Manila Standard - 2018 February 07 - Wednesday

INFLATION HITS 3-YR HIGH; ASIAN STOCKS FALL (Stories on B1, B2)

VOL. XXXI • NO. 355 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Special anniversary supplement comes out on Feb. 12, 2018.

BENHAM ISSUE RISES. This handout photo, taken on May 6, 2017 and released on Feb. 6, 2018 by the Philippine Department of Agriculture-Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division, shows personnel from the DA

riding an inflatable boat with the tricolors as they survey Benham Rise, off the east coast of Luzon. President Rodrigo Duterte has banned all foreign scientific exploration on the Benham Rise undersea plateau claimed by Manila, now that China has completed its research there. AFP

Ban on Benham in force Rody lets China explorers in, bars other aliens

Martial law extension in Mindanao affirmed

By Rey E. Requejo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz THE Supreme Court on Tuesday approved a one-year extension of President Rodrigo Duterte’s martial law decree covering Mindanao, a ruling that critics described as a blow to human rights.

Duterte initially imposed military rule across Mindanao—home to about 20 million people—in May last year, when the military was fighting a deadly uprising by pro-Islamic State group militants in Marawi City.

Congress later endorsed his plan

By Vito Barcelo

to prolong martial rule across the region until the end of 2018. But rights campaigners, warning of a looming dictatorship, asked the Supreme Court in December to block the extension.

“The President and Congress had sufficient factual bases to extend [martial rule],” the court said in a statement Tuesday, summarizing the justices’ 10-5 vote to throw out the petition.

“The rebellion that spawned the Marawi incident persists,” it added, saying public safety required the extension.

Hundreds of gunmen rampaged Next page

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has banned all foreign scientific exploration on a vast undersea plateau claimed by Manila, his spokesman said Tuesday, now that China has completed its research there.

Authorities announced three weeks ago that the President had allowed China to conduct research at Benham Rise off the country’s Pacific coast, despite the two nations’ decades-old maritime disputes elsewhere in the region.

Duterte spokesman Harry Roque said the President ordered an end to all

foreign research in the area at a Cabinet meeting Monday after Chinese scientists completed their expedition.

“The President ordered that henceforth only Filipinos will be allowed to conduct scientific research... and explore and exploit for natural resources in the Philippine Rise,” Roque told reporters, using the local name for the area.

The 13-million-hectare underwater land mass, believed to be rich in maritime resources, lies 250 kilometers off the east coast of Luzon.

In 2012, the United Nations recognized the Philippines’ exclusive economic rights to Benham Rise as part of its continental shelf.

Roque added that all other foreign research permits were now revoked, including 26 issued to US, Japanese, and South Korean organizations. Next page

Bongbong makes way for recount; Leni to follow suit FORMER senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed the joint motion to withdraw the pending motions at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal and give way to the recount of the votes in the 2016 vice presidential race, which he lost to Leni Robredo and for which he demanded a recount.

“I’ve done everything possible to speed up this election protest,” Marcos said in his Facebook post on Tuesday.

Under the joint motion, both camps will withdraw “any and all motions and incidents that may unduly delay or hamper the election proceedings.”

Marcos made his post even as the supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo

CARS DESTROYED. President

Rodrigo Duterte, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña (not shown in photo, inset) watch the destruction of 20 luxury cars worth P61.6 million which include used Lexus, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Jaguar and Corvette Stingray during the Customs 116th founding anniversary Tuesday. Lino Santos

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‘Overpaid’ IT consultant for Sereno to testify today JOINT MOTION. Former senator

By Maricel V. Cruz

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signs Tuesday a joint motion informing everyone that he and Maria Leni Robredo will be ‘withdrawing any and all motion and incidents that may unduly delay or hamper the election proceedings pending before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.’

THE Supreme Court’s information technology consultant whose six-digit salary is higher than any of the justices will testify in today’s resumption

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of the impeachment hearing against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

The House committee on justice, chaired by Negros Oriental Rep. Reynaldo

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S

Asean ministers decry Chinese reclamation SINGAPORE—China’s continued reclamation in the South China Sea has eroded trust among claimants and could raise regional tensions, Southeast Asian foreign ministers said Tuesday.

The ministers from the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations did not mention China by name in their statement after a oneday meeting in Singapore, current chair of the grouping.

Beijing claims nearly all of the waterway and has been turning reefs and islets into islands and installing military facilities and equipment on them.

Asean members Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Vietnam as well as Taiwan also have partial claims in the waterway. Next page

Senators won’t ‘consciously wait’ for Charter panel SENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III said Tuesday senators would not “consciously wait” for the result of a review of the 1987 Constitution by a 19-member experts panel headed by former chief justice Reynato Puno.

The group, which includes Pimentel’s father and namesake, has six months to finish its review, which will be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte and later to Congress where efforts are going on to revise the Charter through a constituent assembly.

Pimentel said the committee’s proposal would be treated “just like any other reference material.”

Next page

Lone surviving Kennedy member in 1st PH visit THE lone surviving member of the late President John F. Kennedy’s immediate family visited the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig on Tuesday to honor American and Filipino World War II heroes.

Former US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy stopped by the chapel and walked through the “Wall of Missing,” where the names of American and Filipino he-

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roes who lost their lives and those who went missing in action during the war are engraved.

“This is my first trip to the Philippines and I very much wanted to visit this country, which has played such an important role in American history and so many wonderful memories of all the Filipinos who served with my father in the White House,” Caroline said.

“I know that there are some crew

members memorialized here so I wanted to come and pay my respects. I am very excited to be here and I look forward to a great couple of days.”

Caroline’s father served as navy lieutenant and gunboat pilot during the war and was honored for his heroic rescue of his shipmates when their boat was rammed by a Japanese destroyer near the Solomon Next page Islands.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Rody insists on telecom deadline

By Vito Barcelo

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has rejected the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s proposal to extend the deadline for the third telecommunications firm to operate in the country, an official said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the third telecoms firm was meant to improve the telecommuni-

cation service in the country.

He said the President wanted a new telecoms carrier to

No takers for Morales ouster bid —Alvarez

Ban...

By Maricel V. Cruz NOT one of the 292 members of the House of Representatives has endorsed the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, who is retiring in July.

That prompted Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to say on Tuesday that the chamber may no longer pursue the complaint against her.

Alvarez said while he supports the call of former Rep. Jacinto Paras for Morales’s removal from office for her alleged “selective prosecution,” and lately her refusal to implement Malacanang’s suspension order against Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang, he himself would endorse the complaint.

“Dalawa kaming nanawagan... Hanggang ngayon hinahanap ko ’yan [endorser], kasi ako naman hindi ako puwedeng mag-endorse dahil nga baka kung anong sasabihin na naman,” Alvarez told reporters.

“Doon nga sa [kaso ni] CJ [Chief Justice Maria Lourdes] Sereno, hindi ako nag-endorse tapos ako pa rin ang pinagbibintangan, ako raw ang may interes para maimpeach siya. Pambihira naman.” he added.

In December Paras, along with Volunteers against Crime and Corruption founding chairman Dante Jimenez, and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution president Eligio Mallari, filed an impeachment complaint against Morales at the Speaker’s Office, but no member of the House endorsed it.

Alvarez said he himself was still weighing if the impeachment complaint against Morales would prosper, or if the complaint would be practical since she would be stepping down five months from now.

Lone...

From A1

Kennedy paused to look at some notable names etched on the wall, including that of Torpedoman’s Mate 2C Andrew Kirksey who served with Kennedy and died during the ramming.

“It is an honor to be here.

We all owe so much,” she wrote on the guest book at the Chapel.

She cited the Philippines’ role in US history and remembered the Filipinos who served at the White House during her father’s stint.

The daughter of the late US president is also set to attend a student exchange poetry program organized by a US nongovernment organization that she supports.

She is meeting the Aquino sisters for tea.

Bongbong...

From A1 said they will now take on Marcos’ challenge to withdraw all pending motions in order to proceed with the recount of the ballots in the case.

Robredo’s lawyers had earlier dismissed Marcos’ challenge and said they did not have any pending motions.

But on Tuesday, Robredo’s lead counsel Romulo Macalintal said “We accept the challenge

be up and running by the first quarter of 2018.

He said the concerned agencies must act immediately to approve all applications and licenses within seven days, but only upon the complete submission of the requirements.

Duterte has said he dooes not want the courts to interfere and prolong the process by issuing any temporary restraining order or injunction because it is a matter

From A1

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol added that Duterte had directed the Philippine Navy to “chase out” any foreign vessels fishing or conducting research in the area.

The move banning foreign research comes as Duterte faced fresh criticism for failing to stop China’s militarization of artificial islands built by Beijing over reefs and rocks in the South China Sea. Opposition politicians and legal experts alleged this was tantamount to giving up Philippine territory.

“The President does not kowtow

Asean...

From A1

Ministers “took note of the concerns expressed by some ministers on the land reclamations and activities in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region,” said Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in the statement.

China had in December defended its construction on disputed islands as “normal” after a US think tank released new satellite images showing the deployment of radar and other equipment.

Following a meeting with Asean last year, China agreed to begin talks on a much-delayed code of conduct for the sea, which Balakrishnan warned would be a “complicated negotiation”.

“Territorial claims will not be resolved just because you have a [code of conduct],” he said.

Martial...

From A1 through the Islamic city of Marawi in May last year in what authorities said was part of an attempt to establish a Southeast Asian base for IS in the mainly Catholic Philippines.

A military campaign took five months to defeat the militants, with the battle claiming more than 1,100 lives and leaving large parts of Marawi in ruins.

Duterte declared in October that the city was “liberated” and military chiefs said militant leaders, including the IS leader in Southeast Asia, had been killed.

But authorities have said that those who escaped are regrouping and recruiting in Mindanao.

Duterte, who is also waging a deadly drug war throughout the country, has repeatedly warned he may impose martial law across the entire nation to fight

to any other country,” Roque said Tuesday.

China and the Philippines have had a long-running dispute over competing claims in the South China Sea to the west of Luzon. Parts of the waterway are also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Duterte’s predecessor, President Benigno Aquino III, had forcefully challenged China in diplomatic and legal circles over the South China Sea dispute, but Duterte has changed course since he was elected in mid-2016 in a bid for billions of dollars worth of Chinese investment.

At the Palace briefing, Roque said ships would be entitled to freedom of navigation through the area but

with the fact that in order to have a third telecoms player, the government would need to find frequencies to be allotted to the third player.

“He was also displeased with the fact that the frequency given to a company which apparently was given for free would have to be bought back by the government in order that the third player could be given the frequencies,” Roque said.

nobody but Filipinos would be able to conduct research lay submarine cables and explore and exploit the national resources there.

He also said that the President enjoined all members of the Cabinet to refer to the area as Philippine Rise and not as Benham Rise, since it is part of the Philippine territory.

“Let me be very clear about this: the Philippine Rise is ours and any insinuation that it is open to everybody should end with this declaration,” Piñol said, quoting Duterte at the start of the Cabinet meeting in Malacañang on Monday.

The President also directed the Department of National Defense to deploy Navy vessels and the Air Force to

na’s military buildup in areas of the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines, the Palace said President Rodrigo Duterte does not kowtow to any country.

“The President is accountable to the Filipino people. He is adopting a policy that he thinks is best to serve the Filipino interest. He may have a different perception of what is best for the Philippine interest,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing.

He then challenged Carpio to leave the judiciary and run for president.

Carpio earlier hit the administration’s “policy of appeasement” and said if it did not file a diplomatic protest, its silence could be seen as a waiver or abandonment of the country’s sovereign rights.

Liberal Party president Senator Francis Pangilinan, meanwhile, said they were deeply troubled at the nonchalant attitude taken by the government towards China’s militarization in the South China Sea. “We, the people, demand

that the government, at the very least, not stand idly by,” said Pangilinan.

Pangilinan said the government should protest blatant violations of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and beef up the country’s defenses in guarding what’s left of the Philippines’ territory, Pangilinan said it was the government’s sacred duty to protect its territory on behalf of its people.

The opposition senator also said it was disturbing to hear the presidential spokesman take Chinese assurances without question and use this to suggest Filipinos can sleep soundly at night.

“It’s like telling Filipinos not to worry because while China constructed a building, it would only stay on the ground floor.

Since 2013, China has engaged in unprecedented and ecologically devastating dredging and island-building at all seven of the features it occupies in the Spratly Island, creating nearly

crime and terrorism.

Martial law is an extremely sensitive issue in the Philippines, after dictator Ferdinand Marcos used military rule to hold on to power a generation ago.

Opponents argued that extended martial law violated a constitutional provision limiting the initial period to 60 days.

However, Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling said the Constitution was “silent” on how many times Congress may extend martial law.

The Supreme Court added that claims of rights violations under martial law were “speculative.”

An Amnesty International report in November said troops detained and tortured civilians trying to flee Marawi.

Opposition lawmaker Edcel Lagman, who was among those who filed the petition, said Tuesday’s ruling would lead to a derogation of civil liberties.

“The Supreme Court verdict will embolden President Rodrigo Duterte in flouting the rule of law,” Lagman said.

Siding with the position of Congress and Malacañang, the majority of the magistrates ruled that the Court has no power to review the decision of Congress to grant the request of the President for an extension of martial law.

“Each House of Congress has full discretionary authority to formulate, adopt and promulgate its own rules; the exercise of this power is generally exempt from judicial supervision and interference,” the Court said in a decision written by Associate Justice Noel Tijam.

The nine justices who concurred with the ruling were Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardode Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlas-Bernabe,

Samuel Martires, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno dissented from the ruling and was joined by Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Marvic Leonen, Francis Jardeleza and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.

The Court said it could only step in once there is clear showing of arbitrary and improvident use of such power by Congress under Article VII, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution, which it said is lacking in this case.

The justices also disagreed with the argument of petitioners that the extension should have only been limited to 60 days, saying the Constitution does not fix a period or duration for such an extension and is also actually silent as to how many times the Congress can extend a martial law declaration by the President. With AFP

Umali, said the IT consultant, Helen Macasaet, confirmed her attendance in Wednesday’s hearing.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro earlier told lawmakers that she found the P250,000 monthly fee that Sereno had given to Macasaet too high.

De Castro, a former Sandiganbayan associate justice, said she had been in charge of the judiciary’s computerization, and yet she never knew nor heard of Helen Macasaet.

In an earlier impeachment hearing, it was revealed that the Court under Sereno’s watch had paid a total of P12 million to Macasaet from 2013 to 2017.

Deputy Court Administrator Raul Villanueva, head of the SC bids and awards committee, earlier told the House justice committee that the Court, through Sereno’s instructions, paid roughly about P2.4 million a year—or P200,000 a month—to Macasaet.

Sources in the judiciary revealed that each justice received an average of P152,000 monthly in 2017—an amount which has increased to P198,000 this year with the implementation of the second tranche of the Salary Standardization Law. Sereno got a monthly salary of P180,000 in 2017 and reached P235,000 in 2018— still way below the P250,000 monthly consultancy fee she had extended to Macasaet from 2013 to 2017.

Aside from Macasaet, the other re-

the ballots. The ballots are the best evidence and we should just proceed with the recount,” Rodriguez said.

Robredo’s camp accepted the challenge on Tuesday, saying they also did not want to delay the ballot recount.

“It is Marcos’ raising of baseless allegations and irrelevant issues that is causing the delay in the recount,” Macalintal said.

Macalintal earlier invited Marcos and his lawyer to sign the joint motion on Wednesday at 9 a.m.

source persons expected to appear at the committte are Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Cesar Dulay, Sandiganbayan Justice Zaldy Trespeses, and Court Administrator Midas Marquez.

Dulay will testify on the tax records of Sereno who failed to file her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth for 17 years when she was still a law professor at the University of the Philippines.

Trespeses, on the other hand, will speak on the chief magistrates’ alleged refusal to include now Justice Francis Jardeleza as nominee then.

Umali maintained that his committee will decide on the probable cause of the Sereno impeachment complaint by end of February. He said four more hearings may be conducted before it votes on probable cause.

Marcos lost to Robredo in the 2016 national elections by 263,473 votes.

On June 29, 2016, Marcos filed an election protest against Robredo before the Supreme Court sitting as the PET. In its grant of Marcos’ plea, the PET decided on Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental as the pilot provinces for the ballot recount.

Earlier, Marcos identified the three provinces as the “best exemplifying fraud or irregularities” in his protest brief.

“The President rejected that proposal that we pay for the frequencies that we gave out for free.

“Frequencies are owned by the state. He will not allow the holders to benefit from a free privilege by charging us anything to enable the third telecoms carrier to operate.”

Roque declined to name the company that wants to sell the frequency but vowed to divulge it soon.

conduct flyovers in the area to check for the presence of foreign vessels.

Earlier, Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said the Philippines could disallow China from carrying out research in the Philippine Rise because it did not comply with the international tribunal’s ruling on the West Philippine Sea. In 2016, the Philippines won its case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in The Netherlands, which ruled that China had no legal basis “to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the nine-dash line.”

China, which claims most of the South China Sea, did not heed the tribunal’s ruling. With AFP

“Second, there will be no shortage of very sensitive issues that will take a lot of innovation and imagination on the part of the diplomats, and ultimately an exercise of political will,” he told a press briefing.

He added that ministers were briefed on the humanitarian situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine state but kept silent over accusations of ethnic cleansing by the army, instead pledging to support Yangon’s humanitarian relief efforts.

Myanmar is an Asean member.

Singapore is looking to push an agenda heavy on cybersecurity and innovation in a grouping which has tended to focus much of its endeavours on regional diplomacy and economic growth.

Asean defense ministers also held a meeting in the city-state Tuesday, including a special session with Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan.

Criticized by Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio for doing nothing about Chi-

‘Overpaid’ ...

From A1

of Mr. Marcos and his lawyer to sign a joint motion to withdraw any and all pending motions and incidents at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, which may cause the delay of the recount of the ballots from the pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.”

Marcos’ spokesman Vic Rodriguez on Sunday challenged Robredo to withdraw all outstanding motions so they could “go straight to the recount.”

“In so doing, we could hasten the process and go straight to

of national interest and for the benefit of the public to have a third company providing telecommunications services.

“That’s how serious the President is on the entry of a third telecoms player,” Roque told reporters.

“It is being rushed because we need desperately to have better telecoms in this country.”

Roque also said Duterte was particularly displeased

Robredo also listed three provinces in her own counterprotest brief: Capiz, Sulu and North Cotabato.

Her camp claims Marcos’ election protest is based on general allegations and manufactured evidence designed to sway the results in his favor.

The PET has required Marcos to pay P66 million and Robredo P15 million in two tranches to finance their protests and counter-protests. A petitioner needs to pay P500 per contested precinct.

1,300 hectares of land. How can we trust it to stop its aggression this time? Due to the initiative of the last administration, the Philippines has secured an arbitral ruling favorable to us,” Pangilinan said.

“Let’s not make this a mere paper victory by giving China an easy ride through the current administration,” he added.

Meanwhile, Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV welcomed President Duterte’s order a stop to the maritime scientific exploration by foreigners on Benham Rise, but insisted that the government should come up with a sound plan for exploring the 13-million-hectare underwater plateau.

“The President’s pronouncement is a welcome development. Now we must determine our policy and plans for Benham Rise,” Aquino said.

Aquino also expressed hopes that the President will strictly and consistently enforce his order. AFP with Macon Ramos-Araneta

Senators...

From A1 At the same time, the older Pimentel, in his time also head of the Senate, said to prevent political dynasties and warlordism, the proposed federal charter must “specifically” prohibit it.

“Warlords will only sprout if we allow them. Since we are adopting a federal system, let’s put the precise wording in the federal revision that warlords are prohibited,” Pimentel told a forum in a mixture of Filipino and English.

The former senator said banning political dynasty and warlordism was not clearly expressed in the 1987 Constitution, written by a 48-member body appointed by then President Corazon Aquino.

In related developments: • The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed for lack of jurisdiction a petition seeking to end the impasse between the House of Representatives and the Senate over their conflicting positions on the manner of voting by Congress for the purposes of amending the 1987 Constitution to shift the present presidential to federal system of government.

During its en banc session, the 15-man bench unanimously voted to dismiss the petition filed by Arturo de Castro, dean of the College of Criminology and associate law dean and bar review director of the University of Manila, seeking for declaratory relief on the manner of voting of Congress for the purpose of amending the constitution.

The SC ruled that it has no original jurisdiction over declaratory relief actions as such jurisdiction belongs to the Regional Trial Court.

“Its jurisdiction is limited to appellate review of declaratory relief judgments rendered by the trial courts,” the SC stressed.

• In the House of Representatives, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Tuesday renewed his push for Charter Changer, saying no region or state would

Cabral hits back at PAO: Sowing panic

By Macon R. Araneta FORMER Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral has accused the Public Attorney’s Office of sowing fear and panic among the public by allegedly sensationalizing the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy.

In an interview on Unang Balita on Tuesday, Cabral clarified the Doctors for Public Welfare did not want to stop the autopsy on alleged Dengvaxia victims.

She said the group only wanted other agencies to conduct the autopsy, instead of the PAO. Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito urged all government agencies especially the PAO to cooperate in the ongoing investigations on the Dengvaxia controversy, raising concern the case might be dragged before an international court.

The issue here, Ejercito said, is that if the matter reaches an international court between the Philippines and French drug firm Sanofi Pasteur, we will have an “air tight case.”

“We should help each other, not that we don’t want.

How will it be if technical experts are needed to look at the evidence,” said Ejerciro, chair of the Senate committee on health and demography.

Ejercito was referring to PAO officials who were a noshow in the Senate Blue Ribbon committee fifth hearing on the anti-dengue vaccine controversy.

He had requested Blue Ribbon committee chairman Senator Richard Gordon to issue a subpoena to ensure their presence in the next hearig on the P3.5- billion dengue immunizatiin program on Feb. 21.

“In line with the chairman’s quest for truth, this representation feels that their findings will be significant and also what we want is for government agencies to work together,” Ejercito told the panel. Gordon acceded to his request.

A civil case had been filed against 31 respondents, including the board of directors and officials of Sanofi and Sanofi’s local distributorZuellig Pharma Corp. be left behind under a federal system of government.

Alvarez said a formula could be adopted in creating the regions or states under a federal setup to ensure every region would have adequate potential and resources for development.

This developed as Ilocos Sur Rep. Deogracias Savellano, chairperson of the House special committee on the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle, was dismayed over the failure of certain Cabinet secretaries to attend Tuesday’s Cha-Cha hearing conducted by the House committee on constitutional amendments.

The committee, chaired by Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado, conducted a hearing on the resource generation and fiscal allocation under a federal form of government, which has been advocated by President Duterte.

Invited to the proceedings were secretaries Carlos Dominguez III of the Department of Finance, Benjamin Diokno of the Department of Budget and Management, and National Economic and Development Authority Director-General Ernesto Pernia.

The three Palace officials sent their respective representatives.

Savellano said the absence of the three Cabinet secretaries was an indication they were taking for granted the federalism push of the Duterte administration.

“The way I see it, the discussions here are not serious since we do not have the secretaries. If they send a representative, it is someone who does not know what to answer,” Savellano said.

“We should take this seriously so as not to waste time. We all have a lot to do.

You should appear personally.

If you will send representatives, make sure they can answer our questions,” he added.

“We should be prepared [with the discussions]; what are the pros and cons of our undertaking? We have to move forward and not just talk. This does not seem serious,” Savellano said. Rey Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NFA rice supply under control —Palace MALACAÑANG on Tuesday assured that the supply of National Food Authority rice is under control.

In a Palace briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. told him that there was a standby order of 250,000 metric tons of rice.

“I just talked to CabSec Evasco. He says the situation is really under control. Of course, we will not allow our inventory to be depleted,” Roque said in reaction to reports that the NFA rice supply is fast dwindling.

Last Monday, Roque said President Rodrigo R. Duterte had been doing a “diplomatic initiative” to address the NFA rice shortage.

“I was not authorized to reveal what the President has done. But the President has done a diplomatic initiative to address this. But without authority, I cannot yet announce,” he told Palace reporters.

Last Sunday, Senator Nancy Binay called on the government to address the “dwindling supply” of NFA rice.

The reported NFA rice shortage had resulted in the increase of NFA rice from PHP27 to PHP32 per kilo. PNA

Labor groups urge DU30 to fulfill ‘promise’

By Vito Barcelo A NUMBER of labor groups urged President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an executive order that will put a stop to contractualization and other schemes that employers use to avoid regularizing workers.

Leaders of the Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition, the Kilusang Mayo Uno and other labor federations and workers’ associations said the President should make good his campaign promise to end contractualization.

“It’s about time the President makes good on his vow to end contractualization and stay true to his commitment to us during our last dialogue on Labor Day to issue an Executive Order to fulfill this promise,” KMU and Nagkaisa! said in a joint statement.

Labor leaders will have a dialogue with the President today (Feb. 7) in Malacañang.

The labor groups said that Duterte has asked them to draft an executive order which he will sign.

KMU and Nagkaisa! submitted a common draft but the Department of Labor and Employment facilitated discussions with both labor and employers on the issuance of an EO. “We want the President to issue an executive order prohibiting all forms of contractualization based on the position we submitted,” Nagkaisa! and KMU said.

In discussions with the labor groups, they agreed to a version of the proposed EO which says that, “Contracting or subcontracting when undertaken to circumvent the worker’s rights to security of tenure, self-organization, collective bargaining and peaceful concerted activities pursuant to the 1987 Philippine Constitution is hereby strictly prohibited.”

WORLD HIJAB DAY.

Leyte (1st Dist) Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez (left) shares a historic moment with former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during Hijab Day celebrated by the Women’s Legislators at the plenary of the House of Representatives. The Hijab is celebrated in 140 countries worldwide to encourage women of all religions to wear and experience the hijab.

Ver Noveno

Public school teachers to get pay hike in 2020

By Vito Barcelo

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UBLIC school teachers and other government workers will get salary increases in 2020 as the government will look for ways to effect the pay raise, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday said.

“No salary increase this still expecting two more year nor next year but tranches of salary increase in 2020 as teachers are in 2018 and 2019 under

the Salary Standardization Law,” Roque said in a news conference.

“The entire Cabinet affirmed the President’s directive that we will continue to look for ways and means to effect and increase the teachers’ salary but beginning 2020, not 2019,” the Presidential spokesperson said.

“The rationale for this is that the last tranche of the salary increase under Salary Standardization Law will be

implemented in 2019,” he added.

He said the aim was not only to increase the salary of public school teachers but also the salary of all workers in the public sector.

“So it’s teachers and the public sector,” he said.

Currently, public school teachers’ salaries range from P19,000 to P43,000, depending on their level. In addition, they get allowances and bonuses.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier said that it is better to consider the pay hike in 2020, which comes after the full implementation of salary standardization law.

Under the SSL, all government worker, including public school teachers, will have an average pay increase of 15 to 16 percent. Another pay hike will be experienced the following year.

Bill on special protection of children in conflict OKd

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives’ committee on welfare of children has approved a substitute bill which provides for the special protection of children in situations of armed conflict.

The committee, chaired

by Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Divina Grace Yu, approved the substituted House Bills 13, 1280, 2345, 3050 and 4676, setting the stage of the bill approval in plenary.

The bill, also known as “Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act” seeks to provide special protection to children in situations of armed conflict from all forms of abuse, violence, neglect, cruelty, discrimination and other conditions prejudicial to their development.

The bill, with former speaker and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. as co-authors, also aims

to implement the protection guaranteed under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, its Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and all other core human rights treaties.

The bill declares the children as zones of peace and as such, shall be treated in accordance with the policies stipulated under Article X, Section 22 of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. Belmonte, a lawyer, said among the rights granted to children in situations of armed conflicts are: The right to life, survival and development; the right to special respect and protection against any form of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violation, especially in the context of armed conflict; and the right to be treated as victims.

Likewise, children in situations of armed conflict have the right to be accorded with special respect and to be protected from any form of direct or indiscriminate attacks and acts of violence; the right to be protected from extrajudicial killings, maiming, torture, abduction and rape; and the right not to be interned or confined in camp.

“Moreover, they have the right to be protected from recruitment into government armed forces or armed groups and from participation in armed conflict including the right to be protected from torture or any cruel, inhuman or degrading practices that compel compliance or punish noncompliance with recruitment or participation in armed conflict and among other things; and the right to be treated humanely in all circumstances, without any adverse distinction

founded on race, color, religion or faith, gender, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria,” Belmonte said.

The bill provides the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million to P5 million to any person who are found guilty of these acts: Killing of children; torture committed against children which include those enumerated in Section 4 of Republic Act 9745 or the “Anti-Torture Act; and intent maiming of children and rape of children.

The penalty of imprisonment of 14 to 20 years and a fine of P1 million to P2 million shall be imposed on any person found guilty of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment committed against children, including those acts found in Section 5 of the AntiTorture Act; abduction of children; causal maiming of children; taking children as hostages or using them as

human shield; recruitment, conscription or enlistment of children into government armed forces and other armed groups; acts of gender-based violence against children; refusal or denial of humanitarian access/and or assistance to children; use or involvement of children involved in armed conflict in any capacity; and attacks on schools, hospitals, places of worship, evacuation centers and settlements and other public places.

The bill also imposes penalties on any public officer who prevents, prohibits, refuses or discontinues the implementation of the Act. Meanwhile, the House has approved on third and final reading a measure declaring August 30 of every year as “National Press Freedom Day“ in honor of Marcelo H. Del Pilar, the father of Philippine Journalism, who wrote under the pen name Plaridel.

Envoy lauds increase of Pinoy visitors in Holy Land, Israel

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Embassy of Israel lauded the increase in the number of Filipinos who had visited the Holy Land and Israel in 2017.

Data from Israel’s Ministry of Tourism showed that around 23,500 Filipinos travelled to Israel in 2017, up 61 percent from 14,600 in 2016 Israel’s Ambassador to Manila Effie Ben Matityau expressed optimism that more Filipinos will travel to Israel this year.

“Israel is the promised land and the land of many promises which create the foundation for a steady growth in tourism. This year, we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the friendship

treaty between our two countries, and tourism stands as a strong pillar of our growing ties and people-to-people exchanges,” Matityau said.

Hassan Madah, tourism director for India and Philippines, said Israel’s 2017 tourism record exceeded their full-year target of 20,000 Filipino tourists travelling to Israel.

“We surpassed our target of 20,000 Filipinos travelling to Israel and towards the end the year and we reached 23,500—a 61 percent increase from 2016. More Israeli players entered the market, and the added good connectivity flying from Manila to Israel via Turkish Airlines and Cathay Pacific helped us in the growth of tourist arrivals,” he said.

TURNOVER. PNP Director Ronald Bato dela Rosa leads the turnover of command for the New Bilibid Prison facility security consisting of around 182 SAF personnel at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Norman Cruz

Barangay, SK polls gets going on May 14 AFTER several postponements, the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will finally push through on May 14.

This was confirmed

by Martin Diño, the interior department’s undersecretary for barangay affairs on Tuesday.

“Ilang beses na ito napostpone at maraming nagtatanong kung ito ba ay matutuloy ngayong taon. Tuloy na tuloy po ang barangay and SK election ngayong ika-14 ng Mayo,” Diño said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Commission on Elections, meanwhile, announced that the election period will run from April 14 to May 21, while the filing of candidacy will be from April 14 to 20.

The campaign period is set from May 2 to 12.

The country held its last barangay elections on October 2013, while the last SK elections were held in October of 2010.

“Pangatlong try na natin ito. Tuloy na tuloy na ang Barangay at SK elections,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.

On Tuesday, the DILG kicked off a campaign urging the public to vote for candidates who are “Matino, Mahusay, at Maaasahan.”

Based on Comelec data, some 55-million voters are registered to vote.

Officials to be elected are a barangay chairman and seven members of the Sangguniang Barangay or kagawad, as well as a Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson, and seven members of the council.

Voting and counting for the May polls will be manual.

“Automated barangay elections have never been an option. It’s a very small election. Kapag nabilang na sa presinto usually tapos na,” Jimenez said.

‘Monsour’ is newest member of PDP-Laban

By Joel E. Zurbano MAKATI City 1st District Rep. Monsour del Rosario III is the newest member of the ruling political party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan.

Del Rosario, who ran for congressman in the May 2016 elections under political party of United Nationalist Alliance standardbearer Jejomar Binay, took his oath before PDP-Laban secretary-general and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Monday.

But Makati City Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo said Del Rosario’s transfer to the party of President Rodrigo Duterte will not erase his ‘failure’ in serving his constituents in the city’s First District.

“It is important for the constituents of Makati to witness and experience the service of their elected officials. It is a pity that since his election, Monsour del Rosario did not pay much attention to his constituents in District I,” said Lagdameo in a statement.

She said transferring to another political party will not erase former actor’s failing mark in serving the people.

Lagdameo said she and her fellow officials under UNA-Makati never mistreated Del Rosario in any way, despite his alleged negligence.

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Back to school

I

N A radio interview over the weekend, Senator Nancy Binay spoke of the formation of a bloc of nine senators that would take a united position on certain issues.

The bloc, now referred to as the “seatmates bloc plus,” adds four members to the original “seatmates” group formed by Senators JV Ejercito, Juan Edgardo Angara, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sherwin Gatchalian and Joel Villanueva. The original members had banded together in January 2017 as a way to gain support for their respective sponsored bills.

The new members are Binay and Senators Richard Gordon, Loren Legarda and Cynthia Villar, she said.

In the interview, Binay cheerfully referred to Villar as the “mama bear,” of the group, Gordon as its “papa bear,” and Legarda as the bloc’s older sister.

Asked about a photo that Ejercito had posted of the seatmates bloc and her having dinner, Binay said the “children” met first because the “parents” were away.

While Binay said the expanded bloc would cooperate on certain issues—she did not say what these were—it may also become a way for senators seeking reelection win 2019 to band together.

In a Senate with 23 members, a bloc of nine could prove influential—if they remain united over core issues.

But to date, we have no clear picture of what these core issues might be, and logic dictates that as the group grows larger, common ground might shrink as opportunities for disagreements grow.

Moreover, Binay’s flippant characterization of the new bloc as a family of bears adds no gravitas to a group whose original name suggests the members are still in school, instead of the Senate of the republic.

Nor does it help that one of the original members of the seatmates bloc recently engaged online critics

in an exchange of vulgar insults on social media, using language better suited to the gutter than the halls of the Senate—then refused to apologize for sinking to such a low level of discourse.

Did this senator’s so-called seatmates remind their errant colleague that he needed to behave at all times in a manner that would not put the Senate to shame? The most that one of them could manage was to say that senators, too, were only human, and could get hurt.

We all know this, of course. We have been reminded of this fact over the years by the steady decline in the caliber of our senators—seatmates or otherwise.

One recipe against rising GNP—Gutom na Pilipino

By Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto

‘Unbearable’ BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO THE worsening traffic problem in Metro Manila and other major cities is fast becoming unbearable. This was according to American Chamber of Commerce president John Forbes who said foreign businessmen lament living and doing business in the Philippines.

“With so many vehicles being put on the road, traffic has become unbearable and living in urban areas uninhabitable,” said Forbes who reiterated his prediction two years ago. He noted it is not only Metro Manila where traffic has morphed into a monstrous gridlock. Cities like Baguio and Cebu are the same.

I could not agree more with Forbes’ dire outlook.

Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, who once asked about the problem, had suggested Metro Manila mayors for a start should hold an emergency meeting on traffic management.

“Solving the traffic problem may be impossible, but easing it is doable,” said Atienza who served for three terms as mayor of Manila. He said Metro Manila mayors should work together as traffic flow is interlinked with each of their cities. Vehicles from Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Pasay and Makati are a cross current of traffic flow that gets snagged particularly during rush hours.

Atienza said motor vehicles allowed on Edsa should be limited to

Point-to-Point buses and private cars should have high occupancy or least two persons—driver and passenger. This restriction can be lifted on weekends when motor vehicle traffic

What is happening to our country?

is lighter because workers and student commuters presumably are not on the road.

In cities, all this is happening because work and business are concentrated in the metropolis and urban areas.

Although already

employed here, Filipinos still seek jobs overseas.

This is because so much time is spent on the road traveling to work. Manhours lost is the lament of business establishments and consequently of foreign investors whose priority is productivity.

An alternative could be the dispersal of industries and government offices outside of Metro Manila.

There is too much concentration of business offices in the urban areas. Clark in Pampanga, Sta. Rosa or Binan in Laguna could host government offices employing residents in these towns who would not have to commute.

Aside from the government’s plan to build more roads and elevated expressways, the total overhaul of the mass rail transport sys-

tem is a must if traffic is going to be lessened. Cities like New York, London and nearby Hong Kong and Singapore have shown that interlinked underground commuter railway and surface buses make their cities livable.

At our group’s regular morning coffee gathering, an elderly statesman would often ask: “What’s happening to our country?” He, of course, knows the answer more than us but he wants to hear what the others think.

After getting feedback from some of us, he would then give us his more prescient insight. We then have an exchange of views and concerns. *** I cannot help but feel perturbed about certain developments in the local and international scene.

Foremost of these concerns is China’s continued militarization of the manmade islands in the Spratlys and the Paracels. Aside from posing a direct threat to us in the West Philippine Sea, freedom of navigation for international cargo vessels using vital South China Sea lanes is impeded. It does not help that our soft and trusting foreign policy vis-à-vis China is encouraging Beijing to flex its military muscle even more to advance its expansionist agenda in the region.

My second concern is that the rest of our citizens are ambivalent in raising their collective voices against the indecent plan in the House Representatives to convene itself into a constituent assembly to revise the 1987 Constitution. This

THE good news is that our GDP is increasing. The bad news is that our GNP—or Gutom na Pilipino—is rising as well.

The report that our economy grew by 6.7 percent last year was dampened by the survey result that the number of families who had experienced involuntary hunger in the last quarter of 2017 soared by almost a million, to 3.6 million families, from 2.7 million the quarter before that.

It means that one in six families skipped meals not because they’re on a keto diet, but because their kalderos were empty.

For growth to be real to the people, it must be translated into affordable calories.

For them, growth in the economic pie should mean bigger slices of food on the table. The thinking of the man on the street is that those numbers have no meaning if they’re not made edible.

This is what this bill intends to do. It is not, however, a single recipe that will end hunger, but part of a larger menu, which includes boosting farm spending.

This bill institutionalizes a feeding program that will target the most vulnerable.

And who are they? The ones who are the first to bear the brunt of any catastrophe—our children.

Close to 35,000 Filipino children die per year of hunger and malnutrition.

That’s 95 victims a day.

Malnutrition has an annual casualty rate higher than the body count in Marawi.

It claims more lives in a year than the most powerful typhoon in history— “Yolanda.”

And, yes, more kids die yearly from Tom-guts than from Tokhang.

The reason for this death toll can be found in this portrait of the malnourished Filipino child under the age of five: One in four is underweight. Three in 10 are stunted. One in 12 is wasted.

Turn to A5

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Opinion

I HAVE often wondered programs by the Departhow easily some people ment of Health.

As a result, the DoH’s can write a book on conpurchase of P7.4-billion troversial issues.

Thus, when my good vaccines for all sorts of friend Dante Arevalo Ang, diseases is now at risk.

I agree with Senachairman emeritus of The Manila Times, asked me tor Ralph Recto that the to write my memoirs after Health department should nearly seven decades in use its advertising budget journalism, I was reluctant. to calm down parents who How can I write a book, I may be concerned that imasked him, when I am nei- munization causes harm.

This fear of immunizather a celebrity, a pop star, tion may result in someor a politician of note?

“I’ll take care of every- thing even more drastic. thing,” he said. And my, he Indeed there is need for a massive information camdid.

I agonized over the idea paign, not just by the DoH of a memoir. This would but by the Duterte adminisentail a lot of research, and tration itself. *** most importantly a recolI also agree with the lection of events.

That would also mean fears expressed by Suspending money that I preme Court Associate didn’t have. To write a Justice Antonio Carpio that halfway-decent book, you our apparent policy toward have to spend about half a China will only embolden million for a good writer- Beijing to militarize the editor, and another half a Spratlys. The Chinese are million for printing and building air and naval facilities on seven reefs that publishing.

Still, the thought of are being claimed by the leaving a legacy appealed Philippines.

Carpio, who was one of to me. At 90, I am just the mainwaiting for stays when my last call the Philipfor that flight pines won to The Great I said to its case Beyond.

I before the c o n s u l t e d myself, ‘bahala Permanent my chil- na!’

Court of dren and my Arbitration, wife Trinisaid acquidad, who escence to has been my soulmate for the past China’s militarization will 63 years, and who would only render useless our fight always bring me back to for our sovereign rights.

But in what he calls earth whenever I had deluan independent foreign sions of grandeur.

Finally I told Dante I policy, President Rodrigo Duterte accepted loans and would go for it. investments from China. *** The hard work started. China never recognized the Luckily, I have compiled arbitral ruling.

Now Presidential Spokesall my column materials since the time I was man Harry Roque is saying working at The Philippines China’s incursions began during the time of former Herald.

It has been more than President Benigno Aquino a year since I became ac- III. But isn’t the Duterte quainted with the writer administration already in Dante sent me, Lea Beltran. power?

This policy of appeaseShe patiently sat down with me for hours as I looked ment and accommodation back on my life. At times I is not doing us any good.

While Carpio is not saying had to consult my wife.

When the manuscript we should go to war with came, I was not satisfied China—we clearly cannot —and it was not because win—he is saying we are Ms. Beltran did not do her losing all our claims. *** job well. I wanted more It is required that all inthan a reportage for my vestment proposals, even autobiography.

Thus I consulted other unsolicited ones, have to writers and biographers on go through the wringer of how to make my story in- the National Economic and Development Authority. It teresting and compelling.

This is why there has is chaired by no less than been a delay in the publi- the President.

Neda will only consider cation. And now I remember the book still has to be these proposals after its launched and marketed. committee approves them.

That would probably eat This is why sometimes it up on the last of my life takes years before a project begins. savings.

I can think of an examAs I said, “Bahala na.”

I know that my memoirs ple.Would you believe it will be an inspiration to those took Neda 14 years to apwho took the same path as I prove MRT7? Then, it was did. Journalism is more than Eli Levin who submitted the proposal to President a profession. It’s a calling!

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. *** In the aftermath of Now the proposal was made findings that Sanofi Pas- by Ramon Ang. President teur made some 830,000 and CEO of the San Miguel schoolchildren guinea pigs conglomerate.

I don’t know what some with its Dengvaxia vaccine, parents are now wary people in Neda had against of all other immunization Levin.

‘Unbearable’ From A4

is brazen and shameful and can only result in a Charter change that benefits the congressmen to stay in power perpetually.

The people have a right to participate in drafting a new charter through a Constitutional convention of elected delegates who will write the basic law of the land but the congressmen

want to arrogate this duty unto themselves.

Challenges to the posts of the Supreme Court Chief Justice and the Ombudsman add to the uncertainty in our society’s legal foundation. Whatever the outcome of the impeachment proceeding against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales, we hope our legal institutions will emerge even stronger.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Jaza on disruptive trends

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Writing my memoirs

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ THE following is the second part of my column of Jan. 31, 2018 on Ayala Corp. chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala discussing the challenges facing Philippine conglomerates. Writing to Ayala employees on Jan. 18, this year, JAZA said in conclusion: “It is imperative that we design our technical and vocational education system to address the required skill sets in an era of technological disruption. With lack of sufficient access to affordable quality education leading to massive dropout rates across all educational levels in the country, a good number of Filipinos rely on vocational training as their ticket to employment.

“To ensure their relevance in the job market, we need to overhaul our technical and vocational training system to match the skills required in an automated and digitized environment. Our Ayala group can and has played a role in this regard.

“At the Ayala group, we entered the education space four years ago when the impact of technological trends was not as pronounced as it is today. Even back then, we observed the astounding

mismatch between the skills learned in school against those that are required by employers.

“Our presence in a wide range of industries gives us a good understanding of the skills gap employers face today.

“We aim to bridge these gaps by leveraging the complementary strengths of the academic institutions we invest in with our group’s deep industry experience in high-growth service and manufacturing industries such as banking, telecom, retail, tourism, construction, property, and IT-BPM. “Long before the impact of technological disruptions on employment was pushed to the spotlight, I am proud to see that our group has always provided opportunities for career growth and lifelong learning for our employees, across industries, and continuously focused on upgrading their knowledge and skills.

“I know this is taking place group wide; whether it be in construction, telecommunication, manufacturing or financial services, just to name a few.

“In our construction industry alone we work with Tesda to create employment opportunities for close to 70,000 individuals through technical training centers.

“Bottom line, we need to continue integrating this focus on re-tooling and life

long education into all our business platforms if we are to remain relevant as a business group.”

On accelerating the development of much-needed physical infrastructure that supports the connectivity and mobility that are critical to sustaining our economic growth, Jaza said: “As you know, we have always supported the country’s efforts on infrastructure development and have aligned our group’s strategy to support the government’s agenda. Efficient infrastructure not only enhances trade and investments, but also facilitates the growth of our urban economies.

“In addition, as our cities become highly urbanized, it is equally critical to enable mobility to manage density, create access, and connect people, goods, and services.

“Urban cities are vital in creating a critical mass of consumers, talent, and resources. It fosters the creative combustion that brings life, new ideas, entrepreneurial vigor, diverse cultures and viewpoints, an innovative verve, and increased productivity to urban centers.

“However, the benefits from urban cities can only be fully extracted with extensive infrastructure, efficient urban planning and the connectivity that progressive telecommunication services bring.

“We intend to continue working to improve and contribute to many aspects of this physical infrastructure, including the distribution of services such as water and telecommunications, as far as our capital will allow while remaining a progressive force in urban redevelopment and renewal.”

Finally, on the indispensable role that the private sector plays in developing and contributing to a more comprehensive social contract, here is what Jaza said: “To remain relevant, to continue building trust with communities, businesses must contribute to society as a whole, and ensure the progressive development of the markets they serve.

“The wider public is increasingly demanding more from private enterprises in this regard and we must not be deaf to this call.

“We must remain progressive contributors to the changes that are needed.

Businesses cannot survive in communities that are rife with inequity and suffer from both social and physically degraded environments.

“Ignoring the challenges faced by both global and national communities today threatens our ability to create long-term value and jeopardizes enterprises, markets, and entire societies. In the Philippines, our need to address economic inclusiv-

ity and build on sustainable business practices remains of paramount importance.

“The shifts we have seen in the global landscape, as well as the prevailing trends that have affected business and society, have made it clear that the Ayala group’s role in society must continue to evolve.

“We have already taken many steps to contribute productively and promote inclusiveness in this regard by diversifying into products and services that cater to a wider segment of society; by entering new sectors with gaps in accessibility, affordability, and capacity that, at the same time, meet the basic needs of communities; and by adapting to the demands of technology and digital disruption.

“Given the wealth of talent that the Ayala group has, I believe that, as we remain attuned to the changes taking place in the world, we will continue to find more and improved ways to adapt and remain relevant to our markets while also contributing to the changing needs and demands of our society in progressive ways.

“Across our group, we will continue to put the resources, knowledge, expertise, and talent that we have towards providing products and services that meet the real needs of Filipinos.” biznewsasia@gmail.com

Eyes on 2019 SO I SEE LITO BANAYO ASIDE from the names already mentioned by Speaker Bebot Alvarez late last year and the re-electionists who will face the electorate once more come 2019, who else might try to become senator of the realm?

First, we have the following re-electionists: Senate President Koko Pimentel of the now numerous PDPLaban, Senators Cynthia Villar (NP), Bam Aquino (LP), Sonny Angara (LDP), Grace Poe (Ind), JV Ejercito (PMP), Nancy Binay (UNA).

Their colleagues who are graduating, and will need to hibernate or will be going to other pastures like DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, are: Senators Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero, Gringo Honasan, all independent, and Antonio Trillanes (NP).

Of the seven reelectionists, Senator Bam Aquino is the only one with the opposition Liberal Party. SP Pimentel is the only PDPLaban candidate, but the rest of the reelectionists are “independently” supportive of the administration.

Assuming further that Villar, Angara, Poe, Ejercito and Binay are included in the PDP-Laban slate, something that the majority party will yet have to decide, there are but six slots left in the administration slate.

Senator Pia Cayetano (NP) is rating highly in early surveys, and is likely to

One...

From A4

In all, there are 7.8-million undernourished kids five years old and below. If we raise the age covered to 10, the number shoots up to 18 million.

The 18 million is the population of six regions put together: Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, Zamboanga Peninsula, ARMM, and Caraga. It is a number bigger than the population of Metro Manila.

This ranks us 9th in the world in stunted growth among children.

For most of the children,

go back to the Senate next year.

Speaker Bebot has already nominated Representatives Albee Benitez, Karlo Nograles, Geraldine Roman, and Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, and Press assistant secretary Mocha Uson.

The number of “moist eyes” gets longer. Six reelectionists, four members of the House, two cabinetranked officials, plus Mocha. That’s already 13.

There are more potential candidates from the House.

There is the beautiful Lucy Torres-Gomez of Ormoc City, chair of the Committee on Tourism. And Deputy Speaker Gwen Garcia, former governor of hugely populous Cebu. There is the Justice Committee Chair who heard the testimony of the prison canaries against Senator Leila de Lima, and is once again in the public eye in the impeachment hearings leveled against CJ Sereno.

And there is the brilliant legal eagle, Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Farinas, who would be a very good addition to the Senate, but has not made the decision. He has other options: a high appointive position in the executive or the judiciary, or governor of his home province.

Which brings me to Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, who is reportedly considering a Senate run, while her brother Bongbong awaits the electoral tribunal’s verdict on his vice-presidential protest.

There are those who be-

cause of media prominence, whether for good or bad, intended or un-intended, are speculated to be eyeing a senatorial run: Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office director Sandra Cam come to mind. Even Social Security System Commissioner Pompee La Vina.

And Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s tormentor, lawyer Larry Gadon.

Maybe Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption’s Dante Jimenez, a Bicolano, and even Martin Dino, now Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs. Some say former Customs Commissioner Nick Faeldon is a potential candidate too, if only to spite the senators he has crossed swords with.

Among the Duterte Cabinet members, there are Justice Secretary Vitaliano “Vit” Aguirre, Labor Secretary Bebot Bello, and some whisper even newly reinstalled Health Secretary Pingkoy Duque and Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol. Plus, nunca olvidamos, the colorful Sal Panelo, presidential legal counsel. And though not a cabinet member, there is the household name of a Philippine National Police chief, “Bato” de la Rosa. With Roque and Tolentino, previously mentioned, those are a lot of names whose awareness levels surely breach the 70 percent threshold.

Aside from Deputy Speaker Pia Cayetano, there are balik-senadores:

TG Guingona (LP), Jamby Madrigal (Ind), and, quite controversially because it’s going to be a “brotherly” fight—Jinggoy Estrada (PMP). Lito Lapid has been active in a telenovela lately, and is probably raring to do a “pagbabalik ni Leon Guerrero sa Senado.”

Serge Osmeña, if he is inclined to run again, cannot be counted out and is one very worthy balik-senador.

Jinggoy has publicly declared his intention to go back to the Senate, and if Mayor Erap can help it, only one of his progeny should be in the Senate at a time. One might cancel out the other, unlike before when the politically durable president although in detention, managed to get his wife Doctora Loi senator, followed by son Jinggoy, and later JV. Any more “moist eyes” for the Senate of 2019?

What about the Liberal Party, and those who they could cobble into an opposition run? Apart from re-electionist Bam Aquino, there’s TG Guingona, and former Quezon congressman Erin Tanada, as well as balik-senador if he would, Mar Roxas, although a common friend intimated he would rather help run the business empire of his family, or run as mayor of the city that bears his family name in Capiz.

Rep. Gary Alejano might seek to “inherit” Senator Sonny Trillanes’ seat.

There is Martin Romualdez, who came close enough to the Magic 12 in his first attempt for a Sen-

ate seat in 2016. Former Manila vice-mayor Isko Moreno, I am told, would rather challenge the incumbent Mayor Erap in 2019.

And Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista is contemplating a Senate run after his third and final term.

From media, there is Mike Enriquez of GMA’s 24 Oras, who is a familiar household name, and probably Ted Failon of rival ABS-CBN. And Erwin Tulfo too, who did well in a recent survey.

Nunca olvidamos tambien la Senorita Regina Lopez, once Environment secretary-designate, until the Commission on Appointments wrote her finis.

She has an entire media and power oligarchy behind her.

From the left, would Ka Satur Ocampo, Neri Colmenares, and Ted Casino try a re-run? How about former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo? Or Renato Reyes?

And from tinseltown, how about Robin Padilla, one of the first prominent actors to support the Duterte candidacy? Vice Ganda? Or Boy Abunda?

And Dingdong Dantes of GMA; Luis “Lucky” Manzano of ABS? How about the vivacious and multi-talented Heart Evangelista, whose husband Chiz Escudero is graduating from the halls of the “august” next year, and may seek to be governor of Sorsogon?

And to end this long list, what if Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte decides to run for senator?

the bad effects of undernutrition are long-lasting, if not life-long. But to many, the effects are immediately fatal.

What gutom cannot kill, it disables, reducing its victims’ capacity to learn, to work, and to be healthy.

We don’t have to cite studies for us to conclude that malnutrition leads to low education. Once the stomach is empty, the head follows. For the student to absorb learning, his body must first absorb nutrients.

I am happy to note that this bill provides for a more “nutritious” nutrition program.

• It institutionalizes a national feeding program for undernourished and hungry

children.

• The program covers three-to five-year-old kids in daycares and neighborhood groups supervised by the DSWD, and Kinder to Grade 6 children in DepED schools.

At present, there are about 12 million of them.

• One healthy meal a day will be served to beneficiaries for a minimum 120 days a year. Each meal must meet one-third of daily dietary requirements.

• The program calls for liberalized procurement rules in order to avoid delays in food sourcing so that underspending will not lead to undernutrition.

• The program shall be ac-

companied by micronutrient supplementation.

• It shall also be implemented together with a program to improve WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) facilities so that diseases that worsen malnutrition like worm infestation can be stopped. Our intention is to feed the child, never his intestinal guests.

• The program encourages a “buy local” policy and taps community participation.

True, because it takes a village to feed a child.

Mr. President: I am glad to note that my amendments, spelled out in three pages, were incorporated in this bill.

This bill proves the adage that when it comes to legislation, too many cooks do not spoil the broth.

There are many cooks who contributed in making this bill more nutritious, more delicious, more fulfilling: Senators Grace, Bam, Frank, Risa, Cynthia, Sonny, Joel, Win, Koko— all of us, in fact— which means that when it comes to partaking food in the lounge or in cooking up good measures on the floor, the partisan divide evaporates.

The above is Senator Recto’s explanation-of-vote speech, delivered Feb. 5, on Senate Bill 1279: Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

System loss charges lowered

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Darwin Amojelar

T

HE amount of system loss charges passed on by electricity distribution utilities to consumers in their monthly electric bills would soon be lowered after the Senate approved on third and final reading the Recoverable System Loss Act (Senate Bill 1623).

The proposed measure seeks to lower the present system loss caps prescribed by the Energy Regulatory Commission in accordance with R.A. 7832, from 8.5 percent to 5 percent for private distribution utilities and from 13 percent to 10 percent for electric cooperatives.

“Power consumers are being forced to shoulder excessive charges from these losses, which electric companies should be taking care of in the first place. Reducing the System Loss cap to 5 percent could make a monthly savings for an average consumer of

about P4.94, or a P59.28 annual savings,” said Senator Win Gatchalian, the principal sponsor of the measure.

The 2017 World Bank report said the Philippines has one of the highest average system losses in East Asia at 9.4 percent in 2014, as compared to countries like Korea with 3.3 percent and Singapore with 2.0 percent.

Under this bill, the ERC will be mandated to conduct a periodic review every three years to determine whether the caps should be reduced further, based on load density, sales mix, cost of service, delivery voltage and other

technical considerations.

It shall also devise a Performance Incentive Scheme for DUs to further encourage System Loss reduction.

Gatchalian, also the chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, said the ERC last reduced system loss rates in 2010.

Under the measure, the ERC shall also conduct an annual review of system loss charges to ensure that only allowable costs within the caps stipulated are being recovered.

The review shall be based from the quarterly mandatory report submissions by the DUs to ERC, which should contain their Segre-

gated System Losses.

Failure to comply will subject the DUs to fines of P300,000 for its first violation, P400,000 for its second violation, and a P500,000 fine for the third violation.

The measure similarly imposes penalties for false or fraudulent information submitted by the DUs in the form of P1-million fine on the first offense, P2 million on the second offense, and P3-million fine on the third offense, with an automatic recommendation by the ERC to the Joint Congressional Power Commission for the revocation of the DU’s franchise.

Administrative sanctions shall also be handed down to ERC officials who failed to discharge their responsibilities or comply with the requirements detailed in the measure.

“This measure will definitely help shield Filipino consumers from the outrageous cost of electricity rates. With the new mechanisms imposed under this measure, electric companies will also be compelled to improve their infrastructure in order to avoid further losses, thus making delivery of electricity across power lines more reliable and efficient,” Gatchalian pointed out.

New police commandos posted at Bilibid Prison

By Francisco Tuyay A FRESH contingent of police commandos had been posted at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City amid reports on the prevailing illegal drugs trade inside the prison facility.

The “changing of the guard” composed of troops from the PNP’s elite Special Action Force came after the third batch of police commandos completed its six months tour of duty at the penitentiary.

Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa personally witnessed the new posting of the NBP Security Provisional Battalion, an augmentation police force tasked to impose stricter security at the facility against illegal drugs trade.

The PNP chief also administered the awarding of medals to the outgoing SAF troopers who were deployed at the NBP for six months.

Newly-installed SAF Director Noli Taliño said this was the fourth batch of SAF troopers to be deployed at the national penitentiary.

He said the first batch of NBPFSPB was deployed on July 20, 2016 to secure Maximum Security Compound and Building 14 of the New Bilibid Prison where some 18,000 prisoners were housed.

Dela Rosa underscored the continued proliferation of illegal drugs and corruption inside the national penitentiary and challenged the new leadership of the SAF contingent to make headway in the effort to totally crush the syndicates that operate there.

“This is the fourth turnover ceremony since then and I am happy to say the SAF troopers have since been doing a good job and have indeed proved themselves worthy of the trust and confidence of the national leadership and the public,” Dela Rosa said.

MOOD FOR LOVE. Colorful miniature hot-air balloons design are attached Tuesday to handle bars inside a train of the LRT 1 in Quezon City as part of the

celebration of the love month. The LRMC transformed one of its trains to a colorful love train to mark Valentine’s Day and remind passengers that love can be expressed in different forms and through different means. This year’s theme focused on the promotion of environmental awareness. Manny Palmero

20,000 jobs offered to OFWs in Qatar, Saudi Arabia SOME 20,000 job opportunities in the country will be offered to Filipinos in Qatar and Saudi Arabia through job fairs by the Department of Labor and Employment.

According to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, they were planning to conduct a one-week job search activities showcasing different employment opportunities in the Philippines.

“We are planning to send a job fair in Qatar and in Saudi Arabia. This is the reverse. We would be conducting a job fair in Qatar and in Saudi for jobs available in our country and there

are 18,000 jobs ready for them here,” he told a press conference on Tuesday.

Bello revealed the 18,000 jobs would be provided by former Senator Manuel Villar.

“So, in the meantime, we are getting the profile of our overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East and at the same time we are planning to meet with former senator Villar who is in need of 18,000 skilled workers,” he said.

“We will get a profile of our overseas workers and then we will check with former senator Villar on the jobs that they need. This is reverse. Usually, the job

fair is local for deployment.

Now, we will conduct the job fair there for deployment here in the country.

There are 18,000 available jobs,” Bello added.

The DoLE chief revealed he would be meeting with the former lawmaker this Friday to discuss the matter including what kind of jobs he was offering.

“That is what we are going to talk about on Friday.

But I think this will be skilled workers. It’s because former senator Villar is in the construction industry,” he said.

Bello noted that he would be sending a team to the host countries for the

planned job fairs.

“We will send a team, this time to be headed by Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Administrator Bernard Olalia and probably Undersecretary Jacinto Paras may want to join us,” he said.

“Maybe we have one week for the job fairs. We have to coordinate with the former senator so we will know what kind of workers he may need.

And then, the team goes there to sell the available jobs here. Hopefully, this will help address the displacement of our workers there,” Bello said.

Aside from the 18,000

jobs, some 2,000 teachers are needed by the Department of Education.

DoLE figures show that there are some 250,000 Filipino workers in Qatar of which about 75 percent are household service workers.

Asked what he can advise to the displaced OFWs in Saudi Arabia, Bello answered, “If there are really no jobs there, the best thing to do is to come home. Hopefully, there are jobs here waiting for them. In case there is none, livelihood assistance will be provided to them, extended to them under the reintegration program of OWWA. PNA

Don’t be rude, BI tells foreigners

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration has advised foreign visitors to respect Philippine laws and not to be rude towards immigration officers as 74 foreigners were barred entry last year for being discourteous and offensive.

“The entry and stay of foreigners in the country is not a right but a mere privilege,” BI Commissioner Jaime Mo By Vito Barcelo rente said.

“Thus, they ought to show respect and courtesy to immigration officers upon their arrival in our ports of entry.”

The BI has been strictly implementing a policy to exclude or disallow the entry of foreigners who

show disrespect or make offensive utterances to symbols of Philippine authority.

Morente said such ground for exclusion is listed under a memorandum order that then immigration chief Andrea Domingo issued on March 29, 2001.

BI port operations division chief Marc Red Mariñas said 74 aliens were barred from entering the country last year for being disrespectful to immigration officers.

Mariñas said Domingo’s memorandum provided not only for the exclusion of a rude foreign passenger but also his inclusion in the immigration blacklist that prevents him from returning to the

Philippines.

“This is done to teach these arrogant and discourteous foreigners the lesson that ours is a sovereign country whose authority they should respect,” he said.

Aside from the 74 aliens who were turned back, there were several foreigners who were blacklisted after they have left the country, also because they were rude to immigration authorities in the country’s subport offices.

“An alien blacklisted for being rude may, however, request for his removal from the blacklist to the BI commissioner by citing meritorious reasons and apologizing for his misconduct,” he added.

NO LAUGHING MATTER. Incumbent Health Secretary. Dr. Francisco Duque (left) in a huddle with former Health secretary Janette Loreto-Garin during the Senate public hearing on the P3.5 billion worth of questionable dengue vaccines administered by the DoH to 280,000 students without passing through prequalification requirements. Lino Santos

PCSO OKs P30-m aid to Mayon victims MALACAÑANG on Tuesday said the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office had approved the request of President Rodrigo Duterte for an additional P30 million for the people adversely affected by the Mayon Volcano eruption.

The amount is on top of the P20 million initially given by Duterte to the provincial government of Albay for relief operations.

“I will confirm that in additional to P20-million cash handed by the President when he visited Albay, the PCSO has also approved a further P30 million to Albay,” Roque told a Palace briefing.

Roque stressed the total assistance given by national agencies to Albay in addition to cash from Duterte and the PCSO had amounted to P130.498 million.

Duterte first mentioned his plan to ask for an additional P30 million from the PCSO when he was in Legazpi to personally assess ongoing disaster operations amid Mayon Volcano’s eruption.

The eruption has sent thousands of people to various evacuation shelters in six towns and three cities of Albay province.

At present, Alert Level 4 remains in effect over Mayon Volcano and the public is strongly advised not to venture into the 8-kilometer-radius danger zone.

Authorities also urged Bicolanos to be vigilant against pyroclastic density currents, lahar and sediment-laden stream flows along channels draining the edifice. PNA

‘Fake news affects tourism’

By Joel E. Zurbano AUTHORITIES on Tuesday appealed to the public to stop spreading fake news about baggage pilferage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, saying the bad publicity would affect tourism industry in the country.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade also urged the public to be more responsible in sharing posts on social media about baggage theft and other accusations involving airport workers.

Tugade acknowledged that incidents in the past had left a dent on the integrity and honesty of airport officials and personnel, but he said sharing non-verified posts would only make things worse.

The transportation chief was reacting to a reported incident at the Naia Terminal 1 last Jan. 31. A Filipina traveler, Fe Cabalquinto, claimed in a Facebook post that a senior couple arriving from Korea were victims of baggage pilferage.

Authorities of the Manila International Airport Authority immediately conducted an investigation and found that while the box was partially opened, no important items were lost.

The couple, Efren Valero and Teresita Velero, also signed a certification to state that they did not authorize Cabalquinto to share the incident on social media.

Further, the investigation found that the box was inspected at a US airport, and not at the Naia. The tape wrapped around the box was a US TSA inspection tape.

Sports

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

37 PH bets join Asiad test events T HE Philippines is sending 37 athletes to the Asian Games test events in Jakarta, Indonesia starting Thursday.

The test events are usually held by the host country to ensure the smooth conduct of the competition during the tournament proper. The Asian Games is scheduled from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2.

Indonesia will hold test events in athletics, archery, 5x5 basketball, boxing, pencak silat, taekwondo, volleyball, and weightlifting.

The Philippines is invited to join six events, but will only field athletes in athlet-

ics, boxing, pencak silat, and taekwondo.

Aries Toledo, decathlon gold medalist in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia, will spearhead the 12-member athletics team composed of Janry Ubas, Mark Harry Diones, Marestella Sunang, Archand Christian Bagsit, Jomar Udtohan, William Galceran, Francis Medina, Clinton Kingsley Bautista, Ryan Bigyan, Michael Carlo del Prado, and

Anfernee Lopena.

Seeing action in pencak silat are 2017 SEA Games gold winner Dines Dumaan (Tanding men’s 45 kg. to 50 kg.), 2016 Asian Beach Games silver medalist Princesslyn Enopia (Tanding women’s 45 kg. to 50 kg.), Yale Alanano, Alvin Campos, Glenn Gunan, Precious Jade Borre, Trisha Marie Leda, Alamohaidib Abad, Cherry May Regalado, and Alfau Jan Esmael Abad.

Rio Olympian Kirstie Elaine Alora will lead the taekwondo squad along with Jenar Torillos, Rhezie Ara-

gon, Rheza Aragon, Keybert Lee Lumbania, Keno Athony Mendoza, Darlene Mae Arpon, Christian Al dela Cruz, and Baby Jessica Canabal.

Alora won the bronze medal (73 kg.) in the 2010 (Guangzhou) as well as the 2014 (Incheon) Asian Games and the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turmenistan.

Also going to Indonesia are boxers Rogen Ladon, who bagged the lightweight silver medal in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games, Kit Ceron Garces, Ryan Boy Moreno, Sugar Rey Ocana,

and Riza Pasuit.

The 37 athletes will be accompanied by coaches George Noel Posadas, Sean Guevara and Rohsaan Eugene Griffin of athletics, Alexis Martin Patano (Tanding) and Diosdado Cantomayor (Seni) of pencak silat, John Paul Lizardo and Carlos Jose Padilla V of taekwondo, and Elias Recaido Jr. and Romeo Brin of boxing.

Other officials in the team are pencak silat’s Inier Candor (team manager) and jury members Christopher Yabut and Ronald Perena.

Athletics will be held at the

main stadium of the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, boxing and taekwondo will be at the Jakarta International Expo, while pencak silat will be at the Padepokan Pencak Silat Centre.

Julian Camacho, appointed chef de mission of Team Philippines in the Asian Games, would also join the Indonesia trip. He was in Bangkok, Thailand last week to attend the SEA Games Federation meeting where he reported the ongoing preparation for the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 SEA Games. PNA

Ebondo’s monster game lifts CEU five ROD Ebondo flirted with a tripledouble and Centro Escolar University came away with a lopsided 105-88 victory over Che’Lu Bar&Grill San Sebastian on Tuesday in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at Pasig Sports Center.

The Revellers had no match for Ebondo, who chalked up 28 points, 23 rebounds, and eight blocks in a sterling performance that highlighted CEU’s second win in as many games.

He was not alone though.

Ebondo got big support from Orlan Wamar (18 points), Rich Guinitaran and Judel Fuentes, who had 14 points apiece.

“Ebondo played his A-game,” said coach Yong Garcia, visibly pleased with the way his 22-year-old slotman led the team.

But what made Garcia even happier was the support the bench provided their workhorse center.

“Hopefully, we could play this way in our succeeding game,” Garcia said.

Ebondo scored 11 of his points in the first half and with Guinitaran and Fuentes also hitting their marks CEU built a 51-42 lead at the break.

Alfred Batino pulled Che’Lu Bar&Grill-San Sebastian within 5764 midway in the third quarter before Ebondo sparked a 13-4 run as the Scorpions extended their lead to 77-61 late in the period.

CEU shot 42 of 79 attempts, including 12 of 31 from 3-point range to cushion their 21 turnovers.

Che’Lu Bar&Grill-San Sebastian picked up its second loss and fell to 2-2 record.

Kent Ilagan paced Che’Lu-San Sebastian with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists, and 2 steals while Allyn Bulanadi chimed in 13 markers off the bench.

The Scores: CEU 105—Ebondo 28, Wamar 18, Fuentes 14, Guinitaran 14, Aquino 8, Arim 6, Manlangit 6, Cruz 5, Caballero 2, Intic 2, Saber 2.

CHE’LU BAR AND GRILLSAN SEBASTIAN 88—Ilagan 19, Bulanadi 13, Faundo 12, Calisaan 11, De Leon 8, Batino 5, Capobres 5, Valdez 5, Jeruta 4,Baetiong 2, Costelo Centro Escolar’s Rodrigue Ebondo tries to score against the tight defense of San Sebastian College’s Alfred 2, David 2, Santos 0.

Quarters: 25-20, 51-42, 79-67, 105-88. Batino in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at Pasig Sports Center.

ABS-CBN launches new cable sports channel ‘LIGA’ ABS-CBN Sports recently launched its new cable sports channel LIGA that will be the home of the biggest single-event sporting competition in the world, the FIFA World Cup, to be held in Russia this year.

LIGA is a 24-hour channel dedicated to provide sports fans in the country with premium content in sports like football, basketball, and volleyball. Starting January 2018, viewers have been able to watch LIGA on standard

definition on SKY cable channel 86, in high definition on SKY cable channel 183, and on Sky Direct channel 14.

Currently, the channel airs the FIFA World Cup European qualifiers, allowing local football fans to follow their favorite teams’ journey to the main tournament of the quadrennial international football tournament, which will be held from June 14 to July 15 in Russia.

While anticipation is high for

the quadriennial international football tournament, LIGA channel head Jojo Neri-Estacio said sports fans have more reasons to tune into the sports channel with its other offerings.

LIGA carries the games of the current season of the ASEAN Basketball League that features basketball clubs from different countries in Asia including the Philippines’ Alab Pilipinas.

It will also have live broadcast of the UAAP Season 80 Men’s

Volleyball tournament starting on February 3, while it will also air other ABS-CBN S+A fare like the UAAP Season 80 Women’s volleyball tournament, UAAP Season 80 football tournaments, and the Premier Volleyball League.

College basketball fans will also be happy to know that LIGA will bring back classic UAAP Games, from as early as Season 70, where viewers can see the beginnings and early triumphs of the country’s hardcourt heroes in

the professional leagues.

LIGA is available on SKY Cable and Sky Direct and will soon be available in provincial cable affiliates nationwide. Watch premium sports content on standard definition on Sky cable channel 86, in high definition on Sky cable channel 183, and is on channel 14 on Sky Direct.

For sports updates, visit sports.abs-cbn.com or follow @ ABSCBNSports on Facebook and Twitter.

Carapiet reclaims FIM Asian presidency STEPHAN “Macky” Carapiet became FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme or International Motorcycling Federation) Asia’s first-ever president to be re-elected in the past 20 years to the top post during the 2017 FIM Asia General Assembly and Elections that were hosted

by Thailand’s motorcycle federation, FMSCT in Bangkok on February 3, 2018.

Representing the National Motorcycle Sports Safety Association, the Philippine motorcycle federation, Carapiet got the nod of 18 voters from the total 27 present to reclaim the top post that he relinquished to the incumbent president Wan Zaharuddin Wan Ahmad (AAM-Malaysia) in 2013 FIM Asia General Assembly and Elections held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Carapiet was magnanimous in victory, as he acknowledged his predecessor’s achievements and vowed to work with the former leader and the continental union’s growing number of stakeholders over the next four years and bring FIM Asia to greater heights.

He nonetheless expressed optimism over the continental union’s future when the names of his vice presidents were announced after two rounds of voting. The elected Vps, whose terms will be coterminous with the President’s are Issa Alawadhi (BMF-Bahrain), Sujith Kumar (FMSCT-India), Gong Hong Guo (CMSA-China) and Stanley Yasuhiro (GMAC-Guam, USA ).

“This is a powerhouse line-up of my team,” said Carapiet. “We’ve got a VP who

will look after the issues and interest of our brothers from the Middle East, VPs from India and China, who will address the motorcycling concerns of two nations whose combined populations comprise more than half of the global total and a VP from Guam who will promote the American ideals in sporting, safety and the environment which covers half the world geographically.”

With his victory, Carapiet automatically earned a seat in the world governing body for motorcycle sports and affairs, the FIM Suisse Board of Directors. He also brought back the operational headquarters of FIM Asia to Manila.

For more information, check out the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association Facebook page.

Carapiet

Japan Cup: Diplomacy on the track THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE WHAT can a race symbolize?

For one thing, the good relations between two countries when it comes to the sport of horseracing.

One such race is the Japan Cup. This year’s version was held Jan. 28 at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite. It had two classes, the imported and the local, both over 1,400 meters.

The race for imports was won by Mystic Award with a total time of 1:26.2, followed

by Naughty Girl, War Dancer,

and Ava Natalia in that order.

Manda won the race for locals with a time of 1:27.4.

Placers were Mam Candy, Summer Romance, and Morning Breeze. *** The Japan Cup isn’t the only such race held in cooperation between nationals of the two countries. The Japan Racing Association Cup is another annual race marked by the visit of the regional JRA representatives, always a welcome event.

Through the years, the JRA has been supportive of the Philippine Thoroughbred industry’s efforts to get itself on an international footing with regards to standards and affiliations. It has a program whereby it regularly sponsors

a certain number of persons from the industry to visit its facilities and those of other horse people in order to learn best practices that they can take back and apply here if relevant.

Among the places that some Filipinos have visited, while on a JRA seminar-trip is the famous Shadai Stallion Station in Hokkaido, the home of legendary stallions Sunday Silence and Deep Impact.

Shadai was established in the late ‘70s or early ‘80s by the late Zenya Yoshida. His father, Zensuke, fielded an entry in the first Japanese Derby in 1932. Now, Zenya’s three sons control a significant part of the Japanese breeding scene.

Each of them have a farm on Hokkaido—Teruya has Sha-

dai, Katsumi, Northern, and Haruya, Oiwake. Jointly they own Shadai Corp. and Shadai Stallion Station which houses Japan’s top ten stallions.

Just how vast is their racing empire? Together, the brothers breed one-sixth of the 7,500 or so foals born in Japan each year, keeping most of them to run under their own names or that of syndicates.

Their father, Zenya, bought American champion Sunday Silence for cheap and the horse went on to become the country’s leading sire from 1995 to 2007. His progeny dramatically altered the phenotype of horses in Japan.

Sunday Silence’s son, Deep Impact (out of the Irish mare Wind in Her Hair) is an unbeaten Japanese Triple Crown

champion and now one of the country’s most prolific stallions, the leading sire in Japan from 2012 to 2017. He didn’t have a flawless record, though —his only loss was to Heart’s Cry in the 2005 Arima Kinen (Grand Prix). Heart’s Cry is also standing stud at Shadai.

The Shadai Group has developed its racing and breeding program to such a degree that its horses are serious contenders in international competitions. A visit to any of their facilities is always worth the while as a learning experience. *** Dr. Ortuoste is a Californiabased writer. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and @DrJennyO, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @ jennyortuoste

Local aces upbeat as Ladies Golf Tour starts DOTTIE Ardina, Princess Superal and Cyna Rodriguez take aim at the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour crown that has eluded the country’s leading pros for quite a while with the troika going at it again in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Ladies Invitational beginning today (Wednesday, Feb. 7) at the Aoki course in Gen. Trias, Cavite.

Outclassed by the Thais in the last two LPGT tournaments last year, the Symetra Tour campaigners took another beating at the start of the new season with Rodriguez, a former three-time Order of Merit winner, finishing tied for ninth at best at Ayala Greenfield won by amateur Yuka Saso last month.

Ardina, who dominated the country’s premier ladies circuit in 2013 before campaigning abroad, wound up 13th while Superal, who has stamped her class on the LPGT both as an amateur and a pro before moving to the Symetra Tour, ended up 14th.

But t he t r oi k a’s f i n i she s in the second leg at Beverly Place topped by Thai Yupaporn Kawinpakorn three weeks ago should augur well for their bids this week with Ardina placing third, Rodriguez winding up fourth and Superal ending up sixth.

They, however, face a formidable cast of rivals, led by the crack Thai side spearheaded by former LPGT leg winners Wannasiri Sirisampant and Saruttaya Ngam-usawan.

Kim seizes 4-shot RVF lead with 66 CANLUBANG—Tom Kim put in a near-flawless eagle-spiked six-under 66 and took a huge fourstroke lead over Aniceto Mandanas, Carl Corpus and Jolo Magcalayo at the start of the 23rd W Express RVF Cup Amateur Open Golf Championship at Cangolf’s North course here yesterday.

Harmie Constantino also set her title-retention drive in motion with an even par 72 as she shared the early lead with Bernice Ilas in women’s play of the 72-hole championship held in honor of the late golf patron and former NGAP president Rod Feliciano.

Kim, seeking a follow-up to his one-stroke victory over Luis Castro in the Philippine Amateur Championship at Riviera last month, hit a pitchin eagle on the first hole then gunned down five birdies, including three in the last five, to negate a lone bogey on No. 13 and wrest early control in the event backed by the MVP Sports Foundation and serving as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour.

Mandanas rallied at the back with a 33, Corpus blew a three-under card with a bogey on the par-5 17th while Magcalayo squandered a 33 start as the troika carded identical 70s.

Gabby Malaguim and Jonas Magcalayo turned in a pair of 71s for joint fifth while Martin Mendoza and Carlo Villaroman shot similar 73s and Masaichi Otake, Aidric Chan and Paolo Wong hobbled with identical 74s to fall eight strokes off Kim. Castro, who lost to Kim by one at Riviera, failed to recover from a 39 start and wound up with a 75 in a tie with GJ Katigbak and Sean Ramos in the tournament organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Constantino, meanwhile, hit four birdies but fumbled with two bogeys and a double bogey as she settled for joint lead with Ilas, who fought back from two early bogeys with birdies on Nos. 6 and 8 and parred the backside.

But two Koreans stood just a stroke behind at 73 with Chaeree Lim fumbling with four bogeys against three birdies and Shin Seo Yun hitting three birdies against two bogeys and a double bogey on the par-3 11th.

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

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

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Philadelphia players nix White House visit

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

MINNEAPOLIS—Malcolm Jenkins of the Philadelphia Eagles said he plans to boycott the traditional White House visit along with at least two other members of the Super Bowl-winning team.

“No, I personally do not anticipate attending that,” Jenkins, who has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, told CNN. “My message has been clear all year,” the defensive standout said after the Eagles 41-33 upset victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. “I want to see changes in our criminal justice system,” Jenkins said. “I want to see us push for economic and educational advancement in communities of color and low income communities.

“And I want to see our relationships between our communities and our law enforcement be advanced,” Jenkins said. “That’s what myself and my peers have been pushing for the last two years and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”

At least two of Jenkins’ teammates—defensive end Chris Long and wide receiver Torrey Smith—have also said they do not plan to go to the White House.

Long won a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots last year and also declined to make the trip.

Long, 32, made headlines this year by giving away his entire paycheck to worthy causes and has been a vocal supporter of team-mates who have protested against social injustice this season.

Trump has been engaged in a feud with the National Football League all year over players kneeling in protest during the national anthem.

The mainly African-American players have been taking a knee during the Star-Spangled Banner to protest police brutality and racial injustice.

Trump indirectly warned players before Sunday’s game not to kneel.

In a statement, he expressed appreciation “for those who make occasions like this possible, particularly the brave men and women of our Armed Forces. AFP

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) goes to the basket against the Indiana Pacers on February 5, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. AFP

Wizards too much for Pacers L

OS ANGELES—The Washington Wizards are playing like contenders again as they took advantage of an out-of-sync Indiana Pacers team to pull off a 111-102 win as eight players scored in double figures Monday.

we’ve been having some success. We’ve figured it out a little bit.”

Elsewhere, Andre Drummond had 17 points and 17 rebounds, and the Detroit Pistons earned their fourth straight win with a 111-91 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Detroit has won three in a row since trading for Blake Griffin last week. Griffin led Detroit in scoring Monday, but he had ample help on offence.

The victory moved the Pistons back to .500 and even with Philadelphia for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Griffin finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.

He shot well from beyond the arc too, making a trio of three-pointers.

Anthony Tolliver added 15 points for Detroit and Reggie Bullock and Langston Galloway added 13 points each.

“I didn’t really think we moved the ball that much at the start of the game, but then we really got it going,” said coach Stan Van Gundy.

“The best part is that you look at how many guys got involved. Once you start moving the ball, it gets contagious.”

Damian Lillard scored 20 points and C.J. McCollum added 14 for the Blazers, who lost agai n af ter l o s i n g a heartbreaker at

the buzzer to the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

“They had one action— dribble handoff out of the corner—and they kept getting down to the center of our defense,” Portland’s Lillard said. “Once guys get confident and get to making shots, it’s hard to stop.”

Besides having eight players in double figures, three Wizards grabbed at least seven rebounds.

Tomas Satoransky and Tim Frazier each finished with six assists for Washington, who outscored Indiana 30-11 in transition and had a 43-35 rebounding edge.

While the Wizards were flying high, the Pacers weren’t themselves as they

had their six-game home winning streak halted.

With all-star guard Victor Oladipo out with an illness and point guard Darren Collison out with a bad left knee, the Pacers never mustered a serious challenge.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored a season-high 29 points for the Pacers as he tried to spur a fourth-quarter rally. Joe Young added 17.

“Vic is our go-to-guy,” said Bogdanovic. “We knew it was going to be tough without both.

“They play heavy minutes.

We got two less players in the rotation. I think they didn’t win this game. We lost this game with too many turnovers and too many easy points.” AFP

All-star guard Bradley Beal scored 21 points and Kelly Oubre had 15 for the Wizards, who earned their season-best fifth consecutive victory.

“I thought everybody chipped in and played well,” Washington coach Scott Brooks said.

The Wizards are on a roll and they are winning big time without all-star guard John Wall.

Since Wall went down

with an injured left knee, Washington has won all their games. The latest victory also gave the Wizards their fourth in a row over the Pacers.

“John is such a key and valuable piece to our team,” Beal said. “He draws so much attention at what he brings to both ends of the floor, that’s kind of irreplaceable.

“It’s definitely a huge hit to us having him out, but

Azkals battle Tajikistan

Career of Team Lakay’s Kelly starting to look up

THE Philippine Azkals will have another opportunity to make it to the tournament proper of the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup. That’s when they clash with Tajikistan in the last match of the qualifiers on March 27 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila.

“This match will be a crucial match as it will decide the Philippine Men’s National Team’s chances of qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup,” said Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.

The Panaad Park and Football Stadium in Bacolod City were earlier nominated to host the final Group F home match.

But, it was called off due to difficulties in securing fully equipped training venues.

The Philippines took the first match of the Asian Cup Qualifiers in Manila with a 4-1 win against Nepal.

But, the Azkals failed to seal an outright slot to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup after a 0-0 draw in their penultimate match again Nepal last Nov. 14, at the Anfa Complex in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The last time the Azkals came close to an Asian Cup spot was when they reached the finals of the Challenge Cup. But they bowed to eventual champion Palestine in Maldives In the qualifier played at home, the Azkals played to a 2-all draw with Yemen last Sept. 5, at the Panaad Park and Football Stadium.

The Philippines is on top of Group F with 9 points and a +4 goal difference, Nepal remains at the bottom with 2 points and a -7 goal difference.

Edward Kelly (right) connects with a shot to the face of Cambodia’s Meas Meul. Kelly won by knockout in a record-setting 21 seconds at ONE: Global Superheroes at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila. ONE Championship

THINGS could not have gone better for the Philippines’ Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly.

The Team Lakay featherweight standout was looking to start the year right by making a statement in his first assignment of 2018. That statement was made both hard and fast. Kelly knocked out Cambodia’s Meas Meul in a record-setting 21 seconds at ONE: Global Superheroes at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila.

Kelly looked absolutely phenomenal.

Once the bell rang, the pair took their time sizing each other up. But before long, “The Ferocious” unleashed a devastating combination that sent the Cambodian crashing to the canvas.

“I never expected to finish him so quickly. I prepared to go the full length of every round knowing that Cambodian athletes are tough and very durable, a lot like Filipinos,” Kelly admits.

“We both really work hard for what we have. I guess I just got there first. It was a quick and efficient finish.”

The official time of the KO was recorded at the 21-second mark of the very first round, which makes it the fastest knockout and finish in ONE’s featherweight history. But having that distinction and honor is not something the humble Fili-

pino warrior says he would brag about.

“The record does not mean much.

Whether it is 21 seconds or the full three rounds, what matters is that I prepared myself to be the best,” he continues.

“I think I just did my part to show the world what I am capable of in the cage. The win was great, but now it is back to training, and getting better for the next bout.”

One key to Kelly’s preparations for this bout, which he revealed to broadcast analyst Mitch Chilson in the post-bout interview, is that he had chosen to cut off his social media activity to concentrate fully on preparations and training.

“I just needed to unplug for a while, and step away from the negativity. There are a lot of comments online about my performances, my team, and random stuff that I have trouble dealing with,” he admits.

“I wanted to concentrate solely on this bout. At some point, I will have to learn to tune that negativity out. I am working on it.”

The result of Kelly’s uncompromised focus cannot be denied. He looked tremendously strong, and was perhaps the best version of “The Ferocious” anyone has ever seen. The emphatic finish serves as a reminder of what the Baguio Citybased featherweight is capable of when he has his training in order.

NU faces Ateneo Lady Eagles NATIONAL University shoots for a second straight win against Ateneo at 4 p.m. today in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Jaja Santiago is looking forward for a better effort this time, especially with the Lady Eagles seeking to avoid their first 0-2 start under coach Tai Bundit.

“Marami pa kaming tatrabahuin ni coach Babes, lalo na sa conditioning sa katawan,” said Santiago.

Ateneo pushed Far Eastern University to the limit before dropping 19-25, 25-21, 2518, 20-25, 9-15 decision last Sunday where it squandered a 6-1 lead.

The most impressive among the squads played in the opening weekend, NU bucked a third set loss to beat Adamson University, 25-15, 25-23, 1625, 25-13, where the 6-foot-5 Santiago scored 16 markers.

University of Santo Tomas and University of the East, coming off five-set losses in their respective season openers, hope to enter the win column in the curtain raiser at 2 p.m.

Deanna Wong is trying to fill the void left by veteran setter Jia Morado, while the Lady Eagles are with the receiving and first ball problems, which showed against the Lady Tamaraws.

“Although marami sa kanilang nawala pero hindi kami puwedeng magpakampante,” said Santiago, who is on her final season with the Lady Bulldogs.

NU was simply glad that its libero Joni Chavez, who took over the spot left by Bia General, held her own in the opener.

TNT KaTropa squares off against Phoenix Petroleum Fuelmasters

By Jeric Lopez TNT KaTropa and the Phoenix Petroleum Fuelmasters face off in a critical duel as both seek to move up the ladder and keep up with the teams above them in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. Both in the middle of the pack, the Tropang Texters (4-3) and the Fuelmasters (3-4) dance at 4:30 p.m. even as struggling squads Barangay Ginebra (34) and Kia (1-6) face off.

While TNT KaTropa and Phoenix are very much in the thick of the wild race towards the quarterfinals, both have yet to find consistency in their play.

They are both having rollercoaster campaigns thus far.

The Tropang Texters have alternated wins and losses while the Fuelmasters

suffered a stinging setback following the wins that they have accumulated.

TNT first had a hard time before it finally shrugged off the Picanto, 90-85, last Wednesday in its last outing. Phoenix got ran out of the building by Alaska, 93-75, also on the same day.

“We had a difficult time in our last game against Kia. Still, the issue for us is consistency in terms of playing at a high level. We hope to address that as we go further,” said TNT coach Nash Racela of his team’s current stand.

In the second game, the Gin Kings are likewise in dire need of a victory to boost their bid for the quarters even as the Picanto is in desperation mode as it looks to keep its sagging hopes of making the next round.

Ginebra collapsed towards the end in its last game last Saturday, bowing to the NLEX, 78-81.

Phoenix will try to bounce back from a bitter defeat where the new Phoenix coach Louie Alas saw his former squad display its old, fiery defensive form at the expense of his new team. Alaska beat Phoenix 93-75, in their PBA Philippine Cup matchup last Wednesday.

Alas confessed that they were mauled and manhandled by his old team during the post game interview. Alas was obviously disappointed with the performance of his new squad saying that they have a long way to go.

He also said the new way of officiating, which allowed freer contacts favored the physical Alaska Aces.

He said that Alaska reached so many championships during his stay with the team precisely because of the physicality of the Aces. He said that his new team at Phoenix is just starting to adopt that physical style of play.

Phoenix Petroleum Fuelmasters guard Matthew Wright protects the basketball against TNT KaTropa defender Anthony Semerad (14). PBA

Del Monte mulling over P16.7-b public offering B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

B1

Inflation hits three-year high of 4%

By Julito G. Rada

C

ONSUMER prices rose at the fastest rate in more than three years, following the implementation of the government’s new tax measures and the upward spike in petroleum and food prices.

BRUTAL SESSION. A trader works on the floor at the closing bell of the Dow Industrial Average at the New York Stock Exchange on February 5, 2018 in New York. Wall Street stocks endured a brutal session Monday, with the Dow seeing one of its steepest ever one-day point drops, as the heady bullishness of early 2018 gave way to extreme volatility. AFP

Globe poised to invest $1.8b over 2-year period

By Darwin G. Amojelar think, on my opinion, yes. It the over-all connectivity in the GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Tuesday it may spend between $1.7 billion and $1.8 billion this year and next to expand its mobile and broadband networks.

“We do spend as necessary. If you look at the numbers, we went $750 million in 2015, $1 billion in 2016, $850 million in 2017 and projecting over $850 [million] to $900 million in 2018,” Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu said in a news briefing.

When asked if the level of capex would continue next year, Cu said: “Certainly, I

will be around that ballpark.”

Globe budgeted P42.5 billion or $844 million for its 2017 capex to support the growing subscriber base and demand for data. Of the total capex last year, about 82 percent was for data services.

Globe now has 37,517 base stations, with over 24,700 for 4G3 (fourth generation capability), to support the service requirements of customers.

“We are confident that our continued investments in our network’s data capacity and coverage, will allow us to continue to provide superior customer experience and improve

country, while building a solid foundation to deliver sustainable long-term growth and shareholder value,” Cu said.

Globe posted a net income of P15.1 billion last year, down 5 percent from P15.9 billion in 2016 after increased investments in data network pushed non-operating expenses and depreciation charges higher.

The 2-percent increase in non- operating expenses was largely due to the increase in interest expenses and spectrum amortization related to the acquisition of San Miguel Corp.’s telco assets.

SMC set to sell P30-b bonds in March

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. plans to sell P30 billion worth of fixed-rate bonds in March.

The company said during an investors’ briefing the bond offering would be held on March 2 to March 8. The bonds will be listed with Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. on March 15.

Under the plan, San Miguel will issue P20 billion of fixed-rate bonds with an oversubscription option for another P10 billion.

The bonds, which represent the third tranche of the company’s P60-billion bond shelf registration approved by the SEC, are comprised of 5-year Series E Bonds due

IN BRIEF

Clark operator earns P1b CLARK Development Corp., the administrator of Clark Freeport Zone, reported a 20-percent increase in gross revenue to P1.96 billion in 2017 from P1.64 billion in 2016.

CDC president Noel Manankil said the record-high revenue resulted in a net income of P1.03 billion, up 32 percent from 2016’s P738 million. He said it was the first time the corporation’s net income hit the P1billion mark.

Locator-firms in Clark increased 6 percent to 949 in 2017 from 896 in 2016. Locators included 165 firms in the industrial sector, 125 in the ICT industry, 56 tourism locators, 218 service-related, 220 commercial companies, 19 developers, 44 institutional, 31 aviation-related firms, 53 logistics companies, 14 utilities and 4 agro-industrial companies.

Employees inside the freeport reached 107,997 last year, or 15.2 percent higher than 93,770 in 2016.

The industrial and manufacturing industry had the most number of employees at 48, 476 or 45 percent of the total employment.

Manankil said aside from being an investment hub, Clark is also positioning itself as a tourism site. In 2017, 93 events were organized bringing in 1.142 million foreign and local tourists to the freeport.

Othel V. Campos

PLDT starts rewards program PLDT Inc. on Tuesday launched a converged rewards program that will benefit its fixed-line, broadband and mobile subscribers.

“Our customers are our most valuable partners and they deserve nothing less than an innovative and unparalleled rewards program,” PLDT chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan said.

“MVP Rewards is in a category of its own. We’ve taken what is best across industries and put it in one powerful program that offers more than just rewards.

And the PLDT Group has the unique ability to provide this level of convergence owing to the breadth of our

2023, 7-year Series F Bonds due 2025 and 10-year Series G Bonds due 2028.

The conglomerate tapped seven banks, including BDO Capital and Investments Corp., BPI Capital Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., First Metro Investments Corp., ING Bank, SB Capital Investment Corp. and Standard Chartered Bank as the joint underwriters and book runners for the offering.

San Miguel said proceeds from the fund raising activity would be used to refinance existing US dollar denominated obligations or to invest in existing businesses, including SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., San Miguel Holdings Corp. and San Miguel Properties Inc.

combined services,” Pangilinan said.

MVP Rewards is a product of the strategic collaboration of PLDT, Smart and Voyager Innovations through its digital financial services arm, PayMaya Philippines, and its digital marketing arm, Hatch.

Customers are rewarded by paying their monthly bills on time and in full, or whenever they load their prepaid numbers.

Earned points are as good as cash, hence customers need not worry about when points will expire or when points can be redeemed, the company said. Customers are given the freedom to choose when and where to use their rewards. Darwin G. Amojelar

PH catching up in digital race FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the Philippines has a lot of catching up to do in the digital race, starting with modernizing its physical infrastructure.

Dominguez said the government should encourage people and industries to embrace the digital economy to prepare the country for the future that is now being shaped by technology companies like Alibaba.

“The Philippines has to catch up first like China.

You invested a lot in infrastructure. After the catch up, we go beyond certain steps… but first we have to raise money and convince people, encourage new industries,” Dominguez said during the first day of the New Economy Workshop organized by the Alibaba Business School for visiting Philippine officials and representatives of the business sector in Hangzhou, China.

Dominguez said “our experience here in China is very important to look at what the future would be. It is helpful for us to be consulting with Jack Ma and his group because they are visionary and they have actual field experience in bringing the future to reality using the power of cloud computing, the internet, and computers to analyze big data.”

Brian Wong, Alibaba Group’s vice president and head of globalization initiatives, said like what China did, the Philippines could capitalize on the digital era by cultivating entrepreneurship in e-commerce and coming out with regulations supportive of digital trade and electronic payment systems. Julito G. Rada

The Philippine Statistics Authority said inflation rate climbed to 4 percent in January from 3.3 percent in December and 2.7 percent a year ago. It was also the fastest increase in prices since October 2014 when inflation hit 4.3 percent.

“The push in inflation is partly due to Train [Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion], considering particularly the excise on fuel and additional ‘sin’ taxes,” Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement.

Rising food and nonalcoholic beverage prices along with a series of typhoons late last year that crimped supplies of farm products, led to the higher inflation in January, Pernia

said.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said while the higher January inflation was expected, it was at the top end of the bank’s forecast for the month. “[It was] due mainly to combined first-round effects of Train, oil prices and food to some extent,” Espenilla said.

“Nevertheless, BSP will be closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to take timely action based on our evaluation of all relevant data,” he said.

The first phase of the tax reform program took effect in January after President Rodrigo Duterte signed it into law in December.

The new law cut personal

income taxes but raised excise taxes on fuel, coal, minerals, automobiles, alcohol, tobacco and sweetened beverages.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said he found it “hard to believe that the implementation of Train, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2018, had any significant effect on prices, unless of course merchants took advantage of the law and raised prices on old inventories.”

ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said in a report that the upside inflation surprise would lead to adjustments in inflation expectations.

“We are reviewing our 2018 average inflation forecast of 3.7 percent for an upward revision likely to be at least at the top end of BSP’s inflation target range of 2 percent to 4 percent. Second-round effects are still to be determined by regulators,” Cuyegkeng said.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Del Monte mulling over P16.7-b public offering

By Jenniffer B. Austria DEL Monte Philippines Inc., the local unit of fruit grower and canner Del Monte Pacific Ltd. Inc., or DMPL, plans to raise as much P16.7 billion through an initial public offering.

DMPL said in a disclosure to the stock exchange DMPI sought the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission to offer up to 559.464 million shares, representing 20 percent of the company’s total issued shares, at a price of P29.88 apiece.

DMPL said it would use proceeds from the fund raising activity to partially prepay or repay certain loans to enable the company to deleverage and strengthen its balance sheet.

The company tapped BDO Capital & Investment Corp. as issue manager, sole global coordinator and sole bookrunner for the offering.

Approximately two-thirds of DMPI’s sales come from the Philippines predominantly under the Del Monte brand, and one-third from the export markets under the S&W brand and through private label.

PH, Asian markets fall as Wall Street plunges

T

HE Philippine stock market and the rest of Asia plunged Tuesday after a recordbreaking loss on Wall Street, extending a global rout as panicked investors fret over rising US borrowing costs and take profits after months of market euphoria.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 65.58 points, or 0.8 percent, to 8,550.42 on a value turnover of P10.4 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 159 to 52, with 44 issues unchanged.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. lost 2.4 percent to P1,005, while banking unit Bank of

the Philippine Islands, declined 3.1 percent to P118.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., which is into power generation and distribution, banking, flour milling, shipbuilding and property, dropped 4.1 percent to P71.95, but MacroAsia Corp., a company providing

aviation-related services, advanced 4.1 percent to P24.25.

Wall Street stocks plunged in chaotic trading on Monday, as the Dow’s gains for 2018 were erased in a brutal pullback from months of stock market euphoria that had been acclaimed by President Donald Trump.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw its steepest ever one-day point drop, wiping 4.6 percent off the value of America’s 30 largest companies to finish at 24,345.75, having at one point plummeted nearly

1,600 points to a low of 23,923.88.

Tokyo led a collapse throughout Asia, briefly diving almost seven percent before closing down 4.7 percent. Hong Kong was down more than four percent and Sydney and Singapore each sank three percent.

Seoul lost 1.5 percent, Taipei sank five percent and Shanghai gave up 3.4 percent. Mumbai was 0.9 percent lower, Bangkok plunged 2.4 percent and Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur were also well down.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.57 160,000 59 3,840 118 3,012,490 3.67 16,000 150 4,394,380 1.91 500,000 35.2 695,700 15.5 2,000 27.75 1,967,800 9.65 40,600 1.74 26,000 975 135 0.55 802,000 97.2 2,203,720 1.4 7,788,000 13.3 70,400 57.3 115,170 238 8,870 104 640 87.3 9,530 49 133,000 238 769,130 1,900 85 90.9 84,900 1.2 1,300,000

530,370 224,898 354,255,930 58,670 650,514,564 934,220 24,558,615 31,000 54,912,200 374,757 43,860 133,125 435,420 212,978,157 11,143,610 936,320 6,619,225.50 2,113,900 66,573 831,726 6,430,800 179,734,152 161,500 7,712,217 1,565,810

-5,868.50 -244,600,032 -184,799,459 259,910.00 18,618,370 910 -14,625 -10,036,831 147,060 -1,213,843.50 -824,746 -667,890 -103,553,894 161,500 5,025,688.50 -

39.2 12.6 0.61 1.28 19.6 0.213 110 4.2 14.08 48 18.78 57 1.87 10.4 10.88 14.5 11.08 7.37 5.6 15.5 60.75 27.8 10 19.5 1.79 267 54.95 4.16 3.16 27.4 17.8 20 316.6 0.192 8.41 2.75 4.84 9.31 6.05 8 1.61 11.96 58.9 6 596 4.85 2.01 3.5 1.57 14.6 5.35 0.13 1.1 150.1 2.83 1.91 24.55 0.83

INDUSTRIAL 39.95 2,107,400 12.82 7,359,700 0.63 652,000 1.3 654,000 20.15 398,800 0.216 7,150,000 113.6 680 4.2 3,906,000 14.8 2,557,900 49 578,190 18.8 1,700 57 380 1.89 520,000 11.2 128,500 11.5 3,329,900 14.7 265,700 11.4 778,100 7.51 1,015,600 5.62 23,638,700 15.98 1,041,000 62.5 172,740 28.4 809,800 10.1 78,100 19.98 5,255,600 1.81 740,000 289 1,021,600 54.95 400 4.18 42,000 3.16 6,000 27.4 1,350,700 17.88 344,100 20.5 3,752,800 318 461,420 0.192 40,000 8.41 76,600 2.85 10,582,000 4.9 34,000 9.6 2,856,500 6.05 223,000 8.1 32,000 1.61 228,000 12.32 556,500 59.15 235,600 6.01 259,500 612 140,200 4.85 1,299,000 2.01 8,000 3.5 10,000 1.58 352,000 15.3 2,536,900 5.4 47,700 0.13 2,280,000 1.1 10,000 156.9 1,311,800 2.84 7,000 1.95 4,560,000 24.55 1,400 0.88 2,592,000

83,838,125 94,240,874 405,100 840,230 8,482,777 1,538,990 75,788 16,446,140 38,055,148 28,260,508 31,940 21,736 980,190 1,412,566 37,458,432 3,874,460 8,815,552 7,597,103 132,843,305 16,385,590 10,719,761.50 22,934,630 783,474 105,675,992 1,335,890 288,698,696 22,035 175,360 18,960 37,335,975 6,153,500 76,476,600 147,233,208 7,680 648,885 30,100,500 165,020 27,139,350 1,378,501 258,062 369,110 6,745,788 13,927,459.50 1,560,058 85,442,025 6,302,250 16,230 35,090 558,760 38,140,074 257,840 296,400 11,000 203,556,278 19,870 8,894,990 34,370 2,268,220

-34,503,900 215,520 258,090 -4,769,600 5,208,198 2,099,227.50 -281,200 -235,896 122,762 277,194 -2,645,686 -1,207,073 77,311,449 3,463,438 4,150,709.50 -42,900 164,000 -5,014,237 1,378,062 3,658,650 1,553,588 8,787,380 -19,900,124 1,519,060 3,666,601 -155,080 -1,375,874 -8,574,653.50 -198,330 -33,033,790 -2,201,780 -98,130 3,956,786 65,000 -39,211,067 119,200 -178,000

0.31 74.3 15.48 0.95 7 0.59 0.59 1,020 7.54 13.98 7.5 1,313 7.2 74.25 0.73 5.5 23 6.3 0.041 1.15 2.61 2.52 145.5 2.6 1,012 1.65 279 0.242 0.184 0.192

0.295 71.95 15.06 0.88 6.87 0.51 0.54 991.5 7.35 13.36 7.42 1,220 7.2 72 0.69 5.44 21.85 6 0.039 1.08 2.49 2.5 141.1 2.59 960 1.61 277 0.241 0.184 0.191

HOLDING FIRMS 0.295 220,000 71.95 2,269,750 15.48 15,420,700 0.95 408,000 7 5,000 0.55 40,112,000 0.55 13,511,000 1,005 416,135 7.54 838,300 13.78 7,115,600 7.5 5,100 1,307 186,765 7.2 13,800 73.5 3,111,680 0.72 1,600,000 5.5 1,596,300 23 2,950,000 6.3 23,748,800 0.039 11,200,000 1.15 268,000 2.58 3,412,000 2.52 6,000 143.5 761,780 2.59 58,000 1,000 719,865 1.61 1,111,000 278.4 4,600 0.241 210,000 0.184 100,000 0.192 210,000

65,950 164,763,930.50 236,025,800 365,560 34,512 22,138,370 7,566,920 417,161,715 6,193,528 97,182,756 37,850 242,208,350 99,360 228,227,157.50 1,128,500 8,751,117 67,115,500 147,532,476 444,200 298,230 8,759,310 15,020 109,297,411 150,550 719,337,415 1,802,060 1,279,262 50,650 18,400 40,230

-110,216,653.50 7,075,804 -232,980 -119,190,550 3,666,711 -9,774,694 -83,348,280 -145,873,719 6,135,635 -8,641,725 -3,747,505 -482,850.00 6,382,960 -90,151,705 40,250 -216,456 -

6.36 0.94 23.25 2.15 0.89 44.45 3.64 4.67 5.89 6.03 0.465 1.08 1.14 0.245 0.435 38.3 0.64 0.138 1.87 1.36 0.78 4.95 0.32 0.335 0.54 4.49 35 20.55 2.02

6 0.91 17 2.14 0.88 43.5 3.59 4.59 5.76 5.66 0.46 1.07 1.07 0.235 0.43 37.5 0.63 0.138 1.81 1.34 0.76 4.7 0.305 0.33 0.53 4.06 33.15 20.1 1.94

71,700,797 2,693,960 25,574,564 64,260 1,203,080 992,212,170 3,197,240 7,782,850 526,671 7,395 3,667,650 115,500 1,600,960 4,966,220 176,500 16,261,945 556,400 6,900 5,335,330 3,235,990 37,260 102,435,970 13,974,400 290,450 1,135,590 5,997,130 54,295 135,596,700 1,763,450

-2,045,407 184,000 -1,675,030 -292,820,605 -712,080 3,994,780 43,320 -699,200 9,520 47,350 -157,960 -524,800 -159,710 9,836,160 638,450 -75,900 -380,370 54,947,515 396,710

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.34 59.5 118 3.66 148 1.81 35.4 15.5 28.2 9.52 1.67 995 0.54 96.5 1.45 13.3 57.3 243 104.1 87.25 49.5 230 1,900 91 1.21

3.57 59.5 120 3.67 150 1.97 35.5 15.5 28.2 10 1.76 995 0.57 97.2 1.5 13.3 58.1 243 104.1 87.3 49.5 238 1,900 91 1.21

3.21 58 117 3.66 146.1 1.81 35.2 15.5 27.75 8.65 1.67 950 0.53 95 1.4 13.3 57.3 238 104 87.25 46.5 225 1,900 90.2 1.2

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL 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 VIVANT VULCAN INDL

40.35 12.8 0.62 1.29 19.7 0.222 112.3 4.24 15.44 50 18.78 58 1.89 10.64 11.02 14.54 11.46 7.6 5.62 15.62 61.15 28.5 10.04 19.96 1.84 274.4 55.5 4.18 3.16 27.85 17.92 20.35 324.6 0.192 8.51 2.75 4.89 9.48 6.8 8.2 1.66 12.34 60.4 6.1 601 4.87 2.05 3.5 1.62 14.96 5.35 0.13 1.1 155 2.83 2 24.55 0.84

40.4 12.84 0.64 1.3 23 0.222 113.6 4.25 15.44 50 18.8 58 1.9 11.24 11.5 14.7 11.64 7.6 5.65 15.98 62.9 29 10.1 20.8 1.84 289 55.5 4.18 3.16 28.05 18 20.7 324.6 0.192 8.51 2.87 4.9 9.6 6.8 8.2 1.66 12.34 60.4 6.1 615 4.87 2.05 3.52 1.62 15.48 5.46 0.13 1.1 156.9 2.84 2 24.55 0.91

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

0.3 74.3 15.06 0.92 6.9 0.55 0.56 1,005 7.42 13.8 7.42 1,270 7.2 74 0.71 5.45 22.4 6.1 0.041 1.15 2.53 2.5 144 2.6 980 1.65 277 0.242 0.184 0.191

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

6.23 0.94 17 2.14 0.89 44.4 3.63 4.67 5.89 5.66 0.46 1.08 1.09 0.245 0.43 38 0.64 0.138 1.82 1.36 0.76 4.79 0.31 0.33 0.54 4.49 34.05 20.55 1.95

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

3.24 35.05 1.03 17.8 0.81 6.27

3.25 35.8 1.03 18 0.81 6.27

3.21 34.3 1.01 15.5 0.81 6

3.23 35.8 1.01 16.84 0.81 6.2

285,000 15,994,600 17,000 299,400 128,000 11,399,700

919,660 561,988,695 17,190 4,965,192 103,680 70,324,637

-112,070,175.00 -34,641,868

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA 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

18.88 32.95 1.35 0.44 0.044 11.58 12.02 0.067 98.9 8.8 8.85 8.15 2.62 74 1,828 5.92 167 11.5 5.4 2.9 107.9 13.28 8.31 0.142 1.6 3.35 15.08 4.05 1.06 22.7 0.51 4.62 8.25 3.55 18.2 5.29 10.72 10.04 2.91 8.21 107.5 6.9 1,520 1.17 0.345 51.55 94.6 5.95 2.99 1.46 0.64 3.75 0.94 9.6

19.1 32.95 1.35 0.44 0.046 11.58 12.4 0.068 99.95 8.8 8.9 8.74 2.72 74.5 1,829 5.92 167 12.9 5.5 3.04 110 13.28 8.31 0.151 1.71 3.43 15.4 4.05 1.07 25.6 0.52 4.62 8.48 3.55 18.8 6.58 10.82 10.1 2.91 8.21 107.5 6.9 1,540 1.2 0.345 51.55 95 5.95 3 1.46 0.64 3.8 0.95 9.89

18.2 32.5 1.31 0.44 0.044 11.58 11.96 0.067 98.9 8.8 8.62 8.15 2.4 56.5 1,803 5.84 150 11 5 2.82 106 13.28 8.31 0.141 1.57 3.35 15.08 3.93 1.03 22.45 0.51 4.25 8.2 3.51 17.12 5.01 10.68 10 2.9 8.2 103 6.6 1,513 1.14 0.345 50.5 94 5.64 2.88 1.41 0.58 3.65 0.93 9.55

SERVICES 19.1 32.6 1.31 0.44 0.046 11.58 12.1 0.068 99.7 8.8 8.75 8.7 2.6 56.7 1,827 5.88 164.9 11.02 5.38 2.9 109.9 13.28 8.31 0.146 1.59 3.43 15.08 3.96 1.06 24.25 0.52 4.44 8.4 3.53 18.8 6.56 10.72 10.08 2.9 8.2 105 6.65 1,530 1.2 0.345 51.35 95 5.75 3 1.42 0.63 3.65 0.93 9.72

200,500 20,400 86,000 460,000 17,900,000 600 11,820,000 11,230,000 441,250 197,100 2,876,900 30,200 182,000 1,707,360 48,955 480,500 216,640 13,400 8,561,900 77,000 1,347,330 300 15,000 6,760,000 2,932,000 59,000 10,400 1,607,000 339,000 12,492,300 866,000 2,007,000 3,157,100 891,000 6,100 71,707,600 11,700 41,500 5,000 3,200 146,160 613,200 267,400 2,416,000 560,000 3,277,980 533,250 152,500 924,000 3,365,000 166,235,000 612,000 3,793,000 10,475,600

3,760,342 667,360 113,720 202,400 790,600 6,948 143,040,036 753,010 43,883,180 1,734,480 25,174,787 256,709 476,730 110,040,012.50 89,165,815 2,825,385 34,286,017 156,258 45,675,296 227,680 146,301,059 3,984 124,650 982,530 4,774,510 200,070 157,312 6,388,790 354,610 306,030,310 442,040 8,792,480 26,413,124 3,147,870 111,746 407,633,397 125,412 416,132 14,530 26,260 15,344,025 4,128,805 408,534,055 2,827,380 193,200 167,647,518 50,416,278 884,866 2,702,770 4,780,940 101,320,860 2,258,640 3,553,750 101,887,109

183,990 13,200 54,527,152 19,747,266 262,486 127,642.50 -9,919,650 676.0001 -3,870 -525,055.00 -12,150,234 -83,770.00 -45,240 7,980 1,060 10,234,055 5,574,938 -543,590 -5,342,201 -36,316 -845,130 11,940 73,501,130 143,900 16,014,448 -49,009,972.50 325,840 1,536,900 -3,157,590 80,940 286,700 35,561,296

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 ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING

0.0024 1.5 4.71 13 1.69 1.67 1.61 0.32 7.23 2.5 0.192 0.153 0.156 0.0092 0.0094 1.57 6.52 1.42 0.91 0.012 0.012 0.012 2.1 6.8 8.2 36.7

0.0024 1.54 4.99 13.16 1.69 1.67 1.61 0.32 7.5 2.5 0.2 0.154 0.16 0.0092 0.0094 1.58 6.52 1.42 0.94 0.012 0.012 0.012 2.1 6.9 8.44 36.8

0.0022 1.5 4.71 13 1.69 1.65 1.56 0.32 7.23 2.43 0.191 0.152 0.156 0.0092 0.0094 1.47 6.36 1.35 0.9 0.011 0.012 0.011 2.1 6.6 7.99 36.05

MINING & OIL 0.0022 826,000,000 1.52 3,084,000 4.98 264,000 13.16 900 1.69 1,000 1.65 47,000 1.61 2,827,000 0.32 1,610,000 7.47 11,300 2.45 4,180,000 0.191 1,060,000 0.153 3,870,000 0.16 1,320,000 0.0092 4,000,000 0.0094 3,000,000 1.56 1,354,000 6.39 2,661,500 1.41 43,000 0.91 68,000 0.012 200,200,000 0.012 100,000 0.011 8,100,000 2.1 6,000 6.62 1,640,500 8.3 5,928,200 36.05 2,142,700

1,884,300 4,690,080 1,313,620 11,796 1,690 77,780 4,496,240 515,200 84,056 10,261,830 208,390 591,720 206,560 36,800 28,200 2,043,060 17,097,811 59,770 61,810 2,402,300 1,200 93,300 12,600 11,052,010 48,689,900 77,683,090

4,400 -148,680 11,796 -207,000 698,970 -2,000 -19,200 2,756,612 15,400 31,336 675,081.00 -38,380,585

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

32.5 518 518 100 104 522.5 5.77 1,006 1,013 101.3 1,144 1,003 105.5 80 75.7 79 81 77 78 78.2

32.5 518 518 108.2 104 522.5 5.77 1,006 1,013 101.5 1,144 1,004 105.5 80.2 75.7 79 81 77 78 78.2

32.5 511 518 100 104 522.5 5.76 1,005 1,010 101.3 1,144 1,000 105.5 80 75.3 76.8 81 77 78 78

PREFERRED 32.5 46,700 511 1,000 518 940 107 4,370 104 130 522.5 370 5.76 3,600 1,005 100 1,010 4,050 101.5 11,300 1,144 540 1,000 1,655 105.5 310 80.2 25,260 75.3 2,770 76.8 26,200 81 200 77 70 78 4,300 78.2 71,580

1,517,750 512,920 486,920 458,896 13,520 193,325 20,751 100,505 4,090,650 1,145,451 617,760 1,656,035 32,705 2,021,460 208,629 2,067,600 16,200 5,390 335,400 5,594,876

1,300,000 20,751 -

LR WARRANT

2.39

2.39

2.33

WARRANTS 2.35 341,000

800,410

-

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

7.52 2.89 4.9 4.05

7.55 2.89 4.9 4.09

6.82 2.89 4.4 3.96

7 2.89 4.5 4.01

26,564,023 5,780 5,761,900 5,484,250

245,355 -1,148,860

FIRST METRO ETF

130

130

126.3

13,157,887

1,300

USD DMPL A1

10.2

10.2

10.2

45,492

-

MS

PROPERTY 6.33 0.92 18.1 2.14 0.88 44 3.59 4.62 5.85 6.03 0.46 1.07 1.14 0.236 0.435 37.5 0.63 0.138 1.84 1.34 0.78 4.95 0.31 0.335 0.54 4.19 35 20.5 2

11,401,900 2,927,000 1,283,600 30,000 1,363,000 22,597,900 886,000 1,686,000 90,800 1,300 7,970,000 107,000 1,466,000 20,920,000 410,000 432,200 870,000 50,000 2,912,000 2,407,000 49,000 21,292,000 45,050,000 880,000 2,135,000 1,407,000 1,600 6,645,600 894,000

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

24,405,937

INDUSTRIAL

104,748,166

HOLDING FIRMS

136,812,966

PROPERTY

186,377,276

SERVICES

355,340,820

MINING & OIL

1,074,051,613

GRAND TOTAL

1,888,253,463

SME

3,785,400 2,000 1,243,000 1,372,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 130 102,340 10.2

DDS

4,460

VALUE 2,179.92 (down) 24.16 1,546,503,042.10 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,513.58 (down) 58.42 1,661,390,665.325 HOLDING FIRMS 8,689.61 (down) 97.66 2,614,055,739.22 PROPERTY 3,859.60 (down) 9.08 SERVICES 1,685.76 (down) 11.51 2,042,272,040.705 MINING & OIL 11,509.38 (down) 256.71 2,324,063,280.53 PSEI 8,550.42 (down) 65.58 183,635,824.938 All Shares Index 5,027.91 (down) 42.51 10,422,955,943.19 Gainers: 52; Losers: 159; Unchanged: 44; Total: 255

“How far it goes down?

You tell me,” Steven Wieting, global chief investment strategist at Citigroup, told Bloomberg TV. You cannot keep up this speed of decline “day after day after day without finding some sort of bottom rather quickly,” he added, predicting further volatility.

Other assets were also hammered, with a slump in oil prices scything energy firms, while higher-yielding currencies have been hit by a flight to safe havens.

Dealers tracked their colleagues in New York, where the Dow suffered its worst points fall in history and wiped out all its 2018 gains, while the S&P 500 also took a beating to sit down for the year.

Global stocks have enjoyed months of surges fueled by optimism over the US economy, corporate earnings and the global outlook.

The winning streak was fanned by the passage of Donald Trump’s massive tax cuts bill in December, which led several big-name firms to announce pay rises and bonuses.

At the same time the economy continues to improve across the board.

But while traders have been piling into equities, pushing many global indexes to record or multiyear highs, there has been growing concern on trading floors about elevated US Treasury bond yields—at four-year highs—and the likelihood of fresh Federal Reserve interest rate rises.

With AFP

8990 slightly topped 2017 sales target MASS housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. slightly exceeded its P10-billion revenue target in 2017 as sales picked up in the last quarter of the year.

8990 Holdings said in a disclosure to the stock exchange unaudited revenue in 2017 amounted P10.09 billion, up 7.2 percent from P9.41 billion recorded in 2016.

The firm said the strong fourth-quarter performance reversed the negative growth trajectory seen during the first nine months of the year.

Unaudited fourth-quarter revenues almost doubled from last year to P3.96 billion with major contributions from Iloilo, North Luzon and Cebu.

The company in 2017 delivered 7,348 homes.

Luzon contributed 54 percent of the total units, while Visayas and Mindanao brought in 34 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

Luzon in terms of value generated 58 percent, followed by Visayas with 33 percent and Mindanao with 9 percent.

Contribution of mediumrise and high-rise buildings to housing revenue increased from last year’s 26 percent to 47 percent.

“2018 will be even more exciting for us as we will launch more large-scale projects that will make 8990 poised to capture the Metro Manila affordable housing market,” 8990 Holdings president and chief executive Willie Uy said.

The company plans to launch five developments worth P60 billion across the country this year, expanding its geographically diversified real estate portfolio. Jenniffer B. Austria

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

B3

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

UK court to rule on Assange warrant LONDON―A British court is to decide Tuesday whether to lift a UK arrest warrant for Julian Assange, potentially paving the way for the WikiLeaks founder to leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London where he has spent the last five years.

If the court rules in Assange’s favor, allowing him to leave the embassy in the British capital without fear of arrest, it would be the first time that he has stepped outside embassy grounds since seeking asylum there in June 2012.

Assange entered the Ecuadoran embassy to dodge a European arrest warrant and extradition to Sweden over a 2010 probe in the Scandinavian country into rape and sexual assault allegations.

Sweden dropped its investigation last year, but British police are still seeking to arrest Assange for failing to surrender to a court after violating bail terms during his unsuccessful battle against extradition.

Assange’s lawyer Mark Summers told a London court last week that the warrant had “lost its purpose and its function”.

He said Assange had been living in conditions “akin to imprisonment” and his “psychological health” had deteriorated and was “in serious peril”. AFP

CLASH. Palestinian youths clash with Israeli forces in the village of al-Yamun, on the outskirts of Jenin, in the occupied West Bank on February 6 following an operation by the Israeli army. AFP

Tycoon arrested for poaching B

ANGKOK―A Thai construction tycoon has been arrested for poaching in a protected wildlife sanctuary, police said Tuesday, as photos of hunting equipment and animal carcasses including a black leopard circulated on social media.

Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development, a Bangkok-based company that helped build Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi

airport and the capital’s elevated Skytrain, was arrested along with three other suspects.

Park rangers seized three

rifles, 143 bullets and other hunting equipment as the group were detained in the Thungyai Naresuan national park in tourist-friendly Kanchanaburi province on Sunday.

Photos released by park authorities show Premchai sitting in front of a tent surrounded by police, as well as animal skins, carcasses and a large hunting rifle with a

scope.

“They were charged with illegal hunting, [and] illegal possession of carcasses of protected animals,” the national parks department said in a statement Tuesday.

Thailand’s Wildlife Friends Foundation (WFFT) applauded the rangers and identified the slain animals as a black leopard, a Kalij pheasant, and a red muntjac

or barking deer―protected species under Thai conservation law.

The wildlife sanctuary in western Thailand hosts wild elephants, tigers and many endangered species, according to WFFT. Sasin Chalermlarp, chairman of conservation group the Seub Nakkasathien Foundation, urged the government “not to fear the

suspect’s business status and proceed under the law until the case is finalized to set a precedent.”

Italian-Thai Development did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Listed on Thailand’s Stock Exchange, the company known as Ital-Thai has been involved in several mass transit projects and operations in numerous countries abroad. AFP

Japan savants grow hair at a record rate

North Korea’s military parade seeks to steal Olympic thunder

TOKYO―Polished pates and thinning thatches may one day be a thing of the past, thanks to Japanese scientists who have developed a way to grow hair follicles at a record rate.

The study used two kinds of cells placed in silicone containers to cultivate “hair follicle germs”―the sources of the tiny organs that grow and sustain hair.

Led by professor Junji Fukuda at the Yokohama National University, the team managed to cultivate 5,000 within just a few days, enough to replenish hair.

The method is a massive step up from the existing laborious techniques that can create just 50 or so “germs” at once.

While human tests might not be on the cards for another five years, ultimately researchers believe the technique could be used to generate luscious new locks.

The technology could also help cancer patients and others with medical conditions that cause hair loss, said Fukuda, whose research was published in the journal Biomaterials.

“Beauty clinics currently often use hair from the occipital region [back of the head] and plant them to frontal areas with hair loss.

A problem with this is that it doesn’t increase the total volume of hair,” Fukuda said.

Existing medication can slow hair loss, but it does not necessarily reverse the problem, he added.

New treatment using the technique may be available in 10 years, the professor said. AFP

SEOUL―North Korea’s planned military parade on the eve of the South’s Winter Olympics is a carefully calculated move to use the global spotlight on the peninsula to reassert its military power, analysts say.

Pyongyang last month announced it would commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of its military on February 8―changing the date from April 25 and switching it to the day before the Games’ opening ceremony.

The news provoked consternation in Winter Games host South Korea, coming just days after the unpredictable, nuclear-armed North agreed to participate in Pyeongchang following months of cajoling by Seoul

Activists walk free in appeal victory HONG KONG―Hong Kong’s leading democracy activists won an appeal against their jail terms at the city’s highest court Tuesday in a case seen as a test for the independence of the city’s judiciary, which some fear is under pressure from Beijing.

Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow were jailed in August last year for their role in the 2014 Umbrella Movement mass pro-democracy protests, after Hong Kong’s government pushed for harsher sentences.

A lower court had given Wong and Law community service orders and Chow a suspended sentence. But after the government’s intervention they were jailed for between six and eight months by the Court of Appeal.

All three activists were later bailed pending their appeal.

Chief justice Geoffrey Ma said Tuesday that the terms given to the trio were “significantly more severe” than the range previously handed down for unlawful assembly offenses. AFP

DEATH ANNIVERSARY. Basma Khalfaoui (2R), the widow of murdered Tunisian opposition figure Chokri Belaid, comforts one of their daughters, as they stand next to his father Salah Belaid (L) during a gathering in the capital Tunis to mark the fifth anniversary of his death. AFP

Paris opens a door to persecuted artists PARIS―It was when Kubra Khademi stopped the traffic in Kabul, and men began to throw stones at her and bay for her blood, that she knew she was going to have to leave the country.

The young performance artist had walked alone into one of the Afghan capital’s busiest intersections wearing tin armor over her breasts and backside to highlight the harassment women face in the streets.

Even as she made her escape in a taxi, one of the mob touched her behind.

“I had to hide out in Kabul until they could get me away,” she told AFP of her flight to France.

Twice condemned to death for criticizing the Khartoum government, Sudanese poet Moneim Rahma did not think twice when an unexpected chance to flee the country presented itself.

Meanhile, Syrian director Samer Salameh knew he was putting himself at risk by making a film about his devastated Damascus neighborhood of Yarmouk―once described as “the worst place on earth” by aid agencies―while serving as an army conscript. AFP

to join in a “peace Olympics”.

The latest satellite imagery, taken Monday, showed 13,000 troops rehearsing at a training facility on the outskirts of Pyongyang, but with only a few artillery pieces and armored vehicles, according to the respected US website 38 North.

“The North last year declared itself as a nuclear state,” said Park Won-Gon, international relations professor at Handong Global University.

“They want to ‘normalize’ its military rise and its status as a de-facto nuclear state by holding the parade and attending the Olympics a day later as if nothing happened and there is nothing wrong about it,” he told AFP. AFP

Republika ng Pilipinas

(Pambansang Pangasiwaan ng Patubig)

Region 3 Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office Office Address Telephone Nos. Email Address

1.

2.

3

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

: : :

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan (044) 766-3888 niabaneimoes@gmail.com

Telefax No.: TIN No.:

(044) 766-3888 000-578-009-000

Invitation to Bid forNamulandayan CIS – Mapangpang CIS The National Irrigation Administration – Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office through the GAA 2018 intends to apply the sum of Fifteen Million One Hundred Forty Eight Thousand One Hundred Thirty Six & 09/100 (P15,148,136.09) Pesos being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Namulandayan CIS – Mapangpang CIS– ITB No. R3-BANE-EEEIS-CIS-2018-NE-15. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The National Irrigation Administration – Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office now invites bids for Improvement of Namulandayan CIS – Mapangpang CIS located in Lupao, Nueva Ecija.1 Completion of the Works is required within One Hundred (120) days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.

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

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NIA-BANE IMO, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested bidders on February 5, 2018 from the address below and upon payment of non-refundable fee of Fifteen Thousand [P15,000.00]Pesos.

The NIA-BANE IMO will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 12, 2018 at NIA Region 3 Conference Room, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan at 3:00 pm which shall be open to prospective bidders. Site Inspection will be done on February 9, 2018 @ 9:00 a.m.

Bids shall be dropped on designated drop box at the address below on or before February 26, 2018 at 12:30 pm. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on February 26, 2018 1:00 pm at NIA Region 3 Conference Room, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

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

For further information, please refer to: ENGR. CLARITA G. SILVERIO BAC Secretariat NIA-BANE IMO Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan 044-766-3888 SGD.ENGR. MA. BLANCA B. ALDOVINO BAC Chairperson

(MS-FEB. 7, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

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wednesday, february 7, 2018

LGUs LocaL government units

EMERGENCY READY.

Mayor Abby Binay on Monday led the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Team in the ceremonial turnover of hard hats and emergency Go Bags to children in public schools. The mayor also provided tips and details on the proper use of the emergency kits. All public schools in Makati City from preschool, elementary and high school will receive emergency kits containing provisions, blankets, basic first aid supplies, signaling devices, and more. The Emergency Go Bag Project is part of Mayor Abby’s intensified efforts to prepare the city for disasters and other emergency situations aimed towards achieving a disaster-resilient Makati.

QC closing 73 Payatas junk shops for hazards AFTeR a series of dialogues with junk shop owners and consultations with the different regulatory offices of Quezon City, Metro Manila Development Authority, and the Department of environment and Natural Resources, the Quezon City environmental Protection and Waste Management Department will close 73 junk shops in Barangay Payatas for violating the environmental Code and City Ordinance 1711-2006.

According to Remelito C. Hirang Monitoring, Inspection, and enforcement Section chief of QC ePWMD, there have been dialogues held between the city government and the junk shop owners since 2008 for the regulation of junk shops but most of them have failed to comply with the law.

“Sa environmental management, in the first place walang pilian ng basura.

They must operate as junk shops o kung ano yung nakalagay sa business permits nila.

So karamihan doon mga recyclable materials lang talaga.

Buying and selling, trading ganon,” said Hirang.

Hirang revealed that although the junk shop owners have secured permits on buying, selling and trading, they lack permits from national government agencies.

It came to a point that their operations have affected the people in the community.

“Just like noong 2008 na inisyuhan sila ng violation ticket pero bale wala lang sa kanila. Napakarami nang dialogue sa kanila, hindi ko na nga mabilang kung ilan. Noong 2006 pa, mayroong Ordinance 1711 series of 2006, naka enumerate doon kung ano ang kanilang alituntunin sa pagnenegosyo. Ngayon may bago na namang batas.

So noong 2014 sa environmental Code naman lahat na ba-violate nila, matagal na silang pinagsasabihan.”

By Jun David CALOOCAN City Mayor Oscar Malapitan will lead the month-long 56th cityhood celebration on Feb. 16, which is also the Chinese New Year.

A two-day motorcade featuring the different clusters of public service of the city government kicked off last weekend in both North and South districts.

On Feb. 14, Thanksgiving Mass and inauguration of Caloocan City Complex Park will take place starting 3 p.m.

A mass wedding will be held at the City Sports Complex in Bagumbong in the northern part of the city. Meanwhile, a motorcycle festival featuring Italian professional motorcycle road race and MotoGrand Prix World champion, Valentino Rossi. The motorcycle exhibition will be staged on 10th Avenue.

On Feb. 15, a Thanksgiving Mass to be followed by the inauguration of CCCP located right in front of the new city hall on 8th Street corner 8th Avenue. Fireworks display will signal the cityhood anniversary and the Chinese New Year celebration. Prior to the countdown, concert featuring Itchyworms and other special guests will be shown.

Outstanding citizens and model employees will be named during the OCA Awards Night on Feb. 16 at the Bulwagang Katipunan.

Davao eyes 59k houses

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

D

AVAO CITY—The 18th City Council is fast-tracking its local shelter plan to address the 59,000 house backlog and give these homes to qualified informal settlers, 11 years after the passing of Shelter Code Ordinance of Davao City in 2007.

Councilor Rene elias velopment Low-end ProLopez, chairman on Hous- jects, said that the Local ing, Rural and Urban De- Shelter Plan will address

all the needs of the informal settlers not only the housing but the economy in their new place as well.

“We all know that many informal settlers refused to be relocated, that is why in the Local Shelter Plan we include the creation of an economy in their relocation area,” Lopez said.

Asked the reason behind the delay of the creation

code, the councilor said that it took them time to create a community and develop the water and electricity that the people needs.

Lopez said that they will be needing P39 billion for the creation of the 59,000 houses that will be built in a 223-hectare lot.

“As of the moment we are already looking on a 100-hectare lot, but that is

not enough to accommodate the backlog,” he said.

He said that they will be holding a multi-stakeholder meeting to discuss the matter and to find support from the private sectors.

“We will ask for the help of the different stakeholders to gather the amount that we need so that we can materialize this project,” he said.

Lopez said that data that they have is from the National Statistics Office 2010 survey in the city.

He said that in the next 5 years they are expecting that the number will balloon from 59,000 to 123,000 informal settlers. By this time the city will be needing 668 hectares for the construction of the houses.

P15-m parking project on hold

By Dexter A. See

DOG’S HOME. Bark Central, the first indoor off leash dog park in the Philippines, opened at Eastwood Mall. Leading the ceremonial ribbon cutting are Ronald Singson, son of Chavit Singson; Kevin Tan, senior vice president and head of Megaworld Lifestyle malls; Bea Yao, owner of Bark Central; Jinri Park, CEO of Wag Tales; and Tim Yap. Norman Cruz

Vizcaya businessmen gain from trade fairs

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Various trade fairs and other promotional activities organized by the provincial government here has benefited local cooperatives and businessmen in terms of total sales and profits last year.

Juditte Asuncion, provincial cooperative affairs officer, said through their promotional, marketing and organization of trade fairs such as the Vizcaya’s Best

exhibit during the 9th Grand Ammungan Festival participated in by 38 exhibitors has generated a total of about P1.7 million in sales.

The regular “Nueva Vizcaya goes to Alabang” in Muntinlupa City participated by 44 exhibitors also drew about P16.2 million which is 8.91 percent higher in 2017 compared in the previous year.

The province’s various trade fairs at the Quezon City hall were also conducted monthly with 30 ex-

LCCM Batch ‘93 marks silver year LA CONSOLACION College Manila Alumni Association High School Batch 1993, also known as Bughaw ‘93 Inc., in celebration of its Silver Jubilee, hosts this year’s LCCM Grand Alumni Homecoming on Feb. 10, from 9 a.m. onwards at the school’s Mother Rita Barcelo Theater (Auditorium).

Mayor to lead twin Caloocan events Feb. 16

The event’s theme is “Pinoy Ako... Pinoy Tayo...

May Dugong LCCM Noon at Ngayon” with guest artists Syncupado, Love:Music and Mr. Paolo Santos for a special performance.

LCCM High School Batch 1968 also celebrates its 50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilarians). Registration starts 9 a.m., fol-

lowed by the holy Mass, fellowship and lunch, then the program proper.

Alumnae registration fee is P600 inclusive of lunch, snacks and Alumni dues.

Seize special discounts at car display madness with delectable food, onpromo merchandise and sponsors’ booths. A day to remember as LCCians craft memoirs again!

hibitors and has generated about P2.9-million sales.

“We continue to assist cooperatives through the conduct of 31 trainings on entrepreneurship management, basic accounting, financial management and budgeting, leadership and values reorientation and management training among others,” Asuncion said.

Last year, she said about 325 applications for livelihood assistance were assisted, properly profiled

and assisted the proponents on business plans through the agency’s enterprise and cooperative development and management services.

Asuncion also said they have organized three technology missions to Iloilo, Abra, Ilocos Sur and Benguet which exposed the participants from the province on proven and best business management strategies and practices which can be adopted by various cooperatives and food processors of the province.

BONTOC, Mou nt ai n Province —The provincial government has ordered the temporary suspension of the P15-million parking building project within the Provincial Capitol compound to pave the way for the province’s technical personnel to evaluate, review and assess its impact on the state of the environment and in addressing the parking problems in this capital town.

The decision to suspend the project was the offshoot of the public consultation organized by the province with concerned stakeholders for possible consideration in the final plans and program of work.

“The action of provincial officials to suspend the project only shows that they are listening to the issues and concerns being raised against the project which will also be subject to review and assessment by the province’s technical personnel whether or not it will be possible to do so,” the provincial office said.

The provincial government plans to put up a twolevel parking structure in the garden between the legislative building and the stairs going to the plaza wherein the road level and the area below it will serve

as parking area.

Based on experts’ assessment, no structures or items of significant value will be affected by the project, contrary to the allegations of the critics that the area where the parking area will be built is part of the province’s heritage area. earlier, the provincial government decided to schedule the conduct of the public consultation recently after receiving various petitions that questioned the implementation of the multi-million parking project which commenced construction late last month.

The sources challenged the critics of the parking project to provide concrete proposals on how to effectively and efficiently address the absence of adequate parking areas in the town to contribute in efforts to address the parking of vehicles along the narrow streets that contribute in the occurrence of traffic congestions.

The sources explained the provincial government embarked on the put up of the two-level parking area within the Provincial Capitol compound to help address the parking concerns of people transacting business not only with the province but also with other government agencies located in the said area.

MAYON RESCUE. Over 1,500 families affected by the recent eruption of Mayon Volcano in Albay received immediate aid through the SM Foundation’s quick response system dubbed as the Operation Tulong Express on Jan. 23. Relief goods of bottled mineral water, rice and ready to eat meals were distributed by employees of SM City Naga and Savemore Legazpi in Bagumbayan Central School and Legazpi Science High School which serve as temporary shelters for the evacuees of the far-flung barangays of Buyoan and Mabinit. The outreach activity was done in coordination with the City Social Welfare Office and the Local Government Unit of Legazpi. Roy Tomandao

Life

bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife

fashion & beauty

@MstandardLIfe wednesday, february 7, 2018

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FashionabLy L Fit Ly WORK IT OUT. Participants to Nikki Torres’s Lyric Yoga Class are doing the yoga poses wearing pieces from F21 Active Monochrome Collection.

I

f you told someone a few years ago that they can hang out in their workout clothes, they’d probably laugh at you. But not today. With the gap between activewear and everyday clothing continuously narrowing, apparel brands are coming up with pieces that can be worn in and out of the gym. fashion retailer forever 21 jumps on the trend train as it launches its f21 Active Monochrome Collection.

The activewear collection is composed of pieces for women who engage in low, medium, and high-performance physical activities. It covers all the clothing needs for yoga, cycling, and running, among others, with a lineup of sports bras, yoga pants, running shorts, tops, jackets, and more.

Since the pieces come in trendy colors, such as millennial pink, and unique print and design, they are easier to be worn right after a session in the gym. f21 Active Monochrome Collection features on-trend details like mesh inserts, metallic, pastels, and modernized prints.

To showcase the style and functionality of the pieces, forever 21

recently hosted a Lyric yoga y Class with wellwell ness advocate and yoga teacher Nikki Torres.

The Forever 21 activewear collection is available at Forever 21 stores in SM Megamall, SM Makati, SM City North Edsa, SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura Premier, SM Southmall, and Robinsons Magnolia.

Forever 21’s activewear pieces are functional and fashionable enough to be worn in and out of the gym

Valentine’s Date Night Looks uNLeSS you’re going to a gala night or off to a swanky five-star restaurant, you would want to wear something more casual and comfortable on your date on the 14th. Here are a few suggestions that look on-point while maintaining utmost comfort—so you can make the most out of your night without complaining about painful heels or ill-fitted pants.

Bar hopping

If you and your date plan to spend the night discovering local bars, opt for an ensemble that’s casual and edgy. Guys can take cues from Gerald Anderson and wear a pair of comfy jogger pants, matched with basic t-shirt, and leather jacket. Be on the move with white sneakers, like the Skecher Street Venice T-Kinane, Women can unleash their edgy side with a leather dress or a leather skirt worn with a basic blouse or shirt. finish off the look with black Skechers Go Step Lite.

Movie date

for a night of watching movies, throw on something laidback. Short-sleeved shirt with fun prints and dark colored jeans for the guys, and lightweight top and culottes for the girls.

Top off both looks with any pair from the Skecher Street line which combines designer chic with urban aesthetic. The collection’s slipons with blings and lace-ups are not only made to look super cool, they are also equipped with the Skechers Air Cooled Memory foam technology.

Casual dinner

Gentlemen can be comfortable but still keep it appropriate by donning a crisp long sleeved shirt with a slim pair of trousers. Skip the stiff and constricting leather shoes and slip on the Skechers DressKnit Caswell Aleno for a modern twist to a classic-looking pair.

Ladies, on the hand, can try on a new dish while looking stylish in cropped top, wrap skirt, and flat shoes, like Skechers’ “super comfy” ballet flats Cleo.

Road trip

Ready to hit the road and explore what the city has to offer on hearts’ day? Then pull out all the stops for a date-ready and functional outfit. Men may opt to wear a pair of casual chinos and polo shirt, while women may choose to wear a comfortable short dress. explore the outdoors in Skechers Go Walk, the number 1 walking shoe brand in the uSA. The Go Walk is engineered with comfort technology such as the 5GeN midsole, Goga Pillars outsole, and Goga Max footbeds.

Life

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wednesday, february 7, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

sisTerHood in underpanTs. The popular Kardashian-Jenner siblings pose together in their Calvin Klein underwear, as part of the

label’s spring/summer 2018 campaign.

Kardashian-Jenner

sisters in Calvin Klein

P

rior to Kylie Jenner’s announcement of the birth of her baby girl, months after pregnancy rumors, she posed with her sisters in their Calvin Klein underwear as part of the brand’s spring/summer 2018 campaign.

Shot by photographer Willy Vanderperre, the “our family. #MYCALVinS” campaign features sisters Kim Kardashian West, Khloé Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner wearing styles of Calvin Klein un-

derwear that are now available in stores and online, including Calvin Klein Modern Cotton and the new Calvin Klein Body range. in addition, some members of the famous reality TV family are featured in core styles of Calvin Klein Jeans

as well as looks from the Spring 2018 Calvin Klein Jeans collection.

“The evolved #MYCALVinS concept has family at its center, a display of unity between strong individuals, further emphasized by the symbolism of the traditional American quilt.

This campaign captures these bonds and brings to life different ways we can inspire families—both born and made—to connect with one another, and celebrate the things that unite us,” says the brand in a statement.

Guess what Jennifer Lopez is up to

Jennifer Lopez stars in Guess’ spring 2018 campaign

Jennifer LoPez has come a long way since her 1991 appearance on In Living Color.

She’s an actress, a singer, a dancer, an entrepreneur, a fashion icon, and a philanthropist. recently, she’s added a new achievement to her name—a Guess Girl.

“When i got the call from Paul Marciano asking me to become the new Guess Girl, i was thrilled and excited to be a part of such an iconic brand that i have loved since i was a teenager,” relates Lopez.

She continues, “When i look back at early Guess campaigns through the years, you see all of these beautiful models and iconic images that Paul has created.”

J.Lo is the face of the brand’s spring 2018 advertising campaign.

The campaign, art directed by Paul Marciano, co-founder of GUeSS?, inc., and shot by fashion photographer Tatiana Gerusova, draws inspiration from Lopez’s life as a performer in Vegas and actress in Hollywood.

Shot in an elegant villa, the images evoke classic Guess campaigns with influences of Lopez’s aesthetic and personal style.

Marciano says the latest campaign featuring Lopez is a celebration of women’s beauty and talent through the years. He shares, “Jennifer Lopez is a Guess Girl’s dream! She is an accomplished artist, she is iconic and sensual.

Her beauty and class shine through [in] this campaign and i am so excited Jennifer accepted to be our new Guess Girl and at the same time ‘femme fatale’ of Marciano.”

va n i t y c o r n er

Younger in everY drop The Body Shop puts a spring back into your skin with two new, youth enhancing products from its exclusive Drops of Youth range.

The Drops of Youth Bouncy eye Mask and Drops of Youth Gentle foaming Wash harness the youth enhancing power of edelweiss from the italian Alps and criste marine and sea holly from the Brittany Coast. reduce the sign of fatigue on your under eye skin using the Bouncy eye Mask applied in the morning. But if you want to maximize its benefits, apply it all over the face and leave it on as an overnight mask.

The Gentle foaming Wash, which is enriched with plant stem cells, leaves skin fresh and replenished after use. its formula thoroughly cleanses the skin without drying, leaving it feeling smoother, softer, and renewed.

These new Drops of Youth products are available at The Body Shop stores nationwide.

Flawless legs if skin imperfections on your legs hinder you from wearing shorts or skirts, ever Bilena Leg Makeup foundation comes to the rescue.

With a thicker consistency compared to regular facial foundation, it can diminish scars, varicose veins, dark spots, and other skin imperfections. it is lightweight, thus easy to apply and blend using latex sponge. ever Bilena’s leg foundation comes in Light Glow shade.

It is available at Ever Bilena counters in beauty stores and supermarkets nationwide.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Simply Red...

From C4

establishment near Hacienda, which I will call ‘The KuhL Place.’ It will have my works of art, sculptures in a garden and a museum of what I’ve done since I’ve started my career. There are other projects that are still on the drawing board and other activities planned for the year, which I will talk about soon when I’m ready.”

Meanwhile, the ever-popular ‘80s matinee idol Gabby Concepcion will reacquaint millennials with his brand of timeless classics, which he reprised in his second album, Unforgettable. Not known to his legion of fans, he honed his singing skills under the tutelage of former OPM singer Jam Moralesduring his long tenure in the U.S. Not to be outdone, Kuh’s unica hijaIsabella says, “I’ve been working on getting back in better health actually, working on changing my lifestyle and holistic health so that I may be spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally healthy–back on track to launch into my second album project and get back into painting. I’ve also been fixing my #SpillZone Art studio at Hacienda Isabella and resting my voice so that I can record. Your Love, my second album project is in preproduction now, and updates can be found on my official page on facebook.com/iLikeIsabella.”

Whether doing their original solo spots or grooving in unison, these certified concert livewires will surely bring the house down as they merge hearts and souls for Valentine’s Day. This special pre-Valentine’s day offering kicks off Vertis North’s bevy of special attractions for 2018 as it brings new energy to Quezon City as its up-and-coming central business and lifestyle district.

Love Matters is a production of ALV Events International in partnership with ABS-CBN Vertis Tent.

For ticket inquiries, call Ticketworld (891-9999), or the Ayala Malls concierge areas at TriNoma (901-5700), U.P. Town Center (621-3275) or Vertis North (718-5000 local 6366). *** Model Sig Aldeen, also an actor of British and Filipino blood, hosts To A T FOXLife every Sunday, 9:30 to 10 in the morning.

Each well-crafted TO A T takes audiences to the edge of their seats – as well as to the world’s top travel destinations – with its trademark “vivacious & adventurous” flavor combo.

Produced by TV8 Media Productions, To A T the latest addition to the production outfit’s roster of original programs that include Health Matters (ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel) and Business Matters (Bloomberg), among many others.

Sig Aldeen was featured in Destiny Rose (GMA 7) and Swak na Swak (ABS-CBN).

To A T is expected to be the versatile redefinition of today’s modern travel itinerary.

Especially formatted to reinvigorate the global traveler’s wanderlust, it infuses each episode with fresh, trademark “in-themoment” fast-paced cinematic style and nuanced narrative set in chic, contemporary tones.

Apart from dishing out entertaining, insightful, and informative content, the show also provides practical tips and tricks to keep audiences in the know with the latest in health, beauty, and fashion trends.

The show showcases droolworthy fashion trends and tech gears and gadgets; the latest in thrill-filled escapades and culturally colorful adventures, and the hippest hangouts set against backdrops that come alive with images from the most vivid and fast-paced of urban landscapes to the most soothing delights of picturesque rural vistas.

To A T is the perfect fit for practically everybody who loves top travel destinations and trendy lifestyle tips! *** Freestyle starts 2018 immediately on a high note, as the band comes out with its new single, “Kahapon,” digitally released by Warner Music Philippines. The song showcases the searing vocals of Ava Santos, the group’s sole female vocalist.

Written by Rommel de la Cruz, the band’s bassist, “Kahapon” is a romantic ballad expected to duplicate Freestyle’s unforgettable hits such as “Before I Let You Go,” “So Slow,” “This Time” and “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang.” “Kahapon” is now available on Spotify.

Listen to “Kahapon” as Freestyle marks the Love Month with a back-to-back concert with Side A Band on Feb. 14 at Dagupan Stadia in Pangasinan.

On Feb. 16, Freestyle will perform at New Waves Bar and Grill in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija.

On Feb. 24, the group will be part of a grand music event, Rakrakan Festival, at the Aseana Concert Grounds in Paranaque City.

Freestyle is under 1Entertainment Inc. with the current line-up of members Joshua Desiderioand Mike Luison vocals and keyboards, Rommel de la Cruz on bass guitar, Ava Santos on vocals, Gerd Banzonon drums and Tat Suzaraon lead guitars/back-up vocals.

The band regularly performs at 19 East on all Tuesdays of February, 12 Monkeys on Feb. 7, Historia Boutique Bar and Restaurant on Feb.9 and Vertis North Ayala Mall on Feb.10.

Follow Freestyle on Facebook; freestylebandofficial and Instagram; freestyleofficial.

British Filipino Model Sig Aldeen hosts Fox LIfe's 'To A T'

Troy and KC Montero Make the Most Out of the

‘WORST VACATIONS EVER’

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N THIS day and age of social media projection, nobody seems to be having a bad vacation. Amidst the well-curated Instagram feeds and heart-react flooded Facebook posts of people on exotic vacations, it’s pretty hard to imagine anyone still experiencing a vacation from hell.

As everybody is hung up on the pursuit for the perfect getaway, brothers KC and Troy Montero aims to achieve the exact opposite through Discovery Channel’s new show Worst Vacation Ever Ever. Meticulously scouring the internet for the horrible review among rows and rows of recommendation, Troy and KC set out to recreate and dissect the elements of the worst vacation ever.

Dashiell’s peer “— Krishna ...”

Salamanders Polygraph flunker 63 Says please 64 Research funds 65 Longings 66 Straphanger’s lack 67 Epics DOWN 1 Root crop 2 Noted diamond surname 3 Primitive weapon 4 Cat, to a flea 5 Chirped 6 Dressed to the nines 7 Confute 8 Branch 9 Said positively 10 BMW driver, maybe 11 Not in harbor 12 Mardi Gras follower 13 Coastal flyer 21 Massage 25 Above, to a bard 26 Stage whisper 27 Water holder 28 Homer opus

side-adventures for each other based on their phobias and pet peeves.

Ironically, although the brothers set out to have the worst vacation ever, each episode demonstrates a heartwarming conclusion that many have always known but found hard to believe: The best vacations do not depend on the time, place, or even budget. Regardless of the many things that can go wrong despite painstaking planning, sometimes, just having

someone to ride the crazy waves with is enough.

Brothers Troy and KC show the audience that when the going gets tough, a que sera sera mentality and a carefree attitude can help anyone turn a disastrous vacation into an awesome one yet.

Worst Vacation Ever is on the Discovery Channel every Monday at 8:10 p.m.. Get ready to get a good laugh and learn how a horrible vacation can end up being the best story to share over a cold pint.

MVP Card revolutionizes the way you shop and dine PLDT Group unveiled its MVP Rewards Card on Feb. 6 at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-La. Present at the event were the telco's top guns led by its chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Pangilinan With MVP (Most Valuable Partner) Rewards, PLDT Home, Smart or Sun postpaid customers immediately credited with points as good as cash every time they pay in full and on time. Prepaid Smart, Sun and TNT customers, on the other hand, earn points every time they load up.

With the MVP Rewards program, customers can shop or dine anywhere and at anytime they want, just like using a credit card or a debit card.

The more accounts customers enroll in this program, the more points they get automatically since earned points from each service of each company are credited and consolidated into one wallet.

Powered by PayMaya, MVP Rewards Card functions as a prepaid card, which makes it a safe choice for shopping, both online and offline. Unlike credit cards which rack up interest and debit cards which are connected to your salary or personal savings account, the MVP Rewards Card can help you manage your expenses by loading only what you're willing to spend. So if you’re going out of the country and you want to

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

59 60 61 62

Troy and KC’s misadventures from Makati to Cambodia is a daring brew of comedy and danger. Some of the antics they pulled involve getting drunk tattoos, boxing with midgets, trying out Cambodia’s infamous ‘happy pizza,’ looking for paranormal creatures, and a whole lotta crazy.

Always game to up the ante, the brothers constantly make things worse by dramatically reducing their spending money, forcing each other to share a tiny bed, and by planning surprise

DIGITAL MEDIA

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Regatta entrant 6 Tijuana Ms. 10 Sturdy lock 14 Let happen 15 Hard benches 16 Net surfer 17 Quiet type?

18 Long-legged wader 19 Quaker colonist 20 Trick to evade 22 Canape topper 23 End of a lion’s tail 24 Vive le —!

26 Comply (2 wds.)

30 Braced oneself 34 Place for croutons 35 Not e’en once 36 Ms. Thurman 37 Mother of Horus 38 Applied a crowbar 40 John, in Ireland 41 Width of a cir.

42 Whammy 43 Tempus — 44 Wins over 46 Slalom necessity (2 wds.)

48 Baseball stat.

49 Vote 50 Lurch 53 “Whew!” evokers (2 wds.)

'Worst Vacation Ever' hosts Troy and Kc Montero prove that the worst vacation ever can still be your best one yet.

29 “— Kapital” 30 Watch 31 “Hasta —, amigo!”

32 Spam, maybe 33 Beatrice’s admirer 35 Slangy refusal 38 Toothy fish 39 ER staffers 40 Have a late meal 42 Bump hard 43 Iron shavings 45 Moray catchers 46 Tenderest

47 49 50 51 52 54 55 56 57 58

Eur. airline It might be down Count on Buffalo’s lake Joie de vivre Lighten up Vaccines Pirate’s booty Vulcan’s forge Former JFK arrivals

In return for the customers' continued patronage, they get rewarded in the form of points and perks through PDLT Group's MVP Rewards Card

keep your shopping habits in check, you can conveniently use the card by loading it and by swiping as a VISA card.

The MVP card also has Paywave function which means it can be used as ‘tap card’ when paying for toll fees in Cavitex.

“MVP Rewards is in a category of its own. We’ve taken what is best across industries and put it in one powerful program that offers more than just rewards. And the PLDT Group has the unique ability to provide this level of convergence owing to the breadth of our combined services,” said Pangilinan.

Sign up for your own MVP Rewards Card and enroll your PLDT Home, Smart, Sun and TNT accounts at www. mvprewards.ph.

Real-life couple Megan Young and Mikael Daez are working together in a series for the first time.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

MEGAN YOUNG plays empowered

Megan Young as Mayumi Dela Rosa in a classic soap which highlights some of the most important values in life.

By Nickie Wang

A

LTHOUGH women are vastly represented in many television series and programs, it’s rare that a woman is depicted as reserved, kind, and empowered at the same time. In most cases, a female character is always described as vulnerable or a textbook damsel-in-distress, if you will.

But in The Stepdaughters, an afternoon drama premiering on Feb. 12, Megan Youngplays the lead as an empowered woman.

Mayumi Dela Rosa, a young woman who changes her destiny by simply being determined and true to herself. Beautiful and intelligent, she graduated with a

degree in Chemistry with flying colors. She also dreams of creating her own makeup product line.

“Mayumi isn’t well-off and it wasn’t her choice but it was her and mother’s choice to succeed in ways that they could only hope for.

And they used their goodwill, their good nature to push forward in life.

So, I could say that Mayumi has developed and grown because of her personality and upbringing,” the former Miss World told Manila Standard.

Asked how she relates to the character she portrays, she said she wants to believe that she’s generally nice and kind.

woman in new series “I’d like to think that I have a good heart, but being nice goes a long way for anyone, in a job that you have. You can be brave for yourself, but if you are naturally nice to people, no matter how mean they are to you, you can definitely go far,” she mused.

The Stepdaughters is a story of two women who are both beautiful and intelligent but with personalities that couldn’t be any more different.

They have always been destined to be rivals and both of them aren’t ones to back away from a fight. It is a classic soap which highlights some of the most important values in life—honesty, love for family,

the determination to reach one’s dreams despite the odds, and how true beauty stems from having a genuinely good heart.

Joining Megan is Katrina Halili, her fellow StarStruck Avenger, and her real-life beau Mikael Daez, the love interest of both female leads.

Completing the cast are Glydel Mercado, Gary Estrada, Angelu de Leon, Sef Cadayona, Samantha Lopez, Allan Paule, and Dion Ignacio.

The series is under the helm of director Paul Sta. Anawith the creative team composed of creative director Roy Iglesias,

creative consultant Aloy Adlawan, concept creator and headwriter Geng Delgado, writers J-mee Katanyagand Kutz Enriquezand brainstormers Evie Macapugay, Wiro Michael Ladera, and Nehem Dallego.

The Stepdaughters is created by the GMA Entertainment Content Group under the supervision of Senior Vice President for ECG Lilybeth G. Rasonable, Vice President for Drama Redgie A. Magno, Assistant Vice President for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, Senior Program Manager Hazel F. Abonitaand Executive Producer Lui Cadag.

A pre-Valentine gig at Vertis North IT’S GOING to be a star-studded preValentine’s Day celebration at ABSCBN Vertis Tent.

Prince of RnB Kris Lawrence, penultimate pop diva Kuh Ledesma, along with their special guests, drama actor Gabby Concepcionand Kuh’s daughter Isabella Gonzalez, will create the perfect musical backdrop for a romantic evening of love songs, LOVE MATTERS. Pop diva Kuh Ledesma, along with nostalgic pop hits and other timeless special guests, Gabby Concepcion and Kuh's daughter classics in their concert special dubbed Isabella Gonzalez and RnB singer Kris Lawrence, in a Love Matters at the ABS-CBN Vertis Tent on Feb. 13. star-studded pre-Valentine’s Day show.

Fresh from the critical success of last year’s jam-packed Soul Brothers concert at Kia Theater, Kris was recently feted at the recentlyconcluded 3rd Wish Music Awards, bagging the Bronze Wishclusive Elite Circle award for garnering 10 million plus YouTube views for his “Versace On The Floor” music video.

“We’re spreading love and good vibes,”

Kris shares. “And it will be such a great honor performing with one of our mostrespected pop icons, ISAH V. RED along with one of our matinee idols and drama actors.”

Kuh, on the other hand, exclaims, “Concerts and shows keep me busy like this Valentine’s. I’m very excited to do this show with Gabby Concepcion.

I had the chance last year to spend the holidays with him and his family and

some of my closest friends Fe delos Reyes, Cecile Azarcon, and Odette Quesada. I’m excited too to perform with the very talented Kris Lawrence, and of course, it’s always a delight to perform with my daughter Isabella.

I’ll be doing a big birthday concert on March 16 and, hopefully, a new teleseryetowards the second half of the year. I’m now active on social media, ha ha ha, quite a late bloomer in this field.

We are developing Hacienda Isabella more. I am working on doing another Continued on C3