Manila Standard - 2018 February 12 - Monday

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Earthquake, wind, fire hit Olympics SPORTS A7

IN THIS ISSUE

VOL. XXXII • NO. 1 • 7 SECTIONS 80 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

A 64-page special supplement

Target: China, Russia Labor chief eyes OFW alternative market

‘Kita Kita’ now streaming on HOOQ

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja

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HE government is looking for countries to deploy Filipino workers who have been repatriated from Kuwait, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Sunday.

SHOWBIZ C4

Volatile stock market trading seen PSE COMPOSITE INDEX

BUSINESS B2

A Foodie Haven Down South

CARNIVAL NIGHT. Revellers of the Unidos de Vila Maria Samba School perform during the second night of carnival in Sao Paulo, Brazil at the city’s Sambadrome on Feb. 11, 2018. AFP

P100-m research fund for PH Rise gets greenlight

By Rio N. Araja CONGRESS has adopted a resolution to create a P100-million trust fund for scientific research, feasibility studies, marine exploration and procurement of new equipment to beef up research capability in the Philippine Rise.

“Scientific surveys and marine explorations showed that the Philippine Rise is rich in marine resources and massive mineral and gas deposits which can help the country achieve energy sufficiency,” the resolution, written by Ilocos Sur District 1 Rep. Deogracias Victor Savellano, said.

LIFE C1

“The award of the Philippine Rise to the Philippines by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf increased the areas of seabed subject to our country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction, prompting the amendment of our existing submarine maps, which will likewise be used as the reference point by potential investors,” the resolution added.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte banned all foreign scientific exploration in the Philippine Rise, internationally known as Benham Rise.

The Palace said the President ordered an end to all foreign research in the area

WEATHER

Food agency chided o ver rice ‘shortage’

TROPICAL depression “Basyang” was expected to enter the Philippines between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Sunday and will be the second storm to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the weather bureau said.

“Basyang” was spotted 1,200 kilometers east of Mindanao at 10 a.m. and packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gusts of 65 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration said.

It was expected to make landfall in the Visayas or Mindanao, the agency said, but added it would have no direct effect yet on the country.

Pagasa said the northeast monsoon will bring scattered rain in Cagayan Valley and Cordillera and cloudy skies in the Ilocos.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country may experience thunderstorms that could trigger floods or landslides, Pagasa said.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Du30: BBL first, federalism next BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi—President Rodrigo Duterte has given his assuranced that the Bangsamoro Basic Law will have priority over the shift to a federal form of government, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza said Sunday.

“It’s clear with him that BBL will Next page

in a Cabinet meeting, 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,” a spokesman said.

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.

FIELD DAY. Children have a field day in the sun amid sacks of newly harvested palay in Manaoag, Pangasinan. The NFA is under fire for its alleged failure to augment its buffer.

Manny Palmero

SENATOR Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, on Sunday dismissed fears of a rice shortage as she scored the National Food for being remiss in its job.

She said Filipinos should not panic over the alleged short supply as there is enough rice.

“The supply of rice is not lacking. If is the NFA [people] who have not been doing their job,” she said on radio dzBB. She also reminded the NFA to refrain from making public announcements regarding their low buffer stock as this would create panic.

The “problem, she said, concerns the failure of the NFA to fulfill its mandate as the low buffer stock also happened twice last year. She said the NFA should have gone to provinces where farmers offer cheaper rice to replenish the current buffer stock, said to be enough for Next page only two days.

“We are now in the process of looking for alternative markets,” Bello told the ANC news channel. “One of them is China. And even Russia.”

More than 800 Filipino workers in Kuwait are waiting to return to the Philippines after President Rodrigo Duterte declared that those who wanted to leave the country would be repatriated in 72 hours.

Duterte, incensed by the deaths of Filipino workers there, also extended the ban on deployments to Kuwait.

Just last week, the body of a Filipina worker was found stored in a freezer in Kuwait, where it might have been kept for over a year.

The Department of Labor and Employment is investigating at least seven other deaths in the country, which is home to some 250,000 Filipino workers.

“We’ll give them a means of livelihood. If there are those who want to work here, we’re looking for teachers… [and] skilled workers,” Bello said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Some of the returning workers could also be employed in the government’s massive infrastructure push, which is expected to create millions of jobs.

“With the forthcoming infrastructure project of the Preside nt, we are talking of more than two-milion jobs a year, starting this year, until the end of his term,” Bello said.

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Eyebrows raised over court’s TRO vs Ombudsman

By Rey E. Requejo A PARTY-LIST group on Sunday criticized the decision by the Court of Appeals to issue a temporary restraining order to stop the Office of the Ombudsman from suspending four commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission for a year, for giving favored treatment to the Manila Electric Co. “Why would the CA jump the gun on the Office of the President as to when and who will be appointed as temporary or acting commissioners? Also why would the CA thwart the implementation of the executory decision of the Office of the Ombudsman?” Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said.

Zarate cited a June 2014 Supreme Court decision that was “categorical in providing that an appeal shall not stop the decision from being executory, and that such shall be executed as a matter of course.”

The party-list lawmaker warned that “restraining the executory suspension of the erring commissioners may be interpreted as undue interference on the powers and independence of the Office of the Ombudsman, as well as the Office of the President.”

In a resolution dated Feb. 9, 2018, the CA’s 9th Division through Associate Justice Mariflor Punzalan Castillo, issued a 60-day TRO against the resolution of the anti-graft body suspending the four ERC commissioners for one year.

The resolution concurred in by Associate Justices Danton Bueser and Henry Next page

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News

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Bonifacio Papers up for sale; lawmaker urges govt to step in REP. Carlos Isagani Zarate on Sunday called on the Duterte administration to acquire the Bonifacio Presidential Papers that are being put into auction on March 8 at the Leon Gallery.

“It is imperative that the Philippine government acquire these important papers not only for their historical value but also because they will set the record correctly that, indeed, Gat Andres Bonifacio is the first president of the Philippines,” Zarate said.

“It is high time that Supremo Andres Bonifacio should be recognized as such and the proper honors should be accorded to him.

According to historian Xiao Chua, the papers bear the seal and signature of

HOME AGAIN. Twenty five Filipino workers from Kuwait arrive at the Naia Terminal 1 on Sunday on board PAL flight PR449.

The Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration said another batch of 260 via PAL flight PR 669 and 140 via Gulf Air flight GF 154 are expected to arrive at Naia Terminal 1 today. Eric Apolonio

Solon: Third telco player merits special treatment P RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to give the country’s third telecommunications player the best possible preferential treatment is “absolutely justified” to give Filipinos access to faster and cheaper Internet connection speeds, Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. said on Sunday.

“Public interest dictates the preferential treatment. We have to enable the new entrant to quickly roll out its network for the benefit of consumers, who for years have had no choice but to endure the inadequate and costly Internet services being supplied by the two players,” Campos said.

“The state, in going out of its way to accommodate the third player, is in fact merely fulfilling its duty to foster stronger and freer market competition,” added Campos, a deputy minority leader.

Malacañang has ordered all agencies— from the National Telecommunications Commission down to local government units—to expedite the granting of all

licenses and permits needed by the possible third telco firm.

Without the President’s directive, Campos said the third player would face numerous hurdles, including potential delays in securing licenses and regulatory approvals to form the new telecommunications company.

The new entrant may have to spend up to P125 billion over the next three years to be in a position to effectively compete with PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc., according to market analysts.

“Having real competition in three years, or before the President’s term ends in 2022, is definitely better than having no

foreseeable competition at all,” Campos said.

The lawmaker downplayed concerns over a possible foreign role in the new telco player, which is widely believed to involve a Chinese entity.

Both PLDT and Globe are already substantially, or up to 40 percent, owned by foreigners, Campos said.

Campos has been batting for the reclassification of internet access as a “basic telecommunications service” so that the NTC may compel suppliers to provide rising connection speeds under pain of severe punitive fines.

Under House Bill No. 5337, Campos wants the NTC empowered to regulate both the quality and the cost of internet access by tagging it a basic service.

At present, the 23-year-old Philippine Public Telecommunications Policy Law treats internet access as a “value-added service” rather than a basic service, thus, suppliers are relatively free to provide the service on their own terms.

Time to revisit law against sexual harassment—Koko SENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III said Sunday the time is ripe to revisit the Philippines’ sexual harassment laws and increase the penalties for their violation.

That would serve “both as a deterrent and as proof of the government’s unwavering commitment to protect and uphold gender rights,” Pimentel said in a statement.

He said the Anti Sexual Harassment Act and Violence Against Women and Children Law were passed over a decade ago.

“We must update and toughen these laws to be able to adjust to the demands of the times,” Pimentel said “The Philippines has been a trendsetter and pioneer in women’s rights. We

have produced two female Presidents.

We granted Filipino women the right of suffrage in 1937 even before many of the modern republics in Asia were born.

“It’s incumbent upon us today to protect not only women’s political rights but their civil rights as well.”

Pimentel said the focus on sexual harassment and women’s rights sharpened lately with the reports of abuse in show business and sports in the US, which dragged previously respected names like Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.

Closer to home, Carmen Valdes, president of Assumption College, an all-female educational institution, revealed in

a book released this month that she was sexually abused as a child, Pimentel said.

Given these events, he said, he plans to direct the appropriate Senate committees to look into increasing the penalties for sexual harassment and abuse.

“For example, under the 1995 Harassment Law, those convicted only face imprisonment not more than six months or a fine of not more than P20,000. We should update these penalties to reflect modern realities,” Pimentel said.

“As a lawyer and legislator, I consider sexual harassment as one of the sickest and most deplorable offenses that can be committed because it goes into the very dignity of the victim.”

Food...

Eyebrows...

co took advantage of the resetting the effectivity date of the competitive selection process.

The Ombudsman also held ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar liable, but President Rodrigo Duterte has already dismissed him from the service in October.

The anti-graft body made the ruling in view of the complaint filed by the nongovernment organization Alyansa Para sa BagongPilipinas in 2016.

The case stemmed from the decision of the ERC to reset the CSP’s effectivity date from Nov, 6, 2015 to April 30, 2016, exempting the PSAs from undergoing transparent and public bidding required by the CSP. The Ombudsman said the ERC commissioners exercised “gross inexcusable negligence” in delaying the CSP’s implementation since the process was put in place to make the PSAs’ cost more reasonable.

The Ombudsman said it was clear that the commissioners favored Meralco through the delay.

“There is sufficient evidence that respondents gave unwarranted benefits to Meralco and other companies by exempting them from the coverage of the CSP requirement, which was already in effect after 06 November 2015. The 45-day period gave Meralco and other companies the opportunity to dispense with CSP,” the Ombudsman added.

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The senator said the NFA shouod go to a place where rice is cheap like Antique where it is sold at P10 to P12 per kilo, in Bicol where it is P14, or in Palawan where is its P13.

“So the mandate of NFA is to look where rice is being sold at a cheap price and buy there and help the farmers sell their palay at P17,” she said.

Villar also said her panel’s investigation into the low buffer stock of NFA rice and the agency’s role in ensuring the stability of the price of the staple will begin on Feb. 27.

The NFA is required by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council to maintain a 15-day buffer stock at any given time and 30 days at the onset of the lean months of July to September.

She earier filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the status of NFA rice supply and its mandate to maintain a buffer stock for food security and stabilization.

She said NFA officials and its council as well as key officials in the Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and Management and Department of Finance will be invited to the hearing to be announced later.

The country’s quantitative restriction on rice expired in June 2017, a measure that allows the government to limit the volume of rice imports.

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Inting was issued so as not to “impair public service.”

Malacañang has not appointed replacements for the four ERC commissioners-Alfredo Non, Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Josefina Patricia Magpale-Asirit and Geronimo Sta.Ana--since the Ombudsman ordered their suspension on Dec. 11, 2017.

According to the appellate court, the issuance of TRO is necessary to prevent “grave and irreparable injury” to the petitioners.

The four ERC officials were suspended by the Ombudsman for extending the deadline for compliance of the competitive selective process, thus giving preference to Meralco and its affiliated power generation companies.

In two separate resolutions released on Dec. 11, the Ombudsman also indicted the said ERC commissioners before the Sandiganbayan.

The anti-graft body said the ERC commissioners are “administratively liable for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, aggravated by simple misconduct and simple neglect of duty” based on civil service rules.

It also ruled that the ERC commissioners “cannot feign ignorance” when Meral-

Bonifacio who wrote what he felt about the Cavite affair.

The papers were once owned by the historian Epifanio de los Santos but later came to the possession of Emmanuel Encarnacion.

The documents were once doubted but has been duly verified as authentic documents in the recent book by Jim Richardson, ‘‘The Light of Liberty,’’ which focuses on other Bonifacio papers in Spain that bear the same flourished handwriting, signature and seal of the Supremo.

“We are also calling on House leaders to fast-track Bayan Muna’s House Resoluton 285 to finally legislate our recognition of Gat Andres Bonifacio as our country’s first president,” Zarate said.

Psych test on Sereno smacks of desperation, lawyers allege THE camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Sunday said the probe into her psychiatric examination score was a “desperate” move to push to impeach her.

In an interview on dzBB radio, lawyer Carlo Cruz, one of Sereno’s spokesmen, insisted that her psychiatric examination score had no bearing on the impeachment complaint against her but was only meant to defame her.

“Hindi namin maintindihan kung bakit tinatalakay ang bagay na ito. Ang sa aming pananaw, kasi nakikita ng ating mga kababayan na medyo malapit yata na gusto nilang siraan ang ating Punong Mahistrado at medyo may mga nagsasabi sa ating mga kababayan na hindi naman ito walang basehan,” Cruz said.

“Parang desperado ang mga moves nila para lang ipakita kunwari na meron namang kaso, e wala naman yan sa ating Konstitusyon.”

At the resumption of the House Committee on Justice hearing on Wednesday, former clerk of court Enriqueta Vidal confirmed that Sereno only received a score of 4 in her psychiatric test per-

formed as part of her application for her position.

But Cruz said it was even lawyer-complainant Lorenzo Gadon who said that the psychiatric examination score was not material to the impeachment complaint.

“Si Chief Justice Sereno, nung siya ay associate justice ay nag-apply siya nung nagkaroon ng bakante sa opisina ng Punong Mahistrado. Siya ay nag-submit ng mga kwalipikasyon niya, in-interview siya,” Cruz said.

“Nakita ng mga miyembro ng JBC [Judicial and Bar Council] na qualified naman siya, kaya isinama siya sa listahan ng mga nominado, siya ay na-appoint ni Pangulong [Benigno] Aquino [III].”

With the move to probe her psychiatric exam score, Cruz said, it was as if the House panel and Gadon were appealing the decision of the JBC and Aquino to nominate and appoint Sereno to the position.

The House justice panel will resume on Monday its deliberations to determine probable cause on the impeachment complaint against Sereno.

Target:...

entire overseas employment program needs to be reviewed because it is more than 40 years old.

“Much has happened in the global workforce since its inception,” said Villar.

She also extended her sympathies to the family of Joanna Dimafelis, whose frozen body was recently found in Kuwait.

Senator JV Ejercito condemned the death of Dimafelis and urged the government to review all deployment policies for OFWs. He also urged the Kuwaiti government to investigate the deaths of Filipino workers and ensure the protection of all migrant workers in their country.

Party-list Rep. John Bertiz, meanwhile, criticized the Department of Labor and Employment, the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait and the Department of Foreign Affairs for failing to address the abuses against Filipino workers overseas.

“Why do we have to reach a point when some [of our workers] have to be killed in just a month? Why wait for the President to declare a total ban? That’s supposed to be the job of the embassy, especially the DFA and DoLE,” Bertiz said in an interview on radio dzBB.

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Over the weekend, Cebu Pacific said it is mounting a special charter flight of an Airbus A330—the largest in its fleet—from Kuwait to Manila for free, in response to the government’s call for assistance in repatriating Filipino workers in the Gulf state.

Special arrangements are being made since Cebu Pacific no longer has regular commercial air service between Manila and Kuwait, a company statement said.

The A330 has a maximum capacity of 436 passengers.

The company said it would also provide free food as well as baggage allowance for the returning workers.

Senator Cynthia Villar said the developments in Kuwait highlights the need to reexamine the social costs of labor migration, especially for domestic workers.

“We need to strengthen our own domestic job market and increase the labor participation of women, especially those in rural areas,” Villar said.

The senator said she believes that the

Du30:...

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come first, before federalism Dureza said during the Senate’s joint public hearing on the BBL held at the Mindanao State University.

He emphasized the importance of the public hearings being conducted by the Senate on the BBL, saying that these were aimed at obtaining the views of residents who will be affected by the proposed law.

The joint Senate public hearing in Bongao, which was held after the Jolo leg of the consultations, was attended by representatives of Bangsamoro civil and youth organizations, officials and staff of the provincial government of Tawi-tawi, MSU students and local residents.

In the same gathering, Ghadzali Jaafar, vice chairman for political affairs of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, expressed the Bangsamoro people’s gratitude to members of the Senate for spearheading the public hearings on the BBL. He said it was crucial that the BBL is enacted into law to pave the way for the establishment of the Bangsamoro government.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who chairs the Senate subcommittee on the BBL, said the Senate is determined to pass the law by March 22.

The senator from Bukidnon pointed out that the establishment of a federal form of government is not feasible at this time, as the current political dynamics in Mindanao are entirely different from the

ones in Visayas and Luzon.

Zubiri said once the BBL is passed, Tawi-Tawi will be among the areas that will largely benefit economically, as the province can blossom into a top tourist destination that could even rival Boracay.

A top military commander, meanwhile, said the BBL’s passage would redound to a more peaceful Mindanao, as it would address the root causes of the armed conflict.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, noted the provisions of the BBL addresses the underlying factors that breed terrorism in southern Philippines.

“The enactment of the BBL will significantly help in lowering the threat of extremism and terrorism, particularly the Abu-Sayyaf,” said Galvez, who is overseeing the government’s campaign against terrorist groups in the island.

He said the terror groups will now find it hard to recruit new members and carry out attacks, since the implementation of the BBL answers the “issues” of the Bangsamoro people.

“Right now, the terror groups are trying to change the narrative of the conflict in Mindanao,” he said, adding that the extremists are taking advantage of the frustrations of the Bangsamoro people to join in their violent movement.

Galvez said the military fully supports the Duterte administration’s peace agenda, particularly the implementation of the peace agreements the government has signed with the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front. Macon RamosAraneta

News Pay hike precludes sloppy job —NCRPO NOW that the Metro Manila’s policemen’s base pay has been increased, it’s about time they also improve their service.

That summed up the message National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde relayed to the police on Sunday though Albayalde said local police owed the public quality service to compensate for the 100-percent hike in their base pay.

“Kung sa morale naman po siguro, sino pa ba pong magbababa ng morale naman niya, eh doble-doble ang sweldong binigay sa atin,” he said.

Cops, soldiers, and other uniformed personnel started receiving their paychecks with a 100-percent increase in their base pay this year.

Albayalde made the statement after local police officers were said to suffer low morale following on-the-spot inspections in which several were caught sleeping and drinking alcohol on duty.

Police should always be prepared and on alert, Albayalde said.

After these on-the-spot inspections, some 18 police officials have been sacked— one from Quezon City, two from Caloocan, four from Muntinlupa, and 11 from Pasay—and facing administrative sanctions including forfeiture of bonus.

MoNday, february 12, 2018

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Small-town lottery chalks up P2b

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he expanded Small Town Lottery posted P1.87 billion in sales last month, a 103.96-percent increase from the sales of the same month last year, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan said on Sunday.

“Our STL continues to raise more funds to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s free medicines and financial assistance to medical patients in the country amid the vilification campaign being waged in the media by

vested-interest individuals to destroy the lottery game in particular and PCSO in general,” Balutan said. he said that from P916.5 million, the STL sales increased to P1.87 billion or more than double the Janu-

ary 2017 sales.

“The increase in the number of operating STL Authorized Agent Corporations [AACs] and in the Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipt [PMRR] primarily contributed to the increased revenue, through the support of our betting public,” said Balutan.

Keno similarly rose by 22.2 percent from P410 million to P501.2 million; while Lotto (6/42, 6/45, 6/49, 6/55, 6/58, 4-Digit, 6-Digit, 3-Digit, and eZ2) was only up by 8.50 percent from P2.55 billion to P2.77 billion; and no

draw for Sweepstakes for this month. “‘Yung lotto games kasi are jackpot-driven sales.

Ina-associate kasi natin ‘yan sa jackpot prize natin.

Kapag mataas ang jackpot natin, malaki din ‘yung nagiging sales,” explained Maritess Jose, Division Chief of the Product Research and Development of PCSO Gaming Sector.

The PCSO Charter, or Republic Act (RA) No. 1169, is mandated “to provide and raise funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and

charities of national character, and these funds are generated from Lotto, Keno, STL, and Sweepstakes.

“We rely on the betting public to raise our revenues by playing more lottery games, especially STL. We don’t get money from people’s taxes, through gaming only. That is why we are protecting the interest of the betting public. If we lose their trust, we will lose our business. They are the source of our revenue,” Balutan said.

STL is a regular game

by PCSO authorized by the national government

through Section 1 of Republic Act 1169.

AACs are corporations or cooperatives duly registered with the Securities and exchange Commission or with the Cooperative Development Authority, respectively that applied, been duly qualified and expressly authorized by the PCSO to conduct STL in a particular area.

As of press time, PCSO has 81 operating AACs. Just recently, the PCSO has terminated two AACs for violations of the STL Implementing Rules and Regulations.

DepEd urged: Focus on digital literacy

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

choice Bouquet. A buyer picks his choice at the Dangwa market to avoid the rush ahead of Valentine’s Day. Lino Santos

The Department of education was prodded to give priority to digital literacy programs in schools to produce graduates who will be equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in the modern digital world.

On this premise, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said many job opportunities in lucrative areas require significant digital know-how.

“We should nurture the digital communication and cognitive skills of the youth, because this will pave their way toward more promising careers,” said Gatchalian, vice chairman of the Senate education Committee.

The senator explained that digital literacy, which is defined as the capacity

SM FOUNDATION shares the gift of EDUCATION

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HANKS to a fruitful first partnership between the SM Foundation, SM PRIME and Star Appliances, Mayamot Elementary School in Antipolo City has just received a new school building that was formally turned over to school and DepEd officials, LGU officials of Antipolo, parents and students last January 31, 2018.

The fully-furnished two-storey, four-classroom building that will house grade-six students, is the latest among 87 existing school buildings under SM Foundation’s School Building Program with a total of 276 classrooms, with plans to add six more educational structures for the rest of the year.

MES was also the beneficiary of 200 armchairs, 20 of which were made for their left-handed students, plus 4 teacher’s desk sets, 8 blackboards, 16 wall fans, 4 wall clocks and the inclusion of four comfort rooms with water closets in each classroom to provide better personal hygiene for students with running water assured by the local government.

“Maraming salamat po SM Foundation at nabigyan niyo

kami ng napakagandang twostorey building para sa ating mag-aaral. Napakalaking tulong po talaga nito, ‘di lamang sa mga pupils natin kung di pati na rin sa mga teachers natin, “ said MES Principal III Dr. Romeo G. Rodriguez Jr., who added that this is the first time left-handed students will be receiving armchairs, made by PWD’s from the Foundation of the These-abled, isang Foundation being assisted by SM Foundation. Ayon kay Lord Sebastian V. Mendoza, Grade 6 student, dati-rati, di ko malaman kung papaano ako pupwesto sa pag-sulat pero ngayon, comfortable na po ako at mabilis na rin ako mag-sulat.

Mendoza says he will take up Education when we goes to college so that “I can teach in this school to thank the school for

what it is doing for me and for my classmates.”

“Kami po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa SM Foundation at kami ay nagkaroon ng napakaganda at kumpletong classroom. Hayaan ninyo po at ito ay iingatan at pangangalagaan namin para magamit pa ng maraming kabataan sa susunod na henerasyon,” said MES OIC and Grade 6-Rizal adviser Arlene Ruzol, MT II. “Tuwang tuwa kami at kumpletong-kumpleto talaga ang ibinigay sa amin, dahil bukod sa mga appliances, upuan, ay may CR din na mahalaga para sa hygiene ng mga bata,” added Teacher Melanie Agocejas, adviser of Grade 6-Aguinaldo.

Since the School Building Program started in 2002, it has been guided by Tatang Henry

Sy’s life principles—”beyond profits, a company’s successis also measured by how its communities thrive.”

“Kami sa SM Foundation, ang aming ambisyon is to grow, but we want to grow sustainably. Whatever we do, we hope that it reflects the needs of the community around us and that we can help resolve any socio-economic issue that arises in these areas,” said SM Foundation Trustee Ramon “Chito” Macapagal during the turnover ceremony.

to evaluate, comprehend, and communicate information through digital or computer technology, “lies at the center of professional competence and economic productivity in the Digital Age we now live in.” he said employers in both the public and private sectors run operations which are increasingly reliant on technology and the Internet, thus serving a direct link between digital literacy and employability.

In 2017, Deped partnered with the private sector to conduct a pilot study on new learning techniques that could promote digital literacy in the country. The senator said that this was a good starting point for Deped to eventually refine the curricula observed in schools to include more indepth digital literacy training.

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Opinion

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Asymmetrical in economy, asymmetrical in power IT WAS talked about at almost every table when the members of the consultative committee created by Executive Order No. 10 met to get to know each other. How does one devolve sovereignty and governmental power to regions that do not enjoy economic parity?

Obviously, the Cagayan Valley does not have the resources that the National Capital Region has, and some regions south of Manila are truly depressed. NCR, however, is itself dependent on outlying regions for its food supply.

In international law, the fact that micro-states are unable to fully bear the the challenges of statehood and so enter into agreements with other states in such matters as defense and even fiscal management is no impediment to their statehood in international law. I submit that the same argument should apply to a federal Philippines with asymmetrical regions or states. The powers devolved to each region (state) will depend on the fiscal strength, the ethnic cohesiveness, even such considerations as the geography and

Adelle Chua, Editor

Rendered irrelevant

EDITORIAL

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Milestones

HE Manila Standard is no stranger to trying times. It has seen them, reported on them, helped the public make sense of them, and made it through them.

On this year’s anniversary, there is much to be thankful for. Amid an environment of uncertainty given the liberal flow of information, we recognize it is good there is even a flow to begin with.

We note the abundance of real and contrived information, and sound and flimsy opinion, from various sides.

The public is overwhelmed and bewildered, but in the end it enjoys the freedom to form its own conclusions and act on these in self-determination.

What we now have is infinitely better than a scenario where information is controlled and dissenters are silenced. We are confident our leaders are neither delusional nor foolish to take something this basic away from the people.

There are also practical realities we must contend with. In all these, genuine compassion and honesty from the principals, leadership from the managers, hard work, excellence and commitment from all the employees have been instrumental in making the organization resilient.

These days, the country is figuring out how best to change the Constitution to adapt to the times. It is trying to strike a balance between eradicating the menace of illegal drugs and corruption

on one hand, and according everyone due process.

It is defining its foreign policy that is consistent and credible before the rest of the world.

Filipinos are also struggling to play down the noise of petty politics so we can focus on the non-sensational but all-important matters of infrastructure, employment and inclusive growth.

These are issues that take time to mature and see a solution. Filipinos do not expect to see results after a week, or a month. Manila Standard continues to be part of this journey, as it has for the past 31 years, and as it will for even longer.

It’s a milestone to have reached this point. An even bigger achievement is contemplating there are more to come.

This is the reason that the input of academics and of researchers is essential.

the stage of development of the region.

I can reasonably anticipate that Muslim Mindanao, owing to peremptory considerations of culture, ethnicity and religion (that includes its own legal system) will want—and need —that degree of sovereignty that will allow it to enact its own legal codes on areas over which Shari’a may control, consistent with the Constitution of the Republic. But it will not be necessary for the Ilocandia Region, for one, to enact a distinct civil code!

This is the reason that the input of academics and of researchers is essential. The call of Acting CHED Chair Popoy de Vera for the robust participation of state universities is not only timely. It should be construed as a directive. Those who are to craft and draft reforms must have such data as pertain to economics, fiscal management, resources, ethnography —empirical data that only thorough empirical research of which SUCs are clearly capable can provide.

Finally, it does nothing to encourage the members of the consultative committee for the members of the House of Representatives to keep harping on their power to disregard the committee’s suggestions. That is a constitutional given. But why should that be that be foisted as some kind of a threat? Should not the Committee be encouraged rather to make as solid a study as it can make and to advance such proposals that will make it easier for the Legislature—should it finally decide to sit as a constituent assembly (an option that does not seem to enjoy widespread national support!)

—to pen the final draft? Already, at the organizational meeting, the members of the committee worried about the jobs they had to take leaves from, if this was to be demanded of them. And while they are cognizant of the historical moment of which they are privileged to be part, it is a fact that no amount of historical luminescence can make up for lost jobs or waived business opportunities. The members are making a sacrifice—and it does not honor their patriotism to threaten to consign to the dustbin their handiwork. rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

EVENTS of the past year, most especially the last two weeks, make one conclude that the National Food Authority has been rendered irrelevant to food security.

The NFA’s primary mandate is to ensure that the country’s food staple —rice—is at all times available at affordable cost. This was the rationale behind President Ferdinand Marcos’ decree that transformed the pre-martial law Rice and Corn Administration and the Rice and Corn Board to first, the National Grains Authority, later renamed the National Food Authority.

The NFA celebrates its founding anniversary on Sept. 26, now 45 years from 1972. Mind the date—it was four days after Proclamation 1081 which declared martial law. And the presidential decree creating the NFA was PD 4. Because rice was both an economic and political issue, its first administrator, the late Jess Tanchanco, was later elevated to cabinet status by President Marcos.

The original intent was for NFA to balance the welfare of palay farmers as well as the rice-consuming public. But developments in its history have made NFA’s role in protecting the farmers’ welfare very minimal.

The budget subsidy for NFA’s palay support-price intervention has been quite niggardly. From P8 billion in 2010 (GMA’s last budget), Butch Abad’s DBM, appalled at the humongous P178billion “legacy” debt incurred by the

Market forces will come into play.

A dis-Kuwaiting situation IT’S a disquieting situation in Kuwait when our Filipino workers in the oilrich country suffer cruelties at the hands of employers.

The most recent disturbing case was that of a Filipino found dead in a household freezer. The body of Joanna Daniela Dimapilis was identified through DNA examination by forensic experts who said the corpse had been probably in the freezer for about a year.

Her death had so incensed President Rodrigo Duterte who said he wanted Filipino overseas workers—particularly 800 of them who are undocumented— out of Kuwait in 72 hours. And so a Filipino corpse found in a freezer has led to a freeze in the deployment of OFWs in Kuwait.

“Our OFWs are slaves to no one,” fumed a furious President Duterte who added that anyone who flees abusive

The President is furious.

Kuwaiti employers will be helped find a job back home. The government is now looking at other countries like China, Qatar and Canada to deploy 100,000 OFWs after he had ordered Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to freeze the deployment of Filipino workers in Kuwait.

It is not yet known in what sector Filipinos will be employed in China.

The death of Dimapilis is highly suspicious. Found in a basement freezer in an abandoned apartment, the parents of the victim sought justice for their daughter and demanded the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait work closely with authorities to find out who killed Joanna.

Because of the total ban, a group of Kuwaiti officials is set to meet with President Duterte in Malacañang to discuss the plight of our workers there.

Most of the abuses are committed against Filipino domestics or household help. The suspicion in Joanna’s case is that she was killed by her employer either intentionally or accidentally. To hide their dastardly deed the employers placed Joanna’s body in the basement freezer and then moved out of the apartment.

The identities of Joanna’s employers Turn to A5

state-owned agency from the GMA administration, reduced that subsidy to a flat zero.

PNoy’s agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala while grandly promising rice selfsufficiency by 2013, did not lift a finger to protest with the cabinet economic cluster of which he was a part, even as the NFA then was still attached to his department.

Only when we pleaded, even threateningly with the House appropriations committee then chaired

by Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya, later to become transportation secretary, did he and Abad cut half of Alcala’s P5billion project study fund and transferred the same to NFA. Thus, from P8 billion to P2.5 billion.

How much palay could P2.5 billion buy from farmers? Four hundred eleven million kilos, computed at P17 per kilo, less when you include added incentives.

That’s 8.2-million bags of palay. That’s 411,000 metric tons. Plenty?

At 65-percent polished rice to palay recovery (and that’s on the high side), that’s 266,500 metric tons of rice. That’s equivalent to eight days of the amount of rice the people of the Philippines consume. There are 365 days in the year. Go figure how much NFA affects the palay market, and what it could do to support farmers.

Would the farmers in the major rice granaries sell to NFA at P17 per kilo of palay if the commercial traders would give them P19 pesos? Even during my watch at the NFA, the buying price of palay was at P18 to P19, higher than the NFA’s. Which is good for the farmers.

But at P19 per kilo of palay, the retail price would be double that, or P38 per kilo of white rice, logistics and profits in the distribution chain included.

That’s normal. In case of market disruptions (such as typhoons at harvest time, or a huge spike in costs of production, or international market distortions), retail prices would go over and above the simple times two proportion.

This has happened several times in the past. Prices of rice hit the roof, for instance in 2008, with domestic retail prices going up to as high as P55 to P60 pesos per kilo, until President GMA and then DA Secretary Art Yap bought at “any price” just to get supplies coming in. GMA was allergic to rice prices Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher can be accessed at: manilastandard.net Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net

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Opinion Faster than expected inflation full effects of TRAIN JUST over a month finally being felt in the after the Tax Reform coming months. for Acceleration and On the other hand, Inclusion—TRAIN— finance Secretary Sonny was signed into law, it Dominguez reportedly is clear that the butterfly said he “finds it hard effect it had set off just might prove to be a critical challenge to believe that the implementation of to President Rodrigo Duterte’s historic TRAIN … had any significant effect on prices … unless of course merchants popularity.

The ink had barely dried on the took advantage of the law and raised legislation when news of crippling prices on old inventories.”

When news broke that the National hikes began circulating on social media: A petition for a P10 minimum jeepney Food Authority is running low on fare, posted long-distance bus fares inventory, too—empty NFA rice stalls doubling, and infographics showing became a familiar sight in markets— before and after-TRAIN prices of your some thought the maelstrom created

by TRAIN was slowly, dangerously favorite sugar-sweetened beverages.

Soon economic experts began getting closer to what is dearest to many weighing in on the ongoing inflationary Filipinos: Rice. As officials blame each effect—the Bangko Sentral has already other, one person might ultimately raised its inflation forecast for 2018 bear the brunt of the politicking and to 4.3 percent from 3.4 percent and to indecision: President Duterte.

Power rates, for one, are expected 3.5 percent instead of 3.2 percent for 2019. The government’s economic to go up by more than P0.90 or close managers, foremost National Economic to P1.00 per kilowatt hour, which Development Authority’s Ernesto consumers will see in their February Pernia and BSP managing director bills. Utility company Manila Electric Francisco Dakila Jr., had to say Company compared it to “what was also experienced something to assuage February last year a mounting public when we had a outcry, arguing that P0.92 per kWh the disruption will adjustment in the be both minimal and overall rate.” temporary.

Things are even Meralco vice But it doesn’t grimmer when president Lawrence change the fact that S. Fernandez prices are rising so we scrutinize the explained that much faster than specifi cs. thought they are anticipated, and the still finalizing much-hyped benefits calculations, rate of the tax reform increase in this package—notably month’s billing how it was supposed cycle will be the to finance the Duterte administration’s much-vaunted golden P0.07 per kWh cost impact from the age of infrastructure—are summarily value added tax in the transmission being eclipsed by the sheer brunt of wheeling charge of National Grid inflation. The announcement of the Corporation of the Philippines as 4-percent inflation rate—a far cry from reinstatement by the TRAIN Act and are the “floor” figure of 2 percent when expecting higher generation charges.

At least they committed follow Duterte came into office—caught many ERC’s prodding not to implement these by surprise.

Things are even grimmer when we increases in one go for the sake of scrutinize the specifics. Among the consumers.

Consumer advocacy group prices that shot up include alcohol and tobacco products—at 12.3 percent or CitizenWatch Philippines reminded three times the average inflation—food the government that amidst all the and beverages, and utilities such as economic brouhahas, it’s the consumer water and electricity. Inflation in the who ultimately suffers, “left with National Capital Region, meanwhile, no choice but to carry the burden of the increase in prices, especially in was a staggering 5.4 percent.

At this point, economist JC fuel costs and electricity rates,” said Punongbayan said, we haven’t even felt convenor Hannah Viola.

The group said petroleum companies the full effects of TRAIN’s new taxes since some of its provisions allowed must be made to explain the full impact for a staggered implementation. What of such price increases in detail, and it enabled them, Punongbayan said, is for government agencies like the likely a combination of profiteering, Department of Energy and Department higher world oil prices, and the of Trade and Industry to closely monitor depreciation of the peso—“a veritable and evaluate food, electricity and fuel prices to prevent arbitrary increases triple whammy.”

The first one is obvious enough. and profiteering. This becomes more TRAIN’s taxes can only be applied to critical around March and April, when new stocks of good but many traders the cost impact on TRAIN taxes on fuel saw an opportunity to take advantage for coal and diesel fired plants will start of the widespread conditioning and to manifest in consumers’ electric bills.

Considering the already high cost prematurely hiked the prices of current supply. That fuel prices in the world of power in the country, this might market are rising—the highest in three have repercussions on the cost of doing years, according to some estimates— business in the Philippines, which certainly didn’t help the situation. Add might affect much needed investments. the weakening of the peso and you’ve This means that TRAIN just might end up running over more people than got the perfect storm for inflation.

The bad news, according to expected, from the ordinary consumer Punongbayan, is that such triple to industry. With more TRAINs coming, whammy is likely to continue new taxes may not sit nicely with the throughout the year, worsened by the voting public.

A dis-Kuwaiting...

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are still being determined based on the record of the apartment’s previous tenants.

The total ban of workers include skilled Filipino engineers deployed in the oil fields which had drawn the concern of the Kuwaiti government.

There are not enough engineers and technical people among Kuwaitis.

In a related development, President Duterte said he is considering a P500 monthly subsidy proposed by organized labor for four million minimum wage workers. Malacañang is mulling the subsidy to help low-income employees deal with rising inflation and the cost of living particularly in basic commodities such as food, fuel and electricity rates.

The spiraling prices were the effect of the government’s Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion measure to generate revenues for infrastructure projects.

The Makabayan bloc and other militant groups have petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of TRAIN because of its adverse effects on the people.

The cost of the P500 monthly subsidy for minimum wage employees proposed by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, however, could cost the government an estimated P24 billion a year.

The dwindling supply of National Food Authority is also being addressed by the Duterte administration.

Evacuees from areas hit by a series of typhoons at year’s end were given rice and other relief goods. Commercial rice is more expensive than the NFA rice imported from Vietnam, Thailand and India .

The Department of Agriculture under Secretary Manny Pinol is now under pressure to augment stocks from the usual rice exporting countries .

Pinol’s problem is also how to curb the rice distributors to prevent an artificial shortage in the market. It is a known practice of middlemen to hoard sacks of rice in their warehouses as they drive up prices. The Department of Trade is monitoring these middlemen and their warehouses where the rice buffer is stored.

To encourage farmers to plant more rice, President Duterte has ordered free irrigation in farms growing the basic staple and vegetables.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

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Kicking gaming addiction with Vietnam’s martial art

By Jenny Vaughan HO CHI Minh City, Vietnam—An’s folly was “League of Legends,” a fantasy fight game that consumed her for 18 hours a day until she joined a school for troubled teens which features the real-world hard knocks of Vietnam’s homegrown martial art.

With no phone or console and 5:30 a.m. wake-up calls, the 16-year-old initially struggled to adjust to the rigors of life at the boarding school on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City.

She also didn’t take to Vovinam, the acrobatic, high-kicking martial art created in the 1930s by borrowing elements of kung fu and other Asian disciplines.

But she had little choice.

An is among around 300 teens at the Research Institute for Vovinam and Sport Development [IVS], where the physical and emotional control demanded by Vovinam is used to wean kids off screens and addictions to booze and drugs, and to ease depression.

After a few dark weeks, An—full name Tran Nguyen Nhat An—finally started to emerge from her malaise.

“I was just depressed, in my room. I never exercised, I never talked to anyone... here I can talk to everybody,” she said, wearing her blue two-piece Vovinam uniform as classmates sparred on mats nearby.

“I practice [Vovinam], exercise, so my health is getting better. Maybe that’s helping my emotions getting better too.”

Millions of youngsters like An are glued to online gaming in Vietnam, where some 30 percent of the population of 93 million have smartphones and about half have internet access.

League of Legends and “Dota” are favorites, especially among the booming population of under-30s.

Though no nationwide official data on gaming addiction exists, paediatric psychiatrist Lam Hieu Minh says he’s seen a rise in visits from kids hooked on screens.

They usually suffer from anxiety and sleeping disorders, attention deficit issues and even depression and eating disorders.

The World Health Organization agrees: Earlier this year it said “gaming disorder” would be added to its compendium of illnesses.

Sport can be an important part of treatment.

“Physical activities such as martial arts are very good for children to help them get healthy entertainment and meet friends,” said Minh.

- ‘I’m a new person’ IVS was set up in 2009 by Vovinam Master Pham Quang Long to treat unruly youngsters aged from 13 to 19.

Inspired by a Soviet educator who ran orphanages based on the principles of collective education and characterbuilding work for children, Quang adopted a similarly tough-love approach.

There are around 1,000 kids enrolled at all five IVS campuses, where tuition costs about $330 a month and pupils are

allowed a visit by parents once a month.

Students must adhere to a strict schedule from dawn until bedtime around 10:00 p.m. that includes academic courses, music lessons and physical exercise.

Most days, that includes Vovinam.

“They have to overcome [personal] difficulties by practicing martial arts, it gets rid of old habits and laziness,” said IVS deputy director Dang Le Anh. “Military discipline and martial arts help the student to become better and better”.

Early Vovinam protagonists were inspired by nationalist movements during the French occupation, eager to learn self-defence and develop a uniquely Vietnamese martial art.

But the sport was forced underground in the 1950s by French rulers who wanted to extinguish nationalist sentiment of any kind.

It reemerged in the 1970s, eventually becoming a global movement. Today, there are Vovinam federations all over the world.

Nguyen Quang Hieu says the sport has transformed him from a gaming-addicted rebel to a disciplined young man.

Before he arrived at the school three years ago, he was gaming for up to 14 hours a day, leaving the house for long stretches and spending countless hours at internet cafes.

“I live an orderly life now and I don’t try to disobey my parents,” said 16-yearold Hieu, who now competes in Vovinam tournaments.

“I’ve given up games and become a new person.” AFP

Lesson in endurance: Syrian refugee teacher enters German school

By Yannick Pasquet WORKING at a German school is not just about reading and writing, maths and singing songs, says newly minted Syrian assistant teacher Hend alKhabbaz.

She was surprised to discover there is also a mountain of paperwork and administrative tasks to perform.

The school “is better for the children, but it’s a lot of work for the teachers,” the 35-year-old says with a laugh, speaking in German which she has learnt since fleeing her war-torn homeland less than three years ago.

Khabbaz’s new workplace is the Sigmund Jaehn primary school in Fuerstenwalde, a town of drab prefabricated housing blocks in Germany’s formerly communist east, 60 kilometres (40 miles) from Berlin.

That’s around 3,500 kilometres from the home she left in Homs, Syria, where she taught English before boarding an overcrowded boat for her escape to Europe.

After a gruelling trek along the Balkans route, she requested asylum in Germany in September 2015, at the peak of a mass influx that has since brought more than a million refugees and migrants.

While Germany has struggled to integrate many of the newcomers, Khabbaz got a lucky break and through her hard work now has a full-time job in her profession.

She is one of the first graduates of Potsdam University’s pioneering

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acting up, recalling perhaps that her father Diosdado lost to Ferdinand in 1965 mainly because rice went up from 1 peso per “ganta” (then the volume measure, which is about 2.5 kilos under present weight measures) to P1.20.

That piece of historic trivia means that in the sixties, one kilo of rice cost the Filipino consumer only 40 centavos.

Now P40 (a hundred times more) would buy only a kilo of “pwede na” rice. Good rice would be P60 per kilo more or less.

In the ’50s and ’60s, the price of rice was the barometer of inflation, more than the price of gasoline which has now become the psychological measure of inflation.

GMA’s allergy to spiked-up rice prices led to an orgy of NFA imports from 2008 to 2010, mostly from Vietnam. Flooding the market with highly subsidized NFA rice was Art Yap’s policy to ensure that the 2008 second quarter rice storm would not be repeated. This multiplied NFA’s debt, and caused massive losses, as the agency was buying high and selling low.

PNoy thus inherited a P178-billion debt, which the economic managers, Cesar Purisima and Butch Abad, could not accept, much less imagine.

The economic managers wanted NFA to reduce the legacy debt, and indeed, by the start of 2012, NFA’s legacy debt was trimmed to P147 billion. The practice of government buying so much rice was reversed. From 2.25 million tons or 45-million bags imported by government in GMA’s last year, NFA bought only 200,000 tons in 2011 and 120,000 tons in 2012.

NFA instead got the private sector to finance the bulk of rice imports, charging them by bidding an import fee, as against the previous practice where nothing went

Refugee Teachers Programme, which readies foreign teachers to enter the German school system.

Of the initial 700 applicants in 2016, 85 percent were Syrians.

“These are people who have had a good university education,” says Miriam Vock, the professor who initiated the programme.

“We want to give them the chance to be able to work again here.”

Memories of war In the corridors of the Fuerstenwalde school, a bell cuts through the hubbub of recess and signals the return to class.

Among the children flocking to their desks in a classroom with paper butterflies on the green walls are four Syrian children—Yasmine, Zaid and two boys named Mohamed.

Their colourful pencil cases in front of them, the pupils, aged nine to 11, listen intently to the lesson.

“What is this man doing?” asks a teaching assistant at a cinema workshop as the class watches a video.

Mohamed, wearing sweatpants, raises his hand and says eagerly in his newlyacquired language: “He is opening the door.”

Standing beside the Syrian pupils is Khabbaz, ready to help out in those moments when the four youngsters need some extra help.

Yasmine, with long brown braids that fall down her back, turns to the young woman and whispers a question in Arabic.

“There are words they don’t understand yet, or sometimes the teacher speaks too quickly,” says Khabbaz.

School principal Ines Tesch explains that the refugee children “still struggle with the specialised language of biology or physics”.

“When there’s no other way, the children speak their mother tongue,” says Tesch.

It means precious support for the children who, aside from having to find their way in an unknown country, carry the memories of war, upheaval and exodus.

Building bridges The Sigmund Jaehn School, named after the first East German cosmonaut in space, is currently hosting 92 refugee children, including 45 Syrians, among its total of 350 pupils.

Tesch says that Khabbaz “has allowed us to build bridges” with foreign-born parents who are often overwhelmed by the demands of a German bureaucracy ever hungry for official stamps and documents.

Khabbaz says the biggest obstacle to resuming her profession was learning the new language, which made up the bulk of the Potsdam training course.

“It’s very demanding because the participants have to acquire the level of German that is essential for teaching,” says programme founder Vock.

It is the main reason that out of the first batch of 26 graduates in 2017, only 12 have so far joined a school. The others will have to sit their German exams again.

Still, the program has been hailed a success, and other German universities are now following suit. AFP

to government coffers from private sector imports.

Yet in 2012, while we asked the NFA Council for permission to import just 120,000 tons for buffer stocking against the lean months and potential typhoons, NFA still had a little less than 16 days buffer stock.

It is thus a surprise that NFA now has less than two days inventory, or some 60,000 metric tons. (The nation’s daily consumption of rice is estimated by the Philippine Statistics Authority at 32,000 tons). How did this lowest inventory in decades come to happen?

The parallelism I could recall was in 1995, right after the mid-term elections which was dominated by the Flor Contemplacion execution issue, which brought then-President FVR’s popularity rating down. Right after, there was a shortage of NFA rice, and commercial rice prices hit the roof. Then NFA administrator Romy David had a run-in with the late DA Sec. Bobot Sebastian who would not allow him to import, pointing to a “bumper” summer crop in 1995.

Calculations of supply went awry and long queues formed. NFA trucks were even being stopped in the highways by irate, likely “organized” consumers. Even then, the NFA inventory was better than just 2 days.

It may be true, and we trust our official statisticians, that there are 86 days inventory, but then again, almost all of these are in the hands of the private sector.

But given the spate of rice news of the past weeks, will rich and middle-income consumers “panic” and buy more than they normally do, in anticipation of a “shortage?” Poor families will always be hardest hit, because their daily purchases of rice is dependent on their daily income.

“Isang kahig, isang tuka.” And that sector is what NFA’s consumer protection mandate is all about.

As for the distribution chain, from millers to traders to wholesalers to retailers, will they take advantage of the situation and jack up their selling prices beyond reasonable margins to cover increased logistics cost?

Our economic managers, whose undersecretaries comprise the NFA Council seem unperturbed. After all, the quantitative restrictions on rice have expired, thus effectively “castrating” NFA’s relevance in the rice trade to merely reserve buffering. The rice tariffication bill still sleeps in Congress, but then again, most of our imports come from Vietnam and Thailand anyhow, Asean members where a 35-percent common tariff is in force.

They may see what is happening as a test of the market forces, prelude to privatizing the trade fully. The stocks are high, albeit held privately. There are imports from the minimum access volume supposed to come in, but again, these will be privately held.

Market forces will come into play, and NFA is irrelevant.

With a president as hugely popular as Duterte, the political fall-out may mean lower second or third quarter approval ratings, but the political capital will still be quite substantial. And then again, with the fear of an angry Duterte in their minds, the supply chain may temper its profit-taking.

Today we are told the NFA Council will meet to decide on the mode of a previously approved 250,000 ton import. If they go through bidding out to the private traders, as they did in the last months of 2017, the rice would come in at the earliest by end-April through May, right smack into harvest time. Farmers won’t like that.

If they go government to government, they just might get the rice in by April, that is assuming Vietnam or Thailand have ample un-committed stocks to sell at this time.

That is a big IF.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018 Standard A6 TODAY Manila

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Designate more indoor smoking areas’

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SMOKERS’ rights advocacy group has called on owners of private establishments like malls, restaurants and bars to designate more indoor smoking areas while stressing that under the law, smoking in open spaces outdoor is permitted.

“The Duterte administration did a great job respecting the rights of non-smokers and smokers. We’ve spoken with several establishment owners and they are wary with the incorrect interpretation and implementation by some local government units,” Pro-Yosi president Anton Israel said.

President Rodrigo Duterte issued last year Executive Order No. 26 giving flesh to the provisions of the 2003 Tobacco Regulation Act in regulating indoor public smoking.

“Section 6 of RA No. 9211 mandates establishment owners to provide smoking and nonsmoking areas in enclosed places. Therefore, owners who do not comply in this provision may be penalized under the law,” Israel said.

Israel bewailed anti-tobacco groups for intentionally misleading the public by encouraging private establishments not to set-up designated smoking areas or DSAs. “As it is, bars and restaurants have taken a big hit in terms of income while malls have suffered

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION January 24, 2018 FDA ADVISORY No. 2018-005 TO

: GENERAL CONSUMING PUBLIC

SUBJECT : Public Health Warning Against the Use of Unregistered Household/Urban Pesticide Products (Batch 2)

significant decrease in the number of mall goers,” he said.

“We do not contest the rights of non-smokers to smoke-free air.

What we want is for smokers to enjoy their right to smoke in places where they are allowed to smoke,” Israel added.

Under the EO, Israel said smoking is not banned in open areas like streets and sidewalks. If there are no DSAs outside buildings and other private establishments, he said smoking is allowed.

Pro-Yosi also issued an appeal to local government units for a fair and consistent enforcement of EO No. 26 following reports 61 individuals, most of them smoking in open areas, were arrested in Muntinlupa City.

“What they have done is completely without any legal basis.

There is no basis under EO No. 26 nor the TRA,” Israel said.

Israel said his group would extend support to those illegally apprehended, including a smoker who was accosted last week in Mandaluyong City. A video of the arrest has gone viral online with eight-million views, showing the smoker handcuffed and dragged by a number of enforcers.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises the public against the purchase and use of the following unregistered household/urban pesticide products: 1.

GREEN LEAF MOUSE & RAT GLUE

2.

EXPERT CATCH RAT GLUE TRAPS

3.

TOMCAT COCKROACH TRAPS

FDA post-marketing surveillance (PMS) activities have verified that the abovementioned household/urban pesticide products have not gone through the registration process of the agency and have not been issued the proper marketing authorization (MA). Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9711, otherwise known as the “Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009”, the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising or sponsorship of health products without the proper authorization from FDA is prohibited.

Household/urban pesticide products, prior to being placed into the local market, must be duly registered with the FDA by a licensed household/urban pesticide distributor and/or manufacturer.

However, if a household/urban pesticide product has not been evaluated by FDA as in the case of these unregistered products, the use of such products may pose potential health hazards to the consuming public. FDA cannot guarantee their quality, efficacy and safety. Such products are harmful, toxic and may pose imminent danger to human and animal health. The use of substandard and possibly adulterated household/urban pesticide products may result to adverse reactions including but not limited to skin irritation, itchiness, anaphylactic shock, respiratory disorders, endocrine complications, brain damage and organ failure.

In light of the above, the public is advised not to purchase the aforementioned violative products.

Moreover, the public is also advised to be vigilant against household/urban pesticide products that might not be duly registered with FDA. Always check if a household/urban pesticide product has been registered with FDA before purchasing it by making use of the embedded Search feature of the FDA website accessible at www.fda.gov.ph.

Consumers are further reminded to: •

Buy household/urban pesticide products from reputable stores or dealers;

•

Read the label. Check that the household/urban pesticide product has FDA registration number indicated in the label.

•

Never buy household/urban pesticides that do not have instructions written in Filipino or English. Strictly follow the instructions for use of the product.

All concerned establishments are warned not to distribute the above-identified violative household/urban pesticide products until they have already been covered by the appropriate authorization, otherwise, regulatory actions and sanctions shall be strictly pursued.

All Local Government Units (LGUs) and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are requested to ensure that these products are not sold or made available in their localities or areas of jurisdiction.

For more information and inquiries, please e-mail us at info@fda.gov.ph. To report continuous sale or distribution of the above unregistered household/urban pesticide products, utilize our online reporting facility, eReport, at www.fda.gov.ph/ereport, or e-mail us via report@fda.gov.ph, or call us at the Center for Cosmetics Regulation and Research (CCRR) hotline (02) 857-1979 or (02) 857-1984.

Dissemination of the information to all concerned is requested.

NELA CHARADE G. PUNO, RPh. Director General ANNEX Details on the Unregistered Household/Urban Pesticide Products PRODUCT NAME 1

PRODUCT DETAILS

PRODUCT IMAGE/S

GREEN LEAF MOUSE Manufacturer’s Name: Not & RAT GLUE Indicated Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated

2

EXPERT CATCH RAT GLUE TRAPS

Manufacturer’s Name: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: China Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated

3

TOMCAT COCKROACH TRAPS

Manufacturer’s Name: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: China Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated

M. Standard – Feb. 12, 2018

BORACAY SOUVENIRS. A local artist paints a colorful design on a souvenir shirt outside a shop in Boracay. Selling like hotcakes during the summer season, shirt prices range from P400-P800 depending on color, size and design. PNA

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION FDA ADVISORY No. 2018-004

24 JAN 2018

TO:

GENERAL CONSUMING PUBLIC

SUBJECT:

Public Health Warning Against the Use of Unnotified Toy Products (Batch 2)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises the public against the purchase and use of the following unnotified toy products whose particulars/details are provided in the attached annex:

DoH, DAP partner for drug rehab assessment

THE Department of Health-Mimaropa and 1. DINOSAUR WOODEN PUZZLE the Development Acad2. DRAGON HEART ANCIENT PLASTIC DAGGER WEAPON emy of the Philippines 3. WONDERFUL KG-9 PERFORMANCE COMBAT AMMO TOY GUN (WDF No. 888) have signed a memo4. STARTOYS PULL-ALONG ANIMALS TROLLEY (GIRAFFE) randum of agreement FDA post-marketing surveillance (PMS) activities have verified that the abovementioned toy for the assessment and products have not gone through the verification process of the agency and have not been issued the proper authorization in the form of acknowledged toy notifications. Pursuant to Republic Act evaluation of the drug No. 9711, otherwise known as the “Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009”, the manufacture, rehabilitation programs importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, conducted in the region. advertising or sponsorship of health products without the proper authorization from FDA is prohibited.

“We need to identify Accordingly, because unnotified toy products have not gone through the verification process of if the five modalities of the FDA, the agency cannot guarantee their quality and safety. The use of such violative products community-based drug may pose potential health hazards to the consuming public. Potential hazards may come from treatment and rehabilitamaterials that are not allowed to be part of a toy product or being exposed to chemicals that can tion we have implementleach out from the product such as pthalates and nitrosamines. Based on some international ed in the five provinces studies, these chemicals may cause allergy and cancer. are successful and effecIn light of the above, the public is advised not to purchase the aforementioned violative products. tive,” said Regional DiMoreover, the public is also advised to be vigilant against toy products that might not be duly notified rector Eduardo Janairo with FDA. Always check if a toy product has been notified with FDA before purchasing it by making during the signing ceruse of the embedded Search feature of the FDA website accessible at www.fda.gov.ph. emony held at the DAP All concerned establishments are warned not to distribute the above-identified violative toy headquarters in Pasig products until they have already been covered by the appropriate authorization (toy notification), City. otherwise, regulatory actions and sanctions shall be strictly pursued.

“The result of the All Local Government Units (LGUs) and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are requested to evaluation will provide ensure that these products are not sold or made available in their localities or areas of jurisdiction. us an evidence-based For more information and inquiries, please e-mail us at info@fda.gov.ph. To report continuous report where we can sale or distribution of the above unnotified toy products, utilize our online reporting facility, eReport, further improve the proat www.fda.gov.ph/ereport, or e-mail us via report@fda.gov.ph, or call us at the Center for gram design and impleCosmetics Regulation and Research (CCRR) hotline (02) 857-1979 or (02) 857-1984. mentation,” Janairo said.

Dissemination of the information to all concerned is requested.

DoH-Mimaropa has piloted various modalities and key intervenNELA CHARADE G. PUNO, RPh tions of communityFDA Director General based drug treatment ANNEX and rehabilitation.

Details on the Unnotified Toy Products These included a 30PRODUCT NAME PRODUCT DETAILS PRODUCT IMAGE/S day advance intensive 1 DINOSAUR Country of outpatient treatment WOODEN PUZZLE Manufacture: China rehabilitation program in Oriental Mindoro Local Company Responsible for Placing which combines western the Product in the and eastern medicine Market: (Ayurveda) and providNot Indicated ing holistic care; and a one-month commuAddress: Not Indicated nity-based drug reha2 DRAGON HEART Country of ANCIENT Manufacture: China bilitation that provides PLASTIC multi-faceted solutions DAGGER Local Company using non-traditional WEAPON Responsible for Placing but tested, research- and the Product in the evidence-based interMarket: ventions including life Not Indicated blood analysis, wellness Address: Not Indicated counseling and training in Occidental Mindoro.

In Marinduque, the 3 WONDERFUL Country of substance abuse rehaKG-9 Manufacture: Not PERFORMANCE Indicated bilitation prevention proCOMBAT AMMO gram was implemented TOY GUN (WDF Local Company for 82 clients with the No. 888) Responsible for Placing objective of preventing the Product in the relapse among patients Market: through the establishment Not Indicated of rehabilitation units Address: Not Indicated that provide screening, 4 STARTOYS PULL- Country of assessment, referral and ALONG ANIMALS Manufacture: counselling, capacity deTROLLET Philippines velopment of facilitators (GIRAFFE) and counselors, and brief Local Company Responsible for Placing intervention including a the Product in the family member.

Market: Life coaching was Not Indicated applied in Romblon through a five-day wellAddress: Not Indicated ness program designed to help participants in self-discovery and selfStandard – Feb. 12, 2018 management.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

A7

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Earthquake, wind, fire hit Olympics

Rex Luis Krod poses with his silver medal.

Krog 2nd place in Asian cycling AN unassuming Rex Luis Krog bagged the Men’s Junior silver medal of road race in the Asian Cycling Championships Saturday in Naypyidaw, Myanmar—booking what could yet be the biggest accomplishment of his budding career.

Krog, who will turn 18 in May 14, clocked two hours, 32 minutes and 49 seconds and finished 11 seconds behind breakaway partners Taisei Hino of Japan and (2:32:38) and 12 seconds ahead of Wachirawit Saenkhamwong (2:33:01) to snatch the country’s first Asian championships medal after Rustom Lim’s bronze also of road race in 2011 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

The start list consisted of 43 of the most promising cyclists in the continent with Krog and his coach, Ednalyn Calitis Hualda, proving that cycling, among others, is not a battle of brute strength and stamina, but also more of a scientific approach suited to the rider and the route.

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea —An earthquake triggered an alert and high winds disrupted competition at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Sunday, as officials warned of a severe freeze and urged fans to wrap up warm.

After a bitterly cold first night of competition, a shallow 4.6-magnitude earthquake jolted the eastern portion of South Korea overnight, prompting warnings on mobile phones.

Early on Sunday, ski officials were forced to postpone the showpiece men’s downhill until Thursday as buffeting winds made the high-speed slope too dangerous for competition.

Later, the women’s slopestyle snowboarding also fell victim to the wind, as the qualifying session was scrapped with riders going straight into the final on Monday.

It comes after the first ski jumping final finished more than an hour behind schedule, past midnight on Saturday, as competitors were held up by swirling winds.

As if to complete the set of extreme conditions, an alert warning of a high risk of fire -- given the dry, windy weather -- also flashed up on mobile phones on Sunday.

Organizers gave assurances that the Games were at no risk from earthquakes, with venues built to withstand even strong tremors. Sunday’s quake was measured at magnitude-4.7 by the US Geological Survey and was about 260 kilometres (160 miles) away.

“All the facilities in the Games area are built so they can withstand strong earthquakes over 7.0... so I assure you there was no issue regarding these facilities,” said Sung Baik-you, spokesman for the Games organizers. AFP

Bicycology shop owner and Olympian Eric Buhain (right) and business partner John Garcia are shown with members of the Philippine Army-Bicycology cycling team during the shop’s second year anniversary.

Bicycology team dedicates Ronda stint to soldiers

FROM the battlefields to the roads, cycling members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines vow to bring glory in honor of their fellow brothers in arms in the 2018 LBC Ronda Pilipinas.

Te Philippine Army Bicycology team is composed of three-time Southeast Asian Games champion Sgt. Alfie Catalan, Tour veteran Pfc. Cris Joven, Sgt. Merculio Ramos, Jr., Pfc. Marvin Tapic, Sgt. Alvin Benosa, Sgt. Reynaldo Navarro, Cpl. Lord Anthony Del Rosario and Pfc. Kenneth Solis.

“Our countrymen supported them while they defended our democracy and we wholeheartedly back them up now as they display anew the Filipino soldiers’ resilience and bravery in all kindd of challenges,” said SEA Games champion swimmer and cycling enthusiast Eric Buhain.

Buhain, who himself once fought for the rights of the Filipino athletes as former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, and partner John Garcia of Bicycology Shop, are making sure that the Philippine Army Bicycology team is “armed to the teeth” when it battles with the country’s best cyclists in the annual bikathon.

P0 M+ P0 M

Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club. The event was organized to nurture camaraderie with its business partners. The annual sporting event was attended by top executives of Isla LPG Corp., the company behind Solane. Photo shows Isla Petroleum & Gas Corporation CEO, Soichi Watanabe; IPG CFO, Willie Sarmiento; and ILC General Manager for Sales, Tonito Gonzalez; with business partners who attended the event.

Tough test for TCC cast

A

STELLAR 30-player field, headed by five former champions, braces for another four days of grueling battle of talent, skills and wits in pursuit of one of the most coveted crowns in Philippine golf at one of the country’s toughest courses.

The P5 million The Country Club Invitational gets under way Wednesday (Feb. 14) at the dreaded TCC course with two players going for a record fourth crown, three seeking a repeat and the rest raring to get a crack at the championship.

Four foreign aces spice up the stellar cast in what could be another survival of the fittest the way it did last year when Miguel Tabuena edged three-time winner Juvic Pagunsan when the event, put up by ICTSI boss Ricky Razon in 2003 to honor the memory of his father and ICTSI founder Don Pocholo, was re-staged two years after the Tom Weiskoph-designed layout underwent a major facelift in 2015.

New faces emerge in Iloilo leg of Cebuana net tourney IT WAS a parade of new and fresh faces at the recent second leg of this year’s Cebuana Lhuillier Age-Group Tennis Championship Series in Iloilo City, something that made the organizers and sponsors happy.

“This development is very encouraging for us in our goal of expanding the base of young tennis talents, particularly from the provinces, and we are certainly happy both with the turn out and the results in IloIlo City,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President/CEO of the Cebuana Lhuillier Group which has been bankrolling the Dunlop-backed series, now on its 12th year, making it the longest-running tennis grassroots program in the country.

Host province Iloilo took home five of the 10 individual titles at stake, while Negros Occidental players grabbed four titles and Cebu won just one championship.

Iloilo struck in the lower age categories,

the

1.

2.

The DOH now invites bids for the procurement of the above-captioned project.

Delivery of the Goods is required within the period specified under Section VI. Schedule of Requirements. Bidders should have completed, within two years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project, equivalent to at least twenty five percent (25%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

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

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

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from COBAC Secretariat, G/F, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 12 February – 06 March 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Philippine Pesos (PhP25,000.00).

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

LOS ANGELES—Anthony Davis scored 44 points and Rajon Rondo had a triple double as the New Orleans Pelicans ended a three-game losing streak with a 138-128 double overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets.

The Pelicans won despite blowing a 28-point lead in the third quarter to the Nets on Saturday in front of a crowd of 16,500 at the Barclays Center arena.

Davis added 17 rebounds and Rondo finished with 25 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans. Nikola Mirotic had 21 points and 16 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday chipped in 22 points.

“We just wanted to keep fighting, doing what we did to get the lead,” said Davis.

Allen Crabbe made eight threepointers and scored 28 points for the Nets, who appeared sluggish in the first half which put them in a deep hole. They then launched a furious rally in regulation which finished with Crabbe’s three pointer with 12 seconds remaining to send the game into the first overtime. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

InvItatIon to BId for Procurement of amlodIPIne 5mg taBlet IB no. 2018-074

The Department of Health (DOH), through the General Appropriations Act of 2018 intends to apply the sum of Twenty Seven Million Six Hundred Fifty Nine Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Philippine Pesos (PhP27,659,520.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Amlodipine 5mg Tablet under IB No. 2018-074. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Tabuena posted a high winning score of 13-over 301 at the long, exacting TCC, which plays to a maximum yards of 8,000 from the back tees. Its sleek, undulating surface, unsettling hazards, roughs plus the wind makes it doubly challenging, even to the best of the best.

“When you play TCC, you have to be equipped with everything – shotmaking, iron play, short game and putting, plus mental toughness. One can’t really predict the outcome because each hole’s character could change in an instant in the presence of the wind,” said Tony Lascuña, a multi-titled player on the local circuit still in search for a follow-up to his first TCC victory way back in 2004.

Pelicans rebound to beat Brooklyn

with Chrysler Gazo from Cabatuan ruling the boys’ 16-under with an 8-5 win over Negros Occidental bet Rewel Justiniani; Jan Roger Lamparero beating Roxas City bet Drixcyn Jann Guillano, 8-5, for the boys’ 14-under crown, and Elemar Sealza edging out Jeff Jimenea, 8-7, in the finals of the boys’ 12-under group.

The unisex events were also dominated by Iloilo as Aleeva Feonne Suace swept Lourinne Allorina , also from Iloilo, 4-1, 4-0, in the championship match of the 10-under unisex category, while Jallorina contented herself earlier by winning the 8-under unisex category as she defeated John Rafael Santiago, 4-0,4-0.

Negros Occidental held sway in the 18-under for boys, where Reynan Mahusay took the measure of Francis Andrade, 8-5, for the crown, in the girls’ 16 & under, with Alexa Joy Milliam prevailing over Jufe-An Cocoy, 8-7, in a close match.

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health CENTRAL OFFICE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

January 24, 2018

FDA ADVISORY No. 2018-006 TO

:

SUBJECT :

GENERAL CONSUMING PUBLIC Amendment to FDA Advisory No. 2017-273 “Public Health Warning Against the Use of Unnotified Cosmetic Products (Batch 64)” Dated 02 October 2017

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hereby advises the public that the list of unnotified cosmetic products listed in FDA Advisory No. 2017-273 “Public Health Warning Against the Use of Unnotified Cosmetic Products (Batch 64)” dated 02 October 2017 is amended to remove the product, CURATIO MELIPOX TOUCH FREE MOISTURISER. After coordination with the Market Authorization Holder (MAH), Curatio, Inc., FDA has determined that the aforementioned cosmetic product has now complied with the existing FDA rules, regulations and standards and has been issued the appropriate market authorization with the following details: Brand Name

: MELIPOX

Product Name

: MELIPOX SPRAY

Notification Number

: NN-‎1000000536762

Validity

: 05 May 2020

Market Authorization Holder

: Curatio, Inc. : India

6.

The DOH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 20 February 2018, 10:00 AM at COBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, Manila, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the COBAC-A Secretariat at the address below on or before 06 March 2018, 9:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Country of Manufacture

Bid opening shall be on 06 March 2018, 9:00 AM at COBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, Manila. 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.

In view thereof, FDA Advisory No. 2017-273 is hereby updated accordingly. For more information and inquiries, please e-mail us at info@fda.gov.ph. To report any suspicious activity and/or product, kindly e-mail us via report@fda.gov.ph, call us at the Center for Cosmetics Regulation and Research (CCRR) hotline (02) 857-1900 local 8113/8017, or utilize our online reporting facility, eReport, at www.fda.gov.ph/ereport.

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

SOLANE HOSTS 4TH GOLFEST. Top LPG solutions provider, Solane, recently hosted the 4th Solane Cup Tournament at the

8.

The DOH 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.

9.

For further information, please refer to: COBAC-A Secretariat Department of Health San Lazaro Compound Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. Nos. 651-7800 local 1625 to 1627; 1650 to 52 Facsimile No.: 741-9775; 740-6830

(MS-FEB. 12, 2018)

(SGD) ROGER P. TONG-AN, DMPA, MAN, RN Undersecretary of Health COBAC-A Chairperson

Dissemination of the information to all concerned is requested

NELA CHARADE G. PUNO, RPh Director General M. Standard – Feb. 12, 2018

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

A8

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Alex Mallari of the NLEX Road Warriors drives to the basket against Alaska’s Kevin Racal and Chris Exciminiano in a PBA game won by the Road Warriors, 96-89.

ASIAN MOTOCROSS CHAMP. Jun San

Andres (center) made history as the firstever Veterans Class champion from the Philippines in the 2017 FIM Asia Awards held at the Baiyoke Hotel, Bangkok Thailand. San Andres, father and coach of multi-titled National Rider of the Year Kenneth San Andres, who himself placed third in the FIM Asia Moto MX2 Division, is shown here displaying his trophy in the company of newly elected FIM Asia President Stephan Macky Carapiet (left) and FIM Europe chief Wolfgang Srb.

Baby Falcons stay in hunt

By Peter Atencio POINT guard Adam Doria played his best game of the season, eking out 22 points, including 11 during a crucial stretch in the second period.

The 6-foot guard made up for his bad showing in the past to help lift the Adamson Baby Falcons to a 94-85 swamping of the La Salle-Zobel Junior Archers yesterday at the Blue Eagle gym in Quezon City.

Adrian Manlapaz led with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Baby Falcons, who stayed in contention for a semifinal slot in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball TournamentThey arranged a playoff for the last semis berth with the Tiger Cubs on Saturday. UST, behind John Lina’s defense on Daniel Celzo in the last 1.3 seconds, frustrated the defending champion Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws, 64-62, to stay in contention for the semis.

CJ Cansino shot 26 points to lead UST to their seventh win in 14 outings and a share of fourth spot with the Baby Falcons.

The Baby Tams took the third semis slot with their 8-6 slate.

NLEX halts Alaska run

By Elmer Manuel

N

LEX bucked the furious rally put up by Alaska in the payoff period to hold on to a 96-89 victory in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Road Warriors weathered the incredible run of the Aces – a crippling 32-4 salvo that saw their 30-point advantage almost go up in smoke before managing to stop the bleeding and walk away with the win.

NLEX improved to a 5-4 win-loss record as it notched its third straight victory, while snapping Alaska’s impressive six-game winning run.

Kevin Alas made up for some miscues with crucial charities, while Raul Soyud sparked the early surge for the Road Warriors before almost throwing away everything in the final quarter.

NLEX coach Yeng Guiao was visibly relieved after the final buzzer.

“I thought we would have a comfortable win, but I was wrong again,” Guiao said after the game. “You really

need a 30-point lead to beat Alaska.

There’s a reason why they got six straight wins, and they were just probably due for a loss.”

The Road Warriors had an 87-57 advantage with 9:46 left, but the Aces pulled to within two, 91-89, in the last 13.9 seconds before Alas, Kiefer Ravena and Larry Fonacier hit free throws to seal the deal.

Down by only three, 92-89, with 11.6 ticks left, Alaska committed a costly turnover after Kevin Racal’s inbound pass went too strong.

Alas finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and two assists, while Fonacier and Soyud contributed 15 points each.

China bank clears Panda bond issue

By Julito G. Rada THE People’s Bank of China allowed the Philippines to proceed with the issuance of Panda bonds worth $200 million, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said over the weekend.

“I am pleased to share with you that the issuance of Panda bonds was approved by People’s Bank of China and NAFMII Feb. 9,” Dominguez said in a message to to Finance reporters.

NAFMII refers to the National Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors.

The government earlier moved the planned Panda bond issuance in China to the first quarter of 2018 from the initial schedule of the fourth quarter of 2017 pending approval from the People’s Bank of China.

National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said the current plan of issuing the bonds in March remained but said “this is subject to good window and competitive pricing.”

Dominguez earlier said that similar to other fund-raising activities, Panda bond offering was subject to favorable market conditions in the onshore RMB (renminbi) market and would provide competitive pricing compared to other funding options.

The Philippines sent a delegation that conducted a non-deal roadshow in China in the third quarter of 2017 where they met 13 potential investors for the Panda bonds, a combination of banks and asset management corporations.

De Leon said Chinese investors expressed interest in the planned issuance. “They are very enthusiastic about the growth narrative of the Philippines.... [They are] anticipating that eventually the Philippines would make its first footprint in the Panda market,” she said.

IN BRIEF

Business Cathay Land, UK firm set to open P2.5-b Outlet mall L

By Othel V. Campos

OCAL property developer Cathay Land Inc. teamed up with Freeport Retail Ltd. of London to invest P2.5 billion and open the Philippines’ first outright Outlet mall this year.

Cathay Land president Jeffrey Ng said while most countries in the world had Outlet malls, the Philippines, a major tourism destination, did not have one. Cathay Land and Freeport Retail are building Acienda Designer Outlet in Silang, Cavite.

“With the construction of the CaviteLaguna Expressway in full blast… our Acienda Designer Outlet will only be 30 minutes away from NAIA [Ninoy Aquino International Airport] and the Entertainment City. Thus, now is the right time to introduce a world-class outlet experience to Manilans and the nearby provinces,” he said.

Pure Projects, a fitout project management team from Australia, is developing Acienda Designer Outlet which is on track to open on Aug. 2, 2018, ac-

cording to Cathay Land. Construction on a 20-hectare property 10 minutes north of Tagaytay City rotunda along Km. 48 ,Aguinaldo Highway in Silang is now on final stages.

The location is a 90-minute catchment area of 16.5 million locals and tourists with above average incomes and a high level of fashion consciousness.

Retail partners can expect their units to be turned over for fit-out starting this March, Ng said.

“The new Cavite-Laguna Expressway makes our more than 1,000 hectares of landbank in the Sta. Rosa-Silang-Tagaytay growth corridor ripe for development. Just like with Acienda Designer Outlet and South Forbes Golf City, investors and homebuyers alike can expect only world-class property developments from Cathay Land in the next few years,” said Ng. Ng said he was confident that the dense weekly traffic in Tagaytay City, being a popular tourist destination among locals and tourists, would maximize the potential of the Outlet mall with the promise of high-quality outlet shopping at par with those abroad.

“We expect that phenomenal growth of world-class outlet malls to be duplicated here in the Philippines mainly

due to rising incomes locally, remittances from abroad and tourist arrivals that will hit 10 million a year in the next few years,” Ng said.

Ng says with the new outlet mall, tourists would enjoy shopping for designer finds in four themed sections: Italian, French, New England and Spanish.

Cathay Land and Freeport Retail are also identifying strategic locations for a second outlet mall which they wanted to open in three years.

Freeport Retail co-founder and commercial director Chris Milliken said that in over a decade, the Outlet format had been hugely successful with massive sales growth worldwide.

Freeport Retail is a specialist developer and operator of designer outlets.

Its most recent development is Freeport A’famosa in Malacca, Malaysia, which opened in November 2015.

“The Outlet format is an established and mainstream retail channel that works for brands, retailers and of course, the consumers. Since we started back in 1992, Freeport has developed Outlets throughout Europe. In 2012 we started our focus on Asia, which is a major Outlet opportunity. Our Outlet village in Malaysia opened at the end of 2015,” Milliken said.

DoF shrugs off impact of TRAIN

SMC Asia Cars Distributors Corp. expects flat growth in 2018 after posting record sales in 2017, company president Maricar Parco said over the weekend.

“We had a good year last year. Sales of the luxury segment were up with us leading the passenger cars (sales). I believe people must have advanced their purchases (last year) because of the tax strain, so we’re seeing a somewhat flat growth this year,” she said.

Sales in 2017 rose at least 30 percent to 1,350 units with the nearest competitor selling 1,300 cars in the same year, excluding vans.

The company attributed the higher sales to the good performance of the E series introduced in 2017.

Parco said the tax hike had scared luxury car buyers but the reaction was manageable given the fair increase in taxes under the new tax reform law.

With affordable models like the BMW X3, the tax increase is not as high as higher end cars like the BMW X5 and above models. Othel V. Campos

B

Phoenix eyes CNOOC Gas as LNG partner

By Jenniffer B. Austria DAVAO City-based businessman Dennis Uy plans to team up with China’s state-owned oil producer CNOOC Gas and Power Group Co. Ltd. for a proposed $2-billion liquefied natural gas project in Batangas province.

Uy’s Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. was authorized to sign a confidentiality agreement with CNOOC, one of the companies that submitted an unsolicited proposal with state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. for the development the LNG project.

Phoenix Petroleum assigned merger and acquisitions and investor relations head Darly Eunika Malole “to negotiate the terms and proposed project, as well as to sign, execute, deliver, receive and receipt for and in behalf of the corporation any and all contracts, documents and instruments required to carry out the foregoing resolution pertaining to the said confidentiality agreement”.

Other companies also expressed interest in partnering with the government for the LNG project, including Korea Electric Power Co., Lloyds Energy Group, First Gen Corp., Energy World Corp., PT. Jaya Samudra Karunia and PT PGN LNG Indonesia/PT Bosowa Corporindo with local partner MOF Corp.

PLDT, Globe prefer to build their own towers Tadeco slams

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE country’s two largest telecom companies said the government cannot prohibit them from building their own cellular towers amid the proposed common tower policy.

PLDT chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan said his company should be allowed to build its own cellular towers pursuant to the requirements of Smart and PLDT. “It’s entirely up to the government to build its own towers and if they are going to lease the tower to us, we might lease a tower from them,” he said.

Globe Telecom Inc. general counsel Froilan Castelo said the company had

no objection to the formation of a tower company in the Philippines.

“In fact, we encourage it to help the incumbents to have a more infrastructure especially in the unserved and underserved. But our concern is that we are being prohibited to build our own.

That is not the international practice,” Castelo said.

“Under our franchise, we are authorized to put our own networks. That’s an act of Congress. They can only amend that though Congress and not even Malacañang can amend that,” he said.

Castelo said prohibiting them from building their own towers would be tantamount to a monopolistic act.

The Department of Information and

Communication Technology earlier adopted a common tower policy to speed up the deployment of cell sites nationwide.

A common tower means that operators will no longer be allowed to build towers but instead lease space from tower company (TowerCo). These tower companies will concentrate on rapidly deploying towers to cover the entire Philippines adequately, thereby freeing up the telecom operators.

The Philippine needs at least around 50,000 cellular towers to have the proper coverage and provide adequate service.

PLDT and Globe have only around 16,000 towers, covering 8,000 locations.

DBS of Singapore sees rate increase DBS Bank of Singapore expects an interest rate hike in the March meeting of the policy-making Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as inflation is seen to continue to accelerate further.

DBS Group Research economist Gundy Cahyadi in a report over the weekend cited the statement of the regulator that it was ready to “take appropriate measures as necessary to ensure that the monetary policy stance continues to support price and financial stability.”

“While the BSP expects the current inflation pressures to be transitory, the central bank continues to see upward risks to inflation going forward,” Cahyadi said.

“We reckon the BSP is prepping the market for a potential rate hike at its next meeting on March 22,” he said. Julito G. Rada

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

from South Korea remain bullish on Philippine business prospects following an investment and market research mission in the country to explore opportunities in the infrastructure and energy sectors. Shown during the PhilippinesKorea Investment Forum on Infrastructure and Energy are (from left) Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines Dong-man Han, Trade Undersecretary Rowel Barba, Asean-Korea Centre secretary-general Young-sun Kim and Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul Hernandez.

Steel makers buck China’s furnaces

SMC Asia Cars expects flat sales

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

KOREAN INVESTMENT MISSION. Investors

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III shrugged off reports that a number of multinational companies may leave the country due to the impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion on their operations.

Dominguez said in a statement over the weekend the government had actually been generous to some foreign companies by giving incentives for decades.

“That is possible. But some companies have enjoyed tax incentives for over 40 years. No other country is as generous as the Philippines in giving long-term tax incentives,” he said in response to a query.

He said by taking advantage of the government’s generosity, these foreign firms had avoided contributing their fair share in the development of the country’s educational system and infrastructure.

“This is unfair to the other companies that pay the full tax rates. To enjoy incentives is to enjoy a privilege. In a just society, privileges are meant to be distributed fairly and not just to a few,” he said. Julito G. Rada

THE iron and steel sector appealed before the Trade Department to prohibit the importation of induction furnaces from China as a safeguard to maintain the quality of steel products produced in the domestic market.

A letter sent to the Trade Department by the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute claimed that the furnaces tried to produce construction grade steel products which, in reality, are substandard steel.

“In the light of the adverse impacts of these obsolete Induction Furnace facilities on our country, our institute echoes the statements of the Asean Iron and Steel Council, and requests that the Trade Department to take immediate action also ensure that the furnaces, if allowed entry, should be used for a very specific list of purpose only,” it said.

The domestic steel industry stressed that the furnaces should be used as melting equipment to produce various types of cast products, for production of ferroalloys with specific properties and in stainless steel and high alloy steel production. Othel V. Campos

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

CMAP’S CEBU CHAPTER. The Credit Management Association of the Philippines organizes its Cebu Central Visayas chapter and elects the first board of directors and officers who will be inducted on March 2. the officers are (from left) Sherwin Chua of Maybank, vice president; Ruth de Jesus and Cherry Romero representing Lilibeth Sicican of Pilmico Foods Corp., auditor; Nanette Ballano of Mandani Bay Group, PRO; Luis Arriola, national president of CMAP; Avelina Belen Vintucio of UCPB, treasurer; Wilma Zamora Mendalle, vice chairman and president of CMAP Cebu Chapter; Andy Manatag of Air and Marine Insurance Co., chairman; Elias Baquero of News Cooperative and SunStar Cebu, corporate secretary; and Joseph Rendon of RCBC, senior adviser.

House probe as ‘witch-hunt’ REP. Antonio Floirendo Jr. of the first district of Davao del Norte branded the recent legislative inquiry in the House of Representatives on the joint venture agreement between the Davao Prison and Penal Farm and the Tagum Agricultural Development Corp. as a ‘witchhunt.’

“The legislative inquiry, the fifth time it was done to scrutinize the shared accord, failed to come up with even a single testimony to impugn the deal which, in the first place, was started when the government offered its penal farms for development. It’s lamentable that in the failure to pin down alleged anomalies in the joint venture agreement, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has injected unrelated and false issues in the hearing,” Floirendo said in a statement.

Floirendo said in the Feb. 7 inquiry conducted by the committees on justice and good government and accountability, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez invited resource persons who were not privy and did not have inside knowledge of the deal.

Floirendo, whose family controls Tadeco, said that instead of seeking the truth and discussing issues based on documentary facts, “the speaker has turned the hearings into an inquisition, imputing malice on the JVA and maligning the Floirendo family for imagined accusations.”

“For hitting a blank wall, Mr. Alvarez resorted to manufactured charges, accusing my family of poll manipulation, preventing people from entering Dapeco—a public land and pursuing claims that the Dapecol lands were not properly surveyed,” he said.

B2

Business

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Volatile stock market trading seen

By Jenniffer B. Austria

T

RADING at the Philippine stock market is expected to remain volatile this week, as the massive sell-off in global shares last week and concerns on the domestic economy could force investors to stay on the sidelines.

Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan said investors were concerned when the Bangko Sentral and Pilipinas increased its inflation rate forecast in 2018 to 4.3 percent after January figures showed inflation rate hit a three-year high of 4 percent.

The Bankgo Sentral last week decided to keep interest rates at current levels, Limlingan expects the the central bank to start raising rates in March should inflation rate continue to go up in February.

“We expect support levels to be at 8,400. This is one of the strongest supports, but indicators show that this could get lower,” Limlingan said.

The PSEi last week suffered suffered a major correc-

tion, pluning by 3.5 percent to 8,503, while the broader All Shares Index tumbled 2.96 percent to P5,028.38 on the continued sell-off in global stocks.

All major sub-indices ended in the red, led by mining and oil which declined 5.45 percent, holding firms which lost 4.36 percent, property which decreased 4.25 percent, and industrial which fell 2.74 percent.

Last week’s decline wiped out the market’s gain since the start of the year, with the index now down 0.64 percent year-to-date.

Foreign investors were net sellers for the week by P4.69 billion, while average daily value traded stood at P8.74 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Wilcon Depot Inc., which jumped 11.3 percent to P10.74; Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which advanced 9.5 percent to P13.26; and Del Monte Pacific Ltd. Inc., which rose 3.4 percent to P10.96.

Weekly top price losers were Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc., which dropped 8.7 percent to P4.08; Emperador Inc, which declined 4.7 percent to P7.50; and Globe Telecom Inc., which fell 6.5 percent to P1,775.

Wall Street stocks, meanwhile, ended a bruising

week on a benign note courtesy of a late-session surge Friday, while equity markets in Europe and Asia fell sharply in volatile trading.

US stocks lurched back and forth in a roller-coaster session, opening decisively higher, then tumbling deep into the red at midday before rising again and finishing strong.

Europe’s key markets extended the recent days’ downturn to show substantial losses at the close following another spectacular drop in Asian shares.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended up 1.4 percent at 24,190.90 after swinging more than 1,000 points during the session.

In spite of the robust finish, the Dow’s weekly losses were the worst since January 2016 and investors are bracing for more turbulence ahead.

Paris, London and Frankfurt all lost more than one percent.

Asian trading floors were a sea of red, with concerns about tighter interest rates, particularly in the United States.

Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo were among the worst hit as investors piled into haven assets such as gold and the yen. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

FEBRUARY 5-9, 2018 Close Volume

Value

JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 2,2018 Close Volume Value

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

Metrobank MEDCO Holdings Manulife Fin. Corp.

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

1.22 90.10 1865.00 245 48 239.8 103 87 58.00 248.00 13.12 1.6 95.5 0.530 970.00 1.65 8.79 28.95 15.4 9.02 36.15 1.84 3.78 117.90 150.00 59.6 3.79

1,972,000 195,640 410 2,631,750 1,645,900 52,320 2,680 14,140 384,960 400 440,600 52,872,000 11,080,290 2,516,000 225 112,000 272,000 6,617,000 111,400 63,100 1,624,900 1,298,000 249,000 8,389,860 16,182,200 60,860 1,308,000

FINANCIAL 2,386,340.00 17,741,381.00 772,800.00 631,091,592.00 78,642,903.50 12,519,690.00 277,783.00 1,233,118.50 22,005,649.50 9,920.00 5,812,260.00 79,744,300.00 1,071,365,980.00 1,348,560.00 220,725.00 187,000.00 2,693,109.00 187,945,095.00 1,739,640.00 569,316.00 57,853,880.00 2,409,450.00 921,200.00 994,027,331.00 2,434,483,279.00 3,606,496.50 4,595,440.00

1.23 91.00 1995.00 243.4 51 246 104.1 88.25 57.70 25.95 13.4 1.5 98.6 0.550 1005.00 1.69 12.10 29.1 15.6 9.99 36.15 1.89 3.70 120.00 153.50 59 3.51

796,000 372,960 640 3,422,820 3,763,890 60,700 2,380 500 842,800 7,100 437,200 111,485,000 12,592,010 4,338,000 30 136,000 243,500 7,616,800 50,400 3,200 720,500 2,876,000 1,323,000 6,462,730 17,771,190 39,970 925,000

979,080.00 33,852,656.50 1,247,145.00 843,448,794.00 198,104,105.50 14,924,880.00 472,382.00 43,899.50 49,037,459.00 184,295.00 5,867,616.00 170,156,290.00 1,251,266,609.00 2,338,230.00 30,025.00 230,320.00 2,803,137.00 219,283,975.00 776,882.00 30,990.00 26,298,930.00 5,482,510.00 4,941,660.00 770,757,171.00 2,741,138,895.00 2,366,089.00 3,291,540.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

39.7 12.9 0.61 1.29 18.86 0.214 108.7 19.78 4.08 15.22 189 52 60 62.8 1.96 5.32 10.96 11.400 14.76 11.44 7.50 5.56 1.71 15.9 62 29.15 10.06 20.85 1.960 292.00 52.05 4.07 3.16 20.75 28.05 17.72 20.2 0.196 318.00 8.30 2.9 4.84 9.46 6.34 8.00 1.59 12.60 58.7 5.91 4.86 2.01 3.51 629 1.68 16 5.48 0.131 1.09 158 2.88 1.9 24.05 1.20

6,593,200 13,686,700 8,942,000 1,915,000 667,000 22,840,000 1,100 11,400 22,450,000 5,448,900 30 3,377,740 19,800 200,380 1,944,000 75,000 504,800 15,559,600 1,051,900 4,027,500 4,509,500 58,632,700 50,000 5,529,900 1,483,940 2,044,000 248,900 30,794,300 10,222,000 3,631,080 4,090 448,000 15,000 200 6,280,300 1,253,100 18,902,500 1,990,000 1,655,100 239,600 48,695,000 366,000 11,736,200 885,700 286,500 1,785,000 1,346,600 2,298,780 363,800 5,902,000 11,000 55,000 240,230 3,412,000 7,018,700 1,111,500 11,730,000 846,000 6,440,780 169,000 41,016,000 2,500 97,005,000

INDUSTRIAL 264,334,885.00 175,673,530.00 5,366,730.00 2,475,530.00 13,642,138.00 4,963,410.00 123,153.00 214,914.00 93,944,170.00 82,279,790.00 5,670.00 171,379,077.00 1,229,723.00 12,524,091.00 3,683,920.00 399,249.00 5,482,858.00 177,265,804.00 15,467,339.00 46,653,996.00 34,019,952.00 330,072,223.00 85,440.00 87,646,394.00 92,764,756.50 59,431,840.00 2,521,834.00 655,654,612.00 18,900,680.00 1,043,181,090.00 226,959.00 1,845,720.00 47,570.00 4,013.00 173,952,475.00 22,394,166.00 393,789,114.00 387,800.00 533,991,598.00 2,020,976.00 138,945,970.00 1,781,030.00 111,141,459.00 5,661,370.00 2,310,614.00 2,866,260.00 16,616,240.00 137,272,862.00 2,186,834.00 28,847,150.00 22,260.00 194,770.00 147,417,950.00 5,495,450.00 109,376,234.00 5,996,032.00 1,531,060.00 914,290.00 1,021,880,749.00 466,990.00 79,880,560.00 61,285.00 109,265,200.00

41 12.8 0.63 1.32 19.2 0.230 122 18.62 4.47 15.8 189 51 57 62.5 1.91 5.55 10.6 11.820 14.8 12.36 8.06 5.68 1.66 16 63.05 30.00 10.36 21.2 1.870 294.00 55.00 4.2 3.29 20.85 28.35 18.18 21.5 0.197 336.20 8.43 2.89 4.96 9.80 6.64 8.29 1.66 12.70 61.6 6.2 4.95 2.05 3.79 630 1.58 15.44 5.47 0.131 1.10 162.2 2.95 2.07 24.50 0.84

6,263,800 8,250,500 8,108,000 1,256,000 260,700 48,536,870 850 93,800 38,354,000 3,479,200 200 2,575,910 9,230 9,000 1,296,000 82,400 96,600 78,471,030 9,607,600 8,088,700 7,998,800 15,437,100 58,000 4,486,100 1,068,560 2,090,100 775,700 22,896,000 6,682,000 4,034,810 4,060 1,210,000 28,000 7,600 7,961,100 1,657,400 25,109,800 2,730,000 1,576,070 95,700 23,508,000 672,600 24,677,500 2,004,300 330,300 2,101,000 3,235,100 1,675,500 46,700 1,038,000 10,000 78,000 285,410 6,485,000 7,295,300 681,100 14,000,000 1,242,000 7,062,690 484,000 30,487,000 1,400 1,230,000

257,162,820.00 103,703,510.00 5,171,010.00 1,640,570.00 4,984,279.00 12,792,150.00 99,960.00 1,735,838.00 168,547,380.00 55,312,326.00 37,850.00 130,908,820.50 541,174.50 562,212.00 2,467,870.00 445,546.00 1,033,452.00 116,382,846.00 141,968,584.00 101,463,466.00 65,072,434.00 87,130,718.00 95,780.00 71,262,744.00 66,259,190.00 63,283,695.00 8,195,628.00 451,438,086.00 12,423,220.00 1,155,374,912.00 220,248.00 5,060,720.00 91,360.00 150,989.00 226,567,455.00 29,566,790.00 540,168,375.00 534,440.00 528,300,464.00 856,411.00 68,299,040.00 3,310,832.00 237,534,879.00 13,284,033.00 2,685,396.00 3,522,080.00 42,975,736.00 104,486,919.50 288,820.00 5,051,840.00 20,480.00 295,130.00 177,758,770.00 10,445,290.00 110,294,722.00 3,703,598.00 1,850,400.00 1,396,170.00 1,154,640,574.00 1,375,320.00 63,506,100.00 34,715.00 1,010,130.00

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

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

Lopez Holdings Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

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

0.300 71.30 15.24 1.10 6.92 0.600 0.620 1005 7.5 13.80 4.55 5 7.44 0.185 1295 7.16 74.80 5.02 5.38 5.38 0.72 5.38 22.5 73.500 6.19 3.28 0.0380 1.200 2.850 2.50 145.00 2.57 985.00 1.64 0.76 280.000 175.10 0.2350 0.1800 0.192

1,150,000 5,943,400 61,013,700 9,660,000 59,900 303,259,000 82,455,000 1,805,390 6,247,500 33,990,800 500 5,000 582,100 120,000 578,725 235,000 9,552,060 37,800 400 900 6,606,000 4,308,600 13,958,800 2,201,960 103,711,300 3,000 93,500,000 1,122,000 31,194,000 728,000 2,740,520 642,000 2,959,750 6,606,000 210,000 25,100 190 3,110,000 260,000 860,000

HOLDING FIRMS 347,700.00 433,796,351.00 941,558,606.00 10,491,930.00 416,515.00 179,161,410.00 49,430,640.00 1,846,034,715.00 46,435,439.00 472,272,446.00 2,275.00 25,020.00 4,331,491.00 22,200.00 753,582,795.00 1,683,280.00 708,478,471.50 202,503.00 2,147.00 4,842.00 4,710,590.00 23,442,067.00 315,589,615.00 156,122,946.00 646,614,238.00 9,840.00 3,716,400.00 1,326,090.00 84,816,550.00 1,821,610.00 398,862,931.00 1,651,830.00 2,925,814,742.50 10,806,200.00 166,450.00 6,983,514.00 33,515.00 740,520.00 47,220.00 164,520.00

0.300 75.30 15.60 0.98 7.05 0.550 0.570 1050 7.5 14.56 5 5 7.50 0.185 1350 7.30 77.40 5.36 5.35

5,020,000 5,560,620 47,617,700 86,000 37,900 577,473,000 173,917,000 1,435,075 6,073,900 32,676,900 1,500 17,400 312,800 410,000 462,240 230,000 9,267,510 5,600 37,300

1,487,950.00 426,025,739.50 732,519,114.00 82,220.00 264,530.00 328,778,340.00 110,637,320.00 1,510,923,015.00 44,719,367.00 469,746,356.00 7,500.00 87,720.00 2,349,764.00 76,060.00 624,950,230.00 1,679,551.00 714,499,288.50 30,550.00 220,592.00

0.74 5.69 23.15 0.345 6.46 3.35 0.0420 1.250 2.640 2.62 152.00 2.6 1030.00 1.62 0.76 283.000 178.40 0.2500 0.1800 0.200

10,322,000 6,145,800 15,350,700 330,000 101,370,100 52,000 97,700,000 1,744,000 44,280,000 177,000 3,831,010 58,000 3,143,920 4,176,000 32,000 19,040 200 18,930,000 500,000 1,370,000

7,622,510.00 33,948,399.00 347,468,135.00 107,750.00 660,731,822.00 174,200.00 4,010,300.00 2,269,060.00 118,399,350.00 445,890.00 559,353,772.00 150,800.00 3,285,145,360.00 6,747,750.00 24,320.00 5,342,050.00 35,969.00 5,059,750.00 90,010.00 271,450.00

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

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

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Interport `A’ Keppel Properties Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’

6.300 0.93 18.00 2.170 0.880 43.950 3.63 4.63 5.85 6.03 0.460 1.15 1.120 0.240 0.430 36.6 0.630 0.137 1.79 1.35 0.76 4.29 4.9 0.340 0.3300 0.520

17,218,300 11,512,000 1,759,100 480,000 10,499,000 70,895,400 3,221,000 6,176,000 607,700 1,300 36,100,000 599,000 2,402,000 274,830,000 1,740,000 2,639,300 2,851,000 880,000 49,999,000 9,173,000 339,000 1,000 145,349,900 431,010,000 6,410,000 14,982,000

PROPERTY 107,689,400.00 10,607,830.00 33,793,580.00 1,027,220.00 9,435,440.00 3,147,305,875.00 11,762,670.00 28,548,170.00 3,529,320.00 7,395.00 16,519,200.00 657,120.00 2,644,160.00 68,879,170.00 752,100.00 99,421,315.00 1,842,780.00 120,990.00 91,596,990.00 12,363,570.00 259,110.00 4,290.00 711,826,479.00 142,030,500.00 2,102,250.00 7,891,050.00

6.180 0.95 15.50 2.160 0.900 45.850 3.77 4.74 5.89

6,838,800 24,673,000 547,900 942,000 12,523,000 76,063,500 6,261,000 8,290,000 282,000

43,058,804.00 23,350,680.00 8,978,210.00 2,062,830.00 11,241,080.00 3,450,049,315.00 23,987,890.00 38,787,840.00 1,649,874.00

0.465 1.10 1.090 0.245 0.455 39.5 0.660 0.137 1.87 1.39 0.79 4.23 4.96 0.325 0.3350 0.550

27,910,000 143,000 1,499,000 206,880,000 3,210,000 873,500 8,771,000 660,000 42,102,000 23,939,000 768,000 1,000 173,233,700 308,370,000 7,560,000 13,020,000

12,978,500.00 159,170.00 1,660,620.00 51,027,280.00 1,422,900.00 34,071,075.00 5,785,750.00 90,560.00 78,318,850.00 32,158,430.00 592,580.00 4,230.00 862,964,395.00 99,554,800.00 2,576,550.00 7,039,190.00

STOCKS

FEBRUARY 5-9, 2018 Close Volume

JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 2,2018 Close Volume Value

Value

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

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

33.45 4.26 20.65 2 3.24 35.00 1.01 19.4 0.820 6.390

20,500 3,029,000 11,803,100 3,744,000 889,000 60,429,800 831,000 5,522,700 279,000 52,073,700

788,620.00 13,049,480.00 242,889,055.00 7,372,380.00 2,869,230.00 2,144,803,805.00 840,340.00 104,632,408.00 226,640.00 327,727,404.00

37.00 4.65 20.85 2.01 3.26 36.95 1.04 19.1 0.860 6.700

39,300 5,743,200 17,745,200 3,150,000 931,000 73,900,700 1,192,000 8,090,000 4,796,000 210,194,300

1,522,520.00 27,636,259.00 367,609,175.00 6,310,440.00 3,018,830.00 2,755,304,715.00 1,235,410.00 145,001,579.00 4,031,320.00 1,430,849,603.00

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

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

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

18.9 32.9 1.35 0.460 0.045 11.58 5.39 13.26 0.0670 101.3 8.8 9.1 8.60 2.76 59.85 999.5 1775 6.03 176.30 12.68 5.64 110.5 2.85 13.5 8.30 0.141 1.5700 3.39 15.48 4.00 1.08 25.70 18.80 0.530 4.75 8.5 3.50 7.200 10.42 10.00 2.84 8.21 108.50 6.65 1530.00 0.355 1.200 50.10 95.10 6.24 2.88 1.400 0.61 3.74 0.970 10.740

648,000 88,200 467,000 2,820,000 104,000,000 10,100 15,600 92,559,600 57,840,000 1,064,280 250,600 7,576,400 158,800 958,000 4,942,980 500 201,495 2,240,700 1,618,940 14,100 48,976,600 4,257,640 326,000 19,200 103,200 30,770,000 9,876,000 144,000 221,500 4,755,000 2,545,000 37,952,100 14,500 1,780,000 4,862,000 21,614,400 7,648,000 277,628,500 65,700 139,500 71,000 29,700 826,610 1,897,000 934,470 1,880,000 30,739,000 8,023,500 2,168,200 4,955,800 6,088,000 33,712,000 872,799,000 3,942,000 32,838,000 56,747,500

SERVICES 12,348,558.00 2,890,815.00 628,630.00 1,236,050.00 4,682,900.00 117,830.00 76,089.00 1,191,183,374.00 3,879,090.00 106,266,062.50 2,205,226.00 67,387,200.00 1,364,877.00 2,542,780.00 305,305,863.50 496,275.00 363,507,085.00 13,322,278.00 280,072,437.00 164,614.00 273,211,148.00 463,770,946.00 952,170.00 260,266.00 856,635.00 4,423,920.00 15,919,680.00 478,580.00 3,411,282.00 19,013,540.00 2,687,270.00 938,537,285.00 266,418.00 907,220.00 21,747,000.00 186,923,819.00 26,940,330.00 1,842,257,803.00 693,430.00 1,399,087.00 212,130.00 244,333.00 87,215,523.00 12,824,873.00 1,437,047,775.00 649,700.00 37,378,910.00 408,835,432.50 206,293,184.00 29,786,389.00 20,509,220.00 47,883,370.00 560,568,270.00 14,694,330.00 31,559,810.00 573,529,628.00

19.6 33 1.38 0.450 0.048 11.6 4.95 12.10 0.0680 100.9 8.8 9.16 8.70 2.76 49.40 980 1899 5.90 173.00 11.26 5.37 110 2.85 13.28 8.31 0.146 1.6300 3.36 15.5 4.14 1.12 23.65 18.42 0.520 4.89 8.87 3.68 5.640 10.72 10.18 3.02 9.35 105.00 6.91 1558.00 0.365 1.230 53.00 96.90 6.39 3.12 1.520 0.6 3.85 0.920 9.620

1,364,900 328,800 486,000 8,580,000 334,830,000 12,500 14,000 45,576,100 74,940,000 1,246,350 87,700 17,674,700 1,348,200 1,191,000 2,381,480 1,260 409,925 1,313,300 2,110,550 11,500 79,194,000 5,553,870 480,000 38,900 155,200 138,500,000 23,719,000 92,000 46,300 9,864,000 6,132,000 22,222,400 20,600 1,136,000 6,481,500 27,906,200 4,195,000 213,849,600 17,400 48,600 844,000 4,600 259,650 7,590,400 834,295 2,100,000 5,594,000 4,235,140 2,889,930 3,431,700 4,841,000 16,153,000 3,056,830,000 4,038,000 27,729,000 42,673,100

27,555,429.00 10,836,070.00 657,330.00 3,795,200.00 15,623,190.00 145,044.00 71,249.00 562,973,234.00 5,071,990.00 123,868,188.00 772,561.00 166,593,739.00 11,739,526.00 3,421,810.00 119,328,906.50 1,234,800.00 767,370,220.00 7,721,979.00 269,188,376.50 129,210.00 405,569,142.00 617,321,388.00 1,381,740.00 507,364.00 1,287,136.00 20,557,220.00 38,917,890.00 298,920.00 709,958.00 41,311,890.00 6,937,290.00 500,901,190.00 367,572.00 589,490.00 30,582,723.00 241,800,756.00 15,313,960.00 1,283,260,089.00 185,888.00 493,366.00 2,653,190.00 40,656.00 27,515,099.00 52,622,771.00 1,317,234,500.00 736,350.00 6,901,800.00 225,010,496.00 278,135,591.00 21,328,814.00 14,920,900.00 24,554,210.00 2,007,485,850.00 15,930,300.00 25,742,520.00 406,996,357.00

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

United Paragon

0.0022 1.51 4.86 13.18 1.6900 1.6500 1.6 0.320 7.40 2.490 0.192 0.151 0.156 0.009 0.0098 1.5 6.42 1.39 0.4450 0.9100 0.0120 0.0120 6.46 8.38 0.0120 2.2700 35.80 0.0071

590,600,000 15,604,000 3,707,300 8,500 1,000 48,000 6,258,000 5,800,000 37,700 9,307,000 2,790,000 35,960,000 3,420,000 20,400,000 4,000,000 4,175,000 12,796,800 453,000 30,000 994,000 416,100,000 800,000 4,875,900 17,531,500 114,000,000 134,000 10,111,600 25,000,000

MINING & OIL 3,061,500.00 23,805,980.00 18,467,891.00 108,238.00 1,690.00 79,430.00 9,961,070.00 1,845,050.00 276,825.00 23,079,050.00 538,450.00 5,455,500.00 536,810.00 221,700.00 38,000.00 6,445,080.00 82,748,350.00 618,410.00 13,550.00 897,070.00 5,060,800.00 9,600.00 32,561,599.00 148,700,143.00 1,307,000.00 288,770.00 366,902,140.00 171,500.00

0.0024 1.53 5.00 13.18 1.7500 1.6600 1.62 0.320 7.36 2.600 0.189 0.153 0.157 0.009 0.0094 1.65 6.89 1.39 0.4750 0.9200 0.0120 0.0120 6.94 9.13 0.0110 2.1600 37.90 0.0070

3,777,000,000 17,554,000 1,310,000 14,400 104,000 191,000 3,506,000 1,050,000 193,000 7,940,000 2,750,000 58,370,000 5,290,000 144,000,000 16,000,000 2,229,000 30,442,700 1,065,000 1,160,000 819,000 10,700,000 160,300,000 2,431,300 15,739,300 664,500,000 391,000 18,953,400 49,136,000

8,866,900.00 26,771,460.00 6,416,780.00 187,046.00 175,100.00 321,550.00 5,595,880.00 339,900.00 1,399,786.00 20,854,500.00 518,580.00 8,967,050.00 830,920.00 1,346,000.00 151,900.00 3,698,520.00 206,126,642.00 1,446,530.00 543,450.00 757,570.00 130,000.00 1,930,400.00 16,723,304.00 147,471,219.00 7,927,800.00 855,940.00 709,714,625.00 1,269,500.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

32.45 107.5 511 515.5 103.6 104 110.7 527 5.9 1008 1005 101.9 1.04 108.4 1041 1144 1001 105.4 77 80.5 76.3 76.65 78.85 77 76.8 78 1.96

613,700 19,920 1,180 4,340 22,930 1,310 31,000 1,380 281,700 1,955 5,510 102,150 2,901,000 120 540 550 10,065 480 27,430 116,820 13,180 61,290 35,160 24,600 80,100 153,180 1,000

PREFERRED 19,935,555.00 2,126,133.00 604,910.00 2,241,040.00 2,378,554.00 136,635.00 3,437,940.00 721,095.00 1,642,449.00 1,968,795.00 5,561,440.00 10,384,942.00 3,016,430.00 13,008.00 562,140.00 629,200.00 10,083,470.00 50,456.00 2,101,190.00 9,430,125.00 996,332.00 4,761,942.00 2,790,875.00 1,905,650.00 6,197,465.00 11,960,186.00 1,960.00

33 109 518 527 104.5 105 111.5 523 5.78 1006 1015 101.9 1.04 107.9 1041 1146 1002 104 76.5 81 75.7 77 81 77 79 78.1 2

605,600 1,440 2,240 450 53,780 60 15,000 8,600 1,438,400 3,105 20,735 24,650 2,152,600 650 1,775 635 3,290 20,830 19,050 225,990 12,100 13,700 145,280 11,100 36,300 80,600 85,000

19,825,250.00 156,960.00 1,147,830.00 234,560.00 5,603,362.00 6,358.00 1,702,322.00 4,497,800.00 8,051,334.00 3,133,050.00 21,062,710.00 2,511,987.00 2,338,030.00 69,770.00 1,801,185.00 697,470.00 3,297,045.00 2,166,320.00 1,461,601.50 18,306,790.00 916,143.00 1,055,050.00 11,628,958.00 854,700.00 2,849,525.00 6,298,068.00 169,750.00

LR Warrant

2.370

WARRANTS & BONDS 1,810,000 4,300,510.00

2.410

2,671,000

6,606,300.00

3.06 8.07 4.02 4.27

49,000 13,113,200 6,193,000 5,647,000

149,480.00 83,140,809.00 27,147,760.00 25,070,160.00

SME 38,790.00 103,625,227.00 49,940,360.00 20,696,600.00

Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Philab Holdings Xurpas

2.9 6.82 4.61 4

13,000 14,676,400 10,600,000 5,096,000

First Metro ETF

129.2

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 236,940 30,762,825.00

134

297,870

40,103,480.00

10.5 10.28 1.01

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 12,300 126,463.20 26,120 268,113.60 12,000 12,129.60

10.2 10.28 1.06

12,510 10,080 23,500

127,853.00 102,822.40 24,874.00

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Transpacific Broadcast Abra Mining MRC Allied Ind. Oriental Pet. `A’ ATN Holdings A NOW Corp.

Crown Equities Inc. Megaworld Philodrill Corp. `A’ Apollo Global

VOLUME 872,799,000 590,600,000 431,010,000 416,100,000 303,259,000 277,628,500 274,830,000 145,349,900 114,000,000 104,000,000

STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ SM Investments Inc. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. SM Prime Holdings Ayala Corp `A’ NOW Corp.

PLDT Common Bloomberry Metrobank Jollibee Foods Corp.

VALUE 3,147,305,875.00 2,925,814,742.50 2,434,483,279.00 2,144,803,805.00 1,846,034,715.00 1,842,257,803.00 1,437,047,775.00 1,191,183,374.00 1,071,365,980.00 1,043,181,090.00

AC Energy eyes another solar project in Vietnam

By Alena Mae S. Flores AC Energy Holdings Inc., a unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp., is seeking another solar project in Vietnam with a different partner after recently signing a deal with the BIM Group for over 300 megawatts of capacity, a senior official said over the weekend.

“There’s another partner. It’s another project. Potential is another 300 mw. The partnership will have to be concretized once permit is issued. Permitting process (is) taking time,” AC Energy senior vice president for external affairs Don Mario Dia said.

AC Energy recently teamed up with BIM Group of Vietnam to jointly develop over 300 MW of solar power projects in Ninh Thua province, Vietnam.

AC Energy, meanwhile, plans to build an attributable generation capacity to 2,000 megawatts by 2019, or one year ahead of its target.

“Hopefully, by next year we’ll hit the 2,000 MW which is one year ahead of the target,” AC Energy chief executive officer John Eric Francia earlier said.

He said the company’s combined output might reach 1,800 MW this year.

He said the company was also increasing its renewable energy portfolio to over 1,000 MW by 2020.

“What I am saying is, over the next three years, by 2020, we are hoping that our RE will come close to our thermal... terms of peak megawatts.

Our goal is to exceed the 1,000 MW for RE by 2020 and then thermal will still grow,” Francia said.

He said the company would continue to look at overseas opportunities such as Indonesia and Vietnam for renewables and thermal or coal projects as well.

MPIC unit set to start Batangas road 2019

By Darwin G Amojelar MPCALA Holdings Inc., a unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., plans to start the construction of the P22.43 billion Cavite-Batangas Expressway by the third quarter of 2019.

“If the Swiss challenge will take place and award of the project is given to us within the year, detailed design can be then started next year. My hope is to start construction by the third quarter of 2019,” MPCala president and chief executive Luigi Bautista said.

He said the CTBex documentation was almost complete and “we hope to be able to get the OPS [original proponent status] by the end of this month.”

Bautista said the project, when completed, would cut the travel time from Sta. Rosa Laguna to Nasugbu, Batangas from 2.5 hours to just one hour.

He said the CTBex project was targeted to be completed in 2022.

CTBex is a 49-kilometer expressway that will connect Cavite and Batangas, with a spur road to Tagaytay City and ultimately terminating in Nasugbu, with another spur road to Tuy, Batangas.

The project will start at Silang East Interchange of Cavite-Laguna Expressway. The alignment will traverse the towns of Silang, Amadeo, Mendez and Alfonso in Cavite, Tagaytay City and Nasugbu in Batangas.

MPCala is also constructing the P35-billon Calax―a four-lane, 47-kilometer closed-system toll expressway connecting Cavitex and South Luzon Expressway.

The expressway will start from Cavitex in Kawit, Cavite and end at SLEx-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

The company, in addition, building the P27.9-billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway project project, an 8.25-km bridge project that will connect Cebu City to Mactan Island via Cordova. The project is expected to be completed by 2020.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

World

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

B3

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

United Nations envoys take on tough missions U NITED NATIONS―They often go by the description of jack of all trades and have a reputation for being thick-skinned, perseverant, experienced and willing to take on a mission impossible.

FEBRUARY COVER. Actress Lili Reinhart celebrates her cover of Ocean Drive Magazine’s February issue at the Sugar Factory American Brasserie at the Fashion Show mall on February 10, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

The men and women who take on the job of UN special envoy to the world’s trouble spots seem to be drawn to the challenge of confronting horrors in places like Syria, Libya or the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The United Nations has about 20 special envoys, and some of them take on short-term missions while others plod on for decades.

“It’s a tough job and a bit of a dog’s life,” said a diplomat.

“They get upbraided by one side and then the other; they are the focus of any frustration.”

Some missions may not be dangerous, such as reuniting Cyprus, finding a name for Macedonia that will satisfy Greece or resolving decades of disagreement over the status of Western Sahara, but these can be just as intractable.

“They have to show so much humility and patience and know when to jump at an opportunity to create conditions for dialogue,” the diplomat said.

Death of environmentalist shocks academics TEHRAN―Iran’s academic community was in shock Sunday following the death of renowned environmentalist Kavous Seyed Emami, an Iranian-Canadian, who authorities claimed committed suicide in prison a fortnight after his arrest.

Emami, 63, who headed the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, was arrested along with seven colleagues on January 24.

His death was announced by the family on social media late on Saturday.

“The news of my father’s passing is impossible to fathom,” wrote his son Ramin Seyed Emami, a wellknown singer, on his Instagram page.

He said police had informed his mother on Friday.

“They say he committed suicide. I still can’t believe this.”

The Iran Sociology Association, of which Emami was an active member, released a statement on Sunday questioning the claim that

Emami took his own life.

“The information published about him is not believable and we expect officials to respond and to provide the public with information concerning his death,” the statement said.

A source close to the organization told AFP that the other seven members of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation were still in jail.

Among them is Morad Tahbaz, an Iranian-American businessman who was a member of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation board.

Tahbaz comes from a wealthy family who made their fortune before the 1979 revolution and once owned the renowned Kayhan newspaper, which is now controlled by the Islamic authorities.

Also in detention is Hooman Jokar, who headed a program to save the endangered Asiatic cheetah.

Emami’s death follows reports of at least two other “suicides” in detention that have been linked to the

week-long protests in late December and early January.

Mahmoud Sadeghi, an outspoken lawmaker, had claimed a 23-year-old protester named Sina Ghanbari died in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison.

The judiciary denied the claim, saying Ghanbari was involved in drug-trafficking and had committed suicide.

Another man died after being arrested in the city of Arak in central Iran. Local officials said he had stabbed himself to death.

Tehran’s chief prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi had said on Saturday that several people linked to environmental causes had been arrested on espionage charges, without giving names.

“These people collected classified information in strategic sectors of the country in the name of scientific and environmental projects,” he said, according to the judiciary-linked Mizan Online news agency. AFP

Trump: Lives are being shattered by allegations WASHINGTON―President Donald Trump said Saturday that lives were being “shattered” by allegations that might be false after two of his White House aides quit over domestic abuse accusations.

Trump’s White House has been heavily criticized for its handling of the allegations, which come amid a national debate over sexual misconduct and the #MeToo movement that has seen an avalanche of claims fell towering figures across various industries.

Critics say the president’s chief of staff, John Kelly, has badly mishandled the matter and that his future at the White House hangs by a thread.

“Peoples lives are being shattered and destroyed by a mere allegation,” Trump tweeted.

“Some are true and some are false. Some are old and some are new. There is no recovery for someone falsely accused - life and career are gone. Is there no such thing any longer as Due Process?”

The remark by the president― himself the target of many harassment claims―came after White House speech writer David Sorensen resigned on Friday, even while denying his former wife’s claims of abuse.

And staff secretary Rob Porter stepped down Wednesday after abuse allegations from two exwives became public that he too denied.

Trump not only accepted Porter’s claim of innocence but praised him for doing “a very good job” and offered his wishes for “a wonderful career” ahead.

The president has stood by other men―including Roy Moore, the Alabama Republican who ran

unsuccessfully for the US Senate―when they faced allegations of abuse or harassment, while rarely expressing sympathy for the women who accused them.

He supported former Fox News executive Roger Ailes, who since has died, as he faced harassment allegations. And after Fox fired popular talk show host Bill O’Reilly amid reports of payouts over harassment claims, Trump called him “a good person.”

The president, meanwhile, has vociferously denied charges from more than a dozen women that he is guilty of sexual harassment or abuse.

Trump made no mention of the women or the abuse allegations when he spoke about Porter at the White House on Friday.

“The President has shown through words and actions that he doesn’t value women. It’s not surprising that he doesn’t believe survivors or understand the national conversation that is happening,” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter.

“The lives of survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse are being shattered every day.

If he wants due process for the over dozen sexual assault allegations against him, let’s have Congressional hearings tomorrow. I would support that and my colleagues should too.”

Trump’s latest tweet comes at a time when many Republicans would prefer to see Trump keep the spotlight on a generally healthy economy and December’s big tax cuts.

With key midterm elections approaching in November, they would also like to move away from the narrative of a White

House in disarray.

But the president’s latest comments suggest that this week’s resignations―particularly Porter’s―were jolting at the highest levels.

Porter worked directly with Kelly, the chief of staff, and was considered a skilled insider. Kelly’s uneven response to the matter has raised questions about his own future. AFP

“It’s like being a master chess player and asking others to move the pieces on the board.”

A UN official, who also asked not to be named, said the envoys are “civil servants―with convictions and a healthy ego.”

For most UN envoys, the job is seen as “a big privilege,” he said.

Success for a peace envoy hinges not just on diplomatic acumen, but also on the willingness of the parties involved and, in some instances crucially, on the support of the big powers at the UN Security Council.

In Colombia, these conditions are all met and UN work to support the peace deal with the FARC rebels is often singled out as an example of a peace mission that is working.

Italian-Swedish diplomat Staffan de Mistura, the third UN envoy to take on the Syria file, has been walking a tightrope between Russia and Western countries who are sharply at odds over a peace settlement.

HK police probing deadly bus accident HONG KONG―Hong Kong police said Sunday they were investigating a deadly bus accident that left 19 people dead and scores more injured, with the bus driver arrested for dangerous driving.

The double-decker bus overturned Saturday evening near the town of Tai Po in the northern New Territories, flipping onto its side and appearing to smash into a lamppost.

Nineteen people were killed and 65 people were injured, some critically, according to local police.

“The 30-year old male bus driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm. He is still being detained for further inquiries,” police said in a statement early Sunday.

Most of the injured and some of the dead were on the upper deck of the bus, Chan Hing-yu of the fire department told reporters.

The driver was suspected of being over the speed limit as he went down a slope and lost control of the vehicle, senior traffic superintendent Lee Chi-wai told reporters.

He was not in need of any medical treatment after the crash and was found to be sober, he added.

The accident has reignited a debate over the working conditions for the city’s bus drivers.

The vehicle was managed by the Kowloon Motor Bus Company, one of the main bus operators in Hong Kong.

Its “management is at fault, and it did not attach importance to traffic safety nor to the staffing structure, work and rest, and training of drivers,” Lai Siu-chung, a representative of the motor transport workers union branch at the company, told reporters Sunday, according to local broadcaster TVB. Lai said the company’s poor treatment of workers had led to labor shortages, adding that many drivers work under pressure and without adequate support. AFP

Malayan Shares Tips In Choosing The Right Insurance Protecting one’s properties from possible risks should be indispensable to all property owners.

Unforeseen events can happen, and the least that one can do to is to have his / her properties insured. But as there are numerous insurance companies and products availablein the market, it has become a challenge for consumers to decide which company to consider, what insurance features to look for, and when to purchase. To give property owners a clearer perspective on the basics of choosing the right insurance, Malayan Insurance Sales Division Head,Mr. Jun U. Cotoco, gives his insights and answers some of the most important questions about getting an insurance.

1. What should a client look for in an insurance coverage?

Make sure that you are fully insured for all the risks that you are exposed to. For example, machineries should be insured with machinery breakdown coverage on top of the usual property coverage. Ask your preferred insurance agent or insurance company to assist you in determining your insurable risksand to make sure that you have the proper and adequate coverage.

2. What’s something most consumers tend to overlook?

Although a critical part of the insurance contract, the policy terms and conditions are oftentimes neglected by the policy owner. It is a relatively common incident when the insured, not having read these fine prints, are unaware of what to expect from the insurer, and of their duties and responsibilities as the insured. As an example, many policy owners are surprised that they have to shoulder a deductible in case of a claim. They are also unaware of their responsibilities as an Insured, as well as their duty to declare all material information that affects how the insurer views the risk.

3. What pertinent question should clients ask their insurance company?

One of the most important information to inquire with the insurance companies is their reinsurance support.

Check if these are

reputable and stable reinsurers. You need to make sure that your insurance company will be able to pay when a fortuitous event arises.

4. When is the best time to get a non-life insurance?

Get insurance as soon as you become exposed to the risk. A property insurance should be secured and in place as soon as construction has been turned over to the project owner. Vehicles should be insured before they leave the dealership.

5. Why should clients spend money on nonlife insurance? Isn’t life insurance enough?

Generally, life insurance provides benefit upon your death. Non-life insurance, on the other hand, pays for losses and damages from everything else valuable other than life. For this reason, non-life insurance is actually not an expense but a good investment. You only need to pay a relatively small annual premium to transfer the risk to the insurance companies, as opposed to absorbing significant financial losses during fortuitous events when uninsured.

6. How can consumers make sure they’re getting the best coverage?

Purchase your insurance from reputable insurance companies that have been tried and tested. This ensures that they have the claims paying ability, as you will only realize the benefits once there is a loss. Malayan Insurance has been in the industry for 87 years and has been the number 1 non-life insurance company for 47 years.

In choosing the right insurance, stability of the company is a prime consideration. Ranked by the Insurance Commission as the leading nonlife insurer in the country for 47 years, Malayan Insurance keeps its promise of offering the best protection for the insuring public --- now, and in the years to come.

For your insurance requirements, please visit www.malayan.com or call 242-8888.

But success for an envoy is not just about ending violence. Containing a crisis or “keeping a lid” can also be considered a diplomatic achievement.

The UN’s top envoys appointed for Libya, Syria or Yemen earn about $12,000 per month, but in exchange they agree to put their personal lives on hold, travel almost constantly and report to UN headquarters on their advances and setbacks.

Candidates to the posts must obtain approval from the five permanent council members―Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States― and the parties themselves.

Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who is stepping down as Yemen envoy at the end of the month, fell out with Huthi rebels, which contributed to the failure of his mediation efforts.

Many envoys have thrown in the towel.

“My dream is to be the last special envoy for Libya,” said Ghassan Salame in an interview with AFP late last year. “I don’t want my role to drag on.”

Some envoys have paid the ultimate price in the job. Brazilian diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello, considered one of the UN’s most gifted emissaries, was killed in a Baghdad attack in 2003. AFP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE JUDGE HALL OF JUSTICE, PASAY CITY

NOTICE OF HEARING Notice is hereby given that a summary hearing on the PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT as NOTARY PUBLIC for and in the City of Pasay of ATTY. ALLAN JONES F. LARDIZABAL with office address at CEBU AIR, INC.-LEGAL AFFAIRS, CEBU PACIFIC BUILDING, DOMESTIC ROAD, BARANGAY 191 ZONE 20, PASAY CITY, METRO MANILA, shall be held on FEBRUARY 15, 2018 at 2:30 O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, at the OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE JUDGE, RM. 404 HALL OF JUSTICE BUILDING, F.B. HARRISON STREET, PASAY CITY, METRO MANILA. Any person who has any cause or reason to object to the grant of petition may file a verified written opposition thereto, received by the undersigned before the date of the summary hearing.

Let this notice be included in the raffle for publication on February 1, 2018, at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon, to be published once in the Manila Standard, a newspaper of general circulation and to be posted in three (3) conspicuous places in the Office of the Executive Judge, Office of the Clerk of Court and in the lobby of the Hall of Justice Building.

Pasay City, Metro Manila, January 31, 2018.

(Sgd.) RACQUELEN ABARY-VASQUEZ Executive Judge

(MS-Feb. 12, 2018)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT AND EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF QUEZON CITY UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK, Mortgagee/s, FRE NO. 12073

-versus-

ROMEL T. TOLENTINO Mortgagor/s. x------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED) UPON extra-judicial petition under ACT 3135, as amended by ACT 4118, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Deed of Real Estate Mortgage executed on May 18, 2016 by ROMEL T. TOLENTINO – No. 52 California Townhomes, Katipunan Avenue, California Village, Kingsport, San Bartolome, Quezon City / Lot 15, B 3 Greccio Street, St. Francis, San Bartolome, Quezon City / Lot 1, Therester Townhomes, Katipunan Avenue, California Village, Brgy.

San Bartolome, Quezon City / Lot 14, Block 2, Therester Townhomes, Katipunan Avenue, California Village, Brgy. San Bartolome, Quezon City, Mortgagor/s in favor of UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK, Mortgagee/s to satisfy the mortgage debt in the amount of P4,606,421.12 as of December 15, 2017 plust interest, penalties, reimbursements, other obligations and charges that shall still accrue up to the date of the public auction, as well as attorney’s fees, sheriff’s fees and all other necessary expenses that may be incurred or payable in the conduct of foreclosure sale, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City and/or his duly authorized Deputy Sheriff, hereby announces that on MARCH 6, 2018, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Office of the Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, will SELL through public auction to the highest bidder and for cash, in Philippine currency, the following real property/ies with all the improvements existing thereon, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 004-2016004994 Registry of Deeds-Quezon City Lot No.: 1 Plan NO.: Pcs-00-015147 Portion of: Lots 14-B-2 and 14-B-3, Psd-00-086462; 5975 Location: Barangay of San Bartolome, Quezon City, Metro Manila Boundaries: Line: Direction Adjoining Lot(s) 1-2 SW Lot 14-B-5 (Road Lot), Psd-00-086462 2-3 NW Lot 14-B-1, Psd-00-086462 3-4 NE Lot 12, Block 1, Pcs-5488 4-1 SE Lot 2, Pcs-00-015147 Tie point: LM No. 24, Piedad Estate Line Bearing Distance To corner 1 N. 63 56 W 759.35 m.

1-2 N. 07 31 W 6.12 m.

2-3 N. 82 29 E 7.88 m.

3-4 S. 07 32 E 6.12 m.

4-1 S. 82 29 W 7.88 m.

Area: Forty Eight Square Meters (48), more or less Description of Corners: Points 2 and 3 by old ps.cyl. Conc. Mons. 15 x 60 cm. and the rest by ps cyl.Conc. Mons 15 x 40 cm.

Bearings: true Declination: Date of Original Survey: July 16 to August 22, 1918 Date of subd/cons survey: January 14, 2016 Date of Approved survey: Feb. 10, 2016 Geodetic Engineer: Rommel T. Bautista Notes: All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned at the aforesaid Office on the above stated date and time.

Interested parties are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title/s to the said property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if there be any.

In the event that public auction should not take place on said date due to fortuitous event or if the same be declared a non-working holiday, it shall be held on MARCH 23, 2018 at the same time and place without further notice.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, JANUARY 23, 2018.

(Sgd.) MANUEL S. PANLASIGUI Sheriff IV (Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD Clerk of Court VII & Ex-Officio Sheriff WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or before the date of the auction sale under penalty of the law.

Copy Furnished: UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK UCPB Executive Building, Makati Avenue, Makati City ROMEL T. TOLENTINO No. 52 California Townhomes, Katipunan, California Village, Kingsport, San Bartolome, Quezon City Lot 15, B 3 Greccio Street, St. Francis, San Bartolome, Quezon City Lot 1, Therester Townhomes, Katipunan Avenue, California Village, Brgy.

San Bartolome, Quezon City Lot 14, Block 2, Therester Townhomes, Katipunan Avenue, California Village, Brgy. San Bartolome, Quezon City.

(MS-Feb. 6, 12 & 19, 2018)

Adopt paperless policy, Binay tells Makati departments

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

B4

By Joel E. Zurbano

monday, february 12, 2018

LGUs LocaL government units

QUAKE READINESS. Makati Mayor Abby Binay helps a day care pupil of San Isidro Day Center put on his brand-new hard hat while his classmates wait for their turn. The mayor on Friday led the distribution of hard hats and go bags in city-run day care centers as part of the city government’s effort to prepare Makatizens for any disaster, including an earthquake.

The city government has allocated a total of 4,500 hats and bags for 38 day-care centers to ensure a 1:1 ratio of distribution. Last Feb. 5, Mayor Abby formally started the turnover of emergency kits and gear in the city’s public elementary and high schools.

Crisologo, Belmonte to fight for QC mayor QUEZON City District 1 Rep. Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo has confirmed he is running for mayor in the 2019 local elections to challenge Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Crisologo said he is joining the mayoralty race under the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino party.

He said three-term District 2 Rep. Winston Castelo will be his running mate in the vice mayoralty race.

“Yes, I am filing my certificate of candidacy in October,” Crisologo told the Manila Standard.

After serving three consecutive terms as vice mayor, Belmonte, daughter of former mayor and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., previously said the next logical step for her was to run for mayor.

Belmonte said she is running with last-term District 3 Councilor Gian Carlo Sotto, son of Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto, as her vice mayor.

In May last year, the vice mayor and the younger Sotto left the Liberal Party and formally took their oath with the administration PDP-Laban before Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and the older Sotto.

But last Jan. 15, Pimentel, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and party vice chairman Alfonso Cusi appointed Crisologo as the PDP-Quezon City chapter president.

Because of his appointment, Crisologo said he is confident he would be the party’s standard-bearer in Quezon City.

City hall sources, however, said PDP has yet to call for a convention to choose a strong administration standard-bearer between Belmonte and Crisologo. Rio N. Araja

Metro Manila as a ‘state’?

By Rio N. Araja

T

HE Quezon City government and the Department of Interior and Local Government have partnered to study how to turn Metro Manila into a unified state.

In an exclusive interview, Mayor Herbert Bautista said: “Quezon City and DILG have inked a memorandum of agreement to study the creation of Metro Manila into a state.”

Since last year, Bautista

has been batting for the autonomy and independence of the National Capital Region to streamline the management of its public institutions, like that of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mind-

NATIONAL Electrification Administration has taken over the management and operations of Abra Electric Cooperative to rehabilitate the ailing utility.

NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong accompanied the members of the newly created Task Force Duterte Abra Power in a meeting with the employees and officials of Abreco to help ensure a smooth takeover.

The Philippine Electricity Market Corp., operator

anao and Cordillera Administrative Region.

“So, we have already started interviewing [people].

We have interviewed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Danny Lim on his observations, and to know what Metro Manila needs,” he told the Manila Standard.

Bautista hopes to complete this study by the end of April.

“We will be submitting it first to President

Rodrigo Duterte, then to the House of Representatives,” he added.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte has vowed to step up the promotion of Filipino arts and culture, especially among the youth.

A former archaeologist and a Master’s degree holder in Museum Studies, Belmonte said arts and culture “help us better understand society and humanity.”

“They provide us a dif-

ferent lens through which to better view the world.

This becomes important especially as we nurture and build a better country,” she said.

Along with Mayor Bautista, Belmonte was invited as one of the guests of honor in the opening ceremonies today of the Rotary Club of Kamuning’s 24th “Alay ng Rotary sa Araw ng Kabataan” contest at the Amoranto Sports Complex.

The competition is the

biggest youth program organized by the city-based non-profit organization to reintroduce the youth to traditional Filipino arts and culture.

“We will be pushing for more programs and projects that would highlight our city’s initiative in arts and culture,” Belmonte said.

“I believe that education is not just about academics, it should be holistic. We are enhancing the potentials [of our youth],” she added.

Maguindanao bets on colorful Inaul fabric

By Nash B. Maulana

DOUBLE DUTY. Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, a dermatologist by profession, performs a checkup to a resident in a

recent medical mission in the Sampaloc district. She then leads the distribution of relief goods to indigent members of the community with the aid of organizations like Ang Kabuhayan party-list and TIKA, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency.

Parañaque City honors top taxpayers Feb. 13 IN CELEBRATION of Parañaque City’s 20th cityhood anniversary, the city government will honor the city’s 2017 top taxpayers led by City of Dreams of Belle Corp. on Feb. 13, at the multi-purpose gym beside city hall.

Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Vice Mayor Rico Golez, city acting treasurer Gualberto Bernas IV, and the members of the city council will lead the annual tribute to the business community.

Belle Corp., the gaming and property unit of the Sy family, and its sister company SM Investment Corp. have emerged as the top realty taxpayers for year 2017,

according to Olivarez.

A perennial awardee, Belle Corp. paid P137.5-million real property taxes while SM Investment contributed P77.7 million last year, totaling P215.2 million, Bernas said.

“The huge developments in Entertainment City, a strip of casinos, world-class hotels, shopping and leisure destinations facing Manila Bay, significantly contributed the biggest chunk to the local government’s revenue collection for the past three years,” Olivarez said.

He said the hotel and casinos will not only generate income for the city and tourism revenues but will

NEA takes over Abra electric coop

By Alena Mae S. Flores

MAKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay has urged all city hall department heads to adopt the Paperless Policy in line with the city government’s eco-friendly digitalization program.

“We laud the well-timed initiative of the City Council, which complements our thrust of pursuing the city’s transformation into a digital city of the 21st Century,” Binay said.

Council Resolution No. 2018-007 adopt the Paperless Policy in the performance of its mandate is aligned with her administration’s thrust of “embracing technology in the various aspects of local governance.”

“Maximizing the use of modern technology to substantially reduce paper consumption concretely demonstrates our sincere commitment to promote the conservation of natural resources and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change,” Binay said.

The mayor said as an acknowledged champion and role model of the global campaign for climate resilient cities, Makati must take the lead in adopting eco-friendly practices in its systems and operations.

“We must continuously innovate the way we do things at City Hall for more efficient service delivery, using all available technology whenever it is reasonably practicable and lawful to do so,” she stressed.

of the country’s Wholesale Electricity Spot Market had earlier issued the notice of default and notice of suspension against Abreco due to its failure to pay over P200 million in power supply bills.

“With the recent development relative to the notice of default and notice of suspension issued by the PEMC, NEA is under obligation to take over the management and operations of Abreco to protect the welfare and interest of the electric cooperative

and its member-consumerowners,” Masongsong said.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi directed the NEA to address the financial and management problems of Abreco decisively, citing increasing complaints of poor and unreliable service from its member consumers.

Abra Rep. Joseph Santo Niño Bernos also issued a statement urging the Department of Energy to intervene and stop the order of PEMC to suspend Abreco from the wholesale electricity spot market.

likewise generate jobs to city residents, as the law stipulates that local workers must comprise as least 40 percent of the workforce of new establishments.

Solaire Resort and Casino of Bloomberry Resorts Corp., the first to open in Entertainment City, has paid their real property tax as individual taxpayer amounting to P61.5 million in 2017.

Joining Belle Corp. as prime real property taxpayers is D. M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc. paying P59.1 million, Bernas disclosed.

The company is also the developer of Aseana City in the Entertainment City and

provides land banking, infrastructure and rents construction equipment.

Eagle One Landholdings Inc. paid P48.4 million as individual property taxpayers.

Eagle One is the local affiliate of Universal Entertainment Corp. and owns the site for the casino project in Entertainment City, while the casino license is under the name of Okada’s Tiger Resorts.

Lawyer Philip Yam, city’s chief real property division, announced that a total of P384. 4 million real property taxes were paid by top five world-class hotel casinos in the Entertainment City last year.

BULUAN, Maguindanao—Maguindanao aims to become synonymous to its colorful Inaul fabric, woven on a primitive bamboo loom but is worn unisex on significant modern-day occasions.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said the phenomenal world market that the Malay Batik has reached also started small in Indonesia’s Java province.

“That [Batik phenomenon] is my ultimate dream for the Inaul fabric,” said Mangudadatu.

Mangudadatu opened the Maguindanao Inaul Festival on Feb. 8 in this town, and the feast will run up to Valentine’s Day. He said the theme for the Second Inaul Festival this year is “Fabric of Peace: Weaving Diversity; Connecting Boundaries.”

The governor also assured officials and celebrities who graced the occasion that in Maguindanao, a predominant Muslim province, people do not discriminate against each other.

He added that the offices of the provincial govern-

ment are a friendly convergence where peacefully coexist employees among Maguindanaon Muslims, Visayan, Tagalog and Ilocano Christians residents, as well as lumads or members of the Minority Tribes.

Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Eden David said Maguindanao should really strive to become synonymous to such an important product as Inaul and be ready to face high demands and the ever-growing challenges of product marketing.

David said one such challenge is the demand for a massive production to satisfy market supply.

Because of this, Mangudadatu said the provincial government, through its Local Tourism Council, had to directly support the Inaul production which also meant sustaining the old tradition and art of weaving the Inaul.

The PLGU also provides for a continuing program on technology-transfer to effectively handover the centuries-old art of loom weaving to young generation of mostly female members of families displaced by armed conflict in the past.

NEW ID CARDS. Close to 10,000 internally displaced persons from Marawi City have received their Philippine Health Insurance Corp. IDs through the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (in partnership with PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications. During the ID distribution held in various cities and municipalities in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, Smart provided internet connectivity to facilitate the registration process, and deployed the Smart Infocast SMS broadcast system for faster information dissemination between the local government and the IDPs. With their new IDs, residents who previously lost their civil documents during the conflict in Marawi may now easily avail of state services and other opportunities.

Fine dining with your Valentine

WANT to spoil your date on heart’s day? Bring them to a fine dining restaurant where you can share a lovely time together over decadent meals.

Savor an exquisitely elegant sevencourse sit-down dinner featuring the delectable creations of award-winning chefs from Marriott Hotel Manila’s Cru and Man Ho restaurants, and from RWM’s fine dining restaurants Impressions, Passion, and Ginzadon on Feb. 13 and 14

From today until the 14th, guests can order fresh flower bouquets, longstemmed roses, and Love and Kisses Cakes to go with Café Maxims’ special Valentine’s meal.

Love at Steak features sirloin steak slices prepared to your liking and served with grilled vegetables and cheesy baked fettuccine, and is available from today until Feb. 18.

Give your date a taste of Paris with Impressions’ Date Night set menu on Feb. 14.

The four-course dinner menu features the best of French cuisine, artfully plated and perfectly prepared to light up the senses.

Life

Couples who have a special appreciation for puns and great value meals will love Silogue’s Pares with Love. The classic Filipino beef dish can be paired with either rice or served in a miki noodle soup, or served as a combo for a hearty meal for two.

Ginzadon, RWM’s Korean and Japanese restaurant presents diners with its Grillin’ and Lovin’ sets which are generous enough for two, and comes with your choice of Grilled Salmon Teriyaki Fillet, or Grilled Wagyu Beef with King Prawns.

Love and Kisses cake

Finally, The Terrace at the poolside of the all-suite Maxims Hotel takes it up a notch for Valentine’s evening with a gourmet set dinner, a sommelier’s selection of wine pairings, floral arrangements, and languorous lighting by the poolside for an unforgettable date.

Call (02) 908-8833 for inquiries and reservations.

@manilastandardlife

food

@mStandardLIfe monday, february 12, 2018

Mama Lou’s lavish grazing table is just one of many choices available to regulars and visitors of the Evia Lifestyle Center in Las Piñas.

A foodie Haven

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SIP

Down South

W

Ginzadon’s Grillin’ and Lovin’ set

bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com

HEN I first received the invitation for a seven-restaurant food crawl at Evia Lifestyle Center, my first concern was: What time should I wake up to make it to the 10 a.m. call time? Being a northie, I know what it’s like to travel to the southern part of the metro, having to negotiate Edsa traffic every day to get to our office in Makati City. But Daang Hari Road in Las Piñas?

This destination better be worth waking up at 6:30 a.m.

I was pleasantly surprised that Skyway traffic was relatively a breeze. Before I knew it, I was in the upscale commercial center that brings together the sprawling community project that includes three master-planned residential estates spanning 600 hectares of prime land across Metro Manila and Cavite.

The first stop was at Tiger Leaf restaurant where we tried its catfish salad (the catfish served a la okoy instead of flaked) and the tender chicken satay.

Its beautiful interiors with a distinct Thai-Indochine vibe set the stage for its Southeast Asian cuisine.

Next was Mama Lou’s Italian Kitchen, which prepared a luxurious grazing table of cheese and cold cuts as well as two new menu items: braised short ribs pappardelle pasta and the spinach and honey goat cheese with truffle pizza.

“This is the second largest branch.

We can seat up to 150 customers here.

We decided it would be strategic to get more floor space because we expect

Evia’s market to continue to grow,” said restaurant owner Crystal Tremblay-Sison in an exclusive interview.

Merlion’s Cuisine, as the name suggests, serves Singaporean comfort food, including authentic bak kut teh pork soup, Hainanese chicken, and roasted pork – the last two were served with what initially looked like a carrot carving but turned out to be molded orangecolored salt. For dessert, the restaurant offers the refreshing mango-pomelo bowl with sago and coconut milk.

Most of us who were invited to the food crawl were already stuffed by this time, but there were four more restaurants to visit, and the truly committed foodie must trudge on.

The fourth stop was at Mesa, a favorite choice for delicious Filipino dishes. No visit to Mesa is complete without ordering the sinful crispchon which is served two ways – first, wrapped in Mesa’s own pandan crepe (similar to how Peking duck is served) and sec-

ond, deep fried with chili and garlic. It comes with three sauces – Hoisin, lechon sauce, and my personal pick, garlic mayonnaise dip. The restaurant’s waiters also made a demonstration of cooking live suahe on hot rocks.

The casual dining restaurant Another Story was next, and we were greeted by its eclectic décor. Here we tried two no-brainer go-to choices for comfort food: the Angus prime ribeye steak served with potato gratin and herb-crusted grilled salmon.

I missed the sixth and seventh stops of the Evia food crawl at Teppanya and The Cheesecake Fairy, respectively.

Based on the schedule, Teppanya was to serve its signature Wagyu ribeye (with an impressive beef marble score of 9, which means the meat has extraordinary marbling) and its salt-crusted Hokkaido oysters. The Cheesecake Fairy was considerate enough to give a box of Nutella cheesecake with almond slivers – it was moist and not too sweet and perfect with hot coffee.

“Our foot traffic is steadily increasing – we have about 15,000 mall-goers on weekdays and 20,000 on weekends.

And we are completing our mall expansion and the third phase should be ready either by the end of the year or early 2019,” said Krystal Padua, Evia’s marketing head.

She added: “We have a well-curated mix of restaurants. We offer more than just delicious dishes but a complete gastronomic experience.”

For feedback, send comments to joyce.panares@gmail.com

Costa Coffee’s Berry Vanilla

London-style coffee date

Exchange sweet nothings over a cup of Costa Coffee’s Strawberry Pavlova, a combination of sticky meringue, gooey strawberry sauce topped with crunchy meringue and whipped cream, available for only P250 for two. You may also opt for two Berry Vanilla, a combination of strawberry and blueberry flavors, vanilla bean sauce, and topped with whipped cream and marshmallows, also for P250. This limited offers is available at select Costa Coffee branches today until Feb. 16.

TWG Mon Amour Tea

The tea blend better than roses

Beckon your beloved with a cup of TWG’s Mon Amour Tea, a magical potion made of rich black and sweet notes of quince, the sacred fruits of the Goddess of Love. This tea blend comes in a lovely pink tin can. It retails at P1,600.

Red Velvet Latte and Choco Raspberry Donut

Perfect pair

There’s something for everyone at Evia – from sinfully delicious cheesecakes to iconic Southeast Asian dishes such as chicken satay, Hainanese chicken and roast pork.

Get a cup of Tim Hortons’s newest Red Velvet Latte, a delectable blend of espresso and cocoa with a red velvety texture sweetly topped with whipped cream, and pair it with the Choco Raspberry Donut, a chocolate yeast donut generously dipped in chocolate fondant, completed with luscious raspberry filling. This limited edition offer is available until Feb. 27

Life

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monday, february 12, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Auspicious beginnings U

sher in the Year of the Earth Dog with feasts that feature dishes that bring in fortune.

Jasmine restaurant invites Chinese New Year revelers to welcome the Year of the Earth Dog with an auspicious Cantonese feast which includes Poon Choi and Yu Sheng salad

Cantonese cuisine

Chef Wong kam On of the famed Jasmine restaurant in New World Makati Hotel prepares a Cantonese feast crafted for good luck.

Partake of braised dried oyster sea moss, fried glutinous rice with assorted Chinese marinated pork, and steamed cod fish fillet. Indulge in a multitude of flavors with a hefty serving of Poon Choi “big bowl feast” to draw in good luck for the whole year round. Finish your meal with a Yu Sheng salad toss for abundant success this year. Set dinner menus at Jasmine start at P15,888, and is available until Feb. 18. Unlimited Yum Cha lunch is also available at P1,388 per person.

Call (02) 811-6888 ext. 3338.

Oriental dinner

Attract blessings and good luck on Feb. 16 at Waterfront Manila Pavilion as you and your family partake of an Oriental dinner buffet at Seasons restaurant prepared by the hotel’s Singapores executive chef Maurice Toh. Participate in the traditional Dragon and Lion Dance and Coin and Candy Shower. This Chinese New Year treats can be enjoyed for just P1,200 per person.

Call (02) 526-1212.

Waterfront Manila Pavilion serves up its Oriental buffet prepared by Chef Maurice Toh on Feb. 16.

Tikoy for good fortune TIkOY, the sticky, glutinous rice snack that has been a staple during Chinese New Year celebrations, is believed to bring in prosperity into the households that have it.

In Chinese folklore, it is said that when the kitchen God makes his trip to heaven before the first day of the Lunar New Year to give his report to the Jade Emperor, the

emperor of emperors, the sticky rice dish makes the kitchen God’s mouth sticky, thus preventing him from saying bad things about the families who made offerings of nian gao to him.

Hap Chan, the leading authentic Chinese restaurant in the Philippines, makes sure you have a sticky offering

to the kitchen God as it sells its wellloved tikoy again. It’s available in original, ube, and white flavors, and comes in a nifty box that you can readily give to someone you wish good luck.

Visit any Hap Chan branches nationwide today and get yourself or your friends some tikoy for good luck.

Hap Chan offers its version Ube, Original, and White tikoy

Long noodles symbolizes longevity or long life

8 ‘lucky’ Chinese dishes to welcome good luck Tikoy (nian gao). Ideal for gift-giving and served at the dinner table as well, tikoy’s sticky glutinous rice consistency signifies strong familial bonds and togetherness. Delight family members and friends more by taking the tikoy cooking game a notch higher by making it crunchier: encrust the tikoy slices using sesame seeds or coat them in Good Life Japanese Style Bread Crumbs before frying them to a perfect light golden brown.

Long noodles (mian tiao). Served hot and uncut, this ubiquitous noodle dish symbolizes longevity or long life.

Impress guests by making different pansit dishes like Canton, Bihon, or Sotanghon easily using Good Life Vermicelli, Egg Noodles, and Bihon.

Fish. Because ‘Yu’, the Mandarin word for fish, sounds like the word meaning having more or “extra”, a whole fish is served by the Chinese as a way of symbolizing surplus or abundant wealth. If serving pan-fried fish, easily give it a richer, Oriental flavor by infusing it with Good Life Oyster Sauce.

Poultry ( jia qin). In the true spirit of the occasion, eating chicken (served with the head and the feet still attached) is a must as it symbolizes unity and good marriage between families.

Commonly marinated then air-dried for three hours until the skin becomes paper-thin like, the chicken is then

flash fried and coated with spices. Best served with Good Life Oyster Sauce (or chili sauce) for dipping, boiled rice and steamed Shanghai cabbage.

Vegetables. A classic salad called the “Prosperity Toss” (also known as lo hei in Cantonese or yu sheng in Mandarin) is also served during the celebration. Containing shredded vegetables, strips of fish, along with a variety of sauces and condiments, the Prosperity Toss symbolizes abundance and prosperity. Make this year’s version even more sumptuous and filling by giving its sauce a bit of seafood flair using Good Life Oyster Sauce.

Dumplings ( jiao zhi). Associated with wealth because of its close resemblance to the yuan bao or gold ingots which were used as money in Ancient China, they are traditionally served boiled along with soy sauce dip. Bless guests even more by serving dumplings alongside Good Life Oyster Sauce.

Spring rolls. Resembling gold bullions, serving this dish is said to bring more prosperity and wealth. Give your spring rolls an indulgent Oriental twist by stirring in some spoonful of Good Life Oyster Sauce while cooking the vegetable filling.

Mooncake and hopia. Again because of their round shape and sweetness which symbolize good fortune, both mooncake and hopia are given away by the Chinese during the occasion.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

KimXi still a sturdy love team

'Coffee Break' stars (from left) Nash Aguas, John Manalo, and Igi Boy Flores

Simply Red...

From C4

ABS-CBNmobile adds another show to its growing roster of digital series with Coffee Break, a new sitcom for young audiences that marks the directorial debut of young actor Nash Aguas who also appears in the show.

The show follows a group of friends as they talk about life, problems, and life lessons over coffee. Most of the story is told from the point of the view of a barista, who plays witness to the barkada’s lives.

The online show, which premiered last month, is among other ABSCBNmobile exclusives launched in October last year. It features The Good Son star as both director and actor, along with some of his fellow Goin Bulilit graduates John Manalo and Igiboy Flores, as well as Star Magic Artists Claire Ruiz and Anne Tenorio. *** SLTV.ph, the first 24hour channel dedicated to cockfighting in the Philippines, is now on SKY via Select. It airs up to 12 hours of live and replay broadcasts of hackfights, derby programs, and other shows related to cockfighting from different popular cockpit arenas in the country. This is available to ONE SKY, SKYcable & SKYdirect subscribers in Mega Manila for P1,000 per month.

Call 418-0000 or visit www. m y s k y. c o m . ph/getsltv. *** Korean idols Yoona of Girls Generation and Siwan of ZE:A, together with Korean model-actor

Hong Jong Hyun, make love reign on afternoon television in The King is in Love on ABS-CBN. Set in Goryeo dynasty, the show follows the story of crown prince Won (Siwan), his best friend Wang Rin (Jong Hyun), and the love of his life, So-Hwa (Yoona).

Prince Won and Wang Rin have been friends since they were young. As the heir to the throne, Won is forbidden from having friends, yet Wang Rin remains by his side and even shows him what life is like outside the big walls of his palace.

The two grow up together and have each other’s backs no matter what, until the captivating So-Hwa enters the picture.

Won falls in love with So-Hwa so much to the point that he loves her more than himself, while The show’s theme song titled “Tunay na Pagibig” was sung

by Sam Milby.

The King is in Love air after Hanggang Saan only on ABS-CBN. *** A tradition i n

K-Pop star Siwan plays a crown prince in the period drama, 'The King is in Love.'

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, February 12, 2018

ACROSS 1 Clean the deck 5 First-magnitude star 9 Hockey score 13 Long-eared animal 14 Gentler 15 Like breakfast dishes 16 Canned 17 “Going, going, gone” shouter 19 Left 20 Urgent request 21 Pee Wee of baseball 22 Lack of experience 24 Saloon 25 Next planet to Earth 26 Slyest 30 Smooths feathers 33 Is humbled (2 wds.)

34 Guitarist — Wood 35 Monsieur’s wine 36 Frazier foe 37 Summer Games athlete 41 Early evening 44 Pretend 45 Prince Charles’ sister

46 Road map no.

47 Tiny quantity 50 Short stay 53 First course 54 Son of Venus 56 Reachable 58 Get pooped out 59 Coast downhill 60 Raise horses 61 Lanchester of “Bride of Frankenstein” 62 Stately trees 63 Wagon 64 Colored DOWN 1 “Jaws” actor Robert — 2 Very pale 3 Rock concert venue 4 Kind of story 5 Secure rooms 6 Sajak or Trebek 7 — — move on!

8 Jackie’s tycoon 9 Brand X 10 Pointed arch 11 Improves, as wine 12 Ancient harp 14 Slacks off 18 Doctorate exams 23 UPS truck 24 Nipped 26 Ashen

27 Memorable times 28 Food fish 29 Irksome one 30 Support 31 Wallpaper unit 32 Popular onenamed singer 33 One, in Munich 35 Wine cask 38 Great numbers 39 Ms. LaBelle 40 Sherbet 41 Made catty remarks

almost all of Ballet Manila’s performance seasons, Ballet & Ballads, once again returns to the stage to bring music and lyrics to life. And in an effort to bring ballet to the people and the people to the ballet, the country’s premier classical dance company plans to close its current season with a starstudded affair.

Ballet Manila CEO and Artistic Director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde muses about the latest installment, “It combines a singer with ballet numbers—an interesting concept that we’ve been experimenting with for quite some time now. It’s an entertaining way to enjoy ballet, especially for first-time audiences.”

Christian Bautista leads the roster of singers as a guest performer. He’ll sing some of his greatest theater hits, as well as songs from his latest album.

Joining Christian are artists from the Klassikal Musical Foundation (KMF) – Andrew Fernando (Baritone), Jade Riccio (Soprano), Stephanie Aguilar (Soprano), Krisann Manikan Tan (Mezzo Soprano), Leo Angelo Lanuza (Tenor), and with the special participation of Dr. George T. Yang (Tenor).

This marks the first-ever creative partnership between the country’s premier classical dance company and KMF. The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, no less, will serenade the audience during the entire night. The acclaimed group has also prepared a very special Teleserye suite featuring a selection of classic hits from the ABS-CBN primetime repertoire.

The show will surely trigger some nostalgia, especially among fans of Filipino pop culture.

Ballet & Ballads will also mark the world premiere of Martin Lawrance’s Aria, which will feature five acts covering classical operas. The British choreographer previously partnered with Ballet Manila for the highly acclaimed Rebel and Amid Shadows.

Ballet & Ballads runs at the Aliw on Feb. 17 (6 p.m.), and 18 (3p.m.).

42 Et, for Hans 43 Canceled out 45 Magic charm 47 Like a judge 48 Poet — Dickinson 49 Scandinavian 50 Bud holder 51 “— do for now” 52 Watch winder 53 — Lee cakes 55 Pore over 57 “30 Rock” airer

EVEN if Xian Lim has recently left Star Magic and moved to Viva Artists Agency, Kim Chiu maintains that nothing will change in their love team and treatment for each other.

“Yes, it remains the same. It’s just a change in management. It’s Xian’s decision so I respect that.

What’s good between the two of us, we support each other in all aspects of our lives especially if it concerns career growth. So, I don’t see any problem with the choice he made,” she avers.

This early, their legions of fans are worrying that due to this development, their love team is already on the verge of collapse.

“Oh no! I want to assure KimXi fanatics that there’s no cause for alarm. It’s like Xian just wanted another company to look after his career but as to the projects that he should do, they’re still the same, including the ones with me. So to put all their fears to rest, our love team will continue even if Xian is under VAA.” It was a bold and daring step on Xian’s side to arrive at such decision.

Did he consult her about it?

“Nope! I think he’s old and mature enough to decide for himself on what he really wants to happen in his life.

I’m not his folks. As for me, I would just support wherever he wants to go.”

Interestingly, the petite star is set to do a movie in which she gets paired with Ryan Bang.

“That’s right!” she confirms. “It’s a comedy-horror vehicle. I’m simply excited because I missed doing a comedy. The great Tony Y. Reyes is directing the material so you can only expect the best. I’m honored that in one of his rare projects for Star Cinema, I’m the female lead.

“Doing a comedy is therapeutic.

It’s like you’re not working at all when you’re on the set. You’ll just laugh and laugh. You won’t notice the passing of hours. I’m sure the

Xian Lim and Kim Chiu

viewers will like our offering which will both make them laugh and scream.”

It’s the first time that she will star in a big screen project opposite Ryan. Is there pressure?

“To be honest, there’s none. As I’ve said earlier, it’ll be a fun and memorable experience for sure.

The freshness of my combination with Ryan is a definite ace. It should break the monotony of my usual drama offerings. I really hope that for my first potboiler for 2018, the public will support it 100 percent!”

The charming lass is coming from the ratings success of her daytime series Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin along with Gerald Anderson which had its curtain call weeks ago.

“Thank you! The support we got for the show is just overwhelming. I hope the public will extend it for my upcoming comedy vehicle,” ends Kim. *** At this point in her career, Regine Velasquez knows that she’s no longer the hottest female singer in the land.

“Yes, I’m very much aware of that fact. I’m in the phase where I can accept life’s realities. I’m a practical person. Perhaps, that helps.

It’s something not to be dreaded, though,” she states.

Instead of being fazed with the entry of younger chanteuses into the music scene, Asia’s Songbird just wants to count her blessings.

“At 47, I’m grateful that there are still opportunities given to me to still perform. That’s a blessing.

Not everybody is given the chance to do that, right? Instead of putting yourself under pressure and asking if your decline is imminent, just learn to accept the truth. It’s the natural law of the universe.

“Personally, my still being visible on television and the concert stage is one thing that I should be very thankful for. I am still seen on GMA shows and I have concerts like #paMORE together with Martin Nievera, Erik Santos and my husband, Ogie Alcasid. I’m happy to continue entertaining the public with my gift of music.”

For the accomplished singeractress-host, this realization came at the most perfect time.

“True! It happened when I already have different priorities in life, foremost of which is my family.

I cherish the moments I have with Ogie and Nate. When you’re content with your personal state, you won’t have thoughts if you’re already nearing the end of your career or whatever,” says Regine.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

‘Here and Now’

debuts today on HBOGo

THE brand new drama series Here and Now will begin its ten-episode season same time as the U.S. today at 10 a.m., exclusively on HBO GO. From Oscar® and Emmy® winner Alan Ball (Six Feet Under, True Blood), and starring Oscar® and Golden Globe winner Tim Robbins (Mystic River, The Shawshank Redemption) and Oscar®, Emmy® and Golden Globe winner Holly Hunter (The Piano, The Big Sick), the show is a provocative and darkly comic meditation on the

‘Kita Kita’ starring Alessandra de Rossi now streaming on

HOOQ

Karylle is the feature performer in 'Date Night,' a Valentine’s Day show at Manila House in BGC.

‘Love Matters’ postponed; it’s a ‘Date Night’

Cast of HBO's new drama, 'Here and Now.'

with

disparate forces polarising presentday American culture, as experienced by the members of a progressive multi-ethnic family – a philosophy professor and his wife, their adopted children from Vietnam, Liberia and Colombia, and their sole biological child – and a contemporary Muslim family, headed by a psychiatrist who is treating one of their children.

Jerrika Hinton (Grey’s Anatomy), Daniel Zovatto (Don’t Breathe), Raymond Lee (Mozart in the Jungle), Sosie Bacon (13 Reasons Why), Andy Bean (The Divergent Series: Allegiant), Joe Williamson (Grey’s Anatomy) and Peter Macdissi (Six Feet Under, The X Files) also star.

Here and Now is executive produced

by Alan Ball, Peter Macdissi and David Knoller (Big Love).

ISAH V. RED

Alessandra de Rossi is the star in the feelgood, "kilig" movie of 2017, 'Kita Kita.'

Come Alive with

‘The Greatest Showman’

WITH all the last song syndromes from the hit musical treat, The Greatest Showman, Twentieth Century Fox and SM Cinema are inviting mall-goers and fans alike to experience the spectacle of the melodic blockbuster with its SingAlong version exclusive in select SM Cinema theaters.

Experience a rush of awe, with intricate and colorful song and dance scenes on the big screen, and ‘rewrite the stars’ with Zendaya, Zac Efron and Hugh Jackman.

Inspired by an American showman and founder of Barnum & Bailey Circus, the musical film depicts the birth of show business and portrays a creative who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.

Making movies come alive, SM Cinema brought live performance of the movie at SM Aura on Feb. 9 and SM Southmall on Feb. 10. Fans can also bask in the beauty of the Greatest Showman’s costume display from Feb. 7 to 14 at SM Aura and SM North EDSA. Book your tickets now through the website, www.smcinema.com or get the app and skip the line.

Download the SM Cinema app now through the App Store and Google Play.

Stay tuned to SMCinema on facebook and @SM_Cinema on Instagram for more details.

SM Cinema treats cinemagoers with live performance inspired by 'The Greatest Showman.'

Karylle

T

HE highest -rossing Filipino indie film, Kita Kita, has made its way onto HOOQ this month.

HOOQ, the largest Video on Demand service in SouthEast Asia, started streaming the romantic comedy starring Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy Marquez on Feb. 9.

Kita Kita is the number one performing indie film in the Philippines and has broken all box office records by grossing over USD 6.5 million.

This February, fans will be able to catch the highestgrossing Filipino indie film of all time on HOOQ in the Philippines and all other territories where HOOQ is available including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and India.

HOOQ Philippines Content and Programming Head Jeffrey Remigio said, “We are very proud to have the exclusive SVOD rights to Kita Kita. The Feb. 9 debut was perfect; February is the month for love. Everyone appreciates a good and solid love story.”

Kita Kita is a romantic comedy produced by Spring Films and Viva Films. Shot on location in Sapporo, Japan, it was 2017’s surprise hit. Written and directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, Kita Kita is the story of a tourist guide (De Rossi) who temporarily loses her vision after her engagement falls apart and how she crosses paths with Tonyo (Marquez), who wins her heart with his charm and humor. It is the story of how two lonely people found love in a foreign land.

“Viva is very happy to be a part of this very successful movie, and it is with

SLEEPER HIT. Shot in Sapporo, Japan,'Kita Kita' is the highestgrossing Philippine independent film of all time.

great pride that we share this with the loyal subscribers of HOOQ,” said Vincent del Rosario, President and COO, Viva Communications Jennifer Batty, HOOQ’s Chief Content Officer said, “We are very excited to have such a high caliber Filipino movie on HOOQ. Filipino content is very important to HOOQ and the addition of Kita Kita will further boost HOOQ’S already impressive library of Filipino movies.”

HOOQ subscribers who watch the movie from Feb. 9 to March 15 will qualify for a chance to win a trip for two to Sapporo, Japan. The (4 days, 3 nights) trip includes round trip plane tickets, economy class hotel accommodation and tour and pocket money for meals.

One winner will be selected and announced on March 22.

Per DTI-FTEB Permit No. 2051 Series of 2018. See promo materials for more details.

Celebrate this Valentine’s Day with Kita Kita and other great romantic stories on HOOQ including One More Chance, Starting Over Again, A Very Special Love, That Thing Called Tadhana, and many more.

SAD news for fans of Kuh Ledesma and Gabby Concepcion because they won’t be able to watch their “lodis” tomorrow night as previously announced at the ABS-CBN Tent at Ayala Malls Vertis North in the preValentine show Love Matters.

The show would have featured as well Kuh’s daughter Isabella Gonzales and RnB singer Kris Lawrence Lawrence.

According to the producer, ALV International, it will issue a media advisory on the new concert schedule schedule.

Meanwhile, Karylle is the feature performer in Date Night, a Valentine’s Day show at Manila House, Bonifacio Global Center’s (BGC) exclusive membership club.

It will be an intimate evening of love songs, well-loved standards, Broadway classics, and Karylle’s very own OPM compositions.

The It’s Showtime host is excited about making her songs the perfect soundtrack not just for coosome twosomes, but for the private club’s roster of esteemed epicureans as well.

She says, “I’d love people to enjoy the perfect chill date night. I love how Manila House is the prettiest place in the metro with lots of art, and there’s something beautiful everywhere you look. But of course, on Valentine’s Day, your eyes should be on your date.

We will set the mood for that perfect date.”

Joining Karylle are the Passport Holders, with special guest Kris Holders Lawrence and Tawag ng Tanghalan finalists Froilan Canlas and Charles Kevin Tan Tan. Asked to define her ideal date night, Karylle explains, “My favorite kind of date is when we discover something new together, which is why we set up Date Night to have lots of new experiences for couples. A nice stroll around BGC would be perfect after the date, topped off with some dessert back at Manila House before heading home.”

Apart from recording new songs for her upcoming album, Karylle is also currently busy working on her latest entrepreneurial venture, Rockstar, the family KTV and restobar which had its soft opening at the SM Aura in December, which she co-owns with fellow Showtime co-host Anne Curtis.

Curtis Produced by ALV Events International, in cooperation with Manila House, DATE NIGHT is inclusive of dinner/cocktails.

For ticket inquiries, call ALV Events International (637-7016) or Manila House (0917-8163685).

Continued on C3

t s 31

ry a s r e v Anni

ENVIRONM ENT

beyond

H WEELALTH LNE AND SS

EDUCATION

ITY COMMUPNM DEVELO ENT

beyond

t s 31

ry a s r e v Anni

ENVIRONMENT

A tribute to industries that give back to the community

w

HEN this man was deported to Dapitan in the province of Zamboanga, after being implicated by Spanish authorities in the activities of a rebellion in 1892, he lived a simple life in the service of his fellow men.

In the early part of his exiled life, he resided at the commandant’s home. He had money to spend from his lottery winnings and earnings as a farmer and merchant. Spending it wisely, he bought a piece of land near the shore of Talisay near Dapitan, where he built three houses, with the ďŹ rst one becoming his home. The second house was the living quarters of his pupils, while the third was the barn where he kept his chickens.

He built a school, a hospital and a water supply system. He also taught kids and engaged in farming and horticulture.

In a letter to his friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt on Dec. 19, 1893, he described his peaceful, but productive life in Dapitan.

"I rise early in the morning-at ďŹ vevisit my plants, feed the chickens, awaken my people, and prepare our breakfast. At half-past seven, we Next page

beyond

31st

ersary Anniv

A tribute...

eat our breakfast, which consists of tea, bread, cheese, sweets, and other things.

After breakfast, I treat the poor patients who come to my house. Then I dress and go to Dapitan in my baroto. I am busy the whole morning, attending to my patients in town. At noon, I return home to Talisay for lunch. Then, from 2 to 4 p.m., I am busy as a teacher. I teach the young boys. I spend the rest of the afternoon in farming. My pupils help me in watering the plants, pruning the fruits, and planting many kinds of trees. We stop at 6:00 p.m. for the Angelus. I spend the night reading and writing."

It was clear from his letter that much of his time was spent helping others.

That man, was our national hero Jose Rizal, one of the ďŹ rst advocates of social responsibility, someone who believes that everyone has an obligation to act for the beneďŹ t of the society at large.

More than a century later, Rizal's philanthropic work and ideology of being of service to others, still ring loud and true.

These days, businesses and industries reach out to the community that surround them, believing that social responsibility is an ethical framework, a duty to perform so as to maintain a balance between the economy and the ecosystems.

We may not be aware of it, but Corporate Social Responsibility pertains not only to businesses, but also individuals whose any action impacts the people of the community and the environment.

As Manila Standard celebrates its 31st anniversary, we pay tribute to the businesses and industries that care for the community and the Jose Rizal in all of us.

MICT is the flagship operation of ICTSI, the Philippines’ leading port operator with a portfolio of 30 terminals in 18 countries.

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beyond Consumers tend to patronize companies which do CSR because of the perception that they too are being given the chance to give back by buying a product or availing of a service of such companies. perception that they too are being given the chance to give back by buying a product or availing of a service of such companies,” said Jerome Daclison, PBSP corporate affairs’ head.

He said all generations, not just millennials, are now drawn to companies that give back to communities.

“On Facebook, you may notice that the sponsored videos that go viral are those that feature stories of changed lives, or people being helped in some way or another,” Daclison added.

He said many companies prefer to embark on CSR initiatives on education (scholarship assistance), environment (tree-planting, installation of potable water systems in waterless communities), disaster response and recovery, Turn to D2

By Alena Mae Flores

CORPORATE social responsibility, or more popularly known as CSR in the Philippines, has significantly evolved in the past several decades.

According to the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), one of the country’s most active CSR organizations, consumers today have a higher regard for companies that engage in CSR activities.

“Consumers tend to patronize companies which do CSR because of the

CSR in the PH:

An evolution based on service to others

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beyond From D1

and livelihood projects (skills building, micro-financing, and provision of tools, equipment and training).

“There are many companies today that do strategic CSR that benefits both their companies and their target beneficiaries. When companies involve their adopted communities into their core operations, they are able to easily get support and cooperation from the latter for their business activities,” he said.

Daclison explained that for companies that address national issues, they do not only help solve systemic problems, but also meet their needs for human resource, increase their product sales and profit.

“For example, a company which is into curriculum development lends its technical expertise to help produce qualified graduates that meet industry demands. This, in turn, will also ensure them a steady supply of competent human resource,” he said.

He cited as example another company which is selling environment-friendly paint. This company does not only help reduce pollution, but also strives to boost its product sales and gain more profit.

CSR history CSR awareness among Philippine businesses began in the 1960s, with them giving donations in cash directly to foundations and other charitable organizations.

A decade later, in the 1970s, the country suffered from a socio-economic

Many companies prefer to embark on CSR initiatives on education, environment, disaster response and recovery, and livelihood projects or skills building, such as the this one (right).

turmoil and the business environment was on a survival mode. It was during this time that PBSP was founded.

Daclison said PBSP founding member companies at that time vowed to collectively bring together their resources in contributing to social development.

“In the past, corporate social responsibility was more confined to philanthropic endeavors or the usual one-time dole-outs to communities in need. Today, companies are responding to the call to do more strategic interventions that require interindustry collaboration to provide a more sustainable solution to societal problems

in the country,” Daclison said.

He said Philippine companies have also seen the value of adopting the Inclusive Business model, where the poor or those at the Base of the Pyramid are integrated in a company’s core business operations or value chain either as employees, consumers or suppliers.

“The new millennium drove companies to answer the call for business sustainability. These have led to businesses viewing social development not only as an add-on activity, but as an integral part of their business operations,” the official said.

“To support the business sector in addressing these challenges, PBSP continues to enable both member and non-member companies to implement their own CSR programs and integrate them into their core business,” he said.

PBSP, the core group composed of 50 of the country’s leading businessmen joined together in the 1970s to form the biggest corporate-led, not-for-profit organization in the country.

Today, PBSP’s membership has grown to 274 (composed of local, multinational and small and medium companies).

“PBSP member-companies allocate

financial, in-kind and human resources to support and sustain various development programs across the country,” said Daclison.

He said the main CSR strategy during the 1980s was community relations or COMREL as companies needed to secure a license to operate in the community.

PBSP, at that time, has moved on to building self-reliant communities.

“In the 1990s, companies were driven more by the need to enhance competitive advantage and reputation capital. Towards the end of the decade, businesses began to Turn to D3

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beyond

Today, PBSP has taken various roles as facilitator, fund manager, capacity builder, and technology provider.

Turn to D2

engage in more strategic social investment and mainstream corporate social responsibility in their business practices,” he said.

In the last 20 years, PBSP member-companies contributed a total of P1.2 billion to the organization to support its programs.

“Likewise, at any given time, CEOs actively participate in the board and program committees to help shape policy directions and govern the organization. Members commit themselves to a set of principles that embody collective action to embrace the higher purpose of business,” he said.

Daclison said BSP encourages its companies to embark on more strategic initiatives that will yield sustainable impact/results in their adopted communities, as well as help

solve complex problems in the country.

“PBSP has become the vehicle of the business sector in delivering organized, professional and sustainable assistance to underprivileged sectors, namely: the landless farmers, fisherfolk, rural workers, urban poor, and indigenous cultural communities. It is the leading advocate on the practice of CSR and corporate citizenship in the country,” he said.

Today, PBSP has taken various roles as facilitator, fund manager, capacity builder, and technology provider.

“As facilitator, it orchestrates the actions of key players by developing or initiating multisectoral partnerships based on transparency, mutual trust and equity and the sharing of resources. As fund manager, PBSP ensures that

funds are used and accounted for properly.

PBSP’s sound financial condition is a result of dramatic growth in assets in the 1990s and aggressive resource mobilization as PBSP gained credibility in the local and international NGO community,” he said.

He said that as capacity builder, PBSP helps build social structures in communities to facilitate development efforts by conducting training that leads to core group building, creating PBSP-like organizations, developing CSR technologies and enabling its members to develop and implement CSR. PBSP is also a technology provider whose mandate is to innovate CSR programs, tools and frameworks responsive to issues and concerns of companies and communities.

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beyond

Promoting growth

without compromising the environment

By Peter Paul Duran

THROUGH the years, companies have been rallying for environmental sustainability through activities that promote growth without compromising the environment.

Implementing programs and projects consistent with the governmentmandated CSR, Benguet Corp. believes that protecting and caring for the environment has always been a part of the company’s social responsibility programs.

With the constant industrialization that comes with progress, it is particularly challenging for environmental sustainability.

But many companies are at the forefront of keeping the environment intact, hand-in-hand, certainly embodying the mantra of growing their business beyond profit.

Among these companies is the First Gen Corporation, which has partnered with non-profit institutions to promote environmental preservation and education.

At First Gen, environmentalism is not just a buzz word or a part of its corporate social responsibility--environmentalism is a vital and intrinsic part of its business model through its Binhi: A Greening Legacy program.

Meanwhile, SM Foundation invests in environmental care through advocacy campaigns.

Among SM’s efforts include encouraging communities to recycle and segregate, conducting forums on the effects of climate change, and involving students with screenings featuring environmentally-themed films.

In other fields, companies’ adherence to laws and policies prescribed by government agencies provide a helping hand in maintaining environmental stewardship.

Turn to D5

Beyond aestheticallypleasing designs, Megaworld was cited for its sustainable and environmentalfriendly projects.

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Philex Mining Corporation, which has also won several environmental awards, concluded a reforestation project in Benguet in 2017.

From D4

Aside from its environmental initiatives, Nickel Asia Corporation takes measures to promote care for the environment using best mining practices.

Philex Mining Corporation, which has also won several environmental awards, concluded a reforestation project in Benguet in 2017. Among the trees planted were medicinal and fruit-bearing trees, as well as tropical flowering plants and

bunchgrass to prevent soil erosion.

Philex covered 110 hectares of land, double the size of their 50-hectare target.

A similar CRS project was done by the Philippines’ oldest miner, Benguet Corp..

Implementing programs and projects consistent with the governmentmandated CSR, Benguet Corp. believes that protecting and caring for the environment has always been a

part of the company’s social responsibility programs.

As a responsible corporate citizen, Benguet Corp. said it has pursued significant reforestation efforts in line with its strategic operations.

For over a century now, Benguet Corp. has been involved in responsible mining operations, as manifested by its continuing commitment to preserve, protect and enhance the environment.

Benguet Corp. planted and nurtured to full maturity more than 20 million trees in more than 18,000 hectares of land in and around its various mining communities and timber license areas.

Likewise, Benguet Corp. also carried out programs to reestablish natural vegetation cover, extensive planting of suitable species of trees, shrubs and grass in all of the Trun to D6

The Spark Project: Creating spark in crowdfunding

From left are: Minette Navarrete, president of Kickstart Ventures Inc.; Rico Gonzalez, chairman of Ashoka Philippines; Paolo Agloro and Luis Gaza, co-founders of The Spark Project; Patrick Dulay, founder and chief executive of The Spark Project; Paola Betita, community and product manager of The Spark Project; and Mikey Garrovillo, head of innovation, Globe Telecom THERE is no doubt that “crowdfunding” has become the default avenue to raise funds for a campaign, a project, an appeal for help, and other issues that tug the heart. This phenomenon has reached global levels and has sparked numerous initiatives, especially in developing socially relevant projects that seek to create a difference.

One such crowdfunding website is “The Spark Project,” a Filipino crowdfunding website and community spearheaded

by Founder and CEO Patrick Dulay. It aims to create a “spark” among local entrepreneurs or the so-called “changemakers” and doers and empower them through an online platform to showcase their creations and projects while at the same time, attract people who are willing to provide exciting and sociallymeaningful projects.

Thus, Dulay was elated when The Spark Project was chosen as one of the Top 5 winners of the Globe Future Makers (GFM) program, besting 130 other entries. “Globe enables our technology and there are a lot of potential for synergies with Globe. GFM can really help the project by creating a bigger community and expanding our membership, or through resources to help us grow in the next few months. Our goal is to spark 100 projects and to achieve that, we need all the help we can get,” he said.

“Through our partners in GFM such as Kickstart Ventures, Inc. and Ashoka Philippines, we are facilitating the

winners’ access to relevant startup workshops or clinics, introductions to potential partners, mentors, advisers, and investors so that they can build their products faster and launch sooner to benefit the communities that they aim to serve. Together, we hope to influence and build a whole ecosystem of social innovators who use technology to create a positive impact on society,” said Chelle Gray, Director for Globe Citizenship.

It was in 2009 when Dulay started to toy with the idea of funding something by the people. He later on began his own project together with his co-founders. “I felt there are a lot of ideas and I believe in people’s talent. Being abroad gave me a deeper appreciation of Filipino talent being world class and I’d like to contribute to that, make their ideas happen through technology and crowdsourcing so they can enable their dreams and ideas to fly,” he said.

Dulay was proud to note that in five years, they were able to “spark” a total of 63 projects valued cumulatively at more than P5.8 million. On average, a project can raise from Php 80,000 to Php 120,000. To qualify for crowdfunding, creative entrepreneurs and change-makers should be local or homegrown. Even if not enterprising, the effort should have an impact on society and community and should be innovative enough.

Through crowdfunding, Dulay reported that they were able to help a lot of interesting projects, mostly product-based

or consumer goods. One example is the Gouache Waxed Canvas Bags. The business was launched through Spark in 2013 and already opened a mall-based store last September.

“Crowdfunding really helped them raise more than Php180,000 to produce their first batch of bags and grow their business,” he said.

Another noteworthy project, though not a moneymaking venture but more of a civic action project, was the rehabilitation of Estero de Paco, one of the 48 tributaries or “esteros” of the Pasig River through the group Earth Ventures which came out with a treatment “ball” that uses Bokashi or Japanese water treatment technology that eliminates bad bacteria using good bacteria. “They used crowdfunding to create those balls and organized a mud-ball throwing into the estero. This is an example of a community-based project and due to their campaign they got a lot of exposure.

Through Spark, they were able to raise awareness and bring more people in to participate. Those were really intangible benefits and not just financial,” added Dulay.

He cited that the most challenging part is how to draw the public to a project since there is a high degree of accountability where project proponents have to be able to deliver what they promised. There should always be transparency, Dulay said, so everyone goes through a screening process to determine if they can really deliver.

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beyond Last year, Mitsubishi concluded a tree-planting program with the city of Laguna, alongside several schools and companies in the city.

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company’s mined-out areas, waste dumps, tailing dams, road sides and other areas in the mine sites.

An endowment fund in a partnership that will help implement the Clean Air Act of the Philippines was also provided by Team Energy, one of the largest independent power producers in the Philippines.

Aside from activities upholding environmental care, several companies have upped their efforts by integrating policies in their vision.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, for one, announced its Environmental Vision 2020, a roadmap committed to reducing their business activities’ environmental impact, while gearing towards technology

development fueled by EV technology.

Last year, Mitsubishi concluded a tree-planting program with the city of Laguna, alongside several schools and companies in the city.

On the other hand, Toyota’s vision highlights its pledge to lessen vehicle CO2 emissions by 90% compared to its 2010 levels, by 2050.

With these efforts, recognitions and awards have been given to honor companies who give value to environmental preservation and conservation.

World Wildlife Fund-Philippines has recognized developer Arthaland for being its partner in environmental works since 2010. The partnership has spear-

headed programs geared towards promoting environmental education in the communities they serve.

Real estate developer Megaworld won as Best Developer in 2016 and 2017 in the Philippine Property Awards.

Beyond aesthetically-pleasing designs, Megaworld was cited for its sustainable and environmental-friendly projects.

Among Megaworld’s activites was teaming up with government agencies and other companies in an environmental initiative that saw the planting of nursed mangrove seedlings in a coastal area in Iloilo city in 2014.

Volunteers, including local residents and students, joined the activity aimed to preserve and protect the Iloilo river.

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A world without waste World Without Waste is the next step in CocaCola’s ongoing sustainability efforts, building off success in replenishing an estimated 100% of the water it uses in its final beverages.

THE COCA-COLA Company announced recently that it is fundamentally reshaping its approach to packaging, with a global goal to help collect and recycle the equivalent of 100% of its packaging by 2030.

This goal is the centerpiece of the Company’s new packaging vision for a World Without Waste, which the Coca-Cola system intends to back with a multi-year investment that includes ongoing work to make packaging 100% recyclable.

This begins with the understanding that food and beverage containers are an important part of people’s modern lives, but that there is much more to be done to reduce packaging waste globally.

“The world has a packaging problem – and, like all companies, we have a responsibility to help solve it,” said James Quincey, President and CEO of The CocaCola Company. “Through our World Without Waste vision, we are investing in our planet and our packaging to help make this problem a thing of the past.”

The Company and its bottling partners are pursuing several key goals: • Investing in the planet: By 2030, for every bottle or can the Coca-Cola system sells globally, we aim to

help take one back so it has more than one life. The Company is investing its marketing dollars and skills behind this 100% collection goal to help people understand what, how and where to recycle. We will support collection of packaging across the industry, including bottles and cans from other companies. The Coca-Cola system will work with local communities, industry partners, our customers, and consumers to help address issues like packaging litter and marine debris.

• Investing in packaging: To achieve its collection goal, The Coca-Cola Company is continuing to work toward making all of its packaging 100% recyclable globally. The Company is building better bottles, whether through more recycled content, by developing plant-based resins, or by reducing the amount of plastic in each container. By 2030, the Coca-Cola system also aims to make bottles with an average of 50% recycled content. The goal is to set a new global standard for beverage packaging. Currently, the majority of the Company’s packaging is recyclable.

World Without Waste is the next step in the Company’s ongoing sustainability efforts, building off success in replenishing an estimated 100% of the water it uses in its final beverages. The Company achieved and exceeded its water replenishment goal in 2015, five years ahead of expectations. These efforts are part of the Company’s larger strategy to grow with conscience, by becoming a total beverage company that grows the right way.

“Bottles and cans shouldn’t harm our planet, and a litter-free world is possible,” Quincey said. “Companies like ours must be leaders. Consumers around the world care about our planet, and they want and expect companies to take action. That’s exactly what we’re going to do, and we invite others to join us on this critical journey.”

The Coca-Cola Company will work to achieve these goals with the help of several global partners: the

Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy initiative, The Ocean Conservancy/Trash Free Seas Alliance and World Wildlife Fund (The Cascading Materials Vision and Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance). Coca-Cola will also launch efforts with new partners at the regional and local level and plans to work with its key customers to help motivate consumers to recycle more packaging.

“We would like to encourage everyone to recycle as part of a circular economy, where plastic, glass, and aluminum are reused or repurposed as many times as possible, rather than being used once and then thrown away. We look forward to working with the industry, local communities, NGOs, government organizations, and even our critics to highlight this critical issue. When we all come together to help solve this problem, collectively we will make a bigger difference than if we simply act alone,” said Winn Everhart, President & General Manager of Coca-Cola Philippines.

The Coca-Cola System in the Philippines has already started on the journey towards achieving this goal through their active participation with the Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS) – a multi-stakeholder coalition supported by the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) and composed of the top corporations in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. Recently, Coca-Cola and other members of PARMS announced their commitment to work with government and nongovernment organizations in developing a sustainable solid waste management program in the country, starting with its plan to build a state of the art materials recovery and reprocessing facility.

To learn more, visit Coca-Cola Journey at http:// www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/world-withoutwaste

Congratulations to on your 31st Anniversary REP. DANILO SUAREZ (3rd District, Quezon) Minority Leader

REP. LITO ATIENZA Senior Deputy Minority Leader

REP. EUGENE MICHAEL DE VERA REP. ALFREDO GARBIN, JR. REP. ANTHONY BRAVO REP. LUIS JOSE ANGEL CAMPOS Deputy Minority Leaders

REP. HARLIN NEIL ABAYON III REP. ANICETO BERTIZ III Assistant Minority Leaders

REP. CECILIA LEONILA CHAVEZ REP. ANNA MARIE VILLARAZA–SUAREZ REP. DELPHINE GAN LEE REP. JULIETA CORTUNA REP. MONSOUR DEL ROSARIO REP. ARLENE ARCILLAS REP. RICHARD EUSEBIO REP. ABEGAIL FERRIOL-PASCUAL REP. CIRIACO CALALANG Members

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Manila Standard’s ‘Adopt-A-Tree’ holds its 9th sowing

Text and Photos by Peter Paul Duran

FROM trees, publications have so much to thank for.

adopt a tree It is the backbone of the print industry, without it there’s really no use at all for the word newspaper in any vernacular. So it’s just fitting for a company that relies so much on trees to give back to the natural resource that has kept print afloat and extant in this day and age of digital technology.

Manila Standard, in celebration of its 31st Anniversary, has done just that after a successful 9th sowing of their

Adopt-A-Tree program last Jan. 20, 2018 in a Mangrove reserve in Calatagan, Batangas.

“Very proud ako kasi sa 31st anniversary namin ay napatunayan namin na very committed kami sa pangangalaga ng environment through this initiative of ours na Adopt-A-Tree program,” said Anita Grefal, Manila Standard’s OIC-Operations, during their tree-planting program in Barangay

Talisay, Batangas.

“This is our 9th sowing already and we plan to broaden our CSR in the coming years with our partnership with the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources),” added Grefal.

Initiated by former Advertising Manager Gina Verzosa, Manila Standard’s “Adopt a Tree” project kicked off at the Ipo Dam Watershed in NorzaTurn to D10

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garay, Bulacan on Nov. 28, 2009.

When the idea was first presented to then President and CEO Rogelio Salazar, the bold initiative was then made into the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility project.

“Thankful kami sa mga companies tulad ng Manila Standard na mayroon talagang programa para sa kalikasan,” said Cherrylet De Guzman Ecosystems Management Specialist II of the expanded National Greening Program of the DENR that has partnered with numerous private institutions, individuals, communities and other government agencies.

This is the third time that the DENR has partnered with Manila Standard for its “Adopt-A-Tree” program and the department is hoping for more in the future.

“We joined Manila Standard in their 6th and 7th sowing for our Mangrove tree-planting activity and sana magpatuloy ang partnership namin dahil napakaganda na ng nasimulan natin,” added De Guzman. “Nawa’y mas mapatatag pa natin ang samahan na ito to para mapangalagaan natin lalo ang ating likas na yaman.”

Attended by almost 40 employees from the broadsheet and around 10 representatives from the DENR, the event had both sides actively taking part in the Mangrove planting, wherein 1,000 propagules were planted. Mangroves are known to provide shoreline protection and reduce soil erosion, providing protection from waves and water movement. These also provide habitat for numerous sea creatures, both estuarine and coastal fishes, crustaceans and mollusks.

Manila Standard and KPPI employees, together with representatives from the DENR planted a total of 1,000 mangrove propagules to help protect the shoreline of Barangay Talisay in Calatagan, Batangas.

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Fighting climate change

By Nathaniel Mariano

INTENSE rainfall persisting over days, droughts threatening the farmlands and the farmers’ livelihood, continuously rising sea levels and alarming flashfloods – these are only some of the negative effects that the mankind has done to put the foundation of all life on Earth in the danger zone.

Facing climate change Every day, our planet’s diversity of life is being threatened as climate change brings an imminent danger to the places, species and people that we care about. It has become the biggest environmental challenge that the new generation has to face with.

Because of our inconsiderate actions towards nature, the Earth’s atmosphere is warming faster than before. Manmade activities such as the excessive burning and use of fossil fuels, deforestation, intensive livestock farming, and industrial processes build up the greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As a result, the usual weather patterns are now changed.

In the Philippines, Filipinos appear to neglect such environmental struggles. And as a result, drastic weather changes in the country bring various diseases such as malaria, dengue, and even severe colds. Tropical typhoons are also expected to be more catastrophic than Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

And by 2020, the temperature will rise by 0.9°C to 1.1°C. The ocean surface warms as it absorbs heat from the sun. The ocean, in return, releases some of the heat into the atmosphere, producing wind and rain clouds above the surface.

However, as the ocean’s temperature drastically increases because of climate change, a lot of heat is released into the atmosphere.

This additional heat generates stronger and more frequent storms – which is exactly what

environmentalists have observed in the country for over a decade.

Companies’ help to the environment Starbucks is one of those firms that care for the environment as it comes up with strategies on tackling climate change.

According to the known coffee shop, farmers are reporting shifts in rainfall and harvest patterns that affect their livelihood, not to mention the increased soil erosion and infestation by pests.

“Addressing climate change is a big priority for Starbucks. We believe now is the time to increase our investments in solutions and strategies that address this crisis.

The steps we’re taking not only address our environmental footprint – they help to ensure the supply of high-quality coffee that our customers expect from us into the future,” said Starbucks on its website.

The American coffee company has been implementing a climate change strategy since 2004, focusing on renewable energy, energy conservation and collaboration, and advocacy.

“We are working to significantly shrink our environmental footprint by conserving energy and water, reducing the waste associated with our cups, increasing recycling and incorporating green design into our stores,” said Starbucks.

“Gulp instead of sip. Think of the environment,” said American fast food giant KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) in its mission to support the no-plastic campaign.

Improper disposal of garbage, caused by plastic items and straws, is one of the many causes why the Philippines experiences severe flooding. There has been reports online where even turtles were affected by plastic straws.

Meanwhile, by collecting and recycling 100 percent of its plastic bottles, the CocaCola company announced last Jan. 20 that it will reshape its approach to packaging by 2030.

“This goal is the centerpiece of the company’s new packaging vision for a ‘World Without Waste,’ which the Coca-Cola system intends to back with a multiyear investment that includes ongoing work to make packaging 100-percent recyclable,” the company said in a report.

The known soda provider worldwide said that it is investing dollars and skills to design better bottles “whether through more recycled content, by developing plant-based resins, or by reducing the amount of plastic in each container.”

Coca-Cola Philippines is supporting the group called Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability.

Meanwhile, Ayala Land Inc., the property development arm of the Ayala Group,

is dedicating nearly 500 hectares of its planned carbon forests to its project.

In line with the plans to augment the company’s total carbon emission reduction by 20 percent year-on-year, the ALI chose five different sites in the country, covering a total of 450 hectares, to serve as “carbon forests.” This forest regeneration and preservation plan also implements the passive cooling design in energy efficiency and renewable energy sourcing to reach carbon neutrality.

The five sites are in Lio in Palawan, Sicogon in Iloilo, Alaminos in Laguna, KanIrag in Cebu and Talomo in Davao.

With all the environmental setbacks happening in the country, the Philippines remains one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. But if we work together and start executing the plan like what the mentioned companies have done, then maybe we can all make a difference.

Sources:

http://www.starbucks.ph/responsibility/environment/ climate-change https://businessmirror.com.ph/coca-cola-baresrecycling-project/ https://www.rappler.com/brandrap/climate-change https://www.ecowatch.com/how-is-climate-changeaffecting-the-philippines-1882156625.html http://www.philstar.com/business/2018/02/01/1783259/ali-allots-450-hectares-carbonneutrality

TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF 3,600 FAMILIES TRUE success is made meaningful when one acts on the opportunity to share it with others. As one of the fastest-growing developers in the country today, Property Company of Friends, Inc. (PRO-FRIENDS) is one that acknowledges the importance of the people and the communities behind its success. Hence, PRO-FRIENDS engages itself in different corporate social responsibility activities aligned with its commitment to transform the lives of the families it serves.

Beyond creating communities PRO-FRIENDS regularly gathers its stakeholders for various activities on emergency preparedness, waste management, livelihood, sports, environment and family bonding, among others, all with the purpose of enriching their lives and contributing to the sustainability of the communities they are in. “Aside from providing our residents with a safe and secure gated community with lifestyle amenities that suit their current and anticipate their future needs, we regularly conduct community-enrichment activities through their respective village administrators,” says Joy de Joya, PROFRIENDS Corporate Communications head.

“These community-based

events are done regularly to allow for neighborhood bonding and bring together PRO-FRIENDS employees who volunteer for the event.”

Extending help to more families, other communities PRO-FRIENDS has committed itself to long-term projects and has taken socialized housing to a different level by partnering with Gawad Kalinga.

When destructive typhoon Yolanda struck Eastern Visayas in the last quarter of 2013, PRO-FRIENDS was given the opportunity to help relocate 540 families that were displaced by the calamity. It has since expanded to benefit a total of 3,600 families in four communities in Passi City and Lambunao, Iloilo.

With the goal of providing an enabling environment for poor families to rise out of poverty, PROFRIENDS, in partnership with the Local Government Unit, provides land, land development and community infrastructure, and works with Gawad Kalinga to provide values formation, grassroots community empowerment and youth development.

Spreading hope, building dreams Last Christmas season, this vision became a reality as community leaders

Celebrating the holiday spirit with kids of the community with Binibining PRO-FRIENDS, Ms. Florence Valderama

Kids of Barangay Quinagaringan playing the tug-o-war in their community

organized their annual Christmas tradition. In Brgy. Quinagaringan, Passi City, Iloilo, community leaders themselves organized the Christmas festivities, complete with gift giving, Christmas carol competitions, and traditional games like Palo Sebo, Tug of War, and other community games.

Aside from these, there were also the House and Christmas Tree Décor Competition – a labor of love of the community which were made entirely of recycled materials to promote care for the environment while reminding everyone, especially the young, of the true meaning of Christmas.

This wonderful occasion was a perfect time for PRO-FRIENDS employees to also participate in making the season more special by raising funds through the launch of its firstever search for PRO-FRIENDS’ goodwill ambassador. Funds collected were turned over to support the educational requirements of the youth in Brgy.

Quinagaringan. Goodwill ambassador Florence Valderrama, herself a scholar, personally went to the community to announce the support that PROFRIENDS employees are extending and inspire the youth with her own life story.

The highlight of the event was the lighting of their community Christmas

Tree for the first time, which symbolized the new-found light and hope they experience in their new community after all the challenges they went through. As Angie Palma, one the residents in Brgy. Quinagaringan shared, “We are no longer poor because we now have not just a house but a home.”

Onward to creating more communities and transforming more lives One year shy of reaching two decades in property development, PRO-FRIENDS has been steady in the fulfillment of its mission to be a trusted partner in building homes and communities that transform lives. Its humble beginnings started by providing homes in small pocket developments, which later expanded to townhouses, single detached units in estate developments, and now, a flourishing township. To date, PRO-FRIENDS has completed 17 communities and has nine on-going projects. Among these are the booming communities in Iloilo, the Parc Regency Residences, Parc Regency Greens, and Monticello Villas, all located in the town of Pavia as well as its 1,600-hectare township, Lancaster New City, that straddles the towns of Kawit, Imus and Gen. Trias in Cavite.

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DBP strengthens CSR initiatives THE Development Bank of the Philippines continues to be at the forefront of carrying out relevant and meaningful social responsibility programs through its flagship initiatives, the DBP Forest Program, DBP Endowment for Education Program and the DBP Resources for Inclusive and Sustainable Education initiative.

Launched in 2005, the DBP Forest Program (DFP) is a non-credit program that aims to curb incidence of denudation and restore the country’s forest cover.

Presently, it has 44 projects covering more than 7,054 hectares of forest area with more than 5,600 hectares already planted.

Under the program, DBP partners with local government units, state universiDBP Forest ties and colleges, people’s organizations, and other government agencies qualified A 26.46-hectare as forest partners to ensure coordinated efforts for this reforestation initiative. mangrove plantation Aside from helping to address pressing environmental problems, the DFP also in partnership with the provides livelihood opportunities for forest partners and their families through the Provincial Government harvest, sale or processing of fruits and other tree products. of Guimaras Nearly 7,000 individuals -- including Palaw’enos, Tbolis, Igorots, Manobos, Mangyans, and Aetas -- have already benefited from this program.

The bank has committed funding assistance to the program amounting to P182-million, with over 51% or more than P104-million being released to forest partners during the past 12 years.

On the other hand, the DEEP has supported over 3,500 scholars from indigent families coming from different parts of the country since its launching in 2008.

This scholarship program is funded by a P1-billion seed money, which is intended to support government initiatives to scale up investment in the country’s human capital.

Through the years, the DEEP has already produced a pool of qualified and highly-skilled professionals who are already serving the needs of the local and global job markets.

To further bolster efforts to improve access to education, the bank is set to launch the DBP RISE later this year.

An offshoot of the DEEP, this new program will provide financial assistance to the best and brightest high school graduates of indigent Filipino families.

With an allocation of P500 million, the DBP RISE scholarship program is aimed at complementing the National Government’s thrust towards infrastructure build-up by supporting the education of qualified scholars enrolled in engineering President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo at the Magsaysay Institute of DEEP scholars, led by Jaymar Baguidudol (center) from Hingyon, Ifugao and science courses as well as in programs which are in demand in the job market. Shipping graduation rites topped the 2016 graduating class of the NYK-TDG Maritime Academy.

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Right to learn

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Producing a skilled, smart PH workforce

By Giana Anella G. Atienza and Peter Paul Duran

A GREAT philosopher once said: “The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.”

In a fast-paced and modern world, we tend to overlook the important things in life. The ones that are supposed to be a right and necessity becomes a luxury to some, just like having access to quality education.

These days, education is considered a luxury and not a right.

And to help prevent the looming serious problem of shortage of a skilled and smart workforce, companies have included education in their Corporate Social Responsibility programs.

Through the years, CSR in the Philippines has created a longterm, sustainable change to help provide and enrich the quality of education in the country.

Companies from the government to private sectors are now actively involved in the growth and development of education in the Philippines. They are now ensuring to provide programs that will lead to the betterment of society, therefore bringing a larger impact in education.

But CSR intervention does not stop in providing scholarships for higher studies, it also focuses in providing a strong focus on vocational skills improvement and livelihood enhancement. These interventions help the students to be equipped with the necessary skills to face the real world.

The main purpose of CSR is to create a full-circle of support and sustenance for the students while they are studying and providing support after attending the academe.

To these agencies and companies, education is a right for everyone to appreciate and enjoy – a powerful weapon to help change the world.

Here are some of these firms that advocate learning.

HERO Foundation, INC. Help Educate and Rear Orphans or more often known as the HERO Foundation. It is a non-stock and non-for-profit organization. Through Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)Educational Benefit System Office (AFP-EBSO), HERO foundation relies on it for supplemental financial support for the AFP orphans.

According to their official bio, HERO Foundation was organized by the late President Corazon C. Aquino in collaboration with her former administration’s Defense Secretary General Renato De Villa in 1988.

The move was to address the growing and continuing requirement to help the families of fallen soldiers. They then approached a group of distinguished leaders of business and industry of the country and appealed for help.

The pioneering philantrophists who heeded their call were well-respected businessmen Don Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Henry Sy, Sr., Washington SyCip, Patricio Lim, and Raul Concepcion. This business group went on to establish HERO Foundation, Inc. It was registered on August 23, 1988 with the Security and Exchange Commission as a nonstock, not-for-profit organization and to this day, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through the AFP-Educational Benefit System Office (AFP-EBSO), rely on HERO Foundation, Inc. for supplemental financial support for the AFP orphans.

Moreover, Hero Foundation explains that “the support come

Scholars of the SM Foundation, thank their benefactor Henry Sy (above). At left, kids display the school supplies they received.

Photos courtesy of SM Foundation, National Bookstore Foundation

in the form of stipends that are directly given to the families to help them with the cost of books, uniform, meals, transportation, school supplies and sometimes, even their tuition fees.”

National Bookstore Foundation Incorporation National bookstore established NBSFI in 2004 as it’s social arm that is responsible for the implementation of the company‚Äôs effort to uplift the lives of underprivileged children through educational empowerment.

NBSFI has different projects like project Aral that aims to solicit and gather school materials which they distribute to students from the most impoverished areas of the country. The other one is the Project Aklat Book Drive which is an annual Christmas book drive that is being implemented in all national Book store branches. This project aims to encourage NBS patrons to purchase and donate cheap but good quality reading materials for distribution nationwide. They also have projects that helps construct libraries like the Dry library: Mitch albomNBSFI project and Read out loud challenge.

To date, the National Bookstore Foundation has donated well over 1,000,000++ books, 2.5 million++ kids, and more than 500 libraries built.

“For 75 years, National Book Store, Inc. (NBS), the Philippines largest books and supplies store, has been providing the consumer affordable educational commodities,” they say in their official website.

“Part of the company’s core values is to help underprivileged children. Thus, in 2004 NBS has established the National Book Store Foundation, Inc. (NBSFI) as it’s social arm responsible for the implementation of the company’s efforts to uplift the lives of underprivileged children through education empowermen,” the company adds.

Megaworld Foundation

The foundation boasts its education scholarship program from the very start. During 1999 the foundation partnered with their first two initial partner schools which are University of the Philippines and Mapua Institute of Technology. But as of to date, the foundation has now extended their help to 25 more partner universities and colleges all over the country.

Megaworld foundation is currently supporting 400 students a year. These students show academic excellence in the fields of business, engineering, accountancy, information technology, architecture, communication arts, interior design, social sciences, hotel and restaurant management and tourism.

While this year, the foundation added both private and public high schools for their full scholarship grants which students will receive stipends and allowances.

According to the foundation, “Megaworld stands by on the principle that a corporation exists to serve others. We believe that we must not only do well but also do good in the community we are part of. This belief has been our driving force to continuously give back to the society through the company’s socio-civic arm, the Megaworld Foundation.”

“On 2012 our foundation has reached its 15th year anniversary.

As a young foundation, we take pride in our humble accomplishments and contributions in the fields of education, health, environment, people empowerment and other noble undertakings.

With our corporate social responsibility efforts we were awarded Best CSR in the 3rd Asian Excellence Awards Special of Corporate Governance Asia,” they add on their site.

SM Foundation As per Tatang Henry Sy, “You are young with the future before you. Remember the young boy who arrived in Manila many years ago, a stranger with nothing to his name,” If I can do it, the young

people of today can do it too.”

And this has been the inspiration for their 3,637 and still growing College scholars whom they’ve supported thus far as well as the tens of thousands more students from elementary and high school that they’ve helped through their various Corporate Social Responsibility programs in education.

Apart from this, SM Foundation has also helped 1,600+ Technicalvocational scholars reach their dreams while their School Building Program has given a total of 87 fully furnished educational structures to various campuses in the Philippines.

As they put it, “Our experience with the scholarship program for over two decades strongly affirm our belief that when one family member graduates from college, the scholar can help another sibling go to school and serve as the key to lift their family out of poverty.

Through the SM College Scholarship, we help the youth reach their full potential and achieve their dreams.”

Through these initiatives, SM foundation provides a broad and equitable education, providing scholarship grants to college and technical-vocational education to those who need it most.

In truth, they’ve broadened their reach by providing the youth an option of a quicker 2-year techvoc course in areas with great demand in the market. Through their partner schools, they’ve helped out-of-school youth harness their skills to have better opportunities in life.

The foundation also partnered with Department of Education in promoting quality public education by building fully furnished public school buildings all over the country.

While their School Building Program has “helped provide underprivileged children with better quality public education,” thanks to the SM Groups thrust in donating school buildings and classrooms in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd).

According to SM Foundation’s site, DepEd identifies areas in need to help address the backlog of classrooms in accordance with national requirements. And with the new and conducive environment for learning, children perform better in school and are more inspired to learn, while teachers also become more effective.

Jollibee Group Foundation (Project ACE graduate scholars from Don Bosco Canlubang pose for a group photo. A total of 114 scholars graduated from four JGF partner Don Bosco centers from October to November 2017.)

In 2004, Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) launched their Project ACE which stand for Improving Access, Curriculum, and Employability. This is a scholarship grant that will provide underprivileged but deserving youth with the access to quality education. This scholarship support is combined with the in-store training in Jollibee foods corporation stores for financially disadvantaged high school students.

As per the foundation, “Our commitment to education is rooted in helping the Filipino reach his highest potential. Good education has the power to change the quality of a person’s life, and more importantly, his family, community and the nation.”

In fact, through their BUSOG, LUSOG, TALINO (BLT) feeding programme in various schools in the country, JFC and its CSR arm JGF, have helped alleviate the status of Philippine education especially in the underprivileged parts of the nation.

They say that this is part of their initiative and their adherence to the United Nations World Food Programme’s stand that “hunger is a key hindrance to learning especially among school children.”

In order to address this adverse reality, JGF embarked on the BLT School Feeding Program with the goal of “eradicating hunger among Grades 1 and 2 public school pupils.”

According to their official site, the “Busog, Lusog, Talino” (BLT) School Feeding Program has endeavoured to work with communities towards addressing hunger among public school pupils to help them stay in school and learn better since its inception 11 years ago back in 2007.

The JGF also has also aided the fruition of numerous dreams through its Project ACE Scholarships which was started in 2004.

“Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) has always believed in the power of the youth to transform, make positive changes, and contribute to a better society,” according to the foundation that bore Project ACE or Improving Access, Curriculum, and Employability Scholarships, providing underprivileged but deserving youth with access to quality education.

In fact, JGF has partnered with Don Bosco technical-vocational schools and different academic institutions across the country including Don Bosco centers in Mandaluyong City (Metro Manila), Canlubang (Laguna), San Jose City (Nueva Ecija), Legazpi City (Albay), Cebu City and Mati City (Davao Oriental).

JGF works closely with its partner schools to ensure scholars gain the necessary skills and training that will prepare them for the workplace. To date, Project ACE has also helped 178 scholars obtain their college degrees as per their official website.

DepEd Alternative LearningSystem It is also widely known as ALS, it is a parallel learning system that provides a practical option to the existing formal instruction. The government establishes ALS to provide all Filipinos the chance to have access and to complete basic education in a mode that fits the student’s diverse situations and needs.

ALS is the alternate or substitute for students who cannot access formal education. This program includes both the nonformal and informal sources of knowledge and skills.

DepEd Brigada Eskewela It is widely known in the country that before formal classes start, the National Schools Maintenance or more commonly known as Brigada Eskwela is primarily conducted in the public schools nationwide.

This activity aims to bring together teachers, students, parents Turn to E6

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

31st

ersary Anniv

50 X 2025 BY 2025, WE COMMIT TO REDUCE OUR USE OF WATER IN ALL PROCESSES ACROSS THE SAN MIGUEL GROUP BY 50%.

While our water management efficiency level is among the highest in the Philippines, and while water conservation and protection has always been a key component of our operations,

WE’RE CHALLENGING OURSELVES TO DO MORE.

ELIMINATE WASTAGE OF WATER ACROSS OUR OPERATIONS.

We will adopt new and stricter measures to improve the efficiency of our water use, as well as utilize water-saving technologies and implement conservation programs.

REUSE AND RECYCLE MORE WATER.

We will optimize all our wastewater treatment facilities to further lessen our water footprint. We commit to make greater use of treated greywater for non-essential purposes.

REDUCE OUR USE OF GROUND AND SURFACE WATER AND PROTECT VITAL WATER SOURCES. HARVEST RAINWATER.

We will continue to lessen our use of ground and surface water, protect these water sources, and empower our communities to do the same.

We will harvest rainwater and runoff water from creeks and rivers – collecting, filtering, and storing it for irrigation and for various other purposes in our facilities. We hope that others will follow our example.

WE ARE EQUALLY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING WATER-CHALLENGED COMMUNITIES NOT JUST WITH ACCESS TO SAFE, POTABLE WATER, BUT ALSO THE ABILITY TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING WHEN IT COMES TO WATER MANAGEMENT.

WHY DO WE CARE?

Because it’s everyone’s water.

www.sanmiguel.com.ph/ www.facebook.com/smcbetterworld

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Poor folks undergo livelihood training to improve lives

By Angelica Villanueva

TWO years ago, 42% of Filipinos or 9.2 million families have rated themselves as poor, according to the Social Weather Station.

This has pushed the Department of Social Welfare and Development to open more opportunities through livelihood programs for Filipino families.

Former DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo encouraged poor families, especially non-4P (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) members to enroll in the government’s Sustainable Livelihood Programs, which let them undergo vocational trainings that will enhance their capabilities, boost their skills, competencies and even resources.

The assistance from SLP includes technical-vocational skills trainings, financial (for pre-employment requirements), short-term employment (that will help them to earn money for the development of business) and capital fund.

With an eye on improving the said program, Senator Loren Legarda motivated officials of the DSWD to “refine the systems and processes in implementing the agency’s SLP,” also suggesting that it must undergo a performance to Turn to E2

The assistance from the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program includes technicalvocational skills trainings.

Photo courtesy of DSWD

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audit to see if it “has really helped the poor families in terms of success or progress of their livelihood ventures.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment also has several livelihood programs such as KASAMA (Kabuhayan para sa Magulang ng Batang Manggagawa, Nego-Kart, YES (Youth Entrepreneurship Support) Process Cycle and Kabuhayan Starter Kits.

KASAMA aims to prevent and eliminate child labor through livelihood programs for parents or guardians of child laborers. Participants are taught about marketability of a product or services.

The project Nego-Kart (Negosyo sa Kariton) will assist mobile vendors to learn how their existing business will grow into profitable and sustainable one.

Trainings are also given for production skills, entrepreneurship and business management.

The DOLE has partnered with educational institutions, local government units, government organizations, non-government organizations and concerned individuals to teach interested young entrepreneurs to become productive, resourceful, and self-reliant.

Its Kabuhayan Starter Kits program is intended for long-term unemployed individuals such as outof-school youths, women, parents of child laborers, Indigenous People, physically/occupationally disabled, urban poor, elderly persons, landless farmers, OFW returnees, etc., to undergo trainings that will help them develop their production skills, entrepreneurship and business management. They will be also assisted to start, set up and operate their own businesses.

Other private organizations also offer different livelihood

Senator Cynthia Villar has conducted livelihood programs that are part of her nonprofit foundation.

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Globe, Facebook, DepEd collaborate to promote responsible digital citizenship in schools nationwide ‘Digital Discernment‘ workshop launched to coincide with Safer Internet Day

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LOBE Telecom, Facebook and the Department of Education (DepEd) again joined hands to continue promoting responsible digital citizenship among teachers and students in public and private schools across the country under the “Digital Thumbprint Program” or DTP.

As of end 2017, there are now more than 60 million internet users in the country, 52.2 million of which— or roughly 50% of the country’s population—are mobile internet users who spend about 3.36 hours using the internet daily. Data from a Philippine National Police (PNP) report also bared that half of internet users are adolescents aged 17 years old and below.

Related to this, the DQ Institute, an international think-tank formed in association with the World Economic Forum, revealed in its inaugural 2018 DQ Global Impact Report that 56 percent of kids 8 to 12 years old worldwide who go online are exposed to a variety of cyber risks.

Referring to a study of the Philippine internet situation, the same report said 73 percent of children in the same age bracket are exposed to cyber risks, the second highest in a study among 29 countries.

The report cited exposure to cyberbullying, video game addiction, online grooming, online sexual behavior, and digital misinformation are as prevailing cyber risks in the Philippines.

As online usage increases in the country, so does the level of risks for users whenever they are online, which calls for more protection by advocating responsible digital citizenship, including critical thinking when online, plus

Globe Telecom, Facebook and Department of Education launched a partnership to promote responsible digital citizenship in the country. Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu (center) led the program launch. Cu is joined by from left, Globe Senior Vice President Nikko Acosta, DQ representative Galvin Ngo, Facebook Head of Community Affairs in Asia Pacific Clair Deevy and DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito Umali.

protection against piracy and abuse.

Given this, Globe Telecom and Facebook, in collaboration with DepEd, launched a workshop entitled “Digital Discernment.” The workshop contains topics that teach online users how to think critically online, and effectively identify credible information from questionable information.

Content includes practical tips on how to verify and examine online sources of on and identify facts from opinions.

“Collaborating with Facebook and DepEd to enhance our DTP is important to make sure we are putting in the right intervention to address responsible usage of the internet. By the first quarter of this year, we will determine the social impact of this program to students from Grade 7 to 12,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications.

“Digital literacy is critical to building informed and meaningful communities.

Working with partners like Globe we hope to give people in the Philippines the skills and resources they need to help contribute to a positive online experience,” said Clair Deevy, Head of Community Affairs, Facebook AsiaPacific.

“From an early age, our children are able to access social media through personal mobile phones. Before they start actively engaging in social media or owing their mobile phone, we need to empower our children with digital citizenship skills to mitigate cyberrisks and maximize the opportunity of technology,” said Dr Yuhyun Park, Founder of the DQ Institute.

“The internet, undeniably, plays a very large role in the lives of our youth and students today to the extent that it seems impossible to restrain them from internet usage. What we can do about this is to teach them how to use it properly. It is our Department’s

responsibility to educate them to wisely use the internet because this is exactly how we produce individuals who are responsible and critical enough to know the perfect time and way to consult the internet. This is how we raise well-informed and insightful citizens,” DepEd Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships, and School Sports, Tonisito M.C. Umali, Esq. explained.

The workshop also educates how online community can correctly recognize when information is intended as a joke, done satirically or intentionally crafted as false. Most importantly, Digital Discernment includes empathy as a key value to express online with the aim of not just creating a safer and informed community but one that embraces perspectives and respects differences of opinion.

The pilot “Digital Discernment” workshop was held February 6, 2018,

coinciding with the observance of “Safer Internet Day” in the Philippines. One-hundred (100) public high school students from Metro Manila converged at the Mind Museum in Taguig City to participate in the first of many rollouts of the workshop to be held in various areas across the country.

The Digital Discernment workshop also supports Globe Telecom’s #makeITsafePH campaign on cybersecurity and cyber wellness.

Launched in 2016 by Globe, DTP first comprised of three workshop modules: Digital Insight (for Grade 7 to 10 students), where participants are taught to help discern proper online behavior; Digital Impact (also for Grade 7 to 10 students) wherein issues on technology’s impact on students’ social activities are tackled; and Digital Ambition (for Grade 11 to 12 students), which equips students with skills on how to use technology to help them achieve their life goals.

At present, DTP has already reached more than 17,000 public and private high-school students in the country, with more than 1,800 facilitators already empowered to teach the program. In a latest impact assessment done by the Karrikins Group, it showed that 94.4% of the participants found the DTP relevant while 93.7% said it helped them build confidence in their online activities. Teachers also said their students displayed a high level of engagement in the sessions.

For schools and other organizations that would like to avail and schedule facilitation of the free workshops, emailbridgecom@ globe.com.ph. Workshops also include a trainers’ program to equip aspiring facilitators to hold the workshops independently.

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projects to give opportunities for Filipino citizens, who want to enhance and expand their skills and knowledge Ang-Hortaleza (Splash) Foundation, Inc. Free trainings are offered to parents or volunteers, who want to learn basic cosmetology with their “Ganda Mo, Hanapbuhay Ko” livelihood program through a five-day comprehensive course that includes trainings in hair cutting styles, hair coloring, hot oil application, manicure/pedicure, permanent hair winding and foot spa.

World Vision Aside from its campaign, “Sponsor A Child,” World Vision also aims to give every poor family in the Philippines, especially in rural areas, livelihood programs that will serve as their additional source of income.

This will help families to provide for their basic needs such as food, shelter, health care, and education for the children.

The organization believes that these livelihood programs will serve as a way of providing for their children’s needs.

Spices and Foodmix House On the other hand, the Spices and Foodmix House and HAPAG-ASA has joined forces to encourage folks, who want to engage in meat processing as their business, to attend seminars and trainings.

Villar SIPAG Farm Senator Cynthia Villar has also

conducted livelihood programs that are part of her non-profit foundation, which aims to “complement the entrepreneurial and agricultural developmental measures.”

Sen. Villar also established a water-lily processing, used to prevent flood, and for handicrafts like mats, bags, footwears and furniture.

Another one is the plastic school chair project, wherein plastic bottles are used to create school chairs.

Her foundation also has a coconut-husk processing plant that gives jobs to 42 families.

More livelihood programs are being established by the senator to provide jobs and opportunities for Filipino citizens.

Free trainings are offered to parents or volunteers, who want to learn basic cosmetology with their “Ganda Mo, Hanapbuhay Ko” livelihood program.

Photo courtesy of Splash

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Jollibee, Jollibee Group Foundation spread hope, joy among 500 Marawi students

The students and their teachers, school and local Department of Education officials welcomed Jollibee as he delighted everyone with a jolly dance number.

The beneficiaries, in turn, showed their appreciation to everyone’s best friend by doing various song and dance numbers.

THE country’s number one fast-food chain partnered with the Jollibee Group Foundation to spread hope and joy last December through the “Magbahagi para sa mga Bata sa Marawi”, a Jollibee Maaga ang Pasko special giftgiving program.

Jollibee and JGF volunteers also gave away Jollibee Yumburgers, Red Ribbon treats, toiletries and hygiene kits to more than 500 students from 15 schools, who gathered at the Amai Pakpak Central Elementary School.

The students and their teachers, school and local Department of Education officials welcomed Jollibee as he delighted everyone with a jolly dance number. The beneficiaries, in turn, showed their appreciation to everyone’s best friend by doing various song and dance numbers.

The gift-giving activity was made possible with the help of the Alrose Group of Companies, Philippine Business for Social Progress, the local government of Marawi, and other volunteers. Other donation partners were Robinsons Department Store, Adarna House, Goodwill Bookstore, Katha Publishing, Rex Bookstore and Vibal Publishing House, Inc. The program supports Jollibee’s belief in #SharingJoy especially among children, as it fosters love, care and compassion for others.

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Leading the charge in digital transformation of education IN its constant push for innovation to empower every person and every organization to achieve more, Microsoft is leading the charge in the digital transformation of education in the Philippines.

“At Microsoft, we believe that technology alone cannot develop the future-ready skills students require. Technology is an accelerator, but alone it does not enable change. We believe in the power of schools and the impact school leadership can have when they work towards a common goal,” said Clarissa Segismundo, Microsoft Philippines Education Programs Lead.

In the last few months, Microsoft has launched several efforts to bridge educational gaps in the Philippines. This includes empowering the visually impaired through a more inclusive SPED with ATRIEV. Microsoft also launched the Microsoft Experience Hub at Asia Pacific College, a classroom of the future where students are prepared with 21st century skills.

Today, Microsoft is celebrating key milestones in the Education Summit. The summit aims to deliver impactful sessions on the digital transformation journey that involve school leaders, administrators, students, and institutions.

Empowering educators Microsoft is empowering educators in the country by conduct-

ing scalable training programs on teaching with technology through partner institutions like the Department of Education (DepEd) and its various Microsoft Showcase Schools. Educators are equipped with modern tools to transform teaching and learning in the classroom.

Today, Microsoft celebrates a key milestone, reaching 1,000 Microsoft Education Ambassadors in the country, the highest number in the entire Asia Pacific region. In addition, there are now also 100 MCEs (Microsoft Certified Educators) in the Philippines.

Engaging students In its thrust to transform education, Microsoft provides tools such as Power BI & Azure Machine Learning for data analysis and coding, collaboration on O365, Teams, OneNote, Skype in the Classroom, and Kaizala messaging app. Students are also engaged through Minecraft in the classroom. Minecraft: Education Edition is an open world game that promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in an immersive environment where the only limit is your imagination.

According to top educators,

Microsoft celebrates 1,000 Microsoft ambassadors, new showcase schools, and Minecraft in classroom

Minecraft supports social and emotional learning (SEL) as well as promotes the 5Cs: Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Critical thinking and Computational thinking.

Educators cited “problem solving” as the top SEL skill that their students learn from classroom Minecraft lessons. Other top skills cultivated include creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

In addition, teachers also felt that their students’ decision-making and communication abilities were positively impacted by the time they spent playing Minecraft, whether working in small groups or individually.

Minecraft can also be a used as a learning platform to advocate

empathy. In the same study, educators believe that Minecraft also enables students to build empathy skills due to interactions with classmates, as well as with characters within the game.

Optimizing institutions Through the Microsoft Showcase Schools, Microsoft continues to optimize institutions to transform education. These schools are part of a global network of schools who exemplify innovation in the campus through technology – and that covers the institution, educators, and their students.

The 2017 Microsoft Showcase Schools promote digital transformation through their leadership in personalized learning, amplified by 1:1 deployments effectively

using Microsoft solutions such as Windows 10, Office 365, Office Sway, OneNote, Skype, to enable anywhere, anytime education for all. Microsoft Showcase Schools in the Philippines include Asia Pacific College, ,De La Salle Santiago Zobel, and De La Salle University Dasmariňas , Lyceum of the Philippines Manila, National University, Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan, Silliman University.

To promote productivity and collaboration, these schools also use Kaizala — a mobile app and service for communicating and coordinating work. It makes it easy for both teachers and students to manage their work and connect with large numbers of people inside and outside the classroom.

Another example of the power of technology in transforming education is the EGG classroom. It is an example of how learners in off-grid locations can be educated through cloud technology.

These are just a few milestones in Microsoft’s digital transformation journey as it continues its mission to empower each and every individual to achieve more.

“At Microsoft, we are deeply committed to the digital transformation in education. This is why we work closely with key educational institutions in the Philippines like the DepEd and our Showcase Schools. Through strategic partnerships, we can transform the way students learn and educators teach,” said Segismundo.

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College professors undergo technopreneurship training SMART Communications recently held a three-day technopreneurship training for professors of colleges and universities in Luzon, in an effort to encourage colleges and universities to include technology entrepreneurship (technopreneurship) in their curriculum.

“Innovative ideas are great, but they need to be turned into reality for them to really have an impact on society. We hope that the academe would equip not just their business majors, but also their tech students with the skills needed to convert ideas into commercial products and services,” said Smart public affairs senior manager Stephanie Orlino.

To inspire the academe to inject technopreneurship in

subjects or offer it as an elective, Smart recently held a three-day technopreneurship training for professors of colleges and universities in Luzon.

The training is part of the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), which aims to improve information technology and engineering education in the Philippines.

The professors were asked to form teams, each propos-

ing an innovative solution to a perceived problem. They were then taught to validate the existence of problems before creating solutions, the importance of getting feedback from peers and potential customers, and the need to adjust their plan of action based on these feedback.

The teachers also learned from the experience of an actual Philippine startup.

Some professors especially

appreciated the Lean Startup Methodology formulated by American Eric Ries, which encourages entrepreneurs to “fail fast” and drop ideas that are not working.

“The most important thing I learned in the last three days is that you sometimes have to fail in order to succeed. In the academic setting, there is a negative point of view when it comes to failure. In fact, failing

is a better way to learn things,” said Orland Delfino Tubola of Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Erlinda Casela-Abarintos, computer studies dean at Gordon College in Olongapo, Zambales, said IT students really need to learn practical technopreneurship lessons so they would have options in the future, aside from being employees.

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and community members to help each other in repairing and preparing schools for the official start of school opening. Brigade eskwela also wanted to promote volunteerism among the members of the community.

This program is held to have an orderly and safe opening of classes by making schools environmentally sustainable and conducive to learning.

DepEd Adopt-A-School program Under RA 8525 or also known as the AdoptA-School Program Law, DepEd is responsible of generating projects that would permit the participation of private sectors the will allow projects in addressing the resource needs of the schools.

This will also be instrumental in providing students with quality learning environment and instruction that will make quality learning experience accessible.

As of to date, there are 120 participating partners that will help ensure in pursuing projects that would benefit the quality of public education nationwide.

As of September 2015, the list of Adopt-ASchool Program sponsors has been continually grow and as per the DepEd website, here are the list of partners : 8990 Housing Development Corporation Aboitiz Foundation Inc. Aboitiz Group of Companies Aboitizland, Inc. ABS-CBN Academic Solutions Inc. Aklat, Gabay, Aruga Tungo sa Pag-Angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) Foundation Inc. Alsons Development and Investment Corp.

Amway Philippines, L.L.C. Assisi Development Foundation Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines Awesome Lab, Inc. Azzurra Prime Ventures, Inc. Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas Officers Club, Inc.

Teaching the teachers: Professors receive practical lessons on technology entrepreneurship at a threeday training organized by Smart.

“If they have background on how to develop business ideas, they can make their ideas a reality and create actual products,” she said.

De La Salle University professor Roy Francis Navea said technopreneurship would enable engineering and IT students to contribute to the community.

“Usually their ideas are stuck in a book or thesis and brought to the library.

The students just move on to employment, while their ideas remain not very useful.

When you go into technopreneurship, that idea can be incubated and brought to the community. It can also deliver possible earnings to the students and their mentors,” he said.

To further encourage college students to come up with mobile and digital innovations that can improve people’s lives, Smart is inviting them to join the SWEEP (Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program) Innovation and Excellence Awards.

Details on how to join can be found on www.smartsweep. ph

BDO Foundation, Inc. Binhi English Literacy Foundation, Inc. BPI Foundation, Inc. Care Philippines Catidig Flores and Palarca law Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. CFC Educational Foundation, Inc. Chevron City Savings Bank Coca-Cola Far East Limited Coca-Cola Foundation Inc. Colgate-Palmolive Philippines Cosmic Philippines Cotabato Light and Power Company Cut Unlimited Inc. Davao Doctors Department of National Defense/Armed Forces of the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways Deutsche Bank Ag Manila Branch DILG/BFP DM Wenceslao & Associates Inc. EDC Edu Co. EM2A Partners & Co. Energy Development Corp FEU FGP Corp.

Filminera Resources Corporation First Balfour First Gas Power Corp.

First Gen. Hydro Power Corp.

First Natgas Power Corp.

Foundation for Rural Electrification for Economic Development Friends of Hope Gakken Phils.

Global Peace Foundation Phils.

GMA Kapuso Foundation Green Core Geothermal Inc. GSIS Hart Hanks Phils.

Health Futures Foundation Inc. Hedcor Inc. HEDCOR Sibulan Inc. Hocheng Philippines Corp.

Holcim Philippines Japan Seamen’s Union JD Pamana Foundation Turn to E7

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Prudence Foundation, British Embassy:

Building future PH leaders IN line with its focus on education, Prudence Foundation – the community investment arm of life insurer Pru Life UK’s regional head office, Prudential Corporation Asia – continues its advocacy to nurture and build future leaders by supporting the British governmentfunded Chevening Scholarship in the Philippines.

The Foundation will sponsor two Filipino graduate school aspirants for academic year 20182019, with the goal to develop the country’s promising young professionals in the fields of education and finance journalism.

Pru Life UK, through the support of Prudence Foundation, is the first life insurance company in the Philippines to support Chevening scholars.

“Education is one of the key areas of focus of Prudence Foundation as we recognize the vital role it plays in making communities more resilient and empowering people. Our support for the Chevening Scholarships helps put this commitment to action. Our hope is that these scholars, as subject experts in their chosen fields, will align with Prudence Foundation and Pru Life UK

British Ambassador to the Philippines H. E. Daniel Pruce and Pru Life UK Chief Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga shake hands after the official signing of the partnership agreement.

in our advocacy to make the Philippines more financially literate in the future,” said Marc Fancy, Executive Director of Prudence Foundation.

H.E. Daniel Pruce, British Ambassador to the Philippines, expressed his gratitude to Pru Life UK and Prudence Foundation for joining the mission in sending the brightest future leaders from the Philippines to study in the UK. “Over the last 34 years, many others have been selected for a Chevening Scholarship and have subsequently gone on to become respected leaders across a range of sectors,” he said. “The goal is to send more scholars from the Philippines

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Johnson and Johnson Kasilak Foundation Knowledge Channel LIMKETKAI Manufacturing Corporation LTS Department Store LTS Supermarket Luzon Hydro Corp.

Magna Anima Mariwasa Philippines Mañosa and Co, Inc. Metrobank Foundation Inc. Microdata Monolith Construction & Development Corporation Mustard Seed System Corporation National Book Store Foundation Inc. Ogilvy & Mathers Philippines Inc. One Meralco Foundation Inc. Pag-Ibig Fund Petron Corporation Inc. Phil Gold Processing & Refining Corp.

Phil Trident Land Philam Life Foundation Inc. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Philippine Football Federation, Inc. Philippine Foremost Milling Corp.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company Pilmico Foods Corp.

Prime Meridian Powergen Corp.

Pru Life Pureforce and Rescue R.K. Shimizu (Nagasaki) Foundation, Inc. Radiowealth Finance Company, Guevara Foundation Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. RIL Transport Inc. Rufino Guy Susim and Shirley Guy Scholar-

because we see the role Chevening Scholars and Chevening Alumni play in building bridges between the UK and the Philippines, and it is as important now as it has ever been.”

“We thank Pru Life UK and Prudence Foundation for their contributions, and we look forward to a productive partnership,” he continued.

Since 1997, Prudence Foundation has been a strong patron of the Chevening Scholarships, having supported over 107 students from nine countries in Asia, including Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam. The Foundation covers the tuition fees, sti-

Jollibee Group Foundation scholars display their diplomas during graduation.

ship Program Samsung Electronics San Beda College San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. Security Bank Foundation Simon Enterprises SM Foundation Inc. SM Prime Holdings Inc. Smart Communications Soliman Foundation SSS Stairway Foundation Inc. Stanfilco STI Education Thrive Solar Energy Phils.

Total Hygienicare Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp.

Trans-Asia Power Generation Corp.

Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corporation Tukod Foundation Tutoring Club Unilever Philippines United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corp.

University of the Philippines Uygongco Foundation Inc. Visayan Electric Company

pend, and airfare of the chosen scholars.

Funded by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Chevening is the British government’s international scholarship program aimed at developing leaders and offers a unique opportunity for future leaders and influencers from all over the world to develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience UK culture, and build lasting positive relationships with the UK. Established in 1996, Pru Life UK is a subsidiary of Prudential plc. Pru Life UK is a life insurance company and is not engaged in the business of selling pre-need plans. Prudential plc is a United

Kingdom-registered company.

Its regional headquarters, Prudential Corporation Asia, is based in Hong Kong. Pru Life UK and Prudential plc are not affiliated with Prudential Financial, Inc. (a US-registered company), Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Company, Prudentialife Plans, Inc. or Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc. (all Philippineregistered companies).

For more information: www. prulifeuk.com.ph Prudence Foundation is the community investment arm of Prudential in Asia and was established in 2011. The Foundation brings Prudential’s regional community activities to a new level of strategic alignment and

focus to maximise the impact of its efforts across Asia.

Its mission is to make a lasting contribution to Asian societies through sustainable initiatives focused on three key pillars: Education, Children and Disaster Preparedness & Recovery. Under each pillar, the Foundation has regional flagship programmes as well as market specific programmes, working closely in partnership with local and international NGOs. The Foundation embodies the longterm and heartfelt commitment of Prudential’s people in Asia to provide innovative, focused, and practical support to their local communities.

More information at www. prudencefoundation.com

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Indigenous People to benefit from localized learning content IMAGINE being a child from an indigenous tribe going to school for the first time, and finding out that the lessons there are conveyed in languages and stories that are foreign to you.

It is a challenge faced by many IP (indigenous people) students, given the lack of teachers, who hail from their own tribes or are knowledgeable of their language and culture.

To help address this, specifically for the benefit of young learners from the Blaan tribe in Sarangani, PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications organized workshops for the creation of traditional and digital learning materials in the local language and incorporating local culture. One of the workshops, conducted in partnership with the PLDT-Smart Foundation, also introduced a learning method that would help IP educators effectively handle multiple grade levels at the same time.

According to the Department of Education, there are 125 IP schools in Sarangani alone, catering mostly to Blaan students. Turn to E9

An elder of the Blaan tribe in Sarangani checks the accuracy of illustrations and learning content created by teachers for young Blaan learners.

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“It’s better to have stories about the children’s own community so they could relate to these. If you use stories like Rapunzel, they would not understand that. If you use local stories it would be easier for them to learn,” said IP teacher Edna Alicaba.

She added: “It is so easy to impart knowledge if you use their language.

You can’t keep speaking in English if your audience is composed of IP pupils.”

For five days in January, a team of teachers and illustrators learned scriptwriting and storyboarding so they could produce animated versions of Blaan stories and make lessons more fun and interactive. Smart will help put all the content in a mobile app especially made for Blaan learners. The plan is to include sections on Blaan prayers, songs, and greetings, on top of lessons on numbers and letters.

Smart is spearheading the development of learning apps in different languages because studies show that the managed use of digital tools can boost the literacy of young students and heighten their interest in learning. It is for the same reason that the company has donated mobile devices packed with learning content to underserved public schools.

“Nowadays, most of our learners are visual. When they see something, when the process of learning is interactive, it becomes easier for them to learn,” said teacher-illustrator Reynald Dapar.

A separate team of IP teachers were introduced to the Dynamic Learning Program (DLP) created by Ramon Magsaysay awardees Dr. Christopher Bernido and Dr. Ma. Victoria CarpioBernido. Under this method, students learn independently in classrooms 80% of the time by working on activity sheets. The remaining 20% is when the teacher checks on their progress and helps them process what they already learned on their own. Schools implementing the DLP have reported better retention and mastery of concepts

among students.

During the workshop organized by Smart, the IP teachers created learning activity sheets (LAS) in the Blaan language. These activity sheets also featured local cultural elements, and can be used as a template for other learning communities.

Alicaba expressed optimism that the DLP would help teachers perform their duties better. “It is very nice because when you handle three different classes

with different grade levels, you can handle them at the same time via parallel classes. While the two classes are working on their activity sheets, you can focus on the remaining class.”

To make sure that the use of Blaan cultural elements and language was accurate, a tribal elder was invited to validate the LAS and illustrations created by the teachers. The materials will also be tested on students before full implementation.

The elder, Fulung Siamen Tumandan, expressed his appreciation for the effort. “It is a challenge to get Blaan children to be interested in studying.

Many of them reach only grade school and stop because they want to get married. But slowly, more of them now understand that studying has a purpose and will help their future.”

“Education is very important for us because it will help us battle discrimination,” he added.

A Blaan student shows off her answers to a learning activity sheet written in her mother tongue.

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Aboitiz Foundation and Pilmico: Making education more accessible WHAT would it take for you to get a good education?

For students living in Sitio Dam and Sitio Bayabas in Tarlac, this would mean going around the highway and walking for almost an hour just to reach their school.

For years, students have struggled to go to their schools especially during typhoon season.

Intermittent weather and neck-high waters would prohibit students access to Armenia Integrated School and Sitio Dam Elementary School resulting in poor attendance and academic performance.

With the help of the Aboitiz Foundation and Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation, what would normally take them almost an hour’s worth of walking would now only take them 10 minutes following the turnover of a 200-meter bridge that connects the two sitios in Armenia, Tarlac City.

In mid-December, the construction of this bridge was completed, benefitting over 4,000 residents in the local community of Armenia.

“The construction of the Armenia bridge serves as a symbol of our growing partnership between these communities and Pilmico. We are privileged to partner with you as we advance business and communities together,” said Roderic dela Cruz, PANC Assistant Vice President for Feedmill Operations, one of the proponents of the project.

Carlos Castañeda, Barangay Captain of Armenia expressed: “Napakagandang pasimula po ng taon ito para sa amin at sa mga residente ng aming barangay. Hindi na po kailangang umikot pa ng highway para lang makatawid sa Sitio Dam at Sitio Bayabas.

Nagpapasalamat po kami sa lahat ng taong tumulong sa paggawa ng tulay na ito.”

Meanwhile, Aboitiz Foundation First

With the help of the Aboitiz Foundation and Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation, walking would now only take the students 10 minutes following the turnover of a 200-meter bridge that connects the two sitios in Armenia, Tarlac City.

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Megawide Foundation: Uplifting Engineering Education in the Philippines MEGAWIDE, one of the most innovative engineering and infrastructure firms in the country, attributes much of its success to a strong commitment to Engineering Excellence. The company believes in delivering Engineering Excellence through its people, and sharing its passion for innovation and learning to the communities where it operates.

In 2012, the company started the Megawide Corporate Foundation, Inc., a non-stock, non-profit organization dedicated to uplift the quality of engineering and infrastructure in the Philippines. Megawide Foundation became the vehicle to implement programs in engineering and construction skills training in the communities.

In recent years, the Foundation has focused its efforts on enhancing the basic skills, professionalism, and employability of skilled workers in the country. Through the Department of Education’s AdoptA-School Program (ASP), Megawide Foundation has partnered with Nangka High School in Marikina, which has a technical-vocational livelihood (TVL) track in Plumbing; and San Rafael National High School in Navotas, which has a TVL track in Carpentry.

Megawide Foundation supports these schools by donating specialized tools and equipment, providing work immersion to students, as well as accreditation assistance for NC II students. The Foundation hopes to further expand its efforts in ASP in

Megawide Foundation launched the Megawide Engineering Excellence Scholarship Program in March 2016 to provide opportunities to deserving students in the academe.

From seven scholars in 2016, the list has now grown to 28 beneficiaries. Through the Scholarship Program and its other education initiatives, Megawide Foundation commits to help more students reach their dreams in the years to come.

the coming months.

Aside from ASP, Megawide Foundation has also launched the Megawide Engineering Excellence Scholarship Program. There are currently 28 scholars taking up Engineering and Architecture courses

in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, the Technological University of the Philippines, and the University of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the Aklat Para Sa Lahat Program brings books and reading corners to daycare cen-

ters and public schools around the country. The program aims to encourage higher proficiency in the fields of Mathematics and Science & Technology.

The Megawide Foundation is accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and

Development as a Social Welfare and Development Agency; the Quezon City Council as a Civil Service Organization; and the Philippine Council for NGO Certification. It is also a member of the League of Corporate Foundations.

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DepEd’s Adopt a School Program gets boost

SPEARHEADING the commitment to uplift the conditions of public schools in the country, Mariwasa Siam Ceramics, Inc. once again supports the Department of Education Adopt a School Program for the next three years.

This is contained in a Memorandum of Agreement inked between Mariwasa and the DepEd in a formal signing ceremony at L.B Soriano Hall, Seameo Innotech Commonwealth Ave., in Quezon City, last November 27, 2017.

Signing the agreement were Mariwasa President and SCG CBM Country Director Phaskorn Buranawit and DepEd Secretary Leonora Magtolis Briones, witnessed by DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito M.C. Umali and Dr. Margarita Ballesteros, Director of External Partnership.

Under the Program, selected classroom facilities around the country will be renovated in the coming years as part of Mariwasa’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

“We wanted to give back to the community and the best way we can do this is through the Philippines’ public schools, because we know that uplifting the conditions of the schools could lead to better learning. This is line with the business philosophy of our mother company SCG, which puts an emphasis on Social Responsibility, caring for the environment and uplifting peoples’ lives,” said Buranawit.

Last year, the leading ceramic tile brand adopted more than 100 public schools nationwide under the same DepEd program

Mariwasa President and SCG Country Director Phaskorn Buranawit (Third from left) and DepEd Secretary Leonora Magtolis Briones seal their partnership with a handshake. They are joined here by (from left) Marc Bedano, Mariwasa Marketing Officer and Evelyn Torio, Manager of General Admin and Services, DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito M.C. Umali and Dr. Margarita Ballesteros, Director of External Partnership.

with a P4 million toilet sanitation renovation project. With the success of the project, the Company has decided to embark on a much bigger project valued at P 10 million in order to improve the quality of educational facilities for the sake of public school students.

Moreover, Mariwasa, in partnership with Tesda, will also conduct tile setting training in areas where the DepEd-identified schools are located. Through this tile setting training, Mariwasa and Tesda will teach local communities how to properly install tiles, a skill which local folks might consider as a livelihood and a way to also help their community.

Donor donations offer $2.3B for third-world education DONOR nations announced recently $2.3 billion in funding to support education in developing countries, following an international meeting in the Senegalese capital Dakar.

The Global Partnership for Education -which brings together donors, international organizations and the private sector -- called the figure “a substantial increase in funding” compared to the $1.3 billion (1 billion euros) contributed over the past three years.

The developing countries themselves said they will increase their own public spending on education for the period 2018 to 2020 to a total of $110 billion (88 billion euros), compared to $80 billion (64 billion euros) for the previous three-year period.

“I am energized by the generosity and determination we have seen here today to ensure every child and young person has access to a quality education,” said former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who chairs the GPE board.

“After today’s commitments, we are seeing a

Barbadian singer Rihanna attends the conference “GPE Financing Conference, an Investment in the Future” organised by the Global Partnership for Education in Dakar. The French and Senegalese presidents are co-hosting a conference organised by the Global Partnership for Education, aimed at pressuring donors to finance the education of a quarter of a billion children worldwide who are currently out of school, while Rihanna is attending as a global ambassador for the organization. AFP

clear trend to seriously address the global learning crisis,” she added, in the statement released after the talks in Dakar wound up on Friday.

At the meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron, co-hosting the event with Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall, announced that France’s contribution over the three-year period was rising to 200 million euros ($250 million) from 17 million euros ($21 million) for 2014-2017.

The biggest donors were Britain, with a pledge of 417 million euros ($520 million), followed closely by the EU with Norway the third-largest donor with 260 million ($324 million).

“The unprecedented support” means the GPE “can continue to focus on the most excluded and vulnerable children and work to extend assistance to up to 89 countries,” said the group’s chief executive officer Alice Albright.

Also present in Dakar was global singing star Rihanna who vowed on Friday she would “never stop fighting” to get millions of children back in school.

“This is a fight we are never going to stop fighting, until every boy and every girl has access to education,” said Rihanna, who attended as the organisation’s global ambassador.

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31st

ersary Anniv

Board Member and Chief Legal Adviser: Former Chief Justice Reynaldo S. Puno OIC-Operations: Anita F. Grefal OIC-Sales: Baldwin R. Felipe Circulations Manager: Edgar M. Valmorida Publisher: Rolando G. Estabillo Managing Editor: Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Anniversary Issue Editor: Riera U. Mallari Supplements Head: Paula Marie A. Reynoso Art Director: Romel J. Mendez Sales Team: Bessie Good Babes Good July Rada Ron Tamayo Mary Jane Dulay Albert Legaspi

Aboitiz...

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Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Maribeth Marasigan said: “For some, this may seem to be an ordinary bridge that connects Sitio Dam and Sitio Bayabas. But for many of us, this bridge connects lives, livelihoods, and dreams, especially of students of the schools nearby. It is such a relief to know that we have co-created a safer community, that children will no longer have to skip classes when the river’s water level increases, or that your communities will no longer be isolated during heavy rains. “ The Aboitiz Foundation is the

corporate foundation of the Aboitiz Group that was established in 1988.

Its purpose is to drive change for a better world by advancing business and communities through programs in education, enterprise development, and the environment. Since its inception in 1988, the Foundation’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) interventions have evolved from one-time donations to carefully designed programs that empower its beneficiaries to pursue their aspirations.

Today, the Aboitiz Foundation, through the Aboitiz business units, develops and implements “CSR 2.0” projects that aim to co-create safe, empowered, and sustainable communities. These CSR 2.0 projects are aligned to the Group’s

core competencies, are scalable nationwide, and create deeper social impact on the communities and beneficiaries they serve.

Pilmico Foods Corporation is the integrated agribusiness and food company of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV). Composed of five divisions: Flour, Feeds, Farms, Trading, and ASEAN, we are well positioned at the beginning of the value chain. Our businesses add value to one another, and ultimately to our customers; providing guidance, consistency and results. In its journey moving forward, advancing business and communities is how the Aboitiz Group will drive change for a better world, with Pilmico creating partners for growth.

Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Maribeth Marasigan: “For some, this may seem to be an ordinary bridge that connects Sitio Dam and Sitio Bayabas.

But for many of us, this bridge connects lives, livelihoods, and dreams, especially of students of the schools nearby.”

Contributors: Jimbo Gulle Alena Mae Flores Randy Caluag Peter Atencio Peter Paul B. Duran Nathaniel Mariano Giana Atienza Charles Arvin E. Dantes Alicia Angelica L. Villanueva Advertising Support Group: Sheila Marie Suarez Joan Velasco Eric Jutic Edilyn Elamparo Layout Artists: Jove Atienza Linda Apalisok Vicky Ayeng Alice Estrella Rex Perzeus Sardinia

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H E A LT H A N D W E L L N E S S

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PSC focuses on life-changing programs for Filipino children

By Randy Caluag

SPORTS is more than just winning medals. With this mantra serving as its guiding principle, the Philippine Sports Commission is deviating from the usual norms of solely focusing on elite sports.

A young participant in the football clinic during the PSC’s Children’s Games for children affected by the conflict in Marawi

“Sports transcends life. It’s not just about winning and losing. Sports should be a lifechanging experience, not just for a few, but for all Filipinos, especially our children,” said PSC chairman Butch Ramirez.

The PSC would still rejoice with every Filipino victory in international arena, but its role now has become larger than life.

Acting on the instructions of the President Rodrigo Duterte to bring sports to all Filipinos, Ramirez has taken a more noble approach aimed at providing better lives to the next generation of Filipinos.

Ramirez re-launched the Philippine Sports Institute under Marc Velasco, an international conditioning coach and sports science advocate, who in turn revived the Children’s Games with a new twist.

The Children’s Games are not just a mere sports program, they have also become a special tool to promote peace among children from different cultural and religious groups, including Muslims, Christians and Lumads.

Another life-changing program introduced by the PSC is the KID-S.O.S (Kabataan Iwas Droga-Start on Sports), which has been touring the provinces nationwide to conduct sports clinics and seminars, aimed at taking away the children’s minds from vices like gambling and drugs.

The Children’s Games and the Palaro Kontra Droga are not just a part of the PSC’s Corporate Social Responsibility programs.

For Ramirez, they have become a major mission for the country’s sports agency for sports.

“The children are our focus, they are the real golds and not the ones in the SEA (Southeast Asian) Games nor the Olympics because they are the future leaders and peacemakers of the country. When children play, humanity celebrates,” Ramirez added.

Since its relaunch in May last year in Davao, more than 10,000 children have participated in the Children’s Games, including those from the conflict areas in Marawi City.

“We made 10,000 children happy, but more than that, hindi lang ito naging laro-laro, may malaking implication sa values ng mga bata lalung-lalo na sa peacemaking.”

The Children’s Games were held in Baguio City, Benguet, Laoag, Ilocos Norte and Bontoc in Luzon; Naga, Cebu, Carcar and mountain areas in the Visayas; and in Davao City and Iligan City in Mindanao.

Partnership with Unesco The PSC calls it a game that cares as the Children’s Games align their program with the United Nation’s policy that puts emphasis on every child’s right to play.

“The Constitution also mandated us to nurture the children, promote values formation thereby improving the citizens’ quality of life. Giving value to the children has Next page

MJC’s San Lazaro Park:

PH’s football mecca WITH an eye on helping budding football enthusiasts, the Manila Jockey Club, Inc., the country’s premier horse racing club and one of Asia’s oldest, in partnership with the Philippine Football Federation, completed the FIFA Football Turf Project at the San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park in Carmona, Cavite last year.

The project, formalized in April 2014, aimed to build a football complex and stadium at SLLBP, featuring a prestigious FIFA certified 2-Star artificial pitch.

With the field now completed, the partnership looks forward to developing related appurtenances including locker rooms, dormitories and other training facilities.

In the pipeline is the construction of a 25,000-seater stadium with VIP viewing boxes, media center, dressing rooms and concessionaire booths.

Also held was the groundbreaking ceremony of the PFF House of Football and National Football Center, effectively making the SLLBP complex as a football mecca of the Philippines.

Apart from being a training center of the National Turn to F2

Aerial view of MJC-PFF’s artificial pitch

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an institutional foundation. The children are the future of the country,” Ramirez said, adding that the PSC’s focus on the children is anchored on UN’s medium development plan.

Because of this, the PSC attracted the interest of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), which cited the Philippines for focusing on children’s rights.

“We are the first government unit around the world to partner with Unesco. We are very excited about this endeavor,” said Velasco.

He also said that while there are other Children’s Games initiated by non-government units in other countries, only the Philippines has a Children’s Games program initiated by a government agency through the PSC. Because of Unesco’s interest and forging a partnership with the PSC, the Children’s Games may become a global program.

Caroline Baxter Tresise, UNESCO’s Consultant on Youth and Sport Social and Human Sciences, said the partnership is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

“We will use the Philippines as an example on how it should be done. We will align our program with the national sports policy (of the PSC). It’s a great opportunity for the Philippines to take the lead,” said Tresise.

Bigger Children’s Games After the initial success of its Children’s Games, the PSC and the PSI plan to bring the games to 40 cities and provinces on Nov 20, 2018 in celebration of the World Children’s Day. This means a simultaneous playing of some 40,000 kids in one day is being eyed by the sports body.

Ramirez said the plan is ambitious but they are more than willing to make it happen.

“Forty simultaneous Children’s Games with 1,000 children in each area, mabigat ito. If we do this every year, we will reach 200,000 children in five years,” the PSC chief said, although adding that the World Children’s Day event is aside from other Children’s Games that will be held in other areas in the countryside until every community in the periphery is reached before the term of President Duterte ends in 2022.

Being at the heart of PSC-PSI’s grassroots sports program, the games meet the requirements of the United Nations’ medium development plan and the Philippine Constitution.

“Very important ito (Children’s Games). Others don’t understand why we are having Children’s Games. Ito lang ang programa ang narecognize ng Unesco,” he said, adding that regular programs like the Batang Pinoy, Palarong Pambansa and Philippine National Games, which have been existing for quite sometime, have not been given such recognition.

The Children’s Games, designed as a vehicle to promote peace, aims to bring Christian, Lumad and Muslim children 12 years old and below to play together, thus, eliminating barriers of religion and culture. Children from the marginalized sector including the children in conflict with the law, out-of-school youth, streetchildren, children displaced by war and abused children are also part of the program. Youth volunteerism is also being promoted in the Children’s Games through the Ate and Kuya sports volunteers program.

Ramirez added: “This is a legacy we want to leave, that we have supported the children’s right to play and helped in the formation of values and character of future mothers, fathers, policemen, leaders of the country.”

War against drugs Amid the government’s full-scale war against drugs, the Philippine National Police and other enforcement agencies are not the only ones taking active roles fighting this menace.

The Kabataan Iwas Droga-Start on Sports (KID-S.O.S) community program was held in Pangasinan, Cavite and at the Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila.

More than just the games to have fun and discover raw talents, the major aim is to educate children about having big dreams and making new friends.

“There’s a bigger world out there. Children should realize that there are bigger opportunities out there waiting to be discovered.

We just have to give them chance to meet those opportunities,” said the PSC chief.

With these programs poised to become global, Ramirez vowed that his agency will continue to focus on their bigger role of touching the lives of the children, including the out of school youth, orphans, poor and those who have lost hope in society.

PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez teaches participants of the Children’s Games in Naga City the fundamentals of basketball.

Maligayang pagbati sa

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sa kanilang ikataong anibersaryo!

Pagbati Mula Kay

Vice Mayor Doktora

HONEY LACUNA-PANGAN

PSC Chairman William Ramirez: There’s a bigger world out there.

The children should realize that there are bigger opportunities out there waiting to be discovered. We just have to give them a chance to meet those opportunities.

10th Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Maynila

at ang ika-

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Coaches’ education in Digos, Panabo kicks off PSC’s Mindanao programs DAVAO CITY—Consultative meetings and coaches’ education in Digos City and Panabo City this February kicks off the programs of the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Sports Institute in Mindanao this year.

Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Charles Raymond A. Maxey said that details of the two separate consultative meetings are currently being finalized in Manila.

“Ginaplastar pa, ginaklaro ang mga programa sa grassroots nga himuon sa Mindanao pero mag-full blast na ta February and March. Dili man gud dali magpadagan sa mga programa, daghan na proseso ang agian labaw na kung dunay mga purchase requirement (We are ironing out the grassroots programs that will be conducted in Mindanao but we will go full blast by February and March. It’s not easy to prepare and run programs as it will have to go through a long process especially when purchasing is required),” Maxey said, assuring that plans and programs for Mindanao will push through including the revival of the Mindanao Friendship Games and the Mindanao Children’s Beach/ Coastal Games.

He bared to had met with Cholo Elegino, PSI cluster head for Mindanao, and schedules and budgetary requirements of Children’s Games, consultative meetings, coaches’ education and Sports Mapping Action Research Talent Identification (Smart ID) testing among indigenous people (IP) children in different regions in Mindanao are also being finalized.

Smart ID trainers underwent a training program spearheaded by the Sports Mapping Action Research for Talent Technical Experts and Man-

power (Smart Team) last year. There are 57 trainers in Cebu City, 60 in Puerto Princesa, 60 in Vigan and 35 in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, coordination meetings with other local government units were held in T’boli and South Cotabato recently.

PSI regional coordinator Henry Dagmil said Mayor Dibu Tuan was elated that PSC-PSI reached out to them.

“The mayor is glad that T’boli will at last avail of the services of the PSCPSI since they have not heard of any PSC program in their area in previous years. They are excited for the Smart ID testing that will be conducted among T’boli children 12 years old and below,” Dagmil said in Ilonggo.

The Olympian trackster said the T’boli mayor already sent a formal request for the conduct of the Smart ID testing and is just waiting for PSC’s feedback on the final dates of the activity that will target close to 300 children.

He hopes that the testing will be done before the regional meet slated February 17 to 22 in Koronadal City.

Dagmil added that South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes, in a separate meeting, welcomed the idea of hosting a provincial consultative meeting and grassroots coaching education.

Fuentes, according to him, is also interested in making the province a PSI regional training center since it has a standard sports complex that

Children undergo seminar on values formation during the PSC’s Kabataan Iwas Droga-Start on Sports (KID-S.O.S) community program. can accommodate it.

It can be recalled that South Cotabato Aside from producing Olympians, “The province spends millions to athletes brought the Socsksargen region the province also has Asian champimaintain the sports complex in Koro- to its fifth overall finish in the 2017 Pal- ons and SEA Games medalists in difnadal City,” he said. arong Pambansa. ferent sports.

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Promoting health and wellness

By Peter Paul Duran

AS AN essential part of doing their business, companies reach out in ways they can do best, and with the tools they already have in their hands.

In health and wellness, they have no doubt come a long way in the promotion of a healthy and balanced lifestyle fit for the community they serve.

When it comes to infant care, nutritional company Wyeth supports appropriate nutrition for Filipino children by partnering with parents, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders.

Despite their business nature, they see breast-feeding as necessary to children’s growth, and thus takes steps towards raising the country’s awareness regarding the importance of breastmilk.

As their contribution in nationbuilding, Nestle Philippines does business with purpose by promoting societal welfare. They pour conscious effort on improving consumers’ understanding of nutrition towards a healthy and balanced lifestyle, advocating for environmental sustainability, and supporting local farmers in the production of materials.

As a company with a vision of giving back to communities, Mercury Drug engages in programs focused on health and education.

Through the Mercury Drug Foundation, they conduct free Turn to F2

Suzuki PH partnered with Gawad Kalinga during the first half of last year by donating items to the Gawad Kalinga SipaG football program to convey its support for kids engaged in the sport.

Photo courtesy of Gawad Kalinga

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healthcare services such as medical consultations, health screening, oral health services, health and wellness education, feeding and nutrition counseling in marginalized communities in the Philippines.

True to their commitment and business nature, they also provide free medicines for common ailments, infections, chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, as well as medical supplies.

More than the company’s initiatives, volunteerism also proves to be vital in the success of campaigns aimed at health improvement and wellness.

One of the companies that encourage their employees to share their time, talent, and resources through philantrophic activities is the Sanofi-aventis group, which also operates a humanitarian sponsorship program aimed at giving sick, underprivileged children a helping hand in their health needs.

Among their beneficiaries are the service ward patients of the Philippine Heart Center and Philippine Children’s Medical Center. They also reach out to, and support, children under the care of the Urchins Street Kids Association and their non-government organizations such as the Little Lamb Center and the Chameleon Association.

Aside from helping communities, other companies raise awareness on health and wellness by involving employees into healthy activities themselves.

The Lopez Group Company enables employees, along with family and friends, to volunteer in activities promoting wellness, such as walks and other forms of exercise.

Nurture Wellness Village, a pioneer in the Philippine spa industry, also encourages their team members to adopt a healthy lifestyle through practical tips given in monthly meetings. Aside from this, they also conduct barangay outreach programs focused in wellness and sustainability.

Even Mercedes-Benz owners took time out from their busy corporate schedules to compete in a special, fund-raising golf tournament with a select roster of guests, who share the same passion for the sport.

The MercedesTrophy, an international three-tier structured amateur golf series which stakes coveted spots in the MT World Final in Germany, was held at the posh Sta. Elena Golf Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna with over 200 players competing last year.

What made the 12th staging of the annual event special was that Mercedes-Benz donated to the Cardinal Medical Charities Foundation, Inc. as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility program.

“A specific amount of cash was donated to the organization based on the number of players,” said Marvin Caparros, MercedesTrophy Golf director.

Meanwhile, besides remaining firm in its commitment to offer consumer-friendly and fuel-efficient compact cars for Filipinos, Suzuki PH complemented its expansion and community-building efforts with its CSR initiatives. The company partnered with Gawad Kalinga during the first half of the last year by donating items to the GK SipaG football program to convey its support for kids engaged in the sport.

Even sportswriters are aware of their civic duty to give back to the community.

Believing that a sound mind is the primary weapon of a sound body and in an effort to harness/develop the talent of budding collegiate writers from Metro Manila schools, the Philippine Sportswriters Association held its 1st ever Philippine Sports Commission-PSA Sportswriters’ Camp last year t the PSC administration building, Vito Cruz, Manila.

Just when we thought that companies and corporations are all about business and publicity, it pays to dig in deeper and recognize those who give back to the communities that help them get to where they are.

Nestle Philippine pours a conscious effort on improving consumers’ understanding of nutrition towards a healthy and balanced lifestyle (above).

The Mercury Drug Foundation conducts free healthcare services such as medical consultations, health screening, oral health services, health and wellness education, feeding and nutrition counseling in marginalized communities.

Photos courtesy of Nestle Philippines and Mercury Drug Foundation

From Cover

Teams, the site will also host international friendlies, competition matches and other related events.

Attending ceremonies were officials of the FIFA Congress, PFF Board of Governors, Asian Football Confederation, ASEAN Football Federation, the Manila Jockey Club, the national government and business partners of the Club.

The FIFA Football Turf Project inauguration along with the PFF House of Football and National Football Center groundbreaking ceremonies coincided with Manila Jockey Club’s 150th Anniversary celebration . Its partnership with the PFF pays tribute to its heritage as one of the earliest football clubs in the country. In the early 1900s, MJC had its own football club formed after the PhilippineAmerican War which competed with local teams such as the Manila Sporting Club, Paris Club, Sandow Athletic Club and the Bohemian Sporting Club.

The Manila Jockey Club was established

in 1867. It is one of the oldest existing racing clubs in the Asia Pacific region. Manila Jockey Club, Inc., as a business entity, was formally incorporated in 1937.

MJCI operates the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, featuring world class horse racing, gaming, and hospitality facilities.

MJCI’s broadcast outfit, the San Lazaro Broadcasting Network (SLBN), transmits live horse races, eight days a month, enthralling a growing number of 300,000 horse racing fans at Off-Track Betting (OTB) stations every race day. Through partnerships with the Philippines’ leading cable-television and satellite-television providers, SLBN broadcasts Manila Jockey Club races to the entire country.

Each race day’s uninterrupted coverage also provides analyses, dividends, news, and special features on horse racing and other major sporting events.

To learn more about MJCI, visit http:// www.manilajockey.com

Aerial view of Manila Jockey Club’s-Philippine Football Federation’s artificial pitch

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CSR as a game-changer in Philippine sports

By Charles Dantes

FILIPINOS have been known for their unwavering love for sports.

Tagged as the ultimate fan, game-crazed Pinoys never turn their backs on their local sport heroes. Sadly, the enthusiasm of the Filipino fans does not translate to wins or gold medals in the international arena.

Filipinos never lack the passion and drive, it’s just that the long-term vision for winning is missing, no thanks to the lack of a concrete and sustainable development sports program.

But still, many young and inspiring athletes continue to flourish, thanks to different companies that give them unwavering support through sports foundations and charities.

These are individuals and private corporations that focus on delivering the best help they can provide to promote the growth of our upcoming stars in field of sports.

MVP Group of Companies

The Manny V. Pangilinan-led business group is one of the most well-known supporters of sports in the country.

Whether it’s financial or material support, the MVP Group has our players’ backs. The Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation serves as the driving force to develop young bloods on the field and transform them into champions.

As indicated in their mission, “To inspire, and empower the Filipino athlete towards the first Philippine Olympic Gold Medal while creating a culture of hard work and perseverance for the Filipino people,” the MVP Sports Foundation is a known ally of the Filipino athlete in the sports of basketball, boxing, badminton, golf, cycling, football, taekwondo, weightlifting and rugby.

You can visit their website at https:// www.mvpsf.ph to know more about the group’s latest project and on how to help our athletes.

RSA, Echauz PSA Executives of the Year Ramon S. Ang of conglomerate San Miguel Corp. and Ernesto ‘Judes’ Echauz of international financial company Stand-

As a car and race enthusiast, Ramon S. Ang supports the motorsports of karting (right).

ard Insurance, who will be the recipients of the Executive of the Year award from the Philippine Sportswriters Association when it holds the PSA-SMC Annual Awards Night, are also on the forefront of helping Filipino athletes reach their full potential.

As two of the country’s top entrepreneurs, both Ang and Echauz also found a common cause in providing financial and moral support to the campaigns of Filipino athletes and other sporting initiatives.

Besides being the brains behind the successful basketball and volleyball franchises playing under the SMC umbrella, Ang is also an ardent supporter of both football and karting.

The SMC president and chief operating officer has also backed such sports as archery, rowing, wushu, athletics, wrestling, karate, traditional boat race, judo, dancesport, boxing, muay thai, wushu, baseball, and petanque.

Echauz, meanwhile, is the president of the Philippine Sailing Association and owner of multi-titled boat Centennial III. He has long been quietly backing the sports of cycling, duathlon, triathlon under the banner of Standard Insurance, of which he serves as chairman and CEO.

Toby’s Sports

Back in 2000, Toby’s Sports launched its first age-bracket tennis tournament with the guidance and blessing of the Philippine Tennis Association. After the tourney, Toby’s Turn to F4

Like the millions of Filipino fans, MVPSF backs the Gilas Pilipinas basketball team.

Photo courtesy of MVPSF

The MVP Sports Foundation is a known ally of the Filipino athlete in the sports of basketball, boxing, badminton, golf, cycling, football, taekwondo, weightlifting and rugby.

Photo courtesy of MVPSF

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Children mostly from provinces in the Autonomous Region participated in the Football for Peace festival, a continuing advocacy to promote peace through sports especially to children in areas marred with armed conflicts.

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started organizing different sporting events such as basketball, volleyball and badminton, to name a few.

Toby’s Youth Sports Foundation aims to make the kids of today’s generation to be driven by sports.

Their focus is to give back to underprivileged children by providing them different opportunities in life through sports, recreation and fitness. This also helps our youngsters avoid vices in life like drugs and other bad social influences.

Visit Toby’s Sport web page at https://www.tobys. com/pages/tobys-sports-foundation to learn more of their movement.

One Meralco Foundation

One Meralco Foundation is also known as a big supporter in the world of sports. Meralco promotes the sport of basketball through sports clinics around the country. The Meralco Basketboys helps disadvantaged kids play and love the ball game.

Over 2,000 children have been trained to this program since 2001.

Last year, around 200 children mostly from provinces in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao flew to Manila and headed to Binan, Laguna to participate in the annual Philippine Marine Corps (Football for Peace festival, a continuing advocacy to promote peace through sports especially to children in areas marred with armed conflicts and is backed by the One Meralco Foundation.

Aspiring football players aged 8 to 14 years old came from various Philippine Marine and Philippine Army detachments in Palawan, Aklan, Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Sultan Kudarat, many of whom have never experienced traveling outside of their hometowns.

For more information, visit their page at http:// www.onemeralcofoundation.org/category/our-programs/youth-and-sports-development to know more.

Photo courtesy of One Meralco Foundation

San Juan City evacuation center

hosts Manila Water’s

emergency water reservoir

Ramon S. Ang’s SMC backed the Philippine team to the Taipei Universiade, where wuhsu artist Jomar Balangui clinched a silver medal.

Judes Echauz is the president of the Philippine Sailing Association and owner of multi-titled boat Centennial III (in photo).

Photo shows as they were lowering the ‘time capsule’ are (from left) Edgar Briones, San Juan City Assessor; Ma. Josefina Faulan, Director III, Office of the Assistant General Manager for Planning, MMDA; Manuel Nivera, Chief, Curriculum Development Division, Capacity Building and Training Service, Office of the Civil Defense; Shelby Ruiz, OIC, Office of the Civil Defense-National Capital Region; Dr. Nonita Sajo, Principal IV, San Juan Elementary School; Dr. Joel Torrecampo, Superintendent, DepEd San Juan; Hon. Richard Peralta, Councilor, San Juan City; Maidy Lynne Quinto, Corporate Project Management Group Director, Manila Water; and Thomas Mattison, Corporate Operations Group Director, Manila Water.

IN ITS commitment to support local governments in disaster resiliency, Manila Water recently held a ceremonial groundbreaking for its Emergency Reservoir Project at the San Juan Elementary School in Barangay Rivera, San Juan City. The simple ceremony signals the commencement of the construction of the 50-cubic-meter underground reservoir, intended to serve as a potable water source in

evacuation centers, such as San Juan ES, in the aftermath of disasters and calamities.

The emergency reservoir is designed to provide 5,000 evacuees with potable water up to three (3) days. In his message delivered on behalf of Mayor Guia Gomez, Councilor Peralta expressed the City’s gratitude to Manila Water for constructing the emergency reservoir at the heart of San Juan. “Rest assured that the

City Government of San Juan will be your major partner here in Metro Manila, especially during times of disasters and calamities,” added Peralta.

Manila Water aims to construct these emergency reservoirs in 22 cities and municipalities within Metro Manila’s East Zone and the Province of Rizal in its commitment to assure water service reliability even during times of calamities such as earthquakes and flooding.

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beyond AS PART of the National Basketball Association’s effort to encourage youth basketball participation, Jr. NBA Philippines 2018 began last Jan. 13 at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati and will run until May 2018, with an expected 250,000 participants and 900 coaches across the country.

Online registration is open now at www.jrnba.asia/philippines.

Carlos Barroca and Rob Newson, this year’s Jr. NBA coaches, conducted a Coaches Clinic at the Tip-Off of Jr. NBA Philippines.

The NBA coaches shared coaching principles, tips and basketball plays with over 200 local coaches, with Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA All-Star alumni serving as demo players to execute the basketball moves.

The league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls teaches the fundamental skills and core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to enhance the youth basketball experience for players, parents and coaches. It is expected to reach more than 26 million youth in 71 countries through a variety of camps, clinics, skills challenges, league play and outreach events.

The program remains free and open to boys and girls ages 10-14 throughout its four stages: skills clinics in schools and communities, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Camp and an NBA experience trip.

Since its launch in 2007, Jr. NBA clinics have been implemented in 110 cities and municipalities across the country and the 2018 program will return to key provinces including Agusan Del Norte, Batangas, Benguet, Cavite, Misamis Oriental, and Negros Occidental.

Regional Selection Camps will be held in Bacolod, Butuan (Feb. 24-25), Baguio (March 17-18) and Metro Manila (April 7-8), with the top 37 boys and 37 girls advancing for the National Training Camp in Manila in May 2018, which will feature an NBA and WNBA player or legend.

Coach Carlos Barroca demonstrates a play with 2017 Jr. NBA All-Star Kenji Duremdes, son of PBA Legend Kenneth Duremdes.

Jr. NBA vows to reach

250,000 participants in PH The program will culminate with the selection of 16 Jr. NBA All-Stars, comprised of eight boys and eight girls, who will embark on an overseas NBA experience trip with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia. Prior editions of the Jr. NBA Philippines program have featured notable alumni including Aljon Mariano, Kobe Paras, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Ricci Rivero, and Kai Sotto.

“For the past 10 years, Jr. NBA Philippines has established itself as a platform to improve the youth basketball experience and promote an active and healthy lifestyle among the Filipino youth,” said NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson.

The 2018 edition of Jr. NBA Philippines will also include the Jr. NBA Coach of the Year program, led by Jr. NBA Head

Coaches Carlos Barroca and Alaska Power Camp Coach Jeff Cariaso, to provide training for 14 Jr. NBA coaches during the National Training Camp, with two Jr. NBA Coaches of the Year awarded with an NBA experience trip.

AXA, CloudFone, Gatorade and Panasonic serve as Official Partners of the Jr. NBA in the Philippines, while Spalding is a Supporting Partner. ABS-CBN Sports

+ Action, Basketball TV and NBA Premium TV are the Official NBA Broadcasters of the Jr. NBA in the Philippines.

Coaches and participants can now register the Jr. NBA program online at www.jrnba.asia/philippines, where the program terms and conditions can be found. Fans can also follow Jr. NBA on Facebook and the NBA at www.nba. com and on Facebook and Twitter.

Win Wanderland 2018 tickets with Globe GoSURF Register to any GoSURF promo and get a chance to win 2 tickets to Wanderland 2018!

WILL you be one of the lucky few to become Wanderers?

Globe Telecom and Karpos Multimedia open 2018 with an awesome music and art extravaganza that’s guaranteed to get you hyped and ready to jam out with friends. On March 10, 2018, Wanderers are set to head on to the Filinvest City Event Grounds in Alabang for this year’s Wanderland Music and Arts Festival.

Now on its 6th run, the loyal Wanderland Community is in for a heightened musical experience with amazing performances by both local and international bands such as Irish band Kodaline, FKJ, Daniel Caesar, Lauv, Jess Connelly, Quest, IV of Spades, Ben&Ben, and Wanderband winners-Basically Saturday Night, Carousel Casualties, plus three more acts to be announced soon. There’s even something for art enthusiasts as four Wanderartists—JP Pining, Sam Bumanlag, Humbly, and Cholo Cardenas - will showcase their art live at the festival.

As everyone counts down to festival day, Globe wants more fans to get a chance to enjoy Wanderland. Fortunately, 15 lucky subscribers will win two tickets each to Wanderland! The promo is open to all Globe Prepaid or TM customers who have registered to any GoSURF variants from January 15 to February 15, 2018. Winners will be drawn on February 16, 2018.

For every GoSURF promo registered, the subscriber earns one (1) raffle entry per Php 5 charged. To validate your entries, text RAFFLE REG <Name/Address/Email/Age/Gender> to 2363.

To check the total number of entries, send RAFFLE ENTRIES to 2363. To know more about the promo, send RAFFLE INFO to 2363.

All contest winners will be notified by a call and text from an authorized Globe representative.

Follow the official Globe Facebook and Twitter pages for more details and the announcement of winners.

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Young basketball campers of Globe Telecom’s TM Basketball Para sa Bayan Grassroots Clinics are shown with PBA player LA Tenorio.

The clinics centered on shooting, 3x3 basketball, passing, dribbling and rebounding. There were also drills that focus on speed and endurance.

The program seeks to promote a healthy lifestyle, good values, and create opportunities to Filipinos at the grassroots’ level.

Globe gives basketball, football a huge boost

By Peter Atencio

AN opportunity to teach kids how to play basketball came the way of threetime Philippine Basketball Association Finals’ Most Valuable Player LA Tenorio last year.

He grabbed this opportunity because he felt that sharing his knowledge of the game to kids has always been one of his passions.

“That’s my passion, teaching kids, sharing kung ano ang meron akong talent,” said Tenorio.

Unknown to many, Tenorio has been teaching how to play the game through his Method Basketball Academy clinics in Quezon City.

And last year, telecommunications company Globe Telecom joined Tenorio in his pursuit and shared his passion to teach the game to the younger generation.

Tenorio then became part of Globe Telecom’s TM Basketball Para sa Bayan Grassroots Clinics.

“It’s all about sharing my talent to people and kids who really want to pursue playing basketball,” he said.

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Above, LA Tenorio shares his basketball insights to kid campers of the Globe Basketball Para sa Bayan. Below, Globe prexy and CEO Ernest Cu receives a signed football by the Malditas from head coach Ernie Nierras to represent the team’s commitment to help Globe rebuild the houses in Ormoc thru Gawad Kalinga during their courtesy call before the 27th Southeast Asian Games.

Looking on are Globe Head of Digital Media Glenn Estrella, the Malditas and their manager Mel Macasaquit, as well as Globe EVP and COO for Business and International Markets Gil Genio.

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Asian Terminals Inc.

fuels young sailors’ dreams

Children from underprivileged coastal communities of Puerto Galera and nearby islets were given the opportunity to apply their sailing skills in a race against each other using dinghies.

ASIAN Terminals Inc. is keeping the sailing aspirations of Mindoro’s youth unfurled by supporting the Royal Cargo All Souls Regatta, the largest yachting event in the country organized yearly by the Puerto Galera Yacht Club.

All Souls Regatta, which kicks off the traditional yachting season in the Philippines at the start of the northeast monsoon, is highlighted by a yacht race from Puerto Galera in Mindoro to Subic Bay featuring boats from local sailing clubs and visiting yachts from overseas.

This year’s principal regatta sponsor is logistics company Royal Cargo.

A prelude to the Halloween week race was the Small Boats Program Regatta, where children from underprivileged coastal communities of Puerto Galera and nearby islets were given the opportunity to apply their sailing skills in a race against each other using dinghies.

The SBP is PGYC’s social responsibility program which provides free weekend sailing trainings for community-based youngsters in partnership with Stairways Foundation.

ATI supports the SBP seeing this as a great opportunity to encourage Mindoro’s youth in exploring future productive careers in the maritime industry, where the listed company is a major player.

ATI’s support for the SBP Regatta benefited nearly 50 local young sailors over the three-day competition under the Optimist and Lawin race categories.

PGYC’s small boats sailing program has already produced a handful of successful graduates, who are now skippers and crew of various boats and who have represented the Philippines in international sailing competitions.

Just recently, its protégé grade 9 high school student Jonvic Velasquez won the gold medal for the Philippines in the Singapore Open and silver medal in the Macau National Championships.

“We thank ATI for the generous support for Mindoro’s youth and for making this year’s regatta a huge success,” PGYC commodore Jurgen Langemeier said.

In a related CSI project, ATI and its dockworkers planted nearly 1,000 trees at the La Mesa Watershed, sustaining its commitment to protect and preserve Metro Manila’s last natural forest cover and source of potable water.

ATI’s employee volunteers trekked three kilometers into the forest reserve located in Novaliches, Quezon City to plant endemic narra and bignay saplings across a two hectare area.

Coinciding with the GO GREEN global environmental campaign of its foreign shareholder partner DP World, ATI’s annual tree planting initiative helped revitalize La Mesa’s critical ecosystem. The activity also gives employees an opportunity to be in commune with nature as the play an active role in protecting the environment.

As a responsible port operator, ATI follows global standards on environment management aligned with its ISO 14001:2007 certification. Apart from tree planting, ATI also spearheads coastal cleanup drives in partnership with like-minded companies, government agencies and other port stakeholders.

To date, ATI has protected over 20 hectares of the forest reserve and planted nearly 25,000 trees since the start of its institutional partnership with ABS-CBN’s Bantay Kalikasan back in 2001.

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Hall of Famer Benjie Paras (left), and Magnolia’s Rodney Brondial (right) lead a shootaround involving pro league fans.

The activity was part of the new Corporate Social Responsibility program of the league dubbed ‘PBA Homecourt.’

When cage stars, coaches become real-life heroes

By Peter Paul Duran

WHAT will you do if you meet your favorite Philippine Basketball Association player personally and even get to play with him?

That is what happened to a couple of fans from three Metro Manila barangays as they got the surprise of their lives following the visit to them by Hall of Famer Benjie Paras, Beau Belga of Rain or Shine, and Magnolia’s Rodney Brondial unannounced.

The three players were accompanied by officials and staff of the PBA, led by Commissioner Willie Marcial during their personal appearances in Barangay Marilag, Project 4 in Quezon City, and Barangays Jesus dela Pena and Tanong in Marikina as part of the new Corporate Social Responsibility program of the league dubbed ‘PBA Homecourt.’

Belga and Brondial went along with the group as part of their community work after being fined by the Commissioner’s Office for various infractions just before the holiday break. Under the league’s new CSR setting, players are given the chance to write off minor fines through appearances in basketball courts within the metropolis.

On the other hand, Paras, the only player to become Rookie-MVP in a season, volunteered to go doing the rounds of barangays as a way of giving back to PBA fans.

“Masarap at magaan sa pakiramdam na makita mong napapasaya yung mga fans, especially yung mga bata,” said Belga, who did his share of taking selfies, photos, and autograph signings during the event.

A shootaround was held in all three barangay courts, with fans who made the basket receiving gift items, basketball, and select tickets from the PBA. League stickers were also attached to the barangay courts visited by the group.

Marcial said the event will be held every other Thursday, or on Saturdays when no out of town games are scheduled.

And like in its initial staging, the tour will be held unannounced.

“Mas maganda ‘yung ma-surprise mo sila,” said Marcial.

The PBA is no stranger to Corporate Social Responsibility as it has Turn to next page

The PBA held its first-ever basketball clinic for special children in 2014, coinciding with the PBA AllStar Festivities at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

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beyond extended its hand to its fans and members of the community in the past.

During its All-Star Festivities in Boracay seven years ago, PBA players took part in tree-planting and house-painting activities to showcase the league’s “softer” side, while hosting several premier-night movie screenings to help raise funds for cancer patients.

The league also held its first-ever basketball clinic for special children in 2014, also coinciding with the PBA AllStar Festivities, this time at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Some 20 children with Down Syndrome and Autism were treated to an afternoon of basketball game and relays to introduce them to the sports as one of the activities in the All-Star Week.

Co-sponsored by the PBA and MOA Arena and SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, the children were taught dribbling, passing the ball, ball handling and shooting by Coach Tim Cone, assistant coaches Richard Del Rosario and Jeffrey Cariaso and Lyceum mentor Topex Robinson.

Arnold Alegre, a special education teacher, who brought some of the kids to the cage clinic, said they are delighted that the coaches took time out from their busy schedules to be with the special children. He believes that playing sports is one of the best therapies that should be given kids with Down Syndrome and Autism because it improves their concentration and physical development, while giving them the chance to bond with other kids.

“Sports boosts confidence and they get to interact with other ‘children. That opens up a whole lot of experience for them which improves their well-being,” Alegre. “Society should be more open to people with autism and Down Syndrome because they could be productive members of the society if given all the support.”

While the PBA as a collective organization engages in these special CSR projects, its players and coaches also go out of their way to help in their own personal capacities.

NLEX coach Yeng Guiao, his players, together with basketball great Alvin Patrimonio last year were involved in the relief operations for the fire victims of Las Pinas.

The turnover of goodies to the fire victims was held at the STI Academic Center in Alabang Zapote, Las Pinas.

“Hindi man kami maging champion, gusto naming maging champion sa pagtulong,” said Guiao, general manager and head coach of the NLEX Road Warriors, describing his group’s involvement in the relier operations.

The event jointly organized by the STI Academic Center and the PBA to help the fire victims of Barangay Daniel Fernando, was led by Guiao, a six-time PBA champion coach, and his players from the Road Warriors – Rabeh-Al Hussaini and Juami Tiongson.

Families of the fire victims were provided 100 bag of goodies donated by then PBA headed by Commissioner Chito Narvasa, deputy commissioner and head of operations Rickie Santos and Media Bureau chief then Marcial.

Four-time Most Valuable Player Alvin Patrimonio and six-time champion coach Yeng Guiao join forces in giving relief goods to the fire victims of Las Pinas. Joining the two in the at the STI Academic Center Las Pinas were Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Juami Tiongson. (Photo by OMMA, STI Las Pinas)

pg

In one rare occasion, a key personnel from the rival group, four-time PBA MVP, Hall of Famer and league’s 40 Greatest member Patrimonio, joined Guiao and his players, who were altogether welcomed by the STI Las Pinas community headed by Liz Acedo, the deputy school administrator, Grace Gutierrez, the head of the academics and Bernadette Rejano, the head of the student affairs office. Tourism and HRM students of STI Las Pinas also cooked and prepared snacks for the guests.

“Si Alvin Patrimonio, hindi po namin siya kasama sa

NLEX, pero pagdating po sa pagtulong, magkakampi po kami,” added Guiao as he addressed the fire victims who took part in this event also supported by LGR. Fire struck the barangay mid last year, leaving 60 families homeless and damaging 34 houses.

Representatives of the victims gathered and got the chance to see up close and personal these PBA personalities.

“Let us not lose hope. There’s still life ahead of us. We’ll be able to endure this. Let’s continue to work hard and get ourselves up,” said Patrimonio.

THE UNCOMMON IN QUEZON CITY: Centralized community living at Commonwealth by Century

One of the ‘uncommon’ amenities at The Residences at Commonwealth by Century is this lounge at the roofdeck of Osmeña West tower.

By Ryan Diño

Superstar player James Yap (upper panel) took part in the house-painting activity by the PBA when it held its AllStar Week in Boracay, while ormer PBA Commissioner Chito Salud led the treeplanting.

QUEZON City holds the title as the biggest and wealthiest city in Metro Manila. Aside from its vast land area, a large youthful population, and growing economy, Quezon City is also steeped in history and legacy, as it was once the country’s capital during the Commonwealth years. With its major arterial roads, sprawling parks and gardens, and famous entertainment and recreational hubs, it’s little wonder that QC residents are proud of their city and heritage—and rarely want to live anywhere else.

Today, Quezon City is a colorful and busy blend of yesterday’s grandeur and modern lifestyle.

And a new residential development is taking the best of this historical city to create a new, uncommon level of contemporary living.

RISE OF THE UNCOMMON The Residences at Commonwealth by Century is Century Properties’ first vertical village in Quezon City.

This thoughtfully-crafted, mid-rise residential community is designed for a holistic lifestyle amidst the bustling Commonwealth neighborhood.

Its eight buildings are named after the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Philippine Commonwealth; each varies in height, from 11 to 22 floors, and features a distinct undulating facade, with sizable and airy balconies for the units.

Designed by the same team behind the incredible Azure Urban Resort Residences in Parañaque and Acqua Private Residences in Mandaluyong, Commonwealth by Century draws inspiration from the terrain of the land, maximizing the natural elements for optimal sunlight and natural ventilation.

LIVES OF THE UNCOMMON Commonwealth by Century is a grand, uncommon urban living space that is accessible, secure, and suited for the best in contemporary living.

Located along Don Antonio Drive, the country’s top schools and universities, shopping centers, churches, and major thoroughfares are all within reach. The development will also be within walking distance from the Don Antonio Station of the MRT Line 7, which began

A fully-accessorized unit that can serve as a homeowner’s theme inspiration. construction in 2017.

Twenty-four by seven security personnel, integrated closed-circuit cameras, and other state-of-the-art facilities provide the utmost privacy and security for residents and their guests.

Exclusive amenities are open for both individuals and families of all ages.

Babies and toddlers can enjoy play or naptime at the crèche (nursery) while kids can learn and socialize at the kindergarten. Teens can hone their talents at the arts and crafts and rock and roll studios.

Meanwhile, young adults can spend their boundless energy in the basketball court and dance studio while those in their prime can take leisurely walks around the great lawn or find their balance at the yoga garden.

These top-notch amenities are clustered within a gorgeous landscaped and waterscaped park, whose calm greens and soothing pools are a welcome escape for those caught up in the busyness of everyday life.

Awe-inspiring architecture inspired by the land.

Uncommon amenities that build great communities.

Security that keeps you and your loved ones safe and happy. Commonwealth by Century is a home for everyone who craves the best of life, in the heart of the beloved Quezon City.

Call 63917 555 5274 or email ask@centuryproperties.com.

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Manila Standard Awardees:

Rewarding competence and loyalty

By Angelica Villanueva

A COMPANY’S most valuable assets are its employees. It is not just someone filling a role in the corporate hierarchy and ladder. It goes deeper than that.

That’s because a good employee has great value that cannot just be filled in by a walk-in applicant, even if the latter’s resume is peppered with glaring credentials.

That particular employee carries a deep knowledge of how the organization works, boasting of client relationships that have been built over many years. Their rich experience on what has worked and what hasn’t is a valuable asset that cannot be replaced with the simple hiring of anybody. Most of all, that employee has built an invaluable rapport with fellow workers, a truth which when lost, has an impact on the company’s overall corporate culture.

As Manila Standard celebrates its 31st year, the newspaper rewards its loyal, competent employees the best way it can.

Peter Gabriel Atencio One of the pioneering writers of the newspaper, Peter started in 1987 as a correspondent of the Manila Standard. He initially refused to be regularized because he was earning more as a correspondent. But marriage and a more secured life beckoned and Peter opted to officially become one of the sports reporters of the newspaper 10 years ago.

Through the years, Peter’s enthusiasm to work has never wavered a bit, and Manila Standard thanks him for it.

Rey Requejo Despite receiving offers from other companies, Rey has opted to stay put and remained loyal to the Manila Standard.

His 20 years of service with the newspaper is his biggest achievement.

“I wish that Manila Standard will continue to fulfill its mission not only as bearer of news, but also as a positive ‘influencer’ in the lives of Filipinos, as ombudsman against wrongdoings and shenanigans in government, as advocate of people’s happiness and law-based governance, and as partner for achieving the country’s national development goals for the betterment of nation,” he says.

Ray Eñano Ray started working for the Manila Standard as its business editor on October 26, 2003. As one of the most respected editors in the, pardon the pun, business, Ray enjoys working for the newspaper for almost 15 years “despite all the bumps in the road.”

Ray, who cannot imagine himself working or retiring in another paper, is hopeful that in the next coming years, Manila Standard will remain to be what it is now—an independent and responsible media outlet.

Joyce Pangco Pañares The seasoned reporter-turned-city-editor has served the Manila Standard for 15 fruitful years already. Before being called to the desk, Joyce covered the Malacañang Palace beat for nine years. As Palace reporter, she become the president of the Malacañang Press Corps for five years.

During those years, this bubbly 34-year-old journalist gained lots of priceless experiences that taught her many of life’s lessons.

Vito Barcelo For 20 years, this veteran reporter says his heart has always remained with the newspaper. Vito has won numerous accolades, including “Best Story of the Month,” but “being with the company for two decades is already an achievement.”

Flaridel Punzalan Flaridel says he is blessed not only because he is one the Manila Standard’s Loyalty Awardees (25 years), but also because it is here where he met his wife, Bernadet. For over two decades, this provincial coordinator is thankful as the newspaper appreciates his efforts and service.

Alicia Estrella “Kapag nasa diyaryo ka, walang bagyo-bagyo,” said Alicia, known as Alice to her coworkers. Alice been around for 25 years, facing various challenges that tested her commitment to the job as one of the key members of layout team. She thinks that being able to last in Manila Standard for 25 fruitful years is her biggest achievement as an employee of the company.

Robin Punay Robin has been with the Manila Standard since March 16, 2008 as the district assistant of the Circulation Department. His 10 years of service have given him wonderful and priceless experiences which he considers as his biggest achievements.

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beyond Billy Empeño The man behind the production of the newspaper, Billy has been serving the Manila Standard for 25 years. A seasoned veteran in the field of printing, he has striven for more than two decades to achieve the stature he has today, yet his feet remains planted on the ground.

With a simple goal in mind and that is to publish newspaper with no problem/s, Billy sees the joy in the little things.

Rolan Magtangob Rolan, who has worked for the Manila Standard for almost 20 years, is very thankful that the paper has given him many opportunities to share and enhance his skills as a press helper.

“Nu’ng binigyan ako ng pagkakataon ng supervisor ko na makapag-operate ng makina, ‘yan siguro ang greatest achievement ko,” he shared.

Roger Diaz A district assistant leadman, Roger has been serving the company since August 5, 1998, marking his 20th year this 2018.

He leads the so-called “night operation squad.” Asked about how he sees the future of the company, he smiled and said: “We will hope for the best and continue the legacy of Manila Standard.”

Limuel Samosino Limuel started to work with the Manila Standard on July 28, 2008 and has never slowed down since. This is his 10th year as a KPPI press helper.

Reynaldo Belarmino Serving the Manila Standard for 25 years is already an achievement for this junior press operator. The job has helped him provide for the needs to his family. He believes that Manila Standard will remain to stand strong.

Rogelio Cordovez For two decades, Rogelio has served as a KPPI junior plate maker for the Manila Standard. He began working with the newspaper since November 2, 1998.

The future looks bright for (L-R) Heber Justin O’Hara, Gabrielle Belarmino, Abrahan Timothy Yu, and Rey Joseph Pena - four fresh faces for Philippine performing arts. As OPPA scholars, they receive valuable support from mentors such as (inset) Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, OPPA Foundation president and the first lady of Philippine theater.

OPPA scholars express confidence in the future of Philippine performing arts

By Eileen Martin

Four talented individuals were recently named as this year’s latest batch of scholars of the Original Pilipino Performing Arts (OPPA) Foundation, screened from a number of hopefuls from the foundation’s participating schools.

Rey Joseph Corpuz Peña, 23, 2nd year Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Heber Justin Palma O’hara, 21, 1st year Bachelor of Music in Musical Theater from the University of Santo Tomas, join Gabrielle Manay Belarmino, 20, 4th year Bachelor of Music in Performance-Violin and Abraham Timothy Relos Yu, 21, 4th year Bachelor of music in Music Education from St. Scholastica’s College in passing the foundation’s scholarship applicant screening in December last year with flying colors.

Resolute in nurturing talented young students from the college level to explore their full artistic potential and eventually contribute to the country’s performing arts industry, the OPPA Foundation also aims to encourage other youths to heed the artist’s call and pursue an education and career in the performing arts.

“We see an OPPA scholar as someone who not only has great talent but can also envision the promising future he or she has in pursuing a career in the performing arts,” shared OPPA Foundation president Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. “As true believers in these young artists, OPPA dreams of making the Philippines a breeding ground for world-class talent in Asia, while nurturing the youth so they can actively participate in realizing that dream,” she added.

With the new batch of OPPA scholars, family support turned out to be the biggest factor in drawing out their innate talents and confidence in the industry. “I started playing the piano when I was nine-years-old, with my parents and my grandmother being my number one supporters,” revealed Abraham. Similarly, Heber also shared that he has the full support of his family adding that “they encourage me to pursue my passion and for that alone I know that I am very lucky”.

The scholars also shared their views on how today’s youth receive classical performances as entertainment. “It is not that people do not want classical music. It’s just that they do not have the chance to know and experience it,” stated Rey. “We can encourage young people to appreciate or create classical music by giving more workshops, concerts, and musical trainings. We need more committed music educators who have a deep passion in sharing music lessons,” he added.

Despite the need for more support and information that will encourage more youths to pursue formal studies in the arts, Gabrielle emphasized her high hopes for the future of Philippine performing arts. “I think Philippine performing arts will continue to improve since there are a lot of rising musical productions today that encourage more Filipino artists to take part and create”.

Abraham supported this thought by saying “If music opportunities were made more available to aspiring artists, it would greatly develop Philippine performing arts in the near future”.

Though still in their formative stages as professional artists, these scholars not only show great talent and potential but also exhibit a united passion, confidence, and hope that Filipinos can make it bigger on the global stage.

“I think that Filipino artists are very proficient. We should prioritize producing new and original material,” shared Heber.

To date, OPPA now supports 15 students. With focused mindsets and a strong faith in the future of Philippine performing arts, these OPPA Foundation scholars may just have the right chops of being the next big names in the industry in a couple of years.

Know more about the scholars of the OPPA Foundation by visiting www.oppafoundation.org

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At left, Chieffy Caligdong with his football students. At right, campers apply their learning.

Being part of the Globe program allowed Tenorio to widen his basketball clinics.

“Marami akong memorable moments sa basketball and teaching kids is one of them,” said the 33-year-old Tenorio.

Last Dec. 16, Tenorio graced the final day of the clinics at the Mauway Gym at Nueve de Pebrero St. in Mandaluyong City.

“Lahat ng skills itinuturo namin. The basics. The fundamentals are the most important when you’re learning to play basketball,” he said.

Around 90 selected kids from five provinces joined the clinics on its final day.

The kids came from clinics held earlier in the year in Talavera in Nueva Ecija, Porac in Pampanga, Dumaguete, Tuguegarao and Tondo.

“Sa ganitong programa, naniniwala kami na may magandang maidudulot sa kanila,” said Chelle Obligacion-Gray, Globe Director for Citizenship and Advocacy Marketing.

The clinics centered on shooting, 3x3 basketball, passing, dribbling and rebounding. There were also drills that focus on speed and endurance.

The program seeks to promote a healthy lifestyle, good values, and create opportunities to Filipinos at the grassroots’ level.

It also aims to emphasize on the importance of sports in the formative development of kids.

“Importante sa amin na mabigyan ng access ang mga bata sa ganitong klaseng programa,” added Gray.

Basketball, however, isn’t the only sport being helped out by Globe/TM. For years, Globe Telecom has been at the forefront of football development in the country with its support to sports ambassador, former Azkals Team Captain Chieffy Caligdong, the women’s football club Malditas and the Futzal squad known as Muzang.

The Globe Football Para Sa Bayan, a grassroots program for youth from underprivileged communities, which also features key movers in the football scene who are committed to nation-building, had a great run years ago. It was a year-round football campaign of the company to bring the program around the country to impact nationbuilding in a big way.

The festivals served as a platform where in kids, regardless of their socio-economic background, enjoyed the sport of football.

At the same time, these events serves as an inclusive platform for socially advantaged and less-advantaged teams to interact and work together.

For the Metro Manila Festivals, Globe brought together 35 community football teams composed of underprivileged youth to compete, interact, and share best practice with 35 other teams from varsities of private schools and private football clubs. Some 900 kids and young adults age 7 to 17 took part in the one-day kickfest.

Compared to other football tournaments where organizers charge anywhere from P3,000-P5,000 per team, all 35 community football teams were supported by Globe via free inclusion into the tournament.

Through this, underprivileged players are given access to high-level competition and opportunities to network and to get scouted by private schools and teams for possible scholarships.

On the other hand, about 1,000 kids from football communities in Iloilo joined the 2nd Football Para Sa Bayan festival in Iloilo which aside from a tournament, also included a football clinic.

Five years ago, Globe Telecom also officially unveiled its sports advocacy program, Globe Sports, by announcing its full support for two national football teams – the Malditas and Muzang.

The leading telecommunication company’s sports advocacy was aimed at providing support for Filipino athletes with worldclass potential as well as to develop sports awareness in various Globe CSR communities in a bid to discover grassroots talents, said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu. “Through this advocacy, we are effectively strengthening sports development in the country. Football is just the first step because our sports advocacy is not a mere sponsorship channel but it’s actually a long term partnership to develop sports programs for our Globe CSR communities,” said Cu. Prior to the official launching of its sports advocacy, Globe has been an avid supporter of football by sponsoring the Green Archers United Football Club, DLSU Greenhills Football Team and a number of futsal tournaments.

By backing the Malditas and Muzang together with GAU FC and DLSU Greenhills Football Team under its stable, Globe has become the biggest stakeholder of football in the Philippines. These football teams will now carry the “Globe Football Para Sa Bayan” as their CSR football advocacy.

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

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From ashes to gold:

Marawi’s road to recovery

By Charles Dantes

COMMUNITY development in the Philippines has been a goahead tool by the government and different business corporations to alleviate poverty. Development programs from seminars to elaborate infrastructure projects have helped those who are in need.

But the year 2017 has been a rough and challenging one for the Philippines, which has been besieged by problems manmade and otherwise.

Last year’s biggest crisis that shocked the whole nation was the battle in Marawi, which

Architecture and city development experts predicted that Marawi would take decades for the city to return to its old self, needing an estimated amount of P100 to 150 billion for its rehabilitation.

lasted for five months. The once peaceful city of Marawi turned into a war zone between members of Islamic State-inspired Maute group and the Philippine Troops, making headlines around the world and putting Turn to False Cover G4

Saving lives, conserving the planet, sustaining the future

By Angelica Villanueva

The Philippine Red Cross has been providing lifesaving services for almost 70 years especially during times of calamities, emergencies and crisis.

IT’S quite amazing that there are still people who are willing to share the blessings that they receive everyday without asking for anything in return, unmindful of the hardships and struggles that the world is facing.

For Filipinos, volunteerism or joining in community services pro bono is nothing new. Known for the tradition of “bayanihan” especially in times of need, Filipinos are willing to lend a hand without expecting anything in return.

The “bayanihan” spirit is now being practiced in different parts of world. Most people have spent most of their lives and offer themselves in serving their fellowmen.

The Philippines is getting more active in participating in programs from different organizations that have different advocacies. Even celebrities and personalities also participate in such campaigns and volunteerisms.

As Filipinos, especially the younger ones, are getting more aware of different social issues, the more they engage themselves into volunteer work with nongovernmental organizations and programs.

Philippine Red Cross Established in 1947, the Philippine Red Cross has been providing life-saving services for almost 70 years especially during times of calamities, emergencies

and crisis.

Through the years, Red Cross continues to receive humanitarian assistance from different donors.

Recently, the organization received P3.3 million from Turkish Red Crescent for the assistance to typhoon Vinta victims.

Red Cross also urges the youth from ages 7 to 25 years old to involve themselves in “humanitarian action and leadership ideas.”

These young volunteers will be trained in various fields such as humanitarian values and leadership, first aid, disaster risk reduction and health promotions.

Sustaining the Future through Youth Development Dr. Jose P. Rizal once said in his poem, “A La Juvetud Filipina” (To The Filipino Youth) that “youth is the hope of the fatherland.”

Today, many still believe to the youth’s potential and competence as the answers to today and future challenges.

UNICEF The United Nations Children’s Fund has been defending every child’s right in the Philippines for over 60 years. The organization is part of the United Nations’ campaign to protect every Filipino child from different kinds of violations such as child abuse, child trafficking and child pornography.

UNICEF also aims to help children to enjoy their rights and “to provide the best quality

of life” they deserve. The organization also offers programs that cover education, health and nutrition, disaster risk reduction and emergencies, HIV and AIDS prevention, child protection, communication, and local policy and institutional development.

Last November, the organization with the help of National Youth Commission, gathered youth delegates in a conference that “lead a culture of climate and disaster resilience.”

World Vision Donning its tagline, “Sponsor A Child,” World Vision’s main goal is to give every child a better life by sponsoring their education and providing their basic need The organization believes that by providing the needs of a child will help the country to transform and progress. As a follower of Christ, World Vision strives to build a brighter future for every beneficiary by encouraging everyone to sponsor a child.

World Vision also seeks for known personalities to sponsor a child and also influence their fans to participate in their advocacy.

The latest ambassador of the organization is the rising star Inigo Pascual, who has also volunteered to sponsor a child.

Children’s Hour The non-profit organization aims to produce funds from individuals, companies, and various organizations “to donate at least Turn to G3

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The Christmas Pig Project: Compassion in every coin

By Bernadette Lunas Photos by Sonny Espiritu IT ALL started with a kind gesture of a nine-year-old to buy her siblings Christmas gifts from the money she saved in her piggy banks.

“I was shopping with my mom and I asked her if I could bring my piggy banks and exchange the coins for paper bills,” relates Minxie Romualdez.

She wanted to surprise her two older brothers and younger sister with presents.

Seeing how loose change accrued in coin containers can make someone happy, her mother, First District of Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, offered a better suggestion: Use the money in Minxie’s five piggy banks to buy more piggy banks that they can give away to people to fill up; collect once they are full and give them to families in need.

The noble idea appealed to Minxie, she immediately agreed. Using her piggy bank savings, they bought 500 plastic red piggy banks and gave them away in January 2016 to family, friends, and Yedda’s colleagues in the House of Representatives.

A novel idea While the use of coin banks in charity projects is not entirely new, the concept of Minxie’s “The Christmas Pig Project” is unique in its execution.

Anyone who’s willing to help is free to join, according to Yedda. Once you get a pig, you will be given a serial number that serves as Minxie’s team’s reference.

“So we know where to call you or how to find you,” explains Minxie.

After a little less than one year of saving, the participant returns the filled up

piggy bank, which Minxie personally turns over to its intended beneficiary.

One coin bank for each recipient.

The donor then receives a “thank you” card with a picture of the recipient of their piggy bank. This way, Yedda says, “you’ll know where your pig went. You see who’s the recipient.

There’s a connection, you don’t just give and forget about it.”

Successful first year Right after Minxie’s 10th birthday on Nov. 11, 2016, her team began collecting the piggy banks. By first week of December, 450 out of 500 piggy banks distributed were returned filled with coins—some with paper bills.

There were some, like the piggy bank from former First Lady and Ilocos Norte 2nd District Representative Imelda Marcos, that contained 1,000peso bills—bringing the total estimated amount of money inside the coin container to about P10,000. Each filled piggy bank, according to Yedda, has an estimated value of P5,000 to P8,000.

Minxie was lucky to have such supportive donors during the first The Christmas Pig Project. Her mom’s colleagues in the Lower House, for example, were more than willing to help, regardless of their political group.

“Charity has no color,” says Yedda.

Minxie, despite her reluctance to go to hospitals “because I feel so bad for all of them,” personally gave the piggy banks to the patients in the pediatric wards of Philippine General Hospital, Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, Tacloban City Hospital, Schistosomiasis Hospital and Research Center in Leyte, and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu. Majority of beneficiaries were cancer patients.

But after her experience last year, she says she’s now used to going to hospitals. “I just tell myself, ‘stay strong, stay strong’.”

Small amount, big impact The value of loose change is often overlooked, but together, in a filled to the brim piggy bank, they could mean a lot to a family that wants to but can’t celebrate Christmas.

“It’s not much, it’s a very small token, but the whole concept of this [project] is that they’ll have money enough to buy a decent noche buena and some left for toys. That’s why we really make an effort to give it before Dec. 24,” explains Yedda.

Knowing that these children and their families can celebrate Christmas, which is Minxie’s favorite time of the year, makes her overjoyed.

“It’s nice because some kids don’t get to eat food because they are in hospitals. Once you give them one (piggy bank), at least they can have something decent to eat. So while we celebrate they can also celebrate,” Minxie says enthusiastically.

Minxie, who dreams to compete in the Olympics, experienced first hand the gratitude of the recipients of last year’s The Christmas Pig Project.

Some hugged her, some profusely thanked her, some cried happy tears.

“It’s gratifying to see when it’s appreciated,” says the proud mom.

Eye-opening experience Yedda knows Minxie doesn’t only have compassion towards others, but initiative, too.

She shares her daughter always accompanies her when she does charity work. “When I go around Tacloban, she will have her own schedule, she’d go around the daycare and she’d do feeding programs by herself.”

With this project, Yedda says Minxie learns to appreciate what she has and to see herself in others, “so she doesn’t live in a bubble; she’s not oblivious to what’s happening outside.”

“I always tell her that she’s been so

blessed and God has been so generous to her, so it’s always nice to give back,” says Yedda.

But the young girl has always been generous. In fact, Minxie is currently growing out her hair so she can donate it to cancer patients.

More piggy banks Minxie distributed 500 red piggy banks—smaller than last year’s—again this year to family and friends. They also have 100 more in case other people participate in the project. Those interested to join, may reach them via The Christmas Pig Project page on Facebook.

But if there’s one person Minxie wants to join her The Christmas Pig Project, her “dream donor” so to speak, she says it’s “Duterte!”

First District of Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez with daughter Minxie. “I always tell her that she’s been so blessed and God has been so generous to her, so it’s always nice to give back.”

5 Reasons Why You Should #PlayItRight WHEN it comes to movie-watching, many Filipinos prefer to illegally download or stream online rather than watch from legitimate sources like cinemas and recognized streaming platforms. It may be free, but what they don’t know is that aside from harming the entertainment industry, they’re also harming themselves.

To educate viewers on the dangers of illegal content consumption, Globe launched #PlayItRight, an advocacy campaign to encourage its customers and the public to play content from legal sources and protect the copyright of its global content partners, while ensuring that its network, products and services are not used in illegal activities.

“Every movie, series, and other forms of content downloaded from non-legitimate sources exposes the viewer to dangers they may not know about,” says Yoly Crisanto, senior vice president for Corporate Communications of Globe. “To protect our customers, our partners and our network from illegal activity and the dangers that come with it, Globe is offering affordable access to world-class and high quality content from Disney, HOOQ, Cartoon Network, Tribe, and YouTube, and even bundle them with our services for free for new customers” added Crisanto.

Why should you #PlayItRight? Here are five important reasons:

a file containing a video player, which is accompanied by, or completely replaced with dangerous malware that can steal private information like passwords, bank account numbers, and credit card numbers.

2. PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST MALWARE AND VIRUSES ON YOUR DEVICES Apart from information-stealing malware, illegally downloaded content may expose the viewer to viruses that may be accompanied by the video file. These viruses can lead to loss of data, slow internet connection, and unwarranted pop-up windows. Sometimes an antivirus software is not enough to combat these viruses.

3. DON’T DO IT UNLESS YOU WANT TO GO TO JAIL Many people have said that there’s nothing wrong with downloading and accessing pirated content since it’s easily accessible online, but under Republic Act 8293 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines) and Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012), viewers who are caught participating in online piracy will have to pay a hefty fine and get jail time. House Bill 6187 (Anti-Online Piracy Act) is currently being reviewed to implement stricter measures for illegally-consumed content.

Further belief in this misconception also 1. AVOID IDENTITY THEFT exposes internet users to the dangers of Accessing content through illegal means illegal sites, including those that host child exposes viewers to identity theft. Many pornography. Globe is adapting global best websites will ask viewers to download practices applied in Singapore and other

countries where there is active regulation towards illegal sites and child pornography, and strongly supports the Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009. In 2017 alone, Globe has blocked close to 2,500 websites containing lewd content and child pornography.

4. RESPECT CONTENT CREATORS Hundreds of cast and crew members take thousands of hours to create one movie that they hope to make a profit on. For example, the Metro Manila Film Festival entry All Of You starring Derek Ramsey and Jennylyn Mercado took 78,000 hours to produce by 130 cast and crew. Illegal content consumption disrespects the money, hard work, and effort put into making it, especially to the crew whose only source of income is in film production.

5. SUPPORT THE FILM INDUSTRY By watching content illegally, viewers are depriving members of the film industry from earning what is rightfully theirs. Everyone in the industry earns from ticket sales, film distribution, and royalties, and watching films from illegitimate sources lowers revenues, which could mean that studios and independent filmmakers will create less films.

To make sure that you are protected from the dangers of online piracy, make sure to #PlayItRight. Watch your favorite and the latest movies and TV shows only in theaters and on recognized streaming platforms.

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From ashes...

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the Philippines back in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Reports from the Philippine Army revealed that the siege in Marawi killed more than a thousand people, broken down into 822 militants, 163 government forces and 47 civilians--the most number of casualty in the recent memory.

Aside from the death toll, more than half a million civilians were displaced during the time of the crisis, many of whom are still recovering from the trauma which may have scarred them forever.

Known as a prosperous city in Mindanao, Marawi transformed into a ghost town riddled with of bullet slugs, ashes and rubbles.

Architecture and city development experts predicted that Marawi would take decades for the city to return to its old self, needing an estimated amount of P100 to 150 billion for its rehabilitation.

Three quick months have passed and Marawi’s road to recovery is still up in the air and in the hands of urban planners and the government.

Thankfully, many corporations have vowed to pitch in in the rehabilitation efforts, collectively known as “Bangon Marawi.”

To move forward, many private companies have promised support and provide essential needs to help Marawi and its residents get back on their feet.

In April or May, the reconstruction of the key places and the central business district of the city will start with caution to avoid the same mistakes made on typhoon-stricken Eastern Visayas.

As for the social development of the once rich and vibrant culture of Marawi, the restoration of schools, business centers and religious places will be prioritized upon the start of rebuilding process.

Aside from infrastructure projects, the victims of war will also be prioritized as they are expected to receive seminars and medical and psychological checkups on how they can recuperate from their losses while dealing with the trauma brought by the war.

One of the biggest reliefs the city received is the aid from the United States, which donated $6.6 million for the rehabilitation of the city.

Other support came from the San Miguel Corporation, which is building 2,700 houses for the families ravaged by the war. The SMC group has been known for its generous community development programs all over the country.

The “Bangon Marawi” project is also fueled by the livelihood projects that the government is planning. The Department of Trade and Industry is channeling funds to business programs such as mobile rice mills, micro loans, construction of a public market and many more.

“We plan to allocate more budget for this year to support the ‘Bangon Marawi’ programs to provide livelihood assistance to around 80 percent of identified internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 2018,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

With the continuous support, both from the private and government sources, the city of Marawi is slowly but surely rebuilding from the ashes.

To move forward, many private companies have promised support and provide essential needs to help Marawi and its residents get back on their feet.

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BDO Foundation volunteers prepare relief goods to victims of calamities (above).

Photos by BDO Foundation

BDO Foundation: Looking back at the past, gearing up for the future

FOR BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, the previous year was one marked by achievements and significant strides.

As the foundation gears up for more projects in the future, it looks back at its accomplishments in the past.

The year saw BDO Foundation winning two prestigious international awards: the Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year Gold Award from Singaporebased finance publication Asian Banking & Finance and an Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Award from Enterprise Asia.

These accolades further strengthen the foundation’s resolve to continue addressing the needs of less fortunate Filipinos and pursuing its advocacies.

In line with its disaster response advocacy, the foundation mobilized volunteers from BDO branches to conduct relief operations in provinces devastated by natural or man-made disasters. BDO officers and staff reached out to people affected

by Typhoon Nina, massive flooding in Butuan City, torrential rains in Laguna, earthquakes in Surigao Del Norte and Leyte, and Typhoon Urduja. The volunteers visited evacuation centers to provide aid and give comfort to disaster victims.

BDO Foundation continued to implement one of its major programs, the rehabilitation of rural health units in disasterstricken provinces. It improved health centers in Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Antique, Biliran, Camarines Sur, Cebu Province, Ilocos Norte, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Sorsogon and Surigao del Sur. In line with its rehabilitation program, the foundation also continued the construction of classrooms in provinces hit

by Typhoon Yolanda in collaboration with partners that share similar advocacies. A Turn to G2

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BDO...

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school building was built in San Jose Central School in Tacloban City, Leyte in partnership with private philanthropists from the University of Santo Tomas Medicine Class ‘79 and Soroptimist International Makati. The foundation, together with civil society organization Consuelo Foundation, also constructed school buildings for Lawaan National School of Craftsmanship and Home Industries in Eastern Samar and Mondragon Agro-Industrial High School in Northern Samar.

For the BDO community, helping victims marginalized by the armed conflict in Marawi City is imperative. BDO provided financial assistance worth P2 million to the families of at least 100 soldiers and police personnel killed in the fighting. In partnership with Makati Medical Center Foundation, BDO Foundation supported a medical-surgical mission for injured soldiers through the donation of 200 hygiene and grooming kits. Classes for an estimated 33,000 school children displaced by the fighting in Marawi were disrupted. In response, the foundation, together with One Network Bank, provided 238 teachers with educational kits to enable them to continue teaching students in temporary learning spaces in evacuation centers.

These initiatives were on top of the relief operations organized by BDO Foundation for 3,000 families affected by the fighting and around 300 soldiers injured in the military operations. In another relief operation, volunteers from BDO branches

BDO Foundation reaches to the community and public school students through their medical missions, relief operations and skills training.

Photos courtesy of BDO Foundation

in Butuan City handed out school supplies to 180 students who transferred from Marawi schools.

These are just some of the achievements of BDO Foundation in 2017. There will be more opportunities to help marginalized members of society especially now that rehabilitation efforts in Marawi have begun. In the pipeline are more initiatives on financial inclusion, including a financial literacy program that benefits public school teachers and students as well as underserved sectors all over the country, and a capacity building program for small entrepreneurs. BDO Foundation looks forward to finding more ways to give back to the community as it commemorates its 10th year in 2018 as the corporate social responsibility arm of the Philippines’ largest bank.

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one hour of their annual salary or earnings once a year” that will help them to promote good education, health and nutrition, and child welfare and development for every Filipino child.

Children’s Hour also looks for volunteers, who are willing to share not only part of their salary but also their time and talent that will help children discover their potentials.

And through their One Hour Campaign, a number of children’s lives have changed.

These children are also able to get the chance to experience the education and proper healthcare that they deserve and need.

Children’s Hour already has over 900,000 beneficiaries receiving support from generous and charitable donors giving Filipino children the opportunity to have better, safe, and brighter futures.

Saving Lives to Sustain the Future On the other hand, some of these volunteers are not just focusing on promoting the betterment of people’s, live but also for the conservation of our lplanet.

World Wildlife Fund WWF has been protecting the environment - plants and animals - for almost 50 years.

Starting in 1997, WWF-Philippines strives to develop the lives of the Filipinos by creating and providing solutions to the environmental issues the region is facing.

Through their various environmental programs, the world’s leading conservation organization continues to ensure that even though the governments provide for human needs, the environment still needs to be conserved and protected.

Conserving nature is a big job that needs the participation of all individuals. The organization believes that if people participate on their programs, conserving the nature and reducing “the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth” will be possible “because together, everything is possible.”

DENR-NGP As part of the newspaper’s 31st anniversary, the Manila Standard went to Brgy. Talisay, Caltagan, Batangas last Jan. 20, to participate in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ National Greening Program.

The Manila Standard’s Adopt A Tree, now on its 9th sowing and linked to the NGP, was able to plant 1,000 mangroves in Batangas.

These mangroves are proven to protect communities hit by natural calamities.

World Vision’s latest ambassador is rising star Inigo Pascual (left, center), who has also volunteered to sponsor a child.

The Children’s Hour (below, left) promotes good education, health and nutrition, and child welfare and development for every Filipino child. Below, Manila Standard employees joins the Adopt a Tree Project.

Photos from World Vision, Children’s Hour

New year, new beginning PAL flew Marawi kids to Manila to start anew FIVE-YEAR old Afif (not his real name) was one of the many children affected by the Marawi siege. The first day when the fighting broke out, Afif, along with hundreds of Maranao families, were displaced and took shelter at evacuation centers in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro cities.† Against the war background, many of the children got comfort and protection from their parents. But not Afif. He has been an orphan for years.

The story of Afif represents the many untold tales of children in Marawi who lost their parents either due to insurgency or health challenges. While the gruesome battle raged, the orphans had to live each day on their own at such a tender age in a ëhostileí city.

This 2018, PAL Foundation hopes to help many Afifs begin a new life in a new home in Manila.

Last November, PAL Foundation, in partnership with Dar Amanah Children’s Village Foundation, a Cavite-based Muslim social

welfare institution, flew seven kids from Marawi to Manila.

Dar Amanah is providing shelter, education and other basic needs to the children to help them begin a new chapter of their lives.The orphanage has served as the refuge

of distressed Muslim children for 14 years.† Upon their arrival last Nov 29 via PR 2520 from Cagayan de Oro, the seven children (with two adult companions) were welcomed and assisted by PAL Foundation staff and

airport ground crew led by Allen Alom, NAIA Terminal 3 Supervisor.

The orphans were fortunate to personally meet Chairman and CEO Dr. Lucio C. Tan, wife Carmen Tan, and President Jaime J. Bautista during a courtesy call last December at Century Park Hotel. The children serenaded the officials with their angelic voices. The seven orphans from Marawi were joined by more than 20 other children from Mindanao who were previously flown by PAL Foundation in the aftermath of the Zamboanga siege in 2013 and the armed conflict in Mindanao in 2014.

Mona Evangeline Fabian, President of Dar Amanah, expressed her gratitude to PAL for facilitating the flight of the kids out of Marawi.

“On behalf of Dar Amanah, we are very grateful to Philippine Airlines for the valuable contributions, time and continuous support in uplifting the lives of our Muslim orphans,” Fabian said.

Also in 2017, PAL Foundation airlifted more than 15 tons of donations (food, medical and school supplies, hygiene kits, etc.) from various donors amounting to about P700,00 and flew volunteer medical personnel who conducted a medical mission in the affected area.

PAL, on the other hand, donated P2M check to AFP as financial aid for soldiers who fought in Marawi. The airline also granted free domestic tickets to families of the fallen soldiers of Marawi at the ëSalamat Magigiting na Mandirigma, Go Negosyo Kapatid from Marawi Financial Assistance to the Families of Fallen Heroesí event in Malacanang. In the same year, PAL offered a 40 kilo free baggage allowance and 20% discount on all regular domestic fare to all Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police personnel in active service traveling on any PAL domestic route on official or personal capacity.

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SM Foundation energizes local economies thru farmers’ training

Farmers from Barangay Payangan, Dinalupihan, Bataan are shown after their training.

At left, Harbest Agribusiness Corporation President Arsenio Barcelona reaches out to participants.

DINALUPIHAN -- Harbest Agribusiness Corporation President Arsenio Barcelona spoke before participants to the 157th Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program in Barangay Payangan, Dinalupihan, Bataan during its launching ceremony.

The program which drew 247 registrants was launched with local government officials in attendance, led by Dinalupihan Mayor Angela Garcia and Payangan Brgy. Captain Ramir Fernando.

KSK is among the programs of SM Foundation to help energize local economies. It is geared towards the attainment of sustainable growth and demonstrates how SM Foundation takes care of the communities near SM businesses.

Through the program, the SM Group provides the communities access to one of the

basic needs: food, while at the same time, provide avenues for better livelihood to combat poverty.

KSK has benefitted more than 15,300 farmers residing in different parts of the country since it was introduced in 2007.

Over the years, it has evolved into a twopronged initiative intended to benefit not only rural farmers, but urban dwellers as well.

SM City Olongapo and Savemore Dinalupihan are among the partners in this batch’s training program.

Crocs donates over 3,000 pairs to SM Foundation

CROCS recently donated over 3,000 pairs of collected Crocs to SM Foundation.

With that, beneficiaries of the donation to SM Foundation will enjoy Crocs’ features of Croslite™ material, a proprietary, revolutionary technology that gives each pair of shoes the soft, comfortable, lightweight, non-marking and odor-resistant qualities.

The Crocs were collected during another round of its nationwide promo donation through its corporate social responsibility platform.

Customers were given a discount when they traded in their old Crocs to purchase a new pair of Crocs be it for men, women or kids.

Since it was founded in 2002, Crocs has continued to be a world leader in innovative casual footwear for men, women and children. The brand has since has sold more than 350 million pairs of shoes in over 90 countries.

Get connected with Crocs through @CrocsPH on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. #ComeAsYouAre #CrocsPH Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) is a world leader in innovative casual footwear for men, women and children. Crocs offers a broad portfolio of allseason products, while remaining true to its core molded footwear heritage. All Crocs™ shoes feature Croslite™ material, a proprietary, revolutionary technology that gives each pair of shoes the soft, comfortable, lightweight and non-marking qualities that Crocs fans know and love. Since its inception in 2002, Crocs has sold more than 350 million pairs of shoes in more than 90 countries around the world.

Crocs Philippines (Walk EZ Retail Corp.) President Mark Christian Chan and Operations Manager Honorio Pascual with SM Foundation’s Dalfhen Samson Beneficiaries received Crocs for men, women and kids collected through its nationwide donation program. Each pair features the Croslite™ material, a proprietary, revolutionary technology that gives each pair of shoes the soft, comfortable, lightweight and non-marking qualities.

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LANDBANK cares for Marawi (Top Photo, left) LANDBANK President and CEO Alex V. Buenaventura talks about the Bank’s assistance programs to support the rehabilitation of Marawi, including its CAlamity REhabilitation Support (CARES) for Marawi and HARVEST financing programs.

The Bank also donated a total of P15 million to the Province of Lanao del Sur and the City of Marawi to help in their rehabilitation efforts. (Top photo, right) President Rodrigo Roa Duterte witnesses the ceremonial turnover of water filtration systems to Marawi Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra.

LANDBANK, in partnership with Waves for Water Philippines, distributed 60 water filtration systems to select barangays in Marawi (lower left photo). The Bank also donated books to Marawi elementary schools to help children recover from the trauma of war.

IN support of the government’s recovery and rehabilitation efforts, LANDBANK has made available a lineup of assistance programs to help survivors of the armed conflict get back on their feet.

During the recent turnover of transitional homes built for affected families in Sagonsongan, Marawi led by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, LANDBANK President and CEO Alex V. Buenaventura underscored the bank’s commitment to help restore normalcy in the lives of Marawi residents by providing access to financial and other assistance programs.

LANDBANK CARES for Marawi Foremost among these financial assistance programs is the LANDBANK Calamity Rehabilitation Support (CARES) Program for Marawi and other LGUs in Lanao del Sur, through which existing clients may avail of loan restructuring while new clients may avail of loans at a lower interest rate and with longer payment tenor.

Short-term loans of existing clients may be extended up to a maximum of five years, inclusive of one-year grace period on both principal and interest. Term loans may in turn be extended for an additional five years over the remaining term of the loan, with maximum grace period of three years on principal and one year on interest.

Meanwhile, new clients may avail of loans to finance various projects, such as the construction or repair of housing units for war-affected home owners. Special credit programs will also be available for Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, Non-Government Organizations, Countryside Financial Institutions, Schools, Universities, and Colleges, and LGUs. HARVEST Program Another program that the Bank offers is

the HARVEST (Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation) Program, which will provide concessional loans to agribusiness enterprises, farmers’ cooperatives, MSMEs, and similar organizations for their capital investments, operations, expansion initiatives and agriculture-related projects.

A‎ Php1.76 billion official development assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the program will help create more investments and jobs in Marawi and other conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

Other Assistance Programs With access to potable water another challenge for displaced Marawi residents, the Bank turned over 60 units of water filtration systems to select barangays to benefit around 6,000 residents. These portable water filtration systems can filter up to 1,000,000 gallons of water and can last for five to 10 years.

More than 700 books were also distributed to help Marawi children recover from the trauma of war.

The Bank likewise donated a total of P15 million to the Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur and the City Government of Marawi to augment their funds for rehabilitation.

“While we each do our part to contribute to the Bangon Marawi program, now is the time for us to truly come together and unify our efforts to ensure the effective implementation of recovery programs,” Buenaventura said.

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Vegan chef in Ireland bakes artisan cakes to help Filipino kids in PH

By Joba Botana

THE first time 30-year old Milena Bozhkova visited the Philippines in 2015, she came as a volunteer in an orphanage in Olongapo City, managed by an Irish woman she met in a charity event in Ireland.

The kids she met and helped with in the center captured her heart.

Milena helped in taking care of about 25 children in the center that also served as a recovery home for those with ailments.

Born in Bulgaria and now residing in Northern Ireland, Milena grew up with the heart to serve. In the three weeks that she had stayed in Olongapo to help care for the kids in the center, she realized that it was not enough, and she vowed to come back with the intention of using her profession as a chef to help more kids not just in Olongapo, but also in some areas of Metro Manila.

Ten months later, armed with courage and determination, Milena came back to the Philippines.

Using her own funds, she organized charitable events to help street children in some areas of Manila. This time, she stayed for more than five months, working as a chef, along with other volunteers whose mission is to help alleviate hunger by initiating feeding programs and medical missions in Tondo, Manila.

During her stay, Milena cooked healthy food for the kids and adults they were helping. They made packed healthy food for street children around Manila. She was also one of the volunteers for Pasay Pups, a group of individuals who provide basic care to animals in in the city, including food, bath, and veterinary needs, as well as neuter and vaccination services, at no cost.

Aside from her love for the country’s tropical climate, the warmth of the people she met during her stay in the Philippines also captivated her. When she went back to Ireland, Milena continued her advocacy – sending financial aid to some of the NGOs she has worked with in

Milena Bozhkova’s masterpieces (above, left) are sought after by her clients in Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland.

Below, the chef is shown with the kids she reaches out to, helping them one cake at a time.

the Philippines.

As a chef that specializes in vegan and raw vegan food options, Milena’s creations are sought after by her clients in Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland. Her artisan cakes or what is refers to as “boutique cakes” are a favorite of her clients. She bakes vegan cakes using quality ingredients like cacao butter, lucuma, maca power and activated nuts. The profit she makes from these cakes goes to her charity works.

Her artisan cakes have been featured in Unilad GRUB UK as well as in bTV Novinite, a major

TV network in Bulgaria.

Last December, Milena started the project “MB Boutique Cakes for a Cause,” which she shared on her Facebook page: https://www. facebook.com/MB. BoutiqueCakes/. She spent several hours baking her signature boutique cakes for her clients and supporters of this cause. The profit she made went to the Project CARE (Caring for All Regional Ethnicities), a community group in Quezon City that helps ease the plight of indigenous people in the Philippines through various educational activities and outreach programs.

Currently, Milena is working on a fundraising fitness event in her town in collaboration with a local gym. The amount she will raise from this event will be donated to Project CARE and Pasay Pups.

“My dream is to hold workshops and teach others on how to create their own masterpieces—like my own cakes. I want to take part in charity function events and present my own creations. I also would love to make cakes for kids whose parents can’t afford to buy for them on their birthdays,” Milena shared.

“I have always felt that I was called to serve others. And I’m happy to have found my calling, to help others through my talents and culinary skills. I will continue to help others, one cake at a time,” she said.

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Barangay Walang Iwanan gears to end poverty for 5M Filipinos THE Philippines is a country undergoing rapid transformation as it navigates the 4th industrial revolution.

Today, digital technologies are transforming the lives of many Filipinos in regions across the country.

As the country moves forward, we mustn’t forget that approximately 21.6% of the Philippine population still live below the poverty line and have limited access to much needed resources.

Hans Bayaborda, Managing Director of Microsoft Philippines reiterated their commitment to serving the underserved.

“Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Through advances in technology like cloud computing and IOT, we enable people and organizations to reach those that the market may not be able to reach,” Bayaborda said.

Through partnerships with several organizations, Microsoft continues to transform industries through four key pillars: engaging users, empowering employees, optimizing operations, and transforming institutions.

In the recent Social Business Summit 2018 in Angat, Bulacan, Gawad Kalinga launched “Barangay Walang Iwanan” , an enabling and empowering technology-based platform and ecosystem developed in partnership with Microsoft to help end poverty.

“There was a need to harness technology for effective and cost-efficient communication, timely reporting, data consolidation and storage, transparency, accountability, and sustainability,” said Bayaborda.

GK works on the frontlines of disaster preparedness and response in the Philippines.

One of the applications of the BWI platform is during disasters when GK’s global network of volunteers is mobilized to bring help where it’s needed the most. Important information on the local population such as household composition, income, and livelihood provide GK with insights for better-informed and quicker decision-making.

In addition, GK helps members of the community get back on their feet by linking them to sustainable livelihoods via BWI. Through data gathered on the ground, BWI can shorten supply chains -- from manpower to food resources -- effectively cutting the middle layers and increasing profit at the lowest level.

“Barangay Walang Iwanan is a testament to GK’s mission of ending poverty, as well as Microsoft’s commitment to empowering everyone. We’ve been working with GK for more than 9 years now, and this ambitious project is a product of that strong relationship,” added Bayaborda.

Microsoft has a long history of supporting GK on technology and programs that aim to equip all youth to be future ready. Projects such

(L to R) Jose Luis Oquinena, Executive Director of Gawad Kalinga, Irwin Lee, CEO of Rustans Supercenters Inc., Hans Bayaborda, Managing Director of Microsoft PH, Mayor Joan LorenzanoAquende of Castilla, Sorsogon, Tony del Rosario, Gawad Kalinga Trustee, Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, President, HARI Foundation, Inc. Cong. Karlo Nograles, Chairman, 2018 Budget & Committee, Fr. Ben Nebres S.J., Former President of ADMU

as Raising Social Innovators, WeSpeakCode, and Innovate have provided underserved Filipino youth with access to digital skills which will be critical for their future.

Through BWI, GK and Microsoft hope to create a culture of caring within the community and to build solidarity by connecting resources where they are needed so that no one is left behind.

“BWI is a great step forward to ending poverty in the Philippines. Microsoft will continue to work with GK towards this mission of inclusion. Through technology, data can be used to drive value, development, and economics transition to more communities across the Philippines and ensure that nobody gets left behind, walang iwanan,” added Bayaborda.

To learn more about how Microsoft Philanthropies is advancing a future for everyone, visit www.microsoft.com/philanthropies.

As the single largest Japanese investment in the Philippines, TeaM Energy has lighted homes, powered factories, and energized industries. Hand-in-hand with our host communities and the national government, we initiate socially responsible programs with meaningful impact for Filipinos.

Microsoft PH’s Managing Director Hans Bayaborda

We are TeaM Energy, the nation’s growth partner.

TeaM Energy (a partnership between Tokyo Electric Power Company and Marubeni Corporation) is one of the largest independent power producers in the country, with more than 2,000 MW of installed generating-capacity nationwide. TeaM Energy operates two clean coal facilities: the 735 MW Pagbilao Power Station in Quezon, and the 1,218 MW Sual Power Station in Pangasinan. It also has a 20% stake in the 1,200 MW natural gasfired plant in Ilijan, Batangas.

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beyond TYPHOON Haiyan (Yolanda) brought about unthinkable destruction to a number provinces in the Philippines back in 2013.

Lives were put to a halt and resources were channeled to the disaster-stricken areas on an unprecedented scale. The effects of the calamity are still being felt up to this day as the residents continue to pick themselves up off the ground.

True to its proactive spirit and commitment to the community, the Primer Group of Companies’ advocacy arm, Center for Outdoor Recreation and Expedition gave birth to the ‘Heroes on Wheels’ program, which aides residents by providing transportation along with outdoor gears and equipment to make access to farflung areas easier.

Over the past few years, CORE’s program has continued to extend its reach and to start 2018, Heroes on Wheels took its graces to Mindanao — the cities of General Santos and Davao, in particular.

Three organizations were identified as the perfect beneficiaries of CORE’s program; namely, Pasali Philippines Foundation, Tuburan Institute, and Cycle for Life PH. In partnership with R.O.X. Philippines and Fox Racing Philippines, bikes were distributed to these three groups on two separate occasions. Firefly Brigade Philippines, also a long-time Heroes on Wheels partner, also took time to oversee the turnover of bikes.

Jane Boholst of Pasali Philippines Foundation was present in the General Santos City event, while Monica Ayala and

Heroes on Wheels rolls out the bikes to Mindanao

Kate Estember, who represented Cycle for Life PH and Tuburan Institute, respectively, accepted the assistance in Davao City.

Maria Sanchez, Cluster Operations Head for R.O.X., and Firefly Brigade Philippines’ president, Jack Yabut, along with Ramon Navarrete were also in attendance during the said activities. Meanwhile, CORE was represented by Kristine Villaflor, program manager and Nirvana Estiva, program associate.

“When you know your capability and you see an opportu-

nity to help, you don’t hesitate,” Villaflor exclaims. “We’ve been doing this for quite some time already and each event brings a unique and rewarding experience.”

“We’ve been fortunate enough to have partnered with CORE, serving as instruments and doing our part in helping others.” Yabut remarks. “We look forward to sharing our blessings to more people.”

A non-profit organization based in General Santos City, Pasali Philippines Foundation

deploys field workers who will then use these bikes as they reach out to farmers and children alike in promoting their education and welfare programs.

“What can I say? We’re very thankful. Extending our advocacy had just become more efficient.” Boholst mentioned.

“These bikes will go a long way.”

Tuburan Institute is a Steiner/ Waldorf nature school that engages children in activities that enhance their understanding and appreciation of the environment.

However, accessing their loca-

tion isn’t a breeze especially on a rainy day. This is where the bikes come in handy for the school’s personnel.

According to Estember, “Travelling from point A to point B is one thing, but doing it in a less daunting manner is a huge relief. Our educators will have one less worry and more reason to look forward to engaging with people.”

Lastly, Cycle for Life PH espouses a more sustainable lifestyle that is sensitive to the environment. One of the group’s

CORE’s program has continued to extend its reach and to start 2018, Heroes on Wheels took its graces to Mindanao — the cities of General Santos and Davao, in particular.

main promotions centers on the use of bikes as a more efficient and sound method of going around Davao City.

“This is just perfect. Nothing helps our bike advocacy better than having more of these at hand. More people are about to embrace a healthier and more nature-friendly lifestyle.” Ayala stated.

Heroes on Wheels is a prime example of how hope springs even out of the darkest corners.

The 2013 typhoon is now part of history, but initiatives such as this only make for a promising rebuild as everyone contributes to writing a better, and much hopeful, narrative.

The best part about all these is that Heroes on Wheels is only the tip of the iceberg. To know more about the other advocacies of the Primer Group, explore www.coresia.org.ph.

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ATI dockworkers one with nature EUROTEL Hotel celebrated the Philippine National Autism Consciousness Week last Jan. 14, with the Autism Society Philippines by giving a financial support to “Angels Walk” the biggest walk for autism held at Mall of Asia Arena.

The event aims to reach awareness and establish a society who gives care, accommodation, acceptance and appreciation of people with special needs in order for the country to have a 100% “ Autism-OK-Philippines”.

More than 24,000 participants joined the event from various organizations, companies, schools who gave their full support to those children and adults who has autism.

The activity started with a performance of talented children with autism, followed by a speech from the National President of the ASP, Mona Magno-Veluz and an awarding ceremony for children who made a big contribution to the Autism Society, such as Danica Escasinas, who received an award from the Autistic Talent Gala 2017 in Hong Kong (Excellence in Performance, Best Visual Effects and Showmanship).

Eurotel Hotel is an active supporter of Angels Walk for almost four years. The hotel is making an effort to help and hire people with special needs with the belief that people with autism are intelligent, have potential in the hotel industry and they should be treated equally.

Eurotel employees hold their banner in support of Angels Walk at the Mall of Asia Arena.

EUROTEL supports ‘Angels Walk‘ EUROTEL Hotel celebrated the Philippine National Autism Consciousness Week last Jan. 14, with the Autism Society Philippines by giving a financial support to “Angels Walk” the biggest walk for autism held at Mall of Asia Arena.

The event aims to reach awareness and establish a society who gives care, accommodation, acceptance and appreciation of people with special needs in order for the country to have a 100% “ Autism-OK-Philippines”.

More than 24,000 participants joined the event from various organizations, companies, schools who gave their full support to those children and adults who has autism.

The activity started with a performance

of talented children with autism, followed by a speech from the National President of the ASP, Mona Magno-Veluz and an awarding ceremony for children who made a big contribution to the Autism Society, such as Danica Escasinas, who received an award from the Autistic Talent Gala 2017 in Hong Kong (Excellence in Performance, Best Visual Effects and Showmanship).

Eurotel Hotel is an active supporter of Angels Walk for almost four years. The hotel is making an effort to help and hire people with special needs with the belief that people with autism are intelligent, have potential in the hotel industry and they should be treated equally.

SMART INFOCAST boosts Bogo City’s disaster preparedness

SMART Infocast is a web-based platform that offers various SMS facilities catering to the needs of an organization.

The system will enable the local government unit of Bogo to send news broadcasts, weather bulletins, and other critical information to residents via text message, making it an effective emergency communications solution. It also allows registered subscribers to send reports or feedback to the system administrator.

Just last month, Bogo was placed under state of calamity when Tropical Storm “Urduja” (Kai-tak) hit the Visayas. In 2013, it was also one of the cities devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan). Located more than 100 km from

Residents of Bogo City in Cebu will now benefit from the services of Smart Infocast, a communications solution by PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications.

Cebu City, Bogo has a population of more than 70,000, based on 2015 census.

By providing a means to disseminate timely messages to the public, Smart empowers communities to strengthen their communication and disaster preparedness efforts, according to Visayas-Mindanao public affairs head Atty. Maria Jane Paredes.

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LISTED Asian Terminals Inc. and its dockworkers planted nearly 1,000 trees at the La Mesa Watershed recently, sustaining its commitment to protect and preserve Metro Manila’s last natural forest cover and source of potable water.

ATI’s employee volunteers trekked three kilometers into the forest reserve located in Novaliches, Quezon City to plant endemic narra and bignay saplings across a two hectare area.

Coinciding with the GO GREEN global environmental campaign of its foreign shareholder partner DP World, ATI’s annual tree planting initiative helps revitalize La Mesa’s critical ecosystem. The activity also gives employees an opportunity to be in commune with nature as the play an active role in protecting the environment.

As a responsible port operator, ATI follows global standards on environment management aligned with its ISO 14001:2007 certification. Apart from tree planting, ATI also spearheads coastal cleanup drives in partnership with like-minded companies, government agencies and other port stakeholders.

To date, ATI has protected over 20 hectares of the forest reserve and planted nearly 25,000 trees since the start of its institutional partnership with ABS-CBN’s Bantay Kalikasan back in 2001.

Meanwhile, students of Sta. Clara Elementary School in Batangas City welcomed the start of the school year with a classroom upgrade, thanks to the help of ATI employees who volunteered in Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela (School Brigade) program.

ATI’s Batangas Port dockworkers and office staff took time off from usual duties to lend a helping hand to the nearby school community, particularly transforming an idle one-storey building into an additional learning space.

ATI volunteers cleared the facility of flotsam and repainted its interior and exterior walls, walkways and armchairs along with its adjacent recreational areas to setup a better learning environment for SCES’s grade 6 students.

Located beside ATI’s Batangas Port, SCES is home to over 1,500 students and over 200 teaching and non-teaching staff.

Aligned with ATI’s strong safety

Coinciding with the GO GREEN global environmental campaign of its foreign shareholder partner DP World, ATI’s annual tree planting initiative helps revitalize La Mesa’s critical ecosystem. philosophy as a port organization, ATI also gave out emergency response kits to the school, which included basic medicines, bandages and wound dressings, flashlight, whistles, among others, to bolster the school’s safety culture.

This bodes well with this year’s Brigada Eskwela theme: Isang DepEd, Isang Pamayanan, Isang Bayanihan Para sa Handa at Ligtas na Paaralan (A United DepEd and Community for Safe and Emergency Ready Schools).

Brigada Eskwela is an annual volunteer event spearheaded by government’s Department of Education which calls on school stakeholders and neighboring communities to help cleanup and make simple repairs of school facilities in preparation for school year opening.

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The Men and Women of Manila Standard

Above, Manila Standard employees, headed by publisher Rolando G. Estabillo, pose for a group photo.

At left, the editors, led by Managing Editor Ramoncito Tomeldan and Business Editor Ray EĂąano

Finance and Treasury Department, headed by Chief Accountant Mario Policarpio Jr. and OIC-Operations Chief Anita Grefal

Manila Standardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kagitingan Printing Press Department

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beyond The Layout Section, headed

by Romel Mendez and Jove Atienza

Digital and IT Department, headed by Feliciano Buscas

Administration Department, headed by Ma. Alfonso U. Constantino

Proofreading and Layout

The Sports and Technology Section headed by Riera U. Mallari

The Marketing and Advertising Department, led

by Anita Grefal and Baldwin Felipe, OIC-Sales

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The Editorial Section (above); At right, the Circulation Department, headed by Edgar Valmorida, Circulation Manager

Lifestyle Section, headed by Bernadette Lunas, and Entertainment Section, headed by Nickie Wang

SMART...

From G9

“We’re very happy that the City of Bogo believes in Smart Infocast as a vital tool of communication in times of disasters. It can also be used by the LGU to send out important information to the community, such as advisories, reminders, and safety precautions,” Paredes said during the inauguration of the service at the New Bogo City Hall.

The platform will further enhance Bogo’s existing communication services, according to Bogo public information officer Rhett Vincent Minguez. “With the Smart Infocast broadcast system, we’ve been given the opportunity to strengthen our communications system. It complements our existing channels and ensures our messages reach our audience,” Minguez said.

Smart Infocast has boosted the communication efforts of the institutions where it

has been implemented, among them local government units, government agencies, and other organizations.

Under its #SafePH advocacy, Smart promotes the use of technology to help mitigate disaster risk in communities. The company has developed other preparedness programs and solutions, such as the Emergency Cell Broadcast System (ECBS); the Batingaw emergency app; and the TNT Tropang Ready youth readiness caravans, among other projects, in its efforts to reduce vulnerabilities.

Representatives from Smart and the Bogo City local government and disaster risk reduction and management office pose for photos during the turnover of Smart Infocast to the city at the New Bogo City Hall.