Manila Standard - 2017 December 27 - Wednesday

PNP DESIGNATES FIRECRACKER ZONE IN METRO MANILA (Story on A2)

VOL. XXXI • NO. 313 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Quit if you must Duterte hands-off on son Paolo’s resignation; says ‘just do what is right’

FATHER’S WORDS. President Rodrigo Duterte (right), caught apparently off half-cocked on the resignation Monday of his son Paolo (left) as vice mayor of their home city, has said the latter’s resignation should be left to the Davaoeños, adding it was up to him to do ‘what is right, to do what you [the son] feel is right for you.’

By John Paolo Bencito and Maricel V. Cruz

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he would not stop his son Paolo from doing what he thinks is right, after he abruptly resigned as Davao City vice mayor.

“He asked me, and I told him, ‘You are in a position to do what is right.

Do what you feel is right for you,’” the President said in Filipino.

“I said, ‘Well, let the people decide.

But if you think that there is a better [way] to do it, do what is right.’ That’s all,” the President added.

Duterte said he never suggested to Paolo that he resign.

Duterte added that his son might have been fed up with all the issues that have hounded him recently, including his teenage daughter Isabelle’s controversial photoshoot at the presidential palace, and their public row on social media afterward, as well as insinuations that linked him to the smuggling in of P6.4 billion worth of shabu through the Bureau of Customs.

On Christmas Day, the presidential son resigned as vice mayor of Davao City, after a series of scandals involving him and members of his family that threatened to cast a shadow over his father’s administration.

“When I was growing up, my parents never failed to remind me of the value of the time honored principles of deli-

Mall fire toll now 38; Rody vows to seek truth

Court plea set to declare Reds terrorists; AFP on alert status

By Rey E. Requejo and Francisco Tuyay THE Justice Department will file a petition before a lower court this week to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines a terrorist group as the Armed Forces of the Philippines raised the

security alert level across the nation to brace against attacks on the group’s 49th anniversary.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said a team of prosecutors took almost a month to prepare the petition to be filed before a regional trial court.

cadeza and this is one of those instances in my life that I need to protect my honor and that of my children,” he said.

Paolo said that he takes responsibility for all that has happened as a result of a wrong decision to marry at a very young age—referring to his earlier marriage to Lovely Sangkola, with whom he had three children—Omar, Rodrigo II and Isabelle.

Only recently, Paolo had a very public row with his teenage daughter Isabelle on social media, after she accused him on Twitter of beating up a childhood friend.

Paolo and presidential son-in-law, lawyer Manases Carpio were also dragged into P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China after Customs fixer Mark Taguba implicated the two, but later apologized for dragging them into the mess.

Davao City 3rd District Councilor Bernard Al-ag, who is the current majority floor leader of the 18th city council would replace Paolo Duterte as vice mayor, once the President formally approves of the decision.

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By John Paolo Bencito

He said the Justice Department team also coordinated with the intelligence community in preparing the petition to declare the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terrorist groups.

“Our task force has been

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday ordered a thorough investigation of the deadly fire that gutted a Davao City mall as news re-

ports identified a 38th victim.

Workers at the burnt-out NCCC Mall found a body on Sunday and 36 more on Monday. Most of them worked for the Research Now SSI call center on the fourth floor of the building.

On Tuesday, GMA News, quoting the Office of the Mayor, said a 38th victim was identified as Jimbo Limosnero.

Duterte, in a private meeting with the kin of the casualties at the Southern Philip-

Govt report card shows 16k deaths unresolved

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House panel okays Kalayaan Is. alienable

By Rio N. Araja THE House committee on natural resources has approved House Bill 5614 seeking to declare the Kalayaan Island Group in Palawan as alienable and dispos-

able land for agricultural, residential and commercial purposes.

In a previous hearing, Rep. Roger Mercado sponsored the bill in behalf of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Leader Rodolfo Fari-

ñas, the bill’s authors.

In an explanatory note of the bill, Alvarez and Fariñas cited the urgent need to declare the Kalayaan Island Group as alienable and disposable to promote permanent

JERUSALEM—Israel is in touch with “at least 10 countries” over the possible transfer of their embassies to Jerusalem after the United States recognized the city as Israel’s capital, a deputy minister has said.

“We are in contact with at least 10 countries, some Next page

By John Paolo Bencito

105mm howitzer cannons to bomb the BIFF’s positions.

The strikes lasted four hours or until 2 a.m. on Tuesday.

The leaders of the Tedurays in Maitumaig village

THE government has admitted that more than 16,355 deaths, many of which it claims were mostly “homicides (sic) under investigation,” are still unresolved by the police as 2017 comes to a close—a number often criticized by administration critics as tantamount to “extrajudicial killings.”

The figure was disclosed

by Malacañang in a 63page yearend report released on Tuesday, under the government’s #RealNumbers campaign—covering a period of July 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2017.

The figure cited sources

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DFA mum on embassy transfer yarn

CREMATION SOLUTION. President Rodrigo Duterte condoles with families of 38 victims, all call center agents, of the NCCC Mall fire in Davao, acknowledging that no amount of words would give them comfort. The President has advised families to cremate the victims’ bodies, after meeting with the kin a second time Monday, two days after the blaze. Malacañang Photo

10 BIFF members killed in military air strikes FRUITS APLENTY. A woman fruits vendor at the crowded Farmers Market in Quezon City’s Cubao District arranges Tuesday different kinds of fruits she is selling in the runup to New Year’s Eve on Sunday—perhaps holding on to the superstitious belief that round fruits for the New Year’s feast invite good luck. Manny Palmero

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pines Medical Center, said he will form an inter-agency body to investigate the incident.

“What I assured them is that the truth will...come out…what really happened,” the President said. Next page

AT LEAST 10 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were killed in the airstrikes in Maguindanao that started on Christmas Day, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Tuesday.

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The military said it started the strikes after the BIFF attacked the Kato Detachment of the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion in Datu Unsay town around 10 p.m. It said it immediately sent two attack helicopters that used

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Pagasa sees ‘wet’ New Year T

WO weather systems will bring cloudy skies and scattered rain to most parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Tuesday.

The tail of a cold front affecting the eastern section of Southern Luzon will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers over Samar, the Bicol Region, Quezon, the Mindoro provinces, Marinduque and Romblon, the agency said.

In other developments: • Flag carrier Philippine Airlines said Tuesday it is helping the government in its effort to

bring relief to the areas affected

by Tropical Storm “Vinta.”

PAL spokeswoman Maria Cielo Villaluna said the airline brought free of charge relief goods totaling 13,306 kilograms to the residents of Mindanao affected by the storm.

She said the airline upgraded to wide-body aircraft for its flights from Manila to Davao to carry ready-to-eat food, col-

PNP identifies firecracker, firework display zones in MM THE Philippine National Police, the government’s main law enforcement arm, has identified some areas in Metro Manila as firecracker zones and fireworks display zones.

Eastern Police District In Mandaluyong City, the only designated community fireworks display zone is at the Linear Park in Barangay Vergara.

Mandaluyong’s pinpointed firecracker zones include: General Kalentong Street in front of Market Place, Barangay Pag-Asa along Coronado Street, beside Pasig River in Barangay Hulo Barangka Ibaba (Vida Court), Barangay Barangka Ibaba Labasan Court in Barangay Barangka Ibaba along Riverside MRR Tract Street in Barangay Barangka Ibaba in front of the barangay hall of Barangay Barangka Ilaya beside Pasig River In Marikina City, there are no designated firecracker zones but there are two fireworks display zones: Marikina Sports Complex River Banks San Juan City, which takes pride as the metropolis’ “rising city of excellence” did not assign a firecracker zone, but community fireworks displays are allowed at the Pinaglabanan Shrine.

Southern Police District Makati City, Parañaque, City, Las Piñas City, Muntinlupa City, Taguig City, and Pateros are implementing a total ban and did not designate any firecracker zones.

The firecracker zones in Pasay City are at: Barangay 2 recreational area at FB Harrison Barangay 43 basketball court Tramo, Dimasalang and Vergel streets Barangays 190 and 187 basketball courts Fernando street near Buendia Avenue Cuenca street near basketball court, Apelo Cruz Street in front of T. Paez Elementary School Barangay 184 open lot KIA Motors Barangay 195 Multi-Purpose Plaza Barangay 201 plaza San Miguel Bay, Mall of Asia Manila Police District In Manila, the designated firecrackers zone/community firecrackers display zone are: Barangay 82 covered court Barangay 151 covered court Barangay 69 covered court Barangay 72 covered court Barangay 109 covered court Barangay 111 covered court Barangay 123 covered court Barangay 128 covered court Barangay 177 covered court Plaza Hernandez and Claro M. Recto Avenue corner Dagupan Street Barangay 306, Carlos Palanca, Quinta Market in front of barangay to FEATI University Barangay 307, Rizal Avenue/Raon to Quezon Boulevard Barangay 308, Evangelista Street, Porveiner Street, Esperanza Street, Dela Fe Street Barangay 309 Germinal Street, Trinidad Street G. Tuazon Street corner Sta. Teresita Street along Algeciras Street near corner Fajardo Street Cebu Street corner Visayan Street, Sampaloc Cebu Street corner Mindanao Street, Sampaloc Barangay 402 Zone 41 basketball court, Palmera Street, Sampaloc Barangay 463 Zone 46 basketball court, P. Paredes Street, Sampaloc Rajah Sulayman, Remedios Street, Malate Remedios Circle, Malate, Ortega Court, Paco Manila Canonigo Court, Paco, Manila Pedro Gil along the stretch of Manila Bay Barangay 811 basketball court Barangay 775 basketball court Barangay 879 basketball court Barangay 884 basketball court Jose Abad Santos Avenue corner Solis Street PNR Antipolo Street near corner Vargas Barangay 648 covered court Barangay 622 Dalisay covered court Barangay 617 RICASS covered court Barangay 604 Paraiso covered court Mabini Street and M.H. del Pilar, Barangay 701 Amadome basketball, San Andres Street, Barangay 701 Avelia court, Leveriza Street, Barangay 705 Leveriza Street near corner San Andres Street, Barangay 706 Paraiso ng Batang Maynila, Maginhawa Street corner Quirino, Barangay 707 F. Castro Street, Barangay 709 Singalong Street corner Zapanta, Barangay 733 Meding Street corner Tuazon, Barangay 739 Dian Street corner Estrada, Barangay 746 Torres Street, Estrada and Taal Street, Barangay 748 Francisco Street corner Arellano, Barangay 753 near Barangay 754 hall, Arellano Avenue Arellano Street and A. Roxas Street, Barangay 755 Conchu Street and A. Roxas Street, Barangay 756 Plaza Balagtas, Palumpong Street corner Beata, Pandacan Lorenzo dela Paz, Pandacan Plaza de la Virgin, Burgos Street, Pandacan Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz, in front of Binondo Church There are no firecracker zones in Baseco and Lawton.

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lapsible water containers, water purifying tablets, plastic mats, mosquito nets and blankets.

• Health Secretary Francisco Duque on Tuesday ordered an increase in the supply of medicines and other supplies in the regions hit by the storm.

“The [Department of Health] expresses its sympathy to our countrymen on this tragic event, especially with the loss of lives and with many still reported missing along with their homes,” Duque said.

“This is very sad especially at this time when families should be celebrating Christmas and preparing for the festivities of

the New Year.”

• Senator Nancy Binay on Tuesday called for a full review of the disaster protocols in the wake of Tropical Storm Vinta.

“I am calling for a full review of our existing protocols for disaster risk reduction and management from the national government level down to the local governments to find out if there are loopholes in the system and the steps to take to address those,” Binay said.

A total of 164 people were reported killed in Regions IX, X, and in the ARMM while 176 were reported missing, according to the

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The weather bureau said the prevailing northeast monsoon will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers over Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, the Cordillera Administrative Region and Aurora province.

The agency said the rest of Luzon will experience party cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers.

The Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers.

PNA, with Joel E. Zurbano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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seek clearance from a court before an organization, association or group of persons can be declared as terrorists.

Last month, the DoJ moved to arrest of key leaders of the CPP and the National Democratic Front, who had been granted provisional bail for their participation in the botched peace talks.

Prosecutors filed a motion before the Manila regional trial court Branch 32 seeking cancellation of bail for 20 NDF consultants led by spouses Benito and Wilma Tiamzon.

The DoJ made the move after President Duterte canceled the peace talks and publicly branded the CPP as a terrorist group.

“In view of the cancellation of the peace talks, there is no more legal ground for the continuous provisional liberty of the accused. Thus, the immediate recommitment and cancellation of bail of all the accused should logically follow,” the Justice Department said in its pleading.

The NDF leaders were grant-

ed bail upon initiative of the government last year for their participation in the peace process between the communist rebels and the government.

The Supreme Court, in its resolution in August last year, granted bail to the communist leaders for their participation in the peace talks in Norway under specific conditions. The ruling was adopted by the RTC. One of the conditions was that once their participation ceases or the peace negotiations are terminated, the bail bonds shall be “deemed automatically canceled.”

Meanwhile, Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, said alert levels were up because the usual anniversary of the communist movement is accompanied by attacks on government forces.

“The CPP-NPA-NDF [National Democratic Front] lost its ideological mooring and all its actions reflect a terrorist organization rather than what they claim to be,” Arevalo said in a statement on Tuesday.

With John Paolo Bencito

Opposition lawmakers said the vice mayor’s resignation will not erase his alleged link to the shipment of shabu that was smuggled into the country.

“Removing himself from public office will not make questions on his alleged links to the Davao group and the smuggled P6.4-billion shabu shipment go away, “ACT Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said.

Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano shared a similar view.

“I respect the decision of Vice Mayor Polong to resign from his office due to the reasons he stated. It is his right to take certain action when he sees fit especially concerning a personal issue with his daughter. However, it will not erase the fact that the 604 kgs shabu shipment issue has not been addressed yet and the brains behind have not been identified and arrested,” Alejano said.

He added that the vice mayor’s resignatiom will not divert the fact that “while the Duterte family claims that they are poor and simple, Isabelle showed the opposite through an ostentatious display of wealth and power in photos on her Instagram account.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption on Tuesday said government officials whose performance might suffer because of questions of corruption or personal problems should follow the lead of Paolo Duterte and resign.

VACC founding chairman Dante Jimenez hit government officials who have stayed at their posts in the wake of controversies, such as their involvement in corruption. With Rio N. Araja

of workers trapped inside the Davao shopping mall.

After the bodies were recovered, Duterte, himself a Davao native, advised families to cremate the bodies of victims.

“I told them: They’re already burnt. And even if you bring the cadaver back home, you won’t be able to open up the coffin for people to see the the dead,” he said.

“I suggested cremation. It’s the cleanest, most expedient way of doing things,” he added.

Duterte also said he offered what he called, “words of consolation, words of reality, religious words,” but acknowledged that these were not enough.

“I told them, at this time, death to me is a spiritual journey. So nobody can deal with it except... the mother, father, brother, sister,” he said.

He said he told them to pray and asked the priest for a short prayer “just to prepare them because there’s really no sense in

overdoing things.”

Duterte, who reiterated the government’s commitment to help the bereaved families, and assured them of financial assistance.

The blaze, which started at the four-story NCCC Mall on Saturday morning sent thick plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky over Davao.

The inferno was finally brought under control early Sunday morning.

could not explain because they were outside so-called “legitimate police operations.”

In a Senate hearing last August, PNP chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa used the term “deaths under investigation” for the first time to describe “the dead who were just found f loating along canals, the dead who were dumped along roads with their hands tied and their faces, eyes, and mouths taped. Also those killed by riding-in-tandem, or those who were just shot.”

The government continues to rule out the existence of extrajudicial killings in the country, citing in defense Administrative Order 35 issued in the previous administration, which defines it as “killings where the victim was a member of, or affiliated with an organization, to include political, environmental, labor, or similar causes; or an advocate of the said cause; or a media

practitioner apparently mistaken or identified to be so.”

Also in the same report, the Palace said the government was able to recover P18.92 billion of seized illegal drugs, including drug paraphernalia in 2017 as part of the government’s intensified efforts against illegal drugs.

Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said the administration expected to hear ‘less complaints’ in the future, as they continue to learn from their experiences with the bloody drug campaign still up next year.

“Of couirse, we will continue the anti-drug campaign, given our experiences...I’m sure we will learn from our past experiences,” Roque said in a mix of Filipino and English.

“I think it’s human experience that we see or we should hear less complaints because we know how to do it better,” he added.

grounds and contains significant oil and natural gas reserves.

The island is vital to the security and economic survival of the Philippines, he said.

The municipality of Kalayaan is in the process of making new projects to promote tourism and is inviting Filipino businessmen to invest in the island.

But investors were reluctant because the island group is inalienable and non-disposable for agricultural, residential and

commercial purposes, he said.

“Even residents who have been long tilling and developing the parcels of land within the Kalayaan Island Group cannot apply for titles for their occupied area,” Alvarez said.

Fariñas said Presidential Decree 1596 constituted the Kalayaan Island Group as a distinct and separate municipality of the province of Palawan, and is now known as the Municipality of Kalayaan.

said the bandits burned at least three houses during the attack, but it was now conducting clearing operations in the area.

Army spokesman Captain Arvin Encinas said the members of the BIFF attacked Datu Unsay town around 9:40 p.m. on Monday, and that initial reports said four of them were killed while five others were wounded.

Encinas said the airstrikes started after the bandits burned two houses in a Teduray Community in Sitio Makon, Barangay Iginampong in Datu Unsay, Maguindanao.

“The residents of the community fled to Sitio Bagong for safety and reported the incident to the nearest army detachment,” he said.

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meeting with the intelligence people from NICA [National Intelligence Coordinating Agency], ISAFP [Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines] and other intelligence agencies of the government,” Aguirre said.

He said he was optimistic the court would grant the petition.

“We are including in the petition numerous supporting pieces of evidence showing that the CPP and NPA are committing terroristic activities despite numerous initiatives of President Duterte to reach out to them,” Aguirre said.

The DoJ chief earlier created the team to draft the petition following President Duterte’s decision to issue a proclamation naming the CPP as a terrorist group.

Section 17 of Republic Act No. 9372 (Human Security Act of 2007) requires the DoJ to first

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“Now, I will assure you that I will call the investigators of NBI [National Bureau of Investigation], police, and Bureau of Fire [to take charge of the investigation],” he added, saying that the Scene of the Crime Operatives will also participate in the probe.

This is the second time the President met with the families

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from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Customs, which is leading the administration’s “bloody” war against illegal drugs.

Of the 79,193 anti-drug operations conducted since last year, the same fact sheet claimed only close to 3,967 drug personalities were killed in the administration’s drug war.

Some 1.3-million drug addicts have surrendered to the government as of July 26, 2017; while authorities have arrested 118,287 individuals as of Nov. 27, 2017.

The term ‘homicides under investigation’ was previously called as ‘deaths under investigation’—deaths in the bloody drug war which police officials

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dwellings and develop a viable source of livelihood for the residents.

The bill would also promote the growth of business opportunities and bolster the development of trade and industry by attracting investors to the area.

Alvarez said the Kalayaan Island Group offers rich fishing

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confirmed that at least 10 BIFF bandits were killed in the airstrikes, and that several others were hurt.

The military said it was able to warn and evacuate the villagers even before the BIFF attacked its Kato Detachment. It

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of them in Europe” to discuss the move, deputy foreign minister Tzipi Hotovely told public radio on Monday.

She spoke a day after Guatemala said it would move its embassy to the city, a move slammed by Palestinian officials as “shameful.”

Hotovely said US President Donald Trump’s statement would “trigger a wave” of such moves.

“So far we have only seen the beginning,” she said.

In Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs refused in a statement to comment whether it was planning to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem but assured it would remain supportive on the policy of Israel and the Palestinians.

The DFA said the Philippines would adhere to the Partition Plan for Palestine in the United Nations in 1947.

“The Philippines has always supported the policy of two states for two peoples as a longterm solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, consistent with our vote in favor of the Partition Plan for Palestine in the United Nations in 1947,” the DFA said.

The DFA was referring to the proposal recommending Palestine be partitioned into an Arab State and a Jewish State, with a special international status for the city of Jerusalem under the administrative authority of the United Nations.

On Dec. 6, United States President Donald Trump declared Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

He announced he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Since the announcement, the Philippines has been silent about it and would not comment on series of queries by the media. AFP and Sara Susanne Fabunan

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Govt official to testify on vaccine mess

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USTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has disclosed that a government official is willing to cooperate in the ongoing probe into the controversial P3.5-billion dengue immunization program of the Department of Health.

Aguirre, however, did not name the official so as not to jeopardize or preempt the testimony, saying he would meet the person soon after the holiday break.

Aguirre said the official has volunteered to cooperate with the fact-finding probe of the National Bureau of Investigation aimed at determining the civil and criminal liabilities of officials behind the Dengvaxia vaccine.

“This government official is

a very, very important witness who knows the transaction from the beginning to end,” he said.

Aguirre ordered NBI Director Dante Gierran to “conduct investigation and case build up over the alleged danger to public health arising from the P3.5-billion anti-dengue vaccination drive of the DoH and Sanofi Pasteur and if evidence so warrants, to file appropriate charges thereon.”

Aguirre tasked the NBI to

submit a status report on their investigation regarding the issue, but did not give the NBI a definite timeframe.

He said the probe would look into whether government officials should be held liable for the seemingly rushed procurement of the vaccine and the immunization of more than 700,000 children.

Aguirre said among those who would be investigated for possible culpabilities includes for-

mer President Benigno Aquino III, who gave the go-signal for the DoH to proceed with the vaccination project in 2016.

Also poised to be investigated is former Health secretary Janette Garin, who insisted on implementing the project despite strong objections from medical experts due to lack of certification from the World Health Organization.

Aguirre also told Bureau of Immigration Commissioner

Jaime Morente to instruct all immigration officers in the country’s airports and seaports to be on the lookout to prevent attempts of Aquino and others to leave the country.

Placed under the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order were Garin, former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, former Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Guillaume Leroy, Olivier Brandicourt, Ruby Dizon, Thomas Triomphe and Carlito Realuyo.

Balutan welcomes probe on PCSO party

STRANDED. People from the provinces who celebrated Christmas Day in Metro Manila and are going back home are stranded at the Cubao Provincial Bus Terminal because of the lack of buses which were also stranded in different provinces. Manny Palmero

Spend Christmastime with family, CBCP official urges returning OFWs AN OFFICIAL of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Commission on Pastoral Care for Migrant and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) urged overseas Filipino workers who are vacationing in the country for the holiday season

to spend time with their families and not to spend on material things.

He also acknowledged that their salaries are hard-earned money.

“Here we inform our vacationing OFWs to save, not spend or shop; to be safe especially with those ques-

tionable high-interest return of investments, and always stay, sharing stories and meals with their families,” said Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the CBCP-ECMI. The Bataan prelate noted that spending quality time with their

families is the best gift they can give themselves and also their loved ones.

Aside from spending time, he also urged them to hear Mass with their families and pray for more blessings, among others.

“Spend time with their families,

and go to Holy Masses together, to pray together for sound health, for peace and security in the family,” Santos added.

Thousands of OFWs are now in the country for a holiday vacation with their families. PNA

No result yet on MRT decoupling incident JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday said the National Bureau of Investigation has yet to wrap up its investigation into the possibility of a sabotage in the decoupling incident at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 last November.

Aguirre earlier ordered the NBI to conduct an investigation into the incident as requested by the Department of Transportation.

“Wala pang definite results ang investigation sa MRT [There are no definite results yet],” Aguirre said.

The probe, according to Aguirre, is being conducted since the safety of the riding public is a paramount consideration.

“Our objective is not only to get the perpetrator/s but to ensure no repetition of this event to the detriment of our riding public,” he noted.

Aguirre issued Department Order No. 743 directing the NBI to determine if any crime is involved in the decoupling incident of the MRT 3.

NBI Director Dante Gierran assigned a team of investigators to look into the incident on Nov. 16 when an MRT coach detached between the railway line’s Buendia and Ayala Avenue stations, forcing commuters to walk on the rail tracks to the nearest station.

The DOTr earlier hinted on the possibility of sabotage after an initial investigation showed that the black box of the decoupled coach was missing. PNA

PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan said he is open to an investigation on the millions of pesos allegedly spent by the agency for its Christmas party.

“I will volunteer to be investigated and open to any investigation by Congress,” Balutan said on Tuesday.

Replying to the accusation of whistleblower Sandra Cam on the alleged “grandiose” PCSO Christmas party celebration, Balutan said “the PCSO has nothing to hide and is ready to account for it to the last centavo supported by corresponding official receipts of our expenditures during our Christmas party.”

“The PCSO spent P3 million for the hotel, food and give away prizes for the Christmas party and not P10 million,” Balutan added.

Cam, a newly appointed PCSO director, has exposed the alleged overspending of the PCSO for its Christmas party.

Balutan said he is open to any investigation to show that there was no overspending or irregularity in the PCSO Christmas party.

“In fact, I will volunteer to be investigated to prove that we are not hiding anything,” said Balutan, a decorated military officer of the Philippine Marines with the rank of major general, who saw combat in southern Philippines, particularly during the Mindanao all-out war in 2000. PNA

Industry, patience keys to sustainable future—Villar

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

READY FOR THE FEAST. An elderly woman peddles 2018 calendars and different amulets for the upcoming ‘Traslacion’ for the feast celebration of the Black Nazarene at Manila’s Quiapo district.

SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar has underscored anew the importance of sipag (industry) and tiyaga (patience) as the biggest investments in every aspect or field of life.

Speaking before the 100 trainees who completed the training courses under the Sustainable Livelihood Program, Villar said the additional knowledge they got would help sustain their families’ future.

The training was held under the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Training for Work Scholarship Program of TESDA with our partners Top Choice Training Institute and Assessment Center and NCST Institute of the Philippines in Las Piñas City.

“We are confident that having completed your courses on Contact Center Services, Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC2, and Motorcycle Small Engine Servicing NC2, you will find better opportunities out there,” Villar said.

“We are hoping for a better life for you and livelihood as a result of the new skills and knowhow that you have learned throughout your training,” she added.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

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EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Time to clean house

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LARMIST seemed to be the appropriate term for the recent warning by newly appointed Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Agnes Devanadera that the Ombudsman’s decision to suspend four commissioners would paralyze the power industry, put at risk trillions of pesos of investments and plunge the country into darkness.

She was reacting to the decision by the Office of the Ombudsman to suspend for a year all four commissioners of the ERC—Josefina Patricia Asirit, Alfredo Non, Geronimo Sta. Ana and Gloria Yap-Taruc—for

allowing the Manila Electric Co. to sign power supply agreements without undergoing a bidding process as required by law.

We do understand Devanadera’s point that as a collegial body, the ERC must have at least three commissioners to adopt any ruling, order, resolution or decision in the exercise of its quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative functions.

But Devanadera, a former Justice secretary during the Arroyo administration, should have known better than to paint such a dire picture for the public so soon after the Ombudsman’s ruling. She said she would seek guidance from the Office of the President—but this is something she should have done first—quietly, and without publicity.

Certainly, the idea that a temporary vacuum at the ERC would cause massive brownouts in the short or even medium term can be described as ridiculous to the point of exaggeration.

One party-list lawmaker, however, saw Devanadera’s warning as “pure blackmail” as a way to get around the Ombudsman’s ruling.

“It is clear that [the] commissioners… were found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, aggravated by simple misconduct and simple neglect of duty by the Office of the Ombudsman and the said decision should be implemented,” Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Zarate said.

“They committed an offense detrimental to the public and they should

be made accountable and not treated as sacred cows.”

Devanadera, who came on board the ERC with a promise to reform an agency tainted by allegations of corruption, should have welcomed the Ombudsman’s ruling as an opportunity to clean house.

Zarate correctly points out that with the Ombudsman’s findings, the Palace could dismiss the erring commissioners and appoint new ones that would look out for the best interest of consumers.

Given President Duterte’s vow to end corruption in government agencies, this seems like an eminently sensible proposition—and one that Devanadera, as ERC chairman, should have supported from the start.

A guide to spotting pseudoscience

By Faye Flam

Next year’s challenges TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO FOR this column’s Persons of the Year, I pick the four associate justices—three incumbent, one retired—who came out to testify against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno before the House of Representatives’ committee of justice.

They are Justices Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam and Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, and retired Justice Arturo Brion.

Their testimony before the House Committee on Justice is unprecedented.

SC justices are known to be entombed in their chambers.

They never appear publicly or say anything about a colleague, for or against.

Especially about the chief justice, who is known as the

“primus inter pares”—the first among equals. *** I see another turbulent year for President Rodrigo Duterte.

I call it turbulent because now we have to factor in the entry of Islamic Stateinspired terror groups.

Where these terrorists will strike, and when, is anybody’s guess.

And then there are the communists. After the selfimposed ceasefires of both the military and the New People’s Army, it is likely that the NPA would continue harassing government forces in the countryside and asking for what they call “revolutionary taxes.”

It’s a nice term for extortion.

On the part of President Rodrigo Duterte, his push for the enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law will be under attack. The propos-

al is riddled with unconstitutional provisions—primarily the creation of a sub-state within a state. Imagine, they will have their own interior government, Commission on Elections and Commis-

President Duterte will have a turbulent year.

sion on Audit? And they will have control of their natural resources?

Certainly the BBL will be challenged in court. Just how far President Duterte would be willing to go to give the Muslims their substate is not known.

There is also the push for federalism. But at the rate it is going, it appears to be losing steam. And I can understand why. One aspect of federalism is particularly worrisome—the prospect of more and better entrenched political dynasties.

Other regions are not as well off as others. This may also fuel resentment among regions.

One more challenge is the move to amend the 1987 Constitution, a move that has been long overdue because of so many flaws in the Charter.

The most contentious aspect of Charter Change is the mode in which to do it: Constitutional Convention, or Constituent Assembly?

There is fear that the latter would just lead to term extensions to further the interest of politicians. Those who argue for it, however,

say it would save the country P10 billion.

But if the country can spend P3.5 billion for the Sanofi pasteur deal, why not this amount to elect worthy delegates to the Con-Con? We also should not forget that the President asked for another year in his brutal war on illegal drugs. The police has been brought back to the campaign. Does this guarantee more killings, and would these killings be enough to stop the drug menace?

I say once again that the President should focus on building more rehabilitation centers to stop the demand.

All these domestic issues will challenge the will of the President! *** On the foreign front, the President will be challenged by the continued expansion of China in the South China Sea, including building

structures on islets.

Am I correct that we are tolerating these in exchange for trade and investments?

There is, for instance, the need to have a third-party player in the telecommunications sector.

Which is more important?

If President Duterte wants more telco players in the Philippines, he should welcome investments from other countries, not just China. *** It will be New Year’s Eve in a few days and again we have to talk about firecrackers. I wonder why people do not ever learn.

It’s funny because we got the practice from Chinese traders who wanted to ward off evil spirits. But now, in Hong Kong and Singapore, people see pyrotechnic displays from vantage points.

In any case, Happy New Year to all!

SCIENTISTS—especially those in fields plagued by irreproducible results— could learn a thing or two from Benjamin Franklin.

In the late 18th century, humanity had yet to invent most of the statistical tools now considered essential for social science, yet Franklin conducted a toprate psychology experiment yielding conclusions that stand to this day.

To do it, he had to invent some of the core principles of experimental science.

Franklin’s contribution to social science often gets drowned out by his equally great strides in electricity and other forms of innovation. But now, with critics charging that most published social science can’t be replicated, Franklin’s foray into psychology deserves some attention.

The year was 1782. The place: Paris. King Louis XVI asked Franklin to investigate an allegedly science-based form of medicine known as Mesmerism. Named for its inventor—Viennese physician Franz Mesmer— treatments involved moving an alleged magnetic fluid through the body by means of waving hands or rods over a patient, or having them touch a “magnetized” object.

It was wildly popular and a little too good to be true—much like a lot of the claims behind today’s supplements, homeopathic remedies and self-help books. Mesmer, whose name lives on in the word “mesmerize,” had become fascinated with magnetism and wanted to harness its power to heal the sick. His treatments played out like performances, according to Stanford historian Jessica Riskin. There was music and elaborate rituals, after which some patients went into convulsions or fainted. Then, they reported they were cured of their ills, aches and pains.

There was, in other words, abundant evidence that mesmerism had an effect on people. Skeptics thought there was something fishy, but it wasn’t obvious what it was. That’s why the king commissioned an Turn to A5

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Home (alone) for Christmas

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Carlos Chan: Asia’s snack foods king CARLOS Chan is the Potato Chips King of the Philippines, and China. His Oishi snack food brand is one of the best known and the best-selling in the world’s most populous country.

Carlos Chan’s Liwayway Group has 15 factories in 10 provinces in China, including a facility on the border of Kazakhstan. The headquarters and the stateof-the-art main factory sit on a 17-ha lot. in Shanghai.

In the Philippines, the main factory is Oishi’s 40-hectare compound in Cavite.

Oishi has five factories in the country.

Carlos is also investing in hotels in the Philippines with the giant Jinjiang hotel brand of China, and with the JCO donuts of Indonesia.

Oishi is also manufactured in Vietnam, where it has four plants and is the market leader. It has factories in Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, and India. Carlos is looking to as far as South Africa and Eastern European countries for possible locations.

An architecture dropout Chan went to Shanghai after Deng Xiao Ping opened up the economy in the early 1990s. Twenty years ago, Liwayway leased two plants with some 400 workers from a state-owned company. He invested $3.5 million in his factory. His products are branded Oishi—reflecting the Japanese word for delicious and Japanese technology.

As the saying goes, if you could sell a product worth one yuan to each Chinese, you would make 1.3 billion yuan (P7.7 billion in Philippine currency).

But China was so poor then, not much of the population could afford even a 50-yuan snack food. So Liwayway invested in technology. “We exported our food manufacturing technology to China from the Philippines,” relates

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

Larry Chan, fourth son of Carlos and now chairman of Liwayway. Carlos is chairman emeritus. And in charge of business development.

Another son, Archie, is in charge of R and D, the food group, and chairman of the Philippine company Liwayway Marketing A daughter, Rinby is in charge of packaging design and development. Eldest son Carlson is in charge of new business.

Another son, Ozen is on top of the Philippines and other Asian countries. Carlos dispatched his children to Shanghai to learn and expand the business. They live there.

The Chans are very particular in not having Oishi snack foods labeled junk food. “They are nutritious, health foods, with zero trans-fat,” insists the boyish-looking Larry.

In 1996, Oishi was named a “Shanghai Famous Brand” and in 2001, a “China Famous Brand.” Carlos himself was named an honorary citizen of Shanghai in 2005.

Liwayway was started by Carlos’s parents in 1946, just after the War, repackaging goods like coffee and cornstarch (Liwayway Gawgaw is a long-time bestseller) from the masses.

Liwayway means “break of dawn” in Pilipino and is meant to signify hope and optimism.

Liwayway ventured into snack food manufacturing in 1974 with the brand “Oishi.”

Carlos Chan relates that he went into business because the brood was large, eight children, and there was little pie to divide among themselves.

The children incorporated Chan C. Bros. in 1963 to make lighting and bathroom fixtures and acrylic products.

Three presidents have named Carlos special envoy to China. biznewsasia@gmail.com

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO IT’S that time of the year when families and loved ones get together. Sadly, it’s not the time of the year I really relish. Christmas for me is the desolate feeling of isolation imposed on me. The distance between Manila and New York is desolation which I could have bridged with an 18-hour flight. But I’m not as young as I used to be. Long-distance plane travel has taken its toll on me. Then too, winter in New York this time of the year can be unbearable.

Last year, I made the trip which was probably my last. I slipped on the sidewalk. It had snowed the night before and rained the next morning, turning the sidewalk into a dangerous sheet of ice. It was a horrific experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Falling forward, I hit my head on a

stone fence. Blood gushed from a cut left eyebrow flowing from my face all the way down to my winter jacket. An ambulance rushed me to a hospital where the doctor stitched up my cut eyelid.

This is not all about me and it’s hardly the kind of story you want to share at Christmas. But my experience gives a glimpse of life and its harsh realities.

I have lived and worked a total of 16 years in America which includes, aside from New York, surviving the harshest of winters in Minneapolis-Saint Paul in Minnesota and Chicago. What was I doing in St. Paul, Minnesota? Never mind what year. I was a World Press Institute Fellow and that included an internship at the now-defunct Chicago Daily News. I also had two diplomatic postings in New York as press attaché with the Philippine Mission to the United Nations.

Winter is not at all unfamiliar season with me.

More diplomatic assign-

ments in London. Brussels, and finally as Philippine ambassador to Budapest, Warsaw, Belgrade and Sarajevo brought back memories of snow-covered landscape. This is preceded by a canvas of gold, brown tree leaves of autumn colors that Mother Nature paints in the changing of the season.

But going back to why I’m alone in Manila it’s because my wife is on an apostolic mission. Apostolic in this case is when the wife, now a doting grandma (probably the most loved Lola on the planet), is taking care of her three lovely granddaughters. I don’t blame her to find it more fulfilling than taking care of cranky old coot like me. But there is no recrimination nor regret when I see the happy faces of her wards—Dylan, Cami and Elle. Their pictures transmitted through e-mail brings a smile to my face.

Christmas Eve wasn’t so bad. I was supposed to spend noche buena with long time friend, Pocholo Romualdez, the editor of

Malaya. I begged off and sent him my regrets as I could not get a driver to bring me from Makati to Singalong in Malate. I was resigned to spending the evening alone but thank God for a live telecast of the singer Adele in London.

I watched and listened to Adele sing “Hello.” I may have been home alone on Christmas Eve but I still felt fortunate that here I am high and dry on the 24th floor of my condo unit while thousands of our kababayans are stranded at airports and ferry crossings trying to make it home for Christmas. Back to back storms “Urduja” and “Vinta” wrought havoc on travel, canceling flights and sea crossing. Many of the marooned passengers were overseas Filipino workers who came back to the country to spend Christmas with family and loved ones in the provinces. They wondered whether they still have a place to come home to. News reports flashed on the TV screens at the airport showed widespread devasta-

tion of houses in the provinces of Biliran, Leyte and Samar as a result of heavy rain, flooding and landslides.

We are often visited by the forces of nature and yet in this day and age of technology, are still helpless against it. Even as I write this, CNN was reporting a winter alert of snow, ice and rain in many parts of the US. Every now and then I look out from the window of my 24th floor apartment.

In the distance the towering buildings of Makati all lit up, seem like Christmas trees and multicolored giant gift boxes.

Knowing how to live life is a gift one give one’s self.

This, amid the suffering of our people in typhoon-hit provinces. A prayer and a generous contribution in church during Mass is all one can do to reach out.

This was the column which should have appeared in the Christmas day issue of the Standard. But I regret the thought of it only came to me during my solitude on Christmas Eve.

The Peru president’s narrow survival

By Mac Margolis GIVEN the notoriously glacial pace of Latin American justice, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s fall from grace and, almost, from power was dizzying.

Barely a week after being accused of lying about taking money from a tainted contractor, he was hauled before congress and narrowly escaped impeachment late Thursday—an inquisitorial zeal that might make the old school generalissimos look slack.

Kuczynski’s survival is good news for Peru, which thanks to its sensible policies and market-friendly rules has been one of the region’s best performing economies, outpacing Brazil, Argentina and even Chile. Hence the resurgent Peruvian sol, which corkscrewed through the political storm.

Less encouraging is how Peru’s fragile democratic pact has fared, and the eagerness of the country’s carping political factions to

leverage legitimate public concerns over misgovernment and graft for rank partisan advantage. “Flagship construction projects which depend on public contracts and private-public partnerships are under a lot of scrutiny,” said Fernando Freijedo, a Latin America analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit. “That’s going to hold Peru back.”

Playing the corruption card is an old move in Latin America. Half a century ago, the mercurial Brazilian caudillo Janio Quadros made the broomstick his campaign icon and was swept into power (to disastrous results, it’s worth adding). Many a political challenger in the region since then has taken up the now predictable cleanup meme “Que se vayan todos:” Out with them all!

What’s new is the scope of the rot—consider Brazilian contractor Odebrecht, which bought politicians from Angola to the Andes—and more worryingly, the hair-trigger response by

voters fed up with thieves in high office. Just the whiff of graft is enough to mobilize keyboard armies and send protesters to the street. The danger for Peru, and its democratic neighbors, is that in extreme times, shove easily comes to putsch. “The ghost of corruption is all over, and it’s ravaging the political scene,” Jaime Aparicio Otero, a former Bolivian ambassador to Washington told me. “It seems everyone thinks all officials are tainted, and in countries with weak institutions, corruption is a political tool.”

Of course, Peruvians are a famously regicidal lot: The country’s last three presidents all are battling corruption charges, one of them from exile and another from jail. Kuczynski was especially vulnerable.

Not only was he elected after a tight and bitter runoff, he soon saw his approval ratings collapse. All the better for his archrival and presidential runner-up Keiko Fujimori, who never

quite swallowed her ballot box defeat. Fujimori’s Popular Force coalition controls 71 of the 130 seats in congress, to Kuczynski’s 17, a crushing advantage that she has wielded relentlessly. After losing a no-confidence vote to her allies in congress in September, Kuczynski was forced to fi re his cabinet, significantly weakening his hand.

The former Wall Street banker made his situation measurably worse by flip-flopping on his earlier dealings with Odebrecht, first denying he’d done business with the Brazilian contractor, then admitting under pressure that Odebrecht had indeed paid a company he owned some $800,000 in consulting fees when Kuczynski served a former government as finance minister. Kuczynski allowed that he’d received “some money” from the arrangement, but denied he ran the company at the time or had any knowledge of its dealings.

All that surely warrants scrutiny, and maybe censure, but hardly the gotterdammerung the Fujimoristas meant to provoke. For all the fury, Kuczynksi has not been charged with taking a bribe or favoring Odebrecht in public tenders. The failed attempt to unseat him—“an express coup,” according to his boosters—is in part a cautionary tale about those who would weaponize corruption.

Although Peru’s political forces are unevenly matched, the government’s foes know that exploiting graft can cut both ways. The prospect that Kuczynski’s ouster could clear the way for new elections, in which opposition politicians—not least Fujimori herself— would be called out for their own suspected misdeeds apparently was enough to stop his impeachment.

Even caudillos, it seems, know that when the swell of public outrage is running high, it can sink all boats.

Bloomberg

What online retailers hate about holiday shopping

By Adam Minter FOR retailers, December isn’t just the holiday shopping season. It’s also holiday return season, when consumers decide to send back all the stuff that didn’t fit, work or meet expectations.

It’s an expensive ritual.

According to the National Retail Federation, returns account for around 8 percent of total annual retail sales. Online retailers face an even heavier burden, with returns averaging 25 percent of all goods purchased and as much as half

A guide...

From A4

investigation. It was headed

by Franklin, as well as the famed French chemist Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier.

Their approach has been chronicled in history books as well as a chapter in “Classic Experiments in Psychology” by Douglas G. Mook.

After Franklin visited one of the salons where people were lining up for treatments, he realized that there was too much going on, and this was not the right setting for research.

So he brought trained

of apparel. If those percentages hold through the 2017 holidays, online retailers could face $32.1 billion worth of returns on projected holiday-season sales of $107 billion, according to the consulting firm CBRE. That’s a heavy expense, and one reason that online retailers are proving to be less profitable than the stores they are trying to replace. In part, the problem is that online retailers traded one set of expenses —storefront real estate— for costs that can turn out to be higher.

Online retail’s return

problems date back to the early 2000s and the freereturn policy introduced by the shoe merchant Zappos.

It was a customer-pleasing move, letting customers order multiple pairs of the same shoe in different sizes and sending back all but the one that fit.

In 2010, Zappo’s chief executive Tony Hsieh revealed that returns exceeded one-third of the company’s revenue. At a traditional shoe store, that would be a crippling expense. At Zappos, which was acquired

by Amazon in 2009, it was viewed as a tolerable mar-

keting cost.

The gambit helped shift customer expectations and corporate practices. According to a 2016 UPS survey on online retail customers, 60 percent now consider free shipping an essential element of the shopping experience. As of 2015, roughly half of all online retailers, including Amazon, had free-return policies.

The expense goes well beyond free shipping. Once a product is returned, a retailer pays for it to be unpacked and assessed. Shoes and apparel worn only to try the fit might get another

shot at full-price retail. But that’s a small percentage of everything that comes back used or damaged. According to Optoro Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based company that helps retailers including Target, Home Depot and Best Buy manage their returns, less than 10 percent of the merchandise it processes goes back to retail shelves. And according to a recent survey of 300 retailers, only 48 percent of what’s returned can be resold at full price.

Instead, companies look for the option that loses them the least money. For

electronics, that might mean routing to a refurbisher who cleans and fixes returned devices; for clothes, that might mean routing to a Dollar Store; and for other items it might mean being packed into a trailer and being sold to a liquidator at auction. Some retailers receive as little as 15 cents on the dollar for things customers ordered and didn’t want.

The burden of handling returns is one reason that ecommerce companies from Amazon to Alibaba are investing in physical stores.

Amazon customers can now

return packages to Amazonowned Whole Foods stores.

For Amazon, that reduces logistics costs associated with free returns, but also brings customers into stores where they’re likely to shop. A customer printing out a return label at home won’t buy a bag of kale.

Online retailers are also looking for ways to cut costs that don’t rely upon physical stores. That’ll probably mean eliminating some of the customer-pleasing perks, like free returns, that spurred the development of e-commerce in the first place. Bloomberg

mesmerists and volunteer patients to his home.

Franklin reasoned that if Mesmer’s magnetic interpretation was correct, the effects should be the same whether or not patients were blindfolded. The experiment that followed was a precursor to today’s double-blind controlled trials. What the investigators controlled were two specific variables—whether patients were told they were getting the treatment or not, and whether they really were treated.

The investigators found that patients reacted to the treatments only if they were told they were get-

ting them. Others were not treated, and they reacted too—but only if told they were in fact getting mesmerized. (In a true doubleblind study, researchers are also “blinded” as to whether patients are getting the treatment or not.)

Franklin’s report hurt Mesmer’s credibility, but his ideas didn’t completely die. In the 20th century, something like mesmerism returned in the form of “therapeutic touch”—a practice that involves no actual touching. Practitioners run their hands through the air, allegedly realigning patients’ energy fields.

In 1998, an 11-year-old girl named Emily Rosa did an experiment much in the spirit of Franklin’s to debunk therapeutic touch, and became the youngest person ever to be published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

She used a blinding procedure to show that a practitioner couldn’t sense other people’s energy fields, as had been claimed.

Franklin’s experiment did something more than just debunk mesmerism.

He discovered something new—what would come to be called the placebo effect. He also discovered the “nocebo” effect—the

experience of side effects when people wrongly think they are getting a treatment. In the case of mesmerism those included convulsions, “fits,” and fainting. Backing for this idea continues. Recently in Science, researchers reported that subjects experienced worse side effects from an inert cream if told it was the more expensive of two brands.

Franklin produced an example of what philosophers of science call abductive reasoning—finding the best explanation that fits all the available observations. It’s science in the spirit of Darwin, Newton

and Einstein. The power of suggestion also explains why so many people felt better after bloodletting and other now-discredited mainstream practices of Franklin’s time.

Modern psychological experiments are less likely to go after explanations and more likely to chase weird “counterintuitive” behavior patterns. Many of the most surprising have been called into question: A study showing that forcing a smile by putting a pencil between your teeth can make you happy, that a mere three minutes of reading classic literature can make you more empa-

thetic, or that seeing words associated with old age would make people walk more slowly.

While Franklin’s results were very clear, many of these questionable results are hard to distinguish from random variation in the way people behave. Many are reporting mere noise, dressed up as real phenomena through the misuse of statistical tools. At some point, a leading journal published a paper in which psychologists used bad math to allege that their subjects had demonstrated ESP. Franklin would have known something was fishy. Bloomberg

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017 A6 Standard TODAY Manila

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

LTFRB suspends 7 Partas buses T HE company behind the bus involved in a head-on collision with a jeepney that killed 20 persons in Agoo, La Union on Christmas Day had seven of its units preventively suspended by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Tuesday.

Seven buses of Partas Bus, which share the same transport franchise, will remain suspended for 30 days until the company can provide the dashcam footage and GPS tracking data of the bus involved in the tragic collision, the LTFRB said in a statement.

Partas failed to beat a

fore their jeep crashed into the Partas bus in Agoo, 200 kilometers north of Manila.

“The violation of Partas is for the failure to comply with the directive of the board, considering 36 hours have passed since the road crash,” Lizada said.

The dashcam footage, she noted, “is very crucial to the investigation being conducted by the board.”

“What Partas management submitted was the footage of the CCTV inside the bus. That will not help us resolve the road crash.

What we need is the footage from the dash cam,”

noon deadline Tuesday to submit the video and data of the erring bus. It instead submitted CCTV footage of the bus’s interiors, LTFRB board member lawyer Aileen Lizada said.

The fatalities were pilgrims traveling to attend a Christmas Dawn Mass in Manaoag, Pangasinan be-

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES IRIGA CITY WATER DISTRICT Rufino Llagas, Sr. Street, San Roque, Iriga City, Camarines Sur

The Iriga City Water District (ICWD), created pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 198, as amended, otherwise known as the Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973, received an unsolicited proposal from the Original Proponentforthe Financing, Development, Rehabilitation, Expansion, Improvement, Operation and Maintenance of the Water Supply and Septage System of the Iriga City Water District.

Pursuant to the 2013 Guidelines issued by the National Economic Development Authority under Section 8 of Executive Order No. 423 dated 30 April 2005, negotiations ensued between ICWD and Original Proponent on the JV Proposal. Subsequently, an agreement was reached between ICWD and Original Proponent to form an unincorporated joint venture to undertake the JV Project.

In compliance with the ICWD Board Resolution No.48 series of 2017, the ICWD, through its Joint Venture Selection Committee (JVSC), invites Interested Private Proponent/s (IPPs) to challenge the JV Proposal by submitting comparative proposals for the following: NAME OF PROJECT

:

FINANCING, DEVELOPMENT, REHABILITATION, EXPANSION, IMPROVEMENT, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCEOF THE WATER SUPPLY AND SEPTAGE SYSTEM OF THE IRIGA CITY WATER DISTRICT

LOCATION OF PROJECT

:

Iriga City, Camarines Sur

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

:

he project involves a joint venture undertaking between the ICWD and the Winning Private Proponent for the Financing, Development, Rehabilitation, Expansion, Improvement, Operation and Maintenance of the Water Supply and Septage System of the ICWD.

Applications for eligibility shall be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion.

An IPP shall be considered eligible upon compliance with the following minimum qualification requirements: LEGAL ELIGIBILITY 1.1 The IPP must be either of the following: a

A duly licensed sole proprietorship owned by a Filipino citizen; or

b.

A partnership or corporation created pursuant to the Corporation Code of the Philippines and registered with the SEC.

c.

A Consortium of two or more entities with at least sixty percent (60%) of both voting and non-voting interest in the said Consortium being owned and held, by citizens of the Philippines and/or by Philippine registered corporations at least sixty percent (60%) of both the total number of outstanding shares of stock, whether or not entitled to vote in the election of directors are owned by Philippine nationals.

1.2 The nationality of the IPP shall be determined via the Grandfather Rule.

1.3. If the IPP is a Consortium, each member of the Consortium must be disclosed during the pre-qualification stage and the Lead Member thereof must be specifically identified. For this purpose, the Lead member must have at least fifty one percent (51%) equity interest in the Consortium, and the total percentage interest of all Consortium Members must be one hundred percent (100%).

1.4. The IPP or each Consortium member must execute Omnibus Sworn Statement.

2.

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

NATIONAL TOBACCO ADMINISTRATION Scout Reyes Street, corner Panay Avenue, Quezon City Tel No. (02) 374-3987 Fax. No. (02) 374-2505

Re-InvItatIon to BId Supply and delIveRy of 445 HeadS of BRaHMan HeIfeR Cattle BReed foR uSe In IfoIGap – Beef/Cattle pRoduCtIon aSSIStanCe pRoJeCt (pB 2017-11B) 1.

The NATIONAL TOBACCO ADMINISTRATION (NTA), through the 2017 Corporate Operating Budget intends to apply the sum of PhP19,777,500.00, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), to payments under the contract for the reinvitation to bid for the project: “Supply and Delivery of 445 Heads of Brahman Heifer Breed Cattle for Use in IFOIGAP – Beef/Cattle Production Assistance Project’’. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The NTA now invites bids for the supply and delivery of 445 Heads of Brahman Heifer Cattle Breed.Delivery of the Goods is required for a period of thirty (30) days, from receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within a period of five (5) years, from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY

The Technical Specifications are as follows:  Breed Brahman Heifer;  High Grade Commercial;  Not less than 220 Kilos per Cattle at time of delivery;  20-24 months old;  Dewormed and vaccinated Hemosep at least two (2) weeks prior to delivery and certified by a licensed government veterinarian;  Tested free from Brucellosis, as certified by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI);  Must not possess any physical defects / conditions or undesirable characteristics;  With health certificate;  Delivery period shall be within 30 days, from receipt of the Notice to Proceed.

3.1. The IPP should have the capability to finance the completion of the entire JV Project evidenced by financial documents to be submitted and will form as an integral part of the Financial Proposal.

3.2 A letter from a domestic universal/commercial bank, or an international bank with a subsidiary/branch in the Philippines, or any international bank recognized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), attesting that the IPP is one of its current clients, and is in good financial standing.

4. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ARE SPECIFIED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS TO IPPS Only those lPPs that are deemed eligible shall be entitled to submit Comparative Proposals, which must be in accordance with instructions contained in the Request for Proposal Documents (RFP Documents).

The JVSC shall evaluate the proposals using the Quality Based Evaluation/Selection (QBE/ QBS) procedure. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of the proposals shall be provided in the Instructions to Interested Private Proponent/s (IIPPs).

The additional documents required for the Eligibility and Technical Components of the Bid are:  A Bidder should possess a valid and existing Beef Cattle Breeder Farm Accreditation issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI); and,  Certificate issued by the Provincial Veterinarian or his duly authorized representative that the prospective bidder has an available 445 heads of Brahman Heifer Cattle Breed.

The following procedures, schedules and instructions shall be strictly observed: SCHEDULE (Using Philippine Standard Time) 1. Publication and Posting of the IAESP December 27,2017 2. Purchase of Eligibility Documents for December 27, 2017 a non-refundable fee Three Hundred to Jan 10, 2017 (from Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) in cash or 8:00am to 3:00pm) Manager Check made payable to Iriga City Water District.

3.Submission of Eligibility Documents

4. Opening of Eligibility Documents

5. Determination of Eligibility

6. Purchase of Tender Documents by IPPs declared “eligible” for non-refundable fee of Six Hundred Thousand Pesos (P600,000.00), payable either in cash or Manager’s Check made payable to Iriga City Water District.

7. Pre-selection conference will thereafter be held.

8. Submission and Opening of Comparative Proposal

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS

The Eligibility Documents may be purchased ONLY from the ICWD-JVSC at the ICWD Office, Rufino Llagas, Sr. Street, San Roque, Iriga City, Camarines Sur On or before Deadline of Submission of February 12, 2018, Eligibility Documents to the 12:00noon ICWD Office, Rufino Llagas, Sr. Street, San Roque, Iriga City, Camarines Sur February 12, 2018 at JVSC will determine the 1:01pm onwards completeness of the eligibility documents based on a pass or fail criteria. For those IPPs with incomplete, irregular or patently insufficient submission shall be considered failed. For those IPPs whose eligibility documents appear to be complete shall be further evaluated to determine its eligibility.

On or before February JVSC will evaluate the eligibility 26, 2018 documents of the IPPs to determine if they are eligible or ineligible, and the IPPs will be notified of the result of the evaluation.

February 26 to March Tender Documents may be 12, 2018 purchased ONLY from the ICWD-JVSC Secretariat at the ICWD Office, Rufino Llagas, Sr. Street, San Roque, Iriga City, Camarines Sur June 11, 2018 All Eligible IPPs are encouraged (1:01pm) to attend the conference to be held at the ICWD Office, Rufino Llagas, Sr. Street, San Roque, Iriga City, Camarines Sur

July 12, 2018 (on or before 10:00am only)

license plate and report to the LTFRB in case a driver does not heed their advice.

“Accidents like this happen only for two reasons, the driver is in a hurry or the passenger pressures the driver to meet a schedule,” Lizada said.

“In this fast-paced season of holiday shopping, outing and family reunions LTFRB would like to address this message, not only to the drivers, but also to the passengers of private or hired vehicles, do not rush your drivers. In fact, constantly remind them to follow traffic rules and observe speed limits,” she added.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines recently unveiled the 'all-gender' toilet at the CAAP Central office, which it will also install in the airports of Busuanga, Butuan, Calbayog, Cauyan, Dipolog, Legaspi, Masbate, Naga, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa and Tuguegarao by the first quarter of 2018. The all-gender toilets is part of CAAP's gender awareness and sensitivity campaign nationwide as required by Republic Act 9710, the Magna Carta of Women, and Executive Order 273 or the Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development, which mandates the implementation of gender and development accords with constitutionally-guaranteed human rights. Eric Apolonio

TECHNICAL ELIGIBILITY 2.1. The IPP must have completed a project similar or related to the JV activity whose value, adjusted to current prices using theNational Statistics Office (NSO) Consumer Price Index (CPI), must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the cost of the JV activity subject of the selection process within the relevant period as determined by the ICWD. For the avoidance of doubt, cost of the JV Project pertains to the contribution of ICWDamounting to P13,511,524.00and the Original Proponent amounting to P1,787,138,000.00 representing the present value of capital expenditures. For this project, the cost of the JV Project is equal toOne Billion Eight HundredMillion Six Hundred Forty Nine Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Four Pesos (P1,800,649,524.00).

3.

days Partas’ preventive suspension will last.

“The preventive suspension order will be served tomorrow, and it will be effective immediately upon receipt by Partas. When they will submit the dash cam footage, it will be upon the decision of the board. It is a collegial decision as to when to lift the PSO,” she said.

Lizada reminded passengers and operators of public utility vehicles to follow traffic rules and never rush to their destination, despite the holiday season. She also urged passengers of PUVs to take a photo of the vehicle's

ALL-GENDER TOILETS.

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO SUBMIT COMPARATIVE PROPOSALS (IAESP)

1.

the lawyer added.

The LTFRB suspension covers Partas' Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte to Sampaloc, Manila route, and will be effective starting Wednesday, Dec. 27. The company’s seven units under suspension were only part of the total 29 franchises covering 187 buses of Partas, Lizada explained.

Partas management, the transport official said, said they have yet to recover the dashcam footage and are still enlisting an IT expert’s help to open the file.

Lizada said the LTFRB still has the final say on how long beyond the stated 30

Comparative Proposals shall be addressed to: Marietta H. Cruzata Chairperson - JVSC IRIGA CITY WATER DISTRICT Rufino Llagas, Sr. Street, San Roque, Iriga City, Camarines Sur

Delivery sites for the cattle are: NTA-Pangasinan Branch Office; NTA- Vigan, Ilocos Sur Branch Office NTA-Abra Branch Office NTA-Isabela Branch Office NTA-Occidental Mindoro Field Office 3.

All proposals must be accompanied by a Proposal Security in the form as required by ICWD which may be in cash, certified check, manager’s check, letter of credit, or bank draft/ guarantee issued by a reputable local/foreign bank, or a surety bond callable on demand issued by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) or an entity duly registered and recognized by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, or any combination thereof payable to ICWDequivalent to 2% of the estimated participation of the Original Proponent for the entire cooperation period amounting to P35,742,760.00 ICWD assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify any IPP for expenses incurred in the preparation of the comparative proposals.

The IPP shall be solely responsible for having taken all the necessary steps to carefully examine and acquaint himself with the requirements and terms and conditions of the selection documents with respect to the cost, duration and execution/operation of the project as it affects the preparation and submission of its proposal. ICWD shall not assume any responsibility regarding erroneous interpretations or conclusions by the IPP out of data furnished or indicated in the competitive selection documents.

(MS-DEC. 27, 2017)

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

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

(ii) Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the IRR of RA 9184.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NTA and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders beginning onDecember 27, 2017 to January 16, 2018, from the address below; and upon payment of the bidding fees for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of PhP25,000.00.

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

6.

The NTAwill hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 03, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at 3rd Floor, Training Room, NTA Building, cor. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon City., which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before January 16, 2018. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on January 16, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at 3rd Floor, Training Room, NTA Building, cor. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon City.

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

For anyqueries and/or clarifications, please address your communication in writing to the Chairperson of the ICWD-JVSC at the address indicated above or fax the same at +63 (054) 299-5709 or email to irigawd@yahoo.com.

ICWD reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive any minor defects therein and accept the offer it deems most advantageous to the government.

NTA-La Union Branch Office NTA-Candon, Ilocos Sur Branch Office NTA-Ilocos Norte Branch Office NTA-Cagayan Branch Office

8.

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

9.

For further information, please refer to: CRISTINA C. LOPEZ, DBA National Tobacco Administration Cors. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon City Tel No. 372 3188; cclnta@yahoo.com Fax No. 373 2095 Website Address:nta.da.gov.ph (SGD) CRISTINA C. LOPEZ, DBA Chairperson, NTA-BAC (MS-DEC. 27, 2017)

Chinese ‘skimmer’ nabbed at NAIA

By Joel E. Zurbano GOVERNMENT agents have arrested a Chinese national who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for carrying assorted credit and automated teller machine cards and a skimming device used in hacking ATM bank accounts.

Wen Sheng Zeng, 36, of Guangzhou, China, arrived at the Naia Terminal 1 on Christmas Day on board China Southern flight CZ3091.

Agents from the Bureau of Customs X-ray Inspection Project team alerted immigration examiners after images of hundreds of cards and skimming devices were detected in Zeng’s overweight luggage.

Customs-Naia deputy collector Ramon Anquilan said hundreds of cards, ATM skimming devices, and a sales machine to be used for illegal online transactions were found inside Zeng’s luggage.

Zeng is now detained at the Customs-Naia office while the authorities prepare a criminal case against him before the Pasay City Prosecutors Office.

The Bureau of Customs recently acquired 19 new x-ray machines to prevent the entry of contraband via personal belongings and hand-carried luggage at airports.

Acquiring the machines, Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña Jr. said, would address the increased smuggling and drug trafficking in airport terminals.

Power restored in Biliran villages hit by TS ‘Urduja’ THE Biliran Electric Cooperative or Bileco has restored electricity in all 117 villages of Biliran province battered by Tropical Storm “Urduja” more than a week ago.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page Tuesday, Bileco said power was restored on the night of Dec. 24 with two villages in Naval town as the last areas energized after the destructive storm.

“Please take note that there are still portions in some villages which remain un-energized to date. Our linemen are now exerting effort to restore power in these areas up to household level,” the power cooperative said.

Bileco admitted that its restoration work was hampered by some roads closed due to landslides and damaged bridges.

The sole power service provider in the province has 34,066 household connections in 117 villages.

The cooperative’s initial report showed that more than a hundred electric poles were toppled or damaged, with damage cost of primary lines pegged at P11 million.

Last week, the Bileco board of directors passed resolutions to avail of a calamity loan from the National Electrification Administration and approve the emergency purchase of rehabilitation materials after the local government declared Biliran under the state of calamity. PNA

Villar cites consumer safety via agri, fisheries standards

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar recognized the crucial role of the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards to ensure consumer safety while promoting the competitiveness of agriculture and fisheries products in the Philippines.

“It is a two-fold goal that should not be at the expense of one or the other,” said Villar during the 19th founding anniversary of BAFS, where she was the guest speaker.

The senator noted that safe and quality foods have remained the standard, even in the coming days.

Villar, chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Food committee, also said food security is the primary topic across the globe.

“Many have cited and continue to cite that at the rate the global population is growing, there is a serious concern about food security worldwide,” she said.

Based on estimates, the senator said there is a need to increase food production by over 60 percent to meet the expected global demand from a population of over nine billion in 2050.

Thus, the agriculture sector has been promoting and implementing sustainable practices to hasten food production, Villar added.

However, she said food is not all about production, since there is also the food safety aspect.

She acknowledges that BAFS has been giving many services to the public and the agriculture sector—from standards formulation, promotion and information, to technical services and registration of organic food and input producers/establishments, as well as accreditation of organic certifying bodies.

She said these services have important impact on the agriculture sector. The technical services for the implementation of agriculture and fishery product standards, Good Agricultural Practices, Good Animal Husbandry Practices are important because “we are in the midst of the reintegration under the Asean Economic Community or AEC.” Focus on food safety, Villar said, is high on the agenda of the implementation of AEC. Asean is moving towards standardizing practices and food safety systems such as GAP GAHP and HACCP-based systems among others.

She said BAFS’s role in the organic food sector including organic certifying bodies is also relevant as organic agriculture is becoming popular as we continue to promote it.

The senator said certification of organic bodies is crucial. “In fact, the international community is watching us closely about it,” she added.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

A7

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Eagles rip Raiders, claim top seeding N

EW YORK—Rookie Jake Elliott kicked a decisive 48-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining Monday as the NFL-best Philadelphia Eagles beat Oakland 19-10 to clinch a top playoff seed.

The Eagles, who added a defensive touchdown on a finalplay fumble recovery to boost their winning margin, improved

to 13-2 and will have a homefield edge throughout the National Conference playoffs as a result of the Christmas home triumph.

Els receives special Masters’ invitation WA SH I NGTON — Fou r- t i m e major champion Ernie Els has received a special exemption to compete in next year’s Masters golf tournament, multiple websites reported Monday.

Golfweek, Golf Digest and Golf magazine reported that his management had confirmed the 48-year-old South African had been given a special entry into the field for next April’s major championship at Augusta National Golf Club.

“Thank you for a Great Xmas present! @TheMasters Can’t wait!” Els tweeted on Sunday without elaborating.

The special invitation was the first issued by the Masters since

Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa received one in 2013.

Els played what he thought would be his final Masters last April, his last entry into the Augusta National field from a fiveyear exemption after winning the 2012 British Open.

Another Masters start would be the 24th at Augusta National for Els, who played in his 100th career major tournament last August at the PGA Championship.

Els won the 1994 and 1997 US Open titles and the 2002 and 2012 British Opens. His best career finish at the Masters was runner-up in 2000 and 2004. He has six top-10 finishes at Augusta National and was 53rd at the 2017 Masters. AFP

CLOSE to 200 entries gear up for a fierce battle in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Angeles City leg regional age-group tennis tourney today, each raring to close out the season on a winning note at the Angeles City Tennis Club in Villa Gloria Subd. in Pampanga.

Mikaela Vicencio seeks for a “double” in the girls’ 16- and 18-andunder divisions while Miguel Vicencio and Charles Torres brace for a showdown in the two featured classes in the boys’ side of the Group 1 event winding up a record 53-leg circuit held in various parts of the country.

“It has been another successful year for local tennis, particularly in the age-group level. Through our nationwide, year-long circuit, we believe we can help produce the next batch of tennis stars,” said Palawan Pawnshop president Bobby Castro.

Aside from the age-grouper, which includes nine categories, the PPSPEPP circuit also featured a number of Open tournaments, which drew the country’s leading players, including members of the national pool and team.

Jeremiah Labasano and Prince Lim, meanwhile, are tipped to slug it out for top honors in the 10-unisex class while Angelyn Atos and Tristern Kitong and Thomas Gabuat and JM Erpelo banner the tough cast in the girls’ and boys’ sides of the 12-U division of the event hosted by councilor Joseph Ponce and presented by Slazenger.

Atos also gains the top ranking the 14-U section with Adriana Cabahog, Kitong and Jomiya Ehipto taking the next three seedings while Miguel Vicencio and Exequiel Jucutan leading the chase in the 14-U boys’ category that also includes Gaby Avila and Erpelo.

Meanwhile, the PPS-PEPP has lined up a 54-stage tour next year, according to PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director and organizer Bobby Mangunay. For details, call 0915-4046464.

Early drama as Sydney-Hobart fleet race to break yacht record the fourth super-yacht InfoTrack behind them.

Wild Oats tactician Iain Murray told reporters before the start of the race that “in all my 24 times of going down here, it’s never been as good as this”.

“It’s very rare that you get this continually off-the-wind, crossthe-wind, wind start-to-finish sort of scenario. It’s something we all dream about, really.”

Murray said that because the super-yachts could reach speeds of up to 20 knots, a new line honours record for the fastest vessel could be possible.

“The numbers suggest a race record is easily achievable for I think any of the maxi boats,” he added.

“These boats are capable of 20 knots. The current record is 17 something. It’s just getting around the corners is the hard part.”

InfoTrack, named Perpetual Loyal last year, arrived at Hobart’s Constitution Dock in a record time of 1 day 13hr 31min 20sec to take the 2016 line honours title. AFP

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 6/45 4 3 2

00-00-00-00-00-00

P0 M+

00-00-00-00-00-00

P0 M

0-0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0

Sunday and have the Patriots lose to the New York Jets (5-10).

At Philadelphia, Nick Foles flipped a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jay Ajayi to put Philadelphia ahead but the Raiders equalized at 7-7 at half-time on Derek Carr’s 63-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper.

Italian kicker Giorgio Tavecchio booted a 25-yard field goal for Oakland but Elliott made a

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

53-leg PPS tennis circuit winds up in Angeles City

SYDNEY—Supermaxi LDV Comanche led the fancied big boats as the gruelling Sydney to Hobart race began Tuesday, after a close call that saw the yacht almost collide with rival Wild Oats XI. Another supermaxi, Black Jack, had led the fleet out of Sydney Harbour, with the vessels chasing a new race record amid “dream” conditions in the annual dash down Australia’s east coast.

Four 100-footer supermaxis are among the 102 entries in the 73rd edition of the 628-nautical mile (1,163-kilometre) bluewater classic, viewed as one of the toughest yacht races in the world.

The large boats benefited from the light east to south-easterly winds as they sped out of the harbour in the spectacular Boxing Day launch to the event.

Black Jack was followed by Wild Oats and Comanche, with the pair sparking early drama after almost colliding.

The Mark Richards-skippered Wild Oats appeared to tack too close to its rival near the exit to Sydney Heads, leading to a protest from Comanche, helmed by Jim Cooney.

Comanche took over the lead as the vessels tracked DIGITS down the coast of New South Wales state, ahead of DIGITS Wild Oats and Black Jack in a EZ2 close race, with

In the other holiday matchup, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes and the Steelers clinched a first-round NFL playoff bye with a 34-6 drubbing of the Houston Texans.

The Steelers matched New England atop the American Conference at 12-3 but Pittsburgh can only take the top-seed spot by beating Cleveland (0-15) next

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF ADJUSTMENT IN RATES COVERING THE FIRST TO THIRD REGULATORY YEARS OF THE SECOND REGULATORY PERIOD FOR THE SECOND ENTRANT GROUP UNDER THE TARIFF GLIDE PATH (TGP) RULES, WITH MOTION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY,

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Annex Nature of Document Markings A to A-2 Proposed TGP Calculations and supporting documents using the prescribed templates: Index “I” Calculation Efficiency Factor “X” Calculation Performance Incentive “S” Calculation B MFSR - Sections B and E (2013-2016) C Billing Determinants Template (2013-2016 kWh Sales, No. of Customers and kW Demand) D Sample Bills per customer type (2013-2016) E Regional CPI (2013-2016) F RFSC Utilization (2014-2016) G Consumer Complaints Summary or Tracking Form (2014-2016) H Audited Financial Statements (2014-2016)

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 22 June 2017, Applicant Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CENPELCO) filed an Application seeking the Commission’s approval for the adjustment in its rates pursuant to the Tariff Glide Path (TGP) Rules, with prayer for the issuance of provisional authority.

14.

15.

CENPELCO alleged the following in its Application: THE APPLICANT 1.

CENPELCO is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative, duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal offices at Padilla St., San Carlos City, Pangasinan;

2.

It holds an exclusive franchise from the National Electrification Commission, to operate an electric light and power distribution service in San Carlos City and certain municipalities of the Province of Pangasinan, namely: Aguilar, Alcala, Basista, Bautista, Bayambang, Binmaley, Bugallon, Labrador, Lingayen, Malasiqui, Mangaldan, Mangatarem, Sual and Urbiztondo.

16.

NATURE OF APPLICATION 3.

The instant Application is being filed for the approval of Applicant’s proposed adjustment in its Distribution, Supply and Metering (DSM) Rates to be implemented on the First to Third Regulatory Years of the Second Regulatory Period for Electric Cooperatives belonging to the Second Entrant Group under the Tariff Glide Path Rules (TGP Rules) and pursuant to said Rules, as well as other pertinent laws and rules.

17.

STATEMENT OF FACTS 4.

Sometime in 2014, Applicant filed with the Honorable Commission an application for approval of the proposed adjustment in its DSM Rates pursuant to the TGP Rules, docketed as ERC Case No. 2014-084RC.

5.

In the said application, Applicant prayed for approval of either of the following two (2) proposed alternative DSM rates, to be implemented effective January 2015, to wit:

18.

A. WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S UNITS Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.4804

PhP/Customer/Mo PhP/kWh

o.5599

PhP/Meter/Mo. PhP/kWh

5.21 0.3338

0.4625

174.51

48.53

48.53

34.14

34.14

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.4661

PhP/Customer/Mo PhP/kWh

0.5432

PhP/Meter/Mo. PhP/kWh

5.05 0.3239

0.4488

169.32

47.09

47.09

33.12

33.12

6.

Foregoing application was Applicant’s initial application for DSM rate adjustment pursuant to the TGP Rules, under which electric cooperatives are given an opportunity to adjust their rates once every three (3) years, which may occur at the start of the fourth year of the First Regulatory Period and every 3 years thereafter;

7.

Applicant belongs to the Second Entrant Group under the TGP Rules, whose first regulatory period is from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2017. Having filed its initial application for DSM rate adjustment on the third regulatory year of the First Regulatory Period, the cooperative is filing the instant Application in the current year 2017, the sixth regulatory year of the First Regulatory Period, for the proposed adjustment of its DSM rates to be implemented on the first to the third regulatory years of the Second Regulatory Period for the Second Entrant Electric Cooperatives under the TGP Rules;

8.

19.

20.

B. EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS

The Applicant’s first TGP application under ERC Case No. 2014-084RC is still pending evaluation of the Honorable Commission. Despite the pendency thereof, Applicant is constrained to adopt and use the proposed DSM rates in the said application as bases in computing the proposed adjustment in the instant Application.

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY Applicant respectfully repleads herein the foregoing allegations; Applicant respectfully prays that it be allowed to implement the proposed rate adjustment starting January 1, 2018, considering that it is expressly prescribed under the TGP Rules’ provision on Regulatory Period and Process, which provides in part, as follows: “2. Regulatory Period and Process 2.1 On or before each Fourth month of the Third and Sixth regulatory year of their respective Regulatory Periods, the electric cooperative may file before the Commission an application for a rate adjustment reflecting the values for the “I”, “X” and “S” as determined in accordance with these rules. The initial tariff caps of the respective ECs shall be adjusted by the “I”, “X” and “S” effective at the start of the Fourth Regulatory Year of the First Regulatory Period x xx” (Emphasis ours) Under the TGP Rules, the regulatory period is six (6) years for each entry Group. For the Second Entrant Group, the first regulatory period is from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2017 and the start of the Fourth Regulatory Year is January 1, 2015. Applicant belongs to the Second Entrant Group, accordingly, its initial DSM Rates under the TGP Rules should be adjusted through the proposed TGP B Rates starting January 1, 2018; Aside from the foregoing, Applicant further prays for provisional authority to implement the proposed rates effective January 1, 2018 and even during the pendency of the instant Application, considering that the Applicant urgently needs additional funds to be able to cope with the rising costs of its operations. Among the major factors that added to its operating costs is the implementation of the Sitio Energization Program (SEP) of the government consisting of massive extension of its distribution lines up to the remotest and far-flung areas which considerably increased its operations and maintenance costs and likewise resulted to increased system losses which the cooperative is constrained to absorb; Further, the rising cost of materials, tools, equipment, supplies, fuel and other costs incidental to its daily operations has considerably increased these past several years and the funds being generated from Applicant’s DSM revenues granted by the Honorable Commission way back in Year 2010 by virtue of the Rules for Setting the Electric Cooperatives’ Wheeling Rates (RSEC-WR) and even from the adjustment in DSM rates in the application docketed as ERC Case No. 2009-148 RC pending resolution of the Honorable, are no longer sufficient to cover those costs, and if not addressed accordingly with the further adjustment of its rates, Applicant’s service to its consumers will be prejudiced.

Considering the foregoing, it is respectfully prayed that Applicant be allowed to implement the proposed DSM Rates effective January 1, 2018, even while the instant Application hearing or evaluation of the Honorable Commission.

COMPLIANCE WITH PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS Finally, in compliance with the pre-filing requirements for the instant application, Applicant is likewise submitting herewith the following documents, which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit:

Annex Markings Nature of Document I Judicial Affidavit in support of the motion for provisional authority J and series Proof of furnishing copies of the Application to the Sangguniang Panlungsod of San Carlos and Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan K and series Publication of the Application in a newspaper of general circulation in CENPELCO’s franchise area or where it principally operates, with Affidavit of Publication PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that after due notice and hearing, Applicant CENPELCO be allowed to implement either of the following two (2) alternative proposed new rates for its Distribution, Supply and Metering (DSM) Charges, effective January 2018, to wit: A. WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

Under the TGP Rules, the concerned electric cooperative shall use the following formula in determining the TGP for the fourth to sixth years of the Regulatory Period, to wit: TGPB= TGPn + TGPn+1TGPn+2 Where TGPn=In-Xn+Sn n= the fourth year of ther Regulatory Period and succeeding Regulatory Periods The TGP calculated for each of the three years will be summed to determine the possible rate adjustment starting on the First Year of the next Regulatory Period.

10. Applying the methodology embodied in the TGP Rules, herein Applicant calculated the values of the “I”, “X” and “S” and came up with the following results, to wit: “I”(B) “X”(B) “S”(B) YEAR 2015 0.00% 0.00% 0.40% YEAR 2016 0.00% 0.00% 1.70% YEAR 2017 0.00% 0.00% 1.10% TOTAL

TGP B TGP B (excluding S) 0.40% 0.00% 1.70% 0.00% 1.10% 0.00% 3.20% 0.00%

11. Utilizing the above values will result in adjustments in Applicant’s DSM Rates covering the first to third years of the Second Regulatory Period for electric cooperatives belonging to the Second Entrant Group, as follows: A. WITH PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.4958

PhP/Customer/Mo PhP/kWh

0.5778

PhP/Meter/Mo. PhP/kWh

5.37 0.3445

0.4773

180.10

50.09

50.09

35.23

35.23

B. EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.4661

PhP/Customer/Mo PhP/kWh

o.5432

PhP/Meter/Mo. PhP/kWh

5.05 0.3239

0.4488

169.32

47.09

47.09

33.12

33.12

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.4958

PhP/Customer/Mo PhP/kWh

0.5778

PhP/Meter/Mo. PhP/kWh

5.37 0.3445

0.4773

180.10

50.09

50.09

35.23

35.23

B. EXCLUDING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE “S” UNITS

THE PROPOSED DSM RATE ADJUSTMENT 9.

2010, one that will allow injured receiver Antonio Brown to heal before their post-season run starts.

“It’ll be nice for AB and some other guys who are banged up,” Roethlisberger said. “To get feelng healthy is a great feeling.”

Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell kicked a 34-yard field goal 4:16 into the first quarter to open the scoring at Houston. AFP

12. Consequently, Applicant respectfully prays that it be allowed to implement either of the above two calculated alternative DSM rates, effective January 1, 2018 and up to December 31, 2020.

SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTS 13. In support of the foregoing computations, Applicant is submitting herewith the following documents, which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit:

ERC CASE NO. 2017-061 RC

CENTRAL PANGASINAN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (CENPELCO), Applicant. x--------------------------------------------------------x

35-yard field goal to pull Philadelphia level 10-10.

Tavecchio missed a 48-yard field goal attempt with 7:58 remaining and Carr threw an interception to Philadelphia’s Ronald Darby with 49 seconds remaining to set up Elliott’s crucial kick.

At Houston, Roethlisberger was looking forward to Pittsburgh’s first opening-round playoff bye since

Distribution Charges: Demand Charge Distribution System Charge Supply Charges: Retail Customer Charge Supply System Charge Metering Charges: Retail Customer Charge Metering System Charge

CUSTOMER TYPE Residential Low Higher Voltage Voltage

PhP/kW PhP/kWh

0.4661

PhP/Customer/Mo PhP/kWh

o.5432

PhP/Meter/Mo. PhP/kWh

5.05 0.3239

0.4488

169.32

47.09

47.09

33.12

33.12

Other reliefs, just and equitable in the premises are likewise prayed for.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 18 January 2018 (Thursday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at CENPELCO’s Main Office in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1. The petitioner’s name and address; 2. The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and 3. A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1. The name and address of such person; 2. A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3. The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing.

Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable OIC Chairman and CEO ALFREDO J. NON, and the Honorable Commissioners GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 20th day of November 2017 in Pasig City.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal Standard – Dec. 27 , 2017 & Jan. 3, 2018

Sports

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

A8

Beermen want payback vs Bolts

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

By Jeric Lopez

CONTROVERSIAL NO-CALL. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket and appears to be fouled by Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE

Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Warriors surprise Cavaliers; James: KD fouled me twice N

EW YORK—Kevin Durant scored 25 points, Klay Thompson added 24 and both made crucial plays in the final seconds Monday, lifting the NBA champion Golden State Warriors over Cleveland 99-92.

In a Christmas rematch of the NBA Finals that marked their third consecutive meeting on the holiday, the host Warriors won for the 12th time in 13 games to reach 27-7 while the Cavaliers fell to 24-10.

Golden State grabbed a 90-81 edge, the Warriors’ biggest of the night, before the Cavaliers answered with an 11-2 run, pulling

Russian exec to fight Olympic lifetime ban MOSCOW—Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, who has been hit with a lifetime ban from the Olympic Games over doping, on Monday said he is suspending his role as president of the Russian Football Union while he contests the ban in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“I have decided to file the claim in the CAS tomorrow,” he said.

“So that our organizations are not disturbed during the legal investigation... I have asked to suspend my duties for up to six months,” Mutko told journalists after a meeting of the RFU executive committee.

He said that he will continue his duties in the government as well as preparing the World Cup which is being staged in Russia this summer until Russian leadership decides otherwise.

“Regarding the issues of relationship with FIFA and the organising committee, as long as the president (Vladimir Putin) trusts me, I continue to work as deputy premier and oversee the preparations for the world championships,” he said.

He said he would “suggest” stepping down as chairman of the World Cup organising committee he heads, but “it would be decided by the head of state, the head of government and the supervisory board.” AFP

level at 92-92 on a LeBron James layup with two minutes remaining.

Thompson sank a 3-pointer to put Golden State ahead to stay and tough defensive pressure

by Durant forced James to lose the ball out of bounds.

“He wants to guard him,” coach Steve Kerr said of Durant’s desire to defend James. “It just

so happens that KD is the right matchup for us and he wants the job.”

The Cavaliers got the ball back after the Warriors missed two 3-point shots.

James drove to the basket and appeared to be fouled, but no whistle was blown and the ball was ruled to have gone out of bounds off James.

“He fouled me twice,” James said. “But whatever.

What are you going to do about it?”

Durant said his moves were clean.

“He’s too big,” Durant said.

“He’s too big for that. He’s too big. That ain’t no foul.”

The Cavs were forced to foul to stop the clock and Thompson sank four late free throws to seal the triumph.

“Klay was great down the stretch and we were able to pull this game out,” said Warriors forward Draymond Green.

“Kevin was great. He made a big play on LeBron.

He was able to put his heart out there and make the big play and get us the ball.”

Green contributed 12 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his first triple double of the season.

Cleveland’s Kevin Love had game highs of 31 points and 18 rebounds while James

added 20 points but made a game-high seven turnovers.

The Warriors were without Stephen Curry, who has missed three weeks with an ankle injury and could miss another week, while the Cavaliers were without Isaiah Thomas, who has been sidelined since being obtained in a trade with Boston involving Kyrie Irving.

Wizards dump Celtics At Boston, the Celtics took a 95-90 lead with 6:18 remaining on an Irving 3-pointer in their first-ever Christmas Day home game.

But Washington scored the next 12 points, Bradley Beal and Kelly Oubre each

making five points in the pivotal run, and the Wizards closed the game with a 21-8 run in a 111-103 victory.

Beal scored a game-high 25 points while John Wall added 21 points and 14 assists and Otto Porter added 20 points for the Wizards. Irving and Jayson Tatum each scored 20 to lead the Celtics.

Minnesota had 23 points each from Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler while KarlAnthony Towns added 21 points and 10 rebounds to power the Timberwolves over the host Los Angeles Lakers 121-104. Kyle Kuzma led the Lakers with a gamehigh 31 points. AFP

TWO teams want to earn a piece of the early tournament lead, while two others aim to barge into the winning column as the action continues in the 2017-18 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. This time, the scene shifts to Antipolo City as an expected barn-burner takes place with defending champion San Miguel Beer and Meralco, both at 1-0, colliding at 7 p.m. at the Ynares Center.

Three hours prior, two teams in search of their first win battle each other as Phoenix and Kia, both 0-1, square off at 4:15 p.m. in the appetizer.

Following their rousing debuts, the Beermen and the Bolts are now both eyeing win no. 2 as they want to remain unscathed.

However, both of them can expect a tough battle ahead.

For its part, San Miguel wants a revenge against Meralco, whose last victory over the Beermen in the previous Governors’ Cup in the final day of the elimination round eventually derailed coach Leo Austria’s team’s Grandslam hopes.

The Beermen haven’t forgotten and they know exactly what to expect from the Bolts.

“Meralco is always tough to play. We remember what happened last conference when they beat us and caused us problems,” said Austria.

“We hope to get one back against them.”

San Miguel Beer blasted Phoenix, 104-96, in the opening game of the season more than a week ago, while Meralco debuted with a 103-98 win over Blackwater last Friday.

The Fuel Masters and the Picanto both performed fairly in their debut games but fell short to list victories.

While Phoenix bowed to the Beermen, Kia gallantly fought before being dropped NLEX, 119-115, last week in its initial assignment.

Chiang Kai Shek captures 2 Women’s Basketball League titles

By Peter Atencio JR NBA standout Kristine Cayabyab and newcomer Agatha Bron came up with big plays that earned the Chiang Kai Shek Lady Blue Dragons a pair of titles in the BEST Center-30th Women’s Basketball League last Dec. 17 at the Jacinto Tiu Sports Center in Xavier School, San Juan.

The 15-year-Cayabyab earned Most Valuable Player honors when she scored 25 points for the Lady Blue Dragons in their 86-46 beating of La Salle College of Antipolo for the under-17 competitive division honors.

The defensive plays of the 14-year-old Bron earned her

the MVP title in the under-13 action after she spearheaded the Lady Blue Dragons to a 46-29 triumph over La Salle Zobel in their fight for the crown.

Coach Piao Fedillaga, who handled both teams, said the Lady Blue Dragons played well in the first half in the under-17-competitive action.

“Our shooting and our defense held La Salle-Antipolo to just a few points,” said Fedillaga, a former national women’s coach, in steering the Lady Blue Dragons to their third under-17 consecutive crown.

After CKSC took a 1610 edge at the end of the first period, Cayabyab rose to the occasion, hit-

CKSC cager Sugar Concepcion (11) tries to penetrate the defense of La Salle-Antipolo defender Angelica Surada (19) during the finals of the under-17 WBL. La Salle cager Fatima Pumaren (6) and Kristine Cayabyab of CKSC (10) are in the background. 2. The CKSC Lady Blue Dragons team won the under-17 competitive crown. Peter Atencio

ting nine points during a decisive second-quarter blast.

“Sobrang saya dahil naging maganda at maayos ang game namin ngayon,” said Cayabyab, who was acquired from her former school in Dagupan

by Fedillaga.

From there, the Lady Blue Dragons were in control and took a 40-23 halftime spread.

Veteran teammates Angelika Soriano and Alyssa Gonzales backed up Cayabyab with 18 and 13 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, Junize Calago and Lianne Chan shot 16 and 14 points, respectively, for the Lady Blue Dragons in their under-13

title conquest.

Calago struck with eight points in the second period, as the Lady Blue Dragons overtook the Junior Archers, 18-10, at halftime.

“Laban-laban lang sila,” said Fedillaga in their second straight title.

In other games, Aliyah Ronquillo claimed the MVP honors for Quezon City Academy in their 39-30 beating of New Era High School for the 17-under developmental honors.

Nicole Capulong shot 17 points to power Polytechnic University of the Philippines to a 55-52 win over Philippine Women’s University and the under-25 honors.

Monsalve-Uy targets doubles’ crown

Ryan Monsalve (right) and Lanz Uy

RYAN Monsalve links it up again with Lanz Uy, seeking to nail the elusive crown this time in the National Doubles Amateur Golf Championship which gets going today (Wednesday, Dec. 27) at Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club in QC. Monsalve and Uy fell short of their bid for the overall crown last year, bowing to the Carl CorpusYuto Katsuragawa tandem and settling for the Group I honors in the season-ending tournament serving as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour.

But the duo faces a for-

midable cast of rivals, all primed up in what promises to be a spirited battle for top honors in the three-day tournament sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation and organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Intense action is expected right in the opening day, a four-ball (best ball) format with each pair out to come up with a strong start for the needed momentum. Play shifts to aggregate in the second day with the final round featuring the two-ball, foursome (alternate shot) format.

Monsalve and Uy launch

their title drive at 9 a.m. in the company of Ivan Monsalve and Gabby Macalaguim after the 8:50 a.m. flight of Aniceto Mandanas-Carlo Quimson and Paolo WongDon Petil, a talented, tested pair also tipped to contend for the crown.

Others expected to figure in the title chase are the tandems of Gab Manotoc-Lester Lagman, Eddie Bagtas-Leandro Bagtas, Kristoffer Arevalo-Sharon Park, Dan CruzLuis Guerrero, and Rupert Zaragosa-Adrian Romero.

Harmie Constantino, a national team mainstay, is also eager to flash her local knowl-

edge of the flat but tight layout she calls home as she teams up with Joseph Orbito, while Laurea Duque and Sunshine Zhang also hope to spring a surprise in the event.

Other pairs in the fold are Santino Gatmaytan-Tomita Arejola, Rocky Brobio-Carlo Gatmaytan, Sean Ramos-Jed Dy, Annika Guangko-David Guangko, Paolo Uy-Justine Magsino, Matthew AbalosKristine Torralba, Felicia Medalla-Clare Legaspi; Sofia Legaspi-Mariel Tee, Carlo Quimson-Aniceto Mandanas, Aldo BarroPaqo Barro and Mike KimGJ Katigbak.

Oil retains gains above $58 B2

Business

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

B1

New telco asked to offer broadband

By Darwin G. Amojelar

IN BRIEF

T

HE Department of Information and Communications Technology asked the potential third telecommunications player to focus on providing fixed-broadband services to compete with the duopoly of PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom.

Dominguez pushes for LNG facility

THE rehabilitation of the AgusPulangi hydroelectric power plants in Mindanao and the construction of a liquefied natural gas facility to supplant the Malampaya natural gas field before its reserves are depleted will ensure a stable power supply, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.

Dominguez said these projects would be vital as the Duterte administration embarked on a massive infrastructure program over the medium term.

Dominguez said the government was already in talks with potential Japanese investors to supply LNG receiving stations as a part of the integrated LNG facility that the Department of Energy and Philippine National Oil Co. were building ahead of the depletion of the Malampaya gas reserves by 2024.

The Malampaya gas field off Palawan supplies up to 50 percent of the energy requirements for Luzon.

Dominguez said the government would rehabilitate the Agus power plant complexes in phases, starting with the plant with the oldest generating units.

It decided to include the first stage of the rehabilitation in the second basket of projects for possible financing by China through official development assistance. Julito G. Rada

DOT eyes more tourists in Visayas THE Tourism Department asked the Philippine Travel Agencies Association to help increase tourism traffic in Western Visayas.

The agency said during a business-to-business meeting in Iloilo City that it would continue to encourage all six provinces in the region to achieve inclusive growth.

“We want to diversify beyond Boracay. We are looking for the PTAA to bring in more tourists to the region. We are ready to host more tourists,” said Tourism Department region 6 director Helen Catalbas.

PTAA vice president Danilo Cerdeña said Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo were in a strong position to become the country’s newest hotbeds of tourism.

“We have seen a lot during our familiarization tour of Western Visayas. Individually, I am sure our members will be promoting these destinations.

As an association we can push with various national tourism organizations to explore more of Western Visayas,” Cerdeña said. Othel V. Campos

Trade council seeks bolder reform measures THE Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council is pushing for broader stakeholder engagement, wider reform measures and better public-private sector coordination to reinforce the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program and in response to the Apec leaders’ call for sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth.

The regional cooperation group agreed to focus on structural reforms to promote innovation and inclusion. This will include work on competition policy, ease of doing business, regulatory reform, economic and legal infrastructure, corporate and public governance and human capital development.

ABAC Philippines said the entry of more players especially in the telecommunications industry was expected to strengthen the digital infrastructure that would boost the Philippines’ competitiveness.

The council also welcomed the passage of the 2018 General Appropriations Act and the new tax reform measure.

“These plans and programs have undergone much review and deliberation. The next step is for all of us to pull together and support the government in ensuring that the laws translate to the promise of being a budget that reforms and transforms, and a tax reform for acceleration and inclusion,” said ABAC Philippines member Lance Gokongwei. Othel V. Campos

PSE VISITORS. Delegates from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange led chairman Wu Lijun visit the Philippine Stock Exchange in Makati City. The visit provided both bourses an opportunity to discuss recent updates and developments in their respective markets and explore potential partnerships and areas for cooperation. Shown are (from left) SZSE director for international department Liu Fuzhong, PSE chief operating officer Roel Refran, PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon, SZSE chairman Wu Lijun, CLSA Ltd. chairman Tang Zhenyi and SZSE executive vice president Li Hui.

Vista Land expects double-digit growth in profit

By Jenniffer B. Austria er growth rate of 22 percent countryside,” he said.

HOMEBUILDER Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. expects revenues and net income to sustain a doubledigit growth annually over the next three years as it aims to become of the leading property developers by 2020.

Vista Land founder and chairman Manuel Villar Jr. said in a recent interview the company would likely register 12-percent to 15-percent growth in annual sales and profit for its residential business.

Villar said the commercial and leasing business would likely register a fast-

as it remained aggressive with project launches.

He said the group would launch more projects in Metro Manila and provincial areas as people were expected to move back to the provinces with the improvement in infrastructure and more employment opportunities outside Metro Manila.

“We aim to become a major integrated mixed-use player by 2020. You will see a different Vista Land going forward,” Villar said.

“We are now the biggest property developer outside Metro Manila, so it benefits us that government policy is moving towards the

Vista Land’s residential business continues to expand to new cities and municipalities in the country.

It is also opening new malls and office buildings with estate development.

Vista Land has 72 commercial assets including 22 malls, seven office buildings and 50 community malls and other retail formats.

“Our malls alone will be increased to 60 in three years,” said Villar.

Aside from malls, Vista Land is also looking to generate more recurring earnings from its hotel business which currently has a presence in

Tagaytay (Crosswinds) and Boracay where the firm acquired a small resort.

“We will be opening six new hotels in three years.

These will be a combination of our own Hotel Mella brand and international hotel brands and will be located in Boracay, Tagaytay, Balanga in Bataan, Cebu and Vista Alabang in Daang Hari,” Villar said.

He said most hotels would have around 150 rooms, but Costa Vista Boracay would be bigger at around 300 rooms. The project is located at the upscale portion of Boracay, between Shangri-La and Movenpick resorts.

“Instead of starting to compete with the duopoly in mobile services, where they are already strong with two decades of infrastructure building and more than 105 million subscribers, the third player will compete initially in the fixed services, where the duopoly is weak, with only 17 percent establishments, homes and offices having internet access,” Eliseo Rio Jr., officer in charge of DICT, said.

Rio said the third player could use the last mile infrastructure of electric companies that would team up with it.

“In case of Metro Manila and other densely populated urban areas, there are now technologies that offer residential customers high-speed Internet access through the air.

The service is a fast and affordable alternative to cables and fixed lines, that can give symmetrical 100 Mbps [megabits per second] download and upload speeds to homes. And frequencies are available for this,” he said.

“Having more fixed line access would greatly decongest the mobile network of Globe and Smart, improving their QoS [quality of service]. So the immediate solution to improve internet speed and cost is to provide more fixed line access,” Rio said.

He said the government could provide the new

Economists expect 2017 GDP growth topping 6.5%

CebuPac seeking rights to fly to India

By Julito G. Rada

ECONOMISTS said the 2017 gross domestic product growth likely settled within the 6.5 percent to 7 percent target range of the government on the back of higher infrastructure spending.

Economists of First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia & the Pacific said in a joint report the growth momentum returned in the third quarter when the economy expanded 6.9 percent, better than what most economists expected for the period.

“With the growth momentum back in the third quarter and a strong start in the fourth quarter, we think our early forecast of 6.5 percent to 7 percent GDP growth for 2017 will easily play out,” the economists said in their latest monthly Market Call report.

“Off to a fast start in the fourth quarter, national government spending will likely keep the quick pace and expand by double digits in the last two months of the year, as infrastructure spending rises further,” they said.

The economists said that exports were expected to rebound in the fourth quarter as the positive effect of the peso depreciation spread at a wider scale.

Data showed that government disbursements in October soared 28 percent year-on-year to P226.9 billion, the highest growth recorded this year. A 17.8-percent jump on infrastructure and capital outlays provided a big impetus.

GOING DIGITAL. Students and teachers of Binugao Central Elementary now enjoy a more modern classroom setting through the information communication technology kits donated by Aboitiz Power Corp.’s subsidiary Therma South Inc.

PH capital market needs innovation to catch up with Asian bourses THE capital market in the Philippines needs to be more innovative and inclusive to make it at par with other emerging economies in Asia, an official of BDO Capital and Investment Corp., a wholly-owned unit of BDO Unibank Inc., said.

BDO Capital and Investment Corp. president Eduardo Francisco said while the domestic capital market had significant developments over the years, it remained relatively small compared with its peers in the region.

He said in a span of five years, Philippine corporations raised over P1.7 tril-

lion from around five to eight initial public offerings and 10 to 15 corporate bond deals a year.

Retail investors also stepped up especially for local equity and fixed-income deals and accounted for 50 percent to 70 percent of the volume, compared to previous years where institutions took up around 60 percent to 70 percent.

“Although the scenario has gotten better, the number of IPOs and bond issues in the country still pale in comparison to other emerging economies in the region. And while participation from retail investors

player with a big market because it would subscribe at to least 250,000 free Wifi access points nationwide in compliance with Republic Act No. 10929.

“The third player won’t have to worry about its International Gateway Facility or their nationwide backbone because the government will take care of this. So initially, the third player will deal mostly with fixed access to the internet, bringing fast and low cost internet to even the remotest areas of the country, where small BPOs can exist, on-line government services will be available, health and education services will greatly improve,” Rio said.

Philippine Telegraph & Telephone Corp. earlier signed a memorandum of agreement with Chengdu Zhongxing Tiantong Technology Corp. to explore the feasibility of engaging in a project to provide free wireless broadband services in designated public areas before, during and after the occurrence of disasters in any part of the country.

PTT, which secured a franchise extension last year for another 25 years, offers fixed broadband to residential and business establishments in Metro Manila.

It aims to become a significant player in the broadband industry which is currently being dominated by Globe Telecom, PLDT Inc. and Sky Broadband.

has increased, most of the investors are coming from the more affluent retail, leaving a huge untapped market such as the OFWs and the unbanked sector,” Francisco said.

He said the challenge was to make the local capital markets more inclusive, enabling the ordinary man on the street to invest in stocks and bonds.

Francisco said one of the solutions was not only to digitize but also to rid of too many touch points for IPO or bond subscriptions as these were roadblocks to encouraging many to invest

in the capital markets.

He said subscribing to equities and bonds in the country was too cumbersome because of the numerous documents, forms and IDs required.

“Our Monetary Board, Securities and Exchange Commission, Philippine Stock Exchange are open to new ways to raise the number of investors and make it more available to the masses. We have seen them liberalize rules but we need to propose new products or solutions,” Francisco said.

He said the Philippines should also look into new

platforms and models from other countries particularly innovative solutions to minimize documentation.

“Foreign players with platforms abroad are welcome to bring it here. Fintech solutions are also welcome and we can work with the regulators to get approvals,” he said.

BDO Capital is a full service investment house wholly-owned by BDO Unibank that provides securities underwriting and trading; loan syndication; financial advisory; and private placement of debt and equity. Julito G. Rada

CEBU Pacific asked the Civil Aeronautics Board to hold air talks with its counterpart in India, an airline executive said.

“There was no available traffic rights for Cebu Pacific. [So] we requested the Philippine air panel to hold air talks with India,” Cebu Pacific vice president of corporate communications JR Mantaring said.

The Philippine negotiating panel is composed of officials from CAB, Departments of Transportation, Tourism and Foreign Affairs, Clark International Airport Corp. and representatives of local airlines.

No local airlines are currently flying between Manila and cities in India.

Data from the Tourism Department showed that 72,381 guests from India visited the Philippines in January to August.

Cebu Pacific also asked the Philippine air panel to hold air talks with the government of Australia.

The airline requested for 872 seats between Manila and Melbourne.

Cebu Pacific operates between Manila and Sydney while Philippine Airlines flies to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Darwin.

Darwin G. Amojelar

B2

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Business

Oil retains gains above $58

By Heesu Lee

O

IL held gains above $58 a barrel Tuesday as trading resumed following the Christmas holiday and after US explorers refrained from adding rigs for a second week.

Zeitgeist 2017 of a massive data-crunching exercise that explained that soft skills are more important for the success of their top teams. Topping the list AS THE year ends, we look of the skills exhibited by the back at our victories and our best teams in Google: emolosses, challenges overcome tional safety. Team success at and milestones achieved, end- Google depends on the ability ings and beginnings. of members to be confident in Money speaking up and making misStock markets surged takes. in 2017. Following a 2016 Challenges, Scandals, close at 6840 from 6952 in Endings and Beginnings 2015, the local market looks In world news, Google’s set to end the year with the annual search trends for 2017 index and virtually all sec- were dominated by catastrotors up from year-end 2016. phes, both natural and manThe market closed at historic made. From suicide bombers highs twelve times this year, and mass shootings to what reaching a historic high of is now being called an ethnic 8523 and currently hovering cleansing in Myanmar, from in the 8400 range. This is a earthquakes and hurricanes to 23% increase from last year. wildfires, 2017 seemed to be It was also a great year for a year of constant calamity. the US stock market with all In health this year, the of the key indices up with WHO narrowly averted what the volatility index (VIX) at could potentially have been a all-time lows. The Dow in- massive outbreak of plague creased over 25% this year, and the Philippine Departits highest spike since 1995 ment of Health reported conincrease of almost 30%. The cerns about the Dengvraxia broader S&P 500 is up 20% vaccine. and NASDAQ is up nearly The scientific community 30%. continued to report fresh inYardeni Research Inc.’s sights into the universe, rePerformance 2017 report porting the discovery of sevshows increases in all the ma- en earth-like planets, pushing jor indices, with the all-coun- back and increasing the locatry index increasing (in local tions of the first appearance of currency) by 18% as of 25th our species, and reporting eviDecember, Europe at 10%, dence of gravitational waves.

Japan at 18% and the UK at It was a year of scandal.

6%. Emerging markets per- The Harvey Weinstein scanformed particularly well with dal precipitated many conan increase of 26% overall. fessions and allegations and Asian emerging markets in- a massive online campaign creased 32%, outstripping the #Metoo brought out the sad 17% increase posted by Latin fact that too many of these American emerging markets. sexual harassment acts go Bitcoin erupted into main- unpunished and even unrestream consciousness when ported. As the year drew to its the bitcoin index value be- end, the scandal claimed the gan its astonishing wild ride, career of Matt Lauer. Across rising from just below USD the world, reports of women 1000 in the beginning of having to allow use of their the year to breach the USD bodies in order to access 10,000 mark in November medical care continued the of 2017. The bitcoin mania tragic story. spread to other crypto curIn a year that was domirencies and allegations about nated by sexual scandals, it money laundering have led to seems ironic that we lost two clampdowns on major cryp- of the most powerful voices tocurrency exchanges in most in gender rights, Norma Mcmajor economies, including Corvey (the Roe in Roe vs. the US, the EU and China.

Wade) and LGBT rights acBusiness and Management tivist Edith Windsor (who The disruption in the retail prevailed against the ban on sector continued with online gay marriage). This year, we giant Amazon buying Whole also said goodbye to Playboy Foods and China’s Alibaba mogul Hugh Hefner and Carsetting up its chain of HEMA dinal Bernard law, disgraced stores. Iconic toy giant Toys former archbishop of Boston R Us filed for bakcruptcy who was found guilty of covprotection this year and many ering up the sexual misconretail brands are continuing duct of priests for years. to reduce physical locations In this year of the Justice while ramping up same-day League movie, we said gooddelivery and in-store pickup. bye to the actors who played Uber suffered a terrible some of my early TV and year, having been banned from movie heroes, Adam West many major cities and having (Batman) and Roger Moore to apologize for covering up a (James Bond). massive customer data breach.

The world is a little less It is still in the middle of trade funny and less musical. In secret and consumer protection 2017, we lost comic legend lawsuits. Uber Investors forced Jerry Lewis, funny man Don out founder and CEO, Travis Rickles, smart and funny lady Kalanick and the company Mary Tyler Moore, Benson which was once the poster star Robert Guillaume, and ch9ild of the sharing economy Erin Moran from Happy is having to deal with the fall- Days. We said goodbye to out of having overpromised rock icon Chuck Berry, geexpected returns to Uber driv- nius vocalist Al Jarreau, 70’s ers, many of whom entered into pop star David Cassidy, rock debt in order to purchase cars in and roll legendary pianist order to become Uber partners. Fats Domino, country singer As online retailing grows, Glenn Campbell, Linkin Park concerns about data breaches lead vocalist Chester Bencontinued to grow. Yahoo still nington, rocker Greg Allman, doesn’t know who is behind and lead singer of K-pop the 2013 hack, which affected group Shinee, Kim Jonghyun.

3 billion users and is still the As we look forward to largest internet breach in his- 2018, we look to technology tory. And let’s not even ask and science as a source for how our own Commission on potentially saving the world Elections managed to open and realize that, in the end, the doors on its entire elector- it is people and being able ate database. to work well with others that Clearly, the world of busi- will ultimately help us sucness continues to change ceed. massively and technology is Happy New Year, dear a major source for the disrup- readers! tion. This explains the rush towards hard skills orientaFor more information on tion in education.

AIM’s new programs, please However, elsewhere in go to www.aim.edu. Readers management news, Google, can email Maya at integrathe company founded on the tions_manila@yahoo.com. belief that STEM (science, Or visit her site at http://intechnology, engineering and tegrations.tumblr.com. For mathematics) graduates are academic publications, Maya the foundation of a technol- uses her full name, Maria ogy company released results Elena Baltazar Herrera.

Futures were little changed in New York after gaining 2 percent last week.

The number of US rigs targeting oil remained unchanged at 747, Baker Hughes data showed Friday.

A repair of the North Sea’s Forties Pipeline System is complete and pressure testing has started, operator Ineos Group said Monday. The halt of the line earlier this month sent prices surging.

Oil is heading for a second yearly advance as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies including Russia prolong supply curbs through the end of 2018. Iraq’s Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said Monday that he’s optimistic

prices will gain next year with global stockpiles falling and demand rising in China and India.

“It’s a bit too early to say whether US rigs will continue to decline as we can’t ignore the fact that it’s winter and some seasonal factors could be stalling drilling activity,” Will Yun, a commodities analyst at Hyundai Futures Corp., said by phone.

“The shutdown of the Forties pipeline has kept prices higher and it will support oil’s bull run until at least the end of this year.”

West Texas Intermediate for February delivery was at $58.55 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, up 8 cents, at 3:22 p.m. in

Seoul. Total volume traded was about 52 percent below the 100-day average. The contract on Friday added 11 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $58.47.

Brent for February settlement added 2 cents to $65.27 a barrel on the Londonbased ICE Futures Europe exchange. Prices gained 35 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $65.25 Friday. The global benchmark crude traded at a premium of $6.73 to WTI. Despite a rally in crude prices, this year’s drilling ramp-up has slowed since peaking in August as investors in the oil industry are pushing for returns over growth, a large backlog of drilled wells still needs to be fracked and technology in-

creasingly allows producers to tap more from each hole.

Russia is keeping this year’s oil production at its 2016 level of about 10.98 million barrels a day as it complies with the Opec deal to reduce output, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Rossiya 24 TV. National Iranian Oil Co. may soon update its estimate of the country’s oil reserves after about 30 studies by foreign oil companies found higher reserves and production capacity than previously estimated, the Oil Ministry’s news service Shana reported, citing Gholamreza Manouchehri, head of NIOC’s Development Engineering Department. Bloomberg

IN BRIEF China court auctioning skyscraper

BEIJING―A Chinese court is auctioning a skyscraper on the country’s largest e-commerce website―with a sky-high starting price of 553 million yuan ($84.2 million).

The 39-floor building in Taiyuan, northern Shanxi province, along with the land on which it sits, goes on the block January 2 on Taobao, Alibaba’s e-commerce platform.

Construction on the skyscraper began in 2006. Standing 156 meters high and with over 76,000 square meters of floor space, it was originally designed to be a hotel, state media Xinhua reported Monday.

But the project was suspended due to lack of funding after major construction work was completed in 2010, according to a statement by the Shanxi Provincial Higher People’s Court, Xinhua said.

Photos of a dimly-lit underground parking lot and unfinished building interior with dusty floors piled with construction materials were posted by the court on the auction page.

Almost all Chinese courts have set up accounts on Taobao’s judicial auction platform for more efficient and transparent handling of assets seized in lawsuits, according to Xinhua.

Apartment buildings, cars, confiscated jewelry and mobile phones are all being auctioned by authorities on the e-commerce platform.

In November, a 28-floor building was put up for auction at a starting price of 219 million yuan by a local court in northeastern Zhejiang province.

But the auction was not successful as no one bid for the item. AFP

Nippon Paint looking at big acquisitions

TUNISIAN PROTEST. Tunisian women gather to protest in front of the UAE embassy in Tunis on December 25, 2017, against the security measures taken by the United Arab Emirates against Tunisian women trying to travel to the Gulf state. AFP

Asian stock markets mixed, euro advances ASIAN stocks were mixed in trading thinned by yearend holidays. Japanese benchmarks slipped from the highest levels since the early 1990s, while China’s currency reached its strongest since September.

US equity-index futures opened little changed in their first trading this week.

Taiwanese stocks underperformed as suppliers to Apple Inc. in wake of analysts marking down their iPhone X sales estimates. Australia and Hong Kong markets remained shut Tuesday.

The euro was trading little changed against the dollar, and at similar levels to the end of last week, after briefly sliding on Monday. Dramatic moves have occurred in recent years in

the currency and other markets at times of low liquidity, when automated trading programs can sometimes be a contributing factor.

Bitcoin jumped about 11 percent to $15,249, after declining for most of the past week since reaching a record high above $19,000.

The tumble had coincided with several warnings from financial authorities about elevated risk in holding digital coins.

Oil was trading above $58 a barrel, while commodities traded in China ticked lower on inventorybuildup concerns.

US consumer confidence, home prices and trade data, meanwhile, are on tap.

Vietnam, which has been averaging around 6 per-

cent growth, will report its fourth-quarter GDP. Italy’s parliament is expected to be dissolved ahead of elections in 2018.

The Topix index of Japanese stocks fell 0.3 percent at the close in Tokyo, while the Nikkei 225 Stock Average slipped 0.2 percent.

Investors had little reaction to Japanese data showing a drop in unemployment and slight acceleration in inflation. Futures on the S&P 500 Index were little changed after the underlying gauge advanced for a fifth week last week. China’s Shanghai Composite index was up 0.4 percent.

South Korea’s Kospi index slid 0.3 percent, while Taiwan’s TAIEX dropped 1 percent.

The euro was little changed at $1.1869. The British pound was little changed at $1.3373. The Japanese yen was little changed at 113.29 per dollar. The People’s Bank of China raised the yuan fixing by 0.21 percent, to 6.5683 per dollar, the strongest since Sept. 20.

Ten-year U.S. Treasury yields were at 2.49 percent, around the highest since March.

West Texas Intermediate crude was little changed at $58.51 a barrel. Gold rose 0.4 percent $1,278.65 an ounce. Iron ore futures traded in Dalian, China, were down 3.9 percent.

Aluminum futures traded in Shanghai fell 1.7 percent.

Bloomberg

NIPPON Paint Holdings Co. is shopping for large acquisitions, including in Europe, to expand outside Japan amid a global consolidation among the biggest coatings makers.

“While our expansion is centered on China and other Asian countries in line with our midterm plan, we also aim to expand through M&A in Europe and the United States,” Nippon Paint president Tetsushi Tadoh said, according to Yukiko Mochida, a spokeswoman for the company. Tadoh’s comments were published earlier Tuesday in the Nikkei newspaper.

Tadoh’s confirmation that the Osaka-based paint maker is looking to grow through acquisition comes about a month after its offer for Axalta Coating Systems Ltd., the world’s largest maker of coatings for cars, failed to produce a deal. Philadelphia-based Axalta, with a market value of about $8 billion, said on Dec. 15 it hopes to be a major player in the industry’s consolidation and is open to mergers and acquisitions.

Nippon Paint had about 77 billion yen ($679 million) in net cash as of Sept. 30, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Cash, equivalents and short-term investments stood at about 135 billion yen.

The company’s shares, which fell 13 percent last month, rose 0.1 percent to 3,650 yen as of the 11:30 a.m. break in Tokyo trading.

Talks on the Axalta acquisition ended without an agreement because Nippon Paint couldn’t clarify some terms of the deal by the deadline set by both companies, Tadoh said, according to Mochida.

The US-based coatings maker said at the time that Nippon Paint was unwilling to value Axalta highly enough. Bloomberg

Japan’s unemployment rate falls to lowest level since 1993

By Kyoko Hasegawa TOKYO―Japan’s unemployment rate in November dipped to its lowest level since November 1993, official data showed Tuesday, offering another sign that the world’s third-largest economy is on track to recovery even if the pace is slow.

Figures released by the government showed unemployment stood at 2.7 percent last month while the jobs-to-applicants ratio improved slightly, up 0.01 percent from the previous month to 1.56 in November―the highest level in almost 44 years.

The latest data come as Japan has notched up seven straight quarters of economic growth―the longest positive run for 16 years― with the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games giving the economy a shot in the arm.

“Japan’s economy is expected to keep expanding through the first half of next year,” Masaki Kuwahara, senior economist at Nomura Securities, told AFP. Confidence among Japan’s biggest manufacturers is also at an 11-year high, a key central bank survey showed earlier this month, as the world’s number-three economy picks up pace.

Pedestrians walk past a Bic Camera Inc. electronics store in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 16, 2017. Bloomberg

However, consumer spending has remained weak and deflation continues to stalk the economy.

Japan has battled deflation for many years and the central bank’s ultra-loose monetary policy appears to be having limited impact.

Other data showed Tuesday that Japan’s consumer prices rose for the 11th straight month in November, but inflation was still far from the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) two-percent inflation target seen as crucial to revive the world’s thirdlargest economy.

The core inflation rate was a 0.9 percent rise yearon-year in November, according to data published by the internal affairs ministry, far below the two-percent target set by the BoJ. Market consensus was a 0.8 percent rise, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News.

When the volatile prices for fresh food and energy were stripped out, prices rose by even less -- 0.3 percent, the ministry said.

‘Government-made’ wage increase November household

spending―seen as key for exiting deflation―expanded 1.7 percent from the same month a year earlier―much stronger than market consensus of a 0.5 percent rise.

Household spending had remained flat in October after falling by 0.3 percent in September and rising by 0.6 percent in August.

Strong household spending in November “may be a reaction to the weak October figure that had reflected” bad weather at the time, Kuwahara said.

“But as shown in the low unemployment rate and the

number of jobs expanding, the labor market conditions are favorable and household income keeps gradually rising,” he said.

But he warned strong inflation without sufficient rise in wages “hurts domestic demand, having negative impact on the economy.”

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government has pressed the country’s major companies to raise their employees’ salaries in an annual wage negotiations, often dubbed as the “governmentmade labor offensive.”

Japan’s weak inflation stands in sharp contrast to other major economies whose central bankers are looking to wind up their easing policies.

The US Federal Reserve last week announced a widely expected quarter point rate hike, and US policymakers have forecast another three rate hikes in 2018.

Meanwhile, the European Central Bank has announced it would halve its massive bond purchases from January as the eurozone recovery gathers pace, allowing the Frankfurt institution to begin winding down its crisis-era stimulus measures. AFP

World Chinese activist jailed for eight years TIANJIN, China―A Chinese court sentenced an activist known by the online pseudonym “Super Vulgar Butcher” to eight years in prison Tuesday after he refused to plead guilty to charges of “subverting state power”.

Wu Gan, who was taken into police custody in May 2015, attracted the authorities’ attention with his performance art and caustic commentary on Chinese society and politics that he published online.

He was “dissatisfied with the current system of governance, and that gradually produced thoughts of subverting state power,” a court in Tianjin said in a statement explaining the verdict.

By “hyping up hot incidents”, Wu “attacked the national system that is the basis for state authority and the constitution”, the court said.

Wu also “spread fake information” and “insulted others online”, the statement said.

The prominent activist, with his recognizable bald head and glasses, became the subject of the state’s ire for using his larger-thanlife online persona to draw public attention to human rights cases. AFP

AIN ISSA, Syria―Khadija Alloush made it out alive from Syria’s battle-ravaged Raqa with her five children, but she lost her seven-yearold son to the biting cold of life in a displacement camp.

As temperatures drop, tens of thousands of civilians forced out of their homes by Syria’s war are spending yet another winter in flimsy plastic tents or abandoned

half-finished buildings.

And without heating, blankets and warm clothes, or access to proper medical care, even a simple cold can turn deadly.

“My son died because of the cold,” weeps Khadija, 35, her features drawn and exhausted a week after the sudden death of little Abdel Ilah.

After fleeing fighting in the Islamic State group’s for-

mer bastion Raqa, Khadija’s family sought refuge in the Ain Issa camp about 50 kilometers north.

Now nighttime temperatures are plummeting to just four degrees Celsius (39 Fahrenheit).

“He coughed and had a fever in the middle of the night. The next day, he was dead,” Khadija tells AFP, drawing her four young chil-

dren close to her.

“May God spare us in this cold,” she says.

More than 17,000 people have sought refuge in the Ain Issa camp’s 2,550 tents, set up in neat rows exposed to the elements.

Most of the residents fled assaults against IS in Raqa, as well as Syria’s province of Deir Ezzor to the southeast.

Many of their homes have

been flattened, their towns and villages reduced to ruins without electricity or running water.

Returning is not an option.

According to the United Nations, which supports the camp, there is no new health care clinic to cater for expanding areas of the sprawling facility.

More than half of the residents say their tents need repairs or maintenance to

protect against the cold.

To keep the inside of their tents dry, many in the camp have put up an extra layer of nylon tarps and resort to using rocks to weigh down plastic sheeting to prevent water seeping in.

Camp manager Jalal alAyyaf acknowledged there was a “lack of medication” available to displaced families in Ain Issa. AFP

Farm murders blight S. Africa T

ZANEEN, South Africa―”They beat him with a pole... and you could hear the bones breaking,” said Debbie Turner, recounting her husband’s murder in a slow, defiant voice.

PLEDGE. In this photograph taken on December 25, 2017, Afghan villagers sit with their weapons in the Pachir Wa Agham district of Nangarhar province. Over 500 residents of the district have gathered to pledge to fight the Islamic State militants. AFP

SHANGHAI―Once the mark of criminals or sex workers, for centuries tattoos have been stigmatized in China but the growing influence of celebrity culture is changing all that―particularly for women.

Nowhere is the trend more evident than in Shanghai, China’s most cosmopolitan city and recently dubbed “China’s tattoo mecca” by the country’s state media.

Body art for women has long been frowned upon in

socially conservative China, but studios are mushrooming throughout the city of 24 million.

Zhuo Danting, widely considered one of China’s top tattoo artists, has witnessed first-hand how the industry has exploded.

The 35-year-old has 70 percent of her body tattooed and has been operating her own Shanghai studio for 11 years.

Inspired by celebrities and sports stars, unprecedented numbers of mostly

younger Chinese are getting inked, Zhuo said at her shop, Shanghai Tattoo.

“At the beginning, of course, they just give you a weird look, they’re freaking out,” Zhuo, who also has multiple piercings and dyed green hair, said of the reaction she gets on the street.

“But now there are a lot of people getting tattoos, it’s getting more and more popular. People see them everywhere so they don’t see it as a big deal,” she added.

Zhuo, who got her first tattoo at 16 and has inked both her parents, is originally from Harbin, a city in China’s far north.

There is a growing body art scene there too, she said.

“There is a lot of change.

Before, not many people get tattoos. They thought that people with tattoos, that person must have been in jail or you are a bad person.

“Now it’s a cool thing, to represent yourself as different.” AFP

She refuses to talk about him in the past tense and sleeps with a photo of him close by.

“I miss him so terribly― it’s just so hard,” she said, sitting in front of the frailcare unit that has been her home since the attack at their farm.

Robert “Oki” Turner, 66, was beaten to death before her eyes six months ago on their isolated stretch of mountain land in South Africa’s northeastern Limpopo province.

He was one of the latest victims of a long campaign of violence against the country’s farmers who are largely white.

The rural crime epidemic has inflamed political and racial tensions nearly a quarter-of-a-century after the fall of apartheid.

Farm murders are just one issue that reveals how South Africa is struggling with violence, an economic slowdown and divisions along race lines.

The Turners moved to the verdant region, half-way between Kruger national park and Zimbabwe, some 30 years ago.

On their property, which spans dozens of acres, they grew gum trees which they sold to craftsmen or for firewood.

“Until about four or five years ago, we were very open. We didn’t have a key for our house―we would

Clashes break out in Lima following Fujimori pardon LIMA―Peruvian police on Monday fired tear gas and clashed with protesters marching against the pardon of ailing ex-president Alberto Fujimori, who was serving a 25-year sentence for human rights abuses.

Current President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski ordered the pardon of Fujimori and seven other prisoners on Sunday on humanitarian grounds, once again placing himself in the middle of a political crisis just days after he avoided impeachment.

On Monday, protesters called for the departure from office of Kuczynski, who later defended his decision in a televised message to the nation.

movie. We will miss her.”

Menzies-Urich, then a teenager, had the role of Louisa von Trapp, one of the children of Captain von Trapp played by Canadian actor Christopher Plummer, who starred with English actress Julie Andrews.

Menzies-Urich’s son, Ryan Urich, said she had been diagnosed with brain cancer and died on Christmas Eve surrounded by family, according to celebrity website TMZ, as well as Variety magazine’s website.

“Out, out PPK! Out, out PPK!” angry demonstrators chanted in reference to the president, who had promised during his electoral campaign the previous year that he would not free Fujimori.

“Fujimori, murderer and thief. No to the pardon!” read one of the signs held by the protesters, some of whom also carried a giant Peruvian flag.

Relatives of victims of Fujimori’s brutal rule took part in the march.

“We are here as relatives to reject this illegal pardon, because it does not correspond to the gravity of the crimes,” Gisella Ortiz, representative of a group of families of victims, told reporters. AFP

Menzies-Urich was born in Toronto, Canada.

Her husband Robert Urich died from cancer in 2002. He was a US television star who shot to fame in the 1970s through his series “Vegas” and “Spenser: For Hire.”

After his death, MenziesUrich founded The Robert Urich Foundation to support cancer research and patient care. On the group’s website, she wrote that she tried to live by her late husband’s motto: “Never give up-never, ever give up.” AFP

go away and nothing would have happened,” she said.

But then the extreme violence that had long afflicted the major cities engulfed rural areas like theirs.

Break-ins, hostage takings and killings became common―with attackers often making off with just a few hundred rand (less than $20), a mobile phone or a hunting rifle.

The Turners were targeted after nightfall on June 14 when two armed men stormed their farm. Debbie was alone after her husband stepped out to fix a water tap.

“They said ‘we want money’. I said I haven’t got money,” recounted Debbie.

“They dragged me all over the house and put me under the shower and turned it on and left me for 15 minutes.

“Then they decided to try to rape me. I said ‘please don’t rape me, I’ve got HIV’.”

Some time later, Oki was found slumped motionless covered in blood after being savagely beaten by the attackers searching for the key to the couple’s safe.

He died in hospital a few hours later.

Dozens of white farmers are murdered in similar circumstances in South Africa every year.

In the absence of detailed statistics, the scope and scale of the crimes has become a battleground. AFP

Taipei warns China drills pose a threat

‘Sound of Music’ star Menzies-Urich, 68 LOS ANGELES―Heather Menzies-Urich, a star of “The Sound of Music,” which continues to win hearts worldwide after more than half a century, died at age 68, an industry source said Monday.

“We... mourn the passing of Heather MenziesUrich,” the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, which holds the rights to the musical, said on its website.

“We are all lucky to have known her, and she will happily live on in that beautiful

B3

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

Displaced Syrians survive war but face battle against cold

‘North Korea preparing new launch’ Tattooed and Proud: Chinese women peel away stigmas SEOUL-North Korea is preparing to launch a satellite, a Seoul newspaper said Tuesday, as outside observers warn that the nuclear-armed regime’s space program is a fig leaf for weapons tests.

Pyongyang is under multiple UN sanctions over its nuclear and missile tests and is prohibited from carrying out any launch using ballistic missile technology including satellites.

“Through various channels, we’ve recently learned that the North has completed a new satellite and named it Kwangmyongsong-5”, the Joongang Ilbo daily reported, quoting a South Korean government source.

“Their plan is to put a satellite equipped with cameras and telecommunication devices into orbit”, he said.

Pyongyang launched their Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite in February 2016, which most in the international community viewed as a disguised ballistic missile test.

A spokesman for the South Korean military joint chiefs of staff said there was “nothing out of ordinary at this moment” but added that Seoul was watching out for any provocative acts “including the test of a long-range missile disguised as a satellite launch”. AFP

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

WELL WISHERS. Britain’s Sophie, Countess of Wessex, greets well wishers as they leave after attending the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas Day church service at the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on December 25, 2017. AFP

TAIPEI―Frequent and increased Chinese military drills pose an “enormous threat” to Taiwan’s security, Taipei warned on Tuesday in an annual defense review that starkly highlighted rising cross-strait tensions.

China views Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified at some point―by military force, if necessary.

The two sides split after a civil war in 1949. Although Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy, it has never formally declared independence.

Beijing has stepped up drills around the island since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen took office last year, as she refuses to acknowledge both sides are part of “one China”.

Local media estimate Chinese warplanes have conducted at least 20 drills around Taiwan this year, compared to just eight in 2016.

The latest known drill took place last week when several Chinese planes, including jet fighters, passed through the Bashi Channel south of Taiwan to the Pacific and back.

The frequent drills “have created enormous threat to security in the Taiwan Strait,” Taiwanese defense minister Feng Shih-kuan said in the 14th national defense report released Tuesday. AF[P

Central Luzon IPs to recover own lands

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

B4

wednesday, december 27, 2017

By Romeo Dizon

LGUs LocaL government units

‘VINTA’ VICTIMS. ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman holds one of two children who lost their mother, a teacher, to Tropical Storm ‘Vinta’ over the weekend. The children’s mother was found embracing their father’s dead body—two of the 12 casualties from the storm that scarred Lanao del Sur.

‘Vinta’ leads to mourning

A

SEASON of tragedy has yet to end for Lanao del Sur and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Barely a few months after the end of the siege and destruction of Marawi City, the province mourned anew after 12 lives were lost as Tropical Storm “Vinta” tore through the area.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said the region’s Humanitarian and Emergency Action Response Team (HEART) Operation

Center in Cotabato City is coordinating with local governments and disaster management councils across the region to assess the impact of the storm.

Lanao del Sur has reported the heaviest damage caused by the storm as of Saturday, Hataman said.

“The siege of Marawi City did not mark the end

of the tragedies in Lanao del Sur this 2017. This storm did,” the governor said in a statement.

“Please join us in praying for our people in Lanao del Sur, and, if you can, help us continue efforts to help the people of Lanao del Sur as we face this new tragedy.

Let us link arms to rebuild what has been broken in the spirit of bayanihan [cooperation] that has always been our strength,” he added.

ARMM has allocated funds to help the survi-

vors of Vinta, along with deploying personnel and aid since the storm hit late last week. Hataman has also distributed cash assistance of P10,000 to each of the families that have lost loved ones.

Regional officials are also keeping an eye on Basilan province because of continuous heavy rain in the province. So far, reports from the remaining provinces of ARMM, specifically Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, have not

been as alarming, the governor said.

“Members and officials of the regional Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team have already been deployed. Relief packs are now being distributed in areas affected by the heavy rains,” Hataman added.

On Saturday, Dec. 23, 12 towns in Lanao del Sur experienced severe flooding and landslides—Balindong, Bubong, Madalum, Tugaya, Bacolod-Kalawi,

Madamba, Tamparan, Piagapo, Calanogas, Maguing, Poona Bayabao and Ditsain Ramain, ARMM-HEART said.

The number of reported deaths and missing residents, subject to validation by the Department of Health-ARMM, are in Piagapo (10 deaths), BacolodKalawi (two deaths, one missing), Madalum (four deaths, one missing), Tamparan (one death). Tugaya (two deaths), and Balindong (two deaths).

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—About 200,000 indigenous peoples of Central Luzon are confident they can recover several hectares of their ancestral domain inside the different military reservations in the country.

Lawyer Anatacio Addog, legal officer of the National Commission on Indigenous People in Central Luzon, said the final draft of the agreement between the Department of National Defense, Philippine Air Force, NCIP, and the local government of Capas, Tarlac is now in the final review and comment.

Addog said the IPs, counted based on the 2010 census, are confident they can recover their ancestral lands inside the military reservations in the Crow Valley Gunnery Range, now called Ravena camp, in Capas, along with lands in Subic in Zambales, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, and others.

According to Addog, ancestral domains inside military reservations restrict IP movements, as they are still subjected to military checks and passes before they could get in touch with their brothers and sisters living in these areas, specially during the annual Balikatan military war games exercises.

The restriction also causes dislocation of the IPs’ livelihood and hinders resettlement in their community, forcing others to beg for alms in the main streets of the region, the lawyer added.

Navotas aids fire survivors

‘Mawlidin Nabi’ to bring Muslims back to roots

By Jun David

By Nash B. Maulana

NAVOTAS Mayor John Rey Tiangco recently led the distribution of assistance to Market 3 fire survivors who are still temporarily sheltered at the Navotas Fishport Complex after a fire engulfed their homes in January this year.

Survivors of fires that razed houses in Barangy Bagumbayan South at Sipac Almacen also received Christmas presents, as some 693 families received P2,000 each in cash assistance from the city government.

Tiangco and the City Social Welfare and Development Office paid the survivors in Market 3 a visit.

Meanwhile, those from BBS and Sipac went to the Navotas City Hall for their gifts.

Previously, Christmas arrived early for the families of the inmates of the Navotas City Jail as Mayor Tiangco and the Manila Chinatown Lions’ Club gave them gifts.

Around 1,200 families received gift packs containing rice, canned goods, toiletries, clothes and slippers.

COTABATO CITY—What happens when Muslims do not spread the teachings, the lessons, the values exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad?

That’s a question Mayor Zamzamin Ampatuan of Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao, an advocate of old Muslim tradition, has sought to answer as Islam recently commemorated “Mawlidin Nabi”—literally “Birth of the Prophet”—for a whole week from the 12th day of Rabbi-ul Awal of the Hijrah Calendar.

That period corresponded this year to Dec. 9 to 16.

“Now, the situation is such that you stop the occasion (Mawlidin Nabi) where the Prophet’s values and teachings are shared with children, and even with non-Muslims.

But how do you deal with those who speak lies of the Prophet and those who misrepresent Islam on Internet?”

Ampatuan said.

Abdulfatah Tanog, a Muslim preacher delving on comparative sects, said that although Muslims are made up of sects and sub-sects, they do not differ much on the spiritual aspects of the Islam.

Rather, they are separated by their own cultures and traditions, and the “circumstances of geopolitics.”

For instance, Tanog said, the Sufi Muslims are akin to some Shiite practices, but they also follow the Four Sunni Schools of Hanafi, Hanbali, Maliki and Safi-i.

Aside from the Qur’an (Muslim Holy Book) and the Hadith (Written Tradition of the Prophet), the Four Schools have also considered Qiyas (reasoning) and Ijma (consultation) as secondary references or sources of laws.

Oral traditions have held that historic Philippine Muslim leaders like Rajah Buayan

(Conclusion, continued from yesterday)

FOR THE ORPHANS. Employees of Monsanto Philippines share their carefully chosen Christmas presents to 150 orphans with developmental disabilities from Elsie Gaches Village at Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Subic keen on becoming next cruise ship spot

By Butch Gunio SUBIC BAY FREEPORT— The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority is keen on positioning the port of Subic to become the next playground for Royal Caribbean cruise ships starting next year.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, who met here with Dr. Zi-

nan Liu and other officials of Royal Caribbean International over the weekend, said the Subic community is hoping to generate more business with the growing cruise ship tourism industry in the Asian region.

“We hope that Subic would be the next cruise ship playground. And we are very excited over this

prospect,” Eisma told RCI officials, as she briefed them on the potentials of the Subic Bay area as cruise ship destination.

“We can offer you the best tourism facilities and services for your passengers and crew, highly memorable and tailored tourism experiences to meet the expectations of your clients, and a safe en-

vironment that will be very conducive to your business,” Eisma added.

Liu, RCI’s president for China and North Asia Pacific Region, arrived in Subic on Saturday along with his assistant Anna Lian and company director Antonio Muresu, and escorted by Isabela Vice Gov. Antonio Albano.

2 firms raise HIV awareness LABIT Dx, a subsidiary of Philab Holdings, recently conducted a seminar to raise awareness on the importance of early screening of HIV, in celebration of World AIDS Day. The event focused on the availability of HIV rapid and accurate pointof-care or POC tools in the country.

Currently, HIV screening test kits can only be used under the supervision of healthcare physicians and cannot be administered by a regular individual. The Department

of Health still needs to set specific guidelines on HIV self-testing.

“Awareness on HIV early screening is important because most HIVpositive individuals are not aware that they are actually infected, nor do they even want to be tested in the first place. What most of us forget is that the earlier you get diagnosed, the earlier you can be treated. You also have lesser chance to transmit the infection,” said Therese Perez, president of LABit Dx.

Officials of LABit Dx and Chembio Diagnostics Systems Inc. joined local nongovernmental organizations and industry leaders to discuss HIV rapid and accurate point-of-care tools in the country. In photo (from left) are Therese Perez, president of LABit Dx; Tom Navasero, chairman and president of Philab Holdings Corp.; and Dr. Robert Passas, president of EMEA and APAC Regions of Chembio Diagnostics Systems Inc.

Silongan, Sultan Kudarat, and the late Senator Salipada Pendatun, as well as many of the Tausug traditional leaders, were tolerant Sufi Muslims.

On the other hand, followers of the Salafi subsect do not necessarily use the teachings of the Four Sunni Schools for guidance, as they treat the Qur’an and the Hadith as the only references or direct sources of learning Islam.

But Tanog said instead of looking at their differences, Muslims should complement each other’s efforts, contributions and characteristics to unite.

For instance, Tanog said, the Al-Azhar University, in Cairo, Egypt—which first established the university concept of classroom-based teaching and learning—was first developed by the Fatimid Shiite followers.

It was said that key members of this sub-sect were mostly women, or that it was led mostly by women.

Because of such a divide, scholars of both the Sunni and Shiite sects met to present issues about their sects at a recent summit in Amman, Jordan, Tanog said.

Tanog said: “Then, they (Sunni and Shiite scholars) had ended up with common resolutions that: 1) they uphold and utter the same Declaration of Faith in prayers and in their secular affairs; and 2) that they read the same Qur’an, the Holy Book of the Muslims.”

He said local Muslims should not import the conflict fought in foreign lands, just because “funds” were offered along the way, citing that such foreign conflicts had “unseen instigators that do not care much about the welfare of their peoples.”

“Such a great blunder [importing ideology] is now evident in what has happened to our dear Marawi. It’s no difference from what had happened to Iraq and Syria,” Tanog said.

Life FASHION & BEAUTY

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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

C1

Simply Shoes carries in-house footwear brands and global labels

Simply Shoes

The family shoe store in communities W E ALL know that SM started out with shoes. And although the company has grown phenomenally since Henry Sy, Sr. opened his first store in 1958, it continues to expand its footwear legacy as it aims to serve more customers in more communities around the Philippines.

With this, comes Simply Shoes, an affiliate of SM Retail, which is envisioned to be the family shoe store in communities. Here, one can find SM in-house brands like the iconic Parisian line, as well as Milanos, Salvatore Mann, Sugar Kids, and Tough Kids.

Global brands like Vans, Skechers, Chicco, Fila, and Circa are also available, as are popular local brands like World Balance, Islander and Hawk.

Simply Shoes opened its first branch at Waltermart Tanauan, Batangas in September 2014. Today, Simply Shoes

has 27 branches across the country: from as far north as Savemore La Trinidad in Benguet to as far south as Citymall Tagum in Davao del Norte. It aims to have a total of100 stores.

True to its core as a family store, Simply Shoes officially launched its new brand ambassadors, actress Cristine Reyes-Khatibi, husband mixed martial artist turned actor Ali Khatibi and adorable daughter Amarah.

The young family loves doing things together. Despite their work

SIMPLY STYLISH.

Actress Cristine ReyesKhatibi, her husband Ali, and daughter Amarah walk together in Simply Shoes footwear.

Turn to C2

Cole Haan celebrates extraordinary COLE Haan, the iconic American lifestyle brand and retailer of premium men’s and women’s footwear and accessories, is celebrating the season with its 2017 Holiday Collection, perfect for urban explorers taking on extraordinary journeys.

This Holiday season, Cole Haan celebrates the exploratory spirit of four Extra ordinaries, each dedicated to their individual journeys, with the Urban Explores Campaign. Cole Haan turns their celebration of Extra ordinaries to those out there exploring the world around them. These Extraordinary Explorers are discovering new dimensions of their city, the best of cities around the world, and the freedom of our great outdoors. The Holiday 2017 Campaign will feature New York City documentary photographer Andre Wagner, outdoor explorer and photographer Jess Dales, Bespokemeets founder Susan Ho, and designer-author Taylor Bruce, sporting hero Cole Haan 2017 Holiday wears that best reflect their craft.

Taking center stage in the Women’s Holiday 2017 collection is the GrandPro Tennis Sneaker in Metallic Gun-

Cole Haan’s 2017 Holiday collection celebrates the exploratory spirits of four Extraordinaries with pieces perfect for holiday getaway

metal sported by Susan Ho, founder of end-to-end travel concierge Journey, who believes that extra ordinaries explore it all.

“Extraordinary people have said, ‘hey, I see a problem in the world. I felt this problem deeply, and I’m going to take it upon myself to fix it.’ And it’s hard to do something that no one’s done before. There’s no playbook for it,” said Susan Ho. Cole Haan has eliminated the unnecessary weight of traditional court shoes without ever sacrificing the principles of flexibility, cushioning and ergonomics.

Extraordinary guides a new path.

Meanwhile, the Zerogrand Laser Wingtip Oxford in Grey Pinstrip is a highlight for the 2017 Men’s Holiday collection, as sported by Taylor Bruce, founder of Wildsam Field Guides, which capture the living history of some of America’s favorite cities.

“I like the phrase ‘a long obedience in the same direction’. When I think of extraordinary people, it’s those who have a deep expertise in some subject matter or vocation and have been heading

in the same direction for a long time.

It becomes hard to separate who they are and what they do,” said Bruce. The Zerogrand Laser Wingtip Oxford Grey Pinstrip is perfect for urban professionals in search for a sleek and functional city boot.

Whatever the path and whatever the terrain, Cole Haan has these extra ordinaries covered with their most comprehensive and innovative range of shoes yet.

Additionally, Cole Haan brings all time favorite styles to the forefront such as the GrandPro Tennis, Zerogrand Waterproof Hikers and the latest addition GrandExplore Waterproof Hikers, as well as the Cole Haan + Mountain Hardwear GrandExplore Parka for men and women.

“The Holiday season is a very important time for the Philippines and we are thrilled for this collection, which will help our customers celebrate one step at a time,” said Greg Dinges, EVP and GM International at Cole Haan.

The Cole Haan Holiday 2017 collection is available at Cole Haan stores in Glorietta 4, Powerplant, and Shangri-la Plaza.

Feminine pieces and 90s inspired outfits for kids comprise Zara Kids’s fall/winter 2017 collection

Zara Kids’ Fall-Winter 2017

END the year with a bang as ZARA Kids delivers fresh new collections for the Fall-Winter season. The new pieces for boys and girls circulate around trends and materials that are both fashionable and are wardrobe essentials, giving us sartorial solutions to dressing the little ones for the holidays.

The Niña or girls’ selection is the perfect way to plunge into Fall with pieces that are feminine and playful.

In line with a handful of key looks from the women’s collection, the trends have pieces curated to balance style with wearability and comfort. Another would be a spectrum of romance and Orientalia – themes brought to life with an abundance of frills, florals and a cozy palette. From neutrals like tan and camel to braver choices like fuchsia and maroon, the season’s colors deliver a sense of all-out warmth. Meanwhile, streetwear wields its influence as well, with casual London-inspired dressing being translated into statement tops, knits and contrasting fabrics. Black and gray, indispensable hues for fall dressing are present in these looks, along with splashes of purple and green. Glen check patterns, houndstooth prints and thicker fabrics like fool and faux sheep-

skin tannery are also among the staples that tie the collection together.

The Niño or boys’ looks are just as exciting, with grunge themes and oversized fits taking the lead. Taking inspiration from 90’s rock music, the looks channel a sense of freedom and fun through graffiti-inspired prints, edgy washes and rips.

Blacks and grays remain a highlight, with unexpected pops of yellow and white for contrast. Khaki and cobalt blue are also key colors for the trend-conscious collection. Key pieces are ones that balance form and function, like lined outerwear and a multi-pocketed bomber jacket rendered in soft materials.

For a little extra quirk, both the boys’ and girls’ selections take inspiration from the stars and celestial bodies. From constellations and astronauts to a color palette reminiscent of the night sky, a combination of different techniques and finishes like foil, vinyl and glitter come together for looks that are quite stellar.

In the Philippines, Zara Kids is exclusively distributed by International Specialty Concepts, Inc., a member of SSI Group, Inc., with stores at Ayala Center Cebu, Glorietta, SM Mega Fashion Hall, Power Plant Mall, and Shangri-la Plaza.

Life

C2

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Teng Roma Salon S at S Maison

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ELEBRITY hairdresser Teng Roma has found a new home at S Maison, the unique lifestyle center at Conrad Manila at the heart of the Mall of Asia complex.

Teng Roma Salon @ Conrad is the latest addition to the esteemed group of salons established by Roma after Emphasis and three eponymous Teng Roma Salons. These are salon ventures and concepts that are cuttingedge and exclusive – through his partnerships with international stylists and brands bringing luxe pampering to his local clientele.

More than that, it is the first Kérastase Prestige salon in the Philippines, and serves as the flagship salon of Kérastase, the French international luxury haircare brand from the L’Oréal Group, in the country. Present in the most opulent salons and used by the world’s most prestigious hairdress-

ers, “Kérastase represents the effectiveness of luxury with sophisticated diagnostics and customized care.”

Apart from Roma himself, customers at the Teng Roma Salon @ Conrad can also look forward to the services of international hairstylist and former Vidal Sassoon protégé Pascalain Gianello for contemporary precision haircuts, and award-winning Basil Yunting for hair color, styling, and make-up.

Influenced by Vidal Sassoon’s revolutionary approach to cutting hair, Gianello has developed his own style in “sculpting” hair using geometry; creating shapes according to the bone structure, hair texture and look of the client.

Having practiced in Paris, London and

Modern black and white interiors welcome guests at the Teng Roma Salon at S Maison

Germany, he shares his affinity with Asian hair, and styling it to achieve manageable hair that follows the body’s movement effortlessly.

Yunting who specializes in fantasy hair and makeup, is the creative director at Teng Roma Salon @ Conrad.

Now based in Manila, the list of his previous clientele ref lects the high level of artistry in his craft; these include members of the royal families in the Middle Being a Kérastase f lagship salon, the hairdressers can offer personalized haircare answers in the form of: Fusio Dose for instant hair beauty treatments, Rituals for intensive hair and scalp treatments, and

The Teng Roma Salon is located on the 2nd floor of S Maison

Protocols for deep and long-lasting treatments using tailored formulas and dosages – all using the latest Kérastase products. It also offers Diagnosis by Kérastase, a personalized in-salon experience with a three-step program.

Teng Roma Salon @ Conrad’s deluxe pampering services also include hair color using L’Oréal’s hair color range: Majirel, Inoa and Dia Richesse; airbrush make-up, false eyelashes and eyelash extension; as well as back massage, reflexology/foot massage & hand massage services; manicure, pedicure, foot spa and threading provisions.

The serene ambiance of the salon

with its modern black and white interiors accentuated by a subtle tropics theme and colorful artworks is a collaborative effort of Teng Roma himself and designer Paolo del Rosario.

Roma’s partners in the salon are Susan Theuer and Roselle Sotto.

Teng Roma Salon @ Conrad is located on the 2nd floor of S Maison, Conrad Manila. It is open Monday to Sunday (10 a.m. to p.m.).

For more information, inquiries and appointments, the salon may also be reached thru (02) 817-7417, 0926-6385454 and 0939-495-8771, facebook. com/tengromaconrad and @tengroma. smaison on Instagram.

Michael Kors renovates flagship store Nautica Voyage’s top notes are green leaf and apple, and blooms with an aquatic heart of water lotus and drenched mimosa

MICHAEL KORS Philippines hosted an event to celebrate the glamorous makeover of the Greenbelt 5 flagship store at Greenbelt 5. The store, opened in October 2007, now boasts a fresh new look with its white walls and chrome furnishing accents.

The store’s minimalist look caters to the lady who appreciates finer things in life. The shop has a sprawling range of leather bags, accessories, and ready-towear from the Michael Kors label.

The event also marked the unveiling of the Michael Michael Kors FallHoliday 2017 Collection, which features three main themes: Effortless Cool: Palette of camel, chocolate, and gold combine for an autumnal delivery with casual edge.

Rock Chic with ‘80s influences and a masculine-feminine mix capture a rock ‘n roll vibe in this luxe delivery. Heavy silver tone hardware and flashes of the

season’s new purple hue embolden the sleek palette of black, white, and gray.

Tough Luxe features elegance with an inherent edge, this predominantly noir delivery is heightened by high-shine silver accents and pops of cobalt blue.

Michael Kors has shops at Central Square in Bonifacio High Street Central, Newport Mall, Power Plant, Shangri-La Plaza and an in-store boutique in Rustan’s Makati.

SCENTS & SENSIBILITIES

Nautica back on the shelves AFTER almost two years of absence in the market, the voyage continues for Nautica Fragrances with Rustan Marketing Corporation. This brand of scents has been relaunched leveraging on its strong and iconic rudiments of seamanship, headlined by Nautica’s iconic fragrance collection, Nautica Voyage.

Capturing the liberating freedom of the open seas and the growing call of adventure, Nautica Voyage, Voyage, Sport, and N-83, bring a harmonious and exciting chord of refreshing scents.

“We wanted to create a fragrance that would evoke a man’s spirit for adventure,” said Denise Seegal, CEO and president of Nautica. “The Nautica Voyage Collection is for a man who is excited about his future and who actively pursues his dreams, without compromise. From the unique fragrances to the classic designs of the bottle and sleek packaging, Nautica Voyage really captures the essence of the Nautica man.”

Like the warm touch of the sun on your skin and the soothing calm of the ocean waves, Nautica Voyage lets you embrace the invigorating experience of the open sea. Fresh, cool and aquatic, Nautica Voyage sets sail with top notes of green leaf and crisp apple, and blooms into a truly endearing scent with an aquatic heart of water lotus and drenched mimosa. A rich blend of damp moss, musk and refined woody amber also anchors the fragrance, creating a deeply masculine scent that men relate to.

Life is a game and Nautica Voyage Sport gets you into that winner’s mindset. Created for the man with a competitive spirit, the Voyage Sport opens

up with pure, cool accents of sea spray accord and sea salt. This invigorating breath of fresh air is further enhanced with doses of spicy coriander and crisp citrus zest that give you that optimal boost to finish your task. At the heart of the fragrance is a powerful aromatic combination of geranium, green peppercorn, apple and palm leaves, which reinforces the fragrance’s bold and lush freshness. Grounding the scent is a base developed from a vibrant and magnetic blend of Brazil wood, musk, patchouli and vetiver. Reconnect with nature and your own natural, primal instinct with this uniquely powerful scent.

Voyage N-83 embodies the feeling of exploration, power, and a bold desire to discover new adventures. The N stands for Nautica, while the “83” honors the year of the company’s founding and the brand’s rich sailing heritage. Classic, sophisticated, and thrilling, the fragrance evokes crisp salty breezes, rugged spices, and woody musks. Helping to underline a man’s powerful masculinity, this crisp woody aroma opens up with enticing top notes of fresh ocean water accord and Costa Rica’s Junqillat Beach inspired coastline scent with a twist of bright spearmint and citrus petit grain essence. As the scent blooms, the heart of the fragrance uncovers notes of warm cardamom, nutmeg, and lavender, while sensual notes of musk, sandalwood, and cedar wood anchor this exhilarating scent that entices all men.

The Nautica Voyage Collection inspires the Style Captain with its invigorating and masculine scents that reflect confidence and spirited lifestyle.

Michael Kors’s flagship store at Greenbelt 5 boasts a fresh new look with white walls and chrome furnishing accents

Simply Shoes...

From C1 – Christine’s television commitments and Ali’s competitions – they make it a point to take time out to go out together, taking family trips together, and celebrating milestones together.

One of the things they also enjoy is

shopping together at Simply Shoes.

“Simply Shoes is the perfect brand for families,” says Christine.

“It’s the one stop shop for all family members.” The young family likes “the styles of the shoes, the assortment, and the fact that they are so comfortable to wear.” More than that, “it gives us value for money for the whole family.”

Cristine also shared how she loves the Ladies Shoes section because “it has a lot of different shoe styles that you can chose from. We also like the specials sections that offers value for money shoes —two pairs for only P499.75.”

Visit the Simply Shoes branch nearest you, or get connected with Simply Shoes through Simply Shoes PH on Facebook and @SimplyShoesOfficial on Instagram.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

ATOM

Atom Araullo will embark on yet another journey as he is set to host a travel show entitled “Adventure Your Way” to be aired on AXN.

ARAULLO hosts new travel show

Amazing performances and mind-blowing tricks in ‘Impossible: The World’s Greatest Magic Show’ from London

Experiencing some magic this Christmas FULL of hilarious magic tricks and acts of breathtaking wonder, Impossible has been thrilling audiences of all ages with a mind-blowing spectacle showcasing the jaw-dropping talents of six of the most incredible illusionists of this generation.

Promised to be a “show of superlatives,” it features a mix of trickery and illusion, outrageous and astonishing acts ever to be seen on the live stage.

Production associate, Chris Hancock said, “The show has changed a lot since it started in London in 2015 – there are same cast members since we started, and some are new. Each time we go to a new venue, we think about what kind of show we want to bring. We try and secure the best people for the show, to bring (to the audiences) that scale and the biggest illusions.”

He added that the stage setup is right in the audience so everyone would feel involved. It means there’s an audience interaction with tricks being performed with the help of people chosen by the magicians themselves.

To give us a better glimpse of what’s going to happen in the live show, at the grand media launch of Impossible held at Novotel last Saturday, stage illusionist Ali Cook went down the stage and asked a few members of the press to gather around him. “I call this the magic circle,” he started then said in jest, “Come a bit closer until it becomes socially uncomfortable.”

This modern-day Houdini staged a pick-a-card trick involving the people that huddled around him. He asked one person to shuffle a deck of cards and another

volunteer to pick one card out.

“I’m going to keep my back turned and I want you to show the card to everyone and make sure I can’t see the card,” he instructed the person he asked to choose one card, “You see, I haven’t done a show with a very small audience, this is going to be tricky.”

After the participant followed his instruction, he asked him to put the card back in the middle of the deck and left it on the floor. The deck of cards moved by itself and revealed the card the participant earlier showed to everyone.

“People think it’s madness. There’s no mirror, there’s no magnet, there’s no string,” he said while everyone was in awe and clapping their hands.

Prior to that magic trick, Cook had already performed two other tricks, which most of us were already familiar – the disappearing ring and the invisible deck of cards tricks. And yet, everyone was still amazed with the way the English escapologist, sleight of hand expert, and stage illusionist executed this “magic.”

Ali Cook is performing more mind blowing tricks along with BoundaryBreaking Magician Ben Hart, Explosive Street Magician Magical Bones, MindBlowing Mind-Reader Chris Cox, Grand Illusionist Josephine Lee, and Comic Daredevil Bello Nock in Impossible dubbed as the “World’s Greatest Magic Show.”

Impossible opened on Christmas day and will run until Jan. 3 at the Big Dome.

Tickets are sold for as low as P160 available at ticketnet.com.ph.

A

XN has added a fresh new reality series to its roster of top-rated original productions: Adventure Your Way, a weekly 30-minute travel show that explores new adventures in exciting destinations in the Philippines.

Unlike any other travel show, it invites Pinoy viewers to shape the travel experience of popular host Atom Araullo by sharing their bucket lists via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (#AXNAdventureYourWay). From these crowdsourced ideas, Araullo will embark on a one-ofa-kind mission around the country equipped with only his phone and social media to guide him. From sampling the local delicacies and meeting with the locals to discovering the most thrilling activities, Atom is completely in the hands of AXN fans.

Adventurous ideas for Atom, which could be crazy, cultural, epic or daring, can be submitted from today via AXN’s social platforms: AXN or Adventure Your Way Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

Adventure Your Way premieres in February 2018 first and exclusively on AXN.

Sine Negrense awards top filmmakers

Cast and crew of 'Dalit' with officers and organizers of Sine Negrense

A SHORT film on a man with healing abilities which affected his personal life, recently took home a windfall of prizes at the first Sine Negrense: Negros Island Film Festival Awards Ceremony held at SM City Bacolod.

Belle Kay Loyola’s Dalit (Poison) won Best Film, Noel Armocillo, Jr. was awarded as Best Director and Best Production Design, while John Arceo was lauded

as Best Actor, and Louie Dormido, Best Supporting Actor.

The thesis film for Loyola’s Digital Filmmaking Program at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) was inspired “by cultural and historical stories, as well as Filipino beliefs”.

She wished to highlight a place where people depend on faith and folk healers.

“I feel so happy that I was given the chance to showcase my film

to the residents of my hometown while I studied filmmaking,” she said.

“It’s funny how this film was once just a concept, and for the past months, I have proven that it’s not about who you are as a person, it’s about the perseverance and positivity that you would apply, and the rest will just flow,” Loyola added.

Adobo by Val Vestil, Alibungan by Matthew Piodena, Five Sorrowful

Mysteries by Shannan Gonzales, Happy Birthday by Gkie Erebaren, Hawud by Paul Venzi Florendo, Kaasab by Vince Divinagracia, and Handuraw by Gilbert Basilio, among others, likewise competed for top prize.

Alibungan took home the Jury’s Choice, Best Screenplay and Best Editing awards. Denli Chavez received the Best Actress trophy as Jane, a girl with a traumatic experience, in Happy Birthday, while Kaasab bagged Best Musical Score and Best Supporting Actress for Kim Agnes.

Five Sorrowful Mysteries was hailed as Best Cinematography, while Hawud won Best Sound Design.

Festival Director Tanya Lopez described Sine Negrense as “a venue, a platform for local

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, December 27, 2017

ACROSS 1 “Lion King” villain 5 Animal-rights org.

9 Winery’s need 14 Leaf division 15 Tight as a drum 16 Shipboard romance 17 All-purpose trucks 18 Disconnect 19 Della or Pee Wee 20 Bureaucrat’s delight (2 wds.)

22 Transformed 24 Saint Teresa’s town 26 — -de-sac 27 Played hockey 30 It may end in a tie 35 Kind of lily 36 Ra’s symbol 37 Summer to summer 38 Historical period 39 Gullywasher 42 Martini base 43 Bossa — 45 Simon or Armstrong 46 Dog’s plea 48 Up in the air?

50 Reasons why

51 Give — — break 52 Levels off 54 Deep green 58 Joplin musical genre 62 Girder insert 63 Pilots’ sightings 65 Mekong River nation 66 Gaelic people 67 Wild plum 68 “I” problems 69 Boudicca’s subjects 70 Antacid brand 71 Lay at anchor DOWN 1 Run words together 2 Dove’s shelter 3 Under cover?

4 Say again 5 Lacking common sense 6 Plywood sheet 7 Cow’s “second course” 8 Bohr’s study 9 Vice opposite 10 In theory 11 Boris’ refusal 12 Ultimatum word 13 Luge, for one 21 Sidestep 23 NCAA Huskies 25 On horseback

27 28 29 31

Shorthand pro Bolshoi rival Tequila cactus Achilles’ downfall 32 Zeus’ shield 33 Bogart movie ship 34 Ocean fliers 36 Fringe — 40 Cager Shaq — 41 Longbow’s sound 44 Front-seat option

47 Go-getter 49 Shrubby tracts 50 Discontinues 53 Indy 500 sound 54 Clapton of “Lay Down Sally” 55 Marsh 56 Like Mr. Hyde 57 Use bath powder 59 Shakespeare villain 60 Frame of mind 61 Latin I verb 64 Winter woe

filmmakers to hone their craft, and it’s a good way to promote local talent.”

It hopes to develop a new generation of filmmakers and enthusiasts, as well as cultivate an informed public on the importance of storytelling in cinema, to include identity, heritage, and culture.

Lopez had the assistance of Festival CoDirector Rodolfo Banjo Hinolan and Program Director Adrian Torres in organizing the event, with the help of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Negros Museum, and Design Brewer.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

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HE lone musical entry in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, Ang Larawan, has gotten a grade of “A” from the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB).

The film which libretto was written by National Artist for Theater Rolando Tinio and music composed by Ryan Cayabyab had all 11 CEB members previewing it and eventually giving it the highest grade. The CEB summation stated, “It is seldom and rare that the members of the Board give a unanimous “A” to a film.”

Based on the play A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino by National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, Ang Larawan tells of how financially troubled Marasigan sisters Candida and Paula hold on to their father’s masterpiece in spite of great interest and attractive offers from potential buyers.

West End star Joanna Ampil plays Candida while pop singer/host and entrepreneur Rachel Alejandro is Paula.

Urian Best Actor Paulo Avelino takes the role of Tony Javier, the boarder who is persuading the sisters to sell the painting to an American buyer.

The rest of the cast features a stellar ensemble composed of OPM stalwarts Celeste Legaspi, Dulce and Nanette Inventor; stage and film luminaries Robert Arevalo, Nonie Buencamino, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Noel Trinidad, Jaime Fabregas, Leo Rialp and Bernardo Bernardo; and young stars Sandino Martin, Aicelle Santos, Cris Villonco, Cara Manglapus, Jojit Lorenzo and Rayver Cruz. OPM icons Ogie Alcasid and Zsa Zsa Padilla play special roles.

Culturtain Musicat Productions is the production outfit behind this film directed by Loy Arcenas.

The CEB praised the various aspects of production with one member citing that the movie is “enthralling, captivating and beautifully helmed!” The board described the performances by the leads and supports as “excellent.”

Another member reiterated that, “Larawan is a brilliant, fabulous production with great acting and excellent technical elements.”

As soon as the CEB grade was released, the filmmakers took to social media to express their gratitude and joy.

“Wow! What a blessing!” said Alejandro while Legaspi declared, “Very proud!” Ampil, who is part of the international production of Cats now on tour, wrote on Facebook, “All the hard work is paying off.”

Ang Larawan is Ampil’s first starring role in a film and she began preparing for it way back in 2014.

The CEB recognition is the latest of a string of accolades that Ang Larawan has been receiving ever since its world premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival in The cast of the musical 'Ang Larawan' (from left) Sandino Martin (seated), Joanna Ampil, Paulo Avelino and Rachel Alejandro October.

Variety’s Richard Kuipers said, “This musical adaptation of a beloved Filipino play is a class act.”

Members of the local press and writers who have watched the film at an advanced preview are predicting Ang Larawan will be embraced by music-loving moviegoers and will be a strong contender for MMFF awards.

The film has also gotten endorsements from the Commission on Higher Education and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, among others.

Noting that Ang Larawan is a period movie, not a formula film, and that the musical genre remains untested, LONGEVITY in the music music never grows old, and its their partner artist’s original song Entertainment, and they are keen the CEB commended the production outfit for taking a risk. industry is exemplified by the timeless message will always be and give it their own flavor. The on offering their fans even more “So, kudos, congrats, and thanks to the brave, intrepid band songs that live on through the appreciated through the years. music event, called CokeStudioPH exciting things in the future. For more of producers and their fearless funders for this film. May years, serving as a part of the The band was a recipient of the was able to give Moonstar88 fans information about Moonstar88 and their tribe increase and may this movie reach as wide an soundtrack of our collective lives. Alta Media Icon Awards, the their fresh additions to the local their upcoming performances, visit audience as possible.” Furthermore, the CEB made a clear their official Facebook fanpage and One such song is “Torete,” which student choice award giving body music industry. call to the moviegoers “to see this film and spread the good was released by Moonstar88 18 of The University of Perpetual Moonstar88 is under the the official Soupstar Entertainment word: go out and see Filipino films!” years ago, now back in popularity Help System (Las Pinas campus). management of Soupstar website at www.soupstar.ph.

For updates and information, check out the with a new generation of listeners They were recognized as Band film’s website and Facebook page. across different platforms. of the Year 2017 by the school’s Moonstar88 (with Maysh Baay Communication Arts students. on vocals, Buddy Zabala on bass, As a thank you to their fans Herbert Hernandez on guitar, they call “Moonstareros,” the and Bon Sundiang on drums) band released a special edition has been making waves this year, “Torete” shirt in celebration of via their classic hit that garnered the 18 years of support that the the no.1 spot on the Billboardph song has received. The song Catalog charts in October 2017. has had its different iterations The song topped the most popular and interpretations by fellow local song list released three years performing artists and its being ago across all genres, ranked by chosen as part of the soundtrack streaming from Spotify, Youtube for movies, such as Star Cinema’s and Apple Music. Reaching this Love You to the Stars and Back. milestone is considered as a great The song continues to top achievement for the song and the Spotify’s viral playlist. band because the Billboard charts This year, they offered another is the music industry standard treat for their fans: The local music record chart for songs based on industry legends and upcoming different measures such as sales, artists were tapped by Coca-Cola radio airplay and online streaming. to not only pair up to collaborate Rock band Moonstar 88 is celebrating almost two decades of music with “Torete” is proof that great on a new song, but also to interpret it's biggest hit reentering and topping music charts

Moonstar88 and ‘Torete’ show how feelings remain relevant after 18 years

Spotlight

Resorts World Manila supports the MMFF with upgraded mobile app

Jessica Biel in Tiffany JESSICA Biel stunned in Tiffany & Co. diamonds at the 2017 Baby2Baby Gala. The actress wore Tiffany & Co Inside-out hoop earrings, Tiffany HardWear ball ring, and Tiffany T two ring to complement her look.

AS ITS own way to support Philippine cinema and further its commitment to champion the Filipino, the country’s premier entertainment and tourism destination Resorts World Manila (RWM), upgraded its RWM Mobile App to give movie fans a more convenient way to book seats at the Newport Cinemas during the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

Annually, the MMFF features the finest Pinoy blockbusters from various production outfits, sending movie fans all over the country join the long queues to get movie tickets. With the new RWM Mobile App update, moviegoers can simply look up movie schedules and make reservations straight through the app.

“We want every RWM Mobile App user to experience the excitement that only RWM can offer,” according to RWM Director for Digital Channels Jay Padua.

“For the coming MMFF season, we upgraded the app so that users can have

RWM Mobile App gives movie fans a more convenient way to book seats at the Newport Cinemas during MMFF

ease of use and get the desired result of a hasslefree booking to the movies,” he added.

The RWM Mobile App also lets users check out the latest RWM promos, performances, events, retail directory, dining specials, RWM shuttle bus schedules and pick up points, navigate through Wayfinder, and access the 24/7 live chat services for real-time customer service.

The RWM Mobile App also has a live event notification option to let guests in on the big events lined up for RWM’s Grand Fiesta Manila: Fantasy Funfair celebrations as they happen.

RWM members may also link their IDs to the app and access their respective membership dashboards to receive exclusive notifications, coupons, and promos. Non-members may also sign up for free via the app.

Download the RWM Mobile App for free at the Google Play and the iTunes App Store. For more information, visit www.rwmanila.com or call the Tourist/Visitor Hotline at (632) 9088833.