Manila Standard - 2017 December 22 - Friday

PRE-CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY.

A ferry with 251 aboard capsizes between Dinahican, Quezon and Polilio Island (inset left, map showing the precise location of the tragedy, 70 kilometers east of Manila) with four reported to have died and seven missing at dusk Thursday, according to Coast Guard authorities. File photo of m/v Mercraft 3 from Mercraft’s Facebook page.

VOL. XXXI • NO. 308 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Ferry sinks: 4 killed Seven missing after waves slam boat with 251 aboard

Budget cuts not Duterte’s idea—Roque

By John Paolo Bencito and Rio N. Araja MALACAÑANG on Thursday said it had nothing to do with Congress’ move to slash the budget of lawmakers who were unfriendly towards the Duterte administration.

“There is a separation of powers. Congress has

By Vito Barcelo Josefina Patricia Asirit

Geronimo Sta. Ana

UP-PGH to look into Dengvaxia

THE Bureau of Customs on Wednesday asked the Department of Justice to indict nine people for smuggling in connection with the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China.

THE University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital will help the government in validating the deaths of children vaccinated with the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, the Department of Health announced Thursday.

Health Secretary Dr. Francisco Duque III told a news conference the UP-PGH would conduct a third-party independent review of cases forwarded to the agency to “erase doubts from other sectors that the DoH may be concealing information relevant to Dengvaxia vaccination.”

Health Undersecretary Herminigildo Valle said the department’s Epidemiology

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Customs presses for shabu raps

By Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

Jose Vicente Salazar

Alfredo Non

Gloria Victoria Taruc

4 ERC commissioners get 1-year suspension

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered a one-year suspension of all of the four commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission for allowing the Manila Electric Co. to collect P200 billion from consumers in 20 years through its exemption from the competitive selection process for power sup-

ply agreements.

In two separate resolutions, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the suspension of Commissioners Gloria Victoria Taruc, Alfredo Non, Josefina Patricia Magpala-Asirit and Geronimo Sta. Ana for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Former-ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar was

found guilty of the administrative offense, and ordered to pay a fine equivalent to his six months’ pay since he was removed from his post in October.

Salazar, along with the four commissioners, was charged with graft for causing undue injury to the government and giving unwarranted benefits to private parties.

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Frigates deal on track despite issues—Navy THE delivery of the Philippines’ first two missile-armed frigates capable of engaging surface, subsurface and air threats is still on track, acting Philippine Navy Chief Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad said late Wednesday.

“The frigate [project] has not been delayed. It is continuing and the delivery time is still the

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same [first quarter of 2020] and we are going to process that,” he said.

The Defense Department and Hyundai Heavy Industries signed an P18-billion contract for two frigates including its weapon systems and munition on Oct. 24, 2016.

But Empedrad said the

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Former Navy chief Joseph Mercado

F

OUR people died while 7 passengers were still missing when a ferry with 251 people aboard capsized between Dinahican, Quezon and Polillo Island in bad weather, the Coast Guard said Thursday.

Some 240 passengers of the m/v Mercraft 3 bound for Polilio Island have already been rescued and accounted for, the Coast Guard said.

The vessel left Real

port in northern Quezon at 10:30 a.m. Thursday but huge waves slammed the boat, causing it to capsize and sink in the waters off Dinahican at about 11 a.m., Next page

Truce a farce? Joma lacks Christmas spirit—Palace

By John Paolo Bencito THE government cut short its unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels Thursday after they called the move “a farce.”

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the ceasefire, which was supposed to run continuously from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2, 2018, would

now take effect from Dec. 23 6 p.m. until Dec. 26, 11:59 p.m. and from Dec. 30, 6 p.m. to Jan. 2, 11:59 p.m.

Roque said it was the prerogative of President Rodrigo Duterte to change his mind.

That is part of executive power. The President doesn’t have to explain,” Roque said.

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Duterte curbs Executive’s junket

By John Paolo Bencito

A

LL foreign trips for officials under the Executive branch of government will be stopped starting Jan. 1, except for diplomats and those with valid reasons, President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday.

In another curse-laden speech expressing disdain for junket trips, Duterte said he would be restricting foreign travel, much more a ‘starvation diet’ for those in

the Executive branch of the government.

“January 1, I told [Executive Secretary Salvador] Medialdea … no travel now.

I’ll cut it or whatever. Except

[travel by] the diplomats...”

Duterte said.

“I don’t want anybody shamed, I will just say there will be no foreign travel in the meantime,”

he said in Filipino.

The move, Duterte said, will help him “look for plenty of victims” whom he wanted to purge immediately.

The exception, Duterte said, are members of Congress and the judiciary from travelling abroad if they wanted to, if they were a diplomat, or they simply have a dead loved one abroad.

“January 1, I don’t really give a damn—Well, if it’s personal reason, you have

a dead relative, mother. Or your other wife died overseas, let her be, just pray for her or him. T*** i** the money is being wasted unnecessarily,” he added in Filipino.

But despite his strong rhetoric against frequent travel abroad, Duterte said he might go to India in January to attend an official function.

“I have to travel but I have to represent. This is India. I begged off. The

’Coding’ lifted for provincial bus units

4 ERC...

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pened, Balilo said.

The Coast Guard has dispatched rescue teams from Southern Luzon to Real, Quezon, and has coordinated with the military to help in the search for survivors.

The Coast Guard also dispatched vessels from Manila to participate in the search and rescue operations, which were joined by local fishermen.

Balilo said the ferry left Real as the southern section of the archipelago braced for

tropical storm “Vinta” (international name: “Tembin”), which is forecast to hit land early Friday.

The vessel was allowed to sail as there were no storm warnings at or around Real or Polillo, east of the main island of Luzon, he said.

The government has advised Filipinos planning to return to their home provinces for Christmas to do so earlier than usual to avoid heavy weather forecast to hit ahead of the holidays.

Coast Guard Stations in Zamboanga and Cagayan De Oro have temporarily suspended or cancelled trips of all types of vessels bound for General Santos, Northern Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon effective 6 a.m., Dec. 21, 2017, 2GO Travel said Thursday.

The company said trips would resume when the weather and sea conditions have improved and the suspension order is lifted.

With AFP

with the Manila Standard, Sison, whose is in exile in The Netherlands, called the suspension of military operations a “farce” and said the NPA rebels “will remain on alert against attacks from the AFP and the PNP.” “How do you comment to someone who says that wanting peace during Christmastime is sham?

We leave it to the people to conclude how we should react to that statement of Joma Sison,” Roque said.

“I stress though that as the President himself declared in [Camp] Aguinaldo, he wanted the people to have less to worry about and that is why he implemented or he will implement this ceasefire,” he added.

Roque insisted the public should be thankful to Duterte for pushing through with the unilateral ceasefire since he could have declared nothing.

Duterte had earlier expressed he was not keen on declaring a Christmas truce with the communist rebels following their continued attacks on state security

forces.

However, the President said early Wednesday that if he declares a holiday truce, it would be out of consideration for the well-being of the people.

The Interior department, however, has called on the Philippine National Police to remain “vigilant” and not to let their guard down as they perform their law enforcement functions, despite the government’s declaration of a holiday ceasefire with the New People’s Army.

“We welcome President Duterte’s ceasefire declaration because this would give policemen and their families greater peace of mind during the holiday season. However, the PNP should never let their guards down for their own safety,” DILG officerin-charge Undersecretary Catalino Cuy said.

Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza called the President’s decision to declare a unilateral ceasefire “a bold step.”

“It is a clear indication of his unwavering desire to bring sustainable and

durable peace in the land despite the cancellation of peace negotiations with the CPP/NPA/NDF,” Dureza said in a statement.

Duterte’s peace adviser echoed Malacañang’s expectations “that the CPPNPA-NDFP would [make] a similar gesture of goodwill.”

“Although arrived at unilaterally upon the President’s sole determination, it is my personal expectation— and the public as well, I’m sure—that the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed organs will extend reciprocity to President Duterte’s gesture for peace,” Dureza said.

The Defense department, meanwhile urged communist rebels to reflect during the holidays and seriously consider yielding to the government.

“We urge those who are waging war against our sovereign government and inflicting harm on the Filipino people to spend this period in reflection and seriously reconsider returning to the fold of law,” the statement read.

that are the frigates’ main armaments, aside from its main guns and secondary gunnery systems.

Empedrad said determining where to acquire the weapons was a big challenge as the torpedoes alone took two years to manufacture.

“So we have to process that,” he said.

Empedrad expressed his thanks to President Rodrigo

Duterte for naming him acting Navy chief following the relief of Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana cited loss of trust and confidence in his integrity and leadership.

This was brought about by the alleged fixation of Mercado on one company to supply the combat management system on the country’s frigate project.

The CMS is the system that handles the weapons, sensors and other equipment related to combat.

The bickering on what particular CMS manufacturer to tap had delayed the frigate project by some four months, Lorenzana said earlier.

Empedrad said he would be doing his best to keep the projects of the Navy moving forward. PNA

The respondents were accused of giving undue favor to Meralco and its sister company through the exemption from the required competitive selection process in 2016.

The process is meant to make the cost of power supply agreements more reasonable and justifiable.

According to the Ombudsman, the ERC officials caused the delay of the implementation and acted in favor of Meralco and other power suppliers, and that they reportedly reset the deadline to conduct the competitive selection process to give Meralco the chance to obtain a 20-year power supply agreement with seven generation companies.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Salazar’s dismissal on Oct. 6 for misconduct, neglect of duty and other anomalies.

ERC spokesperson Floresinda Digal said the commission would seek guidance from the Office of the President on the Ombudsman’s decision.

The commission, under its current chairman, Agnes Devanadera, will continue its day-to-day operations, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said, but policy issues would be a problem because the ERC is supposed to work as a collegial body according to the law.

Peoples’ organizations and environmental groups on Thursday lauded the recently issued Ombudsman order to suspend virtually all ERC commissioners for having given unwarranted benefit to Meralco in their suspension of the competitive selection process.

Sanlakas secretary general lawyer Aaron Pedrosa said the order validates peoples groups and environmental advocates’ claims that the power supply agreements with Meralco were “sweetheart deals” meant to favor corporate interests over the public good.

“The Ombudsman suspension order bolsters the truth that only collusion between the government and corporations could have allowed for such anti-consumer and anti-environment agreements to prevail,” Pedrosa said.

“This suspension order should serve as a warning to the ERC to seriously review the petition against the deals, which was filed in intervention by concerned community leaders and peoples’ groups only to be junked by the ERC,” Pedrosa said.

Diocese of Lucena’s Desk on Environmental Concern Priest-In-Charge Father Warren Puno concurred with Pedrosa, especially in light of the Quezon community’s struggle against coalfired power plants. With John Paolo Bencito and Bill Casas

the alleged deprivation of projects as far as opposition congressmen are concerned. That’s something that should be addressed to the leadership of both houses of Congress,” he added.

On Wednesday, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said lawmakers opposing President Rodrigo Duterte won’t be getting zero funding for their districts,

but would get lower allocations than those allied with the administration.

“Allies will get more projects in their districts, in the projects they identified,” Diokno said during the bi-monthly ‘Breakfast with Ben’ media forum in Manila.

“There will be a distinction, those with the administration and those who are

not,” he said, adding that the appropriation for some districts whose representatives in Congress aren’t allies might be reduced.

Diokno, who admitted that the budget was “the most political tool for legislation,” said the practice of allies getting the lion’s share of the budget had been in place long before the Duterte administration.

He added that it was Congress that decides collectively how funds are allocated.

Under the present set-up, lawmakers are still free to identify their pet projects for their districts, upon consultation with other stakeholders as well.

“This is not pork,” said Diokno, who immediately brushed off the compari-

By Joel E. Zurbano THERE will be no number coding scheme for provincial buses on Dec. 22 and 26 in anticipation of the holiday exodus, the Metro Manila Development Authority announced on Thursday.

“The lifting of coding for provincial buses is usually to address the exodus of passengers,” said MMDA supervising officer for operation Edison Nebrija Jr. Meanwhile, the MMDA will strictly enforce the Nose-In Nose-Out bus policy terminals at the bus terminals in Metro Manila to ensure the smooth flow of traffic, especially along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

The policy requires buses to get in and out of the terminals in one simple maneuver, and they are not allowed to load or unload outside their respective terminals.

Nebrija said a special team from the MMDA and other concerned agencies will also conduct bus-roadreadiness inspections and alcohol or drug testing for drivers at the bus terminals.

He said the road readiness and alcohol testing would make sure transport vehicles were roadworthy and the riding public going to the provinces were safe during their trips.

“That is for the terminals.

We also have a team for drunk driving,” Nebrija said.

The MMDA advised the passengers to tell the bus company management if they encountered problems during their trip.

UP-PGH...

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Bureau had received information on 133 cases of students hospitalized after vaccination; 36 were hospitalized due to dengue short of reporting they contracted severe dengue.

No timeline could be given on the processing of the cases, but Health Undersecretary Rolando Domingo gave assurances they were collating information on all known cases for UP-PGH to review.

Once we have this, I think we’re thinking of three cases that we might be referring for review, for the clinical side. If needed, we have two forensic pathologists at PGH who will be working with us,” Domingo said.

Results will be released two weeks after UP-PGH conducts its own clinical review of the cases.

The advantage of having PGH is they have multispecialists, and they are people who are the best in their fields,” Domingo added.

Malacañang and vaccine manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur assured the public Dengvaxia itself did not cause severe dengue or other illnesses.

All 830,000 students in Regions III, IV-A, and the National Capital Region who received the dengue vaccine will be monitored.

Sanofi Pasteur disclosed last month that Dengvaxia might cause serious illness in subjects who have yet to be infected by dengue prior to vaccination.

problem is, we are the only one without any representation,” he said.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs is urging me to go there because India is also a big market. A lot of people there, next to think—it’s next to China in population.

I’m not sure but I have to attend—whatever it is the head of state...but if you think I would be enjoying the travel, I’m too old for that,” he added in Filipino and English.

UPDATE ON 'VINTA.' Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration Weather Division

chief, Dr. Esperanza Cayanan, gives an update on the location of Tropical Storm ‘Vinta’ in a press conference held at Pagasa Weather Forecasting Center in Diliman, Quezon City on Thursday (Dec. 21, 2017). ‘Vinta’ has maintained its speed and direction as it continues to move toward eastern Mindanao. PNA

Ferry...

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Coast Guard spokesman Armand Balilo said.

“We are still trying to get a complete report of the incident. We heard about casualties, but we are still trying to get a complete picture,” Balilo said.

The vessel has maximum capacity of 286 passengers and 251 passengers were onboard when the accident hap-

Truce...

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Roque earlier said that the suspension of military operations against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front was to reduce public apprehension during the Christmas season.

In the same news briefing, Roque said he felt sorry that CPP founder Jose Maria Sison lacks the Christmas spirit after he doubted the sincerity of the government’s unilateral ceasefire.

“If Joma Sison did not feel any spirit of Christmas because of the SOMO, well, I feel sorry for him. That’s what happens when you’re not here in the Philippines anyway,” Roque said.

“We should be thankful that the President is pushing through with the unilateral ceasefire altogether. He could have ignored it completely and not declared anything,” he added.

In an interview Wednesday

Frigates...

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frigate program still had many challenges to hurdle before being completed.

Some of the issues include how to prepare and train Navy personnel to man and operate the modern ships, where to dock them and where to source the missiles and torpedoes

Budget...

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exclusive and primary jurisdiction in the preparation and approval of the budget,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a news briefing.

“We had nothing to do with whatever decision both houses of Congress had on

52 more cops face ax—Du30 PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he would be firing 49 policemen and three police superintendents—a move seen by observers as the first gear to cleaning up the ranks of the police.

“I will fire about 49 policemen and three superintendents,” Duterte said in a speech in Davao City, without specifying the reason for firing them, adding only he did his best to protect those who were performing their jobs.

“I’m serious. You could sense my… fondness to protect the uniformed personnel...For as long as they do their duty and in the performance of duty, they would never have any problem,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Duterte was apparently referring to the trimmed down number of officers that he would be firing — around 90, as of last Sunday, whom he branded as “gangsters” amid their alleged connivance with crime syndicates in the country.

During his speech at the celebration of Senator Manny Pacquiao’s birthday party, the President maintained he would not allow anyone, including policemen, to use their job in committing crimes, such as being involved in robbery and illicit drugs trade.

“You have been used to perpetrate crimes. You will be removed because of that. You will lose your job.

That’s your fault,” he said, addressing the police.

Customs...

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Customs said there was a strong basis to hold the respondents criminally liable for smuggling.

Meanwhile, more than 15 kilograms of shabu worth at least P75 million that were seized by Customs personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to be destroyed.

Combined agents of Customs and PDEA nabbed two people, identified as Francis MelvinFeliciano and Raquel Kilario Dela Cruz, after claiming the package at FedEx by presenting a fake ID of one Michael Espino Cruz while the two others, identified as Rogelio Almodiel and Hasmine Erquiza, were being sought by government operatives.

The respondents in the P6.4-billion smuggling case include the Philippine Hongfei Logistics Group of Companies Inc. chairman Chen Ju Long, also known as Richard Tan or Richard Chen, alleged customs fixer Mark Ruben Taguba II, businessman Kenneth Dong, Eirene May Tatad, owner of EMT Trading, consignee of the drug shipment; Taiwanese nationals Chen Min and Jhu Ming Jyun, warehouseman Fidel Anoche Dee, customs broker Teejay Marcellana, Manny Li and unidentified individuals whom Customs believed to have been involved in the shabu shipment.

Customs rejected Taguba’s claims that the identity of the shipment found by authorities in Hong Fei’s warehouse in Valenzuela City on May 26 had not been “sufficiently established,” noting Chen’s counter-affidavit showing it was the same shipment, MCLU6001881, that arrived at the warehouse. sons with the discretionary Priority Development Assistance Fund that the Supreme Court ruled as illegal.

To guard against unauthorized releases, lawmakers would still have to request from the departments, particularly the DBM for the implementation of these programs, Diokno said.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PCSO execs welcome probe on P6-m‘party’ OFFICIALS of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Thursday said they are open to any investigation on the millions of pesos allegedly spent by the agency’s for its Christmas party that was held in a five-star hotel. PCSO chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz refuted the claims of newly-appointed board member and former jueteng whistleblower Sandra Cam’s claim that the agency spent around P10 million for its annual Christmas Party, saying that the exact amount was only P6 million that was approved by the Budget department.

“Yung P10 million po na figure, it’s an exaggerated [figure],” Corpuz said.

PCSO general manager Balutan said that the bulk of the remaining amount, or P8 million, was added to the agency’s calamity fund for the areas affected

by Typhoon ‘‘Urduja.’’

The P6 million meanwhile, went to the 1,500 PCSO employees as raffle and cash prizes for performances.

The winning group received P200,000; followed by P150,000, P100,000 for the second and third prizes, respectively; and P50,000 each to the groups that bagged fourth and fifth places.

As an agency with nationwide operations, Corpuz likewise defended the choice of venue, the ballroom of Edsa Shangri-La Hotel near the agency’s head office in Mandaluyong—which is the only venue that can accommodate all of PCSO’s 1,580 employees.

“Ganito po ‘yun, it’s a Christmas party for the whole employees of the PCSO that’s about 1,580.

Hindi lang naman sa head office ‘yan. There’s no any venue that can accommodate that much na malapit sa opisina namin,” he said.

Balutan said the PCSO employees deserved that kind of party and added that the five-star hotel was not even big enough to fit all of them. “[They] worked hard to raise PCSO earnings from P37.4 billion to P51 billion by the end of 2017, a record high in history,” he said.

“We also have to take care of the employees stripped of their Christmas bonuses and 13th month pay. What they get are only basic salaries,” he added.

In a Palace news briefing, Malacañang refrained from commenting on the reported P6-million Christmas party of the PCSO, adding it will not slip past the watchful eye of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I have no information yet. I think you know that the President does not tolerate extravagance so we do not know yet. I’m sure the President will look into the matter,” Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said.

“As you know, he’s very sensitive to what is reported by his own people in the different branches of government. Let’s just say that, with or without an order, the President takes heed,” he added.

Roque said he is not sure if the said amount, whether P10 million or P6 million, can be called extravagant as Cam claims, considering the number of employees the PCSO has nationwide.

He assured that he will communicate with both Cam and Balutan before making further comments.

‘Palace not sanctioning Davao Boys’ operations’

By John Paolo Bencito

GOOD LUCK. A pool sweeper clears the fountain area at the Circuit Makati of debris and coins thrown in by guests for good luck in preparation for the various holiday activities this week. Diana Noche

Tax evasion raps filed vs Olongapo hospital

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue has asked the the Department of Justice to criminally prosecute officials of a hospital in Olongapo City in Zambales for allegedly failing to remit withholding taxes worth over P15 million.

In a complaint, the BIR sought the indictment of executives of Our Lady of Lourdes International Medical Center Inc. led by its president Dr. Noel Lacsamana for violation of the National International Revenue Code.

The revenue collection agency accused the hospital administration of non-remittance of withholding taxes

totaling P15,709,671.73 from professional fees of its doctors and the compensation of its employees.

“Despite various notifications, the respondent hospital still failed to settle its outstanding account and to remit taxes due to the BIR,” the BIR said, “The deliberate failure on the part of Lourdes

Medical to remit and pay the aforesaid taxes to the BIR greatly prejudiced the government,” it said.

The BIR alleged that Lourdes Medical did not pay withholding taxes on compensation covering the periods of November and December 2015 and January to December 2016 as well as expanded withholding tax during the same periods and January to April and June of this year.

Meanwhile, separate tax evasion charges were also filed against a contractor from Pampanga for nonpayment of excise taxes amounting to P12.447 million and possession of cigarettes without necessary tax stamps.

It specifically accused Jeric Maninang of violating Sections 263,

265 (c) and 258 of NIRC through his San Fernando, Pampanga based construction business J.U.M. Construction.

The case stemmed from the 60 boxes of assorted cigarettes with fake tax stamps seized by police from the truck of the company.

“No valid internal revenue stamps were found on the packs of cigarettes tested. Based on the fourday validation activity conducted by the BIR, 100 percent of the total stamps tested on the cigarette packs loaded in the turn were found to be fake and were confiscated,” the BIR complaint stated.

“The stamps are fake since they did not contain one of the multi-layered security features of a valid internal revenue stamp.

The fact that the packs of cigarettes did not come from the manufacturing plant is proof that the internal revenue stamps affixed in the packs of cigarettes are fake and that no excise tax was paid,” it stressed.

The bureau further alleged that Maninang did not even register his business with the BIR and pay the required annual registration fee.

“As a consequence of the criminal acts of respondent Maninang of using fake internal revenue stamps, it evaded payment of the correct excise tax amounting to a total deficiency excise tax per P12,447,000, inclusive of increments,” it pointed out.

The BIR filed the two cases under the Run After Tax Evaders program.

Pimentel files ‘reso’ on Canadian trash dumped in PH

By Macon Araneta SENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III has filed Senate Resolution 553 seeking a formal inquiry into the Canadian trash dumped into the country that has been the subject of contentious issues by several environmental groups.

The resolution, in aid of legislation, is in specific relation to the 103 container vans of trash from Canada that entered the Philippines

from 2013 to 2015.

Beginning June 2013, Chronic, Inc. an Ontariobased firm, shipped to its Philippine-counterpart, Chronic Plastics, Inc. in Valenzuela City 50 container vans declared to contain recyclable plastics.

These arrived in six batches at the Manila International Container Port.

In February 2014, Pimentel said the Bureau of Customs filed a criminal case against Chronic Plastics Inc., against its

owner Adelfa Eduardo and licensed customs brokers Leonora Flores and Sherjun Saldon for violating Sections 3601 and 3602 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, Art. 172 in relation to Art. 171 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines and RA 6969 (Toxic Substance and Hazardous Wastes and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990).

The case was raffled to Manila RTC Presiding Judge Tita Alisuag who

subsequently issued an order on June 30, 2016 directing the shipment of the trash back to Canada at the expense of Chronic Plastics Inc. “We have to determine whether there are sufficient legal safeguards restricting the indiscriminate entry and dumping of solid waste and harmful trash into the Philippines and to formulate laws imposing high penalties for the introduction into the

country of all forms of trash,” Pimentel explained.

In June 2015, despite protests from environmental groups and the LGU concerned, the contents of 26 container vans were dumped at a private landfill in Capas, Tarlac.

In the same year, the BOC discovered that more container vans of garbage were shipped by Live Green Enterprise from Canada to Manila in several batches between December 2013 and January 2014.

Bello says govt will bring home OFWs stranded in Hong Kong

By Vito Barcelo THE Department of Labor and Employment said it will use its lone Philippine Air Force C-130 airplane to ferry hundreds of overseas Filipino workers stranded in Hong Kong after their travel agency failed to confirm their flight bookings before Christmas day.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that the department is also coordinating with the Philippine Airlines to arrange flights for the affected OFWs, reportedly numbering around 1,000.

“The government is now working toward helping the Philippine-bound OFWs who were stuck in Hong Kong after their travel agency failed to confirm

their flight bookings on time,” Bello said.

Bello assured the affected OFWs that they will be home with their families before Christmas day.

The labor chief claimed that the department got confirmation from PAL that it will update their flight from Hong Kong to Manila to have “extra seats” to accommodate the OFWs. “They committed that the stranded Filipino workers will be home in two to three days or before Christmas,” Bello said.

The DoLE is also coordinating with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and requested Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana for a C-130 plane to bring the OFWs home.

MUSLIM PROTEST. Muslim demonstrators hold a placard with a picture of US President Donald Trump during a protest near the Israeli embassy in Manila on Dec. 21, 2017, against Trump’s recent decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The decision triggered protests across the Muslim world and drawing strong condemnation. AFP

THE government is not sanctioning the alleged operations of the so-called Davao Boys at the Quezon City Police District Station Six, Malacañang insisted Thursday.

In a Palace news briefing Thursday, Palace Spokesman Harry Roque also accused foreign wire service Reuters of committing “bad journalism” when it published the special report without getting the side of the administration.

“Is the government sanctioning the alleged operations of this Davao group? Clearly not because in that petition, government did not oppose it. In effect, government agreed with the allegations of the petition and that’s why there was a writ of protection issued,” Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said in a news briefing.

Despite admitting that he has not yet read Reuters’ story on Quezon City’s “Davao Boys,” Roque said that the Supreme Court has issued a Writ of Amparo against the police station.

“Government, when that petition for amparo was filed in the Supreme Court, did not oppose the petition and that’s why the Supreme Court issued the writ of amparo,” he added, saying that the government’s nonopposition to the petition showed that it was not condoning the killings.

“If the investigation concludes that the police operation complained about was pursuant to the law, then the President will stand by the policemen.”

“But as in the case of Kian, if it is proven that there was excessive use of force and that the use of force is tantamount to murder, then the President will order their prosecution.”

S’bayan oks Revilla plea for Christmas furlough

By Rio N. Araja THE Sandiganbayan has granted the plea of formersenator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to spend Christmas Eve at home in Cavite.

In a minute resolution, the anti-graft court’s First Division partially granted Revilla’s motion to leave the Philippine National Police’s Custodial Center at Camp Crame on Dec. 24 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and be with his family.

“The Court allows the aforesaid accused to leave his place of detention for his residence in Bacoor, Cavite from 11 o’clock in the morning up to 9 o’clock in the evening of Dec. 24, 2017,” the order read.

“All expenses to be incurred by the PNP for the personal escorts and security measures in all movements and dispositions of the accused outside Camp Crame until his return to his detention facility, as authorized herein, shall be shouldered and paid by the said accused.”

The Sandiganbayan also granted the appeal of Revilla’s former chief of staff, lawyer Richard Cambe, to spend Christmas Eve with his family in Imus, Cavite on Dec. 24 from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.

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Opinion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017

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EDITORIAL

Another tax reform

M

ANY sectors and critics will slam the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion, or TRAIN, law for being anti-consumer.

Prices of petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel, soft drinks, coalbased electricity and cars will, indeed, increase under the TRAIN provisions.

But the tax reform package will exempt those earning P250,000 a year from paying income taxes, sparing 99 percent of Filipinos, except the richest with a taxable income above

Adelle Chua, Editor

P8 million, who will face a tax of 35 percent. The exemption, according to Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, will raise the spending capacity of the average working

Filipino.

The TRAIN, actually the first phase of the government’s comprehensive tax reform package, is expected to yield about P92 billion in revenues for the first year that will fund the President Rodrigo Duterte’s priority and social infrastructure programs—including free education, quality health care, social protection and conditional cash transfers.

The reform package also aims to finance

the government’s ambitious infrastructure program and the reconstruction of Marawi City, and reduce poverty from 21.6 percent to a targeted 14 percent by 2022.

The TRAIN, while providing relief to the lower income group, is essentially a revenueraising initiative aimed at funding the national budget with less reliance on borrowings.

The nation’s foreign creditors and multilateral lending institu-

tions always view a tax reform package on a positive note because it instills fiscal discipline and ultimately leads to sustained economic growth.

The Philippines last enacted a tax reform package in 2005, when then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed the Expanded VAT law in 2005 to stave off a fiscal crisis.

The revenue measure yielded its desired results and rewarded the succeeding adminis-

tration of former President Benigno Aquino III with upgrades from international credit rating agencies.

The same credit rating agencies will notice the tax reform initiative of President Duterte’s administration and will likely grant the Philippines further rating upgrades. The tax reform package, hopefully, will result this time in a more inclusive economic growth that will benefit a wider section of the population.

PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

The decolonization of Christmas IT’S beginning not to feel like Christmas…and there was no typo there. That is exactly how it feels to a significantly increasing number of people. It shows in many ways: There is only a token effort to set up Christmas finery when, decades ago, households outdid each other in adorning their homes for the holidays; less Christmas carols heard over television that incessantly blast us with the shouting and the screaming from the “biriteras” who are stupidly acclaimed as nightingales —hyenas would be more appropriate, decreased attendance at Aguinaldo Masses, confusion over whether it is still “politically correct” to greet oth-

It is a story of utmost tenderness.

Rebuffed BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO WHAT’S with this guy Gadon?

Lorenzo Gadon, the lawyer complainant in the impeachment case against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, was rebuked once again for dictating on the House justice committee to subpoena the accused to appear in the ongoing hearing in the lower chamber.

House justice committee chairman Rep. Reynaldo Umali told Gadon to “shut up” and stop dictating on Congress what to do. Umali reminded Gadon about the law that CJ Sereno is an accused and not a witness who can be compelled to testify in her own case. As a lawyer himself, Gadon should know

this but he did not which casts doubt on how his case will prosper in the Senate when the House prosecution panel is at odds with the chief complainant.

A legal analyst following the House hearing on the Sereno case said some of the issues raised against the chief magistrate appear to be personally motivated and could be disputed. What could be the smoking gun and where she is vulnerable is in the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth filed by Sereno , according to the legal analyst.

This is because there is a precedent in the case of the late CJ Renato Corona who was convicted in the Senate impeachment trial for not stating his true SALN. Umali and Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Farinas said Sereno cannot be compelled to attend the House hearing as it would create a constitu-

tional crisis under the principle of separation of powers between the legislative and the judiciary. They told Gadon that Sereno can only appear in the Senate for her impeachment trial.

During the House justice

As a lawyer, Gadon should really know better. committee hearings, Gadon was told twice by Umali to be the one to provide documents and witnesses in the case and not let Congress do his work for him. It will, however, be a House panel that will serve as prosecutor once the articles of im-

peachment are forwarded to the Senate which will convene itself into a court with the Senate president as presiding judge. This was the process followed in the impeachment case against Corona.

Former senator Juan Ponce Enrile then the Senate president was the presiding judge in the Corona case. Enrile pointed out that the primary intent of an impeachment case is the removal of the culpable official. It is not to arrest nor imprison him or her if convicted by the Senate court.

Enrile earned praise for his handling of the Corona case. Can present Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel do the job as well?

He might have a harder time considering many of the present roster are not lawyers and versed in legal procedure particularly in a case of such sensitive nature in-

volving the highest official of the judiciary. It would be interesting to hear just the questions that are going to be asked by the non-lawyers . Their biggest contribution to the case during the trial would be their silence. Yes, be silent, listen and learn.

Derailment Although already inured to the frequent breakdown of the Metro Rail Transit, riders still shuddered at the news report of a commuter train derailment in Washington state that injured several passengers. What has the MRT management done about the non-compatible rail and train wheels of the carriages purchased from the Chinese company Dalian? The carriage purchase was “dalian” like the procurement of the dangerous dengue vaccine Dengvaxia by our health officials. No due diligence was done in both cases . Will the Chinese firm replace the

trains or reimburse MRT? This is a major accident waiting to happen if the Department of Transportation does not act on this irregular transaction that puts passengers’ lives at risk.

Former President Noynoy Aquino’s defense on the hasty purchase of Dengvaxia said “we wanted to save lives” does not wash with us.

Not known for wanting to save lives as shown when he told top brass of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to stand down, he left 44 commandos of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force to be massacred

by MILF, BIFF and Abu Sayyaf butchers. This, after Aquino sent them on a dangerous mission to capture bomber terrorist Marwan in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. For this act of abandonment of his troops, Noynoy is facing charges of criminal neglect.

ers with a “Merry Christmas,” and the shameful eviction of Santa Claus from children’s stories and dreams as a danger to their fragile psyches.

My brother posted on Facebook: “Do not forget how it all began…” and he posted a picture of the Crib of Bethlehem. I join him in that crusade to decolonize Christmas. The reason has been wrested from Christians and forced from the womb of their faith with the thoughtlessness and arrant cruelty with which abortions take place. In our obsession with “political correctness”—not wanting to offend others of other faiths (and unfaith) and persuasions— we are reticent about announcing the Birth of Him who is the reason of Christmas. And yet we have more than doubled the number of Muslim celebrations observed by the whole nation. With that, I have no quarrel at Turn to A5

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Opinion FLORENCIO FIANZA

Term extensions grade within a period, then he is retired. If he does gets promoted within a regulatory period, he gets another extension and so on. If this officer gets to be the selected as PNP chief or AFP chief of staff, he gets another extension.

Eventually, if all the extensions are added up, we will be able to find officers serving up to the maximum age of 60 or 61. Not really old but at least another five years is added to their service. This does not have to be limited to front-line personnel but can also include those in the technical services like the medical and legal services. At age 56, doctors, nurses and lawyers are still at their productive best and retiring them that early is truly a waste of money and talent. This is also true to the personnel in the jail and fire management bureaus.

Other countries tackle the problem of retiring military men differently. In Indonesia, for example, retiring high-ranking military officers spend two years in a sort of a halfway house to serve in other fields of endeavours before finally being pensioned off. In our case, there is no slow transition but an abrupt end.

It is of course just fortunate that President Duterte seems to have a favorable view of the work ethics of military men that is why so many have been appointed to various government positions. But this is more the exception than the rule. Once President Duterte ends his term, it is doubtful whether we will see so many retired military and police officers in government again. The benefits of amending the retirement law covering military and police personnel is therefore obvious.

The government will not have to pay pensions so early but also retain the services of trained personnel much longer. Those who fall along the way because of the attrition will likewise ensure that only the best will be allowed to continue to serve. *** Since Christmas is upon us, the media is again beginning its temperature watch to see whether the 6.1 degrees Celsius recorded in Baguio City in 1961 could be broken. Already, the temperature has dipped to 10.5 and it is only December. Maybe we can see a lower temperature than the 7.1 degrees recorded early this year.

Speaking of record low temperatures in Baguio, the 6.1 was actually not the lowest ever recorded.

In a book written about the Baguio Country Club in 1910, the lowest temperature recorded was 3.1 degrees and lower still at higher parts of the City like Santo Tomas. That temperature was of course not official unlike the 1961 recording but it shows that lower temperatures have been recorded in the past.

Merry Christmas and a better New Year for all of us.

The decolonization...

From A4

all. I am glad to celebrate with our brother and sister Muslims, but Christians should not begrudged their joyful remembrance of the birth of Jesus to Mary following the mysterious announcement by an Angel. Secularism and indifference to religion should not be forced on society and the intolerant should not be allowed to prevail. If unbelievers loathe the sight of a creche, that is their problem. They have to deal with their own myopia. But to rid society of all symbols of faith, to

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Same-sex

DUTY CALLS

IN A span of about a month, President Duterte extended the services of both the AFP Chief Staff and the PNP Chief for a few months.

The reason given for extending General Rey Guerrero’s term was that with only two months till he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56, nothing can be accomplished.

Then again, even with an additional four months, it is hard to see what he can realistically do except to give him more time to enjoy his promotion.

PNP Chief Bato de la Rosa’s services was also extended for two to three months because of a mission given by the President. To be fair with the President, he is not the only President who extended the services of a retiring uniformed officer. There were some who have been extended in the past, but at least, this practice was never abused by presidents who succeeded President Marcos.

During martial law, the practice was thoroughly abused that only those who were close to the powersthat-be were extended to the detriment of other officers. It was one of the major causes of the rebellion that finally toppled the Marcos government.

Since then, extending the services of men in uniform have been few and far in between. The problem with extensions is that once it is done it has a negative domino effect.

In the case of De la Rosa, his three-month extension will cut the term of his presumptive successor Police General Ramon Apolinario who himself will have less than a year to serve if indeed he will be appointed.

Will the President also extend his term?

The revolving-door policy with regard to appointing officers to lead the PNP and the AFP has been recognized as a problem needing reform for some time.

When the lives of Filipinos are getting longer and pension funds are eating up a big portion of the national budget, there is a need to find ways to save government money. Already some countries around the world are extending the retirement age of public servants from 65 to 66 or 67.

In the military, people serving in the top echelons are also getting older.

For instance, the current Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff of the United States is in his sixties while his counterpart here is retiring at 56. As they say, 60 is now the new 50. If a law is passed amending the retirement law governing the military and police, then the government will be able to harness the talents of men and women way beyond the age of 56.

For example, officers who attain the rank of Brigadier General or its equivalent should automatically get an extension of, say, one year no matter what his age is. If he cannot be promoted to the next higher

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017

FORMATION GARY OLIVAR OUR profane, woman-loving alpha male of a President has changed his tune and now come out in favor of same-sex marriage.

Speaking before an LGBT audience in his native Davao City, Duterte flat-out said, “Ako gusto ko, same-sex marriage.” At the same time, he warned them that “we have to change the law” in order to accommodate such a radical shift in the country’s mores.

I half-expected his usual critics in the Commission on Human Rights to applaud him. After all, given the rule of thumb that 10 percent of a population is usually gay, we’re talking about 10-million Filipinos (male and female) being shielded from “marital discrimination.” That’s a lot of human rights on the line.

Even the Left could have weighed in on his side. Gay marriages are standard practice inside the CPPNPA, which theoretically is no longer bound by JudeoChristian scruples. The model was set by Alexander the Great, the gay conqueror, who believed that men fight more fiercely for each other if they’re not just a “band of brothers,” but also a bunch of lovers.

Unfortunately, Duterte wasn’t cut any slack by his critics, even during the holidays, and even after such a surprising disclosure. If an innocent girl like his granddaughter was so badly savaged online simply for posing for photos inside the Palace, could her Lolo have expected any better treatment from the trolls?

*** The problems with samesex marriage are rooted in religious belief. For people who care about such things in this nominally Catholic country, the Church’s position is crystal clear: “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of great depravity, tradition has always declared that ‘homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.’

They are contrary to natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life…

Under no circumstances can they be approved.”

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, § 2357).

So the religious objection goes deeper than the Church’s Judaic roots, which include various practices that were long ago abandoned as archaic, such as prescribed diets and hygienic rituals.

The proscription against homosexuality rises from a fundamental claim: That the human condition, marriage, even Nature itself, are “ordered to” the transmission of life, God’s unique gift. By that definition, “homosexual acts” are, in the plainest anatomical terms, “disordered.”

This is why same-sex marriages simply can’t be sanctioned by the Church.

There may be a lot more love and loyalty in many gay marriages than there are in straight ones, especially in this country of philanderers. As well, marital fidelity between gays, in this age of AIDS, has got to be better than the promiscuity that seems innate in that orientation among males.

But it isn’t just a question of love, nor even of public health. The issue is sacra-

mental, not sentimental.

Gay Catholics may well end up leaving the Church because of it. But the possibility of losing such souls is deemed preferable to the certainty of Heaven closing its gates to them if they persist with proscribed acts, uncounselled and unrepentant. *** The Catechism goes on to acknowledge that “the homosexual inclination constitutes a trial [for most homosexuals].” Who can deny this, in our culture of extended families where practically everyone is related by blood or affinity to someone who’s gay? It can only make your heart bleed to witness the lifelong emotional and social hardships suffered by a gay sibling, or cousin, or child.

On top of this, the Church’s advice to homosexuals is positively draconian: “[They] are called to chastity.” (Catechism, §2359) What a price to pay—the lifelong denial of one’s sexuality—just to remain true to one’s Catholic beliefs!

The only way I think one can live with this is to remember that everybody— not just you—has his or her cross to bear. Rarely are we given a choice in the matter.

We may think of the loving son who has to watch his parent struggle with the monstrous pain of an incurable cancer, instead of agreeing to a mercy killing. Or the young girl who decides to keep the child in her womb who was conceived from a rape. Or the unhappy couple who endure decade after decade of loveless marriage for the sake of their children and

their faith.

All of them too have their crosses to bear. It may help to heed the advice of our faith: That the heavier one’s cross is, the more bountiful the graces one receives. But one must be disposed to look to the hereafter for this reward, and not just to the here and now. *** Where the President converges with Church teaching would be in this admonition to mercy: “Homosexuals must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.”

(Catechism, § 2358) One product of our Church-nurtured spirituality is our high level of tolerance for homosexual behavior—some would say excessively so, in view of the growing influence of gay vocabulary, humor, dress, movies, and other cultural accoutrements.

Day-to-day discrimination does not seem to be a major problem for local gays. And yet, to their credit, local LGBT leaders are still treading cautiously, careful not to needlessly provoke sleeping conservatives.

On the matter of samesex marriage, most of them are simply asking for civil partnerships, at least for now. Marriage in this country is too heavily invested with religious trappings that will not be easily abandoned even by cultural Catholics, including many devout gays themselves.

Duterte promised to create a commission, with LGBT representation, that will presumably include same-sex marriage and other gay issues in

its agenda. That’s another step forward for them, whether or not warranted by any urgency in their situation today.

Gay activists are pushing for their own favorite legislation, the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression (Sogie) Equality Bill, which has already passed third reading in the House. We’re not sure what its contents are, but judging from the title, we’re likely to be looking at demands for more assertiveness in expressing gay identity and orientation—regardless of how influential in fact they may already be today. *** At the end of the day, who can quarrel with the principles of equality and non-discrimination? Our only caveat is for us to make sure that protection of a minority does not over time degenerate into repression of the majority in the name of “political correctness.” This disease has already infested much of the West, and should be kept away from our shores.

By the same token, who can quarrel with the principle of Church-state separation? It’s enshrined in our Constitution. But we should keep asking ourselves, as one challenge comes up after another: Are we a Christian nation, or are we simply a nation of Christians?

The way we answer this is likely to evolve our time.

Upon our answers will depend no less than the kind of morality we set for ourselves, which will guide our laws and the way we live with each other.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

Duterte consolidates power VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ 2017 was a year of consolidation for Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the most powerful Philippine president since Ferdinand Marcos (who was president for 20 years, from end-1965 to Feb. 25, 1986).

Duterte’s once ragtag PDP-Laban party easily captured majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, ensuring the passage of priority legislation such as the 2018 full-year P3.7-trillion national budget and the contentious tax law called TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion).

TRAIN exempts some seven-million taxpayers from tax if their annual income does not exceed P250,000 but slaps hefty taxes on gasoline and diesel, high-priced vehicles, juices and drinks with high sugar content, mineral extraction, and coal, the source of 50 percent of the country’s power generation.

Duterte has waged a vicious war on drugs that has resulted in the killing of 3,900 drug addicts and

consign the narratives to the tenderest moments of human history, and the noblest expressions of the highest of human aspirations to private discourse, behind the closed doors of one’s own home, and in whispers is to allow a society where the intolerant prevail.

Christmas is a story of utmost tenderness—and after all that the world has been through, the cruelty that has torn it asunder and crushed lives to the ground, the story of a Virgin entrusted to the care of a carpenter, giving birth to God’s son in the lowliness of a stable, while the heavens are rent by the song of the angelic choirs proclaiming

their leaders. That’s more casualties than the 3,000 alleged to have been killed extra-judicially or without due process during the 14 years of strongman rule of Marcos from September 1972 to February 1986.

Duterte enjoys an 80 percent trust rating.

Duterte has defeated the extremist terrorist group Maute in Mindanao.

He has declared the Communist Party of the Philippines, and its military arm, the New People’s Army terrorist groups too, forcing their 3,000 guerillas and their legal fronts, to be on the run because they will either be killed or arrested.

The President has proved a capable leader on the world stage and one accepted by the international community with the successful hosting of the summit of the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in November 2017, and the Asean summits with leaders of their dialogue partners which included the United States, China, Japan, Russia, Canada, India, and Europe. He has managed a pivot to China without antagonizing the US, whose friendship he keeps, and even while being cozy with

Russia.

Duterte defeated the most serious threat to his presidency—and to the nation— the five-month siege on the Muslim city of Marawi, in southern Philippines, from May 23, 2017 to Oct. 23, 2017, with the killing of the two leaders and terrorists of the bandit group Maute — Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon, on Oct. 16, 2017.

Hapilon was leader of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf which had affiliated with the global terrorist group ISIS. When terrorists occupied Marawi City late afternoon of May 23, 2017, Duterte, then visiting Moscow, declared martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, a right given citizens requiring the state to produce persons who are in government custody for alleged acts of criminality or terrorism.

Congress has twice extended martial law in Mindanao, from 60 days in the first proclamation, to until Dec. 31, 2018—a total of one year, seven months and eight days. It is the longest martial rule in the Philippines since President Ferdinand E. Marcos’ 14 years, from September 1972 to 1986. Martial law

the birth of a redeemer to shepherds— this beautiful, inimitable story has to be told once more, and the carols must be heard, to soothe our aching hearts and to fill our empty spirits. The monied should be denied their monopoly of Christmas, and that means making the home and the hearth the seat of Christmas, not malls and shopping centers.

Decolonizing Christmas means refusing to make political correctness prevail over the choice of the human mind and the human spirit to believe. Decolonizing Christmas means refusing the identification of tolerance with indifference towards one’s own persuasions, of plurality with tepidity in respect to one’s

made Marcos a dictator, ruling by decree and using the military to enforce his will.

With the Executive and Legislative branches of government doing his bidding, Duterte has also focused on the judiciary.

His partymates in the Judiciary Committee of the 294-strong House of Representatives have been feverishly conducting hearings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for alleged culpable violations of the Constitution and for alleged abuses as chief justice such as delaying the release of pension and retirement benefits of retired and dead judges and justices, denying due process to an applicant for justice in the high court, and repeatedly violating the sacrosanct en banc rule of the Supreme Court itself.

The House Justice Committee has found the impeachment complaint of private lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon “sufficient in form and substance,” having been endorsed by 41 congressmen. With that finding, Sereno could be facing an impeachment trial before the Senate as a body which acts as an impeachment court. The betting is that she will be ousted.

fundamental persuasions.

In fact, the terrible trail of mayhem and destruction that militant religion has unleashed proclaims two things: first, that religion is an insistent phenomenon because it is a basic human phenomenon, and that the path to peace cannot lie in the elimination of religion. Feuerbach and Marx thought that—and they were wrong, both as a matter of philosophical theory and as a matter of history. Second, where religion allows itself to be colonized, whether by the market or by political correctness or by government or even by law, it asserts itself with a vengeance and can ignite the most explosive

Duterte’s followers have also threatened impeachment against Vice President Leni Robredo and anti-graft prosecutor Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales.

Impeachment is a political process, meaning even if strictly, the impeachable accused may not be guilty based purely and technically on evidence, the members of the House and the Senate, being politicians go by first impressions, political instincts, and political realities in making judgments under the catch-all phrase “betrayal of the public trust.”

That is how the late Chief Justice Renato Corona was removed in 2011. He was found guilty by the 24-member Senate, voting 22-2, on the flimsy excuse that he failed to declare in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth peso and dollar deposits.

In Sereno’s case, in prior years before becoming Supreme Court justice, she not only failed to declare certain incomes in her SALN, she failed to file her SALNs for a number of years when she was a law professor at the state University of the Philippines. biznewsasia@g mail. com

of sentiments.

Why the ox and the ass (the fourlegged kind!) at the Manger? In the Prophecy of Isaiah, we read that God accuses of his people of forgetting him, in shameful contrast to ox and ass that recognize their Master. All is not lost, for as long as humanity knows where its heart is—and that is something neither market nor political strategy nor military might can neither calculate nor overcome! A Merry Christmas to all. rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Negros governor hit with graft raps

By Rio N. Araja

N

EGROS Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo is facing graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents before the Sandiganbayan over alleged misuse of calamity funds in 2012.

The charges arose from the award of 11 infrastructure contracts amounting to P143.2 million in 2012, despite a Department of Budget and Management notice recalling the special allotment release order for the provincial government due to its failure to comply with the requirements and guidelines.

Danilo Mendez, former provincial treasurer, was included in the charges.

The projects were intended

for areas in Negros Oriental struck by Typhoon “Sendong” in 2011 and a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in 2012.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman ordered anew Degamo’s dismissal from service over the alleged anomalous utilization of his province’s 2013 budget.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the filing of charges against Degamo for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Prac-

tices Act or Republic Act No. 3019.

Morales meted Degamo the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility, and forfeiture of retirement benefits, and barred him from taking the civil service examination.

In April 2016, the Ombudsman had also ordered Degamo’s dismissal for grave misconduct in connection with the disburse-

ment of calamity funds in 2013.

The second dismissal order was anchored on the Ombudsman’s finding that the governor gave the green light to release the questionable P10 million intelligence fund to his office.

Degamo was already serving a 90-day suspension for that issue when the new graft charge was filed against him.

The Ombudsman’s dismissal order was served to the gover-

nor early Tuesday, Dec. 19. Department of Interior and Local Government Regional Director Rene Burdeos and DILG Negros Oriental Officer Dennis Quiñones served the order outside Degamo’s home in Barangay Junob, Dumaguete, while he was out of town.

The guard on duty refused to receive the dismissal order, so Burdeos and his group placed the white envelope containing it on a chair.

6-vehicle crash stalls PH poised Edsa traffic for hours for exports

By Joel E. Zurbano

ANIMAL ‘SANTA.’ Malabon Zoo Aquarium and Botanical Garden owner Manny Tangco (center), the orangutan named Pacquiao and a baby lion club named Lenlen play Santa to around 200 orphans and 20 Holy Face sisters who visited the zoo on Thursday.

Andrew Rabulan

AT LEAST six persons were hurt, including a television reporter for ABSCBN, following a collision involving five vehicles and a motorcycle along the northbound lane underpass of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue near Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City Thursday afternoon.

The incident happened around 1:45 p.m. and caused heavy traffic on both lanes of Edsa for at least four hours, according to the Metro Manila Development Authority.

ABS-CBN reporter Doris Bigornia and one of her news crew, Marcopolo Gutierrez, were hurt on board their vehicle on their way to cover an event in Cubao, Quezon City. They were rushed to the Medical City in Pasig City.

Most of the victims sustained minor head and body injuries.

The vehicles involved were two Mitsubishi Montero sport-utility vehicles, a Toyota Vios under Grab Express, a Mitsubishi Mirage, a motorcycle, and the ABSCBN pick-up truck.

MMDA supervising officer for operation Edison Nebrija Jr. said the collisions led to heavy traffic on both lanes of Edsa and

on the northbound lane of South Superhighway.

“The traffic situation on the southbound is from Kamuning Street [Quezon City] while the northbound traffic is all the way to Ayala Avenue [Makati City],” Nebrija said.

According to Nebrija, the collisions happened after one of the SUVs went on a sudden unintended acceleration — a situation previously reported by Montero owners.

“Talagang biglang bumilis, iyun ang sinasabi ng driver [It really sped up suddenly, that’s what the driver said],” the MMDA official said.

The MMDA, in coordination with the Eastern Police District - Traffic Management Office, will investigate the incident further.

The agency had just conducted a forum on road safety in a bid to stop the increasing numbers of road accidents in the metropolis.

It urged motorists to observe discipline and courtesy while driving to prevent road accidents.

Based on the MMDA’s latest Road Crash Statistics Report, 52,872 road accidents were recorded in the National Capital Region during the first half of the year—an average of about 293 accidents a day.

Stay away from crimes while behind bars, Aguirre tells new inmates

By Rey E. Requejo

JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has asked new inmates of the New Bilibid Prisons not to engage in illegal drug activities or any other crimes while serving their sentence there.

“Don’t get involved in any

mess or anomalous activities here. Don’t get involved in drugs and other crimes here,” Aguirre told more than 1,800 new inmates or persons deprived of liberties at the national penitentiary, who will be spending their first Christmas behind bars.

The DoJ chief stressed that eradi-

cating illegal drugs in the country, including inside the NBP and other penal farms, is the mission of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“You know this is President Duterte’s mission, to cure the drug menace in the Philippines,” Aguirre said during an outreach program for the new inmates.

The secretary assured the inmates their good behavior inside the prison walls will be rewarded with their early release.

“Under the new law on good conduct and time allowance, good conduct and spending time will be the key for your early release,” he stressed.

On Dec. 1, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government launched the Uniform Manual on Time Allowances and Service of Sentence, which will be used by both the Bureau of Corrections and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Philippines is poised to start exporting bananas, mangoes, pineapples, coconut oil, and other agricultural products to Turkmenistan, as the two countries recently discussed ways to expand their bilateral cooperation in various fields.

In a bilateral meeting, the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Middle East and African Affairs and Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan sought to expand partnerships particularly in the fields of agriculture, labor, tourism, small and medium enterprises, trade, sports, and investments.

Although they have not pegged a date for the Philippines to start exporting goods to the former Soviet republic, DFA-OMEAA Assistant Secretary Hjayceelyn Quintana stressed the great potential for exporting tropical fruits to Turkmenistan.

“Pending bilateral agreements on political consultations, trade and economic cooperation, culture and tourism cooperation were likewise discussed during the visit,” Quintana said.

Both countries recognized the important role of their respective chambers of commerce, private sector representatives, and entrepreneurs, in coordinating and cooperating with each other in enhancing bilateral.

Be safe, PNP-ACG reminds shoppers

60k kids, elderly get ‘Bears of Joy’ MORE than 60,000 underprivileged children and elderly all over the country have received the “Bears of Joy” teddy bears since the project of mall giant SM began six years ago.

Elena Bautista Horn, SM’s vice president for Corporate Communications, said the Bears of Joy project has become a yearly tradition for some people.

“We are deeply honored that a lot of people have made giving the Bears of Joy a tradition that is part of their yearly shopping. This is certainly giving a gift of joy with a heart, because you not only get a teddy bear that we all love but you are giving another one to our less fortunate brothers and sisters,” Horn said in a press conference.

For the past six years, shoppers at SM Supermalls, through SM’s corporate social responsibility arm SM Cares and in partnership with Toy Kingdom, have been giving teddy bears to less privileged children and elderly through the project.

Anyone who wants to give teddy bears to indigent, orphaned, or abandoned children and elderly may go to any participating Toy Kingdom in SM malls and buy a pair of bears for P200. One bear goes to the customer and other bear is left for donation to beneficiaries.

Customers write down their name on the card attached to the bear, to make the donation more personal and heartwarming. They are also asked to write their names on a card to be placed on a display board in the selling venues so the donors are publicly acknowledged, Horn said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

to former Soviet state

ROAD INSPECTION. Public Works Secretary Mark Villar (middle) inspects the 7.7-kilometer dual three-lane expressway beginning at the R-1 Parañaque toll plaza to C5 Road in Taguig near the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Thursday. Norman Cruz

THE Advisory Council of the Philippine National Police AntiCybercrime Group is reminding everyone to be safe during the Yuletide season, especially with online shopping and using electronic terminals.

“As the holidays are fast approaching, everyone is busy attending Christmas parties and buying gifts for their loved ones,” the group said in a statement.

“During this time of festivities, we usually see increase in activities, especially in the use of automated teller machines, online shopping, use of credit and debit cards, as well as online banking.”

The council encouraged everyone to undertake the following safety measures to avoid becoming victims: • Be careful when using your ATM cards.

• Keep your eyes open. If you’re looking at an ATM and its PIN (personal identification number) pad looks a bit loose, or see scratches or sticky residue, be wary, as scammers will often attach false fronts to the ATM with tape.

• Cover the PIN pad with your hand. If there is a skimming device on the card reader, there will usually be a pinhole camera mounted underneath the top of the ATM. As the card reader captures the account information, the pinhole cameras record the customers’ PIN.

Sports

A7

Manila

Standard

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

TODAY

Tanauan, Sta. Maria lead quarterfinalists

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AST year’s podium finishers Tanauan A and Sta. Maria, Bulacan, which finished second and third to absentee defending champion Bacolod, may be headed to the finals this time in the 2017 Cebuana LhuillierASAPHIL U-18 Women’s Softball Championship as they led the six teams that qualified for the one-round quarterfinals of the tournament after the completion of the first six games yesterday with similar 2-0 records.

Tanauan A came up with impressive back-to-back wins at the start of the quarterfinals at the Sto. Nino softball field in Marikina, exploding for 6 runs in the third inning en route to a 10-1 victory and followed it up with an abbreviated 6-0 victory over Makati.

On the other hand, Sta. Maria, Bulacan blanked Pasig, 5-0, and with Giselle Villarubia and Alyssa Jean Alindogan leading the attack with two runs apiece

in the 2nd and 5th innings, the Bulacan-based team beat Makati, 11-0.

Another Batangas team, Tanauan B, also posted its first win, 4-2, over Pasig to take solo second place, while Pasig came up with its first win in three games by edging out Rizal, 4-1.

Makati and Rizal share the bottom with similar 0-2 winloss records.

“Despite the inclement weather that affected some of the

games, we are happy with what we are seeing in this tournament. There are a lot of new and taller players that have surfaced and they will be our future national players,” said ASAPHIL President Jean Henri Lhuillier’s Cebuana Lhuillier Group of Companies is backing the weeklong event organized by ASAPHIL as part of its grassroots developmental program for girls’ softball.

The tournament is also backed

by Cebuana Pera Padala, Cebuana Microloans, Cebuana Micro Inc. Cebuana Savings Bank, Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Le Soleil de Boracay, Just Jewels, Palm Rock, and One Hagdan.

This year’s cast of 27 teams coming from all over the country is the biggest in the history of the tournament, which used to be known as the inter-secondary softball championships, but was changed to the U-18 just last year.

Thais complete 1-2 finish SILANG, Cavite—Yupaporn Kawinpakorn bucked the wind and pulled away from Princess Superal after 10 holes then edged Chonlada Chayanun by two despite double-bogeys in the last two holes as Thailand dominated the ICTSI South Forbes Ladies Invitational at the South Forbes Golf Club here yesterday.

Tied with Superal after 36 holes, Kawinpakorn went 4-up with an even card after 10 holes as the local ace fumbled with two bogeys and a double-bogey and the Thai veteran bucked a shaky windup to card a 71 and beat Chayanun by two with a five-over 206 total for her second crown after winning the Philippine Ladies Open 10 years ago.

“I knew I could win here because the course is short. But we had to deal with the wind that blew from all directions all tournament-long,” said Kawinpakorn, after receiving the top

P150,000 purse from Philippine Golf Tour executive director Narlene Soriano during awards rites at the close of the record 11-stage Ladies PGT circuit.

Three behind Kawinpakorn at the start of the final round, Chayanun fell by as many as seven shots after 16 holes but gained a three-shot swing with a birdie on No. 17. But she ran out of holes in her comeback bid, finishing with a 70 and pocketing P95,000 for second with a 208.

It was Chayanun’s second straight runner-up effort after a 1-2-3 romp by the Thais in the Philippine Ladies Masters won

by Renuka Suksukont at The Country Club two weeks ago.

And it was a sorry finish for Superal, who had hoped for a big windup after closing out her second round with three straight birdies to force a tie for the lead.

But she failed to recover from a

bogey-bogey miscue from No. 6 and a double-bogey mishap on the par-3 No. 10.

She dropped another stroke on No. 13, double bogeyed the 15th and wound up with a birdie-parbogey finish for a 74, ending up third at 209 worth P60,000 in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Chihiro Ikeda, five behind Kawinparkorn after 36 holes, blew a one-under card after nine holes with a roller-coaster finish marred by a double-bogey on the final hole. The recent Forest Hills leg winner placed fourth with a 210 while Dottie Ardina failed to follow up a second round 68 with a 73, marred by a triple bogey seven on the final hole. She ended up fifth with a 211 in the tournament backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

VOLLEYBALL UNITY. In a bid to end the long-running conflict in volleyball, the sport’s key officials Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara, Tonyboy Liao and Edgardo ‘Boy’ Cantada have agreed to schedule a meeting. The trio’s main objective is to unite Philippine volleyball for the benefit of all. Shown in photo are (from left) Philippine Volleyball Federation deputy Secretary General Gerard Cantada, Ateneo volleyball team manager TonyBoy Liao, PVF president Edgardo “Boy” Cantada, Philippine Super Liga president Ramon “Tats” Suzara and PVF Secretary General Otie Camangian.

AFP subdues Malacanang-PSC at UNTV Cup THE AFP Cavaliers survived the fourth-quarter onslaught of the Malacañang-PSC Kamao and pulled off a close 73-71 win Tuesday in the UNTV Cup Season 6 at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao, Quezon City.

Pro-baller-turned-soldier Boyet Bautista displayed an all-around performance, chalking up 20 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists and had ample help from Air Force man Jerry Lamungsod (17 pts, 2 rebs), who delivered the winning basket with 7.7 seconds remaining in the game.

Joseph Besa (18 points) led the Kamao, with support from Eric Dela Cuesta (15 points) and Visnu Das Javier (11 points).

In the first game, former MVP Olan Omiping sizzled for 7 three-pointers as the PNP Responders arrested their slump and fashioned out a 95-87 win over the PDEA Drug Busters.

Omiping tallied 28 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals for the policemen, who are eyeing a spot in the quarterfinals.

Japeth Cabahug piled up 13 points and Alejandro Yanquiling had 11 points for PNP. On the other hand, Marlon Basco put up a 25-point performance for the Drug Busters, backed up by Julius Perante and Rob Sanz, who had 21 points apiece.

These games will be telecast on Dec. 31 at UNTV.

Manila

Standard Republic of the Philippines TODAY Department

of Transportation

TOLL REGULATORY BOARD

2nd Floor, Integrated Bar of the Phililippines Bldg., Dona Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City

NOTICE OF TOLL RATE IMPLEMENTATION TARLAC - PANGASINAN - LA UNION EXPRESSWAY In accordance with the Toll Concession Agreement by and among the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) and Private Infra Dev Corporation, the following pre-accepted rates for Segment 7 (Binalonan to Pozorrubio) of the TPLEX, inclusive of VAT will be collected starting December 27, 2017 at 12:01 a.m.

Class 1

Php 35.00

Class 2

Php 88.00

Class 3

Php 106.00

The updated toll matrix for TPLEX (La Paz - Pozorrubio) follows: La Paz-Pozorrubio Toll Rates (VAT Inclusive) CLASS 1 (Cars & jeepneys, including taxis, vans, pick-ups, etc. or vehicles with 2 axles and an overall height of up to 7 feet) ENTRY/ EXIT

La Paz

Victoria

Gerona

Paniqui

Moncada

Carmen

Urdaneta

Binalonan

La Paz

PNP Responders’ Olan Omiping (#4) goes for a lay up against PDEA Drug Busters’ Julius Perante (#81) in a UNTV Cup game at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao, Quezon City. Omiping led the PNP basketball team with 28 points in beating the Drug Busters.

Cavs-Dubs Christmas Day tiff airs on ABS-CBN S+A THE NBA Marathon on ABS-CBN reaches its climax with the live airing of the Christmas day game between defending champion Golden State Warriors and last season’s runner-ups Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday at 4 a.m. on ABS-CBN S+A. The match brings together in one court the biggest stars of the National Basketball Association, led by Most Valuable Player awardees Lebron James and Kevin Durant.

This is also the first time the two teams, which have faced each other in the past two NBA Finals, will battle with their reinforced lineups.

The Cavs have been rolling with three-time champion Dwyane Wade coming off the bench as they continue to wait for Isaiah Thomas’ return, which is slated on January. The Warriors, on the other hand, continue to rely on starters Durant, Klay Thompson, Patrick McCaw, and 2014 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala with a deep bench led

by Quinn Cook as star guard as two-time MVP Stephen Curry continues to ride the pine due to a bum ankle.

As a Christmas treat to Kapamilya basketball fans, ABS-CBN has begun to air NBA games daily starting Dec. 15 until January, including the Lakers-Warriors game on Dec. 19, when Los Angeles retired Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s two jerseys.

After the exciting Christmas Day game, fans can also look forward to watching their favorite teams including Memphis, Boston, New York, New Orleans, Orlando, Brooklyn, San Antonio, Utah, and Houston. The marathon will close with the LIVE airing of the game between the Charlotte Hornets and the LA Clippers on January 1, 8 am on S+A. For more information and stories on the NBA, visit the ABS-CBN’s sports hub sports.abs-cbn.com/nba and follow @ABSCBNSports on Facebook and Twitter. Sports fans can join the conversation on social media by using the hashtags #NBAonABSCBN and #NBASabaDos.

Tough field vies in National Doubles

NINETEEN pairs, led by the father-son tandem of Eddie and Leandro Bagtas and siblings Nikki and Sam Bruce, head the early roster of teams vying for the seventh National Doubles Amateur Golf Championship slated Dec. 27-29 at Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club in Quezon City.

The three-day event, organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines, will keep the country’s leading and rising players in form and shape during the holidays as they gear up for the Philippine Amateur Golf Championship set Jan. 4-7 at Riviera’s Golf Club’s Couples course in Silang, Cavite.

Many-time national champion Rupert Zaragosa is also in the fold, teaming upw tih Adrian Romero, while club bet Harmie Constantino hopes to cash in on her local knowledge as she partners with Joseph Orbito in the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation.

Format is four-ball (best ball) in the first day and the aggregate format in the next before play shifts to two-ball foursome (alternate shot) in the final round.

Listup ends at 5 p.m. today (Friday). For registration, call NGAP at telefax (02) 706-5926 or Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club at (02) 913-2750 or email ngap2009handicap@ yahoo.com or visit www.ngaponline.net or www.facebook.com/ngap.circle.

Others competing in the premier Group I side of the tournament serving as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour, are Aldo Barro-Paqo Barro, Dan Cruz-Luis Guerrero, Santino Diokno-Miguel Roque, Carlo Gatmaytan-Rocky Brobio, Annika Guangko-David Guangko; GJ Katigbak-Mike Kim, Lester Lagman-Gab Manotoc, Clare Legaspi-Felicia Medalla, Sofia Legaspi-Mariel Tee, Gabby Macalaguim-Ivan Monsalve, Aniceto Mandanas-Carlo Quimson, Sean Ramos-Jed Dy, Kristine Torralba-Matthew Abalos, Luigi Wong-Don Petil and Sunshine Zhang-Laurea Duque.

Victoria

30.00

Gerona

58.00

28.00

Paniqui

79.00

49.00

21.00

Moncada

99.00

69.00

41.00

20.00

Carmen

164.00

134.00

106.00

85.00

65.00

Urdaneta

216.00

186.00

158.00

137.00

117.00

Binalonan

235.00

205.00

177.00

156.00

136.00

71.00

19.00

Pozorrubio

270.00

240.00

212.00

191.00

171.00

106.00

54.00

52.00

35.00

CLASS 2 (Buses & trucks with 2 axles & a height of more than 7 ft.; Light Vehicles with more than 2 axles & a height of up to 1 ft. (vehicles with trailers) ENTRY/ EXIT

La Paz

Victoria

Gerona

Paniqui

Moncada

Carmen

Urdaneta

Binalonan

La Paz Victoria

76.00

Gerona

145.00

70.00

Paniqui

197.00

122.00

52.00

Moncada

247.00

171.00

102.00

50.00

Carmen

410.00

334.00

264.00

213.00

163.00

Urdaneta

540.00

464.00

394.00

343.00

293.00

130.00

Binalonan

587.00

511.00

441.00

390.00

340.00

177.00

47.00

Pozorrubio

675.00

599.00

530.00

478.00

428.00

265.00

135.00

88.00

Urdaneta

Binalonan

CLASS 3 (Trucks with 3 or more axles and a height greater than 7 feet) ENTRY/ EXIT

La Paz

Victoria

Gerona

Paniqui

Moncada

Carmen

La Paz Victoria

91.00

Gerona

175.00

84.00

Paniqui

237.00

146.00

62.00

Moncada

296.00

206.00

122.00

60.00

Carmen

492.00

401.00

317.00

255.00

Urdaneta

648.00

557.00

473.00

411.00

351.00

156.00

Binalonan

704.00

614.00

530.00

468.00

408.00

213.00

57.00

Pozorrubio

810.00

719.00

635.00

573.00

514.00

318.00

162.00

195.00

106.00

Any interested expressway user shall have the right to file, within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of the first publication of this Notice, a petition for review of the applicable toll rates for Segment 7 (Binalonan to Pozorrubio) with the TRB at the 2nd Floor, Integrated Bar of the Philippines Building, Dona Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortlgas Center, Pasig City.

By Authority of the Board:

Date of First Publication: December 8, 2017 (MS-DEC. 8/15/22, 2017)

(SGD.) ENGR. ABRAHAM P. SALES Executive Director II / Hearing Officer

Sports

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

A8

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017

Caption: Mikaela Shiffrin of the US competes during the first run of the FIS Alpine Women’s World Cup Giant Slalom on December 19, 2017 in Courchevel, French Alps. AFP

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Lakers snap Rockets’ 14-game win streak

OS ANGELES—Kyle Kuzma led the offensive charge as the Los Angeles Lakers snapped the red-hot Houston Rockets’ 14game winning streak with a 122-116 upset victory on Wednesday.

Kuzma scored a NBA career-high 38 points as the Lakers dominated the Rockets early then held on through a mid-game Houston rally to claim the win and end their own three-game losing skid.

“I scored 30 in the summer league,” Kuzma said. “This is a better team but the same mentality. I’ve got the same mentality every time I step

on the court, play my hardest and just be locked in.”

The loss spoiled a 51-point scoring performance by Rockets star James Harden, who also added nine assists.

The Rockets dropped to 25-5 on the season and also lost for the first time with guard Chris Paul in their lineup.

Paul departed early in the fourth quarter with a sore

left leg and did not return after scoring eight points in 25 minutes.

The Lakers improved to 1118 on the season with Kuzma scoring 24 of his 38 points in the first half on nine-of-nine shooting.

Elsewhere, LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points and eight rebounds, and Pau Gasol collected 20 points, 17 rebounds and five assists as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 93-91 at Moda Center.

The Spurs shot 51.3 percent from the field and outrebounded Portland 53-38 en route to their 11th win in 14 outings.

Damian Lillard scored 17 points for the Trail Blazers, who lost for the fifth straight time at home.

The Blazers had a chance to win in the final moments, but CJ McCollum’s three-point attempt bounced off the rim as time expired.

Aldridge and Gasol each scored 16 points as San Antonio, shooting 58.1 percent from the field, raced to a 54-46 halftime lead.

In Denver, Jimmy Butler scored 25 points, including 11 in the final 4:41, and the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to beat Denver 112-104.

Karl-Anthony Towns also

scored 25 and grabbed 10 rebounds, Jamal Crawford had 20 points and seven assists, and Jeff Teague tallied 16 points and eight assists for Minnesota.

In Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Thunder routed the Utah Jazz 107-79. The Thunder led by as much as 33 points at one point, a season high for them.

Los Angeles shot 47.1 percent overall and, after entering the game dead last in the NBA in three-point percentage, nailed 15 of 35 attempts from beyond the arc to keep the Rockets in check. AFP

Cojuangco warns against govt intervention

By Peter Atencio THERE are signs of government intervention that could put the Philippine’s membership with the International Olympic Committee in jeopardy.

Philippine Olympic Committee president (POC) Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. said this after the Pasig Regional Trial Court recently ruled on favor a complaint that was filed by boxing chief Ricky Vargas last year.

“In my opinion, government intervention na iyan.

Because there are rules to be followed,” said Cojuangco in

a radio interview.

Cojuangco added that he has not received a copy of the court decision, and is awaiting word from his lawyers.

Judge Maria Gracia Cadiz-Casaclang of Branch 155 declared the election for the position of president and chairman on Nov. 25, 2016 as null and void, and stated this in a decision that was released last Dec. 1.

According the two-page decision, the POC Election committee acted beyond the scope of its power and authority that was granted by the POC executive board.

The POC chief said the rul-

ing comes at a bad time, and just when sports officials were getting their acts together to prepare for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

The Philippines could go the way of Kuwait and India, which were suspended because of similar issues that the POC is now facing.

Cojuangco said the NOC of Kuwait remains suspended by the IOC since 2015.

The suspension was in response to a Kuwaiti law that the IOC believes, gives the Kuwait’s government too much influence over the activities of the NOC.

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters battle TNT KaTropa

By Jeric Lopez

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters big man Beau Belga (right) protects the basketball against TNT KaTropa counterpart Moala Tautuaa. PBA

TWO rematches of last conference’s quarterfinals match-ups take place as four more teams make their debut in the 2017-18 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. The scene shifts to Pasay City as upgraded squads Meralco and Blackwater test each other’s mettle in the initial offering at

4:15 p.m. at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Right after, TNT KaTropa faces Rain or Shine in a grueling tiff at 7 p.m. in the nightcap.

Both match-ups are grudge matches from last Governors’ Cup quarterfinals wherein the Bolts and the Tropang Texters came out on top against their respective opponents.

After finishing as runner-ups

in the third conference two seasons in a row, the Bolts have high hopes of finally getting over the hump.

They’ve added veteran gunners Mac Baracael and Nino Canaleta who can add more firepower to the core of Baser Amer, Chris Newsome, Jared Dillinger, Cliff Hodge, Ranidel De Ocampo and Reynel Hugnatan.

Tenorio says Gin Kings face uphill climb this conference AS the 43rd season of the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup starts for the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, the team that won last season’s Governors Cup crown will try to find their form starting with their first game.

This is what’s in store for the team, now that the veteran cager Jayjay Helterbrand has retired.

For three-time Finals MVP LA Tenorio, it will be an uphill climb for the team.

“We are in the process of

getting ready and preparing dahil panibagong chemistry ito,” said Tenorio.

There are new players like Jet Manuel of the University of the Philippines, and Art de la Cruz, who was acquired from Blackwater last September.

But dela Cruz will not be seeing action anytime soon because he re-injured his Achilles tendon while practicing for Barangay Ginebra.

Tenorio graced the final day of Globe Telecom’s TM Basketball Para sa Bayan grass-

roots clinics last Saturday at the Mauway gym at Nueve de Pebrero St. in Mandaluyong City.

The Gin Kings got Dela Cruz in a trade that involved Raymond Aguilar, Chris Ellis and Dave Marcelo. Peter Atencio

Shiffrin posts double victory COURCHEVEL, France – In-form American Mikaela Shiffrin overcame a blip in the quarterfinals to win the first parallel slalom event on the women’s World Cup circuit on Wednesday.

Racing on a floodlit Emile Allais course in front of a large crowd, the 22-year-old Shiffrin followed up on her giant slalom victory on Tuesday with another World Cup win, her 35th on the circuit.

It was yet another display of her all-round skill, Shiffrin having already notched up a firstever downhill victory in this Olympic year.

Having seen off home hope Coralie Frasse Sombet in the first round, three-time world slalom champion and defending Olympic gold medalist Shiffrin easily beat Austrian Carmen Thalmann to move into the quarters.

Another Austrian awaited her there in Ricarda Haaser. A clipped gate by Shiffrin, however, handed her opponent the advantage before the American recovered to win easily, Haaser crashing out in the chaotic rush to the finish line.

Italian Irene Curtoni was next up in the semifinals, and Shiffrin made no mistake, finishing 0.18sec ahead.

Her opponent in the final was Petra Vlohva, who had seen off Poland’s Maryna Gasienica-Daniel, German Marina Wallner, Switzerland’s Denise Feierabend and Norwegian Maren Skjoeld.

The 22-year-old Slovak, with three World Cup slalom wins to her name, clocked the fastest winning time of the night, 18.78sec when beating Skjoeld in the semi-final, and she pushed hard in the final.

Warring volleyball stakeholders mend fences AFTER two years of conflict, peace talks have started among two groups of volleyball stakeholders and the Philippine Volleyball Federation.

Volleyball leaders led by Ramon “Tats” Suzara of the Philippine Superliga, and Tony Boy Liao of the Premier Volleyball League recently discussed the future of sport with Philippine Volleyball Federation president Edgardo Cantada.

The talks materialized some two years after the Philippine Olympic Committee withdrew its recognition of the PVF as the governing body of the sport in the country.

Since then, the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas was formed as the volleyball governing body in the country.

Talks were held recently at Century Park in Malate, Manila and are expected to resume again soon.

Controversy and conflict erupted among stakeholders over the formation of the national men’s and women’s volleyball teams.

Peter Atencio

MPTC spending P10b for C5 link

MPIC bags P12.35-b water deal in Iloilo

By Jenniffer B. Austria METRO Pacific Investments Corp. said a wholly-owned water utility company was awarded a P12.35-billion water distribution project in Iloilo province.

Metro Pacific said in a disclosure to the stock exchange MetroPac Water Investments Corp. officially received from Metro Iloilo Water District the notice of award for the rehabilitation, operation, maintenance and expansion of MIWD’s existing water distribution system and construction of wastewater facilities.

MPW and MIWD will sign a joint venture agreement upon the completion of the post-award activities.

A joint venture corporation will implement the project, including the right to bill and collect tariff for the water supply and wastewater services provided to the customers in the service area of MIWD. The project cost for the 25-year concession is estimated at P12.35 billion, with an initial equity investment of P600 million in 2018.

MIWD’s service area includes Iloilo City and seven municipalities in Iloilo province including Pavia, Oton, Maasin, Cabatuan, Sta. Barbara, Leganes and San Miguel.

The estimated population in the service area of MIWD is 844,618.

The Iloilo water distribution project is the second water project of MPW in Iloilo. In 2015, the water utility was also awarded the development of MWID’s P2.8-billion bulk water project.

MPW said in November it was looking at 26 potential water infrastructure projects in the Philippines and Asean. It is also eyeing two more international projects after it recently ventured in Vietnam, with the acquisition of a 45-percent stake in BOO Phu Ninh Water Treatment Plant Joint Stock Company for P615 million.

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Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22 2017

B1

Caltex Australia buying into Seaoil

By Alena Mae S. Flores

C

ALTEX Australia Petroleum Pty. Ltd. will acquire a 20-percent stake in local oil player Seaoil Philippines, after the two parties signed a definitive agreement.

“We have long sought for a strategic partner to complement our capabilities and competitive advantage, and we are optimistic that Caltex Australia, whose values we share and whose operations is like ours in complexity, can help accelerate our growth,” Seaoil chairman and founder Francis Yu said in a statement.

The two parties did not disclose the value of the transaction. The parties said that as a part of the formation of the strategic partnership, Caltex Australia would supply fuel to Seaoil via Ampol, its fuel sourcing and shipping business in Singapore.

“The partnership will also mean exciting times for our employees, our franchisees, distributors and customers as we leverage our partner’s scale and expertise to provide high quality, affordable and accessible fuels and lubricants to the fast growing Philippine market,” said Yu. J.P. Morgan served as the sole financial advisor to Seaoil for the transaction.

Caltex Australia is a 100-percent publicly-owned company, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. It does not share any common ownership with the local Caltex

brand which is owned by Chevron Philippines Inc. Caltex Australia, in terms of size at $6.5 billion to $7 billion, surpasses the combined market capitalization of locally listed Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Petron Corp. by more than 70 percent.

“This is an exciting growth opportunity for Caltex Australia. The fact that Seaoil has chosen to enter this partnership with us is a testament to the skills and capabilities we have been building over many years in our company. It also demonstrates the value that can be created from our position as an independent fuel supplier in the Asia-Pacific region. We look forward to being part of Seaoil’s growth over the coming years,” Caltex Australia chief executive Julian Segal said.

Caltex Australia supplies a third of Aus-

tralia’s transport fuel needs under the Caltex brand and has an extensive terminal and retail network including 76 depots, 12 terminals operated by Caltex, five major and bunker pipelines, nine airport jet fuel supply sites, and over 1,900 retail sitees, including resellers and Australia’s largest retailer fuel network.

Caltex Australia sold over 16 billion liters of transport fuels and supplied more than 70,000 commercial customers in 2016.

It also has operations in New Zealand under the Gull brand and Singapore under the Ampol brand.

Seaoil said the new strategic partnership would see Caltex Australia support the local oil firm’s current growth strategy, which aimed to double its retail network and terminal storage capacity over the next five years.

8990 eyes P21-b sales in Tondo development

Big consortium formed to bid for Naia upgrade A GROUP of tycoons finalized the creation of a super consortium that will submit an unsolicited proposal to the Duterte administration to rehabilitate and upgrade Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Members of the super consortium are AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ayala Corp. and Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc.; Alliance Global Group Inc. of billionaire Andrew Tan; Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp. of beer and tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan; Filinvest Development Corp. of the Gotianun family; JG Summit Holdings Inc. of taipan John Gokongwei; and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. which is led by businessman Manuel Pangilinan.

The members of the consortium said in separate disclosures to the stock exchange that they would work with foreign technical partners with world-class track records in airport operations to improve, upgrade and enhance the operational efficiencies of the country’s main gateway.

The consortium did not provide details about the unsolicited proposal, including the project cost. The terms of the memorandum of understanding or framework of the consortium are still under negotiation.

The consortium said Naia was expected to remain a strategic gateway and a key hub of airline operations in the Philippines once the needed rehabilitation and improvement were put in place. Jenniffer B. Austria

IN BRIEF Rules on renewables costly

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. warned that consumers would shoulder more than P100 billion annually by 2030 under the government’s mandate of a 35-percent renewable energy share in the fuel mix as contained in the draft renewable energy portfolio standard rules.

Meralco cited the simulations of the Economic Power and Development Program entitled ‘Filipino 2040- Energy: Power Security and Competitiveness’ which compared policy of a 30-percent share against a policy that “favors increased temporary utilization of lesser cost resources but takes into environment costs.”

“Their simulations show that maintaining a 30-percent RE share will cost consumers nationwide in the order of P100 billion more annually by 2030. At the 35-percent target share, contained in the draft RPS rules, the additional costs to consumers will be even more substantial and should give policy-setting cause to step back and more carefully consider the economic implications of the proposed targets,” Meralco said in a letter to the Energy Department.

The paper noted that there would be a better alternative to the current policy of the government of mandating a 30-percent share of renewables and that optimal fuel mix is not constant over time. The report, as cited by Meralco, also mentioned that government should exploit “less costly resources while taking environmental costs into account to bring the price of power down.”

Alena Mae S. Flores

BSP approves stress test rules

THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, approved the guidelines on the conduct of stress testing exercises of banks to strengthen risk governance and ensure safety of the banking industry.

Stress testing is defined as a tool to evaluate the potential effects of specified changes in risk factors on a bank’s financial position under a severe but plausible scenario.

Banks are expected to develop sound assumptions, generally depicting events or scenarios that may result in significant losses and to assess the impact of these scenarios on the bank’s performance or capital and li-

quidity positions.

Banks, for example, may assume 50-percent default in the loan portfolio and assess its impact on capital adequacy ratio and level of available funds.

“The BSP is issuing the stress testing guidelines as part of its continuing initiatives to further strengthen risk governance and contribute to the sustained safety and soundness of the industry. Stress testing allows banks to prepare for events with severe financial impact,” the regulator said in a statement. Julito G. Rada

Local firm challenges Uber

OWTO, an innovative ride-sharing app developed by young tech Filipino professionals, is out to challenge transport network vehicle service providers Uber and Grab once it receives an approval from the government.

The newly introduced TNV offers competent and quality services backed by affordable and fairer rate, according to Pao Libertad, vice president and chief operating officer of Owto.

Libertad, who is also one of the developers of the app, said the innovation could compete with leading TNVs Grab and Uber.“The system is developed by a team, of course, world-class Filipino programmers,” said Libertad.

The group is headed by president and chief executive Joel Gayod, who expressed optimism Owto would soon be accredited by the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board. “We are positive, we are close to that ‘yes’ because we are willing to comply with the requirements of the government,” said Gayod.

Libertad said that on Nov. 15, Owto conducted a business presentation and submitted to LTFRB the necessary documents for accreditation on a later date. Libertad said Owto is a 100-percent Philippine company committed to being compliant with the rules and regulation set forth by the government.

Owto corporate secretary Eloisa Bayani assured that no operation would be done unless Owto got the accreditation from the LTFRB. The developers said that with the launch of Owto, the duopoly of TNVs Grab and Uber would face stiff competition.

Libertad and Gayod said they are optimistic that Owto would be operational before end of the year as the demand for transport service is high even after the holidays. “We want to be operational by the end of the year but it will still depend on how long the accreditation process takes,” Libertad said.

7-ELEVEN EXPANSION. Since embarking on a mall-based expansion campaign in the Philippines in 2001, 7-Eleven via exclusive local licensor Philippine Seven Corp. demonstrated anew its industry dominance with the latest unveiling of another C-store at Fairview Terraces in Novaliches, Quezon City, bringing total stores to 2,214 nationwide.

Shown during the store opening are (from left) PSC business development specialist Judith Apolinario, project engineer Lou Stephen Marquez, operations field consultant Wilma De Castro, franchise specialist Jean Velasquez, business development manager Edgar Gabriel, district manager Maggie Trinidad, franchisee Herbert Vianzon, Ayala Land leasing manager Gigi Custodio, Ayala associate marketing manager Jessica Gutierrez, business development supervisor Raymond Serrano, area manager Eleanor Mirasol and public relations specialist Natallie Beduya.

24-HOUR SHOPPING.

Coming from the successful round-the-clock shopping started by SM Hypermarket Mall of Asia in December 2016, 21 SM Markets stores are now open 24 hours this year to accommodate anyone in a Christmas shopping mood anytime. SM Markets’ move aims to cater to those staying late hours at work or taking night shifts and will accommodate those shopping for Noche Buena essentials at their most convenient time.

PROPERTY developer 8990 Holdings said it expects to generate P21 billion in revenues with the completion of a 13-building residential development in Tondo, Manila.

The company said in a statement Urban Deca Homes Manila located in an 8.4-hectare property in Tondo would deliver 13,000 residential units.

Eight buildings are already on the rise with two more buildings slated for completion before the end of 2017. 8990 Holdings said to complete the group’s largest development, it would spend another P8 billion by 2020.

“We’ve proven that the moment buildings are already put up, sales performance increases as well.

Once our buyers saw that the buildings are already nearing completion, we noticed a steady increase in our sales. This will definitely keep our brokers very busy this Christmas season,” 8990 Holdings chief operating officer Willie Uy said.

8990 Holding said its main goal was to bring affordable housing closer to all levels of middle-income Filipinos in Metro Manila.

The mass housing developer said Urban Deca Homes Manila would meet the housing needs of larger families who would want to reside within Metro Manila.

The project will also feature a mall that would serve as an amenities area for residents.

“We are very excited about this project. You see, Tondo has such a tightly knit community and the people who grew up there prefer to stay there. It is also attractive to entrepreneurs and employees who have businesses and work in the surrounding areas such as Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela region and surrounding areas of Manila including Divisoria, Sta Cruz and Ermita,” Uy said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Megawide GMR to start building Clark airport terminal in January

By Darwin G. Amojelar MEGAWIDE GMR Consortium said Thursday it will start the construction of Clark International Airport New Passenger Terminal Building in January next year.

“The aim is to have construction in full swing by January 2018 and completion of the NPTB is expected within 28 months,” Megawide GMR said in a statement.

The company said it would work closely with Clark International Airport Corp., the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, the local government units and other concerned agen-

cies in the coming weeks to ensure that design would meet world-class standards and reflect local culture and scenery.

“As a matter of fact, the design will be a collaboration, wherein the main concept will come from Filipino architects and designers, working in tandem with international airport designers,” it said.

Megawide GMR said at the peak of construction, the project was expected to create 2,000 jobs mostly for local construction workers. It will engage the services of a network of local construction suppliers, service providers

and related businesses. This will help maximize efficiencies while meeting the highest levels of quality workmanship, it said.

The project is expected to help decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport by serving as catchment area, which presently includes North and Central Luzon and the northern areas of Metro Manila.

The proposed 101,977 square-meter terminal area will increase Clark Airport’s current capacity of 4 million passengers per annum to 12 mppa by 2020.

Airlines operating in Clark include Qatar Air-

ways, Cebu Pacific, Tigerair, Jin Air, Asiana Airlines, Dragon Air, AirAsia Berhad, Philippine Airlines and Emirates Airlines. These airlines mount flights to Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Macau, Pudong, Incheon, Doha, Dubai, Davao , Cebu and Kalibo.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the rollout of the Clark International Airport expansion project within the first 18 months of the Duterte administration proved the “strong political will of the government to get things done fast” for the benefit of the people.

With Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Udenna prices acquisition of H20 at P2.17 per share

By Jenniffer B. Austria UDENNA Development Corp., a company led by businessman Dennis Uy, priced the acquisition of listed Philippine H20 Ventures Corp. at P2.17 per share.

The price represents a 68-percent discount to the stock’s closing of P6.80 per share Monday, when the deal was announced. Share price of H2O tumbled 16.8 percent Thursday to P6.20.

“The purchase price is approximately P2.17 per share, but is subject to further adjustments,” Udenna Corp., the parent company of Udevco, said in a statement.

H20 reported Monday that major shareholders led by Jolliville Holdings Inc. of businessman Jolly Ting had agreed to sell their combined 62-percent interest in the company to Udevco for P327.7 million.

Udenna said the group “is a dynamic family of corporations engaged in multiple industries, and is always looking for strategic opportunities to expand its businesses and leverage on the synergies between its various companies”.

“Accordingly, corporations such as H2O may be considered for acquisition to serve the corporate needs of the Udenna Group,” Udenna said.

Stock market rebounds; Jollibee, Megaworld rise

S

TOCKS advanced Thursday, catching up with gains in other markets after US President Donald Trump’s tax reform bill finally passed through Congress, giving him a much-needed legislative victory.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 15 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 8,378.28, as three of the six major sectors posted gains. The bellwether was also up 22.5 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, ended flat at 4,892.80, on a value turnover of P6.3 billion. Losers

outnumbered gainers, 104 to 101, while 41 issues were unchanged.

Nine of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by restaurant operator Jollibee Foods Corp. which climbed 1.6 percent to P247.80 and developer Megaworld Corp. which went up 1.2 percent to P5.16. Bank of the Philippine Islands gained 0.8 per-

cent to P105.50.

Global equities have rallied this year on expectations the president’s promised cuts would fire the already strong economy and those gains increased over the past week as it became clear that months of bargaining would see them eventually pushed through.

Trump proclaimed “we are making America great again” to Republican lawmakers at the White House after their victory.

However, with the uncertainty out of the way traders decided to cash in.

“President Trump finally has a piece of legislation passed. There has already been a lot of optimism priced in,” said Shane Chanel, equities and derivatives adviser at ASR Wealth Advisers.

“I believe this is a perfect example of buy the rumor sell the news. We may see a bit of profit-taking coming into the back end of the year,” Chanel said.

“I believe the next catalyst for the upside will be reductions in regulations once Jerome Powell takes over the helm at the US

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.49 165,000 59.1 18,130 105.5 1,162,690 3.84 2,000 150.1 1,859,480 1.92 428,000 33.3 324,200 15.72 1,097,300 31.75 713,000 7.67 3,100 1.82 197,000 0.59 27,000 98 653,240 0.95 769,000 11.7 50,600 58 10,510 235 170 100 60 88.95 10 55.35 439,790 252.4 771,110 1,895 115 86.8 27,610

551,550 1,069,722 122,607,037 7,680 279,346,343 820,590 10,788,925 17,249,550 22,655,075 23,782 357,330 15,930 63,789,872 722,680 592,020 598,356.50 39,950 6,000 889.5 24,495,199.50 194,353,242 218,575 2,394,264.50

73,220 -13,747,081 -108,951,302 7,258,335 -95,800 -14,300 5,208,984 47,500 -291,728.50 28,200 4,569,992 -27,116,112 -208,950 277,797

39.4 12.38 0.6 1.35 16.8 0.22 150 4.83 16.02 180 44 20.8 63 62.2 1.9 5.62 11.04 14.62 11.4 7.18 5.6 16.98 62 25.9 10.94 17.6 2.25 244.4 69 4.08 27.8 18.1 18.1 322 0.196 8.03 2.23 5.95 9.3 5.72 8.4 1.53 12.72 59.8 6.5 534.5 4.9 1.93 13.32 5.39 0.135 1.21 150 2.8 1.82 0.78

INDUSTRIAL 40.45 670,200 12.56 296,700 0.61 742,000 1.38 95,000 17.62 34,800 0.22 180,000 159 750 4.94 1,077,000 16.1 780,100 180 410 45 462,200 20.8 200 63 630 62.2 3,950 1.9 158,000 5.63 519,700 11.16 1,600,600 14.68 150,300 11.5 1,111,700 7.25 1,704,500 5.61 16,055,800 17 914,800 62.5 97,220 26.15 376,200 10.96 41,300 17.64 613,400 2.3 2,124,000 247.8 330,590 69 120 4.2 1,960,000 27.8 1,539,100 18.14 41,300 18.1 1,617,700 325 135,970 0.208 910,000 8.03 41,600 2.23 1,011,000 6.1 94,800 9.4 1,343,400 6.2 1,894,900 8.4 800 1.54 502,000 13.08 1,426,400 60.3 1,122,630 6.5 10,100 536.5 24,510 4.98 741,000 1.95 415,000 13.48 356,800 5.4 121,800 0.136 34,640,000 1.24 200,000 152 1,334,540 2.8 22,000 1.86 2,397,000 0.78 142,000

26,852,160 3,722,716 451,780 128,360 595,770 39,600 117,820 5,254,230 12,562,058 75,350 20,622,765 4,160 39,690 245,876 300,420 2,925,861 17,897,452 2,207,290 12,770,064 12,344,872 89,944,316 15,550,230 6,065,694 9,843,630 452,288 10,872,804 4,876,030 81,286,030 8,300 8,169,660 42,910,530 755,726 29,492,586 44,077,646 179,140 345,196 2,288,960 567,127 12,553,160 12,517,713 6,720 773,440 18,537,160 68,072,214 65,650 13,147,465 3,654,650 811,170 4,806,550 659,240 4,751,320 244,360 201,365,295 61,600 4,433,000 110,780

-5,575,865.00 17,420 1,034,340 2,360,532 1,148,494 352,776 -368,810 -3,767,505 -11,142,115.00 -649,288 -1,513,346 39,000 -332,952 -4,211,660 3,376,288 6,900 -9,502,670 170,064 -8,142,524 26,390,498 3,980 -539,440 -6,557,310 46,164 -2,897,753 -6,094,575 247,290 -155,270 1,447,600 -579,307 38,700.00 13,193,819 526,170 -

0.31 71 16 1.06 7.04 0.44 0.47 1,018 7.77 14.2 7.8 0.181 1,280 7.4 72.7 6.49 0.7 5.85 19.3 0.32 6.75 3.33 0.046 1.26 2.05 2.8 113 2.96 973.5 1.6 283 0.19

0.3 68.5 15.76 0.94 7 0.425 0.445 1,005 7.7 14.02 7.71 0.181 1,245 7.4 71.25 5.74 0.68 5.57 18.44 0.32 6.58 3.33 0.044 1.11 2.05 2.62 110.8 2.9 970.5 1.56 280.6 0.19

HOLDING FIRMS 0.305 590,000 71 622,700 15.88 1,531,400 1.01 31,000 7.03 6,800 0.43 10,300,000 0.46 6,650,000 1,009 140,540 7.7 4,125,500 14.1 1,560,000 7.8 209,200 0.181 70,000 1,280 76,875 7.4 35,600 72.5 599,640 6.36 85,000 0.7 80,000 5.61 363,500 19.18 1,051,000 0.32 30,000 6.75 37,523,200 3.33 10,000 0.046 1,400,000 1.18 401,000 2.05 105,000 2.7 75,000 112 86,540 2.96 54,000 971.5 375,450 1.56 1,198,000 283 4,670 0.19 100,000

178,850 43,567,914 24,267,704 31,120 47,743 4,441,600 3,051,950 141,898,110 31,829,841 21,988,608 1,631,409 12,670 97,545,565 263,440 43,351,699.50 520,160 54,540 2,077,399 19,748,504 9,600 251,932,333 33,300 63,200 480,990 215,250 204,410 9,636,895 157,940 364,816,685 1,881,950 1,313,382 19,000

6,707,183.50 -13,082,740 -18,900 899,800 -34,556,195 -2,216,624 2,582,214 59,932,770 25,350.50 -623,527 1,946,260 12,388,195 7,200 86,200 156,482 -91,930,660 20,540 -

6.5 1 15.08 2.35 0.89 43.4 3.85 4.73 5.5 0.49 1.14 1.15 0.211 0.46 38.9 0.65 0.15 1.89 1.43 0.76 5.17 0.36 0.365 0.64 5.67 21.6 2.2

6.3 0.98 12 2.34 0.87 42.55 3.8 4.64 5.5 0.48 1.14 1.15 0.208 0.45 37.7 0.65 0.137 1.84 1.41 0.75 5.11 0.345 0.36 0.6 5.5 21.15 2.1

8,174,085 2,946,970 3,069,670 21,090 291,080 238,188,705 2,254,410 2,478,950 162,250 988,150 22,800 58,650 532,740 186,100 8,248,815 1,300 29,680 30,349,710 2,421,660 251,380 117,547,178 7,402,000 104,600 10,954,050 6,157,692 10,947,010 4,367,410

-2,813,339 -32,328 -47,989,000 245,950 373,000 -115,700 233,100 3,611,090.00 12,499,120 -13,899,007 92,300 308,000 139,523 -3,441,070 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.36 59 104.7 3.84 151.5 1.97 33.3 15.7 31.75 7.68 1.86 0.59 97.8 0.97 11.7 56.85 235 100 88.95 55.25 255 1,900 86.6

3.55 59.5 105.7 3.84 152 1.97 33.3 15.72 31.9 7.68 1.92 0.59 98.5 0.98 11.7 58 235 100 88.95 56.2 255 1,925 86.8

3.3 58 104.5 3.84 149.6 1.91 33.15 15.7 31.7 7.67 1.77 0.59 97 0.93 11.7 56.2 235 100 88.95 55.25 250.6 1,895 86.6

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

40.3 12.6 0.61 1.35 17.9 0.22 159 4.89 16.2 190 44 20.8 63 62.2 1.9 5.63 11.04 14.8 11.4 7.26 5.6 17 62.9 26.1 10.98 18.1 2.38 245 70 4.09 27.95 18.22 18.2 324.2 0.199 8.6 2.35 5.95 9.4 7.44 8.4 1.55 12.9 60.95 6.5 534.5 4.95 1.98 13.44 5.46 0.142 1.22 151 2.8 1.85 0.78

40.45 12.62 0.62 1.38 17.9 0.22 160 4.94 16.2 190 45 20.8 63 65 1.92 5.63 11.24 14.8 11.5 7.3 5.63 17.18 63 26.8 10.98 18.1 2.38 248.2 70 4.2 28.2 18.68 18.58 325 0.208 8.6 2.35 6.12 9.43 7.44 8.4 1.56 13.08 60.95 6.5 539 4.98 1.98 13.5 5.54 0.144 1.25 152 2.8 1.86 0.79

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

0.3 69 15.92 1.06 7.04 0.435 0.445 1,018 7.76 14.2 7.71 0.181 1,280 7.4 72 6.49 0.7 5.6 18.96 0.32 6.7 3.33 0.045 1.26 2.05 2.8 113 2.95 973.5 1.6 282 0.19

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

6.4 1 13.9 2.34 0.88 43.4 3.8 4.73 5.5 0.485 1.14 1.15 0.211 0.46 37.8 0.65 0.137 1.84 1.41 0.75 5.13 0.35 0.36 0.63 5.5 21.6 2.2

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

3.21 36.7 1.01 10 0.84 5.9

3.21 37.15 1.02 10 0.88 5.99

3.2 36.6 1.01 7.6 0.84 5.85

3.21 36.9 1.02 7.94 0.88 5.99

205,000 2,241,300 569,000 31,600 28,000 1,274,900

657,430 82,780,535 577,940 257,236 23,560 7,607,732

9,630 13,983,085 7,120 -1,179,616

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

20.2 34.8 1.41 0.48 0.041 12.18 4.81 10.92 0.07 97 9 7.1 2.68 14.1 1,798 5.71 18.26 16.2 4.67 2.62 105 13.96 8.35 0.14 1.35 3.14 15 3.9 1.21 22.3 0.53 3.93 7.48 3.95 15.1 2.68 11.1 5.33 2.95 118 7.92 1,485 1.32 0.355 49.5 93 5.77 3.28 1.64 2.94 4.07 1 8.05

20.7 34.95 1.42 0.48 0.043 12.18 4.81 11.12 0.072 97.85 9.11 7.2 2.7 20.2 1,826 5.74 18.26 22.75 4.67 2.63 105.9 14 8.35 0.145 1.43 3.15 15 4.09 1.23 22.6 0.53 4.28 7.49 4 15.8 2.95 11.1 5.34 2.96 118 7.92 1,485 1.33 0.355 50.1 93.7 5.9 3.36 1.68 3.09 4.12 1.02 8.14

20.2 34.8 1.41 0.47 0.041 12.18 4.8 10.8 0.069 96.5 8.91 7.1 2.52 11.04 1,766 5.7 18.26 15.2 4.3 2.6 104.2 13.96 8 0.14 1.35 3.05 14.8 3.9 1.2 22.05 0.53 3.8 7.31 3.81 15.1 2.68 11.1 5.1 2.86 114.5 7.68 1,450 1.29 0.355 49.5 92.3 5.77 3.2 1.62 2.81 4.02 0.99 8.03

SERVICES 20.45 34.85 1.42 0.47 0.041 12.18 4.8 10.8 0.072 96.5 8.91 7.2 2.55 20.2 1,766 5.74 18.26 15.5 4.5 2.6 105.5 13.96 8.34 0.142 1.39 3.06 14.9 4.04 1.2 22.15 0.53 4.13 7.39 3.81 15.8 2.79 11.1 5.22 2.87 116 7.75 1,470 1.29 0.355 50 93.7 5.9 3.2 1.63 2.95 4.12 1 8.06

238,400 30,500 49,000 4,310,000 11,600,000 800 7,000 6,076,800 18,100,000 608,110 1,900,300 52,200 310,000 1,837,500 13,475 76,100 4,000 125,400 6,399,000 39,000 444,730 319,700 360,000 3,000,000 1,657,000 271,000 16,300 553,000 309,000 1,054,600 12,000 2,692,000 1,365,300 489,000 1,100 19,614,000 2,309,600 39,000 233,000 2,420 288,100 54,130 1,064,000 10,000 962,100 81,990 209,000 1,570,000 10,853,000 5,112,000 485,000 1,931,000 1,530,300

4,894,945 1,063,400 69,450 2,066,900 476,900 9,744 33,650 66,116,716 1,265,940 58,732,505 17,126,235 371,320 800,600 27,218,884 23,992,405 435,696 73,040 2,208,809 28,564,020 101,970 46,838,174 4,463,248 2,980,731 428,730 2,309,790 835,380 243,370 2,209,870 376,700 23,342,570 6,360 11,143,490 10,131,921 1,891,460 17,094 55,430,120 25,636,560 205,146 677,820 280,669 2,230,687 78,996,915 1,382,120 3,550 48,029,840 7,639,235.50 1,206,060 5,079,480 17,782,160 14,949,810 1,971,390 1,933,900 12,318,640

698,315 -9,744 35,262,952 -23,753,436.50 -2,900 3,799,450 1,121,540.00 2,458,680 74,000 -167,140 7,015,416 -391,680 -6,117,260 239,760 2,088 25,890 -99,319 144,554 -29,879,695 121,530 927,610 -2,733,823 1,176,633 -1,467,190 3,138,820 14,300 334,550.00 1,000 -1,508,192.00

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

0.0023 1.49 4.4 13.52 1.83 1.65 1.57 0.31 7.35 2.61 0.22 0.151 0.151 0.0095 1.76 6.16 1.55 0.455 0.91 0.012 0.011 2 5.51 7.94 37

0.0023 1.5 4.45 15 2 2.16 1.59 0.325 7.35 2.67 0.225 0.151 0.153 0.0095 1.78 6.22 1.55 0.455 0.94 0.013 0.011 2 5.78 7.98 37

0.0022 1.48 4.4 13.52 1.76 1.65 1.57 0.31 7.35 2.61 0.216 0.149 0.151 0.0093 1.76 6.12 1.49 0.45 0.91 0.012 0.011 2 5.51 7.5 35.9

MINING & OIL 0.0022 330,000,000 1.5 12,035,000 4.45 21,000 15 1,600 1.8 419,000 1.78 499,000 1.59 634,000 0.325 60,000 7.35 1,000 2.63 1,005,000 0.216 380,000 0.149 9,720,000 0.152 16,170,000 0.0093 14,000,000 1.77 67,000 6.22 1,331,500 1.53 31,000 0.45 70,000 0.91 162,000 0.013 201,400,000 0.011 10,500,000 2 31,000 5.55 794,400 7.72 3,008,400 36 2,696,300

728,900 17,831,640 92,450 22,560 786,460 973,370 1,001,830 19,350 7,350 2,663,260 82,330 1,459,120 2,473,210 132,500 118,290 8,191,400 46,690 31,550 147,450 2,615,900 115,500 62,000 4,462,997 23,435,687 97,273,765

14,671,080 -4,450 -140,810 815,130 -71,280 88,160 197,351 11,920 -35,700 8,742 -2,991,395 -12,481,485

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B FGEN PREF F GMA HLDG PDR HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2I

34.4 537.5 108 113.9 5.5 101.7 1.06 1,140 1,002 103 2.08 76.95 80.2 76 76.25 78 78.6

34.95 537.5 108 113.9 5.5 101.7 1.06 1,140 1,003 103 2.2 76.95 80.2 76 76.5 78 80

34.4 537.5 108 113.5 5.43 101.1 1.04 1,140 1,001 103 2 76 80 76 76.25 76.5 78.6

PREFERRED 34.4 50,200 537.5 10 108 3,000 113.9 1,040 5.43 29,400 101.1 3,560 1.05 45,000 1,140 5 1,001 6,135 103 270 2.03 138,000 76 2,740 80 43,570 76 1,000 76.5 1,081,600 76.6 59,100 80 66,200

1,734,120 5,375 324,000 118,440 160,272 361,162 47,010 5,700 6,148,775 27,810 284,320 208,473 3,486,620 76,000 82,475,650 4,522,375 5,231,320

-614,925 -31,734 50,750 27,040 100,200 -800,000 228,750 -

LR WARRANT

2.44

2.58

2.44

WARRANTS 2.48 217,000

544,900

-

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

8.05 2.87 3.97 5

8.08 2.87 3.97 5.35

7.66 2.87 3.9 4.98

7.73 2.87 3.96 5.27

4,079,455 249,690 153,760 27,320,182

74,534 1,830,958

FIRST METRO ETF

127.3

127.3

126.8

414,181

-24,092

USD DMPL A2

10.04

10.1

10.04

35,290

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 6.5 0.98 13.98 2.35 0.89 43 3.82 4.7 5.5 0.48 1.14 1.15 0.21 0.45 37.8 0.65 0.15 1.86 1.42 0.76 5.16 0.345 0.36 0.61 5.67 21.35 2.14

1,269,600 2,989,000 227,200 9,000 331,000 5,558,900 591,000 531,000 29,500 2,050,000 20,000 51,000 2,540,000 410,000 217,800 2,000 210,000 16,271,000 1,705,000 333,000 22,794,600 21,170,000 290,000 17,653,000 1,100,100 513,400 2,062,000

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

SHARES

8,719,485 226,591,536 71,047,924

PROPERTY

105,318,690

SERVICES

111,052,936

MINING & OIL

605,688,946

GRAND TOTAL

1,134,297,776

SME

521,300 87,000 39,000 5,227,600

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 127 3,260 10.1

DDS

3,500

VALUE 2,140.68 (up) 0.68 742,728,462.33 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,151.34 (up) 52.74 3,011,975,433.488 HOLDING FIRMS 8,508.89 (up) 27.36 1,183,995,577.39 PROPERTY 3,889.20 (up) 6.38 SERVICES 1,598.29 (down) 2.94 550,801,932.94 MINING & OIL 11,189.84 (down) 140.78 621,139,238.75 PSEI 8,378.28 (up) 15.67 164,811,418.545 All Shares Index 4,892.80 (down) 0.82 6,307,669,826.44 Gainers: 101; Losers: 104; Unchanged: 41; Total: 246

Federal Reserve. The lack of reaction by the markets overnight is testimony (to) the level of optimism already being priced in.”

All three main Wall Street indexes ended lower, having broken various records in recent weeks, and most of Asia followed.

Tokyo ended 0.1 percent lower, with dealers unmoved by the Bank of Japan’s decision to keep interest rates on hold and stand pat on its stimulus program.

Sydney was 0.3 percent off and Seoul sank 1.7 percent, while Singapore gave up 0.1 percent. Wellington, Taipeiand Bangkok were all well down.

But Hong Kong rose 0.5 percent and Shanghai ended 0.4 percent higher.

The dollar also struggled despite expectations the across-the-board tax cuts would likely fan inflation and lead to higher interest rates.

Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader, said: “Forex traders remain nonplussed about the US dollar, which continues to struggle to gain traction.

“I ask you if the governments of the EU had got together to pass a tax cut what would the impact on the euro be. Not nothing, that’s for sure.”

Dollar traders are now looking ahead to the release of US personal consumption data Friday, which could provide some idea about the Fed’s plans for monetary policy next year.

With AFP, Bloomberg

MPTC spending P10b for C5 link

By Darwin G. Amojelar METRO Pacific Tollways Corp. said it expects to complete the construction of an expressway that will connect C5 road to ManilaCavite Toll Expressway by June 2019.

Luigi Bautista, president of Cavitex Infrastructure Corp., a unit of MPTC, said the company would spend P10 billion for the construction of the 7.7-kilometer, six-lane C5 South Link Expressway that is now in full swing.

“We are all very excited and proud that we have brought this project into construction stage.

The first phase is 2.2 kilometers long including a flyover above the South Luzon Expressway and Skyway from C-5 Road in Taguig to Merville in Sucat, Parañaque, and costs about P2.5 billion,” Bautista said.

The expressway’s second phase, from Merville to Cavitex (Coastal Road), is estimated to cost around P7.5 billion.

Completion of the project is targeted in June 2019 and will be operated as an open toll collection system.

“The benefits of this urgent infrastructure project will far outweigh the temporary inconvenience during construction. Upon completion, this toll road will speed up the commute of motorists, and travelers from Paranaque, Las Piñas and Cavite by allowing them to directly cross over the South Luzon Expressway and Skyway into C5 Taguig City,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.

World N. Korean companies face the ax in China BEIJING―From restaurants with singing waitresses to secluded traders in back alleys, North Korean businesses in Beijing face a precarious start to the New Year with a looming, sanctions-linked January deadline to close shop.

Accounting for 90 percent of North Korea’s trade, China is a major outpost for what little financial and economic interests its secretive ally has abroad.

But Beijing-fed up with Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests―has given North Korean businesses and non-profit organizations until January 9 to shut down in accordance with United Nations sanctions, the commerce ministry told AFP. In visits to a dozen North Korean companies in the Chinese capital, AFP found that many owners and staff were unsure whether they would have to leave.

Near the North’s massive embassy complex in Beijing, where a red propaganda banner proclaims “Long live dear supreme leader Kim Jong-Un,” four trading companies are run out of ground floor shop fronts in a back alley.

Each door is emblazoned with a silver placard and the name of the occupant: Ever Victorious Trading, Korea Sungjon Trading, Korea SEK Company and Korean Five Rings Trading.

Ever Victorious is registered to a man named Chen Shire, though the middleaged man who opened its door declined to give his name or say if he was affiliated to the nearby embassy.

The UN says the North’s diplomats commonly abuse their diplomatic status to engage in business. AFP

UN set to vote on Jerusalem U

NITED NATIONS―UN member-states will vote on Thursday on a motion rejecting US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, under strong pressure from President Donald Trump who has threatened to cut funding to countries that back the measure.

The UN General Assembly will hold an emergency session to decide on a draft resolution that the United States vetoed at the Security Council on Monday after all other 14 council members voted in favor of the measure.

On the eve of the vote, Trump suggested there could be reprisals for countries that support the motion, put forward by Yemen and Turkey on behalf of Arab and Muslim countries.

“They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars and then they vote against us,” Trump said at the White House.

“Well, we’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot.

We don’t care.”

The draft resolution mirrors the vetoed measure, reaffirming that any decision on the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be rescinded.

It does not mention Trump’s decision but expresses “deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem.”

Diplomats expect strong support for the resolution, which is non-binding, despite the US pressure to either abstain, vote against it or simply not turn up for the vote.

On Tuesday, US Ambassador Nikki Haley sent an email to fellow UN envoys to put them on notice that “the president will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those countries who voted against us.”

REGIONAL ELECTION. People queue outside a polling station to cast their vote for the Catalan regional election in Barcelona on December 21, 2017. Catalans take their divisions over independence to the polls in a hotly-contested election that could determine the course of their region just two months after a failed secession bid. AFP

Thai zoo under fire after poked tiger video goes viral BANGKOK―A Thai zoo has sparked outrage after a video of staff repeatedly prodding a tiger to elicit roars for tourist photos went viral, renewing criticism of the kingdom’s notorious animal tourism industry.

The clip, which has garnered more than one million views since it was posted on Monday, shows the Pattaya zoo attendant jabbing the chained animal in the face with a stick as tourists take turns posing with or sitting on top of the big cat for pictures.

“This tiger gets poked

all day, hundreds of times a day so it will roar for the picture with tourists,” wrote Edwin Wiek, the founder of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, who filmed the video and posted it on Facebook.

A spokesperson for the zoo, The Million Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm, told AFP the tiger attendant had been transferred to another job over the incident.

“The owner he loves animals and he will not allow staff to hurt his animals,” she added.

Tourist dollars and the lure of the animal selfie fuel a lucrative but controversial wildlife tourism industry in Thailand, where opportunities to ride elephants, hold monkeys and pet tigers are all available for a price.

Animal rights groups have long criticized the industry as inhumane, with chained up animals kept in small quarters with inadequate diets or veterinary care.

The Pattaya zoo’s website shows pictures of white tigers, bears, camels, deer and other exotic animals in

outdoor pens. It also advertises a daily show featuring a man fighting bare-handed with adult crocodiles.

“We believe that the taking of selfies with wildlife should be stopped completely,” Wiek told AFP, adding that such behavior is also risky for humans.

“Every year hundreds of people are bitten or clawed in similar situations.”

In 2016 the kingdom made international headlines after police raided its infamous Tiger Temple, a tourist site accused of links to the illegal wildlife trade. AFP

‘Nut rage’ heiress spared jail term

Another N. Korean soldier defects SEOUL―A North Korean soldier escaped to the South on Thursday across the heavily-guarded Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, triggering gunfire on both sides of the tense border in the second defection in successive months.

The “low-ranking” soldier was spotted by South Korean soldiers using surveillance equipment as he crossed the land border near Yeoncheon in thick fog and made his way to a guard post, a spokesman for Seoul’s defense ministry said.

There were no shots at the time, he said, but about 80 minutes later South Korean troops fired around 20 rounds from a K-3 machine gun to warn off Northern guards who approached the border apparently looking for their comrade.

Two bursts of gunfire were later heard in the North, the spokesman said, but there were no indications of any bullets crossing the border.

The incident came a month after a rare and dramatic defection by a Northern soldier under a hail of bullets from his own side at Panmunjom, the truce village where opposing forces confront each other across a concrete dividing line.

On that occasion the defector drove to the heavilyguarded border at speed and ran across the border as North Korean troops fired at him. He was hit at least four times. AFP

B3

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017 Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

PHOTO SESSION. This photo taken on December 20, 2017 shows members of the Indonesian singing group “Duah Racun” Gina Youbi (R) and Gita Youbiin posing for a photo session in Jakarta. AFP

SEOUL―South Korea’s top court kept a Korean Air heiress out of prison Thursday in the final verdict on the “nut rage” incident that triggered national uproar in 2014.

Cho Hyun-Ah, a daughter of Korean Air chief Cho Yang-Ho and then the company’s vice president, became infuriated when a flight attendant served her some nuts in a bag rather than in a bowl.

She lambasted the chief steward over the behavior of his cabin crew and ordered the Seoul-bound flight, which had just left the gate in New York, to turn back so he could be ejected.

The incident caused fury at home and made global headlines, eventually prompting Seoul prosecutors to charge her with offenses including violating aviation security and business practices laws.

Cho was initially convicted on most counts and sentenced to a year in jail, but she was freed after the appeals court cleared her of hampering an air route― the most serious charge―as the aircraft was still on the ground.

It maintained the more minor convictions, including interfering with business practices, but reduced her penalty to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years.

The Supreme Court upheld that ruling Thursday.

Cho, who resigned from her position soon after the incident, spent a total of five months in jail. AFP

Two tomatoes a day may keep lung disease at bay PARIS―Adults who ate more than two tomatoes a day had a slower rate of natural lung function decline, with ex-smokers seeming to benefit most of all, scientists said Thursday.

Similar benefits, they said, were observed for people who ate more than three portions of fresh fruit a day, especially apples.

“This study shows that diet might help repair lung damage in people who have stopped smoking,” study co-author

Vanessa Garcia-Larsen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore said in a statement.

“It also suggests that a diet rich in fruits can slow down the lung’s natural aging process even if you have never smoked.”

In the study published in the European Respiratory Journal, researchers analyzed data from 680 people in Germany, England and Norway who signed up for a health survey in 2002.

Participants answered a questionnaire and underwent two types of lungfunction tests at the start, then again 10 years later.

One test measures how much air a person can expel in a second, the other how much they could inhale in six seconds.

Other factors, such as the participants’ age, height, weight, gender, income and level of physical activity, were taken into account in analyzing any association between diet and lung health, the

team said.

They found that the rate of lung decline, which happens normally in people from about the age of 30, was slower in those who ate more tomatoes and other fruit.

Among former smokers, the link was “even more striking,” implying their diet was helping to repair damage done by tobacco, the team said.

The effect was observed only with fresh fruit and vegetables, not processed. AF

Manila

Standard

TODAY

“We will take note of each and every vote on this issue,” she wrote in the message seen by AFP. On Twitter, Haley posted that “the US will be taking names” when the ambassadors of the 193-nation assembly cast their vote on Thursday.

“Nikki, that was the right message,” Trump said.

A council diplomat said Canada, Hungary and the Czech Republic might bow to US pressure, but the motion is all but certain to be approved.

No country has veto powers in the General Assembly, contrary to the council where the United States, along with Britain, China, France and Russia, can block any resolution.

Trump’s December 6 decision to recognize Jerusalem broke with international consensus, triggering protests across the Muslim world and drawing strong condemnation.

Key US allies Britain, France, Italy, Japan and Ukraine were among the 14 countries in the 15-member council that voted in favor of the measure and were expected to do the same on Thursday at the assembly.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki accused Washington of “threatening” memberstates, saying it was “another mistake” following the US veto at the Security Council.

Malki said the UN session would show “how many countries will opt to vote with their conscience.” AFP

Republic of the Philippines 5th Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Branch 10 Legazpi City

In the matter of the petition For cancellation and re-issuance of Decree No 324230 and issuance of Original Certificate of Title to Lot No, 13250 of the Cadastral Survey of Albay, Cad M- 11836 Pablo Clemente, Petitioner, -versusLand Registration Authority of Quezon City and the Albay Provincial Register of Deeds, Respondents. x-----------------------------x NOTICE OF INITIAL HEARING TO: (1) Pablo Clemente- No. 0537 Langka St, Delta Subdivision Pag-Asa Drive, Rawis, Legazpi City; (2) Atty. Alvin C. Belarmino- Rm. 206, Los Baños Bldg., Rizal corner Peñaranda St. Legazpi City; (3) Ma. Russel Bas- Purok 7, Bascaran, Daraga, Albay; (4) Jaime and Vilma Majadillas- Purok 2, Bascaran, Daraga, Albay; (5) Rodolfo Maralit- Maralit Compound Brgy. 38, Purok 2, Barriada, Legazpi City; (6) The Registrar of Deeds of Albay- LRA Twin Bldg., Alternate Road, Bitano, Legazpi City; (7) The Land Registration Authority- East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City; (8) The Solicitor General - 134 Amorsolo Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City; (9) Land Management Bureau - DENR, Binondo, Manila; (10) Land Management Bureau - DENR Region V, Rawis, Legazpi City: (11) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region V - Rawis, Legazpi City; (12) The Provincial Prosecutor Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Bonot, Legazpi City; and, (13) TO ALL WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN: GREETINGS: WHEREAS, a verified petition has been filed by Petitioner through counsel, praying of this Honorable Court that after notice, publication and hearing, judgment be rendered as follows: 1.) By cancelling Decree No. 324230 covering Lot No. 13250 of the Cadastral Survey of Albay issued on March 22, 1924 of the Land Registration Court of the then Court of First Instance of Albay; 2.) Order the Land Registration Authority to re-issue the same decree on the Lot No. 13250 in accordance with the doctrine enunciated by the Supreme Court in the case of Republic of the Philippines vs. Heirs of Spouses Donato Sanchez and Juana Menses, G.R No. 212388, December 10, 2014; 3.) Order the Land Registration Authority and the Albay Provincial Register of Deeds to issue an Original Certificate of Title on Lot No. 13250 in the name of Gregoria Lodiana.

Lot No, 13250 is more particularly described as follows: “A parcel of land (Lot No. 13250 of the Cadastral Survey of Albay), with the improvements thereon, situated in the Municipality of Daraga. Bounded on the E. by Lot No. 17206; on the SE. by Lot No. 17208; on the SW by Lot No. 12104; and on the NW. by Lot No. 17203. Beginning at a point marked “1” on the plan, being N. 2 deg. 51’ E., 836.60 m. from B.L.M. No.1; thence N. 19 deg. 10’W, 33.59 m. to point “2”; thence N 67 deg. 35’ E., 90.42 m. to point “3”; thence S. 3 deg. 44’ W.. 35.32 m. to point “4”; thence S. 66 deg. 13’ W, 76.78 m. to the point of beginning; containing an area at two thousand seven hundred and nineteen square meters (2,719), more or less. All points are referred to are indicated on the plan; bearings true; declination 0 deg. 55’ E.; date of survey, November 1914-April 1920.”

NOW THEREFORE, NOTICE is hereby given that the initial hearing of said petition is set on February 12, 2018 at 8:36 o’clock in the Mornining before the sala of this Court Regional Trial Court 5th Judicial Region, Branch 10, Hall of Justice, Rawis, Legazpi City, and on said date and time all -persons who may have interest therein may appear and show cause why the petition should not be granted.

Let a copy of this Notice be published in the Official Gazette for two (2) successive issues at the expense of the petitioner. Also, let a copy of this Notice be published in a newspaper of general circulation (broadsheet) once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks at the expense of petitioner.

Let a copy of this Notice be posted at the Bulletin Board of this Court, at the main entrance of tile Municipality Building of Daraga, Albay, and in a conspicuous place where the property is located at the expense of the petitioner.

Likewise, petitioner is hereby directed to furnish the Office of the Solicitor General, the Office of the Land Registration Authority, the Office of the Register of Deeds of Albay, the Regional Office of the Department of Environment and. Natural Resources, the Land. Management Bureau - DENR, Binondo, Manila, the Land Management Bureau - DENR, Region V, Rawis, Legazpi City, the Office of the Provincial Prosecutors, as well as the adjoining owners of the properly subject of this petition with copies of the petition together with its annexes within five (5) days from receipt hereof and to submit compliance thereto in court within the like period.

WITNESS the Hon. MARlA THERESA G. SAN ]UAN-LOQUILLANO, Presiding Judge, RTC, Branch 10, Hall of Justice, Rawis., Legazpi City, this 5th day of December 2017 at Legazpi City, Philippines.

LOUIGI P. GLEDERA OIC/Acting Branch Clerk of Court (MS-DEC. 22, 2017)

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

B4

friday, december 22, 2017

LGUs LocaL government units

Broad TRAIN support

L

EGAZPI CITY—All but one percent of the estimated 7.5-million Filipino low wage and salary earners with annual incomes of P250,000 and below have welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent signing of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law, which assures they would be exempted from paying taxes.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, one of the bill’s principal authors in the House of Representatives, said TRAIN will help expand

the country’s middle-income class sector.

The law’s leading features are its lowered personal income tax threshold

and higher take-home pay the Filipino working class, Salceda said.

The Albay lawmaker said the approved TRAIN version will raise some P140 billion plus another P36 billion in income transfer for a combined P176 billion in government revenues annually.

He said it constitutes “the single biggest income and wealth structural transfer to lower income Filipinos in Philippine socioeconomic history.”

The measure, passed overwhelmingly by the House last May, will be the game changer it was meant to be, toward the country’s economic growth and globalization, said Salceda, a noted economist.

“It is envisioned to narrow the margin of inequality and injustice between the marginalized and the elite,” he said. “It amends the decades-old tax schedule for personal income, which is one of the highest

within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.”

The pro-poor feature of the bill has lent it unprecedented support from both the government and private business sectors, as well as civil society groups and nongovernment organizations, making it “a most understood and appreciated piece of legislation,” he noted.

After six months of deliberation on the “pro-poor” measure, the Senate-House bicameral conference com-

Mayor, Caloocan brass march to new city hall

By Jun David MAYOR Oscar Malapitan has headed a march of Caloocan City employees— not to protest or rebel, but to proceed to their newly built city hall.

The city’s old building on the corner of A. Mabini and 10th Avenue has stood for more than six decades.

The new edifice is now located on the corner of 8th Street and 8th Avenue.

It has eight floors, including the parking basement, and has a total floor area of 3,000 square meters.

On Tuesday at 6:30 a.m., Malapitan led the walk from 10th Avenue to 8th Avenue with the city’s

elective officials, department heads, city employees, students who played the drum and lyre, and local college students waving their flaglettes along the road.

The simple ceremony began with a blessing and ribbon cutting in front of the city hall and opening of its marker with Malapitan, Caloocan 1st District Rep. Along Malapitan, and Vice Mayor Maca Asistio leading.

An inaugural Mass followed, presided over

by Most Rev. Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who cited that “Caloocan is a very old city, but it goes toward the atmosphere of improvement.”

AFP AWARD. Quezon Governor’s Office Chief of Staff Webster Letargo (second from left) represents Gov. David C. Suarez, who received the AFP Kapayapaan Award 2017 (inset) during the 82nd Anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. The AFP recognized the Quezon government partners and stakeholders who have contributed to the success of the Armed Forces’ campaign. Photo also shows AFP Chief of Staff Lt. General Rey Leonardo (center), Quezon PNP Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Rhoderick C. Armamento, Quezon Province Executive Assistant Bong Diaz, and Planning Division chief Odessa Perez. Benjie A. Antioquia

mittee finally ironed out its contentious provisions.

“The TRAIN measure finally came out to deliver its gains directly to the people, in the form of reduced PIT and raised [government] earnings,” Salceda said.

Certified urgent by Duterte, the original and attractive features of the House TRAIN version are its lower tax rate for fixedincome earners, and the tax exemption of the first P250,000 in annual income.

QC warns vs using Christmas fireworks

By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City government on Thursday warned residents against the use of firecrackers this Christmas season.

Elmo San Diego, Department of Public Order and Safety head, said the selling and use of banned firecrackers like Judas belt, whistle bomb, bawang, pla-pla, super lolo and other illegal firecrackers, are prohibited under Republic Act 7183.

“As much as possible, we must avoid the selling of illegal firecrackers. These are prohibited.

Don’t attempt to sell or you will end up in jail,” he said.

The city government has provided a checklist of requirements for the issuance of authority to display or sell for the retailer of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices that will be coming from the DPOS. City Ordinance 26182017 imposes a total ban on the use or play of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in all public places of Quezon City during a festivity or for any occasion, and providing penalties for violation thereof.

On Oct. 13, Mayor Herbert Bautista signed the measure. Its implementing rules and regulations are still being crafted.

The city government has placed more stringent requirements to avoid the incidents of fire and also to lessen the traffic.

The Market Development and Administration Department has also defined a vending zone for firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

Life

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

CULTURE AND MEDIA

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017

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COLORFUL

yarn street art EXHIBITION ON TREES. The 'Yarn Bomb Knit Bom' installation features knitted creations by Lulu Tan-Gan displayed on trees in the gardens of Greenbelt.

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HE Ayala Museum and Ayala Malls were drenched in a bucket of colors during the Yarn Bomb Knit Bomb, an exhibition that turned trees in surrounding gardens into canvasses for bright, bold, and retro fabrics, knit, crochet, and weave works as street art.

The featured designer is the Queen of Knitwear, Lulu Tan-Gan, who seamlessly merged Philippine artisan sophistication with contemporary design in a style dubbed as Indigenous Couture.

Tan-Gan, a De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Fashion Design and Merchandising faculty member, enlisted the help of students as collaborators.

This public installation is part of G.A.M.E. – the Greenbelt + Ayala Museum Experience, which aims to bring art pieces outside the gallery and to the outdoors, by

highlighting the country’s history and culture through inspiring artistry and craftsmanship. Yarn Bomb Knit Bomb is the first of its several upcoming shows.

Pieces from Retro Galactic Communitree, in partnership with craft enthusiasts, the Tribo Walk, the Retro Walk and the Retro by the Chapel may likewise be admired.

Yarn Bomb Knit Bomb will run until Jan. 14, 2018, and is supported by Kinka Graphics, Rupert Signs, Manila Bay Thread Corporation, DLS-CSB, Crowd Source Participants, and Astoria Hotel.

The public installation is part of G.A.M.E. (Greenbelt + Ayala Museum Experience) which aims to bring art pieces outside the gallery

Save the Kids Philippines: Making it truly a Season of Giving

Art pieces displayed at the 'Shades and Sounds of Bangladesh' exhibit at the Benilde's School of Design and Arts Campus

Sounds and shades of Bangladesh

THE Bangladesh Embassy in Manila, in partnership with De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), recently presented Shades and Sounds of Bangladesh, an exhibition featuring the paintings and tapestries of award-winning Bengali artists who have likewise held shows in Korea, Indonesia, India, Japan, and Hong Kong.

The paintings depict daily Bengali life, with images of boats as transport, vivid landscapes full of flowers, with touches of iconic calligraphy.

One unique type of tapestry showcased was the Nakshi Kanthas, aged cloth stitched together like a quilt. Believers claim these bring good luck to marriage, fertility, prosperity, and happiness.

The recent opening of the exhibition was attended by Ambassador of Bangladesh Asad Alam Sia, DLS-CSB President Br. Dennis Magbanua, FSC, and School of Design and Arts Dean Architect Asela Domingo.

Associate Dean of Benilde Arts and Culture Cluster (BACC) Dr. Sunita Mukhi together with exhibit curator Alain Zedrick Camiling hit a gong three times to officially signal the start of the cultural exchange exhibit, while Design Foundation faculty members Benjie Cabrera and Carlito Camahalan performed different tribal instruments as background music.

A concert entitled An Evening with Flute, soon followed, featuring famous Bengali flutist Ustad Murtaza Kabir Murad, and his ensemble, namely, Swarup Hossain who played the percussion tabla, Rejaul Karim on the violin, together with Ustad’s disciples Nishat Afrose and Iftekhar Hassan.

The performance included mellow songs that gradually shifted to upbeat music. With the song entitled “Kirtan,” students of the school’s Dance Program, namely Natalie Gilbert, Danny De Vera and Lea Roque, danced to the calming tones of the music, featuring choreography by the program’s chairman, Christine Crame.

The AB Music Production musicians, Jose Mañego, Shirley Castro, Paolo De Leon, Rhett Lee Macasu, Marc Novera, Shin Eom, Rowen Gamueda, Jesse Pitogo, Ptrick Atok, and Justine Kyle Co, on the the piano, guitar, tambourine and maracas, led the concert’s finale with their collaborative piece, a modernized version of Raag Jog.

CHRISTMAS is quickly descending on us and everyone is rushing to finish his never-ending lists. To make this season of giving a truly meaningful one, Save the Kids Ph (STK), a non-profit organization made up of kids who want to help kids, came up with the idea of Kalinisan Kits. Margarita Te, STK’s founder and president says, “These are our organization’s version of ‘care packages’ and contains basic needs such as slippers, towel, soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner all in one attractive and reusable drawstring bag.”

“We’ve made the package hassle-free and convenient for people to give as donations to orphanages or street children, for example, and contain a gift tag also, if you opt to give the kits to those friends or family that are a little harder to give gifts to. They can then donate these to those who need it the most,” adds Martin Alindogan, co-founder and Vice President of Save the Kids Ph. The purchase of a kit, each sold at Php 200, will not only help Save the Kids with their outreach projects, but also encourage the recipients to maintain good health and proper hygiene.

The initial batch of thousands of kits were immediately sold out by the end of November, just a couple of weeks after its launch. Truly, so many benefactors are encouraged and willing to share their blessings this season.

Save the Kids Philippines is a non-profit organization that aims to help displaced and disadvantaged Filipino kids find their path towards a brighter future. The organization was established with the belief that providing food and basic needs during the aftermath of a devastating experience is not sufficient. The long path to recovery entails equipping them with the necessary tools to go beyond the difficulties they have faced. Because of this, STK came up with the S.A.V.E. Program - a fourpronged approach towards the kids going through the rehabilitation process. In this program, they explore various activities such as Skills-building, Art therapy, Values-formation and an Educational Activity in each carefully-chosen location. The absolute goal is to SAVE 10,000 kids by educating, empowering and uplifting their lives, and

helping them build a better future.

The organization is constantly looking for high school student volunteers who can help in their outreach programs. If you are interested in helping end the poverty and exploitation plaguing our world today, or if you just generally enjoy helping for a cause, here are some things you could do: • Sponsor our Outreach Activities • Host a Goods Drive (clothes, food, books, etc.)

• Become a Drop-off Point (for

collection of donations in kind) • Donate in Kind • Donate Your Time through: Storytelling S p o r t s / Yo g a / M e d i t a t i o n clinics D a n c i n g /A c t i n g / S i n g i n g workshops Painting / Arts & Crafts Photography Tutorials For more info, find them online at: www.savethekids. ph, #SavetheKidsPH, fb.com/ SavetheKidsPH.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017

Paulo Avelino stars in film adaptation of Nick Joaquin's play, "Ang Larawan"

Nick Joaquin’s play now a musical film

I

F you’re among the not-somany Filipino culturati, you must be familiar with the late Nick Joaquin’s play A Portrait of An Artist as Filipino, which the 50’s iconic director Lamberto V. Avellana translated into film in 1965 with Naty Crame Rogers and Daisy Hontiveros-Avellana as Paula and Candida. This film also introduced this writer to upcoming actor Vic Silayan (as Bitoy Camacho) and who would later become one of Philippine cinema’s greatest.

In 1989, Bienvenido Lumbera translated Joaquin’s play to Filipino as Larawan and was performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater with Celeste Legaspi and Noemi Manikan-Gomez playing the lead characters.

In 1997, Muscial Theater Philippines (musicat) staged a Tagalog musical adaptation of Larawan at what is now known as Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, CCP’s Main Theater, with Legaspi as Candida and Zsa Zsa Padilla as Paula. Roedar Camañag sang and acted the part of Bitoy Camacho and actor Ricky Davao the role of

Tony Javier.

Two decades later, the same musical can now be seen in cinemas as a musical film. Produced by the same people that brought it to the stage 20 years ago, it is now the film that most serious Metro Manila Film Festival followers are hoping would snag the “Best Picture” trophy come Awards Night on the 27th of this month, to give Filipino filmmakers with profound drive to elevate local filmmaking from the routine of romcoms and slapstick comedy to the more sophisticated genres, like musical theater.

Already, those who have had

a glimpse of the film during its press preview are rooting for both Joanna Ampil and Rachel Alejandro (Candida and Paula) to be the frontrunners in the acting categories. Also cited were Sandino Martin (Bitoy) and Paulo Avelino (Tony Javier) who might just snag an award as well.

I am familiar with the Avellana’s 1965 film as well as Lumbera’s translation. I had seen Ryan Cayabyab’s musical with Rolando Tinio’s libretto. I think I will have to watch the movie directed by my UP Diliman schoolmate Loy Arcenas to complete my Nick Joaquin experience

…are talking about

come Christmas Day. *** Seth Meyers, one of late night’s most important comedy voices, has been named host of the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

The telecast is on Monday, 8 Jan., 9 a. m. LIVE from the US, first and exclusive on Blue Ant Entertainment “The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is excited to have Seth Meyers host the ‘75th Annual Golden Globe Awards,’” said HFPA President Meher Tatna. “With his natural comedic wit and innate ability to charm audiences, Seth will help us carry on the celebratory

tradition of recognizing the best in television and film at the Party of the Year.”

For the latest news, exclusive content and more of the Golden Globes follow RTL CBS Entertainment on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/RTLCBSEntertainment/, @RTLCBSEntertainment on Instagram, and @RTLCBSEntertain on Twitter.

On Jan. 1, RTL CBS Entertainment will be renamed Blue Ant Entertainment. Social media accounts will also change to Blue Ant Entertainment on Facebook, @BlueAntEntertainment on Instagram, and @ BlueAntEnt on Twitter.

Smart Music Live, Smart Giga Movies

deliver quite a lineup in 2017

IT’S been quite a conquest for Smart’s entertainment offers this year as Smart Music Live and Smart Giga Movies bannered some of 2017’s biggest concerts and box-office hits.

Britney Spears was 2017’s biggest international artist to do a Manila concert leg with her June 15 concert. Smart Music Live also brought to the country other big names in the world music arena with concerts from Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony, David Guetta, Shawn Mendes, Liam Gallagher, Two Door Cinema Club, Zara Larsson, Daya, DNCE and Dua Lipa Lipa..

In 2018, Smart Music Live will turn the heat up anew with the concerts no less than Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars Mars,, both happening summer of next year.

Subscribers were treated to free tickets, exclusive minitours (via Smart Music Live Party Bus), perks and exclusive concert deals.

For Smart Giga Movies, Logan opened Smart Postpaid’s yearlong sponsorship of red carpet screening events, social media engagements, and exclusive perks related to some of 2017’s mainstream Hollywood releases.

Apart from Logan, Smart Giga Movies hosted events for Fast and Furious 8, Ghost in the Shell, Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle, Justice League, and Wonder Woman.

For more details, follow Smart’s Facebook, Instagram (@livesmart) and Twitter accounts. Subscribe to GigaSurf packages or visit smart.com. ph to know more about the next perks from Smart Music Live and Smart Giga Movies.

...are not talking about Kris Aquino

Piolo Pascual

As if she wasn’t aware that she did the photo shoot for it, she was still “shocked” when a fashion and lifestyle magazine put her on the cover and named her one of their “People of the Year.” She was cited for living up to her moniker “Queen of All Media” even if she doesn’t have any TV show and her online talk show is not making any impact. She was also praised for being cast in Crazy Rich Asian, where she just plays a very minor and brief role. The point is, there are other celebrities, whose relevance is not that questionable, deserve that spot.

They say only visionaries and those who continuously reinvent themselves last in the business. And we guess it’s true especially in the case of Piolo, who has been having a great time on the other side of the camera. Most of the films he has produced made great impressions and even did well at the box office. Perhaps that’s the reason why he’s planning to make more films in 2018 aside from the fact that he also wanted to provide employment and give his colleagues the opportunity to be on the spotlight.

Sue Ramirez

A netizen claimed that her recent encounter with the Kapamilya actress was not something that she would really want to cherish. At a parking lot, Sue flashed her middle finger thinking that the latter occupied the parking space where she’s supposed to park her car. The netizen immediately took to Facebook to chronicle her experience but deleted it later on after the actress expressed her “sincere apology,” a.k.a. damage control. Well, it’s true that we really don’t know celebrities and it’s not practical to believe the sweet image they portray onscreen.

ABS-CBN Christmas Special

Two Christmas specials aired on Sunday. Each program featured some if not all of the biggest talents each station has to offer. And based on AGB Nielsen ratings data, only one show got the audience glued to their TV sets and that’s the one that dominated even the online world. The star-studded ABS-CBN Christmas Special got an AGB rating of 4.5 percent or 1.3 percent higher than what Paskong Kapuso got when it aired on the same night.

Maine Mendoza

Her absence seems to be getting controversial and it says a lot about her being a staple face on TV. Every single star has a say on her “sudden disappearance” from the noontime show where people see her every day. Even fans have peculiar speculation on why she had to take a break.

Don’t they think she’s just a normal person who gets tired at some point and who also needs a vacation? Maine is bound to return on TV in January, so AlDub fans should stop worrying now.

Baron Geisler

He said in a recent interview that he wants to clean up his act, something we’ve already heard so many times over. Hence, people would no longer be surprised if he’d get himself into another trouble or make another headline for getting arrested because of his terrible behavior. But it’s nice to know that after a series of controversial moments, the character actor is thinking of returning to rehab. Then again, this would only be a good news among the people he has had terrible encounter with if he’d stop talking and really do it.

Motoring

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017

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Banner year for HARI trucks, buses H YUNDAI Asia Resources, Inc., the Philippines’ official distributor of Hyundai passenger and commercial (trucks and buses) vehicles, gears up in anticipation of the government’s intensified push for infrastructure in 2018. With its line of passenger cars, commercial, and special vehicles braced for a wide range of mobility and payload requirements, HARI underscores its role as the Filipino’s lifetime partner to success.

“We are broadening our corporate horizon at a very opportune time, allowing us to empower local enterprises. As HARI addresses freight, payload, and mass mobility needs, we open ourselves to small and medium enterprises, transport logistics, construction, mining, and various economic activities, not only in urban centers but also

in emerging cities. The Philippine economy is at its momentum, and we are pleased to be at the forefront,” said HARI President and CEO, Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.

Data from the automotive sector shows that the industry is ontrack in meeting its year-end target sales of 450,000 units.

Moreover, it has been a banner

Road safety tips for motorcyclists Everyone is excited not just about the Christmas celebrations but also about having some time off to be with loved ones and just take a break from the daily grind. Reunions and gettogethers are being organized and travel itineraries finalized, all in line with ensuring the perfect holiday break.

With all the expected traveling this holiday season, Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association, Inc. reiterates the importance of road safety and reminds motorcycle riders to take extra precautions on the road.

MDPPA Road Safety Committee Vice Chairman Magnus Mateo shared some safety measures for motorcyclists: Make sure you are fit to drive.

Assess yourself and be sure you are physically, mentally and emotionally fit before driving.

Get enough sleep before your trip and stay hydrated during your travel.

Wear comfortable clothes and put on visible or reflectorized safety gear, particularly if riding at night. Remember to bring your driver’s license and motorcycle registration and insurance.

If you are planning to drink or are already drunk, do not drive.

Plan your trip. Make a travel itinerary so you can map and plan your route and stopovers.

Plot rest areas and locate gasoline filling stations along the way. This can help you save time and money.

If it is a long ride, try stopping for rest every one or two hours.

If sleepy, take a power nap at a gas station or coffee shop to reenergize before resuming the ride. Factor all these in when planning your trip.

Prepare your motorcycle be-

fore the trip. Inspect the bike parts such as the battery, lights and horn to make sure they are in the right condition. Check the tires and pressure, brakes, fuel and oils. Make sure the headlights and tail lights are working.

Remove unnecessary items from the motorcycle. Do not overload the vehicle and remember that you are allowed only one back rider.

Bring the basic necessities.

Keep items such as rain gear, water, emergency kit, medicines, tissue, cash and small bills with you or the vehicle when you ride.

Bring also the owner’s manual and some basic tools so you are prepared for any emergency while on the road.

Know the laws. Be mindful of the laws and local municipal ordinances along your route and in your destination.

Drive within specified speed limits. Go with the most comfortable safe speed you can handle. Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you and be visible to other motorists or pedestrians.

Drive safely and properly.

Keep to the motorcycle lane and respect other motorists and pedestrians. Remember that being on a bike is not an excuse to counter flow. Stay alert to avoid road hazards. Always think about safety—yours and the other people on the road.

These road safety tips are not only applicable this coming holiday season. Keep them in mind every day to stay safe on the road at all times.

You may call 117 to alert the Philippine National Police in case of road mishaps or dial 320 to call the road emergency hotline of the Metro Manila Development Authority.

year for Hyundai trucks and buses. On its first full year of operations, HARI’s CV business grew by 883% from last year, eclipsing the previous distributor’s alltime-high sales, and is poised to account for 10% of total vehicle sales in the next five years, aiming to double in scale by 2025.

Putting primary emphasis on

Hyundai’s trademark efficiency and technology, HARI gears up to respond to the spike in local business and mass transport requirements with the introduction of the Xcient line, Hyundai’s new generation of Euro 4 trucks that integrates class-leading performance and optimized fuel efficiency with the interior cabin trim

of a luxury sedan.

HARI is also looking into bringing in a truck and bus line from the Hyundai plant in China, a move that should appeal to customers that prefer China-made trucks.

“As opportunities open up to the automotive industry, we are driven to innovate better and fast-

er--listening closely to the market in order to meet their demands.

With the rollout of the PUV modernization program next year, the need for reliable transport solutions will certainly be front and center. Hyundai welcomes these changes, as we commit to be the leading brand for sustainable and reliable mobility,” Agudo said.

New Caddy MPV : Seven-seater family mover VOLKSWAGEN Philippines, the exclusive importer and distributor of the leading European car brand in the country in 2016, now offers the versatile, safe and powerful New Caddy multipurpose vehicle (MPV).

The New Caddy is available in two variants: Comfortline (CL) and Sportline (SL). Both are equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged direct injection (TDI) diesel engine mated to a 7-speed direct shift gear (DSG) transmission that generates maximum power of 102 PS and maximum torque of 250 Nm, more than enough to efficiently transport cargo and passengers in its 7-seater configuration.

The New Caddy is considered the ideal MPV for families for its

flexible seating configuration as well as its generous cargo space, while optimizing safety features such as front, side and curtain airbags, Hill Hold Control, flat tire indicator, electronic engine immobilizer, among others.

Cruise Control, touchscreen audio with 6-speaker system and Bluetooth connectivity, leather steering, front fog lights, exterior mirror auto fold, are standard in both CL and SL variants, while the 17-inch “Madrid” alloy wheels Fontana Red Surface, driver alert system, body-colored protective side moldings with chrome inserts, smoked rear lamp cover, and, silver roof rails are special features of the SL variant.

Available exterior colors are Candy White, Deep Black Pearl

(CL only), Chestnut Brown (CL only) and Fortuna Red (SL only) while the SRP are P1,430,000 and P1,480,000, for CL and SL, respectively.

More than just highlighting power and versatility, the New

Caddy exemplifies the world-class family lifestyle experience the German marque has been known for. After all, for Volkswagen, It’s More than Just a Car.

Honda Odyssey: Refreshed styling, more features HONDA’S automobile business unit in the Philippines, introduces the New Odyssey with a refreshed exterior styling and added convenience features which aims to further satisfy customer’s needs for luxurious and comfortable mobility.

The New Odyssey brings in improved levels of refinement for both the EX-V Navi and EX variants with enhanced exterior features and interior comforts. The New Odyssey EX-V Navi variant comes with a redesigned exterior, particularly a new Front Grille Design in Dark Chrome, and sportier Front Bumper with LED Fog lights. The Door Handles finished in Dark Chrome and the Smoked LED Guide Type Tail Lamps complement the updated styling of the New Odyssey EX-V Navi variant.

The New Odyssey EX on the other hand, now adopts the sporty Aero exterior styling. This includes a New Front and Rear Bumper Design, Halogen Fog Lights as well as a Platinum Front Grille. Completing the new look of the New Odyssey are the redesigned 16 inch and 17 inch Alloy Wheels for both the EX and EX-V Navi variants respectively, which give the New Odyssey a more dynamic and commanding presence.

Inside, both variants of the New Odyssey retain its flexible and elegant interior. The EX-V Navi variant, with its customizable 7 seater capacity (2-2-3) lay-

out and full leather interior now also receives additional updates such as new Black Wood and Silver Trim Panels and a new Large Armrest with Center Console for added storage which can be found in first row. The familiar Captain Cradle Seats with Ottoman and Holders can be found in its second row which allows for a more comfortable and personalized second row seating. On the other hand, an 8 seater capacity (2-3-3) layout with soft fabric seats is also available with the EX variant which integrates a 60:40 split bench seat that can accommodate 3 passengers comfortably on the second row. On the third row, both variants of the New Odyssey are equipped with Magic Seats that can accommodate passengers as well as additional cargo with its three-way split reclining structure, allowing the portions of the seats to be individually folded, reclined, or stowed under the floor to provide more cargo room and flexibility.

The New Odyssey has always been known for being loaded with convenience features. Both the EX-V Navi and EX variants now come in standard with a Smart Entry with Push Start System which was previously available exclusively for the EX-V Navi.

Also, a 7” Touch Screen Display Audio System with Bluetooth for hands-free telephone (HFT) functionality and audio streaming come in standard for both variants with the EX-V Navi having the additional Navigation, 9” Rear Entertainment System with DVD and HDMI playback capability as added features.

The New Odyssey is also equipped with a variety of class leading safety features for both variants. Features such as 6 Airbags (Dual Front airbags, Front driver and passenger side airbags and side curtain airbags), Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist

(HSA), Speed Sensing Auto Door Locks and Multi-View Reverse Camera all come in standard for both variants of the New Odyssey.

For the EX-V variant, additional safety and convenience features were added such as Multi-View Camera System, Blind Spot Information (BSI), Cross Traffic Monitor (CTM) as well as an improved Smart Parking Assist System with Parking Sensors, which combine to further help improve maneuverability whenever pulling out from tight spaces.

The New Odyssey still comes with the powerful yet fuel efficient Earth Dreams Technology 2.4 liter DOHC i-VTEC engine and Earth Dreams Technology Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with paddle shifters.

This set up allows for a maximum power output of 175 ps at 6,200 rpm, and a maximum torque of 23.0 kg-m at 4,000 rpm. Other notable features of the New Odyssey namely Honda’s Eco Assist System, which consists of the ECON mode and Eco-Coaching Ambient Light and the Idle-Stop System helps encourage fuel-efficient driving.

The New Odyssey is now available at all Honda Car dealerships starting at a suggested retail price of Php 2,449,000 for the top of the line EX-V Navi variant and Php 2,039,000 for the EX variant. The New Odyssey will also be available in four colors:

Be the modern-day Santa Claus with Lalamove Online shops, retailers, logistics companies and the Philippine Postal Corporation are racing to deliver millions of packages ordered this holiday season. It might seem like a colossal job to be a delivery guy on the holidays, but it would be an amazing feeling to complete a delivery and spread love on Christmas Day. Lalamove gives you just that feeling of being a modern-day Santa Claus and earn extra cash in the comfort of

your own vehicleIf you’re looking to be a driver for a company, you might find it a bit of a drag securing all the necessary requirements, waiting up in line to be assessed if you fit the job.

Here in Lalamove, if you have a motorcycle, Van, or L300, you can easily sign-up to be a Lalamove Driver and earn cash quick!

Just by following this simple process, you can be your own boss with Lalamove: 1) Download the Lalamove

Driver App. 2) Upload the following documents for upload: (Driver’s License, NBI or Police Clearance, OR / CR / Deed of sale, a letter of authorization if vehicle is not owned and a Picture of the vehicle – front side and back.

3) Attend the Orientation. You can choose to head on to the main office located at 4th Floor, 2231 Molave Building, Chino Roces Ave. Makati City or to the QC Satellite Office, at the Raketroom #94

10th Ave., Cubao, Quezon City Being Santa Claus this Christmas is the biggest logistics job in the world, it would truly be a challenge getting presents to all the boys and girls in just one night. But when morning comes, it would also be one of the most fulfilling jobs in the world as you get to travel on your personal sleigh and make people happy.

Do you think you have what it takes to and fill Santa’s shoes and serve the naughty or the nice?

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor DINO DIRECTO III Asst. Editor

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017

Motoring

A gear head’s Xmas wish Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

I

T’S THAT most wonderful time of the year once again. There’s a chill in the air as the smell of roasted chestnuts and the sound of Christmas carols tingle our senses.

With Christmas a few hours away, people are adding to the chaos we all know as EDSA. Malls are bursting with shoppers doing their groceries for Noche Buena and that last minute shopping for gifts.

To make your shopping a bit of a breeze, here are gift suggestions for your car loving Dad and that gear head brother of yours who wishes that Santa Claus would do his rounds on board a Nissan GTR.

CTEK Car Charger The best gift any motoring enthusiasts should receive is CTEK. Designed and engineered to extend your car battery’s life cycle, CTEK’s line of 12V automatic battery car chargers comes equipped with an intelligent micro processing unit that utilizes four different modes for charging

and an overarching, automated, 8-stage recharging sequence.

The CTEK’s line of car chargers include all the safety features such as insulated, spark-resistant clamp and an automated charging feature that is programmed to prevent overloading your batteries, and the charger will automatically sense when the maximum charge has been delivered, then stop supplying power. The CTEK charger also features a reverse polarity warning light that turns on if you have placed the clamps on the incorrect battery post. One of the best features of the CTEK car battery charger is its ability to charge nearly every battery type available. This includes the common acid-lead batteries found in most automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, golf carts, lawn mower and boats, and can also charge deep-cycle, gelcell and automated glass mat, or AGM batteries.

Blade’s Sparco Floormats Regarded as the country’s largest automotive accessories retail chain with 50 stores nationwide, Blade has carved a respectable niche in the aftermarket industry with its extensive line of affordable automotive accessories and car care products that ranges from car audio-video down to air fresheners and wheels.

Among their popular brands is Sparco, an Italian auto part and accessory company headquartered in Volpiano, Turin, Italy that specializes in producing items such as seats, steering wheels, harnesses, racewear and helmets. In the Philippines, Blade is the distributor for Sparco’s lifestyle products such as seat covers and floor mats.

Sparco floor mats are easy to

clean and made from a non-skid backing material and designed to universally fit most cars and AUV’s.

MiLi’s Limited Edition Ferrari Powerbanks MiLi, a premium brand of mobile solution products recently introduced it latest line of power banks and data storage officially licensed Ferrari products. What better way is there to own a Ferrari or show off your love for the Maranello based manufacturer by using mobile solutions emblazoned by the iconic Ferrari Prancing Horse! According to Johann Tiu of MiLi Ph, these products are designed to support your fast-paced lifestyle by providing portable power and storage solutions. The Ferrari Power Miracle III which comes in Black or Red colors is a fast-charging, highcapacity universal power bank with dual USB ports and the

Qualcomm QuickCharge feature. It is compatible with most mobile devices and the Qualcomm QuickCharge port which has a capacity pf 10,000 mah charges Qualcomm devices by up to three times faster and can be brought safely into the U.S. And with a capacity of 10,000 mah, it can charge some mobile phones twice over and can be brought safely into the US. The Ferrari Power Nova 1 is MiLi’s MiLi’s popular ultra-slim, aluminum-finish universal power bank (5,000 mah capacity) now comes in a sleek Ferrari design.

It’s convenient with its dual USB ports and also offers fast charging.

KYB performance Shocks

The New SR Special is a premium direct replacement shock absorber that’s designed with greater durability ensuring the quality, structural reliability and safety of a genuine KYB shock absorber. With years of experience in manufacturing shock absorbers, the new SR Special enhances the basic performance of any car, on and off the race track.

The New SR Special was developed based on motorsports technologies based on inputs from

popular Japanese D1 drift and Super GT racecar driver Nobutero Taniguchi aka “NOB” or ‘No One Better’ to test the New SR Sports.

“Car manufacturers usually develop softer suspension based on ordinary drivers preferences. That is the reason why normal cars tend to nose dive when braking hard or roll when cornering. This is why the New SR Special has been designed with improved damping characteristics to reduce rolling and pitching and get better handling

Black Rhino Wheels With its rugged styling inspired by one of the toughest beasts in the African plains, Black Rhino wheels are designed with the off road truck and SUV enthusiast in mind.

These wheels are the perfect gift for Dad’s SUV. Each Black Rhino wheel is engineered to carry the heavy loads often associated with Trucks and SUV’s. All wheels are either hub-centric or supplied with centering rings to ensure a smooth vibration free ride. The Black Rhino truck and SUV wheels lineup is built with two types of vehicles in mind. The first set-up is for Trucks or SUV’s with negative offset that works perfectly for those wanting an Extreme lift stance. The second is for more street friendly vehicles that you want to give that stylish look to set it apart from all other ve-

hicles.

Black Rhinowheels come in a variety of 17”, 18”, 20” and 22” sizes in a variety of finishes Matte Black, Gloss Black with Machine, Matte Black with Matte Machine, 5,6 and 8 Lug, all depending on what perfectly suits your truck, lifted truck and SUV. So when it comes to choosing well built, tough looking wheels for your off road truck, lifted truck or sport utility vehicle, go on and give it horns with Black Rhino Wheels.

Hippo 3D floormats Unlike basic universal floor mats which are expensive and hassle to install, Hippo techmats are designed to precisely fit specific vehicles, providing edge-to-edge coverage of the foot wells. Aside from being the most affordable 3D digital mapped floormats in the market today, Hippo also have raised edges around their perimeters to trap and contain liquid. All of this better protects your car’s carpets from water, dirt, mud and other messy things that can get trapped into the vehicle’s carpets or spilled onto the floor.

With countless hours spent on

research and development, Hippo Industries 3D digital mapped techmats are the most affordable and best designed in comparison to its nearest competitor which is double the price. It is also the techmatsof choice of automotive dealers due to its competitive pricing and innovative material Thermo Plasti Vulcanisil B which is weather and scratch proof. Hippo Floormats have precise fitments for the Mitsubishi Montero, Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest, Honda Mobilio and BRV, Chevrolet variants, and pick-ups such as the Toyota Hi-Lux, Mitsubishi Strada and the Ford Ranger.

YEAR-END REPORT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017

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Real estate soothsayers see ‘rosy’ picture in 2018

By Joel Lacsamana

M

ANY property and construction players are crystal ball-gazing this time of the year to assess what’s in store for the Philippine real estate industry in 2018, and beyond.

Depending on who you talk can be mixed. to, the soothsayers’ prognosis There are industry pun-

dits who track the construction cranes that dot the skyline in an unprecedented 14-year construction boom from Alabang to Balintawak, from Pasig to the reclaimed shorelines of Manila Bay—with thousands of new office buildings flooding the market, and ask—is a real estate glut in Metro Manila upon us?

But there are many more who share the optimism held by some

of the biggest business groups about the country’s prospects for next year, and pronounce that an equally robust property market may be expected in 2018 and the next five years, on the back of a strong economic growth, a growing knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) industry, aggressive infrastructure spending by the incumbent Duterte administration, and sustained

private sector confidence.

Quo vadis, BPO industry?

Andy Manalac, former chairman of the National Real Estate Association (NREA) and head of Havitas Developments Corp. agreed. But he cautioned that the recent tax reform proposal of the Department of Finance (DoF) could threaten the prospects of the BPO industry.

The DoF, through House

Bill 5636, proposes to remove the value-added tax (VAT) exemption on gross sales presently enjoyed by BPO firms.

It is part of the comprehensive tax reforms package submitted to Congress and certified urgent by Malacañang. Should the DoF plan be implemented as proposed, BPO firms will be made to pay 12% VAT Turn to D2

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YEAR-END REPORT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017

Real estate...

From D1

with a corresponding entitlement to claim refunds through VAT inputs. The government promises to process such refunds within 90 days.

Technically, the effect on BPO cost structures should be minimal except for the need to beef up working capital to subsidize VAT until the refunds come through.

What makes it contentious is that government makes no guarantees that all refund claims will be honored.

“BPO firms in the Philippines already operate at a 6% cost premium versus those operating in India,” Manalac said.

“This is due to higher wages, power costs, and office rentals. With the additional tax burden coupled by the need for additional working capital, the cost differential between India and the Philippines could widen to 15%, effectively obliterating Philippine competitiveness.”

Exacerbating the situation is the relative ease to duplicate BPO operations in other locations.

With this, Manalac said, the Philippines could face the specter for closures and outward migration of BPO firms.

Optimism abounds Knight Frank Philippines chairman and CEO Rick Santos said the outlook on Metro Manila’s real estate market is more optimistic next year as the government’s infrastructure projects are expected to be rolled out, improving the business environment here.

He added that higher business confidence is seen as post-ASEAN hosting effect, since the government was able to project the opportunities in investing in the country.

Likewise, infrastructure funding deals and other key agreements forged by the government and officials from other countries who attended the ASEAN Summit are also expected to drive economic opportunities in the Philippines.

This will lead to stronger demand in property market, according to Santos.

“With deeper cooperation between the Philippines and East Asian neighbors such as China and Japan, prospects for the Philippines’ property sector are stronger than

The year 2018 may further see the expansion of alternative industrial hubs; more strategic landbanking within the vicinity of crucial infrastructure projects ; and project differentiation, among others.

ever before. Enhanced infrastructure projects and access naturally attract more institutional and private investments that, in turn, lead to accelerated countryside development and growth of secondary cities,” he said.

Strong fundamentals The Philippines is now Asia’s new economic powerhouse on the back of its strong, stable macroeconomic fundamentals.

The country continues to have one of the fastest growing economies in the region, coupled with low inflation and interest rates, and strong remittances from overseas Filipino workers.

Infrastructure spending is also on the rise, considered by many as a signal for sustained growth.

The Philippines’ investment grade ratings from notable credit rating agencies have long put the country on the radar of foreign investors, many of whom have started to set up shop here over the last several years. And with the strong investor confidence, more Filipinos today have stronger purchasing power given the access to better quality jobs.

Stable industry The favorable gains achieved over the last five years have benefited a host of other industries, including real estate, which is now being heralded by many quarters to be the more attractive investment option.

The numbers tell the perfect story.

Metro Manila, for one, ranked third in terms of city investment prospects under the Asia Pacific City Investment Prospects 2017, which identified the Philippine region to be one of the “most attractive urban hubs for developers and yieldseeking real estate investors.”

Rental yields of residential condominiums in Manila also remained more attractive compared to the interest rates offered by other instruments, according to Colliers International Philippines. For instance, as of end February this year, Manila rental yields stood at 7 percent, higher than any of the rates offered by treasury bills and bonds, time deposit, and bank lending, Colliers said.

More importantly, data from Global Property Guide 2016 showed that the Philippines offers a higher gross residential rental yield compared to most countries in the region. At the same time, the country’s average residential prices remained competitive, way below those of Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, India, Taiwan and Thailand.

What’s in store?

Industry observers believe the sectors which performed well in 2017 will likely see similarly growth in 2018.

Manalac said there

a number of trends and growth drivers that the industry players should watch out for as these may offer highly lucrative opportunities for further growth and expansion of their respective businesses.

He said these trends included the expansion of mixed-use developments outside Metro Manila as these are expected to offer better value proposition than the stand-alone developments; as well as the development of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) and leisure facilities.

The year 2018 may further see the expansion of alternative industrial hubs; more strategic landbanking within the vicinity of crucial infrastructure projects ; and project differentiation, among others, added Santos.

Colliers Philippines predicts a surge in manufacturing investments and this will further raise demand for industrial space. Firms must start developing industrial parks outside of the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas area.

Public construction will be a major source of growth as the government committed to ramp up infrastructure spending.

Private construction will continuously grow due to sustained appetite for office and retail developments, while outsourcing and tourism-related activities will

continue to drive the services sector.

“We anticipate the office, residential retail, and industrial sectors to grow further in terms of supply and activity, thanks to stronger regional trade and infrastructure cooperation,” he added.

For this year alone, office space take-up is expected to reach over 600,000 square meters, led by the demand in the information technology and business process outsourcing (ITBPO) sector.

For the residential sector, around 52,000 residential units are scheduled for turnover in 2018.

More than 182,300 square meters of retail space are slated for turnover by the end of the year.

E-commerce not a drag Knight Frank’s Santos noted that e-commerce is not seen to drag the demand in retail spaces in the Philippines, unlike in the United States where market for retail space faces challenges in the age of ecommerce.

Likewise, forecast on industrial sector remains rosy as business confidence in the country is still high.

The company noted that there is an increasing demand for warehouse and storage spaces, particularly in Metro Manila, Clabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), and Central Visayas.

“Build, build, build” Colliers Philippines believes the infrastructure plans of the current administration will dictate the direction of real estate developments beyond the term of President Duterte.

The implementation of infrastructure projects nationwide should provide access to properties that could be redeveloped into mixed commercial, residential, hotel or leisure and industrial estates.

Expect developers to be more aggressive in pursuing projects outside of Metro Manila as access will be significantly enhanced.

Millennials dictate retail spending in the country Filipino millennials have high disposable incomes and have overtaken the baby boomers in terms of demographic size.

They are very selective in terms of products and services that they patronize. They are heavy users of “shared economy” services such as Grab, Uber, and AirBnB, and drive demand for e-commerce sites like Lazada, Zalora, SSI Online.

Developers are buildings new malls with the millennials in mind. They are starting to offer a unique tenant mix and house retailers that specifically cater to millennials.

We see developers constructing more lifestyleoriented malls rather than

retail-centric ones to differentiate themselves especially with the emergence of online shopping.

Thriving condo living to drive demand for home furnishings, accessories Demand for home furnishings and accessories is primarily driven by an expanding middle class with incomes buoyed by BPO sector and remittances from overseas Filipino workers.

Growing local demand lures foreign brands such as Crate & Barrel, H&M Home, Pottery Barn, West Elm to set up shops.

IKEA is set to enter the Philippine market.

Construction delays At the beginning of 2017, the projected supply of new office space was close to 900,000 sqm.

This has been adjusted downwards by more than 30 percent due to project delays related to the tight labor supply in the construction sector.

Top general contractors are declining to provide their company profiles to prospective clients due to a shortage of adequately skilled workers.

Construction industry pundits believe that private construction in 2017 could’ve been more robust if not for construction delays brought about by the lack of adequately-skilled workers. The intensified development of public infrastructure projects around the country will exacerbate this problem.

Hotels and leisure segment on upswing The emerging segment of affordable hotels is likely to drive the market given the rising number of local entrepreneurs and domestic tourists. Colliers sees local developers expanding their hotel portfolio to cater to this market.

Colliers projects hotel occupancy rates in Metro Manila stabilizing between 65 percent and 70 percent over the next 12 months.

Foreign arrivals are estimated to reach 6.5 million, and both affordable and luxury hotels stand to benefit. Unfortunately, the growth of tourism sector is still hampered by the capacity limitations of existing airports.

The entry of more foreign hotel brands such as Grand Hyatt, Okada, and Dusit’s D2 will continue in 2018. Tourism players anticipate the development of more resort hotels in tourism hubs in Visayas and Mindanao.

Mitsubishi Montero Sport is Midsize SUV of the Year; Adventure best MPV

MONTERO Sport reaffirmed its status as one of the year’s top Sports Utility Vehicles after being named Model of the Year, clinching the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards Midsized SUV of the Year title.

Two special awards in the Media’s Choice category under the midsized SUV were also awarded to the Montero Sport, garnering the Best Safety Features and Best Engine Performance Media’s Choice awards.

Last year, MMPC

launched the all-new Montero Sport, equipped with world’s first clean diesel engine.

The Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control (MIVEC) clean diesel engine boasts of a low compression ratio, thus reducing fuel consumption, smoke and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions, as well as maximizing the output of the Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT).

Apart from the all-new 4N15 engine, this year’s MMPC introduced an

upgraded Montero Sport with an improved innovative all-around safety features.

The top-of-the-line Montero Sport GT boasts of an array of safety features such as Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System, Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) System, Blind Spot Warning System, Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) Body, 7 SRS Airbags, Hill Descent Control, and Hill Start Assist, making the SUV even more desirable and a true

winner in its class.

Since its introduction in the Philippine market, the Montero Sport, one of MMPC’s bestselling vehicles, has captured the market looking for a midsized SUV that will not only deliver great performance, but also flaunts superb styling.

Meanwhile, another bestselling model, the Mitsubishi Adventure also got the top spot on the model of the year MPV category.

Receiving the awards during the ceremony was

MMPC’s FVP for Vehicle Sales and Marketing Froilan Dytianquin.

“These accolades validate Montero Sport’s excellent performance and outstanding safety features. And with these awards, we become motivated and committed to continuously provide the best vehicles for our valued customers”, Mr. Dytianquin said.

AFPCA is an annual awards program organized

by Sunshine TV to recognize and commemorate the most preferred vehicle

Froilan Dytianquin, MMPC FVP for Vehicle Sales and Marketing, displays the award won by the Montero Sport in the AFPCA. He is joined by and Gerry Aquino (right), Awards Committee Chairman, and Butch Gamboa, Chairman/CEO of Sunshine Television and organizer of the AFPCA.

models of the public and media.

Winners of the model of the year were determined thru a public poll and total sales of that particular model.

A percentage weight factor of 80% was applied to total votes from the Public Poll, and 20% to Month-to-date

Sales.

The official list of entries consisted of models from automotive manufacturers that are official members of Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines and the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors.

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YEAR-END REPORT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017

Dissecting the best gadgets of 2017

By Peter Paul Duran

T

HE year gave us a lot to cheer (and jeer) about 2017.

Let’s admit it, there there are still no flying cars zooming overhead or Scotty beaming up anybody, but credit 2017 for producing some pretty interesting stuff.

From revolutionary animojis, to the most gamechanging tech, Manila Standard’s Tech and Gadgets Section takes a look at the past year’s top gadgets and electronic devices.

1. SMART... SHOES Under Armour Gemini 3 Graphic What a time to be alive. We’re at a juncture in man’s history where everything can be made smart (except the wearer, kidding!).

Under Armour’s latest venture into the smart shoes industry is nothing short of amazing.

Especially if it’s a standalone product without the need of a smartwatch or smartphone.

4. CONSOLE Nintendo Switch Nintendo’s newest modular gaming tablet has really set the tone for much of the competition.

Though this revolutionary device can’t be put side by side with its rivals in terms of monstrous processing power or multiplayer capacities, this console offers an entirely new approach.

5. INTERACTIVE TOUCH-SCREEN PROJECTOR Sony Xperia Touch Gone are the times when visual learning in the classroom is reserved anywhere else. Now with Sony’s Xperia Touch , turn any surface into an interactive touch screen. Bring it anywhere and be the coolest person in the 50-km vicinity.

6. BLUETOOTH SPEAKER Ultimate Ears Wonderboom UE speakers for short, this company is the maker of the beloved Boom and Roll models.

This latest gadget from the speaker brand is waterproof, packs a punch, and compact for the perfect sound trip anytime, anywhere.

2. WIRELESS CHARGING Aukey Charging Stand Wireless charging has seen a rise with more and more smartphones adopting the tech. With Aukey’s stylish charging stand, users have one attractive and more practical wireless charger that’s convenient than its flat predecessors.

3. SMARTPHONES Google Pixel 2, Galaxy S8, and Iphone X Even if smartphone manufacturers try to outdo each other year after after, 2017 was still a special year for these handheld devices we can’t seem to live without.

Google has simplified its flagship handset, offering a streamlined processor, a conservative design and very few bells and whistles, top that with top-of-the-line main camera shooter. Meanwhile Apple’s Iphone X may be expensive but the beautiful edge-to-edge screen, facial recognition security and of course, animojis are enough to send the die-hard apple fanboys into a frenzy.

For Samsung’s part, its flagship Galaxy S8 has really set the standards for smartphones in 2017. Samsung made an effort to simplify the phone’s innards and made the phone one of the most elegant looking phones in recent years.

7. DSLRs Sony Alpha A7R III Sony has really revved up their game in 2017 and has produced award-winning pieces of digital SLRs to date. The tech giant’s Sony Alpha A7RIII stands as one of the best mirrorless cameras ever made. But the lower price and heightened performance are likely more than enough to impress pro and novice photographers alike. Come to think about it, the company may just have something in store for us in 2018 that will make us change our minds about the A7R III.

8. LAPTOPS Microsoft Surface Laptop This may be Microsoft’s first crack at a real laptop, but the Surface is already a real winner. Between its light and elegant design, sharp screen, and long-lasting battery, the Surface Laptop is solid choice for anyone seeking a new Windows computer.

Then again, don’t just take our word for it, as we’ve only scratched the surface on this.

No pun intended.

9. DRONES DJI Spark Released this year, Spark, a mini drone that features all of DJI’s signature technologies, allows you to seize the moment whenever you feel inspired. With intelligent flight control options, a mechanical gimbal, and a camera with incredible image quality, the DJI Spark empowers you to push your creative boundaries. The pocket sized (if you have a big enough pocket) drone requires little to no effort in setting up that you can bring wherever you want without the sacrifice of image and video quality.

10. HOME ENTERTAINMENT STUFF Amazon Echo Show According to the Paste Magazine’s Eric Walters, the Show works largely the same way as a traditional Echo, it shakes up the formula by including a 7-inch touchscreen and camera, allowing users to employ the device for video calls and consuming content like YouTube videos.

The year 2017 was quite the year for tech and gadgets, though there wasn’t much to really turn heads around in terms of innovation, but the upgrades that these new iteration products got from their predecessors in the past years are undoubtedly still amazing.

Expect manufacturers to push the envelope in 2018 and Manila Standard Tech and Gadgets is here to put these products under our keen microscope.