Manila Standard - 2017 December 30- Saturday

LIZA: WORLD’S ‘MOST BEAUTIFUL FACE’

By Nickie Wang ACTRESS Liza Soberano topped the annual list of 100 women with the most beautiful faces in the world – as revealed by British film critic TC Candler and the organization The Independent Critics.

The Star Magic artist, turning 20 next week,

ranked ahead of Australian actress Margot Robbie, French model and actress Thylane Blondeau, Taiwanese star Tzuyu, British actress Emma Watson, who dominated the same list in 2011, and international film stars Emilia Clarke, Natalie Portman, and Lupita Nyong’o.

“The Annual Independent

Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Faces 2017” was announced in a YouTube video on Dec. 27 and has received two million views in just 24 hours.

It’s the third time for Soberano to be included in the list, having placed sixth in 2015 and second last year.

Kapamilya stars Kathryn Bernardo, Jessy Mendiola

and Nadine Lustre join Soberano on the list ranking 60th, 71st, and 78th, respectively.

Kapuso actress Kim Domingo also made the list at the 96th spot.

Meanwhile, the Philippines was also well-represented in the male version of the list with James Reid Next page

VOL. XXXI • NO. 316 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Shooting at Shaw: 10 cops get sacked “[The] matter will be in- were called to Barangay AddiBy John Paolo Bencito and Joel E. Zurbano vestigated fully even if there tion Hills following an earlier

T

HE Palace on Friday vowed a thorough investigation after Mandaluyong police opened fire on the wrong vehicle and killed two people, including a woman on the way to hospital on Shaw Boulevard late Thursday night.

appears to be excessive force utilized by police authorities,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said.

The policemen involved have been disarmed and their movements have been restricted, he added.

The incident occurred on Thursday night when police

shooting during an argument between residents.

But they mistakenly opened fire on a van that they thought was carrying the shooter but which in fact was carrying six construction workers taking a woman injured in the incident to hospital, said Metro Manila Next page

PRETTY FACE. Liza Soberano, who turns 20 next week, topped the annual list of 100 women with the most beautiful faces in the world—as revealed by British film critic TC Candler and the organization The Independent Critics.

Hope gauge at all-time high—SWS NINETY-SIX percent of Filipinos said they are entering 2018 with hope —a new all-time high surpassing the previous record of 95 percent achieved in 2002, 2011, and 2016, the latest Social Weather Sta-

tions survey revealed Friday.

The latest survey, conducted from Dec. 8 to 16, also revealed that only 4 percent will enter the New Year with fear, the lowest since the 4 percent in 2011.

This is one point below the 5 percent in 2016.

On the other hand, 46 percent of Filipinos said they made New Year’s resolutions for 2017. Of that number, 18 percent Next page

High court tells Palace, Congress to explain ML

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has ordered leaders of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Malacañang and defense officials to comment on petitions seeking to stop the one-year extension of

martial law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao.

In an en banc order, the justices said they found the petition filed by opposition lawmakers against the extension to be sufficient in Next page

Health sees drop in blast injuries BLATANT MISCOMMUNICATION. Police investigate the crime scene (above) in Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City as the body of a man on the ground is put onto a stretcher after local officials and police opened fire on a vehicle carrying a woman wounded in a separate shooting incident being transferred to hospital in Manila. Police take fingerprints (upper right) of a dead man on the ground while NCRPO Director Oscar Albayalde interrogate 10 police involved in the incident senior police officers say was the result of a ‘mistaken identity.’ AFP, Manny Palmero

Du30 extols Rizal’s life and works

MAKING TIDIER. A maintenance worker from the City Hall of Calamba in Laguna does last-minute cleaning up Friday of the stone monument of Dr. Jose Rizal in preparation for the 121st martyrdom of the man suggested in 1901 by the American Governor General William Howard Taft to the US- sponsored Philippine Commission to name him a national hero for Filipinos. Lino Santos

MANY of the ills that existed during Rizal’s time continue to plague society today, President Rodrigo Duterte said in a speech to be delivered Saturday to mark the 121st anniversary of national hero Jose Rizal’s death by firing squad.

“As an author and as a scholar, he denounced the corruption, greed and other social ills that up to this day continue to plague our society,” Duterte said.

“Even in death, he imparted upon us his aspirations for a nation that is free from the scourge of injustice, tyranny

Storm-hit Lanao Sur in state of calamity

By Nash B. Maulana and Sara Susanne Fabunan MARAWI CITY—The provincial government of Lanao del Sur, jabbed by the sight of rubble and ruins faced by residents from the Tropical Storm “Vinta,” declared Friday a state of calamity throughout the province.

Lanao del Sur Gov. Bedjoria Soraya Alonto-Adiong said the death toll from Vinta rose to 28 on Friday in 11 worst affected towns of her province.

Alonto-Adiong said disaster workers were continuing the search for seven still missing persons in the towns of Wato-Balindong, Tugaya, Madalum, Piagapo,

Poonabayabao, Maguing, Bubong, Ramain, Tamparan, Marantao, Wato, and Bacolod Kalawi.

The Provincial Board said Resolution 74- S. 2017 was prompted by the landfall of Vinta last week, which it said resulted in massive damage to agricultural crops, infrastructure Next page

DFA sticks to ‘strategic silence’ on China

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Friday there will be “no change” in his policy

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and that he will continue to observe his so called “strategic silence” to “protect the interest” of the Filipinos living and working around the world.

“Whether you talk about

diplomatic negotiations, whether you talk about diplomatic relations, or you talk about operational security, there are times when the DFA has to observe Next page

THE Department of Health claimed Friday President Rodrigo Duterte’s political will was expected to decrease the number of firecrackers-related incidents during the New Year’s eve celebration across the predominantly Christian nation of 106 million people tomorrow.

An executive order that restricts the use of fireworks will be implemented for the first time this weekend—the new rules and guidelines similar to the ones implemented by Duterte in Davao City during his term as mayor.

As of Dec. 28, the DoH recorded 61 firecrackersrelated injuries, suggesting a downtrend from the total 637 cases last year, said DoH spokesman Lyndon Lee Suy. “People would say, ‘Nagawa ito sa Davao (this worked in Davao), I guess it can be done in the entire country,’” Suy said.

In Quezon City, Mayor Herbert Bautista said giving and selling firecrackers to children was a no-no in the country’s former capital.

“Quezon City is a childfriendly city. That’s why Next page

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017

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Reds brace for 50 year of insurgency T th

By John Paolo Bencito and Francisco Tuyay

HE Communist Party of the Philippines has called on its cadres to work hard to overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte as the group continued to prepare for the 50th year of the longest running Maoist insurgency in Asia.

Meanwhile, two days after the lapse of the unilateral ceasefire declared by the New People’s Army, the CPP’s military arm, members of the group snatched a police officer Thursday night in Cotabato province.

An initial report from the Cotabato Police Provincial office identified the victim as Inspector Menardo Nisperos Cui, deputy chief of Police of the President Roxas Municipal Police Station.

But the report failed to

disclose the circumstances behind the kidnapping, except that the incident took place at the HMB Video Place around 10:30 p.m.

In a statement released by the CPP’s Central Committee Thursday night, the CPP said Duterte would suffer the same fate as former Presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada for their “fascist tyranny, all-out economic liberalization and bureaucratic corruption.”

“The entire Party and all revolutionary forces must exert vigorous efforts to unite the Filipino people in a broad united front to resist and overthrow the fascist Duterte regime as

they did the Marcos dictatorship and the Estrada regime,” the CPP said.

“The Party and revolutionary forces are optimistic that with arduous struggle and relentless hard work, they can overcome Duterte’s fascist rampage and accumulate the allrounded strength required to overthrow his fascist puppet rule and advance the revolutionary people’s war to a new and higher level.”

Duterte had earlier issued Proclamation 360 terminating the peace negotiations with the communist National Democratic Front.

He subsequently issued

‘UN special envoys put PH in bad light’

By John Paolo Bencito

Proclamation 374 to proscribe the CPP and NPA as terrorist organizations under the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.

“We are looking forward to mark the Party’s 50th anniversary next year with even bigger and more momentous victories in the ideological, political and organizational fields,” the CPP said.

The group called on its cadres to continue the protracted people’s war against the government and end the neo-liberal policies that bring false promises of reform and utter contempt for the poor.

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police chief Director Oscar Albayalde.

The wounded woman, Jonalyn Ambaon, later died and one of her companions, in the van, Jomar Jayaon, was also killed while two others were wounded, he told reporters.

He said barangay tanod had been the first to open fire on the van but said police would investigate why they had firearms, which are not normally issued to such personnel.

Albayalde said 36 shells from fired rounds had been recovered and that all the guns of the police and watchmen would be checked to see who had fired on the van.

“They said that practically all of them fired their guns. It was only some guys who arrived last who did not fire their guns,” Albayalde said, referring to the responding policemen.

Videos of the incident, aired on local television, show policemen with guns drawn, surrounding the van as gunshots ring out.

“We are not hiding anything here.

Du30...

We are not discounting the fact that there is the possibility that there may have been overkill or violation of our POP [police operating procedure],” Albayalde said.

Albayalde ordered the relief of Mandaluyong City police chief Senior Supt. Moises Villaceran and 10 of his men involved in the deadly shooting on Shaw Boulevard late Thursday night.

He said those relieved are now on a floating status and were transferred to the National Capital Region Police Office-Holding and Accounting Unit in Taguig City, pending the result of the investigation being conducted by his office and the Philippine National PoliceInternal Affairs Unit.

Also relieved were Senior Insp.

Maria Cristina Vasques, police officer 2 (PO2) Nel Lemuel Songalia, and Police Officers 1 Algred Uribe, Jave Arellano, Tito Danao, Mark Castillo, Julius Libuen, Bryan Nicolas, Albert Buwag and Kim Rufford Tibunsay.

Initial reports showed that the incident was a case of mistaken

identity.

Albayalde said they are looking into the possibility that the wrong information was given to the responding police.

“They were told that the persons inside [the van] were armed,” he said.

Albayade extended his condolences to the families of the victims and promised a transparent investigation into the shooting.

The Justice department has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a parallel probe into the shooting.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II also directed NBI Director Dante Gierran to conduct a case build-up on the incident, and if evidence warrants, file appropriate charges against those responsible.

Police were looking for barangay tanod Ernesto Fajardo and Gilberto Dulpo, who were in a mobile patrol . CCTV footage showed one of them firing at the white Mitsubishi Adventure van that was taking Ambaon to hospital.

Mhury Jamon, one of the three

construction workers who survived, told reporters that when the barangay tanod told them to stop, they did, and went out the vehicle as ordered. Still, two barangay tanod went toward them and shot at them.

Police who were alerted to the shooting incident, saw the barangay tanod pursuing the van, and also gave chase, then fired repeatedly at the vehicle.

When the police arrived, the barangay tanod left.

Jamon said police told them to get out of the vehicle or they would be fired upon, but by this time, two of the construction workers were on the floor outside the van.

Amboan was lying on her husband and construction worker Eliseo Aluad and Jayaon had already been shot too.

Jamon said they shouted to the police that they were taking an injured person to hospital, but the police did not listen. He said they later heard shots then shouting from inside the van telling the police they had to bring his wounded wife to hospital.

Storm-hit...

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and suffering,” he added.

Rizal’s life and works has “inspired a movement that gave rise to the Filipino national identity,” Duterte said.

“During that dark chapter in nation’s history, his writings served as the light that guided our forebears in the fight for genuine equality and independence,” he said.

“May we take this occasion as an opportunity to recognize Dr. Rizal’s ultimate sacrifice for the sake of our country.”

“Let us reflect on his patriotism as we strive to continue his work of building a more united, peaceful and prosperous Philippines,” Duterte said.

Dec. 30 is marked as a national holiday. John Paolo Bencito

facilities, and displacement of residents and loss of lives.

Vice Gov. Bombit Adiong said initial assessment of the extent of damage had been jointly reported and validated by the Provincial DisasterRisk Reduction and Management Council and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.

He said the resolution would enable the office of the governor to speed up delivery of emergency services by utilizing calamity funds.

Specifically, the resolution would allow the governor’s office to use five percent of the province’s calamity fund, and 30 percent of reserved funds for relief and other forms of assistance package to typhoon victims.

Meanwhile, the European Union is allocating €570000 (P34 million) in humanitarian funding to deliver emergency relief assistance to families affected by Vinta.

The funds will be used to address the immediate needs of those who have been most affected by Vinta.

“This EU contribution underlines our commitment to

the people of the Philippines, many of whom have suffered great losses as a result of Tropical Storm Vinta and are in dire need of immediate assistance. My thoughts are with the victims and all affected by the catastrophe,” EU Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Commissioner Christos Stylianides said.

General Rey Leonardo Guerrero, and Solicitor General Jose Calida—were given 10 days within which to file their respective comments.

Rep. Edcel Lagman, along with the other members of the opposition in the House of Representatives, asked the Court to stop the extension of martial law in Mindanao, saying it was unconstitutional.

They also questioned the “inordinate length”—one year—to be illegal.

“This is inordinately long.

How can a mere extension be inordinately longer than the original proclamation sought to be extended?” Lagman asked.

On May 23, President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law in Mindanao after the Islamic

City of Marawi was stormed by heavily-armed Islamic State -inspired Maute terrorist group.

In July, Congress voted to prolong military rule in Mindanao until yearend after the 60-day proclamation expired. Lawmakers agreed to extend the martial law to give the government authorities more time to stabilize the strife-torn region where ISIS was gaining influence.

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form and substance, but deferred taking action on their plea to issue a temporary restraining order.

The respondents—Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Armed Forces chief

DFA...

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what I will call strategic silence,” Cayetano said.

He then asked the public to resort to “reading between the lines.”

He said his department’s silence was in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s independent foreign policy where the Philippines would be “a friend to everyone but an enemy to no one.”

“We sometimes make room to negotiate...I’m just saying we cannot change next year,” Cayetano said.

Since Cayetano assumed office, the agency and even the Office of Public Diplomacy, formerly the Public Information Services Unit, had not been releasing timely statements on pressing issues such as the recent declaration of US President Donald Trump recognizing Jerusa-

lem as the capital of Israel, or why they abstained from voting on the issue, or even to comment on North Korea’s launching of missiles.

The department has also been silent on domestic issues such as appointment of former Taguig City officer in Charge Administrator Joel Montales, a key ally of his wife Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, as Undersecretary for Security and Consular Concerns and political blogger RJ Nieto as “consultant” for migrant workers’ affairs but filed his resignation later on.

The OPD’s role is to attend the media’s queries and concern in a very timely manner.

Cayetano said the country’s silence on foreign issues was aimed at appeas-

ing countries in dispute.

He said there were also things that his department would not divulge.

“And sometimes maybe, specific issues of the Middle East, South China Sea, etc.,” Cayetano said.

“Sometimes we have some information that we cannot make available yet because it will complicate the matter,” he said.

There are about 10-million Filipinos working and living around the world in 170 countries.

Cayetano plans to give a “better life” to all Filipinos in 2018 by pursuing Duterte’s independent foreign policy, “The administration and the DFA focus for next year is a better life for all Filipinos,” he said.

Cayetano cited his recent conversation with the President and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III where the latter said that in the 40 years that he was around, it was only this moment where several countries “even rival countries” coming together and paying attention to the Philippines.

The more than $30 billion in loans, commitments and investments were products of Duterte’s independent foreign policy, he said.

Cayetano also plans to streamline the passport process aiming to copy the booking system of airline companies.

In 2018, the DFA is set to establish new regular consular offices in seven to nine places across the country.

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we have regulations like this to protect our young residents,” he said, referring to City Ordinance 2587.

He reminded the public of the existence of a city ordinance prohibiting the selling, giving or sharing of any type of firecracker to children.

District 3 Councilor Allan Benedict Reyes introduced City Ordinance 2587.

“Records show that there are considerable number of accidents and injuries due to firecrackers, many of which are suffered by children... adhering to the principle of being ‘ChildFriendly Local Governance,’ it is imperative for this city to pass a measure that will reduce if not eradicate accidents and injuries sustained by children due to firecrackers,” the measure read.

Rio N. Araja

MALACAÑANG on Friday accused two Filipina UN special rapporteurs of being partisan and trying to put the Duterte administration in a bad light after they called out authorities against the “massive” impact of military operations on the human rights of the Lumad or the indigenous people in Mindanao.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque accused Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Special Rapporteur on rights of indigenous peoples, and Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, Special Rapporteur on internally displaced peoples of using their position to “embarrass” the Duterte administration before the international community.

“The fact that they did it so publicly could only have been because they intended to embarass the Philippine government in the international community. So I appeal to these

two Filipinos who...are special rapporteurs... not to use their post for the purpose of embarrassing the Duterte administration,” Duterte’s spokesman said.

Roque stressed the two special rapporteurs should have documented the cases of alleged rights abuses against the lumads, and brought these cases “to the proper authorities” instead of making a public statement to embarass the administration.

“Now as Filipinos, the special rapporteurs should have documented the cases of alleged targeting of lumads and brought these cases to the proper authorities, to the police and the prosecutor for preliminary investigation so that the proper information could be filed in court,” he said.

Roque, who until recently a human rights advocate, said the call of the UN rapporteurs was prejudiced.

Report: Facebook spread use of political campaign tools SOCIAL media giant Facebook is in hot water after reports revealed that the social networking site sent out teams to train politicians around the globe—including President Rodrigo Duterte—to use the platform as a campaign tool.

In an MSNBC report, Duterte was among the global strongmen whose campaign teams were among the handful who received training from Facebook for their propaganda strategy, and later used the social network for its political leverage.

“Facebook is a global company and it was ground zero for this [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and Duterte playbook, long before Zuckerberg was playing naive about fake news,” MSNBC said in a Dec. 27 report.

A separate Bloomberg report, meanwhile, pointed out Duterte’s highly successful campaign to reach out to voters.

“[In] the Philippines, [Facebook] trained the campaign of Rodrigo Duterte, known for encouraging extrajudicial killings, in how to most effectively use the platform,” the report stressed.

Facebook, which claims that it is a “tool for democracy,” had previously denied allegations that it is involved in digital propaganda.

“Facebook has embedded itself in some of the globe’s most controversial political movements while resisting transparency,” the Bloomberg report said.

In January 2016, Facebook “flew in three employees who spent a week holding training session with candidates that include Duterte,” MSNBC reported.

This was roughly two months after Duterte—after repeated denials and pleas to stop coercing him to run—declared that he was indeed gunning for the top position.

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say at least most of their New Year’s resolutions have been, or will be, fulfilled, 12 percent said most of them, 23 percent said a few, and 4 percent said almost none or none. The remaining 1 percent did not give an answer.

Hope for the New Year has always been high and widespread in all areas: it was highest in Balance Luzon at 97 percent, followed by Metro Manila at 96 percent, Mindanao at 95 percent, and Visayas at 95 percent.

Compared to last year, New Year hope rose by 2 points among those who expected a happy Christmas, from 96 percent in 2016 to 98 percent in 2017.

However, it fell by 3 points among those who expected a neither happy nor sad Christmas, from 93 percent in 2016 to 90 percent in 2017.

It fell by 4 points among those who expected a sad Christmas, from 92 percent in 2016 to 88 percent in 2017.

The survey question on hope versus fear about the coming year was patterned after the polls conducted annually by the Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach (IfDAllensbach), often referred to more simply as the “Allensbach Institute,” one of the most well-known and respected opinion and market research institutes in Germany today. John Paolo Bencito

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(4th), Enrique Gil (61st), and Daniel Matsunaga (88th).

It’s topped by Kim Tae-hyung, better known by his stage name V, a South Korean singer and a member of the K-Pop boy group BTS. UK-born TC Candler has been publishing his annual “100 Most Beautiful Faces List” since 1990, which is devised by a group called “The Independent Critics.”

The team selects the 100 faces out of a list of 90,000 celebrities and prides itself on the diversity of the result, calling it “representative of the modern ideal of worldwide beauty.”

This diversity relies heavily on suggestions from almost every corner of the globe.

As the years have passed, The Independent Critics list has been heavily influenced by the rise of international modeling, worldwide cinema, K-Pop, Bollywood, global television, and Internet personalities.

According to TC Candler, the lists arranged by his organization The Independent Critics, are “not a popularity contest. Rather, it attempts to inform and broaden public opinion instead of reflecting it.”

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

An Open Letter To

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. DUTERTE Dear Mr. President, It has only been more than a year since a new leadership took the helm of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) – the sole revenue-generating Agency that provides assistance to destitute Filipinos through various charitable initiatives. Prior to the appointments of PCSO General Manager Alexander F. Balutan and Chairman Jose Jorge E. Corpuz in September 2016, the Agency struggled with challenges that emanated from eroded trust in a management that failed to support, nurture and recognize the true value of its employees.

Despite these internal battles, PCSO employees never faltered in their duty and purpose – to serve the country’s indigents without fail – placing the interest of Filipinos in need above their own. The Agency accommodates an average of 1,502 patients every day, with requests for assistance ranging from a multitude of health, medical and financial services such as hospitalization, chemotherapy, and medicine donation, to name a few. Out of the institution’s yearly revenues, 30 percent is dedicated to these services while 55 percent goes to the Agency’s lottery arm. Only 15 percent is allocated to PCSO operations.

Under the principled guidance of PCSO GM Balutan and Chairman Corpuz, this mission found a more solid foundation. Their appointments gave the Agency a much-needed reprieve – finally, a management that listens, a management that leads by example. The employees’ voice is now being heard and a general sense of hope and confidence started infiltrating every corner of the institution. The new leadership recognizes each and every contribution, no matter how big or small, and gives credit where credit is due. After years of inner struggle, the Agency started taking off with promising goals such as proper implementation of the rationalization plan and advancement opportunities for the Agency and its employees, which go hand in hand with providing more diverse and efficient services to all Filipinos.

It is the dream of every PCSO employee to rebuild and further strengthen the Agency’s reputation as the Filipino’s rock in times of dire need. This has and will always be the mandate of PCSO. Recent allegations of fund misuse are clipping the wings of the institution and essentially, its employees.

We have only started taking flight towards a more auspicious future and PCSO Director Sandra Cam’s misplaced accusations are debilitating the very institution where she now belongs. Instead of sitting down and discussing issues like responsible adults, she chose to go behind the backs of her colleagues, yakking about imagined unethical practices merely two weeks after assuming her post as if she has deep-rooted knowledge of how an institution as massive as PCSO is ran.

What Ms. Cam is doing can be likened to plotting the demise and downfall of her own family. Surely, this is no noble intention. We will not let a person of questionable reputation like Ms. Cam dictate what is just and right. She is no epitome of morality.

The present PCSO governance is doing its best to further raise the profile of the Agency and it has the full support of the employees. Mr. President, you have given us the opportunity to rise from the depths of incompetence that has plagued previous PCSO managements for many years with your appointment of trusted and righteous leaders. For this we are sincerely grateful. This is our time to turn things around and place the institution back on its pedestal. We will succeed in this goal.

Thank you once again for your continued trust.

The Concerned Employees of PCSO

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Opinion

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

The MMDA’s arrogance

I

N A display of utter arrogance and disregard for consumer rights last seen during the benighted Aquino administration, the Metro Manila Development Authority plans to impose restrictions on tints for car windows without bothering to win over car owners and motorists.

Tim Orbos, the transport undersecretary for roads, said they were just waiting for the final recommendation of a technical working group on the type of tint to be used. Aside from addressing safety and security aspects, he said, the regulation on car window tints would help the MMDA implement its “high-occupancy vehicle” lane on Edsa.

Once it comes out with the

order on car tints in the first quarter of 2018, all motorists are expected to comply with it, Orbos said, exhibiting a preference for managing by whim and fiat rather than by informed consensus.

There are so many things wrong with Mr. Orbos’ plan.

First, in a country where temperatures typically reach the scorching high 30s in summer, dark tints on car windows bring

not only comfort to passengers but also fuel efficiency to their vehicles because car air conditioners will not need to work as hard to maintain the optimum temperature.

Second, Mr. Orbos’ plan violates every car owner’s innate right to privacy that tints provide. If a person decides to use dark tints so that would-be kidnappers cannot see into their target vehicle, that is his or her right. When tampering with such a basic right, shouldn’t there be some kind of public debate or discussion before Mr. Orbos passes judgment?

Third, Mr. Orbos also violates car owners’ property rights and

punishes them financially. If the MMDA unilaterally decides your existing tints are too dark, who must bear the cost of removing them and installing “allowable” tints? It is the poor car owner who must pay for Mr. Orbos’ folly.

Finally, Mr. Orbos says removing dark tints will help the MMDA carry out its HOV lane on Edsa. In other words, Mr. Orbos suggests we simply trample on the rights of millions of car owners, even though only a small fraction of them will ever use the MMDA’s experimental HOV lane on Edsa. This is the kind of thinking—or the lack of it—that has created such a

mess on Metro Manila streets in the first place.

Although the MMDA is not responsible for the issuance of license plates, it belongs to the same government machinery that has collected millions of pesos from car owners and given them, now almost two years to the date, nothing in return.

Now it wants to mess with our cars.

This kind of arrogance and disregard for consumer rights and public opinion were among the worst features of the Aquino administration. It is disturbing to see some people in the Duterte administration acting like it was still 2010.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

What ever happened to...?

In 2018, safety first POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO 2017 IS ALMOST over but the killings are not.

One would think that we could just wait until this harsh, crime-filled, fake news-saturated, killer year is over. Originally, this piece, my last for 2017, was meant to be a positive, encouraging, hopeful one because of how politically difficult and scary this year has been to many. But it is very hard to try to lift others’ spirits when one’s own seems to be lower than the usual low.

People, including myself, are again up in arms because of the Mandaluyong shooting that killed innocent people as they

were helping bring to a hospital a woman who had earlier been shot. The woman they were trying to save also perished when she reached the hospital.

Her companion died earlier during the shooting.

Two more people were hurt due to the incident.

What has angered people all the more is the fact that those involved in the shooting were the police and a barangay tanod. They indiscriminately fired at the vehicle more than 40 times WITHOUT verifying who were inside, and merely relied on the wrong information given them by the tanod.

The police said that this was a case of mistaken identity as the uniformed men thought that the vehicle they fired at was the runaway car of those who

earlier shot the woman.

However, one of the three survivors of the shooting said that they were shouting at the police saying that it was an emergency and they were bringing the injured to the hospital.

The police, however, just kept on shooting at them.

As of this writing, the 10 policemen who were involved have been administratively relieved and Malacañan Palace promised a thorough investigation of the matter.

People are supposed to be in a celebratory mood to usher in the coming year in the hope that 2018 will be much better. But we end 2017 with more killings by the police on top of the more than 12,000 deaths due to President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

The Mandaluyong shooting has brought to the fore serious concerns about the police’s capability in carrying out its responsibilities. Those who know say that in this case, the law enforcers did not follow their own Manual of Operations that does not allow firing on a vehicle without confirming that those inside are armed. If those involved did as they were supposed to do, the useless deaths and injuries could have been prevented.

The PNP’s non-adherence to its own rules have been questioned many times before particularly because of several deaths in the hands of security forces caused by mistaken identity. There must be a way for them to follow their policies.

The enforcers’ sole reli-

ance on false information given them, and their failure to verify the identities of those in the vehicle are highly questionable. The police did not hesitate opening fire at a vehicle with passengers that they did not actually know to be the suspects in the crime committed earlier.

This kind of bravado is alarming. It was as if they did not care if those they could kill were innocent or not. Was this a shoot-tokill mission? In a pursuit, are the police not to issue warning shots first and if warranted, they shoot to maim, not kill? Where do the police get the audacity to just kill?

Remember the killing of Kian? The police also claimed that their information about the boy being a drug pusher came from

Facebook. Yes, Facebook, and they murdered him.

How the PNP gathers and processes the information they get should seriously concern us.

Sobra ang lakas ng loob ng mga pulis na pumatay.

Is this because they have been promised protection not only by the Chief PNP but more importantly, the President? This impunity must end.

Another thing that should be ascertained is whether the involved barangay tanod were armed or not. A close monitoring of statements by police officials can make one believe that the barangay tanod who were first in pursuing the van carrying the wounded woman were also the first to fire at the vehicle.

WITH 2017 at its end, several questions need to be raised in anticipation of the new year.

The dengue vaccine controversy confronting the Department of Health should not be swept under the rug like what often happens to most issues attended with public interest. Under the auspices of the DoH, thousands of young Filipinos were innoculated with what turned out to be vaccines with unannounced sideeffects on children who have not had dengue in the past. Naturally, parents nationwide are hysterical.

From what Senator Richard Gordon has uncovered, there are indications that the purchase of the vaccines was not in accord with the law on the procurement of supplies by government agencies. Even pre-conditions imposed by law and regulations were violated when the vaccines were purchased. Storage life is another issue; the nation may end up with expired vaccines—expired because the shelf life was very brief to begin with.

What happened was the health officials under the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III entered into a reckless experiment on the lives of Filipino children. Those officials must be thrown in prison, where they should be given a dosage of the deadly vaccine they endorsed to the unsuspecting public.

After this controversy, who will trust the DoH again? Heads must roll as a consequence of that reckless experiment on a vaccine with potentially deadly effects. Who are those responsible for this fiasco? The public has the right to know.

What is the news on Hero Bautista, the Quezon City councilor who admitted to drug use, and is supposed to be undergoing rehabilitation? He should

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have resigned from the city council for betraying the public trust, more specifically, the trust of the voters of Quezon City. The public has the right to know.

Perhaps Hero Bautista did not resign because he is the chairman of the powerful infrastructure committee of the city council. The construction of city buildings in Quezon City must obtain the prior blessings of this powerful committee— and there are many ongoing contruction projects near city hall.

The Quezon City Hall compound under past mayors was the only city hall in the metropolis which had sprawling shade tree gardens surrounding the main building. It was a beautiful blend of nature and infrastructure.

Under Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista, the city hall compound is now a mess, an urban jungle crawling with dust, disorder and jobless drifters.

A couple of years ago, Mayor Bautista beat up a Chinese national on live television.

Policemen had arrested the alien for possession of dangerous drugs. On the other hand, when the mayor’s brother, Councilor Hero Bautista, admitted to drug use, the mayor did not resort to violence. Critics say double standards are in force in Quezon City.

Mayor Bautista used to be a die-hard supporter of former President Aquino’s unlamented Liberal Party.

Bautista even allowed the country’s purported vice president, Leni Robredo, to use a city-owned mansion in the New Manila district of Quezon City.

Robredo is the titular leader of the LP. Now that the dictates of political opportunism have prompted Mayor Bautista to shift his political allegiance to President Rodrigo Duterte’s PDPLaban Party, what is the status of the mansion in New Manila? Is Robredo still using it in the first place? The public has a right to know.

The Quezon City government under Mayor Bautista should explain why city funds were wasted on replacing sidewalk tiles along Tomas Morato Avenue with new ones bearing the initials of the city mayor. The public has the right to know. Incidentally, the late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago scored the utter waste of public funds on selfserving political propaganda of local government offiicals.

During the waning months of his unlamented administration, President

In 2018,...

From A4

Aquino III tried to railroad the legislative approval of his infamous Bangsamoro Basic Law. The BBL was drafted by an appointed, pro-Malaysia panel which did not even consult the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and whose misuse of government vehicles was questioned by the Commission on Audit.

It’s provisions practically allowed the creation of a sub-state in the Philippines, which was to be sustained by funds from the national government.

After renowned experts in Constitutional Law led by former Supreme Court Justice Vicente V. Mendoza exposed the numerous unconstitutional features of the BBL, many people suspected that Aquino sought the enactment of the BBL into law so he can be considered an advocate of peace in Mindanao with enough stature to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The massacre of 44 specially skilled policemen at Mamasapano in Maguindanao in the hands of Muslim separatist rebels eventually made the BBL unpopular.

Worse, the Aquino administration was dealing with a Moro Islamic Liberation Front representative who used an alias and kept his real name a secret. Aquino’s panel allowed his use of an alias, notwithstanding an existing law prohibiting the use of an alias in official and business transactions. Good grief! President Aquino—the nation’s chief law enforcer at that time—tolerated a violation of the law!

Fortunately, when then senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. learned about the refusal of the MILF representative to reveal his real name, Marcos saw through the charade and, almost single-handedly, derailed the BBL train.

President Duterte has announced that the BBL will not stand constitutional challenge in the Supreme Court. That should be enough to discourage any further attempts by Aquino’s allies and their Malaysian friends to force the enactment of the BBL. There are other questions that must be resolved. What is the status of the Castillo hazing incident? It seems to be overshadowed by the dengue vaccine controversy. Why is Communist China being encouraged to invest in the country’s extremely sensitive telecommunications industry when the nation’s security is threatened by Beijing’s continuing military infrastructure construction spree in the West Philippine Sea? The public has the right to know.

We already know that they go through the barangays in doing this. What can happen if the tanod are armed?

Just recently “drop boxes” have been distributed to barangays in Quezon City. These boxes are where people can put names of those they suspect to be criminals or involved in drugs. Anybody’s name can be put there. Anyone with an axe to grind against anybody can report his/her enemy as a “criminal.” If like in the Kian and Mandaluyong cases, the police do not even verify information, how many more will be killed in the name of the war on drugs?

Things are not looking good. Much as I want to greet everyone a happy new year, I would rather that everyone is safe. So, for 2018, safety first.

Are barangay tanods supposed to carry firearms? This is unusual because in the barangays that I have been in many areas of the country, tanods only carry sticks when they go about their duties.

Also, some Mandaluyong residents on Twitter claimed that their tanods do not have guns. If this is true, why are we given the impression that the tanod were the first to fire? Are they being framed as fall guys?

This is an important point because the barangay tanods are the first responders in communities.

It will be very dangerous if they are allowed to carry guns. Ordinary people could be more vulnerable to abuse. Remember, too, that the PNP is now back bethangsioco@gmail. in the war on drugs. The Chief PNP has even an- com @bethangsioco on nounced that “tokhang” Twitter Elizabeth Angsiooperations will resume. co on Facebook

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017

A5

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Challenged, but hopeful WHEN people ask me how I would describe 2017 from the perspective of history and biography, I have a clear and direct answer: It has been a challenging year for the Philippines and the world, and for myself personally. But like most Filipinos, I continue to be hopeful.

For President Duterte and his administration, the biggest challenge was the Marawi siege. The takeover of that iconic Islamic city by the Maute terrorists came as a surprise. That it took the government nearly six months to liberate Marawi was even more surprising. Most Marawi residents thought that the fighting was going to last a few days, at most a couple of weeks, similar to what happened in the Zamboanga siege of 2013.

There were many casualties of what happened in Marawi, and not just the dead terrorists, soldiers, and civilians. Above all, if reconstruction is not done properly, the beautiful city by the lake will never be able to recover. That is not an acceptable outcome.

One clear takeaway from Marawi is the urgency of completing the peace processes with the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Congress must enact the Bangsamoro Basic Law soon, according to what was agreed with the MILF and accommodating also the concerns of the MNLF regarding the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement. If not, young Moros will flock to ISIS-influenced groups and the Marawi siege will be repeated in many parts of Mindanao.

2017 ends with the peace process with the National

Democratic Front of the Philippines in shambles.

It’s a pity because progress was being made and the spirit of compromise was clearly there among the negotiation panels.

Unfortunately, events on the ground, intended or not, conspired to derail what could have been a singular achievement by the Duterte government.

But maybe there is still a possibility that the peace talks would resume. If not, peace has to wait for the next administration.

The war against drugs continue.

Malacañang boasts of its successes. But to me, what I will remember of this period is that poor people were targeted and killed with impunity.

There will be a reckoning for this in the future, I am sure.

For sure, the Duterte economic managers have done a good job. Its hard to fault Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez, Budget Secretary Ben Diokno, National Economic and Development Authority Director General Ernesto Pernia, and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and their teams for their stewardship of the economy.

My two expectations is that, this time, the poor benefit from the economic development and that the environment is not sacrificed for ephemeral shortterm growth.

I have big expectations of the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Transportation, and Information and Communications Technology.

I have heard many good things about Secretary Mark Villar and am impressed by his team, including DPWH Legal Undersecretary Karen Jimeno who has brought in quite a number of good lawyers into the department.

I still have faith in Secretary Art Tugade, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra,

and others in the DOTr team, but time is running out on them to implement radical changes that would increase mobility for all.

As for DICT, I am hoping that they will manage the entry of a third telco provider fairly and decisively, following the law while standing up to the duopoly.

One big disappointment in 2017 is the rejection by the Commission on Appointments of progressive department secretaries.

Gina Lopez, Judy Taguiwalo, Rafael Mariano, and Pauline Ubial were good additions to the Duterte administration. It’s sad that the President did not make extraordinary efforts to have them confirmed.

Fortunately, in the case of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Secretary Roy Cimatu has been focused, professional, and balanced in his decisions. I am glad that he has brought to the DENR as his chief of staff, retired General Rudy Garcia who, in my personal experience, is not only a strategic thinker and disciplined implementor, but is also a true officer and gentleman of unquestionable integrity. Secretary Cimatu have good people working in that department; I know in particular the lawyers quite well— Undersecretary Ana The, Undersecretary Ipat Luna, and Assistant Secretary Kris Baleva. They are the most brilliant, committed, and honest environmental lawyers I know and have worked with.

The Department of Health also got a great replacement for Secretary Ubial with the return of Secretary Francisco Duque after the latter’s stint in the Civil Service Commission.

It is very reassuring for our country’s public health system that they have such a seasoned and visionary medical professional at its helm.

As for the DSWD, it has been reported that Senator Loren Legarda will be appointed to that post at some point as this is her last term as senator. I would endorse her for any position as I have personal knowledge on how intelligent, hard working, and passionate Legarda is on every thing that matters to this country.

For many of our democratic and accountability mechanisms and the people that lead them, 2017 has been a challenging year. The judiciary in particular has been pummeled by the political branches.

Both the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court have not been spared, with contempt being threatened on the former and impeachment proceedings now being conducted against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Even judges of the lower courts have not been spared, as some of them have been implicated, without evidence, as coddling drug pushers and addicts.

The country will regret this episode of our history; if the attacks against the judiciary continues and worsens, it will take many years for us to recover and for the rule of law, already precarious in our country, to reestablish itself.

The silver lining is the strength and formidable will of Chief Justice Sereno. They have insulted her, charged her with baseless accusations, humiliate and mock her, even pit her colleagues against her, but still she remains calm, not angry and bitter, and continues to work for judicial reform.

Ombudsman CarpioMorales has also been criticized and threatened with impeachment. But like Sereno, she has responded with an iron will tempered with good humor.

The prosecution and detention of Senator Leila de Lima is an ongoing horror

story; but thankfully she remains unbowed. She will be vindicated I am sure.

That is certainly the case with Vice President Leni Robredo who has shown resilience and perseverance in the face of persistent criticism.

Closer to home, I have decided to retire early from Ateneo de Manila University to focus on legal education as my next mission.

The events of the last two years, here and worldwide, have convinced me that much work has to be done to build a just society and training a new generation of lawyers to do that work is my personal priority. I truly believe, like our national hero Jose Rizal, whose martyrdom we celebrate today that: “The youth is the hope of our future.”

Although challenged, I am full of hope because of my Christian faith, which to borrow the words of Pope Francis from his Christmas eve homily, “makes us see God present in all those situations where we think he is absent:”. Indeed, “Faith impels us to make space for a new social imagination, and not to be afraid of experiencing new forms of relationship, in which none have to feel that there is no room for them on this earth.”

Pope Francis reminds us: “Christmas is a time for turning the power of fear into the power of charity, into power for a new imagination of charity. The charity that does not grow accustomed to injustice, as if it were something natural, but that has the courage, amid tensions and conflicts, to make itself a “house of bread”, a land of hospitality.”

That’s the house, country and world I would like to have. And I believe we will get there.

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Denuclearizing North Korea BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN THERE are three possible steps to defuse the heightening tension in the Korean peninsula to prevent it from slipping out of control. Nobody wants that unimaginable destruction to happen.

But as the US continues to tighten its noose on North Korea, it appears that it is not really seeking to denuclearize that isolated state.

The US is almost demanding that North Korea come forward like what it did to Japan to board the USS Missouri and sign the terms of unconditional surrender.

For the US to negotiate with Kim Jong-un, it must set its objective to the issue of denuclearization. It can never treat North Korea like a cornered animal with no option but to surrender or face death. North Korea may appear to have lesser options, but surely, it could unleash havoc well beyond its border. The US must be realistic to reciprocate something in exchange for what it is demanding.

The process it seeks being through negotiations, the US must therefore set aside its imperium mentality by dealing directly with Pyongyang.

If Japan and South Korea are apprehensive of the continuing missile test

by North Korea’s Hwasong-12 rockets which has a range of 2,490 km, they must not forget that North Korea is equally fearful of the continuing US military exercise south of the 38th

parallel. US and South Korean land forces have not only been augmented with THAAD anti-ballistic missiles, but of the increasing number of US aircrafts patrolling close to the North Korean border. Adding anxiety is the eagerness of Japan to play a bigger role in policing Pyongyang which is meeting adverse reaction from China.

The first step is for the US to suspend all military exercises and for North Korea to stop its missile launch. This formula of “double freeze” was first suggested by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The US, having an absolute military edge, would not lose anything if it accepts the formula. That could put North Korean in an even tighter spot. Only after that formula has been accepted can the parties proceed to the next level. North Korea can give greater concessions than what the US could offer to break the impasse.

Setting aside our preconceived notion of North Korea as a “rogue state” seeking to perfect its nuclear delivery system, its missile launch is perfectly legal within the purview of international law. But how could that country cooperate when US keeps on intensifying its military exercise right at its doorstep, a provocation interpreted as intended to justify its sale of advance weapons system to Japan and South Korea?

But it seems the US is more interested in the sale of its multi-billion advanced weapons system than in seeking to denu-

clearize the Korean Peninsula. Pentagon is even planning to deploy Aegis missiles to Japan hoping that would force Russia and China to add pressure to Pyongyang, unmindful that such recklessness could change their mediating role in helping resolve the crisis.

The second step is for North Korea to dismantle all its long range missiles capable of mounting nuclear weapons. In exchange, the US must be prepared to sign a peace agreement to replace the outmoded armistice agreement. Notably, the failure to place the Korean Peninsula under UN

There is much ambivalence in the position of the US.

trusteeship agreement envisioned in the Cairo Declaration lead to the division of Korea culminating in the Korean War. The US was able to install military bases in South Korea under the United Nations Command even if that country was not yet a member of the UN. The third step is for North Korea to scrap all those nuclear weapons.

In exchange, the US must withdraw all its military bases in South Korea and for it to lift all the economic sanctions. Instead of maintaining an adversarial posi-

tion, the US together with China and Russia should guaranty the security of a denuclearized North Korea.

The three must work out a plan to erase that psyche of insecurity of the North Korean people.

The US miscalculated its game of brinkmanship, for obviously, the rules suddenly changed after the death of Kim Jong-il.

Before the collapse of the six-party talks made up of North Korea, South Korea, US, Japan, China and Russia, the US encouraged their participation to camouflage its refusal to directly talk with Pyongyang. After the collapse of the six-party talks in 2007, the US is now prodding China and Russia to put pressure on North Korea to return to the negotiating table.

There is much ambivalence in the position of the US. While Russia and China have crossed half of the bridge to persuade North Korea to negotiate by voting to impose new economic sanction, US has not let up its military exercise with its B-1 stealth bomber flying close to the North Korean border. The annual joint exercises, named Ulchi-Freedom Guardian held last August was a “decapitation strike” or a plan to kill Kim Jong-un and his top generals. Accordingly, the military exercise was within the timeframe which Pyongyang says is ready to fire four Hwasong-12 intermediaterange ballistic missiles targeted towards the US-run island of Guam.

Since 2006, the UN

through the vigorous efforts of the US has already passed nine resolutions imposing economic and trade sanctions against North Korea. The last resolution unanimously approved by the Security Council seeks to ban nearly 90 percent of its refined petroleum exports capping it to 500,000 barrels a year and on its major exports, including textiles. It also forbids North Korea from importing heavy machinery, industrial equipment, and transportation vehicles.

The resolution likewise blacklisted 15 North Koreans, including 13 banks representing it overseas; a travel ban and freezing of assets of Kim Jong Sik, identified as a leading official guiding North Korea’s nuclear weapons development, and Ri Pyong Chul, the first vice director of the Munitions Industry Department.

Even if it is conceded that UN economic sanctions have never been effective, neither can the US arbitrarily use force to enforce the sanction. China has already made clear its position that it will not allow any military action against North Korea. A spill over of radioactive fallout in its territory and the exodus of millions of Korean refugees would be unacceptable.

That means any unilateral action could well be interpreted by China as a threat to its own security similar to what happened during the Korean War when the US forces threatened to cross the Yalu River. rpkapunan@gmail.com

News

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Virgin Mary feast now a holiday PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law Republic Act No. 10966, declaring Dec. 8 or the Feast of the Immaculate Conception as a special non-working day in the Philippines.

The Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title as the Immaculate Conception, is “the Principal Patroness of the Philippines.”

According to the teachings of the Catholic Church, Mary was preserved free from all stain of original sin, and has received the sanctifying grace that would normally come with baptism after birth.

Catholics consider the feast a “day of obligatio” and asks the faithful to attend Mass. John Paolo Bencito

Brace for higher prices in 2018—Bam

By Joel E. Zurbano

S

ENATOR Paolo Aquino advised consumers to brace for the increase in prices of basic commodities in 2018 due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion that the government recently enacted into law.

“We won’t be surprised by the increase in prices in 2018.

This is the reason why I go against TRAIN,” he said.

Aquino’s statement came on the heels of the announcement made by the Industrial Group of Zamboanga that prices of sardines will go up beginning next year due to the excise tax imposed on petroleum products.

Aquino said he rejected the TRAIN's approval due to the inability of government to

implement the financial assistance program in time for the increase in prices due to provisions on excise tax on fuel and sweetened beverage tax.

The Department of Finance proposed a cash transfer program with a P200 monthly financial assistance on the first year and P300 monthly financial assistance for the second and third year to help cover the increase in prices of basic goods.

During the period of amendments, Aquino pushed for the immediate implementation of the cash transfer program to help poor Filipinos absorb the expected increase in the prices of goods and services. However, the proposal was not accepted by the DoF. “In the end, poor Filipinos will bear the brunt of this tax reform program as it will increase the prices of basic commodities without the immediate cash transfer assistance to the poor,” he said.

But for Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, who sponsored TRAIN, the newly enacted tax reform law will make the lives of Filipinos with small businesses easier by not only reducing their taxes, but also by simplifying the tax filing and payment process.

Angara cited the latest Doing Business report of the World Bank where the Philippines’ ranking slipped to 113th this year from 99th last year among 190 countries.

According to the World Bank report, to start a business in the Philippines, a budding entrepreneur would need to make 20 different tax and contribution payments and visit multiple agencies in person. Moreover, the new business would be expected to pay 43 percent of its commercial profits in taxes and contributions annually.

To address this, under Republic Act 10963 (TRAIN), compensation income earners as well as professionals and self-employed individuals with small businesses, whose annual taxable income do not exceed P250,000, are exempted

Du30 signs into law bill on ‘no-expiration GCs’

Ex-NSO worker Jose, 68

By John Paolo Bencito

RICARDO Gonzales Jose, known to family and friends as “Totoy,” passed away Aug. 13, 2017, at the age of 68.

He succumbed after a brief battle with NonHodgkins Lymphoma in his home in Project 4, Quezon City and was laid to eternal rest at the Manila North Cemetery.

A native of Baler, Aurora, Jose attended the National University and graduated with a degree in Architecture. He worked for the National Statistics Office until his retirement after 38 years in service.

He is survived by siblings Edgardo, Benjamin, Maria Theresa and Angelito.

PH govt condoles with Kabul DoLE releases P30 million

UNFURLING. Members of Philippine Marines unfurl the Philippine flag during a technical rehearsal for the celebration of the 121st martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal at the Manila's Luneta Park. Norman Cruz

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Philippines on Friday expressed its condolences to Afghanistan as it condemned the latest terrorist bomb attack in Kabul that left more than 40 persons dead and at least 80 others injured.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said there were no Filipinos reported among the casualties in the latest terror incident that was claimed by the Islamic State.

“The Philippines joins the government and the people of Afghanistan in mourning the loss of many lives in the terrorist attack in Kabul on Thursday,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

“We condemn this senseless act of violence that deliberately targeted innocent civilians, many of them young students and even some women and children,” Cayetano added.

In its report to the Home Office, the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad, which has jurisdiction over Afghanistan, said none of the 1,500 Filipinos estimated to be working in Kabul and other parts of the country were among the casualties in the attack.

Chargé d’Affaires Anwar Ito said the attack targeted a Shi’a cultural center and a news agency in the western part of the capital.

The incident came three days after an attack at an intelligence compound also in Kabul which left 10 persons dead.

Ito said Filipinos in Afghanistan were reminded to remain vigilant and to take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety and security.

3 percent percentage tax only if they opt for the schedular personal income tax rates.

Presently, VAT and percentage tax are filed and paid every month. With the reform, such filing and payment will be made quarterly.

The TRAIN law likewise provided that only those who have annual sales or earnings of above P3 million—from the current P600,000—will be required to have their books of accounts audited by certified public accountants.

The BIR is also mandated to cut the ITR form from the current 12 pages to four pages only.

RA 10963 also clearly states that the BIR commissioner must simplify the business registration and tax compliance requirements of self-employed individuals and professionals.

from income taxes and are no longer required to file income tax returns.

At present, even if self-employed and professionals have no tax due, they are still required to file ITRs for record and monitoring purposes of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Those with annual gross sales or earnings of above P250,000 but below P3 million can choose between a flat tax of 8 percent or the schedular personal income tax rates where they can deduct their business operation costs and expenses.

Furthermore, the TRAIN law increased the value-added tax (VAT) threshold from the current P1.9 million to P3 million. This means that those earning below P3 million will be exempt from the 12 percent VAT and will be subject to the

for displaced NCCC workers

By Vito Barcelo

THE Department of Labor and Employment released some P30 million to provide assistance to the more than 2,000 affected workers displaced by the fire that gutted the NCCC Mall in Davao City where 38 people were killed.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III also assured the workers that there will be zero displacement of the employees affected by the fire.

In a statement, Silvestre said labor representatives met with the management of NCCC Mall and SSI, a business process outsourcing firm housed inside the ill-fated mall.

He also directed the Bureau of Working Conditions, Occupational Safety and Health Center and the Employees’ Compensation Commission to assist the affected workers.

NCCC has earlier committed to DoLE that its 616 regular mall

workers will not lose their jobs and continue to receive their salaries as they will be reassigned to their other businesses. NCCC management has already submitted a report on the deployment of their regular workers to DOLE and is now being validated.

For the 192 agency-deployed workers under Bmirck Cooperative, NCCC said that talks are ongoing for their possible deployment to another establishment/malls in the city.

The SSI management vowed that all their employees will be paid salary up to Dec. 31, 2017. SSI also added that they will be rebuilding within 60 days as they have already found another building for their operations and assured their workers’ employment as soon as their operations resume.

A proposal for the payment of workers’ salary for the 60-day period is also being considered by the principal of SSI in the United States.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law Republic Act No. 10962, otherwise known as the “Gift Check Act of 2017,” prohibiting the issuance of gift checks that bear expiry dates, as well as the imposition of an expiry date on the stored value, credit, or balance of the gift check.

The new law, signed Dec. 19, prohibits the refusal to honor the unused value, credit, or balance stored in the gift check, may they be in the form of paper, card, code, or other device.

The new measure further seeks to promote “fair, honest, and equitable relations among parties in consumer transaction.”

“Towards this end, the State, through the Department of Trade and Industry [DTI], recognizes that a gift check represents value held in trust by the issuer thereof on behalf of its beneficiary

or bearer and that consumers must not be unduly deprived of the value of their money,” the new law said.

The law is pursuant to the government’s policy of safeguarding the interests of Filipino consumers and establishing proper standards of conduct for businesses in the country.

Gift checks which were issued to consumers including, but not limited to, those under loyalty, rewards, or promotional programs, as determined by DTI, are not covered by the law.

Coupons or vouchers— those which entitle holders to a discount off a particular good or which may be exchanged for a pre-identified good—are likewise not covered by RA 10962.

Duterte likewise enacted Republic Act. No. 10965, establishing a national science high school in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, to be known as Rodolfo CG. Fariñas, Jr. National Science High School.

Helmets a must for child riders in Makati THE Makati City government has enacted an ordinance requiring the wearing of a protective helmet by riders on bicycles, skateboards, roller skates and similar conveyances.

City Ordinance No. 2017134, named the “Bicycles, Skateboards, Roller Skates and other Similar Forms of Conveyances Safe Riding Ordinance of the City of Makati,” requires both riders and passengers of bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, and the like to wear a protective helmet while traveling on any road or street within the city limits.

It was enacted on Dec. 5 and published last Dec. 12 in a newspaper of general circulation. The city Law Department, Liga ng mga Barangay and Public Safety Department will be crafting the implementing guidelines of the ordinance.

Prior to its full enforcement, these agencies will conduct an information drive among motorists and residents to ensure its effective implementation.

Mayor Abigail Binay supported the legislation in line with her firm commitment to make the city “childfriendly” in every way.

“We often see small children riding on bicycles without helmets, youngsters riding on skateboards, roller skates, and the like without helmets. This dangerous practice must stop,” Binay said.

“I call on parents and barangay leaders to work with us in establishing a ‘safety first’ attitude to protect vulnerable Makatizens from harm, especially while traveling on busy roads and streets in the city,” the mayor appealed.

The ordinance also sets a limit on the number of child

passengers that may be conveyed on a bicycle, allowing only one, subject to the following conditions: a) The child is wearing a protective helmet; and 2) The child’s arms can reach and grasp the handle bars of the bicycle, and be able to hold on during transit.

Under the ordinance, the term “bicycle” also includes electric bicycles or e-bikes.

For pedicabs or bicycles with side cars, a maximum of three children will be allowed to get on board, but only in its sidecar.

Violators of the ordinance shall be meted P1,000 on the first offense, P2,000 on the second offense, and P3,000 or imprisonment of up to six months, or both at the discretion of the court, on the third offense.

Moreover, the ordinance prohibits children from riding a bicycle alone, unless the following conditions

are met: a) The child’s feet can comfortably reach the ground while aboard the bicycle; b) The child’s arms can reach and grasp the handle bars of the bicycle and be able to hold on during transit; and c) The child is wearing a protective helmet.

Children who are caught riding a bicycle alone without complying with these guidelines will be rescued and placed under the custody of the Punong Barangay, his authorized representative or a licensed social worker.

The child will only be released back to the parent or guardian once they provide documents proving their relationship with the child.

Afterwards, the parent or guardian and the child shall sign an agreement to undergo immediate counseling and attend a Parent Effectiveness Seminar.

Joel E. Zurbano

Metro water supply in good hands—MWSS chief STRESSING that the stewardship of Metro Manila’s water supply in the east and west zones are in good hands, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco congratulated Manila Water president and CEO Ferdinand M. dela Cruz and Maynilad president Ramoncito S. Fernandez for winning recent recognition and accolades, respectively from various sectors.

“The water sector particularly MWSS takes pride in having two best engineers and excellent managers as partners in service who are now at the helm of Maynilad and Manila Water whose individual leadership goes beyond the borders of their respective zones but are equally recognized by prestigious groups on account of their good stewardship and

Ferdinand dela Cruz

Ramoncito Fernandez

Reynaldo Velasco

being in a class of their own,” Velasco said.

In a letter, Velasco congratulated Dela Cruz for his conferment as the 2017 Most Distinguished Alumnus Award by the University of the Philippines Alumni Engineers Association Inc. during

the UPAE 70th Anniversary and Alumni Homecoming held last month.

The annual UPAE awards program recognizes outstanding UP alumni engineers who have distinguished themselves in their areas of specialization and

whose contributions have made them outstanding models of inclusive growth.

In his acceptance speech, Dela Cruz said: “I would like to dedicate this recognition to a number of people who have allowed me to grow personally and

professionally, including the men and women of Manila Water who tirelessly work 24/7 to provide excellent water and used water services in Metro Manila, in other parts of the country, and increasingly in the Asean region. I have been awed by the quality of the work they do and they are walking manifestations of how great Filipino engineers can be.”

Meanwhile, the MWSS chief also congratulated Maynilad president Ramoncito Fernandez for his twin election as new president of the influential Management Association of the Philippines and as Chairman of the Philippine Basketball Board of Governors.

Fernandez is the 69th president of the MAP, which has been promoting management excellence for nation-building

since its inception in 1950.

Fernandez holds directorships in Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Metropac Water Investments Corp. and some subsidiaries of PLDT Inc., including Pacific Global One Aviation Co., Tahanan Mutual Building and Loan Association, and First Pacific Leadership Academy.

He has been the president and CEO of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., Tollways Management Corp. and MPCALA Holdings.

A BS Industrial Management Engineering graduate of De La Salle University, Fernandez also holds an MBM from the Asian Institute of Management.

He completed his Advanced Management Program of IESE (Spain)/University of Asia and the Pacific in 2014.

Sports

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

UEFA ‘don’t care about racism,’ says England’s U-17 star

Extraordinary year for Federer

LONDON—Rhian Brewster, the leading scorer in England’s Under-17 World Cup victory earlier this year, claimed Thursday that UEFA “don’t really care” about racism.

The 17-year-old, who is yet to feature for Liverpool’s first team, says he has witnessed racial abuse —either aimed at him or a teammate—seven times this year.

“I don’t think UEFA take this thing seriously.

They don’t really care. That is how it feels anyway, like it has been brushed under the carpet,” the teenager told The Guardian.

Brewster said UEFA have yet to hold an inquiry into an incident involving Russian side Spartak Moscow three weeks ago where he claims he was the target of a racist remark by opposing captain Leonid Mironov.

Mironov denies he made a racial slur during the UEFA Youth League match.

Brewster, who says he also suffered abuse in a European Championship Under-17 match against Ukraine and when playing Spanish outfit Sevilla in an Under-19 clash, admits the slurs have an effect.

“On the day it happens, that night my head won’t be there. I just want to be left alone,” he said.

“I want to be by myself and left to think. The next day I’ll still be thinking about it.

The 36-year-old Swiss is coming off an extraordinary year where he took his majors tally to 19, with a fifth Australian Open title and a record eighth Wimbledon.

Federer finished the year at number two in the world behind Spanish rival Rafael Nadal, having started at 16, after a season-leading seven

P

ERTH—The amazing Roger Federer will embark on his 21st professional season when he leads Switzerland in the mixed teams Hopman Cup starting in Perth on Saturday. titles, including three Masters at Indian Wells, Miami and Shanghai.

It was a sensational season by any standards, but especially as Federer has been playing professional tennis since 1998—a year when Bill Clinton was president of the United States, and James Cameron’s “Titanic” won 11 Oscars.

Federer will again partner Belinda Bencic at the Hopman Cup, his only event before launching his Australian Open title defence on January 15.

“It’s totally different this time around,” said Federer, whose appearance at the previous edition of the Hopman Cup followed a rare sixmonth absence as he recovered from injury.

“I had a great off-season.

I mean, I did have a good offseason too last year but I just wasn’t sure what to expect.

“Now expectations are higher but at the same time

I try to remind myself, ‘Just don’t think it’s normal and realistic to aim for the same things I did this year in 2017’.

“I’ve got to try and keep it cool, try my best and see what happens—but the preparation’s been good so far.”

Relaxed setting Federer and Bencic teamed for the first time at last year’s Hopman Cup, only just missing out on sending Switzerland into the final.

Bencic missed five months of 2017 after undergoing wrist surgery.

“She had a tough year after

that so it’s nice to see her back in shape as well,” Federer said.

Three guaranteed matches in the Hopman Cup’s round robin stages are a perfect preparation for Federer, who also thrives in the relaxed setting of Perth with his family in tow.

He will be up against American world number eight Jack Sock in his pool, while he could face Germany’s world number four Alexander Zverev playing in the opposite side of the draw in the final.

While Federer is a tour veteran, Zverev’s coming-ofage campaign saw him win

Djokovic to battle Agut in Abu Dhabi

Switzerland’s Roger Federer gives local children a tennis lesson on a beach at Rottnest Island off the coast of Western Australia. AFP

ABU DHABI—Former world number one and 12-time major winner Novak Djokovic will face Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in his first match in almost six months at the Mubadala world championships on Friday.

Bautista Agut, the world number 20 from Spain, set up the showdown against Djokovic by seeing off flamboyant young Russian Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-2 on Thursday.

Djokovic hasn’t played since retiring from his quarter-final at Wimbledon against Tomas Berdych in July with an elbow injury.

The 30-year-old will make his comeback on Friday before launching his competitive campaign as top seed at the Qatar Open next week.

Bautista Agut, 29, took advantage of the hard-hitting Rublev’s numerous unforced errors to win in 88 minutes.

Rublev was broken twice in each set and even though he saved four match points in the eighth game of the second, his

P5M at stake in The Travel City Racing Festival on Sunday MORE than P5 million in total prizes will be at stake in the fourth edition of the Pasay ‘The Travel City’ Racing Festival that is set this Sunday at the MetroTurf Racing Complex in Malvar-Tanauan, Batangas.

Four major Cup races and nine Trophy Races will be disputed in this annual racingfest organized by the Metro Manila Turf Club in cooperation with Pasay City Mayor Tony Calixto showcasing the City of Pasay as the premier “Gateway to the Philippines.”

“The year’s last major

racingfest will definitely be the most exciting as we present the 4th Pasay ‘The Travel City’ Racing Festival.

We are offering lots of prizes and excitement in all the 13 races that will be disputed this Sunday. We are inviting you to join us once again as Metro Manila Turf Club gives you another exhilarating and surprise-filled Sunday racing,” said MMTC chaiman and president Norberto Quisumbing Jr. The 4th Pasay ‘The Travel City Cup’, which offers a total prize of P700,000 will be disputed by three exciting On the

Calixto

other hand, four top 2-yearolds will vie for the total of another P700,000 at stake in the 4th Pasay Mayor Tony

Calixto Cup which will be disputed over the 1,400-meter distance.

The spirited chase for the top prize of P420,000 will be among the contenders: Hot To Trot—Rey Niu Jr. 52; Sweet Dreams—ED Camanero 54; Sheer—Conrad Henson 54; and Victorious Filly—Jesse Guce 52.

The runnerup will receive P157,500 while the third and fourth get P87,500 and P35,000, respectively.

PAGCOR is also sponsoring the 3rd Former Pasay Mayor Eduardo ‘Duay’ Calixto Memorial Cup that

has a total prize of P500,000 at stake. The winner of this 1,400-meter race will be going home with the top prize of P300,000.

The Philracom is also sponsoring the 2017 Grand Sprint Championship that attracted seven entries disputing the P1 million at stake over the 1,200-meter distance. The contenders are; Brennero—53; Dinalupihan —55; Lakan—57; Lollipop—50; Showtime—54; Smokin Saturday—53; and Song of Songs—52. The champion gets the top prize of P600,000, while the run-

nerup picks up P225,000, third P125,000, and fourth P50,000.

Nine other exciting Trophy Races will be disputed during the day-long celebration that has a Guaranteed Prize of P150,000 plus a Trophy going to each of the owner of the winning horse. Since they are all rating-based races, Philracom is adding a total prize of P1-million to be divided among the 10 rating-based races so winning horseowners are expected to receive added whopping bonus.

Celtics erase 26-point deficit to shock Rockets; Blazers win LOS ANGELES—The Boston Celtics fashioned the biggest comeback of the NBA season as they rallied from 26 points down to stun the Houston Rockets 99-98 on Thursday.

“I’ve had a few comebacks, but this is a special one,” Boston’s Kyrie Irving said after a basket by Al Horford with 3.7 seconds left gave the Celtics the win.

“From just how we started, it was just so ugly,” Irving said. “They came out firing. We just had to battle back. It took a lot. It took everybody.”

Eastern Conference leaders Boston trailed by 24 at halftime and by 26 early in the third quarter.

But the Celtics outscored Houston 31-16 in the third, when Boston’s dominant defensive effort saw the Rockets make just four of 17 shots from the field while coughing up seven turnovers.

“We just didn’t stop believing,” said Boston’s Terry Rozier, who said Irving called the players together for “a special talk” at halftime.

The Celtics had cut the deficit to 98-97 on a dunk from Jayson Tatum with

five titles and become one of just four men to beat the Swiss great this year, in the Montreal final.

His progress up the rankings has marked him out as the most likely of the current crop of youngsters to translate his talent into Grand Slam titles.

The tall German had a roller-coaster year at the Slams—a last-16 spot at Wimbledon, but also a firstround loss in Paris, a secondround exit in New York and a third-round defeat to Nadal in Australia. AFP

7.3 seconds remaining.

Rockets star James Harden was then called for an offensive foul as Boston’s Marcus Smart was knocked down as Houston tried to inbound the ball.

That opened the door for Horford’s game winner, and Harden was then whistled for another offensive foul that sealed the Rockets’ fate.

The Celtics topped the previous biggest comeback of the season—the Golden State Warriors rally from 24 down to beat the Philadelphia 76ers on November 18.

Irving led the Celtics with 26 points. Tatum scored 19 while Rozier and Smart scored 13 apiece.

Horford finished with nine points, and also pulled down eight rebounds.

“First of all, (the Rockets) were unbelievable in the first half,” Boston coach Brad Stevens said.

“The result doesn’t really matter. It’s the resilience that (the Celtics) showed, which they could have easily folded.”

Blazers and Bucks rally The Portland Trail Blazers also had to battle back to beat the Philadel-

phia 76ers 114-110.

CJ McCollum scored 34 points, Shabazz Napier added a season-high 23 and Jusuf Nurkic chipped in 21 points with 12 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who erased an 18-point thirdquarter deficit.

Joel Embiid scored 29 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the 76ers, who lost for the 10th time in 12 games.

For Portland it was a first home win in seven games, and it came despite the absence of two-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard, who missed his third straight game with a right hamstring injury.

The Milwaukee Bucks engineered another big comeback, overcoming a 20-point second-half deficit to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 102-96.

Eric Bledsoe drained a three-pointer with 2:25 left to play to give the Bucks their first lead of the night.

Bledsoe scored 26 points and Giannis Antetokounpo added 22 with 10 rebounds for Milwaukee.

The Bucks got off to a ragged start, turning the ball over four times in the first four minutes to fall into a quick 17-6 hole. AFP

Kyrie Irving of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against the Houston Rockets at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics won. AFP

Ichi Ban takes handicap triumph SYDNEY—Ichi Ban was declared the handicap winner of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Friday after an anxious overnight wait.

The 52-footer was the eighth yacht to cross the line, but beat Quest by 20 minutes in the handicap rankings calculated according to size.

Ichi Ban was forced to wait before the victory was confirmed while officials heard a protest which stripped Wild Oats XI of the line honours win, in favour of rival super-yacht Comanche.

Wild Oats crossed the line in record time late Wednesday, but an international jury handed the crew a one-hour penalty after

Comanche protested over a near-collision between the 100-footers early in the race.

It is just the third time the result of the annual race, which has been held since 1945, was decided by a protest, and the first since 1990.

Ichi Ban skipper Matt Allen, who has been involved in the notoriously tough race since 1976, praised his crew as “the best sailors in the world”.

“These guys go to the ‘nth’ degree to push the boat so hard in incredibly challenging conditions,” he told reporters.

“You can not imagine how rough and how wet these boats are to sail at that speed through the ocean.” AFP

aggression once again cost him as he netted a powerful forehand to end the match.

Bautista Agut has won just one of seven matches against Djokovic, now ranked at 12 in the world, in his career.

“It’s going to be great to have Novak on court again— for everybody, for tennis, for all of us,” said the Spaniard.

“I’m happy to play against him again. I played some tough matches with him and I always enjoy playing against Novak.”

South African world number 14 Kevin Anderson provided the first upset of the three-day Abu Dhabi event, defeating the 10th ranked Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in the opening match on Thursday.

The 31-year-old Anderson has never lost to Carreno Busta on the ATP Tour, enjoying a 3-0 advantage over his rival, including a semi-final win in this year’s US Open, and he never looked in trouble with an assured 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) win. AFP

Pacquiao, Topex headline part 2 of S+A yearender FILIPINO boxing legend Sen. Manny Pacquiao and LPU head coach Topex Robinson headline the second part of ABS-CBN S+A’s two-part year-ender special “The Final Score,” which will air on New Year’s Day at 10 p.m. on S+A and S+A HD. Anchored by TJ Manotoc and Dyan Castillejo, the special looks back at the momentous championships and memorable athletic performances that made 2017 a memorable year in sports with exclusive in-depth interviews withPacquiao, LPU Pirates head coach Topex Robinson for the episode airing on Jan. 1.

The second part, dubbed “#Redemption,” features Topex and “People’s Champion” Pacquiao, who will share the challenges they faced in their respective disciplines. The former SSC-R Stag will recount the hard work they put in ahead of the Pirates’ historic season, his unusual coaching methods off the court, and the pain and lessons learned after their Finals loss to defending champions San Beda Red Lions.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, will reminisce about the highs of his career and how his stinging defeat at the hands of Jeff “The Brisbane Hornet” Horn this year made him tougher in life and inside the ring. Aside from that, “#Redemption” will also give spotlight to the biggest upsets in the sporting world this year, and the NBA Finals last June that saw the Golden State Warriors take the NBA crown back from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In the special’s first part “#Trending” that aired on Christmas night, “The Final Score” talked to two of the most talked about athletes this year—Thirdy Ravena, Ateneo De Manila’s King Eagle, and Ricci Rivero, the most tweeted athlete of 2017 in the entire Philippines and gave a rundown of the trending moments in the UAAP Season 80 Men’s Basketball Tournament.

For more information, schedules, and stories, go online visit ABS-CBN’s sports hub sports.abs-cbn.com, and follow their official social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter (@ABSCBNSports).

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

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

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SATURDAY,

DECEMBER 30, 2017

Sports

Ayo’s transfer to UST still up in the air

By Peter Atencio

ALDIN Ayo’s alleged transfer to the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers remains hanging in the balance.

With his four-month contract with the La Salle Green Archers about to expire in the next two days, school officials are expecting Ayo to re-sign a new agreement with the school.

Ayo entered into a lot of verbal agreements to rejoin the Green Archers before the end of season 80 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

But the 40-year-old Ayo’s promise to return hit a snag as the new backers of the Growling Tigers began entering into negotiations to get him into joining the team’s coaching staff for season 81.

Ayo, who is on vacation in Sorsogon, is reportedly going into talks with La Salle school officials and top patron Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. by the second week of January.

The talks will thresh out whether he returns to the Green Archers or he leaves for the Growling Tigers.

Ayo, since the end of the season 80 UAAP, has not confirmed any moves to leave the La Salle Green Archers’ camp.

He said that he has not been in a team for more than two seasons after previously steering the Letran Knights and Green Archers to a title each.

On his first year as a collegiate coach, Ayo steered the Letran Knights to a crown in the NCAA. In his first year for the Green Archers in 2016, La Salle won a UAAP championship, but was beaten this year by Ateneo.

Wong, Petil captures doubles’ crown by 5 Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine wards off Blackwater’s John Pinto as he drives to the basket in a PBA Philippine Cup game won by the Elite, 92-87.

Blackwater stuns Rain st for 1 victory in PH Cup

By Jeric Lopez

S

TEADY play down the stretch enabled Blackwater to pull off a hard-earned 92-87 upset victory over Rain or Shine to list its first win in the 2017-18 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City last night.

Sophomore Mac Belo, after a forgettable campaign in the last two conferences of his rookie season, reintroduced himself to the league, scoring a game-high 25 points, including five treys,

PH rower Tolentino calls it a day THE oldest member of the Philippine national men’s rowing team is about to retire.

After a 22-year stint, Benjamin Tolentino told his coach Ed Maerina that the he would like to give way a younger generation of rowers, who are trying to make it to the national team.

“May 22 years na ako sa national team. Gusto ko pa rin mag-compete, pero I have to give way na to the young ones,” said the 44-year-old Tolentino.

Young rowers are trying to make their mark in the sport and in order to give these bets a chance to make it, Tolentino is retiring from the sport, he said in a radio interview.

Tolentino added that he can always join the coaching staff to make way for them.

“Sabi ko sa coaches, gusto ko sa coaching na lang ako para mai-share ko ang mga natutunan ko,” said Tolentino, who has been joining the Asian Games since 1998.

He also made waves in other international meets.

Early this year, Tolentino and Edgar Ilas bagged the bronze medal in the lightweight doubles’ event in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

With Tolentino out, Nestor Cordova will be the only experienced rower left in the national squad at age 39. Peter Atencio

to go with seven rebounds and two blocks for Blackwater.

He also hitt a key triple that put the Elite out of harm’s way in crunch time.

Not far behind, Mike DiGregorio was likewise bril-

liant for the Elite, scoring 23 points of his own, plus three rebounds and four assists.

It was neck-to-neck for almost the entire time and the game was hanging in the balance entering the last two minutes, with the Elite only ahead by a basket, 87-85.

But Belo’s triple from the left elbow extended Blackwater’s lead to 90-85 and even as Rain or Shine stayed within striking distance in the waning seconds, DiGregorio’s two free throws with 11.6 ticks left iced the game for the

Elite and settled the final tally.

Blackwater and Rain or Shine now carry identical 1-1 cards after two games thus far.

Early in the second quarter, Rain or Shine erected several 10-point leads but Blackwater stayed in it as the Elasto Painters instead carried just a 47-44 lead at the turn.

From there, the Elite carried their momentum in the second half as they stood their ground and eventually overtook the Painters when it mattered down the stretch.

By the end of third pe-

riod, Blackwater was already ahead, 65-64.

Chris Tiu led the Painters with a team-high 14 points.

The scores: Blackwater 92—Belo 25, Digregorio 23, Jose 13, Maliksi 10, Erram 8, Pinto 7, Sumang 5, Sena 2, Marcelo 0.

Rain or Shine 87—Tiu 14, Norwood 13, Daquioag 13, Almazan 10, Maiquez 8, Belga 7, Borboran 6, Yap 5, Trollano 4, King 3, Ponferada 2, Nambatac 2.

Quarters: 25-28, 47-44, 65-64, 92-87

PAOLO Wong and Don Petil pounced on Gab Manotoc and Lester Lagman’s wobbly start and turned what was expected to be a tight finish into a runaway triumph in the National Doubles Amateur Golf Championship at Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club in QC yesterday.

Wong and Petil produced just one birdie against three bogeys in the deciding twoball, foursome format but their two-over 70 proved enough to net them the overall crown via a five-stroke romp over the Manotoc-Lagman and Ryan Monsalve-Lanz Uy pairs with a 274 total in the 54-hole championship sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation.

Manotoc and Lagman failed to sustain their leadgrabbing 141 in aggregate play as they fumbled with two double bogeys and two bogeys in alternate format and fell off the leaderboard just after nine holes with a 41.

They hardly recovered with a 35 at the back and ended up with a 76 for a 279.

Monsalve and Uy, who paced the field with a solid 59 in the opening four-ball

Wednesday, also struggled in another scorching but windy day, limping with a 39 at the front and finishing with a 74 to match Manotoc and Lagman’s output. Monsalve and Uy, however, snared the Group I title for the second straight year via countback.

The Wong-Petil tandem scored a 61 in four-ball then combined for a 143 in aggregate to trail Manotoc and Lagman by one heading to the final round where play shifted to alternate format.

Dan Cruz and Luigi Guerrero turned in a 72 and placed fourth at 286 while Ruperto Zaragosa and Adrian Romero skied to a 79 for fifth at 289 in the event which served as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour.

Harmie Constantino and Joseph Orbito combined for the day’s best 69 to share sixth place with Kristine Torralba and Matthew Abalos, who had a 72, at 294 while Eddie Bagtas and Leandro Bagtas shot a 76 and tied Gabby Malaguim and Ivan Monsalve, who hobbled with a 77, at eighth with 296s.

De Myer scores twin-kill VISITING player Anna de Myer from Pangasinan emerged as the biggest winner at the recently concluded penultimate leg of this year’s nationwide Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championship Series leg in Quezon City as she ruled both the girls’ 16-under and 18-under groups, but had to go three sets in each game against different opponents.

De Myer shocked veteran Patricia Lim of Valenzuela City, 7-6, 1-7, 6-4, in the 16-under finals for her first title and followed it with a 6-3, 0-6, 10-4 victory over Aubrey Mikah Rosales from Quezon City in the 18-under championship match of the tournament hosted by the PhilAm Tennis Club and the Veterans Tennis Club Another visiting participant, Laurenz Quitara from Bacoor City, had an easy 6-4, 7-5 win over Manila’s Athan Arejola in the boys’ 18-under finals, while local bet Loucas Fernandez retired Rainier Angelo Selmar in the boys’ 16-under championship match backed by Dunlop as the official ball.

“We believe that with the number of legs that we conducted this year with emphasis in the Mindanao and Visayas regions, new faces have emerged for the future of tennis in the country,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President/CEO of the sponsoring Cebuana Lhuillier Group of Companies.

Other female winners in the tournament that attracted 139 entries were Kryshana Brazal from Pasig as she defeated local bet Adeline Abadia in the 14-under finals, depriving her foe of her own double win.

Abadia earlier took the 12-under title, beating Casey Bagadiong from Valenzuela, 6-0, 6-0, in the finale.

In the boys’ side, Aulrich Reyes from Nasugbu, Batangas emerged champion in the 14-under as he edged out Selmar, 6-4, 6-4, for the crown, while Valenzuela bet Carson Bagadiong swept aside citymate Eosef dela Torre, 4-1, 4-0, for the 10-under unisex group title.

The final leg will take place in Camp Aguinaldo.

GINEBRA THANKSGIVING PARTY. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel rookies Mikey Cabahug and Jett Manuel play a game with fans during the team’s thanksgiving party held recently at the Fil-Oil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. The Gin Kings celebrated their championship win in the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup with their die-hard fans who were also treated to performances by top local bands Itchyworms and Silent Sanctuary. For more updates on Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, check out the official Facebook page of Ginebra San Miguel www.facebook.com/barangayginebra or log on to www.ginebra.com.ph.

Room for more as Ronaldo wins another Globe award

Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo is seen on a screen after the announcement of his reception of the “Best player” award during the Globe Soccer Awards Ceremony at the end of the 12th Edition of the Dubai International Sports Conference in Madinat Jumeirah Resort in Dubai. AFP

DUBAI—Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo was Thursday named Globe Soccer’s Best Player for the second year in a row and the fourth time overall although he wasn’t present in person to receive his trophy.

The Portuguese international also won the prize, organised by the EFAA (European Association of Football Agents) and ECA (European Clubs Association)

in 2011, 2014 and 2016.

Ronaldo appeared by video link as he received the award from Italy’s Alessandro del Piero.

Despite his numerous awards, Ronaldo joked that he still has plenty of room to expand his personal trophy cabinet.

“Don’t worry my friend, I have a lot of space,” Ronaldo, who inspired Real to the Champions League last season, told the show’s host.

“For me it’s a special

moment and I feel very happy to receive this award. I have to say thank you to my teammates, to my coach, to Real Madrid.

“It was an amazing year, we won a lot of trophies collective and myself individual, so I’m so glad. Thank you for the people who voted for me—next year, do the same!”

Real were also named best club of the year and Zinedine Zidane was best coach.

“It’s an honor for me and for the club to receive this award,” Zidane told the audience.

“It means things have gone well and worked well.”

In other awards, Francesco Totti and Carles Puyol received player career awards, Marcello Lippi was handed a coaching career award, Spain’s La Liga was best league of the year, and Jorge Mendes named best agent. AFP

Therma prepays $320m in loans

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Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017

B1

Stocks, peso end 2017 with a bang T

HE stock market registered a record high at the close of trading in 2017, while the peso rallied to 49.93 on upbeat prospects on the Philippine economy.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 23.33 points, or 0.3 percent, to an all-time high of 8,558.42 on a value turnover of P7.3 billion, boosted by windowdressing. Gainers beat losers, 115 to 94, with 45 issues unchanged.

BDO Unibank Inc., the

biggest lender in terms of assets, climbed 3.7 percent to P164, while Manila Electric Co., the largest electricity retailer, gained 1.4 percent to a year-high of P328.60.

SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy added 1 percent to P990, while Bank of the Phil-

ippine Islands, the thirdbiggest bank, advanced 1.3 percent to P108.10.

The peso capped 2017 on a positive note after posting a fresh six-month high against the US dollar on the last trading day of the year, mainly on the sustained strong macroeconomic fundamentals backed by the passage into law of the first package of the government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

The peso gained five centavos to close at 49.93 from

49.98 a day ago. It was the local currency’s strongest level in more than six months, or since 49.91 on June 19, 2017. Total volume turnover stood at $742.2 million, up from $625.3 million previously.

The peso was just P0.21 short of 49.72 at the close of the last trading day a year ago.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said earlier the stronger peso was due to a “combination of strong re-

mittances and equity inflows as well as US dollar softness over uncertainty of impact of US tax legislation.”

Latest data showed that money sent home by overseas Filipinos in October 2017 grew 8.4 percent to $2.275 billion from $2.099 billion a year ago, the fastest in seven months, fueled by the increase in remittances from both land- and sea-based workers.

The figure brought cash remittances in the first 10

months to $23.056 billion, up 4.2 percent from $22.124 billion a year ago.

The dollar, meanwhile, suffered fresh pressure on Friday as traders cash in the recent gains fueled by Donald Trump’s tax cuts, while most Asian equities were on course to end a strong year on a positive note.

Asia’s biggest markets have enjoyed huge gains over the past year―with Hong Kong up more than a third and Tokyo nearly 20

percent higher―fueled by expectations that Donald Trump would push through business-friendly measures.

In holiday-thinned share trading Hong Kong was up 0.3 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai ended 0.3 percent higher.

Tokyo closed 0.1 percent down, with tech titan SoftBank reversing early gains to end 0.1 percent off after announcing a deal to take a huge stake in US ride-sharing giant Uber.

Pangilinan to step down if PLDT recovers in 2018

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Traders celebrate during the last day of trading at the Philippine Stock Exchange in Manila on December 29, 2017. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 23.33 points, or 0.3 percent, to an all-time high of 8,558.42. AFP

Ayala Land expanding Seda hotel brand to 3,500 rooms

By Jenniffer B. Austria MAJOR property developer Ayala Land Inc. plans to expand its Seda hotel brand to 3,500 rooms by 2019 to address the increasing demand brought about by tourism and corporate expansions.

AyalaLand Hotels and Resorts Corp. senior group general manager Andrea Mastellone said in a statement Seda Hotel rooms would more than double to 3,500 in 15 locations from the current

1,409 in seven sites.

The move to aggressively expand the Seda bran is in line with its objective to be the leading Philippine hospitality brand.

Seda Hotel is located in Bonifacio Global City, Cagayan de Oro, Davao City, Nuvali in Laguna, Iloilo City, Quezon City and Bacolod City.

“Being a wholly-owned Filipino company, we have a deep understanding of opportunities in the market. We were the first to bridge the

gap between the luxury and budget hotels by offering a modern facility with efficient service at competitive rates.

Solid demand for our hotels continues to steadily grow,” Mastellone said.

Mastellone expects tourism and traditional firms on expansion mode to be Seda’s growth drivers and to fill the more than 2,000 rooms coming onstream.

Citing studies by the Department of Tourism, Mastellone said Metro Manila was expected to have a room

gap of 69,185, while CebuMactan is expected to have a deficit of 14,931. Seda will focus its expansion primarily in these two key cities.

Ayala Land in 2018 will launch Seda Lio in El Nido, Palawan.

New Seda hotels will be inaugurated in the next two years in Circuit Makati; Arca South, Taguig; the Cebu Business Park; Ayala North Exchange, Makati; Bay Area, Paranaque; and the Cebu IT Park.

In response to the Bonifa-

cio Global City’s sustained expansion, an additional 342 rooms will also be added to Seda BGC in Taguig, the brand’s flagship hotel.

Melissa Carlos, group director of sales and marketing, said Seda expanded quickly from 179 rooms in 2012 to the current 1,409.

The group also started offering new formats—bigger hotels that will have at least 250 rooms from the 150 rooms of its first generation hotels, serviced apartments and resorts

IN BRIEF HK business delegation visits PH THE Hong Kong business sector recently sent an 11-man delegation to the Philippines to explore investment opportunities in agriculture, tourism, infrastructure and manufacturing.

Investors from business chambers, infrastructure and manufacturing companies and the banking community conducted due diligence on key Philippine business sectors.

The Department of Trade said the investment briefing served as an excellent platform in building a closer relationship between the Philippines and Hong Kong, with the recent signing of the AseanHong Kong Free Trade Agreement.

It also affirmed the country’s readiness for deeper economic partnership with Hong Kong and willingness to share successes in fostering an enabling business and investment environment of the Philippines. Othel V. Campos

PNOC receives four LNG offers STATE-RUN Philippine National Oil Co. received new unsolicited proposals for joint venture partnerships in the country’s first liquefied natural gas integrated project.

PNOC spokesman Ryan Tanjuatco cited four unsolicited proposals with the company to date.

These are Lloyds Energy Group (which is currently being evaluated), Chinese China National Offshore Oil Corp., First Gen Corp. and PT Jaya Samudra Karunia of Indonesia.

Lloyds is a Dubai-based firm specializing in LNG development, while CNOOC is one of the China’s biggest energy companies.

CNOOC initially submitted an offer to the Energy Department before revising its proposal to PNOC. CNOOC also has a pending application with the government to team up with state-run PNOC Exploration Corp. in service contract 57 in offshore Northwest Palawan. Alena Mae S. Flores

DBP eyes 1m new depositors

STATE-OWNED Development Bank of the Philippines will aggressively expand its presence in the retail banking segment by targeting one million new depositors in the next five years, its top official said Friday.

DBP president and chief executive officer Cecilia Borromeo said the bank would focus on small depositors, especially those residing in underserved areas of the country as part of an advocacy to introduce more unbanked Filipinos into the financial mainstream.

“We’re looking at one million new depositors in the next five years translated to six new depositors per branch per day,” Borromeo said. “We have to go out there and educate our countrymen as financial literacy is one of the advocacies of the bank.”

Borromeo said DBP’s retail segment comprises 25 percent of total deposits, adding the bank would push for a five-percent growth in deposit levels.

CEB AIDS MARAWI. A soldier arranges the boxes carried through Cebu Pacific Flight 5J379 from Manila to Cagayan de Oro. Leading Philippine budget carrier Cebu Pacific supports the #OGOPMarawi program of the Philippine Army, enabling the delivery of PureIt water purifying devices. The water purifiers, donated by Unilever, are to be used in relief operations for displaced residents of Marawi City. Ogop, the local word in Marawi for “help,” aims to help internally displaced residents and give morale support to soldiers deployed in Marawi.

BUSINESSMAN Manuel Pangilinan said he is willing to let go of his post as president and chief executive of PLDT Inc. if the company recovers by next year.

“If I am quite certain that PLDT has already on a sure footing in terms of this recovery, time to let go. I want to demonstrate I am not here to hold on to my position forever.

Like in Meralco (Manila Electric Co.), I gave way to Oscar [Reyes]. Meralco (is okay),” PLDT chairman and president Pangilinan said.

“There have been a few names... one or two folks from abroad already. Of course, there are internal candidates also,” he added.

Pangilinan did not identify the candidates for the new CEO. He earlier named Eric Alberto, PLDT’s chief revenue officer, as one of the candidates.

He earlier said 2017 was a “challenging year” and saw some signs of recovery “but we are not out of the woods yet.”

“So, hopefully, 2018 will be better. It really depends on how well the wireless side performs.(The) decline in international voice (is a given). But I think the decline will be smaller this year compared to previous year. So it would depend whether wireless can recover,” he said.

PLDT’s net income rose 38 percent to P21.87 billion in the first nine months of the year, mostly because of the proceeds from the sale of its shares in Beacon Electric Asset Holdings Inc and SPi Global Holdings Inc. PLDT’s consolidated revenues amounted P119.07 billion in the January-to-September period, down 5 precent from P125.37 billion.

In terms of business units, PLDT Home revenues grew 12 percent to P24.3 billion, while Enterprise business posted an 11-percent increase to P25.3 billion.

The Wireless Individual Business posted P44.2 billion in service revenues, 14 percent lower than that of the first three quarters of 2016.

ICTSI appropriates $25m for port expansion in 2018 INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. said it allotted $25 million for the expansion of its domestic and foreign port container terminals next year.

The port terminal owned by tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. said it would use unappropriated retained earnings of $25 million to expand ports in Manila, Mexico, Honduras and Iraq.

The company programmed $240 million in capital expenditures this year, with $113.5 million already spent in the first nine months.

ICTSI earlier reported a net income of $149.3 million in the January-to-September period, up 5 percent from $141.9 million yearon-year.

Excluding the one-time gain on the termination of the sub-concession agreement in Nigeria, consolidated net income attrib-

utable to equity holders would have been flat in the first nine months of 2017.

Gross revenues from port operations in the first nine months increased 10 percent to $918.3 million from the $835 million reported in the same period in 2016.

ICTSI handled consolidated volume of 6,836,611 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first nine months of 2017, six percent more than 6,435,192 TEUs handled in the same period in 2016.

The increase in volume was primarily due to continuing improvement in global trade activities, especially in the emerging markets, continuing rampup at ICTSI’s operations in Basra, Iraq, new services at Manzanillo, Mexico and contribution of new terminals in Matadi, Congo, and Melbourne, Australia.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Phinma Energy, PSALM reach deal to terminate Leyte power contract

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHINMA Energy Corp. and Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. have agreed to mutually terminate the administration agreement for the 40-megawatt strip of energy of the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant.

“The termination allows the company to improve its supply costs while maintaining a diversified portfolio. The company has settled all its obligations with

PSALM,” Phinma Energy disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange Friday.

The company said it would withdraw the case it filed earlier and drop further claims.

Phinma Energy filed a complaint and sought a temporary restraining order against state-run PSALM with the Makati City Regional Trial Court in September for terminating its agreement and forfeiting on the company’s performance bond because of alleged de-

fault.

The company filed the complaint against PSALM and its former President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. The case sought to restrain PSALM from terminating the administration agreement for the selection and appointment of independent power producer administrators for the strips of energy of the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plants located in Tongonan, Leyte on grounds of administrator’s default.

The move followed the recent decision of the Phinma Energy board that “authorized the filing of the case against PSALM” after the state agency moved to terminate the agreement and forfeit on the company’s performance bond.

Phinma Energy, formerly Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp., was declared one of the winning bidders for the right to administer 40 megawatts of “strips of energy” from the Unified Leyte power plants

on November 7, 2013.

Shortly after winning the bid, however, super typhoon Yolanda struck Region 8 on November 8, 2013, resulting in extensive damage to the ULGPP. Phinma Energy cited that PSALM awarded the strips to the winning bidders after a one-year delay.

PSALM issued the notice of award to Phinma Energy as the IPPA for the 40 MW worth of strips of energy of the Unified Leyte plants in January 29, 2014.

B2

Business

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Oil closes above $60 a barrel

O

IL’S revival from the biggest crash in a generation persisted, with prices set for a second annual gain after weathering everything from hurricanes and Middle East conflict to the tussle between OPEC and US shale.

Benchmark futures are up more than 11 percent in 2017, after going into a bull market in September. While gains were driven by glut-shrinking output cuts by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies including Russia, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East as well as pipeline disruptions from the North Sea to Canada and Libya have also helped.

In 2018, investors will watch if US output undermines Opec’s curbs.

Speculation is rising that American

drillers will put more rigs to work as oil strengthens, with shale growth driving forecasts of record US supply in 2018. That could act counter to plans by producers including Saudi Arabia, who have pledged to extend production curbs through end2018 to wipe out a global glut. After Hurricane Harvey shut Gulf Coast refiners at the end of August and hurt prices, violence in Iraq and a pipe crack in the UK have helped buoy crude.

“The key driver for the oil market this year has been that the Opec and Russian production cuts were introduced, complied with and extended,” said Ric Spooner, a Sydney-based analyst at CMC Markets.

“This has allowed the market to reduce inventory despite production increases in the US, Libya and Nigeria.”

West Texas Intermediate for February delivery was at $60.22 a barrel on the New

York Mercantile Exchange, up 38 cents, at 7:31 a.m. in London. Total volume traded was about 50 percent above the 100-day average. Front-month prices are 12 percent higher this year, after rising 45 percent— the most since 2009—in 2016.

Brent for March settlement added 42 cents to $66.58 a barrel on the Londonbased ICE Futures Europe exchange. The February contract expired Thursday, after rising 28 cents to $66.72. The benchmark for more than half the world’s oil has gained 17 percent this year, after climbing 52 percent in 2016. It was at a premium of $6.34 to March WTI. Oil’s trading at the highest level since mid-2015 after WTI breached above $60 a barrel for the first time in more than two years. The benchmark traded at an average price of about $51 this year. Nationwide stockpiles fell 4.6 million barrels last

week to the lowest level since October 2015, according to the Energy Information Administration Thursday. That beat the 3.75 million average estimate in a Bloomberg survey of analysts.

“The tug-of-war between Opec and the US will continue to pressure oil from trading above $60 a barrel in 2018,” said Kim Kwangrae, a Seoul-based commodities analyst at Samsung Futures Inc. “Like we’ve seen this year, geopolitical risks will be the key factor going forward for oil to breach $60.”

Following an explosion on Tuesday, Waha Oil Co. is working to repair the pipeline that carries crude to Libya’s Es Sider port, the North African nation’s biggest export terminal, while a major UK North Sea pipeline is nearing a return to full service after an outage this month.

Bloomberg

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.4 69,000 59.8 46,590 108.1 2,688,850 3.82 22,000 164 4,541,060 1.97 555,000 33.3 1,104,600 10 300 15.5 5,500 31.95 1,509,800 0.72 905,000 1.74 124,000 945 100 0.6 501,000 101.4 2,715,900 0.96 1,629,000 11.98 107,900 24 14,000 56.7 35,280 240 243,920 145 3,250 87.15 170 55.35 98,940 251.4 226,510 1,930 430 86.65 17,950 1.24 278,000

232,850 2,772,912.50 290,500,135 85,190 741,618,058 1,102,430 36,762,110 3,000 85,250 48,225,915 646,410 215,570 94,500 297,360 275,407,385 1,617,040 1,280,908 336,000 2,014,328.50 57,089,660 471,250 14,815.50 5,479,307.50 57,332,768 832,400 1,557,771.50 344,420

1,567,269.50 150,062,830 228,721,142 4,718,260 -18,863,385 38,695,304 -58,200 599,000 -708,644 272,610 -358,474.50 7,435,094 348,710 -183,520

41.3 12.1 0.61 1.32 16.5 0.213 120.1 4.79 16 45.5 19.82 63.2 60 1.88 5.31 10.8 11.02 14.54 11.9 7.27 5.7 1.65 16.94 62 26.75 10.74 18.56 2.17 253 4.1 28 18.2 17.98 324 0.198 8.19 2.12 6 9.17 6.08 8.32 1.54 12.7 60.85 6.7 529 4.97 2.35 4.06 1.92 13.44 5.4 0.131 1.18 151 2.96 1.94 0.78

INDUSTRIAL 41.55 1,294,700 12.2 1,400,400 0.62 445,000 1.35 6,321,000 17.36 20,400 0.224 2,110,000 120.1 40 4.88 3,727,000 16.18 545,100 45.95 607,000 20.35 3,800 63.2 86,160 60 2,880 1.9 143,000 5.39 70,500 10.92 4,200 11.06 1,219,200 14.78 1,554,800 12 1,380,000 7.35 1,155,400 5.74 7,476,700 1.66 11,000 17 671,400 62 33,080 26.85 100,900 10.78 329,600 18.82 692,400 2.23 707,000 253 567,530 4.1 293,000 28.05 789,900 18.6 270,300 18 2,191,800 328.6 1,159,480 0.204 120,000 8.68 64,800 2.15 3,518,000 6.1 26,700 9.17 7,703,300 6.14 130,800 8.4 80,700 1.57 776,000 13 353,600 61 904,520 6.8 5,500 529 25,550 4.97 2,361,400 2.55 3,009,000 4.06 85,000 1.99 439,000 13.46 1,207,700 5.4 32,000 0.134 1,800,000 1.18 158,000 151 816,160 2.98 71,000 1.96 4,075,000 0.78 622,000

53,776,270 17,139,348 274,300 8,350,340 337,364 455,840 4,893 18,211,370 8,812,348 27,904,075 75,709 5,471,427 174,551.50 271,090 379,999 45,824 13,476,974 22,849,136 16,596,546 8,441,659 42,948,541 18,170 11,404,834 2,071,875.50 2,707,245 3,552,112 13,039,640 1,558,790 144,728,120 1,203,110 22,153,420 5,020,956 39,504,882 378,911,678 24,000 561,343 7,563,090 162,810 70,953,067 803,717 677,832 1,216,050 4,563,602 55,168,037.50 37,024 13,530,875 11,738,009 7,660,180 352,620 849,740 16,246,132 173,710 238,420 187,140 125,329,702 210,930 7,995,370 490,020

35,313,500 3,382,120 22,680 -8,260 5,839,590 3,482,558 -4,979,035 37,800 -2,364,688 2,672,262 4,617,074 4,128,532 20,434,703 5,816,432 -43,231.50 -83,620 -268,466 5,184,114 -6,570 46,246,140 -8,598,365 505,866.00 11,884,998 254,834,674 -1,321,440 -7,918,795 -130,000 16,184,685.50 -139,615 10,811,241 8,850 -214,150 2,200,268 10,690 -2,251,811 969,580 -

0.305 72 15.94 7.04 0.41 0.45 1,012 7.68 14.36 7.75 4.42 5.6 1,277 7.3 71.95 6 0.69 5.6 18.7 0.305 6.78 3.38 0.043 1.15 2.04 2.52 111 2.58 987.5 1.57 280 0.22

HOLDING FIRMS 0.31 270,000 74 1,106,660 16 5,619,100 7.05 5,100 0.41 4,660,000 0.46 3,730,000 1,015 295,630 7.7 1,065,600 14.4 4,419,700 7.75 3,000 4.42 10,600 5.6 10,000 1,292 70,160 7.36 18,000 72.1 2,394,120 6 5,900 0.69 313,000 5.6 981,000 18.74 1,273,300 0.305 1,010,000 6.85 22,003,700 3.4 2,000 0.045 8,700,000 1.15 44,000 2.05 213,000 2.6 1,155,000 111.6 399,530 2.67 4,000 990 524,830 1.57 783,000 286 17,470 0.22 170,000

82,800 81,819,027.5 65 90,080,976 35,905 1,932,300 1,725,500 300,891,480 8,210,902 64,700,690 23,250 58,652 56,000 90,457,960 131,880 176,314,994.50 35,491 216,690 5,523,373 24,310,736 312,150 150,279,123 6,780 379,800 51,860 435,800 3,063,610 44,617,393 10,580 522,804,110 1,235,340 4,967,242 37,400

,845,864.4996 -32,145,260 185,000 32,559,780 6,555,298 433,302 36,133,530 51,514,964.50 1,717,053 525,180.00 77,754,269 7,690,831 182,215,080 1,494,246 -35,200

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.27 59.25 106.7 3.89 158.2 2 33.25 10 15.5 32 0.67 1.75 945 0.58 102 1.01 11.78 24 57.8 233 145 87.15 56 254.4 1,950 86.75 1.23

3.46 59.8 109.1 3.89 166.5 2.03 33.35 10 15.5 32.05 0.72 1.8 945 0.61 102.9 1.04 11.98 24 57.8 240 145 87.15 56 254.6 1,950 87 1.24

3.27 57.9 106 3.78 158 1.97 33.05 10 15.5 31.75 0.67 1.71 945 0.58 100.9 0.96 11.72 24 56.25 233 145 87.15 55.35 251.4 1,930 86.65 1.23

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

41.5 12.1 0.62 1.37 17.36 0.214 129 4.8 16.2 46 20.4 63.5 62.3 1.9 5.31 11 11.06 14.68 11.98 7.3 5.7 1.65 16.96 63.2 27.2 10.74 18.7 2.2 255 4.1 28 18.8 18.04 324.6 0.198 8.69 2.13 6 9.3 6.1 8.4 1.55 12.88 61 6.84 531 4.98 2.35 4.1 1.96 13.48 5.5 0.131 1.19 154 2.96 1.97 0.8

41.7 12.4 0.62 1.37 17.36 0.226 129 4.95 16.2 46.35 20.4 65.5 62.3 1.93 5.44 11 11.08 14.78 12.1 7.35 5.77 1.66 17.1 63.5 27.2 10.8 18.9 2.25 257.4 4.12 28.5 18.9 18.18 328.6 0.204 8.69 2.17 6.11 9.32 6.25 8.4 1.57 13 61.4 6.84 531 4.98 3.3 4.48 1.99 13.56 5.5 0.134 1.19 155 2.98 1.99 0.8

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

0.31 73 15.94 7.04 0.42 0.475 1,027 7.73 14.6 7.75 5.6 5.6 1,280 7.36 73.25 6.07 0.71 5.7 19.2 0.315 6.82 3.38 0.044 1.18 2.04 2.59 112.1 2.58 995 1.59 281 0.22

0.315 74 16.18 7.05 0.425 0.475 1,027 7.74 14.8 7.75 5.6 5.6 1,292 7.36 75 6.07 0.71 5.7 19.2 0.315 6.85 3.4 0.045 1.2 2.06 3.48 112.5 2.67 1,009 1.59 286 0.22

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

6.72 1.01 12.5 2.28 0.87 44.6 3.86 4.92 5.7 6 6.18 0.48 1.13 0.222 0.45 40 0.64 0.148 1.89 1.43 0.73 5.2 0.345 0.36

6.79 1.01 13.18 2.28 0.9 44.65 3.9 4.92 5.75 6.2 6.2 0.49 1.18 0.231 0.455 40.45 0.67 0.148 1.9 1.45 0.74 5.2 0.345 0.36

6.6 0.99 12.5 2.28 0.87 44 3.85 4.84 5.7 6 6.18 0.475 1.12 0.218 0.45 39.7 0.64 0.148 1.87 1.43 0.72 5.15 0.335 0.355

VOLUME

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HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

0.63 5.9 21.55 2.15 3.14 37.6 1.01 9.17 0.85 6

0.64 5.9 21.75 2.19 3.14 38.15 1.01 9.17 0.85 6.08

0.61 5.7 21.3 2.07 3.13 37.3 1.01 8.51 0.84 5.98

0.62 5.72 21.3 2.12 3.13 37.5 1.01 8.81 0.85 5.99

5,883,000 683,400 1,710,800 993,000 41,000 11,283,700 154,000 7,600 139,000 6,272,000

3,658,340 3,939,693 36,849,520 2,103,340 128,340 426,216,395 155,540 66,774 117,150 37,605,063

-94,670 -9,806,275 10,450 171,132,325 -1,754 17,693,701

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

19.26 34.6 1.39 0.475 0.043 11.66 10.94 0.072 100.5 8.81 6.58 2.42 18.4 1,855 5.8 21.7 12 4.43 2.6 106.5 13 8.34 0.142 1.37 3.17 15.04 4 1.16 22.5 0.54 5 7.5 3.8 15.8 2.85 11.1 5.28 2.92 8.99 116.8 7.74 1,485 1.34 0.355 50.6 96.3 5.41 3.2 1.64 2.9 4.01 0.97 8.19

19.3 35 1.39 0.48 0.043 12.18 11.02 0.074 100.9 8.9 7.12 2.5 18.96 1,900 5.85 22.2 12 4.56 2.65 106.5 13 8.35 0.142 1.4 3.17 17.9 4.08 1.21 23.35 0.57 5.18 7.56 3.9 16.5 2.88 11.1 5.28 2.92 8.99 116.8 7.74 1,501 1.35 0.365 50.8 96.3 5.7 3.3 1.64 2.91 4.05 1.01 8.38

18.48 34.55 1.39 0.475 0.042 11.66 10.9 0.069 99.9 8.77 6.58 2.39 15.92 1,855 5.8 20.15 12 4.4 2.6 105.3 13 8.34 0.14 1.37 3.07 15.04 3.98 1.16 22.5 0.54 4.84 7.42 3.8 15.8 2.8 11.1 5.12 2.81 8.7 114.4 7.58 1,480 1.32 0.355 50 94.8 5.4 3.17 1.62 2.65 3.92 0.97 8.17

SERVICES 18.48 34.6 1.39 0.48 0.042 11.82 10.9 0.071 100 8.78 7.01 2.49 18.5 1,900 5.84 22 12 4.49 2.64 105.5 13 8.35 0.141 1.4 3.07 17 3.98 1.21 22.85 0.57 5 7.43 3.9 16.5 2.82 11.1 5.15 2.81 8.99 114.4 7.64 1,480 1.35 0.365 50 96.2 5.6 3.3 1.63 2.7 3.98 0.98 8.28

246,600 52,900 33,000 140,000 2,400,000 12,800 2,895,200 43,160,000 841,320 1,222,600 57,100 119,000 175,000 35,915 213,600 312,100 400 4,436,000 3,000 697,480 100 135,100 4,620,000 512,000 43,000 83,000 1,343,000 52,000 1,708,400 159,000 8,699,000 9,395,200 859,000 5,100 6,947,000 279,100 13,600 11,000 74,300 6,110 873,300 148,145 1,764,000 210,000 2,194,920 668,260 237,000 955,000 13,645,000 1,690,000 2,799,000 2,484,000 4,455,600

4,628,352 1,834,350 45,870 67,050 101,200 149,556 31,715,146 3,035,810 84,150,695 10,789,095 390,784 288,760 3,119,792 67,462,700 1,244,556 6,802,240 4,800 19,911,630 7,890 73,841,779 1,300 1,126,984 649,570 710,400 132,200 1,329,872 5,380,360 60,720 39,382,735 89,850 43,201,090 70,360,923 3,323,210 83,770 19,584,920 3,098,010 71,462 32,010 657,067 702,298 6,659,137 220,459,830 2,367,570 74,900 110,300,872.5 ( 63,867,469 1,301,365 3,095,270 22,229,310 4,652,240 11,110,850 2,436,920 36,897,740

-1,050,834 -42,000 23,785,300 2,214,000.50 8,830 -34,700.00 30,666,755 202,000 -46,200 6,848,608 14,100.00 -16,500 -1,036,990 3,480.00 243,035 550 59,263,362 -219,970 -978,340 -251,034 81,010,990 -252,080 23,316,160.5) 5,352,323.50 546,510 -302,550 133,920 27,000 -212,550 -22,150 20,323,285

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

0.0023 1.57 4.87 13.52 1.73 1.75 1.6 0.33 7.09 2.59 0.22 0.15 0.153 0.0093 0.0094 1.68 6.34 1.52 0.45 0.95 0.012 0.012 5.8 7.78 37.5

0.0024 1.57 5.01 15 1.73 1.75 1.63 0.33 7.37 2.64 0.223 0.152 0.153 0.0094 0.01 1.78 6.38 1.52 0.45 0.98 0.012 0.012 6.06 8.24 37.75

0.0022 1.54 4.87 13.52 1.73 1.75 1.58 0.31 7.08 2.59 0.2 0.15 0.153 0.0093 0.0094 1.67 6.32 1.4 0.45 0.93 0.012 0.011 5.8 7.71 36.8

MINING & OIL 0.0022 1,547,000,000 1.55 3,813,000 5 1,642,000 15 4,400 1.73 1,000 1.75 1,000 1.63 922,000 0.31 370,000 7.1 12,400 2.63 10,667,000 0.21 3,310,000 0.151 2,990,000 0.153 690,000 0.0094 9,000,000 0.01 1,129,700,000 1.78 413,000 6.33 1,065,300 1.51 664,000 0.45 20,000 0.95 355,000 0.012 700,000 0.012 15,200,000 6.06 1,132,300 7.96 3,640,600 36.8 2,359,900

3,549,500 5,929,270 8,155,550 59,636 1,730 1,750 1,490,000 119,800 89,670 27,948,720 692,350 451,270 105,570 84,300 10,619,240 694,740 6,748,823 930,760 9,000 342,030 8,400 167,500 6,773,519 29,511,975 87,901,895

129,000 -669,500 -64,280 285,580 30,600 -265,440 624,255 1,373,166 158,403 -11,630,540

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B FGEN PREF F GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

34.85 525 108 115 523 5.65 1,030 102 1.04 1,000 103.7 109 2.15 76.5 80 75.65 81.95 79.1 79.8

34.85 526 108 115 523 5.68 1,030 102 1.04 1,000 103.7 109 2.38 76.75 80 75.65 81.95 79.5 79.8

34.2 525 108 115 523 5.65 1,030 100.2 1.04 1,000 103.7 109 2.08 76 80 75.65 81.95 79.1 79.8

PREFERRED 34.5 1,226,500 526 2,020 108 2,920 115 20 523 100 5.68 20,200 1,030 860 100.2 6,640 1.04 2,251,000 1,000 50 103.7 100 109 2,000 2.12 68,000 76.5 22,120 80 16,270 75.65 13,500 81.95 290 79.5 62,710 79.8 87,060

42,316,810 1,060,510 315,360 2,300 52,300 114,730 885,800 671,145 2,341,040 50,000 10,370 218,000 147,460 1,687,805 1,301,600 1,021,275 23,765.50 4,980,065.50 6,947,388

-85,960 -760,000 -318,000 -

LR WARRANT

2.44

2.54

2.39

WARRANTS 2.47 798,000

1,930,000

-

68,123,092 169,220 22,849,484

-986,814 1,913,023

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 6.73 1 12.88 2.28 0.9 44.6 3.88 4.88 5.75 6.2 6.2 0.49 1.17 0.229 0.455 39.7 0.65 0.148 1.88 1.43 0.74 5.16 0.335 0.355

4,280,100 1,721,000 31,600 32,000 721,000 8,039,500 7,017,000 1,638,000 1,000 8,000 1,500 27,560,000 186,000 51,000,000 80,000 231,800 141,000 100,000 10,877,000 3,655,000 270,000 82,907,700 61,750,000 2,900,000

28,892,980 1,720,480 399,184 72,960 638,630 357,516,480 27,220,750 8,010,620 5,725 48,020 9,272 13,243,600 209,670 11,597,270 36,350 9,298,345 91,370 14,800 20,564,610 5,254,990 195,750 429,708,632 20,849,800 1,031,950

-7,267,761 160,046,550 -804,560 775,800.00 -6,966,750 3,084,940 611,095 9,484,750 -4,290 -24,888,695 10,050 -

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

12 3.65 5.5

12.7 3.87 5.73

10.06 3.6 5.49

FIRST METRO ETF

130

130.7

129

USD DMPL A2

10.2

10.2

10.2

T RADING S UMMARY FINANCIAL

10.2 3.74 5.57

SME

6,141,700 46,000 4,059,700

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 130.5 54,560

10.2

DDS

SHARES

VALUE

17,644,838

1,559,332,371.38

INDUSTRIAL

66,032,703

1,247,552,212.72

HOLDING FIRMS

61,598,313

1,592,796,665.849

PROPERTY

292,347,035

1,448,516,199.19

SERVICES

156,208,191

1,122,353,335.06

MINING & OIL

2,736,593,729

192,419,449.8176

GRAND TOTAL

3,340,726,804

7,261,224,694.82

19,960

7,110,783

203,592

60,110.00

-

FINANCIAL 2,230.17 (up) 27.42 INDUSTRIAL 11,231.30 (down) 46.22 HOLDING FIRMS 8,616.51 (up) 10.02 PROPERTY 3,978.19 (up) 2.33 SERVICES 1,619.84 (up) 1.91 MINING & OIL 11,502.58 (down) 7.93 PSEI 8,558.42 (up) 23.33 All Shares Index 4,989.97 (up) 26.27 Gainers: 115; Losers: 94; Unchanged: 45; Total: 254

Therma prepays $320m in loans

By Alena Mae S. Flores ABOITIZ Power Corp. unit Therma Power Inc. prepaid $320 million of loans drawn from several lenders under an agreement last year.

“TPI used internally generated funds for this purpose,” Aboitiz Power disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday.

The company signed the agreement on November 24, 2016. TPI is the holding company of the Aboitiz Group’s investments in non-renewable energy. Its portfolio includes the 340MW Therma Visayas baseload power plant in Toledo City, Cebu and stakes in the 400-MW Pagbilao 3 baseload power plant in Quezon and the 690-megawatt clean pulverized coal-fired power plant in Mariveles, Bataan.

Aboitiz Power president Antonio Moraza said part of the loan was used for the acquisition of the Mariveles coal plant.

“We just used some cash to prepay a part of loan,” he said.

Aboitiz Power, meanwhile, is set to add some 500 megawatts of attributable capacity in 2018 with the completion of hydro and coal-fired plants around the country.

Moraza said the projects were on track and should be mostly online in the first half of 2018.

“The entry of these plants will significantly support the country’s energy reserves and will show that the Philippines is open for business and investments,” Moraza said.

Liquidity up 14% in November

By Julito G. Rada DOMESTIC liquidity or the money supply in the financial system grew 14 percent year-on-year to about P10.4 trillion in November, slower than the 14.8-percent expansion a month ago, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday.

“The growth in M3 remains broadly consistent with the BSP’s prevailing outlook for inflation and economic activity. The BSP will continue to monitor monetary conditions closely to ensure that domestic liquidity stays adequate to support price and financial stability,” the regulator said.

Domestic claims rose 14.7 percent in November, lower than the 15.2-percent increase in October as growth in credit to the private sector eased to 16 percent from 16.5 percent in the previous month.

“Growth in bank loans continued to be driven by lending to key production sectors such as real estate; electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply; wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; financial and insurance activities; manufacturing and information and communication,” it said.

Net foreign assets in peso terms increased 1.9 percent year-on-year in November from 6.1 percent in the previous month. The Bangko Sentral’s NFA position declined during the month, reflecting the decrease in gross international reserves.

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New York fire kills 12 in the Bronx NEW YORK―A fire tore through a Bronx apartment building on Thursday, killing at least 12 people, including a toddler, and leaving four others fighting for their lives in New York’s deadliest blaze in decades.

The fire broke out around 6:51pm (2351 GMT) in a 25-apartment building near the Bronx Zoo, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the US financial capital.

A one-year-old child was among those killed as Red Cross volunteers handed out blankets and emergency responders set up a makeshift shelter in a nearby school on a bitterly cold night.

Tearful residents spoke of hearing shouts of “fire, fire” in the building and a mad rush to exit the property, battling past the smoke, with just the clothes on their backs into the sub-freezing night. AFP

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017

B3

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

Clock ticking down on US$10-million art reward deadline BOSTON―It’s the largest property crime in US history: the three-decade-old theft of Rembrandt and Vermeer masterpieces from a Boston museum by thieves disguised as police officers in the dead of night.

But as the clock ticks toward midnight on New Year’s Eve, one detective sits patiently by the telephone and computer screen:

could the next call or email finally lead to their recovery and the payout of a $10 million reward?

“It’s hard to be confident.

I’m very hopeful,” said Anthony Amore, director of security at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, who worked previously for Homeland Security and likens his role to that of a private detective.

“One hundred percent of our focus is following up on leads we have received.”

In May, the museum temporarily doubled to $10 million a long-standing reward for information leading to the recovery of all 13 works in good condition, hoping that a deadline of midnight on December 31, 2017 would concentrate minds.

It is, in the words of the

museum, the “biggest private reward ever offered” for stolen property, and backed by the institution and its board of directors.

In the final countdown to the deadline, US press attention sparked an uptick in calls.

“Attention is really snowballing,” Amore told AFP. “A lot of calls and emails have been coming in.”

In perhaps the world’s biggest unsolved art theft, the thieves walked into the museum in the early hours of March 18, 1990 and stole 13 works of art in 81 minutes, after handcuffing and tying up two security guards in the basement.

The stolen art includes three Rembrandts, a Vermeer, and five sketches and watercolors by Degas,

together estimated to be worth more than half a billion dollars.

Last month’s recordbreaking auction of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi” for $450 million in New York has probably made the missing masterpieces only more valuable.

Investigators worked tirelessly, but the artwork has never been recovered. AFP

Viet ‘cyber army’ slammed H ANOI―The deployment of 10,000 cyber warriors to fight online dissent in Vietnam adds a grim “new dimension” to the controls on free speech in the Communist country, a rights group has said.

Vietnam routinely jails its critics and closely monitors activists on social media, which is not banned unlike in neighboring China.

A top Vietnamese general this week said a 10,000-strong brigade dubbed “Force 47”

has been tasked with fighting “wrongful views” spreading on the internet, according to state media reports.

It was not immediately clear what Force 47 is responsible for, but observers anticipate the cyber soldiers will escalate smear campaigns against activists online.

Rights groups rounded on the move.

Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said the cyber scouts announcement was a “shocking new dimension to Vietnam’s crackdown on dissent”.

Others said the tactic is designed to squeeze online critics.

“This is just the latest plank in a campaign to curb internet freedoms at all costs,” Shawn Crispin, Committee to Protect Journalists’

Albania’s eagle disappearing TIRANA―It is Albania’s national symbol, but the eagle may soon only be found on the flag as the majestic bird is threatened with extinction due to widespread poaching of raptors.

On the side of a national motorway, just 30 kilometers north of the capital Tirana, a vendor offers motorists a common buzzard for an average price of 7,000-10,000 leks (55-85 euros, $65-100).

The buzzard is a protected species just like the golden eagle.

But the man isn’t concerned as he exhibits the bird with its wing wounded by a bullet and its talons tied.

“I didn’t wound it. I was given it to sell. The buyers will keep it in a cage in a bar or a restaurant,” he says.

Whether the customers want to stuff them or to keep them in captivity, they can find these birds for sale on the street.

Of the four species of vultures that used to exist in Albania, “only one, the Egyptian vulture, remains and its population has been extremely reduced,” says Mirjan Topi, author of Albania’s first bird guide.

So too the dwindling number of golden eagles, a two-headed specimen of which features on the flag of this mountainous Balkan country. AFP

Southeast Asia representative, told AFP Friday.

“While they can’t unplug Facebook, Instagram and the likes outright, they can apply more and more pressure on those platforms and it looks like these cyber troops are their latest attempt to do that.”

Vietnam’s internet is classified as “not free”, according to web watchdog Freedom House, which ranks it second only to China in Asia.

Around half of the country’s 93 million people have access to the internet, and the country also ranks among Facebook’s top 10 users by numbers.

Vietnamese officials did not respond to a request for comment from AFP. Earlier this year the government asked Facebook and YouTube to remove “toxic

Republic of the Philippines

San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND PANASIA ENERGY, INC., WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY,

ERC CASE NO. 2017-083 RC

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP) AND PANASIA ENERGY, INC. (PANASIA), Applicants.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NGCP and PANASIA alleged the following in their Application: NATURE OF THE CASE

PARTIES

To the Public: Please be advised that Lourdes T. Echauz Holdings Inc., with principal office at Unit 1506, Security Bank Center, 6776 Ayala Avenue, Makati City has been dissolved as per shareholder and director Board resolution dated 14 October 2013 entered in the notarial book of Atty. Delfin R. Agcaoili, Jr. with document no.473, Page no. 48, Book No. 446, Series of 2013.

All debts owed to the corporation and all claims against the corporation, will be received

by Mr. John B. Echauz at the business address set forth above.

(SGD) JOHN B. ECHAUZ Asst. Treasurer LOURDES T. ECHAUZ HOLDINGS INC. (MS-DEC. 16,23 & 30, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

0.0127

5.8167

0.0117

RPS

3.4893

0.0070

Annex

Certificate of Compliance

“D”

Certification of No Existing Power Supply Agreement

“E” “F”

Commission

-

General

“G”

Latest Audited Financial Statement

“H”

WESM Registration

“I”

16. It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power (Section 2b, EPIRA). With this end in view, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS. However, the Honorable Commission must first approve the contract before the same could be implemented.

17. On 13 December 2012, NGCP and PANASIA filed an application for the approval of its Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASPA 2012) docketed as ERC Case No. 2012-134RC. In the Order dated 18 February 2013, the Honorable Commission issued an Order provisionally approving the Application. Page 8 of the Order provides: “An initial evaluation of the instant application discloses that the ASPA entered into by and between NGCP and PANASIA will redound to the benefit of the customers in terms of continuous, reliable, efficient and affordable power supply as mandated by the EPIRA [Section 2. Declaration of Policy - (b) “to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power].” (Emphasis. supplied) The parties implemented the 2012 ASPA on the March 2013 Billing Period.

18. As mentioned above, the Honorable Commission has already declared that there is a necessity for NGCP to procure the contracted ancillary services capacity of PANASIA to maintain the reliability of the operation of the transmission system and electricity supply in the Luzon Grid.

19. PANASIA must continue to provide ancillary services beyond the 2012 ASPA to maintain the reliability of the power grid. Based on the current levels of available contracted AS in the Luzon Grid, the firm contracted AS have not yet met the required levels. The copy of the Luzon AS Availability showing the required and available levels of RR, CR, and DR in the Luzon Grid is attached as Annex “J”.

20. As the demand for power in the Luzon increases, the requirements of the system to ensure stability, reliability, and security likewise increases. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth.

21. The importance of RR, CR, DR, and RPS from PANASIA to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Luzon Grid cannot be overemphasized.

22. Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to maintain the present reliability and security of the Grid. In support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Lizaflor Bacani-Kater, which is attached as Annex “K”.

8. Pursuant to its mandate, NGCP on different dates published in newspapers of general circulation a Notice of Invitation for Prospective Ancillary Services Providers, inviting all grid connected merchant plants and independent power producers to participate in the provision of ancillary services. NGCP received several positive responses from generation companies. Upon receipt of the intention from PANASIA to provide ancillary services, NGCP commenced negotiation for the execution of a new ASPA.

GENERAL NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF TODAY LOURDES T. ECHAUZ HOLDINGS INC.

6.3117

DR

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

7. In order to implement and regulate the procurement of AS, the Honorable Commission approved the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (ASPP) through its Order dated 9 March 2006 in ERC Case No. 2002-253 and the Ancillary Services Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) through its Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC.

Manila

CR

Latest Security Exchange Information Sheet

6. Ancillary services (AS) as defined in Section 4b of the EPIRA “refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code to be adopted in accordance with this Act.” These services are essential in ensuring reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids.

Standard

0.0735

Articles of Incorporation

1. This Application is for the approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASPA) between the NGCP and PANASIA, pursuant to the Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC, entitled: “In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of Ancillary Services - Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan, with Prayer for Provisional Authority.”

5. Similarly, the PGC provides that NGCP is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid Ancillary Services and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and Ancillary Service tariffs to the ERC3.

cord,” Trump tweeted from his Mar a Lago resort in Florida, where he is on holiday vacation.

“Perhaps we could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming that our Country, but not other countries, was going to pay TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS to protect against.

Bundle up!”

In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo earlier warned residents to prepare for “dangerously cold weather,” with below-normal temperatures expected to be between minus 12.7 C and minus 6.6 C through Saturday. AFP

36.4327

Document

ANTECEDENT FACTS

WASHINGTON―US President Donald Trump on Thursday made light of climate change science as an Arctic chill settled on much of the central and northeastern United States and Canada, forcing people indoors, stranding motorists with dead car batteries and complicating firefighting duties.

In the United States, the National Weather Service said that “dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills” were pummeling much of the central and eastern part of the country.

“In the East, it could be the COLDEST New Year’s Eve on re-

P/kW

RR

15. PANASIA submits the copies of the following documents:

Notice is hereby given that on 19 September 2017, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and Panasia Energy, Inc. (PANASIA) filed an Application dated 06 September 2017 (Application) for the approval of their Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASP A) with prayer for the issuance of provisional authority.

23. Applicants further submit that if and when the 2017 ASPA is approved by this Honorable Commission, it is hereby understood that it will only take effect, immediately upon expiration of the 2012 ASP A or on the April 2018 Billing Period.

PRAYER

9. In view of the need for PANASIA to continue providing ancillary services, the Applicants on 25 August 2017, executed a new ASPA (ASPA 2017). NGCP agreed to procure and PANASIA agreed to supply Ancillary Services in the form of: RR, CR, DR and RPS for a period of five (5) years under firm and non-firm arrangements. A copy of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement between NGCP and PANASIA dated 25 August 2017 is attached as Annex “A”.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission to: a) Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the 2017 ASPA, to take effect upon expiration of the 2012 ASPA or on the April 2018 Billing Period;

10. During the period of negotiation, NGCP conducted several tests on Units GT1, GT2, GT3, GT5, GT6 and GT7 of the BCCPP, and certified that the power plant has met and complied with the Standard Ancillary Services Technical Requirements of the ASPP as capable of providing the following: i. ii. iii. iv.

P/kW-month

14. Consistent with the AS-CRM, all the related and incidental expenses which NGCP will incur as a result of the procurement and operation of the ancillary services shall be recovered from all the load customers in the Luzon Grid.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

4. Republic Act No. 9136 provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance, as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (PGC), adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission; and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system2.

Trump dismisses climate change

Indicative Rate Impact

AS Type

A copy of the Rate Impact Simulation for PANASIA with a brief discussion on how NGCP derived the proposed ancillary services rates is attached as Annex “C.”

x-------------- --- --- -- -- -- -- --------x

3. Applicant PANASIA is a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Philippine laws with principal office address at 3204B East Tower PSE Centre, Exchange Road Ortigas Center, Pasig City. It may be served with orders, notices, and other legal processes through its undersigned counsel. It is the owner and operator of the 540MW Bataan Combined Cycle Power Plant (BCCPP) in Barangay Luz, Limay, Bataan, which was certified and accredited by NGCP as capable of providing Regulating Reserve (RR), Contingency Reserve (CR), Dispatchable Reserve (DR) and Reactive Power Support (RPS).

BIG ORANGE. People watch as workers put together the “Big Orange”, a 35-foot wide neon orange structure that goes on the side of the Hotel Intercontinental on December 28, 2017, in Miami, Florida. The Big Orange, in its 32nd annual appearance, will start its ascent to the hotel’s 400-foot wall at 6 p.m on December 31 and reach the top at midnight to mark the start of 2018. AFP

content” from its sites.

In August, the president called for tougher internet controls, saying that groups have used the web to launch campaigns against the government that threaten the “prestige of the party’s leaders and the state”.

A conservative leadership in power since last year has waged a crackdown on dissidents, with at least 15 arrested this year, according to Amnesty International.

Several other have been handed heavy jail terms, joining scores of activists already behind bars.

Force 47 is likely to include commentators hired to publish pro-government material and counter critics, said Madeline Earp, senior research analyst with Freedom House. AFP

13. Applicants submit that the rates represent a reasonable recovery of its opportunity cost in making available generation capacity to provide the procured AS.

ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

2. Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 95111 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through high-voltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

city

6, 2018)

World

TODAY

b) APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the 2017 ASPA. Applicants pray for other just and equitable relief.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with jurisdictional requirements, Expository Presentation, Pre-Trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 18 January 2018 (Thursday) at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.) at Multipurpose Hall, Brgy. Luz Kitang I, Limay Bataan.

60MW /unit of RR under Free Governor Mode; 60MW /unit of CR under Free Governor Mode; 80MW / Block of DR; and RPS.

All persons who have an interest in the subject 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 herein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following:

Thus, NGCP issued the Ancillary Services Certification with Accreditation No. 2016L0013, attached as Annex “B”.

CONTRACTED CAPACITY RATES AND IMPACT SIMULATION

i.

The petitioner’s name and address;

11. Schedule 1 of the ASP A provides for the types of AS that can be nominated by PANASIA, as follows:

ii.

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

(i)

iii. A statement of the relief desired.

Firm Contracted Capacity:

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 Applicants rest their 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:

a. Regulating Reserve (Secondary Reserve) - 60MW, one (1) Gas Turbine (GT) Unit during peak hours (12 hours) or 0801H to 2100 or Interval 9 to 21 from March 01 to September 30 of each year for the period of five years; (ii) Non-Firm Contracted Capacities:

1) The name and address of such person;

a. Contingency Reserve (Primary Reserve) Available capacity on top of the Technical Pmin of each GT Unit (Technical Pmin is the minimum stable load of each generating unit, as indicated in the Service Provider’s Certificate of Compliance);

2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon.

b. Regulating Reserve (Secondary Reserve) - Up to 60MW per GT Unit; c.

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

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Dispatchable Reserve (Tertiary Reserve) - Up to 40MW per GT Unit;

d. Reactive Power Support - Available capacity of Reactive Power outside the range of 85% lagging and 90% leading power factor.

12. Schedule 4 of the ASPA provides for the applicable maximum hourly rate for the capacity covered by the ASPA, as follows:

Ancillary Service

Regulating Reserve

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA, and Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 18th day of December 2017 in Pasig City.

Applicable Rates (Maximum Hourly Rate)

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

Php2.25/kW /Hr (Firm) JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal

Php3.00/kW /Hr (Non-Firm)

Contingency Reserve

Php2.00/kW /Hr (Non-Firm)

Dispatchable Reserve

Php1.12/kW /Hr (Non-Firm)

Reactive Power Service

Php4.00/kVar /Hr (Non-Firm)

and formula in the computation of the Ancillary Services Fees as well as the Incidental Energy Cost.

M

Sta

To th

Pleas 1506 per s notar No. 4

All de

by M 1 2 3

An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation ofthe Philippines a Franchise To Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-Bone System of Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for other Purposes; Section 9 (c) and (d); 2007 PGC, Section 6.3.1.2; (MS-DEC. 30/ JAN. 6, 2018)

(MS-DE

Trucks &Buses

Dino Ray Directo III, Editor

B4

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017

A rendition of how the TESLA pick-up truck might look like

TESLA CEO Elon Musk announced the plan for an all electric pick-up truck next year at the launch of the e-Truck last November.

Metal FRESH

Nissan says bring it on NISSAN put an exclamation point on the TITAN XD when it unveiled a super-sized, off-road modified design study it called the TITAN Warrior Concept. Nissan Design America took the TITAN XD’s production design to new extremes with unapologetic, aggressive, athletic styling features that declared the concept’s off-road adventure intent and Nissan’s optimism for the truck market.

“Truck buyers have a seemingly insatiable appetite for more content and more unique offerings,” said José Muñoz, executive vice president, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and chairman, Nissan North America, Inc. “Even though our all-new 2016 TITAN XD just started arriving at Nissan dealers nationwide last month, we are already exploring new territory where TITAN might go in the future.”

Under the hood of this metal behemoth is a Cummins® 5.0L V8 Turbo Diesel engine which has been bulked up the standards for customers shopping the light-duty pickup class, the TITAN Warrior Concept was created to take the production version to the extreme.”Nissan has always pushed

Tesla to add pick-up to its vehicle lineup Text by Dino Ray V. Directo III

A

FTER the successful launch of its e-truck, Tesla has set its sights in introducing a pick-up truck. This was confirmed early this week in a tweet by its CEO Elon Musk. “I promise that we will make a pickup truck right after Model Y,” Musk posted in Twitter.

“Have had the core design/engineering elements in my mind for almost five years and I Am dying to build it,” he added.

Musk also stated that adding a pickup truck to its line-up would make Tesla the first full time electric automaker. The company aims to compete in a wider selection of segments than established internal combustion engine brands such as Toyota, Nissan, Chevrolet and Ford. Musk also added that it would have the similar dimensions to a typical half ton pick-up truck such as the F-150, Ford’s best selling nameplate. “Maybe slightly bigger to account for a really gamechanging (I think) feature I’d like to add,” says Musk, without elaborating on the features of his electric pick-up.

Musk has floated the idea of a Tesla pickup truck in his 2016 “Master Plan: Part Deux” manifesto promised “a new kind of pickup truck.” Prior to the unveiling of the Tesla Semi, Musk responded to a request on Twitter for a light duty pickup by saying: “What if we just made a mini version of the Tesla Semi?” Pickup trucks are driving profits for many automakers.

Another factor which Musk might have considered is the profitability of making a pick-up truck. Automakers have sold more than 2.5 million pickup trucks through the first 11 months of 2017, an increase of 4.6 percent compared with the same period last year, according to industry research firm Autodata Corp. Pickup trucks make up 16.2 percent of all passenger vehicle sales in 2017, up from 15.3 percent in 2016 and 14.6 percent in 2015.

Earlier this year Morgan Stanley Research analyst Adam Jonas wrote that General Motors generates 100 percent of its U.S. profits from large SUVs and pickup trucks. And Tesla is not the only company eager to enter the electric pickup market.

Tesla currently manufacturers the Model S sedan, Model X SUV and Model 3 compact sedan. It aims to begin production on the Model Y compact crossover in a few years. Tesla is also taking deposits on the Tesla Semi Class 8 truck and Roadster supercar.

Workhorse Group Inc. plans to bring its W-15 electric truck to production in late 2018.

Tesla has sold nearly 40,000 vehicles in the U.S. through the first 11 months of 2017, compared with more than 23,000 during the same period last year. The increase is due to increased production of the Model X.

HARI grows by 12% with Grand Starex and Accent; H100 stages grand recoup “2017 PROVED TO BE UPBEAT FOR Hyundai, reflecting our driven and empowered industry.

We expect to maintain this growth momentum, thereby contributing to the overall growth of the economy for 2017.”

--Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, HARI President and CEO

Performance and Drivers

Nissan's Titan is one bad ass truck for both on and off the roads the boundaries of traditional automotive design and engineering, from our Nissan GT-R supercar to the new TITAN XD,” explained Muñoz. “We do this with a clear conviction that there are buyers out there who appreciate something everyone else does not have. A ‘work hard, play harder, get bigger’ TITAN XD certainly does the job.”

A Warrior with a “Modern Armor” Exterior The TITAN Warrior Concept creators had more than a strong foundation on which to build their vision of a bold and expanding future in the full-size pickup market, they had a familiar one.

As part of the group that brought the “American TITAN” to life – a group that ranged from Tennessee, Michigan, Mississippi, Indiana, Arizona and California – the design team imagined how their original TITAN design, inspired by warriors in ancient Greek mythology, might evolve to extreme levels of adventure duty.

First, while maintaining the TITAN XD Crew Cab’s standard wheelbase and length, they wanted to give the concept truck an even more powerful presence than the original. The height was raised nearly three inches, from 78.7 inches to 81.5 inches, to fit a quartet of 37-inch tall off-road tires mounted on custom 18x9.5-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The wheels’ machined aluminum surfaces feature a dark matte finish and continue the production TITAN XD’s “precision tool” design theme.

To create clearance for the new oversize tires and accommodate the new, long-travel suspension, the TITAN Warrior Concept’s width was extended three inches on each side, from 80.6 inches total to 86.6 inches.

Once the dimensions and imposing stance were mapped out, the extreme makeover began in earnest.Building on the new second-generation TITAN’s warrior-inspired styling, the designers amplified the protective look of the production exterior. Designating the new look as “modern armor” – with a stealthy, robotic quality – they continued the anatomical feel of the production TITAN, but added a more machine-like, sharper-edge appearance.

The grille and signature TITAN headlights were enhanced to offer a more technical, menacing look. The front and rear fenders have been flared and offer an extremely muscular appearance. Functional hood vents were added for cooling the powerful diesel engine. The broad hoodline is balanced underneath by the large front skidplate, which interlocks into the powerful front bumper.

Custom LED lights, front and rear, add to the TITAN Warrior Concept’s stealthy presence. The headlights carry a sense of the new Nissan signature boomerang lights, but with a more precise, upright, robotic feel.

In the rear, the integrated LED taillights take the form of a TITAN “T” logo, split by the wide tailgate. As a finishing touch, a quad-tipped exhaust system is integrated into the rear bumper.

Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, registered positive year-to-date growth in Passenger Car and Light Commercial Vehicle sales, growing by 12% from 30,469 units sold in January-November 2016 to 34,025 units sold in January-November 2017.

Further breaking it down, within the said period, the PC segment grew by 7% from 21,637 to 23,167 units sold, with top-selling Accent at the forefront with a phenomenal 34% growth from 11,156 to 14,899 units sold. Likewise, LCV sales rose by 23%, from 8,832 to 10,858 units sold. Flagship vehicle Grand Starex remains the biggest contributor with 14% growth, from 3,371 to 3,832 units sold. Meanwhile, the trusty H-100 made a huge comeback with 59% growth, from 1,927 units to 3,066 units sold, capping the segment’s impressive performance and underscoring Hyundai’s commitment to empower local entrepreneurs with reliable and versatile mobility solutions.

Sales and Economic Outlook

The Philippine economy surpassed expectations in Q3 growing by 6.9%, the fastest in the year, on the back of increased public spending and furthered by advancements in the service and industry sectors.

Grand Starex

Given this bright prospect, HARI expects to close 2017 with combined PC and CV sales of 37,500 units, solidly contributing to the automotive industry’s yearend target of 450,000 units.

About HARI Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. , the official distributor of Hyundai passenger and commercial vehicles in the Philippines, has been hailed four times as Hyundai’s Asia-Pacific Distributor of the Year (2005, 2006, 2008, and 2013), and Hyundai Global Distributor of the Year 2010 and 2016. HARI boasts of a 42-strong dealer network, superior after-sales, dealer and customer relations support, and an enviable roster of bestselling vehicles, including the Grand Starex, Grand Starex Super Express, Santa Fe, Tucson, Veloster, Sonata, Elantra, Accent Hatchback, Accent Sedan and EON.

Life

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

HealtH and environment

satuRday, decemBeR 30, 2017

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STUNNING DISPLAY. Colorful fireworks display is arguably the best and grandest way to welcome the new year, that’s why the leading pyrotechnics manufacturer in the Philippines is appealing to the governent to make a distinction between fireworks and firecrackers.

By Isah V. Red

A

dAy before the new year’s eve, we can hear explosions of firecrackers here and there and hope its blast wouldn’t land on our roof to save us from the much-dreaded conflagration.

While the government has banned the use of firecrackers, Jovenson Ong, president of dragon Fireworks, inc., the country’s biggest manufacturing company of fireworks, is appealing to the government to make a distinction between firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

He said, during lunch at Kamuning Bakery with business columnist Wilson Lee Flores, that the total ban is affecting the business of those that manufacture pyrotechnics, like his company, and it could eventually kill the country’s fireworks industry.

He said, “The government has not defined precisely which ones are the dangerous fireworks, and which are the ones that are good for display. The law that banned it seems to apply to all that explodes.”

Fireworks have been a part of the Filipino life since trade with the Chinese flourished.

But modern fireworks manufacturing has been attributed to some Americans teaching Filipinos to manufacture fireworks in the philippines after the second World War. Fireworks manufacturing and usage were declared illegal in 1972, with the imposition of Martial law.

For 20 years, fireworks manufacturing stagnated, forcing manufacturers and distributors to go “underground”. Quality degenerated as a result with most of the production geared towards “bangers” and skyrockets. in January 1992, Republic Act 7183, otherwise known as the Fireworks law, was passed, legalizing the manufacture, sale and use of “allowable” types of pyrotechnic de-

Fireworks versus firecrackers

Dragon Fireworks, Inc. has received many awards including the championship in the 1st Philippine National Fireworks Display Competition

vices. The importation of finished fireworks was banned by the same law for the protection and development of the new industry. dragon Fireworks incorporated (dFi), was established in June 1992 and became the first fireworks manufacturing company duly licensed by the philippine government to cater to the domestic market. it was established to meet the growing demand for “safe, quality fireworks”. dragon Fireworks inc. is the no. 1 fireworks manufacturer since 1992. it’s products have been featured in the 23rd southeast Asian Games. it was also the champion in the 1st philippine national Fireworks display Competition. it has also received many awards including the Gold trophy and people’s Choice Awards in the 2013 pyronale World Fireworks Championship, becoming the first Asian company to conquer the prestigious European Fireworks Competition held in Berlin, Germany, the Gold trophy at the 2015 Flammende sterne (Flaming star) international Fireworks Competition in ostfildern, Germany. ong wishes the government, instead of pursuing a total ban would go for regulation to make sure the fireworks industry stays viable.

Also, he said the department of Health can do a better job if they focused their efforts on helping the fireworks industry ask other government agencies and lGUs to stop the proliferation of piccolo, which accounts for almost 70 percent of fireworks related injuries, with sari-sari stores being the main sellers throughout the country. instead, he added, the government should help promote and encourage the use of pyrotechnics. There will always be someone who loves fireworks, or has a culture, tradition or belief to light fireworks.

More governments abroad are coming out of bans and are going into regulation. out of the nine states that ban fireworks in the United states, eight have come out of bans, and the remaining one will legislate regulations soon.

Where grand parties happen

By Bernadette Lunas Filipinos love to celebrate. From birthdays to anniversaries to basically any important milestone, we always have a reason to gather the folks, partake of a sumptuous spread, and party the night away. it is our nation’s love for celebration that has kept the party and events venue business ibarra afloat since its inception in early 2000s. From its first business, ibarra’s Garden in padre Faura street, originally aimed at providing a one-stop full service wedding party package for frazzled brides-to-be who had little to no option, ibarra’s has since expanded to offer other packages for birthdays, debuts, baptismal, and other occasions in four more locations.

The local business has recently opened its largest and grandest events venue at the MoA Complex in pasay City.

The two-story Casa ibarra is a party place of majestic proportions. The white complex reminiscent of a Filipino home in the spanish era stands out in its rather business-looking location. it has a portecochere, where guests can be dropped off, and has a balcony that can host an intimate gathering for as much as 80 guests or serve as a photo shoot location.

As you step inside the venue, Olivia d’Aboville’s Homage to Monet greets you.

Casa ibarra commissioned the FilipinoFrench artist to create the 11x3.5m artwork consisting of eight panels made of 365 meters of philippine silk textile. To keep up with the

Casa Ibarra at MOA Complex in Pasay City is the largest and grandest events venue to date of party and catering business Ibarra’s.

Manny Palmero

Ibarra’s Party Venues and Catering operations manager Grazelle Lim and executive vice president Jeanette Lim-Macasieb welcome guests to the grand launch of Casa Ibarra. Manny Palmero

modern Filipino design theme of the venue, local elements and indigenous materials such as capiz, raffia fabric, and T’nalak weave are used to accentuate certain areas in the building. perfect for product launches or corporate events are the Alegria and Hermosa function rooms on the ground floor. Each can accommodate as much as 140 guests, or can be combined for a party of 280.

For larger events, such as weddings or debuts, sala de Amor on the second floor can host 350 guests in its elegant ballroom. if the size of this function room—which took 200 workers a year and a half to build—won’t amaze you, the capiz chandeliers made of

approximately 20,000 capiz shells each and the grand, albeit small, staircase will definitely sweep you off your feet.

As any party wouldn’t be complete without food, ibarra’s offers Western, Mediterranean, oriental, spanish, and Filipino menus. Among the favorites of past clients are Pot Roast Beef Shank, Costilla’s Cerdo de Ibarra’s (pork spareribs), and Paella Valenciana. its well-trained kitchen staff can also whip up something special, like a sugar-glazed, apple-shaped dessert that looks too pretty to eat. ibarra’s wedding packages, for example, start at p133,000 inclusive of venue, food

and beverage, sound system, venue styling, and other amenities (wedding gown is, obviously, not included). “it really depends on the client’s food preference, the size of their event, and the inclusions that they want. We offer reasonable packages because we believe that every client should be able to get the maximum value for their money,” shared Grizelle Lim, ibarra’s operations Manager.

Casa Ibarra is located at Lot 17 Coral Way, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. Call (02) 986-1107 or visit www.ibarraspartyvenues.com.ph for inquiries and more details.

Life

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saturday, december 30, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

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ity of Dreams manila’s New year’s eve countdown party sizzles at the focal point of the main gaming area where CenterPlay bar features True Faith. on the upper ground floor, trendsetting Chaos nightclub highlights a Brazilian Carnival-themed party with bands Brad & Nina and Jason & Anna together with resident DJs Khai Lim and David Ardiente. the revelry to kick-off 2018 at CenterPlay starts at 6 p.m. with a line-up of top local band performances leading up to true faith’s grand salvo official countdown and grand salvo to 2018. for a festive mood to match the lively

music and entertainment of the Brazilian Carnival Countdown party at Chaos night club, the dancers and ViP hosts will be in costumes and the venue will have decorations befitting the affair. Door charge is at P1,000 inclusive of two drinks.

Jason & Ana Band will perform at the Brazillian Carnival -themed party at Chaos nightclub

True Faith, DJs

at City Of Dreams Manila

CenterPlay bar features True Faith at its New Year’s Eve countdown party

Sparkling New Year

at Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge at the stroke of midnight, raise that glass to a good year that was, and embrace another year of feasting and new opportunities, while enjoying the beautiful fireworks at Vu’s sky Bar and Lounge this New year’s eve. amid the stunning skyline of the metro, raise your glasses to toast through twinkling fireworks to greet New year. the nightlife odyssey in ortigas brings two special packages that guests can enjoy with the dear ones. have a taste of the sky bar’s signature dish, Beef salpicao with roasted Garlic Cloves, shallots, and scallion, with Ring in the new year surrounded by good friends, sumptuous food, lively music, and festive cocktails at Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge

other filling dishes like Breaded spaghetti and Cheese Parcels with tomato salsa, and shrimp tempura with Pickled Ginger and Wasabi mayonnaise, for the shimmer Package, good for three to four persons. the Dazzle Package includes sizzling Pork Sisig; Chicken Satay with Peanut sauce, Compressed rice Cake, Cucumber, and onion; Goujons of Garoupa with Lemon and tartare sauce; and Potato Wedges with Bacon, Chive, and yoghurt Dip, good for five to six persons. as a promising hub of quality enter tainment, crowd-favorite, Spellbound Band, takes the center stage from 9:30 p.m.. enjoy listening to the band’s tunes with festive cocktails such as White Chocolate mar tini and Gluewein.

Pasko Fiesta in Davao City

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and Philips Lighting Country Manager Jagan Srinivasan led the lighting ceremony at the People’s Park

SArA DuTerTe-CArpio, Davao City mayor, and Jagan Srinivasan, Philips Lighting Country manager led the lighting ceremony at the People’s Park in Davao City as part of its annual month-long Christmas celebration.

“We are truly very happy and honored that Philips Lighting chose to partner with us in illuminating the People’s Park this holiday season. this will surely make a memorable Christmas celebration for families and tourists alike,” the mayor said.

Philips, the global leader in lighting, helped give Davaoeños a luminous celebration, through Philips’ LeD lights that festooned the park. “as global leader in lighting solutions, we in Philips Lighting believes that light is the soul of not just the home, but of the city as well. in this luminous celebration, it is our pride and honor to give Davaoeños a brighter, merrier, and colorful Christmas – inspired by our vision of taking light beyond illumination,” srinivasan, Philips Lighting country manager said.

New Year countdown in BGC Taguig BoNifaCio Global City, together with the City of taguig, for the first time ever, is hosting a citywide New year’s street party at Bonifacio high street to ring in 2018.

Before we bid 2017 adieu, revel in one last epic party packed with food trucks, booths, overflowing beer, holiday cheer, and the hottest musical acts from favorite bands and oPm artists like Hale, Aia de Leon, the powerhouse performer Gary Valenciano, and many more. topping it off is a grand fireworks display and pyro-musical showcase that will illuminate the city for a brilliant start to 2018.

Celebrations start at 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Bonifacio high street amphitheater and 7th avenue, with the anticipated New year’s eve high mass at 6 p.m. as thanksgiving for the blessings of the past year and prayer for grace in the forthcoming one. after which, the party will continue way into midnight.

“We are thrilled to begin another tradition for the BGC community ─ holding our very own New year’s countdown right here in the city. thankful as we are to the previous year, BGC is more than ready for what 2018 will bring,” said Sean Luarca, BGC’s marketing manager. the event is open to everyone but ViP tickets to the main stage may be obtained from purchases made at Bonifacio high street retail stores.

Fruitas Education Assistance Program provides employees financial assistance for the education of their children

Rooted in Education

it has often been said that education is the great equalizer. With a diploma in one’s hands, one gains access to opportunities ranging from higher education, employment, and a shot at a better life, in general. the Philippine statistics authority through its annual Poverty indicators survey has noted that as of 2016, one in every 10 filipinos aged 6 to 24 years old is an out of school child and youth. this records at least 3.8 million children not able to get access to education primarily because of problems encountered at home, and financial difficulties. recognizing the instrumental role that education plays, fruitas Group of Companies, through its foundation, “touched by fruitas”, has been rolling out scholarship programs to students who have shown promise to excel academically, and give back to the country. “education is key in securing a bright future not only for the youth today, but for society as a whole. By providing opportunities to our different scholars, we are hopeful that they will grow to contribute back to the nation,” says founder and Ceo of fruitas Group of Companies, Lester Yu. The seeds of education in 2015, fruitas Group of Companies launched “fruitas education assistance Program” where employees of the company could avail financial assistance for their children in their school of choice. apart from paying for tuition of the touched by fruitas scholars, the company also gives a monthly allowance to the students to cover

meals, and expenses necessary for their participation in school activities. “the fruitas education assistance Program is a way for us to give recognition as well to our employees who have been instrumental in the success of the company.” this year, 15 children of employees have benefitted from the program with students coming from different grade levels—one of which will be graduating by the end of the school year 2017-2018.

Hope in the future seeing the continued success of its scholarship program, the company has also pledged P1,000,000.00 to hope Christian high school–the alma mater of yu.

With the grant, fruitas Group of Companies will be able to waive tuition fees for 10 students of the school as they enter into senior high school education for academic year 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. the 10 touched by fruitas scholars from hope Christian high school were selected given their excellent academic track record, conduct in school, and in their passion to serve the nation. asked how they would be of service, answers of students ranged from entering the health sector to improve lives, becoming a lawyer under the Public attorney’s office to be voice of the oppressed and become professionals able to empower and inspire others. as fruitas Group of Companies continues to expand; it also is rearing towards making more impact in the lives of filipinos, especially the youth.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017

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Isah V. Red, Editor • Nickie Wang, Writer

Bossing is back, thanks fans, supporters

TV host and comedian Vic Sotto is glad to be back at the annual MMFF with the family comedy ‘Meant To Beh’

V

IC Sotto is back in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) this year, and he is reuniting with Dawn Zulueta in Meant to Beh.

The movie also features some of today’s hottest celebrities from the two giant networks: Daniel Matsunaga, JC Santos, Sue Ramirez, Gabbi Garcia, Ruru Madrid, Andrea Torres, and child actor, Baste. “Masaya din akong makatrabaho ang nagsisipaggalingangang mga batang ito. Masaya lang kami lagi sa set, parang isang malaking bagong pamilya,” said Sotto in a special interview for his upcoming movie.

After failing to make it to the MMFF official entries in favor of independently produced films last year, Sotto is thrilled to be given a renewed opportunity to bring more holiday cheers to the Filipino moviegoers.

“Excited akong makabalik sa MMFF. Isang taon din naming hinintay ito, kaya nagbabalik kami ng may baong magandang handog para sa lahat,” said Sotto.

Sotto has always been vocal about his love and gratitude to his fans not only in the Philippines but from all over the world. “Nagpa-

LizQuen

Bong Revilla

Before they flew to London to spend Christmas, the love team distributed packed meals to street dwellers around the metro. And yes, it was captured on camera, not by a major news outfit though but by someone close to the duo who was amazed by their generosity and genuine concern. The trouble in our society, no matter what you do, people will always have something terrible to say about your act. But just like what the viral Thai commercial about a woman who didn’t care about what social media think about her, continue doing good deeds is better than doing nothing at all. Most people don’t see what happens behind the camera or the story behind a short video clip.

MMFF 2017

just don’t want to use our brains and just relax for a bit.

pasalamat ako sa lahat ng hindi bumitiw at nag-abang sa pagbabalik namin sa MMFF. Salamat sa suportang natatanggap namin hindi lang dito sa bansa kundi sa ibang parte na rin ng mundo,” he said.

Sotto also expresses his gratitude to various brands that have been supporting him throughout the years. “You know in this business, you can only be thankful that there are brands that trust and support you. Ang laking tulong nila sa kung sino kami ngayon,” he explained.

Besides various endorsements, Sotto is also a proud brand ambassador of CitiGlobal Realty and Development Inc., a company that develops Leisure Homes and other income generating Properties in the country for a unique purpose—that is, make every hardworking Filipino happy with their home investment.

“Pareho kasi kami ng goal ng CitiGlobal, at yun ay magdala ng saya sa bawat Pinoy at kanyang pamilya,” Sotto proudly added.

Since the annual parade kicked off on Saturday, fans and local movie aficionados couldn’t get enough of this year’s MMFF lineup and the stars that headline each film entry. While at least two films deserve to be part of the film fest and awards it gives out, other films were included solely to generate buzz and of course revenue – perhaps the only reason why MMFF still exists up to this day. Nonetheless, it’s good that there’s something that can entertain us during this period of the year when most of us

His family photo taken during Christmas Eve is making rounds online. It was a happy photo indeed.

But the same photo underscores numerous defects in our society and government where it’s fine for the rich and powerful to spend time with their family outside their prison cell during special occasions while it’s not acceptable or allowed for people who belong to the other end of the social spectrum. With delicadeza being everyone’s favorite word right now, people could only wish Bong Revilla and his family had it in their vocabulary.

Kris Aquino

A few weeks ago, a clip of Bimby went viral and netizens were quick to react questioning the kid’s sexuality. And just recently, when Kris was showing off her not-so-very-humble abode, she let the kid talk about the viral clip yet again exposing him to online trolls.

Whatever her motive was, it wasn’t the netizen’s fault if the kid would end up hating social media and her mom’s attempt to still become and remain relevant.

The Unmarried Wife

More than one year since it premiered on the big screen, the drama that starred Angelica Panganiban, Paulo Avelino and Dingdong Dantes is getting everyone’s attention once again after it got 15 nominations at the annual Famas Awards. That’s one nomination in every category. This actually makes us want to revisit the film to validate what the Famas saw in this film so we wouldn’t be surprised if it sweeps all the recognition come awards night.

Aliw Awards

We are either living under a rock or Aliw Awards is just so irrelevant that we are almost unfamiliar with most of the winners who got their trophies during its annual awarding ceremonies. How we wish it were the first so we could update ourselves with the latest in theatre, opera, dance, live vocal and instrumental shows. Otherwise, this 40-year-old award giving body should implement major restructuring and get new people who really know what’s happening in live music and performance circuit.

Coco Martin debuts as director of ‘Ang Panday’ COCO Martin is wearing various hats in his latest action-adventure film Ang Panday, now showing as an entry to the 43rd Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).It is screening outside the Philippines via TFC@theMovies.

“Mahirap po pala (It was hard)”, Martin mused when asked about his directing debut.

“Pangarap ko po talaga maging direktor (I have always dreamed of becoming a director)” he shares. “Kapag gusto mo ang ginagawa mo kahit gaano kahirap ine-enjoy mo ‘yong bawat moment nang ginagawa mo (When you love what you do, despite the challenges, you will enjoy every moment of it).”

Aside from directing the film under his real name Rodel Nacianceno, he was also the one who developed the story of the film with Joel Mercado,

which is the very first live-action film adaptation of Ang Panday – the character created by Carlo J. Caparas and artist Steve Gan made popular by the late Fernando Poe Jr..

His active involvement as creative consultant of FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano greatly forged his skill as a storyteller.

In this 2017 epic comeback of the iconic Pinoy superhero, Martin plays Flavio III – the grandson of the original Panday. His life suddenly turns upside down when he realizes that his bloodline is destined to save humanity from the evil doings of Panday’s immortal evil nemesis Lizardo (Jake Cuenca), who comes back from the world of darkness to once again bring havoc to the human race.

With Flavio III not knowing that his bloodline is the only one capable

of destroying Lizardo, he will have to scour different worlds to be able to gain the trust of the mythical power of the legendary sword. And like the original beloved hero,Flavio III gets to meet various characters that will help him become the rightful heir to the revered name Ang Panday.

Conceptualizing the story, Martin had in mind his viewers, especially the younger generation to whom he wanted to introduce the legacy Fernando Poe Jr. “Sobrang iniba ko po siya, kasi gusto ko ma-appreciate siya ang mga kabataan ngayon at siyempre ng henerasyon ng mga tatay”, he states. “Kasi ang dami ng versions ng Ang Panday, so ginawa ko parang karugtong siya ng kuwento. Kaya ‘yong Flavio na ginampanan ni FPJ, ako ‘yong apo niya, ‘yon ang bagong kuwento ng Ang Panday.”

Coco Martin not only plays the lead role, but also directed, produced, and co-wrote the movie ‘Ang Panday.’

KITCHEN ISLAND IDEAS

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017

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F YOUR home has a kitchen, odds these days are you have a kitchen island, or you’re pining for one. Pining hard! What started as a clever way to add extra counter space has morphed into so much more. And it’s evolving at a breakneck pace.

In case you are poised to make some kitchen upgrades soon or just want to drool over the latest designs, here are some kitchen island ideas that could be popping up in homes near you.

Trend No. 1: Kitchen Islands are getting huge Simply put: The kitchen island is taking over, expanding ever larger.

The reason for this expansion is obvious: Since kitchen islands are being used not only for food prep, but also for dining, crafts, homework, and more, more space is required for all these activities. Plus, since open floor plans are all the rage, kitchen islands often serve as room dividers—and, as such, can be larger to better carve up a space.

Trend No. 2: Kitchen Islands are multiplying If one kitchen island is good, two is better, right? That’s the reasoning behind double islands, which are becoming major selling features in larger kitchens.

Trend No. 3: Kitchen islands are the new appliance centers So many more appliances can be accommodated when they’re not limited

Four trends for your home’s best gathering place

PETS ARE MOST WELCOME. Chow time in this kitchen island includes the family doggies.

FOR BIG GATHERINGS. The kitchen island has become the ideal place to set up shop—for work, entertainment, and more.

to the counters along the walls. Micro- pliances they install in kitchen islands waves and dishwashers have been de- include the following: signed with drawers, rather than doors, • Cooktops with special features like so they fit nicely into kitchen islands a teppanyaki grill and you don’t have to bend down to use • Wok stations them.

• Open-flame barbecues So what are some of the latest addi• Warming drawers tions? Some of the more popular ap• Wine refrigerators

• Ice machines • Ovens (or second ovens or steam ovens) • Regular or display sinks Trend No. 4: Kitchen islands double as homework/entertainment stations As we move away from bulky desktop computers toward portable laptops and tablets, the kitchen island has be-

come the ideal place to set up shop— for work, entertainment, and more.

Parents preparing a meal can easily keep track of what their kids are looking at on their computer screens while they’re doing their homework on the kitchen island. Crafts projects that require access to a stove, sink, or oven are more easily done on the kitchen island. And baking that requires hours of kneading, shaping, filling, or decorating is so much easier when you can sit at an island rather than stand at a counter.

Just about the only domestic activity that doesn’t take place there is sleeping, but it’s probably only a matter of time before some designer comes up with an island that doubles as a foldout bed.

No room for a kitchen island?

Now if the kitchen island craze has got you seriously depressed because you live in an older home or an apartment, or you just plain don’t have room, fear not. Designers have come up with all sorts of clever alternatives to built-in kitchen islands, some as small as one square foot. And many are on wheels, so they can do double duty as kitchen island, bar, serving cart, etc.

So no matter how much (or how little) room you’ve got, just know that your kitchen island dreams can become a reality.

From horse-racing to a real estate empire PARTNER BROKERS’ NIGHT. Online real estate brokerage company Hoppler recently rewarded awarded some of their partner brokers during their brokers launch party at the Grind Bistro in Bonifacio Global City. The event aimed to bring Hoppler’s brokers together for a night of fun, food, and networking and to inform them of new developments in the company, as well as the company’s plans for the coming year.

Feted during the event were: Jeffrey Sanchez for the “Most Closed Deals” award; Lydia Jacinto for the “Most Property Listings on Hoppler” award, and Raymond Atencio for the “Most Responsive Broker” award. The “Early Bird” award for the evening went to Analyn Ocampo. As of October 2017, Hoppler’s partner broker program had 650 registered brokers with a total of 20,000+ property listings in the company’s database.

Hoppler’s official website (http://www.hoppler.com.ph) and the mobile app give access to the main Hoppler ecosystem where brokers, buyers, and sellers initially connect, interact, and ultimately close deals.

CASTILLIAN BEARING. Developer DMCI recently completed, and turned over to its new unit owners, One Castilla Place , a tranquil residential set up in Gilmore, Quezon City. Buyers ostensibly couldn’t get enough of the resort-inspired development as 90 percent of the 729 units have been lapped up pronto.

DMCI, which has a growing portfolio of intimate, sanctuarylike condominiums, offers a two-year warranty covering unit deliverables - a veritable steal compared to other condo developers that usually offer only a one-year warranty. One Castilla Place has one, two and threebedroom units with floor areas ranging from 40 to 81 square meters. Each unit has its own balcony that provides ample views of the city. Resort-like amenities abound including a plush lobby, swimming pools, entertainment room, game area and a roof deck for get-togethers.

MJC beefs up property development moves NEXT DIVING DESTINATION. The APO Reef World Resorts in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.

MANILA Jockey Club, Inc. (MJC), the 150 year-old horse racing club, is currently deep into property development projects in Manila, Cavite and Occidental Mindoro.

MJC moved its horse racing operations from Manila to a sprawling 77-hectare property in Carmona, Cavite in 2003. The San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park (SLLBP) is a PEZAregistered, multipurpose complex which features two (2) all-weather race tracks designed by Japan Racing Facilities Ltd.; a 1,600 horse stable complex; and a four-storey steel and glass Turf Building, which houses the Jockey Club Casino, Chantilly Bar & Bistro restaurant, banquet rooms, grandstand and viewing boxes.

Also within the complex is Canyon Ranch, a 17-hectare residential project developed through a joint venture with Century Properties, Inc. World-class pitch Together with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), MJC built a worldclass football field at SLLBP in 2014.

The project was recently awarded a FIFA 2-star field rating, the highest grade awarded by the international body.

The pitch is used by local football organizations including the Youth Football League (YFL), PFF Women’s League and the UAAP for their

COOLING AND REFRIGERATING INDUSTRY SHOW. HVAC/R Philippines, the only local trade show dedicated to the air cooling, ventilating, and refrigeration industry, will kick off on January 6 2018 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, SM Mall of Asia Complex and World Trade Center Metro Manila. The four-day show will run alongside PHILCONSTRUCT – the country’s largest construction show.

“We are very excited to celebrate the 20th year of HVAC/R Philippines,” said Engr. Leandro Conti, president of the Philippine Society of Ventilating, Air-conditioning, and Refrigerating Engineers (PSVARE) – organizer of the event. This year’s show will see products and technologies from countries like Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, and the USA. Some of the brands participating include Alstra Concepcion Industrial Corporation; International Elevator & Equipment, Inc. (IEEI), Panasonic Manufacturing Phils. Corp., Samsung Electronics Philippines, Corp.; and Daikin Airconditioning Philippines, Inc. For more information about the event, visitors can log on to www.gesi.com.ph/hvacr, or visit HVAC/R Philippines on Facebook.

tournaments and practices.

Apart from the FIFA pitch, related structures including locker rooms, dormitories and other training facilities are being built to make the site as the National Football Center, the official training center of the national football teams.

Future developments Future developments include the relocation of the PFF National Headquarters, also known as the PFF House of Football, a four-storey structure housing its corporate offices, educational centers and dormitories for members attending football training camps; residential condominiums; BPO and office buildings; commercial and retail centers; a multi-purpose sports stadium; an international cockpit arena for Manila Cockers; and an integrated resort-hotel complex with leisure, gaming and parking facilities.

Further down south is APO Reef World Resorts, Inc., an MJC subsidiary, located in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.

The company has over 74 hectares of beach property with an objective of developing a total area of 100 hectares into an international ecotourism hub. It has four-kilometers of beach shoreline, including a 1,200-meter inlet river ideal for various water sports and activities.

The property is located only a few minutes away from the world-renowned

Apo Reef Natural Park, a marine sanctuary known as the 2nd largest contiguous coral reef in the world. It is easily accessible through various modes of transportation via land, sea and air travel.

The former location of the San Lazaro Hippodromo in Sta. Cruz, Manila has likewise been revitalized into a residential and commercial complex known as the San Lazaro Tourism and Business Park (SLTBP).

It is a PEZA economic zone developed in partnership with the SM Group; Ayala Land, Inc. including its subsidiaries Alveo and Avida Land Corporation.

Apart from the SM San Lazaro, the site features a BPO facility, Vertex One; Celadon Park, consisting of three (3) luxury condominium towers; Avida Towers, which consists of five (5) residential towers; and Celadon Residences, a townhouse development.

In 2016, the Winford Hotel and Casino was completed and began its initial operations. The hotel features five-star accommodations, casino, banquet and dining offerings.

The remaining property of 1.67-hectares will be jointly developed with Megaworld Corporation. This venture will give rise to King’s Plaza, a mixed-use complex composed of a five-level commercial podium and three residential towers.

FRESH LOOK. Two Seasons Boracay’s beachfront location makes it one of the top choices for those looking for a tropical destination in the island. It recently upped the ante with the recent renovation its popular barLO Resto Lounge. The facility now sports a fresher look, with a new cabana that can accommodate 20-25 people. The bar is situated between the dining area and the kitchen, allowing for more space and airy ambience. Industrial-inspired lamps hang above the wooden ceiling while drop lights line up the walls and corners to brighten up the dining area. “Because of the increasing volume of guests, we decided to renovate barLO. It now has an improved kitchen layout, a bigger prepping area plus additional storage and additional seats to accommodate more people,” said founder and owner John Peñaloza.