shopping bags in tow!

I knew because my teammate and I had just tried that a few minutes ago, and look where it had gotten us. We told her, “We won’t ever see you again. We can’t give this back.” They shook their heads.

The lady who had given us her

With Metrobank Foundation President Chito Sobrepeña, CATS Motors chairman Felix Ang, former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa , U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim, former Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima

SEMPER FI “From the Halls of Montezuma To the Shores of Tripoli; We fight our country’s battles In the air, on land and sea…”

MANY of those from my generation would be familiar with the Hymn of the United States Marine Corps. It was one of those songs that we learned in school, together with the Battle Hymn of the Republic and Yankee Doodle, to name a few. Owe it to our American colonial past, perhaps, though the US Marine Corps had been a long-time friend of the Filipino people, especially during World War II where it saw action in these islands between 1942-1945.

Semper Fidelis, or its shortened version, Semper Fi. Latin for “Always Faithful” or “Always Loyal”. It has been the motto of the US Marine Corps since 1883.

Recently, I was invited by my good friend, the US Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Sung Y. Kim, on behalf of the Marine Security Guard Detachment—Manila, to the 242nd Marine Corps Birthday Ball at the Okada Manila.

The good Ambassador was, of course, the Guest of Honor. The Guest Speaker for the occasion was Lieutenant General David S. Berger, Commander of the US Marine Corps Forces in the Pacific, a post he assumed in August 2016.

The event itself very much exemplified the Marine Corp way of life: disciplined; structured; regimental. The lightness and informality of the cocktail hour preceded the rather somber and rigid ceremony of the Ball.

As is the case with military affairs such as this, there was an Adjutant’s Call, then a March of the Guest of Honor and Guest Speaker together with Ruffles and Flourishes, and the March and Posting of Colors.

Then the reading of John A. Lejeune’s message. Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune was the 13th Commandant of the US Marine Corps.

On 01 November 1921, then-Major General Lejeune issued an order that in the annual celebration of the birthday of the US Marine Corp on 10 November 1921, and for every annual celebration thereafter, a message that he had written be read. This came to be known as the US Marine Corp birthday message.

Aside from this traditional message, there was also the reading of the birthday message of the current Commandant of the US Marine Corp, General Robert B. Neller.

Of course, as is also the case, no military celebration is complete, amidst the pomp and pageantry, without exquisite dining and much dancing. Who says that soldiers only know how to march? By golly, some of those mean terpsichorean I see on the floor belonged to the men in uniform.

To the US Marine Corp, I can only say: “Here’s health to you and to (y)our Corps which (you) are proud to serve; in many a strife (you’ve) fought for life and never lost (y)our nerve!”

Oorah!

With Chito Sobrepeña, Felix Ang, former DTI Secretary Greg Domingo, Gilbert Teodoro, Cesar Purisima

With Cesar Purisima , Kingdom of Thailand Amb. Thanatip Upatising, Greg Domingo, Felix Ang , and Chito Sobrepeña

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Connie Toledo, Weng Domingo, Corrie Purisima , Grace Ang , with PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa

umbrella patted our shoulders as if to say, “It’s okay. You can have it.” And without any other word, they walked away, down the hilly Chung-Ang University, trying desperately to fit themselves under one umbrella, which would not have happened had they each still had their own.

My teammate and I stared at the umbrella for a few seconds before remembering to open it.

We walked quietly the rest of the way to the auditorium.

I’ve thought about this memory many times over the past few years. These women had not known us from Eve, and they would never see us again. I know, I know. It was just an umbrella. It was an easy thing to give up. But to take the time to step out into the rain and offer their umbrella to people they didn’t know, to have the heart to assure them that it would be alright, and to walk away from them without any expectation... these were lessons I had to learn.

Catholic Social Teaching emphasizes the importance of community, and of giving ourselves up for the common good so that all may rise together. In Matthew 22:35-40, the scribes asked Jesus for his counsel. “Then one

of them, who was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Because each of us is made in the image and likeness of God, to love our neighbor is to love God. As such, it is our duty to lift the needy, the vulnerable, and the weak in the best way we can.

A few years after our debate competition in Korea, I was caught in a storm in Bonifacio Global City. Thankfully though, after my experience in Seoul, I had developed the habit of bringing an umbrella. I had bought a sturdy but compact one that I keep in my bag. It just so happened that on that day, I had bought toiletries and had received a free umbrella in return. Thus, I had two umbrellas with me. As I was waiting to get fetched, I noticed to my right a family with about four senior citizens. They

had parked their car in a parking building, but could not cross the street to get to it because of the heavy rain.

The family, especially the older members, were visibly tired from walking around. They had one umbrella among themselves. In a heartbeat, I gave them my other umbrella. They looked at me funny and told me the same thing my teammate and I had told the women in Seoul: “We’re never going to see you again. How are we giving this back?” “You can have it,” I told them. “Don’t worry about it.”

They thanked me and went on their way. A security guard who had seen the exchange asked me why I had been so willing to give my umbrella to people I did not know. I told him that once upon a time, somebody had done the same thing for me.

We have been called to serve others because, in helping others, we are able to give our best to God. One of my favorite songs is entitled “Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy.” The story behind the song is as follows: In the olden days, sailors used the stars to navigate their way through the seas at night. They called the stars the Upper Lights,

gifts from God. The lights along the shore, especially those from lighthouses, they called the Lower Lights. One stormy night, a ship that had sailed in rough weather was finally close to port and about to enter the channel.

But because the sailors could not see the stars, they searched for the light from the lighthouse to guide them in entering the channel. But they could not see the light from the lighthouse and missed the channel because the lighthouse keeper had forgotten to keep the light burning. The ship sailed on for some more weeks in rough seas before it was able to return to shore.

The lesson of the story is this: God gives us the Upper Lights to guide our way. But we as Lower Lights must burn so that we may help guide the way of others.

Crystal Anne J. Francisco is an MBA student of De La Salle University. She posted this reflection on her blog as part of the requirements for her subject, Lasallian Business Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Social Responsibility. crystal_anne_francisco@dlsu. edu.ph

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

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monday, december 11, 2017

LocaL government units

REGATTA. Pagsanjan Mayor Maita Ejercito (center, inset) and former Laguna governor Jeorge ER Ejercito (right) shout ‘Bomba!’ to kick off the 349th Pagsanjan Foundation Day and the Pagsanjan Lagaslas Bangkero Festival 2017, which featured a Regatta and Fluvial Parade Competition using ‘Bayubo’ river floats on Sunday. Also in inset photo is Municipal Administrator Florante Salvador. Roy Tomandao

Munti prepares for 100th year as municipality THIS year’s Christmas is going to be extra special for Muntinlupa residents as they celebrate their 100th founding anniversary of becoming an independent municipality.

Muntinlupa city government, through the Muntinlupa Centennial Commission, has lined up activities to commemorate the historical local milestone.

Public Information Officer Tez Navarro said there will be a launching event of the Muntinlupa’s Coffee Table Book on December 15 at the City Hall’s Quadrangle, Putatan. The Coffee Table Book will feature the city’s rich culture and history.

Navarro added that all of the nine barangays will also be organizing a simultaneous “Grand Salubong” on midnight of December 19, Muntinlupa’s founding anniversary date.

All of the barangays in Muntinlupa is set to conduct a fireworks display in the “Grand Salubong.” Brgy. Ayala Alabang slated a Battle of the Bands competition in Alabang Town Center while Barangay Putatan, Tunasan, Bayanan, Sucat, Buli, and Alabang will be putting up a Variety Show for its residents.

On the morning of December 19, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi will be leading the blessing of Muntinlupa Fire Station and Muntinlupa Command Center in the Resiliency Building in Tunasan.

Galera boosts war on drugs

By Robert A. Evora

P

UERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro— The local government has intensified its crackdown on operators of the illegal drugs trade as reports said unscrupulous persons posing as tourists were sighted in various resorts here.

This developed as May- on 194 municipal employor Rockey D. Ilagan or- ees on the 90th founding dered a surprise drug test anniversary of Puerto

Galera on Dec. 7.

The drug test was conducted by the Municipal Health Office, headed by Dr. Rodel Gabayan, as assisted by the Philippine National Police. The test result would be submitted by the MHO in a few days.

“If any of the local employees are tested positive for illegal drugs, especially the prohibited shabu, he

or she will face dismissal from the government service,” Mayor Ilagan said.

The local executive also directed Puerto Galera Police Chief Teofilo Awingan to coordinate with the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency to plan and “effectively execute the operation without bloodshed.”

He said local authori-

ties are keenly monitoring and apprehending suspected couriers and mules of illegal drugs, as Puerto Galera has multiple entry points, including four seaports connecting the resort town to Batangas City and Abra de Ilog, in nearby Occidental Mindoro, and a land connection from Calapan City.

Barangays San Isidro and

Sabang are two of the most frequented village resorts in Puerto Galera by local and foreign tourists, respectively.

Ilagan said there is a pending proposal in the Sangguniang Bayan, headed by Vice Mayor Marlon Lopez, to merge the four seaports into one big port to facilitate the entry and exit of tourists and residents to

and from Puerto Galera.

The Balatero, San Isidro (or White Beach), Muelle Cove and Sabang seaports have been operating for so many years to cater to incoming and outgoing visitors and tourists.

“We’re studying the feasibility of joining them together in one big port, possibly in Bgy. Balatero,” the mayor said.

Lanao Sur thanks Gordon, Red Cross for aid THE provincial government of Lanao Del Sur on Thursday gave a plaque of recognition to Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross, for the premier humanitarian organization’s assistance to the families affected by the Marawi crisis.

The provincial government cited Gordon and the PRC for being among the first to provide humanitarian assistance when the armed conflict broke out.

Gordon, for his part, saluted the volunteers for their untiring dedication to the cause of the Philippine Red Cross and dedicated the award to them.

“This is for all our volunteers who worked tirelessly day and night to uplift dignity and alleviate human suffering of our Mus-

lim brothers and sisters. Such heroic acts prove that we are not separated by religion. We are one Filipino people, one Philippines,” he said during the provincial-wide recognition ceremony held at the Marawi City Capitol.

When the conflict broke out last May 23, 2017, Gordon mobilized the staff and volunteers from the nearby PRC Chapters and immediately deployed teams, complete with emergency relief goods such as water and food, among others.

The PRC together with its chapters in Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and Marawi are among the first responders to support those affected by the crisis in Marawi.

In Marawi chapter alone, PRC was able to successfully mobilize 200 volunteers during the relief and emergency response.

Also present during the recognition ceremony were International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Head of Country Office Chris Staines, IFRC Operations and Programmes Manager Patrick Elliot, Qatar Red Crescent Society Head of Delegation Abdel Mumim, and International Committee of the Red Cross Deputy Head of Delegation Martin Thalman.

After the awarding ceremony, the Red Cross delegation led by Gordon visited the ground zero in Marawi, which was the center of the armed conflict. The area is still off limits as clearing operations have yet to take place.

Gordon also led the distribution of hygiene kits and hot meals to 300 families at the Saguiaran Municipal Grounds.

In BrIef Japan funds water system for nv farmers BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Japanese government recently turned-over the completed water system project for upland farmers of barangays Piatan and Bansing in this town.

The Communal Irrigation System was funded by the Japan through the Grant Assistance for Japanese Non-Government Organization Projects and implemented by GLM Institute.

Governor Carlos Padilla said the project seeks to increase the income of micro-scale rice farmers by improving their farming management especially in the upland areas.

The project was supported by the provincial and municipal governments, barangay councils of Piatan and Bansing and the Bansing Timber Farmers Federation, Inc. Ben Moses Ebreo

PICKING A WINNER. Bear Brand Fortified Powdered Milk Drink representatives (from left) Reynaldo Gabunada, Consumer Marketing Lead for DHNS; Kristen Morados, Consumer Marketing Manager, Bear Brand Fortified Powdered Milk Drink; and the rest of Bear Brand Fortified Powdered Milk Drink team handpick the grand prize winners each from Southern Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, South Luzon 1 and 2, Central Luzon and the National Capital Region for the ‘Bigatin sa Milyon, Bigatin sa Tibay Raffle Promotion.’ Lino Santos

Puerto school gets SM’s 86th building PUERTO PRINCESA CITY— The Francisco Ubay Memorial Elementary School in Puerto Princesa, which caters to 2,400 students from Brgys. Tagburos, San Manuel, Santa Monica and San Jose, has received the 86th school building under SM Foundation’s school building program.

A donation from SM Prime through SM Foundation, the school building is the first one turned over by the Foundation in Palawan’s capital.

The two-storey, four-class-

room building is persons with disability-friendly, with a ramp and toilet strictly for the PWDs. The building is furnished with 200 student armchairs, 20 of which are designed for lefthanded students, along with teacher’s tables and chairs all made by the Foundation of These-Abled, a PWD association supported by SM, 16 wall fans, eight blackboards, four wall clocks and four toilets.

The new building augments the number of classrooms in

Ubay Memorial ES, the third largest school in the city in terms of student population, with 89 pupils belonging to the indigenous community.

The school also hosts 69 Muslim students who are attending Arabic Language Islamic Values Education classes.

The donation is very timely, as three buildings in the school campus with six classrooms are scheduled for demolition.

Grades 3 and 5 students will occupy the SM school building.

tahong chips win navotas ‘oBoP’ rd. 2 BARANGAY Navotas West has emerged victorious in the second round of the Navotas One Barangay, One Product competition, receiving P50,000 in starting capital for winning first place with their tahong chips.

Brgy. North Bay Boulevard South got P30,000 for placing second with their fish nuggets, and Brgy. Bangkulasi bagged P20,000 for being third with their fish siomai.

“Navotas is rich in resources coming from the ocean. The OBOP serves to celebrate and make the most out of these resources,” Mayor John Rey Tiangco said.

After the launch of the OBOP Round 2 in May, the participants underwent seminars on food safety and good manufacturing practices from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Science and Technology.

The Navotas City Government, through the NavotaAs Hanapbuhay Center, made sure the barangays were equipped with the knowledge and know-how on food preparation and presentation.

“All barangays will still undergo trainings on packaging and labelling, branding, shelf life testing, and microbiological testing to ensure the quality of their respective products,” Tiangco said. Jun David

Students stand in front of the new two-storey, four-classroom building donated to the Francisco Ubay Memorial Elementary School in Puerto Princesa, Palawan by SM Foundation.

SBMA backs Ayta biodiversity project MORONG, Bataan—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority will be a partner of the Magbukun Ayta tribe here in their effort to protect and preserve their indigenous environment and culture.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma pledged the agency’s support to the Magbukun tribe on Saturday at the launching of the Indigenous Communities Conservation Area under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme.

The project, which will be implemented with the support of the local government unit of Morong and the Philippine Association for Intercultural Development, places the Ayta tribe at the forefront of conservation efforts since they live in the conservation site, which forms a part of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Butch Gunio

Life

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

food

monday, decemBeR 11, 2017

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B

agan—Myanmar (Burma) is fast becoming a tourist destination, with its centuries-old gilded pagodas and a rich culture that includes wearing longyi (sarong-like wrap-around cloth) and dabbing one’s face with thanakha, a natural sunblock made from ground wood bark. after being isolated for almost 50 years owing to a repressive military rule, Myanmar is on the throes of modernization, with billboard after billboard of Samsung greeting you at Yangon’s international airport (a big leap, considering that a sim card which would cost you $200 four years ago can now be had for only $1) and at least two KFC branches heralding the influx of foreign investors (but still no McDonald’s).

Sadly, while its stupas, long-necked women and one-leg rowing fishermen have been the subjects of postcard-pretty snap shots, its dishes have yet to put Myanmar on the culinary map.

Here in Bagan, which is dotted by close to 3,000 ancient pagodas, a social enterprise has emerged that seeks to give vocational training and employment opportunities to underprivileged Burmese kids while promoting local food.

Sanon, which is Burmese for turmeric, was established in early 2016 by the Myanmar Youth Development institute in partnership with Friends international.

“We want to give our guests a relaxed dining experience where they can enjoy traditional food and have the option as well to order more familiar fusion dishes,” sous chef Shein said in an interview.

Burmese Eats

Myanmar, famous for its ancient pagodas, is slowly carving a name for itself as a culinary destination.

There is Burmese lentil curry made with wing beans and aromatic acacia leaves and jasmine rice; khauk swe or chicken noodles from the Shan state that is bordering China, Thailand and Laos; giant irrawaddy prawn and catfish curry; and andaman soft-shelled crab tempura with spicy papaya salad. But there is also penne pasta served with cherry tomatoes; beef burger with white radish pickle and sweet potato; and beer battered fish and chips.

The drinks list is likewise extensive, including fresh fruit juices, draft beer, and cocktails such as the frozen pineapple chili margarita.

Sanon started with 50 kids who underwent training in food preparation and bartending.

They were also given english lessons, given that majority of the restaurant’s clients are foreigners. at another restaurant along the bank of irrawaddy river, 40-year-old chef Ye Win said the

country’s bodies of water have a major influence on local cuisine, providing abundant sources of freshwater fish and prawns, among others.

“We work with what we have,” added Ye, who is a native of Myanmar’s old capital, Yangon. at inle Lake, which is about less than an hour’s flight away from Bagan, locals grow vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, bitter gourd and eggplants in floating gardens—they have been practicing hydroponics for over 200 years now!

Because Myanmar is a country made up of many ethnicities, each has its own special dishes. perhaps the most famous local dish is the fermented tea leaves or lephet, usually served as salad and mixed with shredded cabbage, beans, nuts, and tomatoes, with garlic oil and chili. But the more plebeian common denominator is rice cracker (as my Burmese friend attests: ‘everybody loves rice Turn to C2

Burmese mountain people’s peculiar snack: crunchy ants

Chef Shein and his team at Sanon, a local enterprise that seeks to empower marginalized Burmese youth.

Boosting F&B sustainability practices Singapore airlines continues its commitment to significantly enhancing sustainability practices in its in-flight food and beverage offerings. Under the new initiative, a “From Farm to plane” concept will be introduced to promote environmental sustainability and support local farmers’ communities.

Current efforts in Singapore airlines’ sustainability strategy include using fish from fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council for their sustainable fishing practices, and obtaining produce from local farms in countries the airline serves.

With the “From Farm to plane” concept, Singapore airlines intends to use more sustainable and meatless ingredients, as well as local produce, in its in-flight meals. The airline will work with partners overseas and in Singapore to source for such ingredients. in addition, Singapore airlines’ international Culinary panel (iCp) of world-renowned chefs will create in-flight menus using more sustainable ingredients and local produce from farms at the airline’s destinations, such as cherry tomatoes, pumpkins, green beans and lettuce.

The new menus will initially be introduced to Suites customers on selected routes from later this year, and will progressively be made available to customers travelling in other classes.

Turn to C2

Singapore Airlines is committed to using more local produce, as well as more sustainable and meatless ingredients for their in-flight meals

Life

C2

monday, december 11, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

BATANGAS PRIDE. Matabungkay Beach Hotel offers 30 traditional Batangas dishes and five unique beverage concoctions for its second Batangas Food Festival. Included in the menu are (from left) Kinamatisang Bulalo, Rodrigo’s Roast, Daza family’s Lomi ng Lipa, Leviste family’s Sinaing na Tulingan sa Gata, and Andal family’s Menudo ng Batangas.

The 35 flavors of Batangas Text and photos by Bernadette Lunas

I

T IS said that people will travel all the way from one place to another for food. People go to Baguio for strawberry jam, to Iloilo for la Paz batchoy, to Davao for marang and durian.

Food has become the new tourism attraction.

Batangas, being in a strategic location with access to fresh seafood, premium meat, and various fruits and vegetables, is home, not only to multitude of beach resorts, but also to a delicious array of culinary offerings exclusive to the southern luzon province. “likewise to the prominent provinces in the north, like Pampanga and Bulacan, Batangas has a lot of things

to offer,” Jaja Andal, a homegrown chef from the municipality of Balayan, proudly says.

Taking advantage of the underappreciated Batangas cuisine, the Matabungkay Beach Hotel in lian launched the Batangas Food Festival. Now on its second year, the food festival offers 35 local dishes and beverages to celebrate the hotel’s 35th anniversary.

In an interview with Chef Nancy Reyes-Lumen, she told Manila Standard that the 30 dishes include jazzed-up traditional Batangas fares that are conceptualized by Matabungkay Beah Hotel’s executive chef Jun Dino, Chef Jaja andal, and herself, and seven heirloom recipes from prominent families in the province, namely, andal, Daza, leviste, limjoco, lontoc, Poblador, and Segismundo.

“This is the first time we include family recipes,” shared Chef Nancy.

Hotel guests will get to try limjocolejano clan’s Pesang Maya-Maya with Ginisang Kamatis at Miso, Poblador’s Sinampalukang Manok, Daza’s Lomi ng Lipa, leviste’s Sinaing na Tulingan sa Gata, lontoc’s Pinais na Baboy, andal’s Menudo ng Batangas, and Segismundo’s

Klasik Kaldereta during the food festival ongoing until end of December. aside from these heirloom dishes, there’s also Chef Jaja’s flavorful AllaElla Halaan paella and satisfyingly sweet La Jajingka Bibingka, Chef Jun’s Baby Squid Salpicao and Kinamatisang Bulalo, and Chef Nancy’s sumptuous Rodrigo’s Roast and Crispy Adobong Manok sa Kapeng Barako.

Complementing the spread are five beverage concoctions: Barakotini (lambanog and kapeng barako), Chili Mojito (lambanog, mint, dayap, and chili), Moringamansi (moringa juice, calamansi, and ginger), Blue-ya (ginger), and Creamy Buko (buko juice and powdered cream). “one of the purposes of our promotion is to augment Batangas cuisines and other

food products,” said Andy Mariscotes, the hotel’s general manager.

However, Mariscotes revealed that the Batangas Food Festival remains an exclusive project of Matabungkay Beach Hotel. “Right now, since it’s only our second year, we are not supported by the lGU, probably next year we will ask for their support.”

But of course, the hotel also aims to attract more guests with the help of this event, in a bid to replicate the feat of its neighbor Tagaytay whose food products pull in tourists from Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 752-5252 or email reservation_ mbrh@yahoo.com

Mama Sita Foundation

supports cultural heritage program

Strawberry Tea Float and Strawberry Fries are bursting with surprisingly good flavors

Sip

New surprisingly delicious Jollibee products JollIBEE, the Philippines’ no. 1 fastfood brand, launched two exciting products that deliver the joy of strawberry goodness with every sip and bite: the Strawberry Tea Float and Strawberry Fries. a surprising treat that perfectly complements Jollibee’s best-selling meals, the Strawberry Tea Float is unlike any beverage in the fast-food scene. The strawberry tea base is the perfect combination of sweet and tangy, and plays up the creaminess of the vanilla softserve on top.

The Strawberry Fries, on the other hand, is definitely a unique way to enjoy strawberry. The crispy fries packs a savory, strawberry-flavored punch that serves as an interesting snack and the ideal partner for the Yumburger, Jolly Hotdog, or even Chickenjoy!

“With these new products, Jollibee diners will definitely get to enjoy strawberry goodness beyond their imagination,” said Kay Segismundo, Jollibee Marketing Manager for Complementary Products. “Exciting innovations on our beloved products are proof of Jollibee’s commitment to deliver memorable dining experiences to our customers.”

Now you can make every strawberry lover’s dream come true with these exciting new products at Jollibee.

The Strawberry Tea Float is available solo for only P29.00, or as an upgrade to a value meal for only P20.00. The Strawberry Fries are available in Regular (P40.00), large (P65.00), Jumbo (P80.00) and can also be enjoyed with your favorite value meal as an upgrade for only P7.00.

boosting...

raz wine, which will be available to Business Class customers on selected flights from early next year. “our food and beverage sustainability efforts will further demonstrate and reinforce Singapore airlines’ ongoing efforts to help reduce our carbon footprint and ensure a greener environment.

While we continue to deliver a quality in-flight dining experience, we would also like our customers to know that we are playing our part in ensuring sustainability,” said Marvin Tan, Singapore airlines’ senior vice president Product & Services.

From C1

The enhanced sustainability plan for Singapore airlines’ food & beverage offerings was unveiled at the World Gourmet Forum in Singapore, organised in collaboration with Kranji Countryside association. all eight ICP Chefs were present for the World Gourmet Forum, where they shared how they are using local produce in their meal creations. Singapore airlines’ Wine Consultants were also at the event to introduce an organic French Shi-

MaMa Sita Foundation, with its continuous support to the Cultural Heritage Program, recently joined the students of ateneo de Manila University in their sixth edition of annual dinner gathering entitled “Ilocano Recipes for a Warmer Planet” at Victorino’s Restaurant, Quezon City. Every year, students of the said program organize an event to feature and relish cuisines from different local regions.

With the cooperation of ateneo’s gastronomic gathering, which perfectly lined with Teresita “Mama Sita” Reyes’ lifetime advocacy of promoting the Philippine Culinary Heritage, the foundation launched their annual food writing contest Mga Kuwentong Pagkain and encouraged Filipinos nationwide to talk about a particular dish, what makes it special, and how it is made and enjoyed in an effort to make known and preserve the flavors of homegrown cuisine.

“Mama Sita loved to promote local foods and how they are prepared. In her life, she traveled to different places to search for the most authentic flavors, and in turn she spread it out to share it with the world. This is what we hope to achieve tonight, talking about food and appreciating our culture and our flavors,” shares Clara Reyes-Lapus, president of Mama Sita Foundation. ateneo students of Dr. Fernando Zialcita under Cultural Heritage Studies Program of Department of Sociology and anthropology, traveled from Manila to Vigan and Northern Towns of Ilocos Sur to study their foods, arts and crafts, and connected their Ilocano theme with today’s major crisis, global warming. This year, they are promoting the use of root crops, particularly kamote, as a substitute ingredient to rice.

“We hope that more chefs can popularize the many uses of kamote and other root crops in their dishes. We all know that, throughout East asia, rice is

burmese...

From C1

cracker!’) The iconic street food and appetizer in almost all restaurants across Myanmar is still cooked using the traditional hot gravel and is served with vinegar that reminds one of our own pinakurat.

For the more adventurous souls, have a go at the mildly sour crunchy ants served by local mountain dwellers who come down once a week to Inle lake to sell their produce – from

Ateneo student Ben Eusebio talked about the Ilocano art of Binakul weaving

prestigious whereas root crops are disdained as low-class. and yet rice consumes much water and requires more effort to cultivate,” Dr. Zialcita stated in his opening speech.

The organizers also prepared brief informative talks during the event; specifically on root crops, Ilocano dishes, and the prevention of global warming, on binakul and gold tambourine jewelry crafts of Ilocos Sur, and on disaster preparedness, which was given by guest speaker Dr. Emma Porio.

The night’s kamote-Ilocano delicacies were prepared by the notable chef Heny Sison, who was inspired by the vegetable recipes of Virginia Savellano, mother of Victorino Restaurant’s owner Congressman Deogracias Victor Savellano. a spread of splendid buffet included Bagnet Chips and Melba Toast as an appetizer, salad of Ka-

mote Tops with Bagoong in Vinaigrette dressing, Creamy Sweet Kamote Soup, Kinirog and Plain Rice, Pakbet ala Apo Lakay, Lumpiang Kamote at Hipon, Roast beef with Kamotato, and desserts such as Kinalti with Panutsa Sauce, and Patopat with Mango Balls.

“If there’s one thing you should remember about tonight’s dinner, it should be naimas. That is one word I’m sure everyone agrees can aptly describe Ilocano Food Heritage,” Chef Heny expressed in behalf of Congressman Savellano. “For those who are not familiar with Ilocano, naimas means delicious, and there is no doubt in my mind that this word can encapsulate what Ilocano cuisine is.”

Deadline of submission for Mama Sita’s Mga Kuwentong Pagkain contest is on Jan. 26, 2018. For more information, visit msita.com.

traditional medicine to grapes to the more touristy jade bracelets—at the bustling market behind the Hpaung Daw U Pagoda.

Indeed, Myanmar’s march to modernization comes at a cost. In a sense, it is history on the run. There are now spanking new air-conditioned buses imported from China in Yangon. There are more roads getting paved in concrete.

Four and five-star hotels are catering to tourists (at least 55 hotels and hostels along Inle lake alone). and when you open the menu, you’d find a list of fu-

sion and international dishes that is getting more and more extensive.

But then I go back to 1898, when English writer and poet Rudyard Kipling, during a brief three-day stop in Burma, wrote: “This is Burma, and it is quite unlike any land you know about.” He was moved profoundly by what he saw and experienced. and more than a thousand years later, Myanmar is still quite unlike any land you will ever know about.

For feedback, send comments to joyce.panares@gmail.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2017

Donna Cariaga

named

D

‘FUNNY ONE’

ONNA Cariaga of Baguio City was named the season two grand champion of “Funny One,” the only comedian search on TV, in It’s Showtime.

The only woman in the competition and known to viewers for her timely hugot jokes, Donna performed a winning skit where she finally decided on moving on from her exboyfriend James.

She won P1 million and beat five other contenders, including first runner-up Anthony Andres and second runner-up James Caraan.

Donna was praised by judge Randy Santiago for her consistency and interaction with the audience, while Vice Ganda commended her material for its timeliness.

“You are full of talent, and your gift is that

you are also full of charm. In comedy, the timeliness of one’s material is important. The times and your material are friends – they are one and the same. Your material is so now. You are so now. This day is for you,” said Vice.

Runners-up Anthony and James received P200,000 and P100,000 respectively, while grand finalists Powder Boyz, D’ Kings, and Tres Palitos received a consolation prize of P50,000 each.

Aside from Randy and Vice, Bayani Agbayani, Rufa Mae Quinto, and MC and Lassy were also in the panel of judges that chose Donna as the grand champion.

Funny One winner Donna Cariaga uses skits that usually involve her pining hopelessly for her ex-boyfriend, who left her for another woman.

Online stars get up close and personal with fans

iPhoto

ALDEN pitches Cookie’s Peanut Butter COOKIE’S Peanut Butter Company recently welcomed young actor Alden Richards to its growing family as its very first brand ambassador.

Cookie’s Peanut Butter is a homemade brand that is made of all natural ingredients with several delicious variants such as its flagship products Cookie’s Peanut Butter, Cookie’s Cashew Butter, and Cookie’s

Peanut Butter Pangluto as well as Mani Ni Cookie and Kasuy Ni Cookie.

In photo, from left. Cookie Yatco, President of Cookie’s Peanut Butter Company, poses with Alden Richards and Joy Abalos-Yatco, Managing Director, Cookie’s Peanut Butter Company. Cookie’s Peanut Butter is available in all leading supermarkets nationwide.

THEIR unique personalities and relatable content made them Internet stars, but the creators of ABSCBN’s multi-channel network Adober Studios proved to be just as engaging as their online personas when they showcased their talents and kept thousands of their fans entertained at the recently held Adobers TakeOver Fanfair.

The event, held at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City, was the first of its kind and scale organized by ABSCBN to bring together fans who follow the lives of their Internet heroes and who are aspiring content creators themselves.

During the concert, they screamed and cheered when Adober Studios’ top creators Lloyd Cadena and Cong TV, who both have more than 700,000 subscribers on YouTube, came out and cracked jokes.

Chino Liu, the person behind the viral Waze voice, cracked up the crowd when he impersonated Kris Aquino and interviewed Jomie Hospital and Ate Charon or Allan Soriano, who are both famous for their parody videos.

Lady Gagita, who is famous for

copying Lady Gaga, brought the house down when she performed the pop star’s Super Bowl performance from start to finish.

Pamela Swing, Claro The Third, Arah Virtucio, Luigi Pacheco, and Rozel Basilio also joined forces to play a fun lie detector, while AC Bonifacio, Riva Quenery, the Caleon Twins, and ThatsBella delighted the crowd with their song and dance numbers.

In between performances, the Adobers indulged fans in banter, thanked them for their support, and invited them to join the Adober Studios growing roster of creators.

Also performing skits and performances on-stage were Nomer

Lasala, Akihiro Blanco, Neo Domingo, Jesi Corcuera, RB Navarro, Dyosa Pockoh, The Soshal Network, Camille Bartolo, Sky and Kid Show, Helen On Fleek, Madam Kilay, The Three of Us, Karl Zarate, and Rie Aliasas. Rei Germar, ChaelNotKale, and Prince De Guzman served as hosts.

The most dedicated fans also lined up to meet and chitchat with top Adobers Lloyd, Cong, Emman, Riva, Pamela, Rei, AC, Jomie, Ate Charon, ThatsBella, Caleon Twins, LuiZel, and Rie. The TakeOver Fanfair comes on the heels of Adober Studios’ successful meet-and-greets in Cebu and Zambales, and the launch of the book “Unspoken Rules,” which is based on the original online series of the same title that stars different Adobers and imparts guidelines on handling life and romantic situations.

Adober Studios now has 550 content creators and is one the digital initiatives of the ABS-CBN, which is rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among all media companies, and a growing list of digital properties.

Dawn Zulueta in a comedy with Vic Sotto INTERESTINGLY, the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival entry Meant to ‘Beh is the first time Comedy King Vic Sotto and actress Dawn Zulueta are collaborating on the silver screen and many are excited this early to watch them together.

“That’s right!” says Vic. “We’ve worked together in the sitcom ‘Okay Ka, Fairy Ko’ for a time but that was ages ago. I’m glad that finally, we were given the chance to be paired on a grand silver screen project like this. It’s good that Dawn accepted the offer right away when the project was pitched in to her.”

“Actually, it’s a big honor to be paired with Bosing Vic on a grand movie presentation like ‘Meant to ‘Beh’,” Dawn states. “For a time, I played the role of Faye in Okay Ka Fairy Ko. I think that was in the mid-‘90s. It was short-lived though and after that, there wasn’t any chance for us to do another project once again. That’s why I’m thrilled because for sure, the viewing public will find our screen pairing exciting since it is fresh.”

Both Vic and Dawn feel positive about their offering in this year’s edition of the MMFF (which is a joint production of OctoArts Films, APT Entertainment and M-Zet TV Productions) with regards to its box-office potential.

“I think the freshness of the material is a strong factor,” Vic avers. “It’s a family movie and personally, I’m excited to do a genre like this. For a change, it’s not a fantasy material with special effects. Surely, the viewers can relate to the characters in the story.

It’s the perfect movie date for all the families come Christmastime.”

“We’ll be presenting conflicts that surround contemporary families, like the relationship of husbands and wives when they feel they’ve already outgrown each other after being married for quite some time, how parents handle the challenges and difficulties faced by their children at present and how kids play a vital role in bringing back their parents together. It’s really a heart-warming story that the public will love,” adds Dawn.

Apart from the two illustrious screen icons, the movie boasts of a star-studded cast, which includes talents from the two biggest TV networks in the land namely, ABS-CBN and GMA. “That’s right! Joining us are Daniel Matsunaga, Andrea Torres, Sue Ramirez, Ruru Madrid and our three children in the story: JC Santos, Gabbi Garcia and Baby

Baste. The thought of working with these new blood is simply thrilling. We’re happy that in ‘Meant to ‘Beh’ there’s no network war. We’re here to work and give our viewers quality entertainment!”

Vic and Dawn are aware that they have huge competition at the tills in the upcoming film fest since other front-rank stars have their respective entries as well like Coco Martin, Vice Ganda, Daniel Padilla, Derek Ramsay and Jennylyn Mercado.

“We’re aware that it will be a strong field. The pressure is there but we welcome the challenge.

As we’ve said, we have faith in our material.

For one, we’re the only family-oriented vehicle in the festival which is good. Definitely, the viewing public will not only enjoy the film but pick up some valuable lessons from its various themes,” the two end in unison. ******** Ruru Madrid is grateful for the positive developments in his showbiz career at present.

Apart from his popularity, his acting skill is also getting recognized. Recently, he tied with Dingdong Dantes as Best Drama Actor in the recently concluded PMPC Star Awards for Television.

“I’m simply blessed with everything that’s happening in my career as of now. That award from the PMPC is really something. I shared the stage with Kuya Dong, imagine? That role in Encantadia (Prinsipe Ybrahim) in which I was cited is originally his. It’s really a huge honor to share the award with someone whom I look up to in the business,” he avers.

Ruru is happy to be part of Production 56 Artists, the talent company and production house owned and managed by multi-awarded film and television director Maryo J. delos Reyes.

“Yes! They take very good care of me. I can feel their support every step of the way. Direk Maryo is one strong force why I reached my present stature. That’s why I always give my 100 per cent in all the projects that are coming my way.”

Speaking of projects, after the successful run of Encantadia, the appealing lad is proud that he will soon have a solo show under the GMA Telebabad block.

“That’s right! It’s titled Sherlock. It’s a nice start for 2018. I’m flattered with the confidence my mother studio has given me with this project.

This early, I’m asking for the support of my fans and the viewers in general to patronize it,” says Ruru.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2016

Holiday Staycation

Tranquility in the heart of the city

By Giana Anella G. Atienza

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ITH the smell of the holiday wrapping the air, a lot of people already have plans on their minds on how to spend the long-awaited yuletide vacation to escape from the stress of everyday life.

Some have already booked their flights either internationally or domestically to spend the break with their families, friends, while some go at it alone.

But others prefer a good old “staycation” in the metropolis because tranquility these days are considered a luxury.

Escaping from everyday stress does not always mean splurging a lot of money going abroad, waiting for plane seat sales and facing the hustle and bustle of a crowded airport as one can also enjoy the holiday break in the heart of the city.

There are now a lot of hotels around the metro that bring the kind of relaxation and luxury that the countryside also offers.

No need for long hours of traveling when you can indulge and relax with your family and friends in these hotels that are just within your reach.

MARCO POLO

ICON HOTEL

Situated in the heart of Ortigas Center, this hotel boasts of Yuletide offers for families, friends or even couples, who want to spend their holiday break without any hassle. Marco Polo offers a stylish accommodation that will make you love “your home away from home.” One can enjoy a buffet with breakfast and the full access to the fitness center and swimming pool. The hotel also boasts of the indoor infinity pool that is strategically situated on the 22nd level of the hotel tower that will make everyone enjoy the overlooking Ortigas cityscape. After a day-long of activities the hotel offers, one can also appreciate their Cozy Afternoon Tea, which is a sophisticated approach to unwind in the afternoon sun. You and your loved ones can stay the night with extravagance by choosing from their rooms that vary from superior room to their continental club, Marco Polo suite.

This hotel caters to everyone, from couples to tourists and travelers. This hotel is your destination if you are looking for comfort and luxury, but in a more affordable price. Dine in to their mouthwatering dinner buffet that only uses the finest ingredients in order to satisfy everyone’s palette.

With the hotel’s sophisticated ambiance, one can enjoy the night with comfort and luxury.

I’M HOTEL As the names implies, I’M hotel emanates “individuality and presence.”

Located in the heart of Makati, this hotel delivers extraordinary comfort and exceptional experience to everyone who sets foot on its vicinity. The dainty and sophisticated aura of the hotel makes you feel at ease and relaxed you might even forget you are at the middle of the busy city. The hotel offers soothing vibe that every guest can adore. One can enjoy their Onsen spa that I’M hotel boasts is the first one in Manila. They also take Rejuvenation to another level, making it an all-inclusive experience that will give you access to a therapy of your choice, a buffet, a Japanese thermal pool infused with minerals, and a relaxation lounge. You can enjoy the night by choosing from a Classic Studio room to a twobedroom executive suite that both offers exquisite luxury and comfort.

RESORTS WORLD MANILA With their unlimited choices of hotels and activities, this entertainment complex is also perfect for unwinding and for entertainment. With four hotels to choose from, one can choose which one best suits his/her taste.

First, Maxims Hotel is the first allsuite luxury hotel in the Philippines, setting the benchmark for high-end accommodations in the country. This is your perfect hotel if you are looking for a first-class retreat.

Next is the Manila Marriott Hotel, a five-star hotel that lies across Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. It boasts of exceptional restaurants, Quan Spa, Health Club

and an outdoor pool.

Third is the Remington Hotel, designed for the smart travelers. If you are looking for entertain ment, leisure or s h o p pi n g choices within re a ch , Remington Hotel is for you.

Lastly, Belmont Hotels and Resorts, with its luxurious yet keen décor, amenities like Roofdeck swimming pool with 360-degree panoramic view and massage deck, kiddie pool, outdoor jacuzzi, fully equipped gym, spa, sauna and steam room, offers you and your loved ones the chance to bask in utter relaxation while enjoying the sophistication of the place.

PRIME HOTEL If you are looking for fun and entertainment with your friends or even with family, you do not need to go far---Prime hotel seats in the heart of Quezon City. This hotel boasts of several amenities their guests can access in their stay. The hotel offers features that can help everyone to relax and enjoy. The Nautilus Rooftop Whisky Bar is considered to be one of the best bars in the metro. The hotel also offers a KTV room and a fitness center, but there is more, Prime hotel is the first hotel in the Philippines with a Game Room that offers Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality for guests. One can spend the night by choosing from their 39 rooms that vary from Travelers room to Presidential Suite.