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Pinay bests 49 other beauties AS PREDICTED before she flew to India, Sophia Señoron captured the firstever Miss Multinational title, besting some 50 other candidates during the coronation finals on Monday Next page VOL. XXXII • NO. 17 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Sereno dared to quit, takes ‘wellness leave’ By Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

HIEF Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno announced Tuesday she would go on indefinite leave after her colleagues in the Supreme Court asked her to resign and confronted her about issues raised against her in the impeachment hearings at the House of Representatives.

Court insiders said there was a confrontation in the en banc session in which some of the justices questioned her eligibility for the position following revelations that she failed to submit all her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth as required by the Judicial and Bar Council before her appointment in 2012. “She was asked to resign. One of the justices even dared

her to submit their resignation together,” one court insider said. Sereno refused to resign and instead said she was willing to take a wellness or vacation leave while the Senate finished her impeachment trial. Most of the justices, however, rejected Sereno’s offer and held an executive session without her to discuss her case.

Jennifer Lawrence stars in Red Sparrow SHOWBIZ C4

Cops, soldiers on full alert vs 40 terrorists By Francisco Tuyay

Living treasure award for tattoo artist eyed

THE military and police have increased security, particularly along various coastlines, so as to detect and thwart any retaliatory attacks following the government victory in Marawi City, after reports said 40 foreign terrorists might have slipped into the country. Despite these unconfirmed reports, the National Capital Regional Police Office said it has not received any direct terror threat in Metro Manila. Still, the NCRPO said it was on alert for possible attacks after police and military forces arrested Joromee Dongon, the widow of slain terrorist leaders

NEWS A2

Palace gives Iceland minister the cold shoulder

By Vito Barcelo

‘Aquino, Sanofi to blame for Dengvaxia’ FRENCH pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur and officials from the previous administration will be held accountable for the Dengvaxia mess, the chairman of the House committee on good government and public accountability said Tuesday. In an interview on the ANC news channel, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said these recommendations would be in his panel’s committee report, which they plan to release on or before March 21, when Congress goes on a Holy Week break. Pimentel’s panel ended its hearing on the Dengvaxia controversy on Tuesday, with former President Benigno Aquino III defending the anti-dengue vaccination program that was approved during his term.

STUDIED SHOOT. President Rodrigo Duterte fires a few rounds from the .45, .40 and 9mm caliber pistols as he leads the ceremonial shoot during the inauguration of the indoor Armscor Shooting Range Davao Branch in Davao City on Monday. In his speech there, the President said there would be no lull in his government’s drive against illegal drugs. Malacañang Photo

DFA yet to confirm arrest of suspects in OFW’s murder By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday it is still awaiting notification from Kuwaiti authorities about the arrest of the employers of Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found in a freezer in Kuwait. News reports on Friday said that Demafelis’ Lebanese employer Nader Essam Assaf and his Syrian wife Mona

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arrest from Kuwait’s assistant undersecretary for general security affairs. “During that meeting, Ambassador Villa was told that Interpol Lebanon has alerted Interpol Kuwait of the arrest of Assaf and that a formal notification would be given on Tuesday, 27 February 2018,” she said. “The arrest of Mona Hassoun was also later carried by the media in Lebanon

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday dismissed as irrelevant the call of Iceland’s foreign minister urging the United Nations Human Rights Council to probe the human rights violations in the Philippines in connection with the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, saying it was an issue that should not be taken seriously. “The statement of the Iceland Ambassador is an expression of his home state, but it’s an expression that we don’t have to heed,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told reporters. He also said he would recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte a different United Nations special rapporteur to investigate the government’s war on drugs. He said Agnes Callamard, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, was unfit to conduct an “objective and unbiased” inquiry given her earlier statements against the government’s anti-drug campaign. Iceland Foreign Minister Gudlaugur

Hassoun had been arrested. “The embassy is awaiting formal notification from Kuwaiti authorities who are the ones taking the lead role in the efforts to locate and apprehend the two and have them repatriated to Kuwait,” a DFA statement said. Office of Public Diplomacy executive director Charmaine Aviquivil said Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa had received reports about Assaf’s

Sorry, Krissy, let’s stop the drama. Just play PS4. —Paolo Duterte

I don’t play PS4. May I invite you to have coffee or we can have beer if that is your preference. —Kris Aquino

BOMB DRILL. Members of the Manila Policce District Bomb Squad defuses an Improvised Explosive Device along Parola in Tondo during a bomb drill. Police in the capital have been alerted against possible terror attacks in the city following the arrest of an ISIS member in Malate last week. Norman Cruz

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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Cease order on Boracay mulled “There is no better time than now to prevent the steady degradation of our eco-tourism destinations and to preserve them as long-term assets to be enjoyed by Filipino and foreign tourists,” the chamber said in a statement. “Short-term thinking by violators in travel resorts are damaging the islands’ reputation.” Cimatu assured the people operating businesses on Boracay that his agency would follow due process in its campaign to clean up the island. “Even if we are fast-tracking our investigation processes, we will still follow the rules and will call those with notices of violation to a technical conference, where they will need to present their remedial measures,” Cimatu said.

He said the businesses in Boracay should be given enough time to adopt remedial measures. “If they fail to comply after that time, they could face closure, fines or a cease-and-desist order once we elevate their case to the Pollution Adjudication Board,” Cimatu said. He said the government was not against private businesses but was only protecting the environment and the residents of the island. “To be fair, there are businesses that have successfully complied and rectified their violations. The point here is they have to comply with environmental laws. If they can’t comply, they have no business having business there,” Cimatu said.

the impeachment complaint filed against her by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon. She also made the decision after an open letter from “concerned officials and personnel of the Supreme Court” calling for her immediate resignation circulated in the Supreme Court Monday. The unsigned letter specifically called on Sereno to resign “considering the evidence revealed and testimonies given during the impeachment hearings.” “We hereby manifest our loss of trust, faith and confidence in Your Honor, Chief Justice Sereno, and call on your honor to resign now from your honor’s position as chief justice of the Supreme Court,” part of the three-page letter said. “We can and will no longer remain silent as the institution falls deeper into disrepute with each passing day and our officers and personnel pitted against one another, as a consequence of your honor’s actions and indiscretions,” it added. Last week, the justices tackled the SALN issue against Sereno and decided in session to require her and regular members and officers of the Judicial and Bar Council to answer the letter. Also covered by the order were JBC members Jose Mejia and Ma. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, former members retired Justices Aurora Lagman and Regino Hermosisima Jr., executive officer

Annaliza Ty-Capacite, and former chief of office of selection and nomination, now Judge Richard Pascual. In its two-page letter, the House justice committee asked the Court to take “appropriate action” on the preliminary finding in the impeachment proceedings that Sereno supposedly did not comply with the 10-year SALN requirements for her chief justice application. Among the documents forwarded to the Court were certifications issued by the University of the Philippines and the Office of the Ombudsman showing that Sereno only filed SALNs in 2009, 2010 and 2011 before to her appointment as chief justice. The letter was addressed to Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and other associate justices of the Court. In their earlier testimonies before the House panel, Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta and Teresita Leonardo-De Castro assailed Sereno for her failure to meet the documentary requirement during her application for the chief justice post to replace ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona. Peralta said this development puts into question the legitimacy of Sereno’s appointment as chief justice, which he said could be considered “void from the start.” With Vito Barcelo

“We have established agreements— trilateral and bilateral joint patrols with Malaysia and Indonesia just to secure our waters. So we continue to monitor [the situation],” Datuin said. Datuin could not confirm the reports about 40 foreign terrorists, however. President Rodrigo Duterte vowed Tuesday to strengthen and modernize the military and police forces to avert threats from terrorists and armed rebels and to help safeguard the country and protect freedom and democracy. The President made the announcement in a speech during the inauguration of a shooting range in Davao City, where he reiterated his commitment to further enhance the armed capabilities of the AFP and PNP to avert any future threats and challenges to national security. “I wish to announce now that I want to build a strong Armed Forces and a strong police before I leave my office,”

Duterte said. In line with the continuing modernization program of the government, Duterte said that the Philippines would be receiving some 5,000 firearms from a “friendly country” in the coming days. “I am not at liberty to divulge it but in the next few days we will have about 5,000 more [guns] coming from a friendly country,” he said. He noted that the government is trying to acquire firearms from countries other than the United States to equip the military and police with the necessary weapons to quell the threat of terrorism such as the Marawi siege. “We will survive and we will win these pocket wars. And we will be a great nation someday,” he said . In the same occasion, Duterte said his campaign against illegal drugs would continue despite the decision by the International Criminal Court to conduct

which Ambassador Villa also cited in his report to the Home Office,” she added. Demafelis, who was reported missing for a year, was found dead inside a freezer in her employer’s home where she worked as a maid. Her death, and other seven recent death of Filipinos in Kuwait prompted the government to order a deployment ban to the Gulf state. Demafelis’ murder has triggered outrage but the estimated 252,000 Filipinos already working in Kuwait must weigh their fear of sharing her fate against the potential loss of vital income for their families. Many have relatives back home who de-

pend on remittances to survive, and some say they are forced to choose between their own wellbeing and that of their children. Luzviminda has worked in a hair salon in central Kuwait City since 2013 to support her five children, who live with her mother in the Philippines. Despite being rattled by news of her compatriot’s murder, the 40-year-old said going home was not an option. “I need the money,” she said as she strolled through a park in the city. “My eldest son started university this year to study business administration. It’s expensive, and there’s no way I would have been able to afford it if I had stayed in my country.” Demafelis’ body was discovered in abandoned flat in Kuwait, bearing what officials said appeared to be signs of torture. A Lebanese-Syrian couple suspected

of the young maid’s murder were arrested last week in the Syrian capital Damascus, after an Interpol manhunt. President Rodrigo Duterte responded to the murder by accusing Arab employers of raping and starving their Filipina workers, and announced a ban on the country’s citizens heading to Kuwait for work. Duterte also launched a repatriation plan under which some 1,700 workers have already returned home, according to the Philippine government. Kuwait, whose image was dealt a serious blow, offered an amnesty to illegal workers wanting to fly back home. But Human Rights Watch has warned the new Philippine ban would likely trigger a wave of unregulated labor migration, exposing thousands to an even greater risk of abuse. With AFP

Public Attorney’s Office responded to criticism from Aquino and reminded him that it was he who helped in the forensic investigation of his father’s remains after he was assassinated in 2004. In an interview over radio dzMM, Erfe said PAO tapped him to help in the forensic analysis in the assassination of former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. “We were the ones who conducted the study. The former president knows it,” he said, adding “the [family] lawyer, [Rene] Saguisag, had been [closely] coordinating with us,” he said. “We even submitted our report to the Supreme Court,” he added. Erfe, also a lawyer, said Saguisag used to be his client. “Why question me now?” he asked. He was referring to the statement of Aquino questioning his credentials during a congressional inquiry into the P3.5-billion

purchase of the Dengvaxia vaccine. Aquino’s spokesman Abigail Valte, in her column, claimed Erfe’s certification as a forensics expert was from a “certification mill” in the United States of America. “At first, I did not know that Aquino was attacking until I finally realized, it was me whom he was mentioning,” Erfe said. He defended his academic credentials, saying he graduated at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila’s College of Medicine, and studied forensics at the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City. According to Erfe, he is also a fellow at six forensic big organizations in the US and Europe, including the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute. Valte referred to ACFEI as a “certification mill.” Rio N. Araja

By Rio N. Araja

NVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Tuesday threatened to issue cease-and-desist orders “very soon” and take other actions if the business establishments on Boracay Island would continue polluting the area, a worldfamous tourist destination.

He said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources was also calling for a moratorium on tourist arrivals. The department was also calling for the reclamation of wetlands and forestlands on the island and the completion of solid waste disposal systems and sewerage infrastructure. “We are fast-tracking our processes, and we’ll probably see sanctions handed out be-

fore the end of March to the businesses that fail to roll out remedial measures to their notices of violation,” Cimatu said. He made the statement even as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it was supporting Cimatu’s initiatives to clean up Boracay, Panglao, El Nido and other tourism destinations to ensure that all business establishments complied with environmental laws.

Living treasure award eyed for legendary tattoo artist

Sereno...

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Juan Edgardo Angara has been pushing for the nomination of the 99-year old legendary tattoo artist Whang-od Oggay for the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (Gamaba), or the National Living Treasures Award, due to her exceptional embodiment of the Filipino’s rich heritage.” “Whang-od, who reportedly turned 99 on February 17, deserves the Gamaba award, given her valuable contribution to fostering and preserving the traditional indigenous tattoo art of Kalinga province,” Angara said. He noted that Whang-od, who hails from Buscalan village, is the only surviving Kalinga traditional tattoo artist with the distinguished title of mambabatok or master tattooist of batek or the folk skin inscriptions of the province. “Whang-od is renowned for her batek that she started practicing since her childhood years where she tattooed countless warriors and headhunters of her tribe that has now garnered both local and international recognition and reverence,” Angara said in Senate Resolution No. 538 that he filed in November last year. The resolution calls for the nomination of Whang-od for Gamaba, which is equal in rank with the National Artist.

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Thór Thórdarson welcomed the International Criminal Court’s earlier announcement it would conduct a preliminary examination into the killings linked to the Philippines’ war on drugs, but challenged the Council to do more. But Roque said that for all those familiar with the Special Rapporteur system, all investigations must be consented to by state parties. He said no state could be compelled to undergo an international probe without its consent. “There’s no one that can compel a state party to allow an investigation if it does not want to do so,” Roque said. “Again, if they’re going to send a Special Rapporteur to the Philippines, it must be someone credible, someone who is an authority in the field that they seek to investigate in, and must be objective and unbiased.” Roque said as a Presidential Adviser on Human Rights, he would recommend at least one rapporteur be allowed to conduct an investigation

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“Of course, we will hold the people repsonsible for this fiasco. And the No.1 that will be held accountable will be Sanofi Pasteur,” Pimentel said. He said the French company misrepresented its Dengvaxia vaccine when it failed to inform the Philippine government about the risks of the vaccine. “If they had informed the Philippine government beforehand, probably the former officials or former administration would not push through with the purchase of Dengvaxia,” he said. “So I believe Sanofi should be held accountable for this. And and of course, the past administration officials, they will also be held accountable.” Also on Tuesday, Dr. Erwin Erfe of the

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Sereno then asked to meet with two of the most senior members of the Supreme Court, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. “After the meeting, she announced that she will take an indefinite leave,” one source said. Sereno’s spokespersons, however, later announced that the chief justice was merely taking a “wellness leave” from March 1 to 15 and denied reports that she was forced to go on indefinite leave. “The chief justice is going on a wellness leave, something she has filed for long before. It was supposed to be from March 12 to 23, but it will now be from March 1 to 15,” said Jojo Lacanilao, one of Sereno’s spokespersons. “The leave is her personal decision. There’s nothing to show based on records that she was forced to take a leave,” he added. But another spokesperson, Josa Deinla, said it was “lamentable how sessions [in the Supreme Court] are no longer confidential,” giving credence to reports of the confrontation. Sereno’s decision to go on leave came on the last day of hearings at the House on

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Khadafy Janjalani and Malaysian jihadist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan. Dongon and other suspects, including her father and sister, were found with explosives and firearms. Brig. Gen. Bienvenido Datuis Jr., chief of the AFP’s Civil Relations Services aid they are working together with the Philippine National Police and the Coast Guard to guard against terrorist attacks. He said forces in Western Mindanao Command are closely guarding coastal waters and the southern borders. To enhance security against terrorism, Datuin said they have also forge cooperation with Malaysia, and Indonesia in interdicting suspected terrorists in the border waters.

DFA... From A1

Pinay... From A1

night at the historic Kingdom of Dreams in Gurugram, India. The 18-year-old, 5-foot-4 varsity champion debater of San Beda University, where she is taking up in Financial Management, beat Miss Germany Saskia Kuban and host country bet Miss India Shefali Sharma, who finished first and second runners up, respectively. Miss Thailand and Miss Japan made up the other top five finalists. Señoron’s college debating prowess worked in her favor as she was adjudged best in personal interview and best in speech. She also copped the Miss Environment special title, which was decided through the most number of ratings garnered from the candi-

P10-b capital for 3rd telco relaxed THE third telecommunications company to be allowed in the country will no longer be required to have a paidup capital of P10 billion, an official said Tuesday. “The P10-billion capital required will be out. We have been receiving this comment from the stakeholders themselves,” Eliseo Rio, officer in charge of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, said during the second public consultation on telecommunications in Quezon City. The DICT is requiring the companies interested to become the third telecoms service provider here to have a congressional franchise, be at least 60 percent Filipino-owned and not related to PLDT-Smart and Globe Telecom, the two telecoms providers here. The draft joint memorandum circular released by the DICT and the National Telecommunications Commission on Feb. 19 required the interested bidders to become the third telecoms provider in the country to have a minimum capital of P10 billion. But Rio said the stakeholders in the telecoms sector were concerned about the capital requirement. “We are no longer basing it on the amount they will invest. We are now basing it on the actual resource, service they will commit,” Rio said. “Before, we were to select on the basis of the amount they would invest. But we took that out because they said they should be graded on the efficiency of their system. “So now, we will not be looking at their money but their committed rollout, the areas they will cover and the internet speed.”

May elections for barangay, SK assured THE Department of the Interior and Local Government has given assurances the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14 will not be postponed. “Malacanang’s pronouncement that the polls will proceed as scheduled should put to rest speculations that it will be postponed again,” DILG Officer-in-Charge Secretary Eduardo Año said, who added the DILG and the Philippine National Police were preparing to ensure a peaceful and orderly elections. At the same time, he warned the public against some groups wanting to secure appointments as “OIC-barangay chairmen.” Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections on Tuesday said uncertainties regarding the elections would now be settled after Malacanang recognized the need to push through the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan poll on May 14. It spokesman James Jimenez said the statement of Presidential spokesman Harry Roque would be enough to end the uncertainties on the scheduled elections which had been postponed twice. “This is something the people should be aware of, because the President is all too often used as an excuse (to postpone BSKE),” Jimenez said. He said those pushing for another poll postponement should take cue from the Comelec in just focusing on its conduct. In his twitter account, Jimenez said President Rodrigo Duterte, through the remarks of Roque, wanted to push through with the Barangay and SK polls. “The Comelec stands ready to comply. So should everyone else,” he said in his official twitter account. Sara Susanne Fabunan

date’s country of origin using the free Smart phone solution “Envirate.” Señoron, who hails from Pandi, Bulacan, is a dog lover and likes burgers and shooting arrows. She dreamed of becoming a beauty queen and won the Miss San Beda College title in 2016. Señoron trained in the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp and was supported by designer Jontie Flores who created her Filipiniana national costume and signature San Beda-red evening gown, which she wore in the competition. It is a great coincidence that Señoron and her idol-inspiration, Sushmita Sen, have the same initials. Sen made history by becoming the first Indian to win the Miss Universe title in Manila in 1994, while Señoron was the first Filipina and Miss Multinational in New Delhi, Sen’s hometown. Eton B. Concepcion

News

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018

‘Du30 won’t extend term’

IN BRIEF Japan donates P13m to three provinces JAPAN, the country’s biggest country-donor under its ofﬁcial development assistance, on Tuesday approved and donated $260,373 or an estimated P13.55 million to three provinces in its aim to reduce poverty and help various communities engaged in grassroots activities. During a memorandum of agreement signing ceremony on Tuesday, Japanese ambassador to Manila Koki Haneda said that the three projects in Mountain Province and Oriental Mindoro is part of the 50 percent total Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, where Tokyo prioritizes the Philippines’ quality of education, health and as well as access to safe water. Japan and the Philippines are in the Golden Age of our Strategic Partnership, our cooperation further intensiﬁes from the macro level down to the community level,” Haneda said in his closing speech during the grant contract signing ceremony at the Japanese embassy last Tuesday. Sara Susanne Fabunan

Pope names CDO priest as Tandag bishop POPE Francis has named a Cagayan de Oro priest as the third Bishop of Tandag in Surigao de Sur province. Fr. Raul Dael, who comes from Jasa-an in Misamis Oriental, was appointed by the pope to succeed 77-year-old Bishop Nereo Odchimar. Odchimar, who is retiring having passed the age limit of 75, has served the diocese for almost 17 years and was a former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. Upon his appointment, the bishopelect will serve as the Vicar for the Clergy of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. Dael was born on Oct. 10, 1966. After completing his Philosophy course at Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City, he studied Theology at St. John Vianney Seminary of Theology in the same city. Sara Susanne Fabunan

RICE WATCH. Farmers, peasant women and consumer groups held a protest action in front of the Senate of the Philippines on Tuesday simultaneous with the public hearing of Committee on Agriculture and Food tackling the lack of NFA buffer stock and Rice Tariffication. The groups said that the enactment of the Rice Tariffication Bill would kill the livelihood of Filipino farmers and the local rice industry. Lino Santos

Roque hits back at De Lima

RESIDENTIAL Spokesperson Harry Roque has only one wish for detained Senator De Lima— that she spend the rest of her life in jail.

Roque issued the statement as he responded to De Lima’s accusation that the Palace official has exchanged his dignity and reputation as a human right lawyer for a spot in the administration’s senatorial ticket in May 2019 elections. “As I said, happy anniversary on your first year of detention. May you spend the rest of your life in jail. Good night. Goodbye. So that’s my reaction,” Roque said at a press briefing in Malacañang. Roque had called De Lima the “mother of all drug lords” by allegedly allowing the illegal drug trade to proliferate inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was Justice secretary in exchange for funds for campaign money in 2016. De Lima, in turn, said that she felt sorry for Roque, a human rights lawyer and law professor before he entered politics. “He used to have some semblance of credibility. He held himself out as a defender of the oppressed. Now, it seems he has sold his own identity in exchange for a possible Senate run,” De Lima said. “Mr. Roque, I understand, aspires to one day call himself a senator. There is nothing

wrong with that per se. But just because he has bartered his dignity and reputation as a human rights lawyer, in exchange for a senatorial berth in the President’s party, it doesn’t mean that everyone are willing to go down that path,” she added. Roque earlier said he doesn’t have the money to run for senator. He, however, thanked House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez for the endorsement. Meanwhile, Judge Juanita Guerrero, the judge who issued the warrant to arrest De Lima, denied during a Senate hearing that she received any call from Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. ‘It may be unusual but in this particular case, I don’t think she meddled in our decisions,’ said Guerrero, judge of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204. Guerrero said she did not receive any call from Sereno or any of the justices or ofﬁcial of the high court to inﬂuence her in the decision to make the drug trade charge against De Lima. “Categorically, wala po talaga [there’s really no call],” Guerrero said on Tuesday

Pag-IBIG posts record income PAG-IBIG Fund reported a considerable increase in income for 2017, posting a net income of P30.27 billion, surpassing the year-end target of P25.13 billion— an increase of 21 percent from last year’s P25-billion net income. This is the agency’s highest recorded net income to date, accomplished mainly by an increased housing loan takeout and improved shortterm loan availment. Pag-IBIG Fund, which just celebrated its 37th year, has been consistent in exceeding its yearly accomplishments. In 2016, Pag-IBIG Fund surpassed the P50billion mark for its housing loan takeouts. This year, the agency improved the quality of its loans and disbursed an unprecedented P65.1 billion for its housing loan program, which provided 80,964 members with an opportunity to acquire or build their own homes. The strengthening of Pag-IBIG Fund’s housing loan program is in line with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s directive to address the country’s housing woes. Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and Pag-IBIG Fund chairperson Eduardo D. del Rosario said, “President Duterte has been greatly concerned with the housing needs of our citizens. During the past year, we have been consolidating the efforts of our shelter agencies under the BALAI Filipino (Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable, and Inclusive Filipino Communities) program. I commend the efforts of chief executive officer Acmad Rizaldy P. Moti in leading Pag-IBIG Fund to contribute greatly towards this thrust.” Aside from shelter financing, PagIBIG Fund’s short-term loan program also contributed to the improved income. For 2017, it released P45.37 billion in Multi-Purpose Loans—the highest ever —providing financial assistance to about two-million member-borrowers. This, despite the transition of branch operations to a better integrated system. Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Moti cites the employees’ hard work and dedication to excel as key ingredients for Pag-IBIG Fund’s remarkable performance. “Last year, we declared 2016 as Pag-IBIG Fund’s best-ever year because of recordbreaking accomplishments. With the right mindset and strategy, we learned that our 2016 best can still be improved,” he said.

during the House justice committee’s last hearing on the impeachment complaint against the Chief Justice. Guerrero was the first judge to order De Lima’s arrest after only four working days after the cases were filed before the Muntinlupa RTC. At the same time, Guerrero also vouched for the integrity of her fellow judges who were originally assigned the De Lima cases: Branch 205 Judge Amelia Fabros Corpuz and Branch 206 Judge Patria Manalastas de Leon. “Kilala ko ho ang dalawang judges na yun, ang integrity nila ay beyond reproach, hindi sila maiimpluwensyahan [I know those two judges, their integrity is beyond reproach, they cannot be influenced)]” Guerrero said. Guerrero appeared in the Lower House hearing the impeachment case filed by lawyer Larry Gadon, who accused Sereno of calling the Muntinlupa judges to ask them not to issue an arrest warrant against De Lima. But Guerrero said that even though SC Deputy Court Administrator Jenny Lind Aldecoa-Delorino didn’t call her, the calls to the other two judges weren’t irregular. “It may be unusual but in this particular case, I don’t think she meddled in our decisions,” Guerrero said.

LP hits China’s meddling in PH rise By Macon Ramos-Araneta

WHERE’S THE RICE? Senator Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food along with members of the Committee on Ways and Means and Finance grilled NFA Administrator Jason Laureano Aquino during the public hearing on the rising cost and the dwindling supply of National Food Authority rice at the Senate office in Pasay City. Lino Santos

House to look into P79-m cocaine smuggling in Isabela THE House of Representatives is set to investigate the alleged offloading of P79.136 million worth of cocaine on the waters off Isabela on Feb. 5. Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, said his committee will conduct the probe after Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas filed House Resolution 1674 calling for an investigation into the reported incident perpetrated by foreign syndicates. “The committee would like to find out who are the drug syndicates or individuals responsible for reported smuggling of cocaine. Is the illegal drug intended for local consumption or are foreign drug syndicates just using the Philippines as a transshipment point to other destinations, or both?” Barbers asked. “We need to know how Congress can help the anti-drug agencies cope with new skills and innovations being employed by seaborne drug smugglers, like appropriating funds for the acquisition of modern surveillance and tracking system,” he added. Cocaine is considered a dangerous drug

that was initially developed as a painkiller. For thousands of years, people in South America have chewed and ingested coca leaves (Erythroxylon coca) the source of cocaine, for their stimulant effects. Cocaine is a worldwide, multibillion-dollar enterprise, with users from all ages, occupations and economic levels, according to the US National Institute on Drug Abuse. The NIDA said cocaine is a highly addictive. The 2017 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report released by the US State Department said cocaine was rare in the Philippines due to high prices and limited demand. Barbers, however, expressed alarm over reports of cocaine smuggling in other parts of the country. “In Isabela for instance, a cache of 18.84 kilos of cocaine valued at P79 million was found in the shorelines of Barangay Dipudo in Divilacan town on Feb. 5. In Matnog, Sorsogon, a package containing 25 pieces of cocaine wrapped with packaging tape worth P125 million was found in Juag Lagoon on Jan. 3. The cocaine found in both provinces were similarly packaged and had “R” markings,” Barbers said. Maricel V. Cruz

THE former ruling Liberal Party on Tuesday said that somebody should be accountable for China’s exploration off the Benham Rise without permission from concerned agencies. During last Monday’s Senate Science and Technology hearing in the Benham Rise, National Security adviser Hermogenes divulged that a Chinese ship conducted the first “illegal” research on the Benham Rise in 2004. He also admitted that the government failed to learn of the research at that time because of its lack of capability. During the course of the research, China named five undersea features through the International Hydrographic Organization. But the LP led by its president Senator Francis Pangilinan, demanded an explanation from the government why was the marine scientific research allowed. Former Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada, Partido Liberal vice president for external affairs, branded the move as an affront to the country’s independence. “Is this the meaning of having a good relation with China? That they can do what they want without any permission?” Tañada added. Pangilinan also noted that the Philippine Rise issue is a sovereignty issue. “Why are we too accommodating towards China? Government should never allow our sovereignty to be undermined by these highly questionable incursions,” said Pangilinan. Committee chairman Senator Bam Aquino echoed Tañada’s appeal that government explore all channels to overturn China’s move to name the five undersea features in the Philippine Rise. Earlier, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority said that the Philippine government can call on the IHO to nullify its approval of the Chinese names. As a sign of good faith, Aquino said China itself could withdraw their naming rights.

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday maintained that President Rodrigo Duterte has no plans of extending his term beyond the six-year limit set by the Constitution, just as the Philippines’ emerging partner China recently proposed abolishing a rule limiting Beijing’s top leader to two fiveyear terms. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque refused to draw parallelisms between Duterte and China’s Xi Jinping—two leaders who have gained a reputation among critics as having autocratic tendencies—amid moves in their countries to change their respective Constitutions that could alter term limits of government officials. “That’s a marked difference because the President has said he wants to step down earlier if possible and will not stay one minute longer beyond 2022… He may step down… earlier if the Constitution is amended,” Roque said in a news conference. Roque said Xi may seek a fresh term after his 10-year rule, “but as far as President [Duterte] is concerned, that’s out of the question.” Charter change critics have raised alarm over alleged attempts to extend Duterte’s term, but the chief executive himself has said he would step down once the government manages to change the country’s form of government to from unitary to federal. Duterte has also thumbed down the proposal for him to lead a transition government if the shift to federalism succeeds. China’s Communist Party has handed Xi an open path to indefinite rule—a move analysts warn carries enormous risks by abandoning a succession model that brought stability after turbulent decades under Mao. Xi, who has concentrated power, accumulated titles and purged potential rivals since becoming head of state in 2013, could remain president for life after the party proposed abolishing a rule limiting the top leader to two five-year terms. But giving all the levers of power to one man could further erode human rights, unsettle other nations and even set up traps for Xi’s rule at home, analysts warn. “The two-term limit was supposed to increase stability. By ruling beyond the standard 10-year tenure, Xi will be subject to much closer scrutiny by Chinese citizens and the political elite,” said Simone van Nieuwenhuizen, Sydney-based co-author of “China and the New Maoists.” With AFP

Perjury raps filed vs Purisima By Maricel V. Cruz EIGHT counts of perjury charges were filed against former National Police chief Alan Purisima at the Sandiganbayan after he allegedly lied in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth for the years 2006 to 2009 and 2011 to 2014. The Ombudsman filed the graft case against Purisima who is recommended to post a P48,000 bail for all eight charges of perjury. It accused Purisima of “willful and deliberate assertion of falsehood” in his SALNs for the years 2006 to 2009 and 2011 to 2014. Prosecutors said Purisima failed to declare the property of his wife, Maria Ramona Lydia Purisima, covered by Certificate of Land Ownership CA25916, in his SALNs for 2006 and 2007. In 2008, the number of undeclared properties of Purisima’s wife was increased to three: properties covered by CLOA VOS-28452 and a deed of donation dated May 12, 2008. In his 2009 SALN, Purisima also did not declare another property covered by CLOA VOS-28012. Similarly, in 2011, Purisima was accused of not declaring two firearms in his SALN: a Bushamaster assault rifle and an STI .40-cal. pistol. Prosecutors said a CZ 9MM SPO1 Shadow pistol and a UDMC .556 rifle were added to the list of assets concealed from the 2012 and 2013 SALNs, respectively. In his 2014 SALN, Purisima and his wife also did not declare their four real estate properties. Purisima is also being tried for two separate charges at the anti-graft court: One, for awarding Werfast Documentary Agency Inc. a courier deal for the delivery of firearms permits, and two, separate charges for graft and usurpation of authority for his involvement in the January 2015 Mamasapano massacre which led to the death of 44 members of the PNPSpecial Action Force.

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

A rush job

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

Ominous signs in China THE world is alarmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping has been given enormous powers that could make him leader for life. Xi, since assuming power in 2013, has eliminated all his rivals through purges with the complicit support of China’s Communist Party that controls the People’s Liberation Army. Beijing’s ruling politburo, by discarding the two five-year terms of the president, in effect yielded the collective command of the communist party that has brought stability to the country. The Beijing datelined report was filed by Agence France Presse. It is interesting to note that administration congressmen are planning to give themselves two five-year terms in the proposed federalism/ parliamentary system. Our creative congressman are attempting to lengthen their terms even without a totalitarian regime like China. The scary implication of Xi’s vast powers, according to international observers, is the further erosion of human rights in the world’s most populous nation of 1.37-billion people. And here we have the Duterte administration in the tight embrace of China. Call it pragmatic foreign policy. But the shift from traditional ally the United States need not be a total breakaway . There are signs in the horizon that Mr. Duterte is beginning to realize that being locked in China’s tight embrace can be suffocating. Lately he has diversified the country’s foreign relations by enhancing ties with Australia, Japan, India and Russia.

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Trying to explain further, Aquino said he approved the massive vaccination program in the last months of his term because he did not want to deprive the poor the same health protection enjoyed by the rich. Coming as it does now, with Mr. Aquino facing a number of criminal complaints over the Dengvaxia mess, the explanation seems like an afterthought—and a desperate attempt to gain some political cover. In fact, given Mr. Aquino’s failure—or refusal—to carry out an honest-to-goodness agrarian reform program during his term that would have benefited poor farmers at the cost of his own family-held plantation, and the cavalier attitude he took to the suffering of typhoon victims in Tacloban, his newfound concern for the poor would be touching, if it were not so laughable. There can no longer be any doubt now that for whatever reason, Mr. Aquino and members of his official family rushed the approval and purchase of Dengvaxia, with all the attendant health risks that we now must confront. For this, they must all be held accountable.

ORMER President Benigno Aquino III says there was no rush in his approval of a P3.5-billion antidengue program and the inoculation of 800,000 schoolchildren with a vaccine that is now known to make more severe symptoms likely in those who had no previous exposure to the dengue virus.

A simple timeline, however, exposes the flaws in Mr. Aquino’s logic and appreciation of the facts. “The problem started in 2010, you did everything that you could do. And then you are told that something is forthcoming, a new weapon against this disease. 2014 came, they said it was coming. And in 2015, it was finally ready. This problem has persisted since, what, the 1940s or the 1950s?” Aquino was quoted as saying on the sidelines of a House probe into the purchase of Dengvaxia vaccines during his administration. By referencing the 1940s and 1950s—then 2010, Mr. Aquino hopes to give the impression that his purchase of P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia from Sanofi Pasteur in 2015 was somehow the culmination of a long process, and that it was not a rush job because all those years of waiting for a dengue vaccine had

nothing to do with the specific instance of Sanofi Pasteur’s development of Dengvaxia and the Philippines buying it. A timeline of key events in the Dengvaxia program shows it began in November 2014 with Aquino’s meeting with a top Sanofi official in the Philippine embassy in Beijing, China, and ended in April 2016, with the launch of the P3.5-billion vaccination program. In all, the process of approving a major program with serious health implications took only a year and four months, and along the way, some shortcuts regarding health clearances were taken. Significantly, the actual process by which public funds would be mobilized took only four months, from Mr. Aquino’s meeting with Sanofi officials in December 2015, to the launch of the P3.5-billion program in April 2016. By any definition, that’s a rush job in government.

Xi Jinping now enjoys enormous powers.

Japan, the Philippines’ former enemy in World War II, has been the most forthcoming in terms of granting foreign aid, including funding infrastructure projects and giving patrol boats to beef up the country’s maritime security. So as not to make the Philippines too dependent on China, Japan is matching China’s aid to the country. There is historical enmity between Japan and China. The Japanese army occupied China during the Pacific war and is wary of the growing Chinese militarization and hegemony in the region. Then there is the Senkaku/Diaoyu Island dispute that is escalating tension between Tokyo and Beijing. The Asia-Pacific region is becoming once more a tinderbox. China’s pit bull, North Korea, is firing missiles over Japan. The US Seventh Fleet is making its presence felt in the Korean Peninsula and American warplanes are flying over air space China has unilaterally claimed. Let’s all pray the powder keg situation does not ignite into a shooting war that could trigger World War III. Paradise lost The deterioration of the world-renowned Boracay Island resort might yet be averted. Called a cesspool by President Duterte himself, local government officials in Aklan and the surrounding area of Boracay have shut down several business establishments that have polluted the water because of illegal sewage disposal. Restaurants and hotels along the famous white sand beach of Boracay are the culprits for disposing waste that has polluted what was once pristine sea and sand. The Department of Tourism must now work closely with local government units toward regaining paradise for local and foreign tourists. It would be such a shame if we lose this iconic spot that has been drawing foreign tourists to our shores. Something must also be done to improve the ferrying of tourists from the Kalibo airport to Bora. The short Turn to A5

Was Edsa real? IN THE aftermath of last Sunday’s anniversary of People Power 1, many questions arise on whether it was really an uprising by the people against the dictatorship of the late strongman, Ferdinand Marcos. These questions are being asked because People Power happened only in Metro Manila, and the millions who massed at Edsa were not the masses. They were students, professionals, members of the religious— the middle class, essentially. If you look at the history of revolutions, it is inherent in a society to take up arms and fight dictators who suppress the people of their civil and human rights. But Edsa 1 as we know it was different because it was limited to Metro Manila. So was it a fluke or a miracle? I don’t know, actually. The only thing that happened was that Marcos and family left. Still, it is worth remembering. *** That former President Benigno Aquino III is now facing a double whammy—for the Dengvaxia mess and for his appointment of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno—is, I think, a comeuppance for his incompetence and hypocrisy. The Department of Justice has already ordered the investigation of criminal charges against Aquino and 19 others over the reported deaths of children inoculated with the Dengvaxia vaccine. As for his liability for making Sereno chief justice, both have been charged before the Office of the Ombudsman after it was revealed that Sereno failed to submit her complete statements of assets, liabilities and

I still don’t know if it was a ﬂuke or a miracle.

If I remain alive: The Ghouta diaries By Abdulmonam Eassa ON FEB. 18, 2018, Syrian regime forces intensified their bombardment of Eastern Ghouta, an area home to almost 400,000 people that has escaped government control since 2012, been besieged almost ever since and is controlled by mostly Islamist and jihadist groups. So far the assault has killed more than 550 civilians, including around 140 children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The bombardment was widely considered to be preparation for a government ground assault to retake an area

which lies within mortar range of central Damascus. Monday Feb. 19 Strikes on Eastern Ghouta leave 127 dead. A strike hits very close today. I go to take a look. The whole area seems to have been burned. During the first few seconds, you think no-one is dead, you just see ashes and destruction. That’s because people hide as soon as they hear the sound of a rocket or a plane. But after a few seconds you see signs of life. I see a woman coming out from a destroyed building with four children.

They are screaming. One of the kids is carrying a notepad or a book, maybe a Koran, I can’t remember. The Syria Civil Defence volunteers known as the “White Helmets” arrive and begin to dig through the rubble. I see one of them carrying an infant. I am shocked that someone so young has been hurt. Should I help him or continue to take pictures? It’s a question that I constantly ask myself. I keep taking pictures and look at the back of my camera to see how they came out. Suddenly I see one my Turn to A5

net worth. This constitutes betrayal of pubic trust—a ground for impeachment. I cannot predict what will happen to the cases involving the former President. What I know is that he must be held accountable for the Dengvaxia mess. We know for sure that it was Aquino who negotiated for the P3.5billion deal with Sanofi Pasteur. We also know that his Health Secretary, Janette Garin, implemented the program after meeting with Sanofi executives from France. We also know that former Budget secretary Florencio Abad funded the program a few months before the 2016 polls, in a populist attempt to boost the chances of the Liberal Party candidate, Mar Roxas. *** I have a confession. The reason I had great difficulty finishing my memoirs is that I am not actually a writer, just a plain journalist. There is a world of difference between writers and journalists. A journalist reports facts as he is given them. A writer is a storyteller, making an account of an event readable. I had to consult writers on how to make my book better. But finally, I finished my book and it is now ready for printing. And then I realized that I have another problem —selling it. The difficulty I had in writing my memoirs stemmed from the fact that I did not want it to be all about me. Of course it is an autobiography, but I did not want to glorify myself at the expense of others. Just wait for my book launch in April. See whether I am telling the truth.

Turn to A5

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Opinion If ... From A4

brothers-in-law staring at me from one of the images. He is standing next to a door of a building, screaming for help. He is injured. I didn’t even realize it was him when I was shooting the scene, only after, when I quickly checked the photos. What should I do? Should I help him or continue to take pictures? It’s a question that I constantly ask myself. I’m about to leave when I see a White Helmet carrying a child. I realize it’s the son of a friend. I hurry and take him and rush to the hospital. The boy holds on tight to me, he doesn’t want to let me go. When we get inside, I want to take a picture of him, but he doesn’t want to let go of my hand. I manage to free my hand, but he keeps holding his hand towards me. I can feel myself crying. I leave a half hour later, heading home, which is about 700 meters away. After about 200 meters, I see that the area where I live has been shelled. I suddenly panic. My family lives there! What if one of them is dead?! It’s a friend of mine. He has a head injury. He is dead. But we have to just leave his body there because there are wounded children and they have to be taken to the hospital. I hurry along and see that the building where my sisters and other relatives live has been hit. It’s covered in dust and I can’t see anything. Fear spreads through me as I get closer. I leave my motorbike in the middle of the street and run into our house. I see one of my brothers. “Is Mum ok?” I ask. “Yes,” he answers. “Is everyone else all right?” “Yes,” he says. I am about to breathe a sigh of relief when I catch a figure lying on the ground out of the corner of my eye. It’s a friend of mine. He has a head injury. He is dead. But we have to just leave his body there because there are wounded children and they have to be taken to the hospital. I can’t take pictures of scenes like this. I take a look at the other side of the street. I see a woman wearing a prayer outfit. Her face is bleeding. I suddenly realize that it’s one of my sisters. Two other female relatives are standing next to her, also injured. I try to calm my sister down. She has no shoes, so I want to carry her, but she tells me not to worry, she will walk barefoot. I take her and the others to the hospital, then drop off my mother and other siblings in Daraya. Then I go back to take a look at our house. I have been hurt to the point where I can hurt no more. The doors and windows are completely smashed. I take a look around and realize that I no longer care about death. There is a plane in the sky again, a strike can come at any moment, but I am not scared. I have been hurt to the point where I can hurt no more. My family spends the night in another house. No one really sleeps. As I record these words, I can hear planes in the sky. The building is shaking. Thoughts keep shooting through my mind. What if my loved ones die and I live? How will I bear the pain? I leave. Tuesday, Feb. 20 The attacks on Eastern Ghouta kill 128 civilians, including 29 children. Another hospital, Arbin, has been taken out of action. The UN children’s agency UNICEF issues a blank statement. “No words will do justice to the children killed, their mothers, their fathers and their loved ones,” it says. I go to the hospital because I know the situation there is terrible. No-one has eaten for a day. I walk into one room, it’s full of dead bodies. Some died yesterday, some died before that, but haven’t been buried yet. I manage to sleep for a few hours at the hospital. I know in a few hours it’s going to be the same routine—planes, strikes, barrel bombs, wounded civilians, horror, recognising loved ones wounded or dead. But I am still strong. I can still go out and take pictures. I don’t know how…. But I can. Wednesday, Feb. 21 UN chief Antonio Guterres describes what’s happening in Eastern Ghouta as “hell on earth.” Planes drop barrel bombs on the area. We go into the Saqba neighborhood after a barrel bomb strike. A woman and her children are crying. A man is stuck between two walls of a destroyed building. While we’re here, a second barrel bomb hits, two streets away. I can’t focus. It feels like there is a huge cloud above my head. A boy and a girl are stuck between

Ominous... From A4

trip by decrepit motorized bancas can be perilous. Sometimes the waves can be too strong that boat passengers can be seen muttering prayers. It’s a different story for visitors staying at the posh Shangri-La Hotel. They are ferried by

two walls of a collapsed building. I see their legs dangling. After a while, I head back to my neighborhood. A Russian plane had hit it. People are screaming. People don’t know how to deal with a situation like this. I know a little because I follow death and destruction for my work. I get closer to a building. A boy and a girl are stuck between two walls of a collapsed building. I see their legs dangling. I inspect the area to make sure it’s safe. Then I pull out the boy. Then the girl. I climb to the rooftop to get a better view. Everything is burning. It seems like everywhere was shelled -- Saqba, Misraba, Douma, Kafr Batna… it seems like the whole area is burning. My neighbors scream that there are more children under the rubble. I put away my camera and head to where they’re pointing. Sometimes I take pictures and sometimes I help pull people out. I don’t have a set formula for when I do what. I just go with my gut. The Civil Defense volunteers say there is one child still stuck, but we find a child and a father. The father has suffocated to death, the child has survived. Thursday, Feb. 22 German Chancellor Angela Merkel calls for an end to “massacre” in Syria. The UN Security Council fails to adopt a resolution on a ceasefire over objections from Russia, an ally of Syria President Bashar al-Assad, who has been helping him militarily. It’s been four days now that the bombing hasn’t stopped. Everyone is scared. I wake up at 6:00 a.m.. It’s quiet. There is destruction everywhere. People start to emerge, to check the damage and to try to get some food. A half hour later there is that dreaded sound —a plane in the sky. It starts shelling. People run back to their shelters. It’s been four days now that the bombing hasn’t stopped. Everyone is scared. Later I see White Helmets giving first aid to a man. “Where is my bag of flour?! I need it!” he keeps crying. Seems he was wounded getting food. There are many people missing. Everyone seems to be searching for their relatives. Some are dead, some are just hiding, but communication is hard. Don’t have any electricity. I worry about being able to recharge my cameras and my computer. I need them, I can’t work without them. Hospitals can’t count the number of dead and injured. Some people are still stuck under the rubble. The Civil Defence volunteers are trying their best, but they just can’t reach some areas because of the bombardment. The number of martyrs has now risen to more than 300. Hospitals can’t count the number of dead and injured. Some people are still stuck under the rubble. The Civil Defence volunteers are trying their best, but they just can’t reach some areas because of the bombardment. The situation is so bad. God help us. It’s 3:00 p.m. as I record this and the planes haven’t stopped bombing. Not one area has been spared. The White Helmets are really struggling. Many of their vehicles are damaged. It’s very difficult. Friday, Feb. 23 The UN Security Council postpones a vote on a truce in Eastern Ghouta. I can’t believe the difference four days of bombardment has made...The streets aren’t there anymore. They’re full of dust, rubble. People are cowering in shelters. Everyone is in shock. We can’t understand anything. Everything is out of service. I can’t believe the difference four days of bombardment has made. The whole area has been changed, erased. The streets aren’t there anymore. They’re full of dust, rubble. Only ambulances use them. Maybe crying doesn’t help, but today I cry. I can’t say anything else. Please, someone stop the carnage. Please, someone has to stop what is happening here! But life goes on. Today we take out four children from underneath a fully destroyed building. The things that I have witnessed here, I will never forget. If I remain alive. The things that I have witnessed here, I will never forget. If I remain alive. On Saturday, Feb. 24, the UN Security Council approved a ceasefire resolution, which calls for a ceasefire “without delay” to allow aid into the area. But air strikes continued and claimed more lives. On Monday Russia announced a five-hour daily “humanitarian pause” and corridors for civilians to leave. AFP a modern speedboats that only seem to skim the water, The Department of Transportation is being urged to provide the same safe and comfortable ride to Bora tourists who are not staying at Shangrila. A tragic boat sinking will make international headline more damaging than Digong’s apt “cesspool” description of Boracay.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Shorts SO I SEE LITO BANAYO SCANNING the front page of yesterday’s Taipei Times, one gets to pine for the “sensational” news items that is daily grist for Philippine media. Banner story is about a “Quake-safety plan for older buildings.” Government here is embarking on a comprehensive examination of older buildings to determine their earthquake-resistance capabilities. And how is an “old” building defined? All six-story buildings built before the year 2000. Nakaka-inggit. The Taiwan cabinet is allocating a four-year US $207.63-million budget to cover “fast screening, resistance analysis, reconstruction, reinforcement and financial aid” for buildings built before 2000. This action comes in the wake of the February 6 earthquake that killed 17 people in Hualien, among them a Filipina caregiver, Melody Albano Castro of Abulug, Cagayan. *** Next front-page story is about the new Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-long’s policy favoring monetary stability as he aims to keep the financial system and consumer prices stable. Do news items like these get into our front pages back home? Of course not. In yesterday’s news from back home, one gets inundated by the continuing blame-game over the Dengvaxia vaccine mess. Hearings in the Senate, hearings in the House. Persida wailing, PNoy questioning the bona fides of Persida’s forensic “expert,” Persida questioning the impartiality of

everyone but PAO. And Mocha coming up with another “fake news” controversy. Oh well. Manila is definitely more news-exciting, more sensational. But other countries, like Singapore and South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand, and yes, Taiwan, with all their “boring” news, are giving their people a better quality of life. *** Speaking of the destructive earthquake here last Feb. 6, we still continue to experience aftershocks both strong and mild. Last Sunday, we had an Intensity 5 quake in Yilan, just an hour north of the capital, Taipei, at 2:30 am,

Do news items like these get into our front pages back home? Of course not.

when everyone was asleep. Fortunately, it was quick and there were no casualties nor building damage. Meanwhile, the remains of the unfortunate Melody Castro were brought home to Abulug on Feb. 15, nine days after the Hualien quake. It arrived in Manila on Feb. 14 and was brought home to Cagayan province the following day via a commercial flight to Tuguegarao. We would like to express our thanks to the Labor and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration officials, both here in Taipei and in Manila, as well as our Meco ATN personnel who looked after the recovery efforts all the way to accompanying the remains to Cagayan,

for their quick action. Apart from the OWWA benefits which Secretary Silvestre Bello and the OWWA board approved despite Melody’s non-renewal of her membership, the family received a substantial amount from the insurance coverage made by Melody’s employers, plus assistance from the Hualien government, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development counterpart in Taiwan. Meco was able to raise substantial financial donations and together with those of the Taiwan Association in the Philippines, a trust fund for Melody’s six-year old daughter is being arranged, for turn-over to the family soon. Still and all, no amount of financial assistance can compensate for the loss of life, and we express our profound condolences with Melody’s family. *** Here in Taiwan, the Cabinet had to reassure the public that there is an ample supply of toilet paper! For the past week, the commodity was flying off the shelves of supermarkets due to reports that prices would increase dramatically in March. The cabinet’s Consumer Protection Committee conferred with supermarket chains and paper suppliers who gave assurances that there is enough stock and replenishment will be made. Yet back home, consumers are panicking because rice prices are increasing, and legislators as well as food security agencies are debating about whether there is a shortage of the prime staple or not. Determining the cause of the problem isn’t really such a big deal. It’s a question of numbers, the ability to calculate and the foresight to prepare. Numbers, not words. And we can’t even get that straight.

The harm of Edsa People Power VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ PRESIDENT Duterte boycotted the 32nd anniversary celebration of Edsa People Power. And hardly anybody noticed the celebration, except for a few thousand Yellowtards. Edsa 1986 did more harm than good to the people and the country. It ushered in a flawed Constitution. It gave us two Aquino presidencies lasting for 12 years and four months. The Cory Aquino presidency and that of BS Aquino III should by now be viewed as among the worst regimes this country has ever endured. Duterte is trying to rectify history. One, by encouraging the Senate and House hearings on Dengvaxia. The hearings should end up with BS Aquino being arrested and placed behind bars. Noynoy senses the rising outrage and the maddening crowds. He has asked his good friend, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista to put up barriers at the north and south entrances of Times Street where he has his house. Two, by seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution to install federalism, free the economy, and end the rule of the entrenched oligarchies. Last year, I wrote the CojuangcoAquino family of BS Aquino III has appropriated Edsa People Power as if it were their brand, their franchise, their business. That’s a lot of BS. Corazon Cojuangco Aquino was in Cebu hiding in a convent during the first and most dangerous night of People Power, on Feb. 22, 1986. Her son was too engrossed with many other things to have participated, too. I was at People Power I as a foreign correspondent. The Aquino family has been the biggest beneficiary of People Power. They were awarded two presidencies. And what did the people get for having two Aquino presidents? It was a bad deal. In 1983, Cory had blamed Marcos for her husband’s assassination and launched a destabilization campaign. Upon United States prodding, the strongman was forced to call a snap

election to end bring the crisis, in February 1986. Marcos was confident he would win the election. In 1982, the President still had the support of US President Ronald Reagan. The Philippine economy was stable, having weathered what could have been a crippling downturn. Basic services were in place. But Ninoy’s murder turned things upside down. Sensing Marcos was very sick (he was, having undergone two kidney transplants), Ninoy Aquino attempted to return in 1983 and grab power from the President. The opposition senator was instead felled by a bullet at the airport tarmac.

The Cory Aquino presidency and that of BS Aquino III should by now be viewed as among the worst regimes this country has ever endured.

The Aquino-Cojuangco family has no more right to claim Edsa as theirs than every Filipino, you and I. Their Edsa failed us, the people. On the first day of Edsa I, Feb. 22, 1986, I was lucky to be both in Cebu, for Cory’s civil disobedience afternoon rally, and Manila, for the first night of Enrile’s breakaway coup. Enrile had no troops, just about two dozen RAM soldiers. His shock troops were us, foreign correspondents, numbering about 40. Not many people know it but Edsa I was triggered by greed and was won by a lie. The crowds that massed on Edsa on Feb. 24, 1986, Monday, and Feb. 25, Tuesday, were there not to stage a revolt but to hold a picnic. June Keithley had announced on radio at 7 a.m. of Feb. 24 that the Marcoses had left. It was a lie. In their glee and feeling that finally it was all over, people trooped to Edsa to celebrate. The 1987 Charter was flawed for a number of reasons. First, it abolished the old two-party

the more widely read opinion writers are those who dwell on several issue, not those who write kilometric pieces From A4 and who inspire readers to consult a *** dictionary to find out what they mean. In this column, I do not dwell on one Meanwhile, the existence of fake subject alone. Studies have shown that news may become even more preva-

Was...

system dominated by the Nacionalista and Liberal parties. The NP and LP had ensured regional balance in the choice of senators and competent and popular officials. For the NP or LP to capture the presidency, it must first capture the Senate, which had 24 senators, eight of whom had to be elected every four years. To control the Senate, both parties had to field the best and brightest and most popular candidates. One proof the old system worked is that seven Philippine presidents were bar topnotchers and first served in the Senate (or Congress) before being ushered into Malacañang. The lack of regional balance under the present system of electing senators led to a ridiculous situation during Aquino’s time where a small snooty village in La Vista in the Manila suburb of Quezon City had four senators in residence while the entire Mindanao island didn’t have a single senator. Second, in lieu of the Senate Commission on Appointments, it created a Judicial and Bar Council (a small cabal of men and women actually who are very susceptible to suggestion) to screen judges and Supreme Court justices instead. This resulted in a corrupt if not incompetent judiciary or both. Third, the Constitution banned foreigners from owning majority of real estate and other key areas of the economy. This turned off investors and the Philippines missed the flood of foreign investments that swept through Southeast Asia in three waves in two decades. Fourth, the 1987 Charter banned nuclear power. This denies the Philippines the option to tap one of the cleanest and best sources of energy. The multi-party system that replaced the old two-party system enabled communists to get seats in the 280-seat Congress. Because poll inspectors of the two largest parties were no longer paid wages by the state on election day, presidential candidates had to raise private money to man electoral precincts in 42,000 barangays or villages, making them vulnerable to vested interest and election financiers and crime syndicates. The setup opened doors to corrupt elected officials and worse, incompetent administrators. biznewsasia@gmail.com lent given the shift from objective to subjective reporting. In my time, we adhered to the 5Ws and 1H. Now, news reporting betrays the biases of the reporter and of the news organization he or she is working for.

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TODAY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Villar appeals to Du30 to resolve rice shortage By Macon Araneta SENATOR Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Food Committee, appealed Tuesday to President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an executive order to give the over 100,000 metric tons of smuggled rice to the National Food Authority to resolve the current shortage of NFA rice. She said the smuggled rice had been found in the ports of Subic, Cebu and Zamboanga. Since the smuggled rice had been confiscated since last January, Villar assured the rice had remained fit for human consumption. She noted that donating the rice would be much better to address the NFA rice shortage instead of bid-

ding them. She raised the possibility that those behind the smuggled rice might also join the bidding. During the start of the hearing, Villar castigated NFA administrator Jason Aquino for making a public announcement on the shortage of NFA rice, causing the public to panic. “The NFA press release confused the people. The NFA said there was no rice... The NFA should not have come out with the PR because it created confusion, no need for that PR creating panic,” Villar chided Aquino. “Why did you announce to the whole world that you failed to do your job?” also asked Villar, citing the “psychological effects it has on the consuming public.”

Standard Form Number: SF-INFR-05 Revised on: July 29, 2004

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Sur MUNICIPALITY OF SAN EMILIO INVITATION TO BID The Local Government Unit of San Emilio, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for the hereunder contract: 1. Name of Project Location Brief Description No. of Days ABC Source of Fund

: : : : : :

Improvement along San Emilio-Luba FMR- San Emilio San Emilio, Ilocos Sur Improvement 189 calendar days P 25,000,000.00 AO NO. 2018-01 Section 2 Exp. 22

2. Name of Project Location Brief Description No. of Days ABC Source of Fund

: : : : : :

Improvement along Kalumsing-Burayok FMR Kalumsing, San Emilio, Ilocos Sur Improvement 20,000,000.00 AO NO. 2018-01 Section 2 Exp. 1

Prospective bidders should possess a valid PCAB License applicable to the contract, have completed a similar contract with a value of at least 50% of the ABC, and have key personnel and equipment (listed in the Eligibility Forms) available for the prosecution of the contract. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid.

73 Chinese nationals in online ring deported By Vito Barcelo

Romualdez welcomes 'Yolanda' bill passage

HE Bureau of Immigration deported 73 Chinese nationals who ran an online blackmail syndicate in Ilocos Sur and Metro Manila that defrauded victims in China and Taiwan by duping them they have cases and their bank accounts are being investigated. BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said Tuesday the foreigners were escorted by Chinese police officers and boarded a chartered China Eastern Airlines flight Monday night that left the Ninoy Aquino International Airport bound for Tianjin, China. “The aliens were expelled pursuant to a summary deportation order that the BI Board of Commissioners issued against them for being undesirable aliens as all of them are fugitives who are wanted for economic crimes by authorities in China,” Morente said. “They are also undocumented aliens because the Chinese government already canceled their passports,” Morente said. He added the deported aliens were included in the bureau’s blacklist as “their continued presence here poses a risk to public interest.” The mass deportation also aimed to declog the bureau’s backlog of deportation cases and hasten the implementation of deportation orders, the BI chief said. BI Legal division chief Arvin Cesar Santos said those deported were among more than 100 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals arrested

in raids by joint operatives of the BI and the PNP anti-cybercrime group in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur and Las Piñas City last Jan. 13. The Chinese police sought the arrest of the suspects after they monitored some 100 Internet protocol addresses in China coming from the Philippines. The suspects pretended to be police officers, prosecutors and judges when calling their victims in China, many of whom are rich businessmen. “The victims were told that they had cases involving their phone numbers or bank accounts that needed to be investigated after which they would demand payment by asking that the money be transferred to the syndicate’s account,” Santos added. Seized from the suspects during the raids were several improvised soundproof telephone cubicles, laptops, cellphones, computers, internet routers, and other devices, including a list of their victims. The Chinese entered the Philippines using tourist visas and did not apply for any work permits.

By Maricel V. Cruz

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR). The schedule of BAC activities is as follows: Activities 1.Posting 2. Pre-bid Conference 3. Submission of Bids 4. Opening of Bids 5. Bid Evaluation 6. Post Qualification 7. Approval of Resolution 8 Notice of Award 9. Contract Preparation and Signing 10. Notice to Proceed

Schedule February 26, 2018 to March 5, 2018 March 6, 2018 March 14, 2018@ 9:30 AM

March 14, 2018@ 10 :00 AM at Municipal Hall

March 15, 2018 March 16 -20, 2018 March 21, 2018 March 22, 2018 March 23,26, 2018 March 29, 2018

The BAC will issue to prospective bidders Eligibility Forms at BAC Secretariat upon their submission of a LOI, and upon their payment to the LGU Cashier of a nonrefundable amount determined in the cost of bidding documents shall correspond to the ABC range as indicated in the Table below. Prospective bidders shall submit the Eligibility Requirements to the BAC at the said address. They may also obtain the results of the Eligibility Check by the BAC at the same address. ABC 500,000 and below More than 500,000 up to 1 Million More than 1 Million up to 5 Million More than 5 Million up to 10 Million More than 10 Million up to 50 Million More than 50 Million up to 500 Million More than 500 Million

Maximum Cost of Bidding 500.00 1,000.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 25,000.00 50,000.00 75,000.00

The Local Government Unit of San Emilio assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids. Approved by:

Noted by:

(SGD) MARILOU D. COSME BAC Chairman

(SGD) FERDINAND A. BANUA Municipal Mayor (MS-FEB. 28, 2018)

LOCAL HOLIDAY. Leyte (1st District) Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez (left) discusses with Committee on Local Government Chairman Senator Sonny Angara (right) her House Bill 6591 An Act Declaring Nov. 8 of every year a special non-working holiday in the Eastern Visayas Region, to be known as ‘Typhoon Yolanda Resiliency Day.‘ Looking on is Bataan Rep. Geraldin Roman (center). Ver Noveno

LEYTE Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt-Romualdez on Tuesday welcomed the move of a Senate panel to pass a bill declaring Nov. 8 of every year as the Typhoon Yolanda Resiliency Day in Eastern Visayas. Romualdez, vice chairman of the House committee on government enterprises and privatization, thanked the Senate’s panel chairman, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, for his support for the passage of House Bill 6591, which substitutes Romualdez’s HB 4383 or “Yolanda Commemoration Day.” “From the bottom of my heart, I thank Senator Sonny for his malasakit [compassion], kindness and generous support in ensuring the passage of the Yolanda Commemoration Day,” said Romualdez, adding the bill would show the continued “malasakit” to the victims of Super Typhoon "Yolanda" tragedy that happened more than four years ago. Romualdez, wife of Philippine Constitution Association president Martin Romualdez, was confident of the measure’s enactment as the Senate panel approved Tuesday the counterpart Senate Bill 1596 that Angara himself filed. She applauded Angara’s “sheer faith, diligence and hard work.” For his part, Angara said his SB 1596 sought to declare Nov. 8 as a special non-working public holiday in Eastern Visayas to be known as “Yolanda Commemoration Day.” Angara joined Rep. Romualdez in declaring that “it would be fitting if this commemoration is institutionalized through a law.” “It is very important that we, as a country, honor the memory of the dead and as well as the selflessness of those who worked tirelessly and contributed resources to help Eastern Visayas. Those who perished are not statistics and those who worked in the recovery and rehabilitation efforts are true heroes who should never be forgotten,” Angara said.

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

INVITATION TO BID

SUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF 1 LOT COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT (HANDHELD RADIOS WITH EARSETS)

SUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF 1 LOT FIREPOWER EQUIPMENT (500 UNITS CAL.45 SHORT FIREARMS AND 350UNITS CAL. 5.56 HIGH-POWERED FIREARMS)

SUPPLY FOR ONE (1) LOT SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT (CAMERA, DRONE, BODY CAMERA) Bid Ref. No. 2018-07

Bid Ref. No. 2018-08. 1.

ThePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum of TWELVE MILLION SEVENPESOS (P12,000,000.00) through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2018being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)to paymentsunder the contractfor theSUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF 1 LOT COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT (HANDHELD RADIOS WITH EARSETS). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected duringbid opening.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for theSUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF 1 LOT COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT (HANDHELD RADIOS WITH EARSETS).Delivery of the goods is 60 calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bid Ref. No. 2018-04 1.

ThePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum ofSEVENTYSIX MILLION FIVE HUNDREDTHOUSAND PESOS (P76,500,000.00)through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2018being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)to paymentsunder the contractfor theSUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF 1 LOT FIREPOWER EQUIPMENT (500 UNITS CAL.45 SHORT FIREARMS AND 350 UNITS CAL. 5.56 HIGH-POWERED FIREARMS). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected duringbid opening.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for theSUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF 1 LOT FIREPOWER EQUIPMENT (500 CAL.45 SHORT FIREARMS AND 350 CAL. 5.56 HIGH-POWERED FIREARMS).Delivery of the goods is 180 calendar days upon receipt of Authority to Import from PNP. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on February 26, 2018from the address given 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 fifty thousand pesos (PhP50,000.00). The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 2, 2018,01:30 p.m. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before March 14, 2018, 01:30 pm. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 2, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before March 14, 2018, 10:00 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. Bid opening shall be March 14, 2018, 10:00 am. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100. 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.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat Mr. Arvin E Sadulloat the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting February 26, 2018at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

PDEA 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.

(MS-FEB. 28, 2018)

10. For further information, please refer to:

The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. 6.

The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 2, 2018, 11:30 a.m. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City, 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before March 14, 2018,11:30 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. Bid opening shall be March 14, 2018,11:30 am at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City, 1100. 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.

10. For further information, please refer to: Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082

Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082 (Sgd) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (8:00 am to 5:00pm).

Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082

The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for theSUPPLY FOR ONE (1) LOT SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT (CAMERA, DRONE, BODY CAMERA).Delivery of the goods is 120calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

10. For further information, please refer to:

Bid opening shall be March 14, 2018, 01:30 pm. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100. 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.

ThePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum ofTWELVE MILLION ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS(P 12,100,000.00)through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2018being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)to paymentsunder the contractfor theSUPPLY FOR ONE (1) LOT SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT (CAMERA, DRONE, BODY CAMERA). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected duringbid opening.

(Sgd) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee (MS-FEB. 28, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Sports

Standard

TODAY

THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE

Pangalusian Island wins PCSO Freedom Cup WILBERT Tan’s Pangalusian Island grabbed top honors in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Freedom Cup held Sunday (Feb. 25) at the Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite. The race is an iconic offering of the PCSO’s racing program and commemorates the People Power event of 1986. The charity proceeds of the race were handed to the Philippine Orthopedic Center. Pangalusian Island, conditioned by Arthur Sagun, was ridden by Mark Alvarez. Manda 2nd, Salt and Pepper 3rd, Golden Kingdom 4th. The latter tripped at the start and this likely affected his chances in the race. The total time for the race was 1:41.4 (26’-23’-24-27’). In addition to the regular lineup of ratings-based handicapping system races, there were also four Philtobo Gintong Lahi 20th Anniversary races held that day over 1,300 meters. Race 2 was won by Single Flower (time of 1.22.2). Love Affair 2nd, Jersy Savings 3rd, Wine Princess 4th, Sydney Boy 5th. Race 4: Band of Halo 1st (1.22.8). Super Ecstatic 2nd, Isangkahigisangtuka 3rd, Jersy Jewel 4th, Jontu 5th. Race 8: Sky Marshall 1st (1:20.2). Winter Fields 2nd, Big Nevada 3rd, Melody’s Diamond 4th, Alki 5th. Race 10: Security Might 1st (1:25.2). Magical Bell 2nd, Doña Nicasia 3rd, Razor Sharp 4th. *** The Winter Olympics are over and fans of snow and ice sports will have to wait another two years for more recordbreaking and awe-inspiring feats from the world’s best athletes. Meanwhile, while we look forward to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, we savor the results of Pyeong Chang 2018 that saw history made in many special ways. American snowboarder Chloe Kim, 17, brought pride to both the U.S. (where she resides) and South Korea (from where her parents immigrated), by earning gold in the women’s halfpipe event. She also brought to world attention the sacrifices her father made to support her career. Kim will also now be ever-famous for being so relaxed before her competition that she tweeted about being “hangry” right before it. Czech athlete Ester Ledecka, 22, made history by becoming the first woman to earn gold in two different sports in the same Olympics—the Alpine skiing Super G and the snowboarding parallel giant slalom. This achievement is leading other athletes and coaches to reflect on whether specializing in one sport is actually a rule that’s carved in stone or whether it might be more beneficial to mix it up, with Ledecka having used snowboarding skills during her favorite-upsetting skiing run. It was also good to see our own Michael Martinez compete. At first he had been told he had not secured a berth in this year’s Games, but was told a few weeks before that a slot opened up. He had, he said, “retired” from the sport and was looking for work when he got the call. He only had weeks to train and it’s a marvel that he performed as well as he did. His fighting spirit and determination made us all proud. Now a twotime Olympian, he deserves a shining star in our sports history annals. *** Dr. Ortuoste is a writer and communications consultant. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and @DrJennyO, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @jennyortuoste

Manila WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018 TODAY

Wild Solaire Open finish looms

HIS is one Solaire Philippine Open bracing for a classic ending on its Centennial staging.

With a best international cast ever assembled in years, a record prize fund and a dreaded course whose signature final hole could make or break one’s title bid, the country’s premier championship unwraps today (Wednesday, Feb. 28) with a promise of nothing but a thriller of a finish in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. There’s also the Centennial champion tag to fight for. The elite 132-player field, including six former champions, 30 mainstays of One Asia Tour, 45 other foreign players from Philippine Golf Tour Asia and the cream of the local pro crop will not only be battling for the top $108,000 purse out of the whopping $600,000 fund put up by Solaire Resort and Casino, but also for history, this being the 100th tournament of Asia’s oldest National Open at The Country Club course.

“There’s no better way to win a premier golf championship than here in the Phl Open where history awaits the winner,” said Tony Lascuña, chasing perhaps the only crown missing in his vast trophy collection. Former champions Mardan Mamat (2012) of Singapore and Aussie Marcus Both (2014) and last year’s winner Steve Lewton of England also seek to become the first repeat winner of the fabled event in the last decade along with local titlists Miguel Tabuena (2015), Angelo Que (2008) and legend Frankie Miñoza, the former Asia’s No. 1 who scored a Phl Open breakthrough in 1998 and the last player to win the coveted crown twice in 2007. “I’m not getting any younger. But I’m always ready for the Phl Open,” said the 58-year-old Miñoza, stressing the younger ones will have an edge over the long, demanding course that measures up to 7,300 yards. But with the winds not whipping up this week based on the web forecast, a shootout looms among the best of the best in all four days although others note wind condition could change at any given day at the TCC. Still, the Tom Weiskoph-designed layout,

kept in championship form all year long, remains as tough as ever even without the gusts with its sheer length, bunkers, lakes, streams and planted native areas enough to bring out the best—or the worst—in every bidder in the blue-ribbon event serving as the final leg of the inaugural eight-stage PGT Asia and co-sanctioned by One Asia. There’s also the TCC’s last line of defense, its sleek, undulating putting surface with pin placements expected to be placed on strategic spots in the final two rounds of the tournament sponsored by ICTSI, Meralco, PLDT, Smart, Bulgari, Diamond Motor Corp., BDO, Central Azucarera de Tarlac, Amon Trading, Dynamic Sports and Custom Clubmakers. But all will aim for a strong start for the momentum and confidence needed in this kind of championship with Lascuña drawing Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang and Thai Namchok Tantipokhakul in the 7:10 a.m. flight on No. 10; Que facing Malaysian Nicholas Fung and Rattanon Wannasrichan, also of Thailand, at 7:30 a.m. on No. 1; and Both taking on reigning PGT Order of Merit Clyde Mondilla and Japanese Toru Nakajima at 7:50 a.m., also on the first hole.

Former winners Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que (above) and multi-titled Tony Lascuña head the country’s title bid against a slew of foreign aces, led by defending champion Englishman Steve Lewton, in the Centennial Solaire Philippine Open.

60 quarterfinalists join Pacquiao Cup in Naga City, Cebu

SENIORS CEREMONIAL TEE OFF. The 71st PAL Interclub golf tournament at Bacolod City celebrates PAL’s 4-Star rating with the Seniors tournament rolling off March 1 to 4 at the Bacolod Golf & Country Club and Negros Occidental Golf & Country Club. Photo shows personalities at the ceremonial tee off last Feb. 26 prior to the three-day practice rounds. They are (from left) Atty. Domingo Duerme, former Interclub tournament chairman; Genaro ‘Bong’ Velasquez, PAL senior asst. VP; Andy Montelibano, president - Bacolod Golf & Country Club; Jose Maria Limjap, president - Negros Occidental Golf & Country Club; and Jomari Vargas, representing Bacolod City Mayor Evelio ‘Bing’ Leonardia.

Veteran Sta. Ana rules Dukehana KTM tilt Text and photos by Diana B. Noche LUISITO Sta. Ana, a veteran of many motorcycle competitions, took the overall championship of the Dukehana KTM as he as his Duke 200 sliced heavily along the concrete with a polished, graceful swoop through coils of smoke, dust, and gasoline fumes at the Circuit Makati Parking Grounds. He will represent the Philippines in the Dukehana Asia Finals before 2018 ends along with other Asian champions from Bangkok, China, and Taiwan. Other winners were Van Ruedas, secod, and Iraq Bauzon, third. And for the rest of the race participants, who were left to choke down their disappointments on the

Jr NBA PH in Mindanao lures 1,505 young cagers A RECORD-BREAKING 1,505 young basketball players across Mindanao welcomed the Jr. NBA Philippines 2018 presented by Alaska at Fr. Saturnino Urios University in Butuan City on Feb. 24-25. Boys and girls from Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Davao, Sarangani and other cities and provinces in Mindanao, including young Higa-onon, Manobo and Banwaon players, participated in the first-ever Jr. NBA Regional Selection Camp in Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte. 11 aspirants got the nod from Jr. NBA Coaches Rob Newson and Jeffrey Cariaso as they excelled in two days’ worth of intense basketball training and scrimmages. They also exemplified the Jr. NBA core S.T.A.R. values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect throughout the camp. Travelling to Manila for the National Training Camp on May 18-20 are Richard Carvero III, 13, and Paolo Matthew Kho, 13, of Corpus Christi School; Christian Joi Mesias, 14, of Jose Maria College; Zhan Paolo Moreno, 13, of Xavier University; Michael John Sarmiento, 13, of Father Saturnino Urios University; Klein Tyrone Tagotongan, 13, of St. Mary’s School; and Vince Uchi, 14, of Alabel National Science Highschool for the boys division and Madelyn Flores, 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 14, of Bukidnon National Highschool; Aishe So00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M lis, 13, of Corpus Christi School; Mikylla Taborada, 13, of Kauswagan DIGITS 0-0-0-0 National Highschool; and Pauline Angelique Valle, 13, of Misamis Oriental DIGITS 0-0-0 General Comprehensive Highschool for the girls EZ2 0-0 division.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 6/45 4 3 2

A7 Standard sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

sidelines, there are more Dukehanas to look forward to. Aside from the Makati action, there are more events like this in the wrap-up stage: the Manila, Davao, and Cebu legs all lined up to overmatch the Makati leg. Until then, everyone takes off their helmets and sweaty orange-speckled racing jackets and gets set to party. The Dukehana KTM was hatched as a motorcycle time event where riders go full speed ahead through a paved course hemmed in by traffic cones and other obstacles in the shortest time. Some riding skills like reversals,180-degree spins, 360-degree spins, parking boxes, and figure 8s will test each racer’s heart for the sport, discipline, agility, and stamina. Luisito Sta. Ana at the winner’s podium

SIXTY quarterfinalists from all over Visayas competed in the City of Naga, Cebu this weekend to vie for a slot in the finals of the Philippine Sports Commission-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup. Amateur boxers geared up for the Visayas Quarter Finals this weekend, Feb. 24 and 25 at the Enan Chiong Activity Center in this project, held by the PSC in partnership with the Office of Senator Manny Pacquiao. Olympic Boxing silver medalist Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco was on hand to inspire the young boxers. His simple advice was “get plenty of rest before a bout.” He also told the boxers to keep reaching for their dreams, like he did when he was younger. The two-day match was participated in by amateur boxers from Mandaue City (Cebu), Cebu City (Cebu), Murcia (Negros Occidental), San Carlos City (Negros Occidental), Escalante City (Negros Occidental), Maasin City (Southern Leyte), Victorias City (Negros Occidental), Don Salvador Benedicto (Negros Occidental), Bago City (Negros Occidental), Sipalay (Negros Occidental), La Carlota (Negros Occidental), Bayawan City (Negros Oriental), Cadiz City (Negros Occidental), and Calbayog City (Samar). Winners will now advance to the semifinals in San Jose, Antique on March 10. NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION In compliance with Section 5 R.A. No. 9048 and in compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG MC No. 2013-1, IRR on RA 10172, a notice is hereby served to the public that JANE ARLENE F. CALAYAG has filed with this office a petition for CHANGE OF FIRST NAME on the child’s first name from “ARLENE” to ‘”JANE ARLENE” in the Certificate of Live Birth of ARLENE FELICIANO CALAYAG who was born on February 19, 1976 in San Manuel, Isabela and whose parents are ROBERTO C. CALAYAG and LILIA P. FELICIANO. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this Office not later than ten (10) days. ERLINDA C. ALVAREZ Municipal Civil Registrar Rodriguez, Rizal

(MS-FEB. 21 & 28, 2018)

Manila

Standard

TODAY

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION

MANDALUYONG CITY

Also perpetually enjoined are Andre J. Basa, Felicissima Santos, NeliaSilverio-Dee, Demer Layan, and all persons claiming under them and/or acting for or in their behalf. Any transactions made by the foregoing persons, and/or all persons claiming under them and/or acting for or in their behalf will not be honored by PDC. Anyone dealing with them shall be considered as their co-conspirators, accomplices, and accessories and thus, will be dealt with accordingly. For inquiries or clarifications, please contact Kapunan & Castillo Law Offices at Telephone Numbers: (632) 846-6247 to 51 or email at kapunanlaw@kapunanlaw.com.

“A parcel of Land (Lot 20, Block No. 11, of the cons. subd. Plan Pcs-2473 being a portion of the consolidation BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK, INC. of lots Nos. 1,6,7,8,9 & 10 Block 340; Mortgagee, Lot Nos. 4.5.6.9. to 21, incl., 23 & 24, Lots Nos. 1 & 3 to 20 incl., Block -versus342; lot nos. 2,3, & 4, Block 343; Lot File No. FRE-MC18-1000 No. 5, Block No. 344; lot No. 3, block For: “Extra-Judicial Foreclosure of Real 345; lot 2 to 7 incl. Block No. 346; Lot Estate Mortgage Under Act No. Nos. 9,10,11,13 & 14, described on 3135, As amended by 4118” plan psd-3188; lot 2-b, Block No. 342; SPOUSES ROLANDO Y. PADAOAN described on plan psd-8550; lot no. AND LINDA AVILES A.K.A. LINDA 1-5, Block No. 343, described on plan A. PADAOAN psd-18249; Block…” is registered in Mortgagors, x-----------------------------------------x accordance with the provision of the property Registration Decree in the NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE name of ROLANDO Y. PADAOAN, of legal age, Filipino, married to LINDA Upon Extra-Judicial petition for sale AVILES, Filipino with postal address under act 3135 as amended by Act at No. 353 Wayan St., Mandaluyong, 4118 filed by BPI FAMILY SAVINGS Metro Manila xxx BANK, INC., Mortgagee, against SPOUSES ROLANDO Y. PADAOAN “In the event the public auction AND LINDA AVILES A.K.A. LINDA should not take place on the said A. PADAOAN, Mortgagors with postal date, it shall be held on April 12, address at Lot 20, Blk. 11, No. 353 2018 or soon thereafter without Wayan St., Barangka, Mandaluyong further notice.” City, to satisfy the mortgaged indebtedness which as of December Prospective bidders or buyers are 13, 2017, amounts to FOUR hereby enjoined to investigate for HUNDRED NINETEEN THOUSAND themselves the title of the said real NINETEEN THOUSAND NINETY property and the encumbrances THREE & 71/100 (Php 419, 093.71) thereon, if any there be. ONLY Philippine Currency, inclusive Mandaluyong City, Philippines, of interest, penalty charges and February 12, 2018. expenses incidental thereto, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Mandaluyong or his duly authorized deputy will sell at PUBLIC AUCTION to the HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH OR MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency on March 23, 2018 at 9:00 A.M. or soon thereafter in front of the main entrance of the Hall of Justice Building, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City, the following condominium unit with all the improvements existing thereon to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE - 47326 Registry of Deeds – Pasig, Metro Manila IT

(MS-FEB. 22,25 & 28, 2018)

HEREBY

CERTIFIED

PPA No. TO

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that certain land situated in City of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines bounded and described as follows:

OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF

This is to inform the public that LORNA CILLAN-SILVERIO, whose picture appears above, has been perpetually enjoined by the Regional Trial Court of Makati from acting or representing herself as a stockholder, director, and/or officer of PILIPINAS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (“PDC”), and/or from performing or exercising control, management and/ or administration of PDC and of all its assets/properties.

Feb

(Sgd.) ATTY. ERWIN N. BARATA Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Sheriff (Sgd.) CRISPIN D. SADIA, JR. Sheriff IV WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface, or destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or before the date of Auction Sale under penalty of the law. Copy Furnished: 1) BPI FAMILY SAVING BANK, INC. Dela Rosa St., corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati City 2) SPOUSES ROLANDO Y. PADAOAN AND LINDA A. PADAOAN Lot 20, Blk. 11, No. 353 Wayan St., Barangka, Mandaluyong City (MS-Feb. 14, 21 & 28, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

1. In th SUC resp 2. A bri pote 3. In th SUC resp 4. Ibid. 5. A brie pote

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

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Sports

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters try to advance to PBA playoffs By Jeric Lopez

New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis (23) soars to the rim to dunk the ball against the Phoenix Suns on February 26, 2018 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. AFP

Davis lifts Pelicans past Phoenix Suns L

OS ANGELES—Anthony Davis carried New Orleans on his back on Monday, scoring a seasonhigh 53 points, grabbing 18 rebounds and blocking ﬁve shots as the Pelicans overpowered the struggling Phoenix Suns 125-116. Davis has spearheaded the Pelicans’ attack during a six-game winning streak —one of their longest in recent years— and over that time he is averaging more than 40 points a game. Jrue Holiday scored 20 points for the Pelicans, whose season-best unbeaten run has pulled them into a tie with Portland for fifth place in the Western Conference despite being without allstar DeMarcus Cousins, who was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. The Pelicans are just 1.5 games back of third spot. “Thank, you Anthony, for carrying us,” Holiday said. “Look at his numbers, man. He’s something else.” The 24-year-old American Davis became the first player in NBA history to tally at least 50 points, 15 rebounds and

five blocks in a game as he delivered the second-best scoring performance of his six-year NBA career. He scored 59 points in a game on February 2016. In New York, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry combined for 47 points as the Golden State Warriors trampled all over another NBA opponent by beating the New York Knicks 125-111. Thompson finished with 26, Curry added 21 and Kevin Durant tallied 22 points and nine rebounds for Golden State, which trailed by one at halftime before outscoring New York 39-18 in the third put the game out of reach at Madison Square Garden. The Warriors improved to 3-0 since the all-star break and beat the Knicks for the eighth straight time. This week marks the five-year

anniversary of Curry’s memorable 54-point performance at Madison Square Garden. Curry had plenty of help on Monday as the Warriors made 15 threepointers and had a half dozen players in double figures. Emmanuel Mudiay scored 20 points and Trey Burke had 18 for the Knicks. Elsewhere, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry each scored 20 points, Serge Ibaka had 19 and the Toronto Raptors routed the Detroit Pistons 123-94 for their seventh win in eight games. Pascal Siakam added 11 points as the Raptors improved to 25-5 at home, the best record in the league. Davis also made clutch plays on defense, tipping away a loose ball from Suns’ Elfrid Payton with less than 40 seconds remaining in the fourth to help preserve a seven point lead in front of a crowd of 17,200 at the Smoothie King Center arena. “I just wanted to hang around the rim as much as possible, knowing I had the size advantage,” Davis said. AFP

Pacio chases strawweight world title JOSHUA “The Passion” Pacio may be one of the youngest strawweights in ONE Championship, but he possesses experience beyond his years, and looms as the promotion’s top contender in his division. In January, the 22-year-old Filipino demolished Lan Ming Qiang in the first round of their co-main event clash at ONE: Global Superheroes. Pacio took some shots before taking down the Chinese sanda champion, and smoothly transitioned to submit his adversary via rear-naked choke. Pacio, well-known for his wushu striking, demonstrated superb ground expertise, and made it look effortless. The Team Lakay standout is a quick study, and between his calm demeanor and overt politeness, he has all the makings of being the Philippines’ next martial arts superstar. Pacio said he accomplished the submission victory to fulfill a prefight promise to his fans. “I said I was going to submit him, and I did. That was the game plan all along. It is what I had worked on for two months before that bout. I wanted to prove to the world that our ground game is as capable as any,” said Pacio. “At Team Lakay, we just like to help each other improve and get better. As a member of the team, that is all we could ever really hope for. When we learn something new, we make it a point to teach others what we know. This way, we rise as a team.” Pacio said his opponent was a dangerous foe especially on his feet.

Joshua ‘The Passion’ Pacio (right) spins around to deliver a spinning back kick against his opponent in one of his fights. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

Lady Bulldogs try to extend UAAP volleyball winning streak WITH a first round sweep looming, National University, hopes to elevate its level play as it clashes with Far Eastern University today in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre. The Lady Bulldogs had to grind it out in the past two games to keep their perfect run going. Rallying from four points down late in the fifth frame, NU toppled defending champion De La Salle, 26-24, 19-25, 22-25, 25-17, 16-14, and overcame University of Santo Tomas, 25-19, 14-25, 25-19, 28-26. Enjoying their finest start in the Final Four era, the 5-0 Lady Bulldogs are a marked team. “It was a struggle. But of course, we will take it. A win is a win. I’ll thank for that,” said NU mentor Babes Castillo. “The league is long so we will not stop us trying to set our standard.” The Lady Bulldogs have thriving under pressure, thanks to Jaja Santiago, who showed tremendous leadership and no-quit attitude against the Lady Spikers and the Tigresses. “From the numbers itself and the way she’s leading the team, I really can see the improvement. The transformation to become a leader more than just a great player. It happened,” said Castillo on the 6-foot-5 skipper. “I just hope that the time that has given to her from now on hanggang sa umakyat kami, hopefully, sa championship, will solidify her leadership talaga.” The Lady Tamaraws, on the other hand, will put their capabilities of beating a top-notch team to a test. Coming off a 25-20, 25-17, 24-26, 2522 victory over winless University of the East last Saturday, FEU moved up to 3-2 to stay within distance of joint second placers Ateneo and De La Salle (4-2). “Every game, ibang gameplan. Ibang strategy. Lahat iyan, pare-pareho ng skill level iyan. Siguro yung desire ng team or ng individual na gustong manalo. Ang sa amin lang, sa mga future games namin, gusto ko lang maminimize yung mga errors. Iyon ang importante. Nagma-maximum kami ng 30-plus,” said coach George Pascua, acknowledging that the Lady Tamaraws being error-prone all-season long. “Kumbaga, decision-making na ng players pagdating sa court. Yung skills, nandiyan na eh. At yung killer instinct nila. Kasi usually, bumibigay kami sa bandang dulo. Pero napa-practice namin iyan. Sana by next game, ma-apply namin.”

Women wrestlers wage war of sexes in ‘lucha libre’ ring MEXICO CITY, Mexico—The crowd goes wild as the masked wrestlers toss each other around the ring in colorful spandex. But this is no ordinary Mexican “lucha libre” match: it is the “War of the Sexes,” in which three women wrestlers battle three far bigger men. Mixed matches like this, which emerged on the wildly popular pro wrestling scene some 20 years ago, could be a metaphor for gender relations in Mexico—a country with a deep tradition of machismo, where women are fighting for equal rights even as thousands of them are raped and murdered each year. “Get back in the kitchen, you damn

hag!” yells a fan in the stands in an expletive-strewn outburst, as a wrestler called Moonbeam, decked out in a sequined leotard and tall boots, throws a left hook at her hulking opponent, Nazi Warrior. Instead of getting upset, Moonbeam says it is “very beautiful” when male fans hurl insults at her. “It means you’re doing a good job. You’re provoking them and giving them an outlet for their stress,” she says. “They take out their frustration by yelling at you,” instead of shouting at or hitting their wives when they get home, she tells AFP. Moonbeam, a 42-year-old mother of three, says she loves fighting in mixed matches,

AS teams continue to jockey for position, two important games, with huge implications in the quarterfinals race, take place in the homestretch of the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup elimination round. The league-leading San Miguel Beermen (8-2) aim to generate some heat heading into the playoffs when they take on win-hungry Rain or Shine (5-4) at 7 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. In the opener at 4:30 p.m., the NLEX Road Warriors (6-4) looks to gain some momentum entering the quarters while TNT KaTropa (4-6) fights for dear life as it faces a mustwin as the sister teams do battle. The defending champion Beermen are already assured of a top finish and a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarters. Now, they look to enter the post-season with a bang. Already safely into the quarters with an advantage, all that matters now for San Miguel is to head into the next round with some steam.

which she sees as a “power struggle.” “We want to show the public and our opponents that we can do this too. You don’t have to be a big, strong man. We’re skilled, we know how to fight a match, and we can beat them.” Her record backs her up: she has beaten nearly 70 men in her 15-year career. Lucha libre, one of Mexico’s most popular spectator sports, falls somewhere between actual sport and entertainment. With its outlandish masks, costumes and characters, it packs more than a little spectacle. But the results are not predetermined, insist wrestlers like Moonbeam and her fellow “luchadoras” Melisa, Princess Legna and Lilly Star. AFP

Maverick Ahanmisi

While the Beermen are on a twogame winning streak, they didn’t actually look invincible in their last outing, that’s why they are looking to bounce back stronger. San Miguel took a 108-106 squeaker over cellar-dweller Kia, thanks to Marcia Lassiter’s buzzerbeating game-winner last Friday, but almost tripped as it barely dodged the latter’s upset bullet. On the other hand, the Elasto Painters are in dire need of w in as their fate depends on their encounter with the defending champions. To qualify and secure a spot in the top eight and in the playoffs, Rain or Shine simply needs to win. Otherwise, it can be in danger as complications will arise should it lose, as it needs to win its final assignment against Barangay Ginebra to advance. The Painters failed to secure their berth in the quarters as they yielded to Alaska, 95-99, also last Friday. The same can be said for TNT in its fight against NLEX as the Tropang Texters are facing a do-or-die situation. While the Road Warriors are already safely through to the next phase, TNT needs to win its final two assignments and hope the remaining results of the games of the teams in the chase favor it.

Yulo grabs bronze medal in Australia By Peter Atencio CARLOS Yulo was a first timer. But, Yulo, who just turned 16 two weeks ago, managed to grab the bronze medal over the weekend in the 2018 Individual Apparatus World Cup at the Hisense Arena in Melbourne, Australia Competing in the seniors’ category for the first time, he was pitted against veterans from 15 countries. He was only 0.383 points below the gold medalist, who got a total point tally of 14.616. Yulo tried his best and tallied 14.233, according to Gymnastics Association of the Philippines chief Cynthia Carrion. In his quest to continue earning points to qualify for 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Yulo is set to compete in two more international meets, according to Carrion. First up for Yulo is the FIG artistic gymnastics individual apparatus world Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan from March 15 to 18. Then, he will be in the 11th FIG world cup in Doha, Qatar from March 21 to 24.

IN BRIEF

Alveo bares P40b worth of projects

ALVEO Land Corp., the high-end residential brand of major property developer Ayala Land Inc., plans to launch P40 billion worth of projects this year, up 20 percent from P33.2 billion launched in 2016 as the prospects for property sector remain robust. Alveo Land president Jennylle Tupaz said the project launches would boost reservation sales this year to over P45 billion. “We are targeting more than P45 billion sales take-up this year and hopefully exceed the P45.6-billion reservation sales recorded in 2017,” Tupaz said. The group will unveil 6,000 residential units this year, nearly double the 3,018 units launched in 2016. Aside from launching new projects, Tupaz said Alveo Land would also expand its presence in new areas including Bulacan and Cagayan de Oro. Tupaz said the demand for high-end residential projects remained strong not only from local buyers but foreigners as well, especially from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Jenniffer B. Austria

Hyundai upgrading all 42 outlets in PH

HYUNDAI Asia Resources Inc. plans to upgrade all 42 dealerships in the Philippines to qualify for the top GREEEN ratings from the Philippine Green Building Initiative between 2018 and 2019. HARI president and chief executive Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said the initiative was part of the company’s climate change program with several projects and programs already implemented, all aimed at promoting sustainability in the Philippines. The company’s ﬂagship 10-hectare facility, the Hyundai Logistics Center in Calamba, Laguna, has already received the Kamagong Award—the highest distinction for sustainability and environmental efﬁciency. “HLC was envisioned to go beyond housing Hyundai passenger and commercial vehicles and upgrades are in the pipeline. These upgrades include the Hyundai Academy training center, the HARI Center for Climate Change and the Hyundai Car Museum,” she said. The facility was designed by architect and historic site conservations Dominic Galicia and inaugurated in 2015. Othel V. Campos

Business 2017 budget deficit narrowed to P350.6b T By Julito G. Rada

HE government’s budget deficit in 2017 slightly narrowed to P350.6 billion from P353.4 billion in 2016, on combined effects of stronger revenue collection and slower-than-expected public expenditures, the Bureau of the Treasury said Tuesday. The Treasury said the 2017 gap fell 27 percent of the year’s deficit ceiling of P482.1 billion. The figure represented 2.2 percent of the gross domestic product, within the 3-percent ceiling set for the year. Data showed the 2017 revenue collection hit P2.47 trillion, exceeding the program of P2.426 trillion by 2 percent. It was also 13 percent, or P277.2 billion higher than P2.195 trillion collected in 2016. Government expenditures increased 11 percent, or P274.4 billion, to P2.823 trillion last year from P2.549 trillion in

2016. It was, however, 3 percent below the programmed spending of P2.909 trillion for the year. The Treasury said that in December alone, the budget deﬁcit narrowed 9 percent to P107.1 billion from P118.2 billion a year ago. Revenues grew 35 percent in December to P223.1 billion from P165.3 billion a year earlier while spending rose 16 percent to P330.2 billion from P283.6 billion. The Bureau of Internal Revenue collected P151.2 billion in December, up 29 percent or P34 billion from the ﬁnal month of 2016, marking its highest

year-on-year growth for 2017. Full-year BIR collections totaled P1.772 trillion, missing the program by 1 percent but rising 13 percent from a year ago. “BIR collection is net of the P8.5billion tax refund paid to various claimants for the year. Inclusion of the tax refund will drive total collection to P1.780 trillion,” the Treasury said. Collections by the Bureau of Customs also came in strong at P45.1 billion, as December receipts grew 29 percent over the previous year’s P34.8 billion, equaling its performance in October. For the whole year, Customs collected P458.2 billion, narrowly missing the program of P459.6 billion. Tax refunds amounted to P2.6 billion for a total gross collection of P460.8 billion . The Bureau of the Treasury’s income in December doubled from a year ago to reach P13.4 billion, for a full-year total of P99.9 billion.

Shell predicts LNG shortage by 2020

THE Royal Dutch Shell Group sees a potential shortage of liquefied natural gas by mid 2020 unless new production commitments are made soon amid an increased demand. Shell in a statement released to local media said the global LNG market had grown significantly with demand now at 293 million tons, up by 29 million tons in 2017. The company’s annual LNG Outlook said Japan remained the world’s largest LNG importer in 2017, while China moved into second place as Chinese imports surged past South Korea’s. Total demand for LNG in China reached 38 million ton as a result of continued economic growth and policies to reduce local air pollution by switching to gas from coal. “We are still seeing significant demand from traditional importers in Asia and Europe, but we are also seeing LNG (providing) flexible, reliable and cleaner energy supply for other countries around the world,” said Maarten Wetselaar, Shell Integrated Gas and New Energies director. Alena Mae S. Flores

BSP FORUM. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, with the support of International Finance Corp., a member of the World Bank Group, hosts a forum on environmental, social and governance practices in Philippine banks attended by high-level officials from the banking sector, government agencies and international organizations. Joining the forum are (from left) BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier, Mongolia Bankers Association manager Nomindari Enkhtur, IFC director for East Asia and the Pacific Vivek Pathak and Bankers Institute of the Philippines president Irene Arroyo.

Cebu Pacific set to start direct flights to Melbourne in August BUDGET airline Cebu Pacific said Monday it will mount direct flights between Manila and Melbourne, Australia in August this year. “The launch of our service between Melbourne and Manila will give travelers from Australia seamless connections to other destinations in the Philippines at year-round low fares. This will enable Filipinos living in the Melbourne area to visit their families more often, and encourage more Australian tourists to spend their holidays in the Philippines,” Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific’s vice-president for marketing and distribution, said. “More importantly, we hope to strengthen trade between the Philippines and Australia through more cargo capacity on direct flights that are more affordable. This will benefit importers

GLOBE’S CLIENT. Beauché International, a wellness and beauty product company, boosts its services with connectivity solutions from Globe Business, the information and communications technology arm of Globe Telecom Inc., in response to a high clamor to maintain competitiveness by staying connected and to expand its digital presence. Beauché signed up for Globe Business’ Direct Interne. Globe cluster sales head Robie Reyes (left) and Beauché chairman Conchita Toribio-Delos Reyes showcase the various products of Beauché.

and exporters, as well as retailers bringing products in both countries,” she said. This is the airline’s second destination in Australia following the launch of its direct Manila-Sydney route in 2014. Since its entry, tourist arrivals from the Philippines has become one of the fastest-growing source markets for Australia, with an average 16-percent increase over the past four years. Prior to the entry of Cebu Paciﬁc, tourist arrivals from the Philippines was at about 70,000. Since 2014, that number has steadily climbed to over 120,000. The airline is offering a special promo fare for the Melbourne launch of P2,199 from Feb. 27 to March 3, valid for travel from Aug. 14 to Oct. 31, 2018. Darwin G. Amojelar

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Megaworld boosts capex for new casino to over P120b By Jenniffer B. Austria MEGAWORLD Corp., the property development arm of tycoon Andrew, said it will increase to P121 billion the planned investment for a new casino within the government-sponsored Entertainment City in Parañaque. Megaworld said in a statement it would pour in additional P54 billion in investments in Westside City Resorts World, a 31-hectare integrated resort and gaming complex, for a period of 10 years. The amount would be more than ﬁve times the initial P10 billion that the company allocated in 2015, mostly for residential and hotel projects. Travellers International Hotels Group Inc., the developer and operator of the Resorts World brand in the Philippines also led by Tan, already committed to invest $1.1 billion, or roughly P57 billion, to build Westside City Resorts World. This would bring the total capital expenditure for the project to P121 billion. “While a big portion of Westside City will be handled by Travellers International, Megaworld is pouring in a huge amount of money to expand our residential and hotel offerings within the township. The demand is high and we want to tap every available opportunity in this booming side of the metro,” Megaworld senior vice president and treasurer Francis Canuto said. Under the plan, Megaworld will build two new homegrown hotel brands in Westside City, just in time for the initial opening of the casino complex in 2021. These are the 529-room Kingsford Hotel and the 685-room Grand Westside Hotel, which will be conveniently linked to the casino complex and will have the unparalleled views of Manila Bay. “We give our all-out support to the country’s growing tourism industry. Providing more hotel options will further boost tourist arrivals especially in this growth area,” Canuto said. Megaworld will also build the 15-tower Bayshore Residential Resorts, and the four-tower Gentry Manor. So far, Westside City has around 4,000 units of residential inventory worth around P50 billion.

Govt scraps P10-b capital requirement for 3rd telco By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Information and Communications Technology said it is scrapping the P10-billion capital requirement for the selection of a third major telecom player to entice more bidders. “The P10-billion capital required, that is not anymore. We have been receiving this comment from the stakeholders themselves,” DICT ofﬁcer -in-charge and Undersecretary Eliseo Rio said during the second stakeholders’ consultation. Under the draft joint rules issued by DICT and the National Telecommunications Commission, the prospective bidders should have a net worth of at least P10 billion with a Congressional franchise to operate telecom services.

Rio said the government would also remove the five-year committed investment as a parameter in the selection of a new telco player. Rio said the criteria in selecting a third player would now be based on the level of service and minimum coverage commitments in the next five years instead of committed investment. “We are no longer basing it on the amount they will invest. We are now basing it on the actual resource, service they will commit. They will assure the public that they can roll out in the first five years,” he said. Under the old draft rules, prospective bidders should not be a related party to any telecom group with a mobile and broadband wireless market share of at least 40 percent. The NTC will assign frequency band

― 700 megahertz, 850 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2010 MHz, 2.5 gigahertz, 3.3 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 10.5 GHz to the new major player. The new major player is required to post a performance bond equivalent. NTC commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said the draft rules were not yet ﬁnal and still subject for consultation with stakeholders and other government agencies. “We are asking help in the NEDA [National Economic and Development Authority ] , the PPP [Public Private Partnership Center], the Insurance Commission,” he said. Cordoba said the government agencies planned to publish the ﬁnal version of the terms of reference on April. He said the tentative date for accepting bids is May 24, 2018.

Solar producer offers lowest supply rate to Meralco By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. said it will embrace revolutionary and disruptive changes, including renewable energy such as solar, to ensure that customers enjoy the latest benefits in relevant technology. “In power generation, this means increasing renewable energy [solar, wind, run-ofriver, hydro, biomass and battery storage as this continues to mature] and the latest highly-efficient and environmentally-responsive baseload and mid-merit coal and gas-fired power plants,” Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan said. Meralco applied for three power supply agreements with two solar developers with the Energy Regulatory Commission. Meralco recently issued the price challenge to other developers to match

the P2.9887-per-kilowatt-hour price offer of Pilipinas Newton Energy Corp. for a 50-megawatt solar power plant. “We will know at end of this month if there is a price challenge. While there is initial agreement with Newton on price and terms, ﬁnalization of PSA will have to wait for completion of the price challenge process,” Meralco head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez said. “An offer made by the price challenger should be under the same terms and conditions of the power supply agreement provided by Meralco, except for the ﬁnancial proposal,” Meralco said earlier. Pilipinas Newton’s offer is so far the lowest bid received by Meralco for solar supply. Its previous lowest offer was P2.9999 per kWh from Solar Philippines for 85 megawatts of solar capacity. Pilipinas Newton proposed to start supplying Meralco on Dec, 31, 2018 or

eight months after the issuance of ERC final approval, which ever comes first. The contract period covers 20 years from commercial operations. Meralco president Oscar Reyes earlier challenged power suppliers to be more price competitive and efficient. “So we’re challenging them [power generators] to try to have more cost efficient and competitive proposals. They in turn have to lean on their vendors and suppliers in order to bring the price down,” he said. “We’re looking at renewables, but renewables that will be beneficial, not only in terms of environmental performance, but will be beneficial in terms of being within our blended generation. We don’t want to go into this and push our generation charge. They have to be able to support our drive to keep generation charge low,” Reyes said.

Business

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks rally; BDO, JG Summit up

TOCKS rallied Tuesday following another strong Wall Street performance but most other Asian markets struggled to maintain momentum as focus turns to Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell’s congressional debut.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 92.40 points, or 1.1 percent, to 8,592.38 on a value turnover of P9.2 billion. Gainers beat losers, 119 to 94, with 43 issues unchanged. BDO Unibank Inc., the largest lender in terms of assets, advanced 4.7 percent to P157 after reporting Monday that net proﬁt in 2017 increased 7 percent to a record P28.1 billion from 2016 on strong lending and deposit growths. JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei surged

5.6 percent to P75, while unit Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, climbed 4.1 percent to P151. Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan gained 4 percent to P14.98. Tokyo stocks, meanwhile, enjoyed fresh gains Tuesday. Equities have been pushing higher since the ﬁrst week of February saw a plunge that wiped trillions off valuations worldwide, though analysts warn that with prices still high volatility could return. The S&P 500 on Monday climbed above the level it touched before the sell-off, while the Dow and Nasdaq also climbed more than one percent. Tokyo ended 1.1 percent higher, Sydney and Wellington each put on 0.2 percent, while Jakarta also rose. But proﬁt-taking sent other key markets into negative territory.

Hong Kong fell 0.4 percent, Singapore shed 0.3 percent and Seoul eased 0.1 percent, while Taipei gave back 0.2 percent. Shanghai slipped more than one percent, though Innes added that Xi Jinping’s move to lift term limits on his presidency would be “a boon to regional economic sentiment as it guarantees continued market reforms and staying the course on the (Belt-and-Road) tradeand-infrastructure program.” This week sees a number of key events, including the release of US economic growth and inﬂation data. But ﬁrstly new Fed chief Powell will speak before top congressional committees on Tuesday and Thursday, with his remarks being closely analyzed for clues about monetary policy. Nerves are still raw after the recent sell-off and his views on monetary policy

will be closely watched, though many are tipping him to stick to predecessor Janet Yellen’s course. “In some ways his hands are a bit tied,” BNP Paribas Asset Management senior economist Steven Friedman told Bloomberg TV. “The path of least resistance for him is to really stick to the script, which is to reiterate that there is a lot of underlying momentum in the economy, that gives them more conﬁdence in their projections, but ultimately the path of interest rate increases is going to be gradual.” With eyes on Powell, the dollar is struggling against its main peers as well as other higher-risk currencies, despite the euro coming under pressure after the head of the European Central Bank suggested he would be patient in removing crisis era stimulus. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.25 19,630 119.9 1,614,570 3.5 192,000 157 2,732,890 1.62 527,000 35.25 89,100 15.5 61,500 28.35 906,700 3.72 118,000 1.63 8,000 900 590 0.57 3,212,000 98.4 2,851,690 1.6 7,228,000 12.7 68,000 24.45 2,800 56.75 9,760 244 2,090 107.9 720 85.2 1,600 46.5 56,200 250 298,280 1,920 195 90.3 118,710

1,147,003 193,654,297 683,020 423,582,875 833,710 3,132,105 951,998 25,440,755 431,930 12,960 531,000 1,813,050 280,553,337.50 11,719,810 861,540 65,825 553,253 515,090 74,926 136,329 2,615,020 74,660,718 376,165 10,710,504.50

-4,659 -2,851,049 105,000 75,417,531 82,620 414,680 18,177,785 -36,000 56,000 76,923,095 527,160 -1,270 268,904.50 -1,559,025 8,095,170 8,878,935

38.75 12.82 0.56 1.26 18.22 0.217 108.3 3.57 16.06 200 52.5 20.6 62 55 1.88 5.3 10.12 11.16 13.82 10.64 7.36 5.52 1.8 14.5 62 29 9.86 18.58 2.25 289.2 55 4.3 3.04 27.5 16.54 20.95 321 0.19 8 2.87 4.46 9.06 6.35 7.83 1.55 12.5 56.75 5.88 615 4.71 3 3.34 2.15 15.72 5.18 0.13 1.01 145.1 2.65 1.82 1.59

INDUSTRIAL 38.8 1,695,800 12.9 598,100 0.57 1,061,000 1.27 385,000 18.32 39,500 0.219 1,980,000 108.3 850 3.63 3,522,000 16.12 3,472,400 209 490 54 675,570 22 200,600 63.1 239,290 55 2,200 1.92 283,000 5.44 9,500 10.54 28,400 11.3 1,102,400 14.2 1,018,900 11.6 4,661,500 7.72 851,100 5.57 1,222,900 1.8 4,000 14.5 1,838,300 62.5 19,180 29.4 19,900 9.9 56,200 19.14 2,317,200 2.26 7,410,000 295 815,230 55 1,300 4.45 322,000 3.04 27,000 27.9 553,700 16.6 238,400 21 4,548,300 327 291,360 0.199 1,060,000 8 13,000 2.92 3,289,000 4.74 69,000 9.14 1,610,300 6.56 437,700 8 70,100 1.56 423,000 12.7 3,981,200 57 206,430 6.16 20,100 620 18,860 4.75 441,000 3.06 1,133,000 3.56 19,000 2.37 8,528,000 15.78 273,900 5.43 531,800 0.13 1,760,000 1.01 226,000 151 1,027,210 2.65 2,000 1.86 1,720,000 1.65 5,547,000

65,807,685 7,709,144 597,570 490,270 729,550 434,910 92,135 12,730,100 55,918,784 99,444 36,304,789.50 4,780,265 15,207,400.50 121,184.50 539,220 50,440 296,236 12,444,812 14,282,110 53,597,408 6,448,160 6,779,647 7,380 26,915,346 1,194,553.50 578,150 555,755 44,123,066 17,112,950 239,980,464 68 71,500 1,418,730 82,320 15,446,095 3,965,086 95,699,855 94,855,158 207,800 104,273 9,608,840 319,090 14,683,575 2,834,156 560,783 661,280 50,954,212 11,754,179.50 121,956 11,687,355 2,078,350 3,510,510 65,690 20,464,860 4,329,078 2,839,000 230,510 228,760 154,219,643 5,300 3,149,210 8,984,470

-6,179,750 -812,600 -10,340 -1,885,350 9,566,736 656,627.50 69,200 -295,807.50 -101,760 1,534,546 5,765,906 -4,809,548 1,822,133 -4,014,037 2,012,128 760,554 174,555 2,308,700 -130,060 ,732,933.9999 130,860 64,050 -7,276,375 -8,526 74,912,815 35,668,600 2,015,970 37,620 3,818,833 -1,417 -165,360 2,504 -6,146,734 5,219,575 -924,000 -1,466,750 -1,351,230 -1,197,118 288,900 54,181,549 -356,900 -

0.295 76.8 14.4 0.89 7.27 0.64 0.65 1,052 7.35 13.5 7.45 4.55 0.185 1,302 7.25 70.05 5.16 0.67 5.2 22.25 5.64 3.3 0.04 1.1 3.54 2.51 140 960.5 1.55 175.2 281 0.225 0.174

HOLDING FIRMS 0.295 1,340,000 77.5 1,023,180 14.98 9,668,100 0.91 433,000 7.56 101,700 0.66 28,969,000 0.66 6,139,000 1,069 416,740 7.4 1,384,900 14.04 4,642,800 7.5 42,300 4.55 1,000 0.185 260,000 1,336 102,350 7.25 200 75 2,216,370 5.16 400 0.69 167,000 5.45 202,200 22.4 2,409,800 5.72 50,423,300 3.3 12,000 0.045 70,700,000 1.13 106,000 3.6 15,805,000 2.51 12,000 141 104,510 970 292,610 1.6 470,000 175.2 20 284 2,270 0.23 940,000 0.174 730,000

401,950 79,283,093 144,189,760 396,130 764,708 19,129,210 4,087,630 445,821,055 10,363,725 64,394,886 315,285 4,550 48,100 136,658,890 1,450 163,378,824 2,064 112,220 1,087,106 54,212,115 286,543,473 42,530 3,085,100 117,140 57,880,910 30,360 14,679,302 283,701,170 742,140 3,504 642,574 214,960 127,020

6,177,379.50 45,405,406 -7,500 1,081,450 181,237,010 876,369 -18,674,658 -59,998,500 -5,309,041 910,601 -7,279,395 -17,328,000 -17,600 91,700 -1,798,630 -20,668,120 -

5,259,844 39,748,230 2,082,810 141,300 1,215,080 1,002,825,420 3,107,320 6,115,590 23,849,681 1,931,146 146,554 2,022,950 34,600 128,210 68,374,950 206,700 21,390,530 353,430 2,560 4,408,380 3,454,370 112,270 93,065,670 437,939,110 643,750 5,255,105

71,398 268,310 4,200 -542,752,725 -105,980 390,840 425,192 8,400 640,250.00 637,860 -657,280 -551,900 -1,752,610 -219,790 -113,900 -5,200

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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

59 120.7 3.68 151 1.62 35.1 15.12 27.9 3.75 1.61 900 0.6 98.75 1.62 12.52 24.45 56.95 248 103 85.3 46.8 248 1,935 89.9

59 120.9 3.68 157 1.62 35.25 15.5 28.45 3.84 1.63 900 0.6 99 1.68 12.7 24.45 56.95 248 107.9 85.3 46.8 254.8 1,935 90.3

58.15 119.2 3.5 151 1.57 34.9 15.12 27.5 3.57 1.61 900 0.55 97.8 1.58 12.5 23.1 56.6 244 103 85.2 46.5 248 1,920 89.9

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

39 12.98 0.57 1.28 18.96 0.222 109.1 3.6 16.1 212.4 52.5 22.8 65 55.55 1.88 5.3 10.12 11.16 13.82 10.64 7.41 5.54 1.86 14.8 62.5 29.45 9.91 18.7 2.44 292 55 4.3 3.05 27.9 16.78 21.3 321 0.19 8.05 2.87 4.6 9.11 6.85 7.83 1.59 12.62 57 6.16 629.5 4.71 3.1 3.34 2.32 15.88 5.37 0.132 1.02 145.1 2.65 1.83 1.64

39 12.98 0.58 1.29 18.98 0.222 109.1 3.68 16.12 212.4 54.5 24.8 65 55.55 1.92 5.44 10.6 11.36 14.4 11.6 7.8 5.57 1.86 15.04 62.5 29.45 9.93 19.8 2.45 297.2 55 4.54 3.06 27.95 16.78 21.3 327 0.2 8.05 3.1 4.74 9.25 6.85 8 1.6 12.84 57.1 6.16 629.5 4.75 3.2 3.56 2.56 15.88 5.43 0.132 1.02 151 2.65 1.86 1.66

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

0.3 77 14.4 0.92 7.49 0.69 0.69 1,071 7.5 13.6 7.45 4.55 0.185 1,330 7.25 70.5 5.16 0.69 5.3 22.55 5.7 3.59 0.042 1.1 3.85 2.55 141.9 980 1.56 175.2 285 0.225 0.174

0.305 78 14.98 0.92 7.6 0.69 0.69 1,073 7.5 14.06 7.5 4.55 0.185 1,350 7.25 75 5.16 0.69 5.45 22.9 5.72 3.6 0.045 1.13 3.9 2.55 141.9 980 1.6 175.2 285 0.23 0.174

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

6.95 1.04 16.22 2.06 0.86 42.65 3.83 4.5 6.45 8 8.5 0.425 1.09 1.06 0.3 0.455 30.05 0.63 0.128 1.8 1.31 0.69 4.61 0.76 0.31 0.5

6.95 1.14 17.46 2.07 0.86 42.9 3.87 4.8 8.9 9.15 9 0.425 1.11 1.07 0.315 0.47 31.5 0.63 0.128 1.8 1.31 0.69 4.8 0.76 0.315 0.54

6.8 1 16.22 2.04 0.84 42.45 3.76 4.45 6.32 6.52 7.98 0.42 1.07 1.04 0.27 0.455 30 0.63 0.128 1.76 1.29 0.66 4.61 0.63 0.305 0.495

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

4.2 19.78 1.98 3.26 35.8 1.01 22.7 0.81 6.4

4.3 19.9 1.98 3.26 36.4 1.02 26 0.82 6.5

4.06 19.74 1.9 3.25 35.75 1 22.5 0.81 6.26

4.11 19.74 1.96 3.25 36.4 1.02 24 0.82 6.5

1,009,000 3,722,000 160,000 5,000 6,868,400 323,000 740,600 56,000 3,783,900

4,163,370 73,602,652 309,690 16,260 248,663,480 326,160 18,099,890 45,510 24,144,880

28,730 -13,163,684 96,130 -6,500 -125,340,765 -58,880 -6,787,988

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

17.7 31.85 1.3 0.77 0.064 11.7 13.7 0.066 99.85 7.42 8.08 2.5 35.7 970 1,735 6.21 301 10.54 5.65 2.78 109.9 13 8.3 0.133 1.46 3.2 14.5 4.21 1.05 30 0.5 6.36 7.61 3.28 18.18 13 10.12 10.2 2.81 8.44 113.7 7 1,540 1.21 0.34 49.5 93 5.85 3.03 1.4 0.55 3.4 0.93 10.88

17.7 31.95 1.31 0.91 0.072 11.8 14.2 0.067 100.5 7.42 8.26 2.9 36 970 1,740 6.21 342 10.6 5.65 2.8 111.7 13.3 8.31 0.134 1.59 3.3 15.2 4.61 1.05 30 0.5 6.82 7.87 3.32 18.18 14.98 10.5 11.3 2.81 8.44 123 7.5 1,569 1.25 0.35 51.45 94 5.99 3.16 1.41 0.56 3.48 0.94 10.88

17.4 31.8 1.28 0.67 0.06 11.7 13.6 0.065 99.85 7.12 8.06 2.5 31.5 970 1,710 6.18 300 10.54 5.3 2.62 109.9 13 8.25 0.13 1.46 3.15 14.5 4.12 1 29.2 0.5 5.64 7.6 3.28 16.34 11.7 10.12 10.2 2.81 8.44 110 6.86 1,540 1.21 0.34 49.5 92.3 5.85 3.02 1.35 0.51 3.4 0.91 10.54

SERVICES 17.46 31.85 1.28 0.7 0.069 11.7 13.96 0.067 100.2 7.15 8.26 2.89 31.5 970 1,722 6.2 315 10.54 5.43 2.8 110.7 13.28 8.3 0.13 1.58 3.2 15.2 4.2 1 29.75 0.5 5.68 7.61 3.3 17.78 13.7 10.5 10.62 2.81 8.44 115 7.05 1,569 1.22 0.35 51.05 92.4 5.95 3.05 1.4 0.52 3.43 0.91 10.86

75,200 33,200 99,000 597,951,000 831,340,000 4,000 7,648,700 11,700,000 94,240 1,576,800 68,000 468,000 218,600 40 58,185 299,300 86,520 3,500 3,634,900 227,000 776,590 37,700 37,200 17,250,000 709,000 219,000 700 19,727,000 577,000 2,684,500 78,000 7,673,000 2,559,600 527,000 4,600 44,386,100 2,100 15,300 16,000 2,000 24,030 4,958,200 91,705 2,835,000 910,000 2,126,500 677,310 69,000 1,471,000 24,095,000 37,740,000 591,000 5,392,000 3,968,100

1,314,548 1,056,890 127,670 474,635,170 56,363,930 46,810 106,278,040 773,180 9,429,434.50 11,338,854 552,555 1,286,860 7,262,195 38,800 100,199,025 1,852,033 27,402,934 36,978 19,819,180 614,530 86,029,160 490,838 308,041 2,262,930 1,091,230 693,280 10,240 86,875,630 581,860 79,616,060 39,000 46,876,655 19,581,260 1,740,020 82,334 608,959,926 21,632 162,174 44,960 16,880 2,804,960 34,795,493 142,939,155 3,476,880 310,600 108,577,800 62,741,983 ( 407,007 4,533,190 33,629,640 19,850,960 2,023,810 4,943,340 42,587,748

12,342 7,800 2,901,400 665,300 9,993,558 4,890,232.50 -649,251 173,380 -173,400 23,500 9,700 -49,306,715 176,320 -306,075 -8,203,613 260,000 250,600 -27,540 281,420 12,797,035 -3,187,229 1,737,593 -56,080 -3,978,522 -657,327 -3,208,582 16,460,640 133,080 -31,398,660 39,590,316.5) -15,500 27,931,060 1,872,780 750,000 -7,280 -7,685,700

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

0.0025 1.75 5 16.62 1.66 1.61 1.65 0.315 7.3 2.31 0.226 0.147 0.157 0.0092 1.4 6.11 1.39 0.435 0.9 0.013 0.011 2.15 6.1 17.38 38.3

0.0026 1.75 5.2 18 1.66 1.61 1.72 0.315 7.39 2.35 0.239 0.148 0.157 0.0092 1.44 6.4 1.4 0.435 0.9 0.013 0.012 2.3 6.36 18.22 38.5

0.0024 1.68 4.95 16.5 1.63 1.61 1.65 0.305 7.21 2.31 0.226 0.145 0.157 0.009 1.4 6.11 1.32 0.425 0.85 0.012 0.011 2.15 6.04 16.72 36.8

MINING & OIL 0.0026 468,000,000 1.69 16,412,000 5.03 142,500 18 1,200 1.63 38,000 1.61 17,000 1.7 1,099,000 0.315 90,000 7.21 13,800 2.32 2,185,000 0.23 960,000 0.146 2,510,000 0.157 30,000 0.0092 17,000,000 1.42 1,692,000 6.29 952,600 1.39 457,000 0.435 210,000 0.87 507,000 0.012 7,600,000 0.012 55,800,000 2.3 14,000 6.04 1,197,700 18 14,187,100 37 3,455,100

1,211,700 27,867,110 717,224 20,020 62,800 27,370 1,850,020 28,250 99,650 5,075,110 222,720 366,790 4,710 153,700 2,402,840 5,993,426 605,370 90,250 438,990 93,800 650,400 30,310 7,271,196 250,778,158 130,112,180

218,110 -19,126 -27,370 2,860 257,762 5,745,356 -22,147,535

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

31.4 515.5 103.6 504.5 6.01 101.3 1.05 106.1 1,040 1,100 991 77.25 80 76.2 79 78.1 79

31.5 518 103.6 510 6.1 101.3 1.05 106.1 1,040 1,100 991 77.5 80.25 76.2 79 78.1 79

31.3 513 103.6 504.5 6.01 101.3 1.05 106.1 1,034 1,100 990 77.25 80 76.2 79 78 78.5

PREFERRED 31.35 42,500 513 2,370 103.6 270 510 2,430 6.1 3,100 101.3 16,140 1.05 4,000 106.1 1,000 1,034 20,070 1,100 440 990 1,000 77.5 4,360 80.25 13,740 76.2 50 79 2,200 78 44,470 78.5 5,010

1,336,020 1,216,085 27,972 1,238,750 18,640 1,634,982 4,200 106,100 20,757,800 484,000 990,050 336,867.50 1,101,290 3,810 173,800 3,469,644 395,785

-819,480 -610 -656,490 -

LR WARRANT

2.83

4.05

2.83

WARRANTS 3.6 18,256,000

62,791,790

-12,110

16,067,247 1,125,380 10,039,350

112,879 -1,583,580

293,582

54,710.40 23,562

PROPERTY 6.92 1.08 16.8 2.04 0.86 42.5 3.76 4.59 6.39 7.2 7.98 0.425 1.11 1.07 0.285 0.47 30.65 0.63 0.128 1.78 1.3 0.68 4.8 0.69 0.31 0.53

763,400 37,026,000 122,400 69,000 1,438,000 23,537,700 815,000 1,325,000 3,377,500 248,100 17,800 4,800,000 32,000 123,000 236,310,000 450,000 699,000 561,000 20,000 2,485,000 2,658,000 167,000 19,622,000 629,323,000 2,090,000 10,146,000

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

6.7 3.88 3.6

6.79 3.9 3.6

6.4 3.69 3.41

FIRST METRO ETF

129.3

130.5

129.3

USD DMPL A1 USD TECH B2

10.44 1.02

10.46 1.02

10.44 1.02

TRADING SUMMARY

FINANCIAL

20,578,757

INDUSTRIAL

74,809,459

HOLDING FIRMS

201,865,703

PROPERTY

995,023,706

SERVICES

1,656,196,868

MINING & OIL

595,588,345

GRAND TOTAL

3,549,726,270

6.46 3.88 3.5

SME

2,471,500 299,000 2,880,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 130.5 2,260 DDS 10.46 1.02

5,240 23,100

VALUE 2,236.93 (up) 25.17 1,103,360,838.08 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,427.91 (up) 186.34 1,283,200,580.384 HOLDING FIRMS 8,732.47 (up) 110.29 2,020,171,644.91 PROPERTY 3,813.29 (up) 19.64 1,751.34 (up) 14.20 2,095,047,312.055 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,229.39 (down) 82.64 2,285,084,734.248 PSEI 8,592.38 (up) 92.40 436,211,198.619 All Shares Index 5,118.73 (up) 52.35 9,250,640,406.57 Gainers: 119; Losers: 94; Unchanged: 43; Total: 256

Ayala Land set to merge two property units in Cebu By Jenniffer B. Austria AYALA Land Inc. is merging its two Cebu-based property units, Cebu Holdings Inc. and Cebu Property Ventures Development Corp., in a bid to create a unified investment portfolio. CHI will be the surviving entity. CHI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Tuesday the two companies would submit the merger plan to their respective stockholders during their annual stockholders’ meeting. “The merger will consolidate CHI’s portfolio under one listed entity, creating a unified portfolio for its investments and is expected to result in operational synergies, efficient funds management and simplified reporting to government agencies as a result of the merger,” CHI said. CHI plans to swap 1.06 common shares for every one share of CPVDC Class A common shares or Class B common shares, or equivalent to the issuance of an additional 996,771 million CHI common shares. CHI’s outstanding shares after the merger will amount to 2.916 billion shares. It said the exchange ratio was based on the net asset values of both companies. CHI is a full-line property developer with headquarters at the Cebu Business Park, Cebu City. The company is engaged in real estate development, sale of residential and office condominium units, sports club shares and lease of commercial spaces. CHI, through and through its subsidiary CPVDC, developed the 50-hectare Cebu Business Park. CPVDC is the owner and developer of Cebu I.T. Park, a 27-hectare property complementing the Cebu Business Park. CPVDC will cease to exist after the merger, with all its assets and liabilities to be absorbed by CHI.

Manila Water posted P6.5-b profit in 2017 MANILA Water Co Inc. reported Tuesday a core net income P6.5 billion in 2017, up 7 from P6.06 billion in 2016, driven by increase billed volume and more service connections Manila Water said in a disclosure to the stock exchange consolidated revenues rose 5 percent to P17.7 billion as billed volume climbed 3 percent to 741.1 million cubic meters from 720.4 million mcm in 2016. Billed volume in the east zone of Metro Manila inched up 2 percent to 488.4 mcm amid an expansion. Manila Water was serving 6.5 million households in the east zone of Metro Manila as of end 2017. Other subsidiaries within the Philippines, consisting of operations in Boracay, Cebu, Clark, Laguna and Estate Water, meanwhile, posted double digit growth in billed volume. “We are proud of out ability to register solid core income growth in 2017 as it highlights the strength of our business and our people,” Manila Water president and chief executive Ferdz dela Cruz said. “Building on this foundation, we continue to build our business and expand our market reach, both domestically and in the region. Our organization is now geared up for growth and we are very excited to take on the opportunities that lie ahead,” dela Cruz added. Manila Water in 2017 spent P13 billion in capital expenditures, up 48 percent from the previous year’s level, as the company intensiﬁed its infrastructure build-up in preparation for future growth. Early this month, Manila Water expanded its footprint in Thailand as part of a strategy to expand its presence in Southeast Asia. Manila Water signed a share purchase agreement to acquire the 18.72-percent equity of Electricity Generating Public Company Ltd. in Eastern Water Resources Development and Management Public Company Ltd. (East Water). Jenniffer B. Austria

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY

World

extrastory2000@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Removal of term limits for Xi defended B

EIJING―China’s propaganda machine kicked into overdrive on Tuesday to defend the Communist Party’s move to lift term limits for President Xi Jinping as criticism persisted on social media in deﬁance of censorship.

PREMIERE. Reese Witherspoon and her daughter Ava Elizabeth Phillippe attend the premiere of Disney’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ on February 26, 2018, at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, California. AFP

‘Beast’ sends temperatures plunging in Europe ROME―A blast of Siberian weather dubbed “The Beast from the East” sent temperatures plunging across much of Europe early Tuesday as commuters braced themselves for another day of travel chaos. Freezing temperatures have claimed at least 10 lives across the continent in the last three days, with particularly acute fears for rough sleepers and the elderly during the bitterly cold snap. An Arctic front, which Britain’s tabloids have christened “The Beast from the East”, has swept in from Russia, causing widespread travel disruption and school closures. The frozen temperatures in Europe are in stark contrast to the Arctic itself, which is experiencing an unusually warm period despite it being the depths of winter when the sun never even rises above the horizon. Meteorologists have documented temperatures above freezing in some parts of the Arctic, causing astonishment among many scientists. “The Arctic is having an off-thecharts heatwave this week,” the Eu-

ropean Geosciences Union wrote in a tweet. Yet hundreds of miles further south, temperate Rome woke to its ﬁrst snowfall in six years on Monday thanks to the Polar Vortex. The mercury dipped as low as minus 4 C (24 Fahrenheit) early Tuesday morning, according to the Italian Meteorological Service. A string of major football matches, including Italian Cup bouts on Wednesday between Juventus/Atalanta and AC Milan/Lazio, could be postponed if the cold weather continues, ofﬁcials have warned. One of the lowest temperatures in Europe was recorded at Dolina Campoluzzo, North Italy, which shivered at minus 40 C―although the weather station is located at an altitude of 1,768 meters (5,800 feet). In Poland, where at least four people have died of exposure since Saturday, temperatures dropped overnight to minus 12 Celsius while parts of Lithuania, which has had

three deaths, saw the mercury fall below minus 20. Temperatures in France are forecast to drop to minus 10 C and feel as low as minus 18 C over the coming days. Three cold-related deaths have been documented so far. On Sunday, a 35-year-old homeless man was found dead in the southeastern city of Valence, and two days earlier, a 62-year-old man died in his cabin in the woods outside Paris. A third man, aged 53, was found dead in a frozen field in Gresy-sur-Aix on Monday afternoon. Some local authorities in Europe have ordered officials to find shelters for the homeless. In Belgium, a local mayor in a municipality of Brussels ordered homeless people to be forcibly detained if they refused to go to shelters. Etterbeek mayor Vincent De Wolf said the cold was a “major risk”, stressing that it was his responsibility to avoid potential deaths with temperatures set to drop to minus 15 C on Wednesday night. AFP

The party has shocked many observers by proposing a constitutional amendment to end the two-term limit for president, giving Xi a clear path to rule the world’s second largest economy for life. Censors have scrambled to block critical comments on social media, but users of the Twitter-like Weibo website continued to speak out on Tuesday, two days after the party’s announcement. “So pathetic, we have 1.3 billion people, no one can resist,” wrote one user. Another lamented the lack of political reform: “I once believed that I could see a president elected by one man, one vote in my lifetime.” Censors blocked searches for the phrases “I object”, “proclaimed king”, “tenure system” and “Winnie the Pooh”―the portly cartoon bear to which Xi has been compared. Xi is expected to secure a second ﬁve-year term when the rubber-stamp National People’s Congress opens its annual plenary session on Monday. State-run media published new editorials praising the Central Committee’s proposed amendment, which is expected to be approved during the legislative session and would allow Xi to stay in power beyond 2023. The China Daily, an English-language newspaper, said the party’s decision “has been necessitated by the need to perfect the Party and the State leadership system.” AFP

30 years jail sought for ex-president SEOUL―South Korean prosecutors on Tuesday demanded a 30-year-jail sentence for former president Park Geun-hye, who was sacked over a wide-ranging corruption scandal that exposed shady links between big business and politics and prompted massive street protests. The 66-year-old daughter of a former dictator was dismissed in March 2017 and has now been in custody for almost a year. “We ask the court to hand down 30 years in prison and [a fine of] 118.5 billion won ($110 million) for the accused, who must take ultimate responsibility for the scandal as the 18th president of this country,” the prosecutors said in a statement. They said Park, in collusion with her secret confidante and long-time friend Choi Soon-sil, took or was promised bribes totaling 59.2 billion won ($52 million) from three South Korean companies, Samsung, Lotte and SK, in return for policy favors. Park has also been charged with coercing 18 large firms to “donate” a total of 77.4 billion won to two dubious foundations controlled by Choi. The Seoul Central District Court earlier this month found Choi guilty of abuse of power, bribery and interfering in government business and sentenced her to 20 years in prison. The verdict and sentence was seen as a potential pointer to the decision in Park’s separate trial in the same court, because 15 of the 18 charges Choi faced mirror charges against the ex-president. AFP

Top Saudi commanders replaced RIYADH―Saudi King Salman on Monday replaced the country’s top military commanders including the chief of staff, state media said, in a major shake-up of the kingdom’s defense establishment. The monarch replaced the heads of the ground forces and air defenses, as well as civilian officials including several deputy ministers, in a series of late-night royal decrees. No ofﬁcial reason was given for the sweeping overhaul, but it comes as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pursues military reform and a bloody campaign against Yemen’s Iran-aligned Huthi rebels nears the end of its third year. “Termination of the services of General Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, Chief of Staff,” the ofﬁcial Saudi Press

Agency announced, adding that Fayyad al-Ruwaili had been appointed as his replacement. Al-Bunyan was retired after he inaugurated an arms exhibition this week in Riyadh by the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the state-owned defense company, which has drawn several global defense ﬁrms. “A military transformation is underway in Saudi Arabia,” Theodore Karasik, a senior advisor at the consultancy Gulf States Analytics, told AFP. “The changes come on the heels of the SAMI exhibition, which is a critical part of the Prince Mohammed’s reform plan to create an indigenous defense program,” he added. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

INVITATION TO BID

SUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF 1 LOT FORENSIC EQUIPMENT (DIGITAL FORENSICS)

ACQUISITION OF ONE (1) LOTMESSING WITH DRINKING WATER SERVICESFOR DEOBC 18-12, 13, AND 14 Bid Ref. No. 2018-02

SUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF ONE (1) LOT PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (VESTS, HELMET, BALLISTIC SHIELD)

Bid Ref. No. 2018-06 1.

ThePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum ofEIGHTY NINE MILLION SEVEN HUNDREDNINETY ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P89,791,000.00)through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2018being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)to paymentsunder the contractfor theSUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF 1 LOT FORENSIC EQUIPMENT (DIGITAL FORENSICS). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected duringbid opening.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for theSUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF 1 LOT FORENSIC EQUIPMENT (DIGITAL FORENSICS).Delivery of the goods is 60 calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “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 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.

The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 2, 2018, 11:00 a.m. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before March 14, 2018, 11:00 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. Bid opening shall be March 14, 2018, 11:00 am. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100. 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.

10. For further information, please refer to:

ThePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum ofEIGHTEEN MILLION EIGHTHUNDREDTWENTY THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED PESOS(P18,820,800.00) through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2018being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)to paymentsunder the contractfor theACQUISITION OF ONE (1) LOT MESSING WITH DRINKING WATER SERVICES FOR DEOBC 18-12,13, AND 14. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected duringbid opening.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for theACQUISITION OF ONE (1) LOT MESSING WITH DRINKING WATER SERVICES FOR DEOBC 18-12,13, AND 14.Delivery of the goods is 180 calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed per DEOBC batch. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

(Sgd) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

Bid Ref. No. 2018-05 1.

ThePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum ofEIGHTY SEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php87,500,000.00)through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2018being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)to paymentsunder the contractfor theSUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF ONE (1) LOT PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (VESTS, HELMET, BALLISTIC SHIELD). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected duringbid opening.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for the SUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF ONE (1) LOT PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (VESTS, HELMET, BALLISTIC SHIELD). Delivery of the goods is 180 calendar days upon receipt of the Authority to Import from PNP. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 02, 2018,09:00 AMat PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City, 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before March 14, 2018, 09:00 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.

The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 02, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before March 14, 2018, 10:30 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.

Bid opening shall be March 14, 2018, 09:00 AM. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City, 1100. 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. 8.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat Mr. Arvin E Sadulloat the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 08:00 AM to 04:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting February 26, 2018, 2018at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

10. For further information, please refer to:

(Sgd) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee (MS-FEB. 28, 2018)

Bid opening shall be March 14, 2018, 10:30 am. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100. 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. 8.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat Mr.Armando B. Macalalag Jr. at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting February 26, 2018at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

10. For further information, please refer to:

Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082

(MS-FEB. 28, 2018)

Mr. Armando B. Macalalag Jr. PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082

(MS-FEB. 28, 2018)

(Sgd) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

wednesday, february 28, 2018

LGUs LocaL government units

Erap confirms seeking third term, denies Jinggoy bid

PARADE OF LIGHT.

This float of Wrap and Carry lights up the night en route to winning Best Float in the 4th Parade of Lights 2017, which celebrated the 17th cityhood and 434th founding anniversary of Tanauan City in Batangas. This festival unfolds anew on March 10. Roy Tomandao

Embrace tech, Binay urges LGUs at gab on governance MAKAti Mayor Abby Binay has underscored the necessity for local government units to embrace technology to better connect with citizens and improve their services. Speaking before the National Governance Forum on “Public Sector Reforms and innovations” held recently at the university of Makati, the mayor urged fellow mayors and other local leaders to recognize a ‘disconnect between generations’ largely caused by rapid advancements in technology. “there is clearly a disconnect between generations because of rapid changes and innovations brought on by technology. Local governments must, therefore, be flexible and adaptable in order to come up with programs and services which are attuned to the prevailing needs of their constituents,” Binay said. the mayor said technology not only allows government to improve its services, but also to connect directly with its citizens. “By employing technology to create a digital community of Makati citizens—or Makatizens—we aim to remove the traditional bureaucratic boundaries between government and the people; between us—the public servants—and the public we serve,” Binay explained.

By Vito Barcelo

Cagayan North airport opens to intl flights

LL is set for the Cagayan North international Airport in Lal-lo to receive its first international commercial flight from Macau on March 23, Secretary Raul L. Lambino, administrator and CEO of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, has announced. “We are ready to open CNiA to East Asia and the North Pacific to commercial flight,” Lambino told a gathering of the Regional Development Council of Region 2 in Santa Ana town in Cagayan. the first domestic flight by Cebu Pacific to the Lal-lo town airport will follow in April, he said. CNiA in Lal-lo time cuts the travel time to 45 minutes, he said, and can now receive the heavier A320s and B737, a strong upgrade from its previous capacity. “this has been years in coming, but what was so difficult to do, we at Ceza have finally done it,” he said. “to get to Santa Ana, you don’t have to fly anymore to tuguegarao

City, which is a three-hour-drive to here,” he said. Lambino said “we are sending a strong signal to potential locators from Asia and North America that it is no longer business as usual at Ceza.” “With a new leadership, Ceza can be trusted to do the right things for the medium and long terms,” he said. the last quarter of 2017 and first two months of 2018 saw Ceza step up the pace of construction of the remaining runway facilities required by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for CNiA to acquire “full aerodrome certificate, he said. these included the development of the Runway End Safety Areas on both ends of the 2.1-km runway, and the

runway strip width running along the edges of the 45-meter-wide strip. the most important installation is the Precision Approach Path indicator or PAPi, which helps pilot acquire and maintain the correct approach to an airport, Lambino said. the PAPi was commissioned last month. he said that all obstruction along the landing path to runway 22 has been cleared, and an additional fire truck acquired bolstering CNiA’s crash fire rescue capacity. turning to Ceza’s infrastructure buildup, Lambino told RDC members that Ceza has listed top-priority projects under its new redeveloped Medium-term Development Plan. Among these projects are a tertiary medical center, Ceza’s corporate center, convention center, boutique hotel and a financial technologies (Fintech) park. the elements “are vital in the development concept” for the Freeport called Global transPark, he said.

Navotas, DFA offer ‘Passport on Wheels’ thROuGh a partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the city government of Navotas offered its constituents an easy and comfortable option to process their passport applications through “Passport on Wheels.” Around 1,500 Navoteño tuesday applied for or renewed their passports through DFA’s mobile passport service at the Navotas City hall. “We are grateful to the DFA for bringing the passport application process close to our constituents,” Mayor John Rey tiangco said. “the Passport on Wheels offers great ease and convenience especially to our elderly, persons with disability, expectant moms, and young children. they will not have to go far to have their passports processed,” he added. the city government, through the Navotas hanapbuhay Center, distributed passport application forms last Feb. 6-16. Around 4,300 Navoteños trooped to the city hall to get the form. however, due to limited slots, only 1,500 were given appointment stubs and told to return to the city hall for DFA’s data capturing.

Officials of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority led by Administrator and CEO Sec. Raul L. Lambino (fourth from left) on Monday receive the ISO certificate of registration from Ma. Melanie L. Olbita (third from left), general manager of the International Standard Certification Philippines Inc., after successfully establishing a Quality Management System using ISO 9001:2015 in compliance with Executive Order No. 605, series 2007. Joining Lambino in the ceremonies at the CEZA head office in Pasig City are (from left) Special Assistant to the Administrator Leonardo C. Cruz; OIC/Deputy Administrator on Planning, Business Development and Investment Raymundo T. Roquero; Senior Deputy Administrator lawyer Byron G. San Pedro; Director Arturo Bautista; Corporate Board Secretary lawyer Percival Peralta; and Administrator’s Chief of Staff Mike Gonzales.

With still more than a year for the 2019 local elections, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said he will seek for the third and last term in office, as he vowed to continue to lay out new plans for an “innovation corridor” to help boost businesses and improve the lives of every Manilenos. Estrada denied he is grooming his son, former senator Jinggoy Estrada to run for mayor come May 2019, as the young Estrada is retiring from politics. “i am good for another three years. We need to do more and i am compelled to run for another term for the sake of Manilenos,” Estrada said, denying allegations that he will not longer seek or a re-election. “that is fake news. My political opponents are spreading that i can no longer function as mayor of the city,” Estrada said. Estrada said he was able to restore the glory of Manila and promised fundamental change in the city. the former President now Manila Mayor described his political adversaries as “wrong” when they predicted that Manila would turn bankrupt and messy. “Manilenos are now enjoying the many fruits of the city government’s accomplishments, Estrada said. Estrada said he was able to pay the millions of debt left by his predecessor, former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and has reorganized the many offices tainted with corruption. “Manilenos are now enjoying free medical services in the city’s six hospitals that underwent renovations and modernization of facilities while the salaries and allowances of city government officials, the police and the teachers were increased,” he said.

Belmonte vows to focus on QC OFWs’ welfare FOLLOWiNG her visit to hong Kong and Macau in China with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on tuesday promised to focus on the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, especially those who have families in the city. She said her visit to hong Kong and Macau with the “tapang at Malasakit” Alliance has further encouraged her to look into the concerns of OFWs, such as the well-being of their families they have left behind, their poor compensation and their abusive employers. the vice mayor was invited to the working trip by tapang at Malasakit convenor and taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, along with actor Robin Padilla. “OFW concerns are among the priority measures of the President [Rodrigo Duterte] so Mayor Sara went there to explain these new programs for the OFW sector, and also to thank them for their support to President Duterte,” she said. “Basically, i got to talk to a lot of them and i have validated what they really need. i have talked to some of the OFWs there, and many of them are from Quezon City,” she noted. Rio N. Araja

Marawi IDPs finish skills training By Abe Almirol NiNE months after the Marawi City siege, 2,615 internally displaced persons have completed skills training initiated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in collaboration with tesda and other partner institutions. the skills learned would help displaced Marawi residents start a new livelihood. under the DWSD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program, skills learned include painting, carpentry, driving, welding, computer servicing, cooking, dressmaking, haircutting, electrical installation and maintenance, masonry, pipe

making and welding. SLP is a community-based capacity building program that aims to improve the socio-economic condition of poor Filipinos by facilitating opportunities for development and management of resources viable for micro-enterprises and employment facilitation. “We are grateful for the opportunities given to us. the new skills we learned can help us to find new jobs,” said Cairodeng Carim, one of the graduates. DSWD also provided P5,000 preemployment assistance fund to each graduate. the trainees also received toolkits from tesda to help them start new means of livelihood.

NEW INTERCHANGE. Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, MPTC president and CEO Rodrigo Franco, and BCDA president and CEO Vince Dizon (from left) lead the ceremonial drive-thru as the North Luzon Expressway Corp. officially opened the new Mabiga Interchange of the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway and the Sta. Ines Magalang exit on NLEX, both improving motorists’ access to the MacArthur Highway. Manny Palmero

Life

How to stay gorgeous under the sun Summer is but only a few days away, which means hours of frolicking under the sun. But before you start bathing in the sun’s rays, take these beauty tips to heart to make sure you have the best and most beautiful summer yet.

fashion and beauty

bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MstandardLIfe wednesday, february 28, 2018

Shield your skin

Protect your skin from the harsh uV rays by applying sunscreen before going outside. Put on Nuxe Sun SPF50 High Protection Face Cream on your face and Nuxe Sun SPF30 Face and Body Lotion on the rest of your body. These waterresistant and non-comedogenic products from Nuxe Sun range effectively protects skin without the greasy feel.

Stay hydrated

Always bring an Aladdin Fresco Twist & Go Vacuum Bottle wherever you go to stay hydrated. This better alternative to plastic bottles features an insulated stainless steel body that keeps drinks cold for up to 18 hours, an easy to remove two-way lid, and sleek design.

Keep it natural

Cut down your makeup to a bare minimum and instead let your natural beauty shine. Besides who want to sweat all their makeup off in the middle of a hot day? Focus on covering your base using a shine-controlling and hydrating product such as max Factor Healthy Skin Harmony miracle Foundation.

Sport a sun-kissed look

Pair your perfect tan with a natural sun-kissed look that can be achieved by a sweep of max Factor Crème Bronzer under your cheekbones, near the hairline, and in the neck and décolletage area.

Go for glow

Glow under the sun with the help of make up Factory Art of Glow Stick, a gentle and safe for sensitive skin highlighter stick that gives soft shimmer with a touch of color.

Treat your skin

After a day under the sun, rejuvenate your skin and hair with Nuxe Sun Hair & Body Shampoo. This luxurious, head-totoe after-sun product removes all residue accumulated over the course of the day, from the sand in your tresses to the salt and chlorine on your skin.

Spray on some scent

During hot days it’s important to pick a light per perfume, such as those with fruity and floral notes. Kenzo World eau au de Toilette is fresh and sparkling fragrance with notes of pear, peony, almond blossom, and orris. For a zesty, aromatic scent, go for 1902 Tradition mandarin & Cuir eau de Cologne with top notes of cardamom, frosted mandarin, and red peppercorns.

Passion for pearls Celebrity and fashion icon Marian Rivera exudes elegance and beauty wearing her pearl accessories.

He sea abounds with gifts to mankind, but perhaps nothing among these is quite more stunning than pearls. These lustrous gems possess a mystical quality and classic elegance that make them a favorite among the rich and the famous.

In the 16th century, Prince Phillip II of Spain gave La Peregrina Pearl to his bride mary. This white, pear-shaped saltwater pearl had a series of royal owners until the 1960s when actor richard Burton gave it to his wife elizabeth Taylor. Although famous for singing that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” one of marilyn monroe’s most treasured pieces of jewelry was a simple 16-inch string of pearls given to her by Joe Dimaggio during their honeymoon in Japan. Pearls were also a favorite accessory of Grace Kelly. The 20th century style icon was often seen wearing a luxurious pearl-anddiamond jewelry set her husband Prince rainier gave to her. Several hundred years later, pearls remain in style for all seasons, charming both young and old generations. Whether it’s a short or long strand of pearls, a classic pearl necklace, an exquisite bracelet, or a simple pair or pearl earrings, wearing pearls exude an elegant statement. As an archipelago, the Philippines is rich in pearls, from freshwater to South Sea. Homegrown label Kultura showcases the best Filipino jewelry designs featuring the country’s rich selection of pearls in its uniquely Filipino Pearl Collections. Kultura offers freshwater pearls that come in variety of shapes and colors, irregularly-shaped baroque pearls that are versatile to match any outfit, luxe South Sea pearls perfect for elegant ensembles and events, and cultured and mother of pearl pieces transformed into stunning designs. uniquely Filipino Pearl Collections are available at Kultura in S Sm makati, megamall, mall of Asia, Sm Aura Premier, Sm City Cebu, Sm Seaside, Sm Lanang Premier, The Podium, and at most S Sm Stores. It also has boutiques at Taal Vista Hotel, Pico de Loro, and molo mansion Iloilo. Visit www.kulturafilipino.com to know more. Make a bold statement with these pearl pieces

Experiment with nail colors

Paint your nails pretty with ANNY’s fresh collection of summer shades, such as the toned down Gorgeous Beach Life or that eye-catching Sun & Fun. Or go low-maintenance with any of the 36 shades of Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear that lets you worry less about chipped nails.

Be party ready

Pick multifunctional and multitasking makeup products so you’ll always be party ready this summer. BeYu Lip Lights comes with an integrated LeD light and built-in mirror that allows you to easily apply this sparkling lip color anytime, anywhere. meanwhile, Covergirl Outlast All-Day ultimate Finish 3-in-1 Foundation is a liquid, powder, and concealer in one sleek packaging. Mother of pearls are transformed into exquisite designs that are perfect for any occasion.

Pearls remain in style for all seasons, charming both young and old generations.

Life

wednesday, february 28, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

va n i t y c o r n er

RestoRing Roots

Roots are treasured as one of the most effective strengthening, restoring powers of nature. The Body Shop harnesses the power of three plant roots— ginger, ginseng, and ruscus—in its high performing firming and restoring Roots of Strength range. The 100 percent vegan range is composed of Firming Shaping Essence Lotion that helps prepare and activate skin for the benefits of routine; Firming Shaping Serum that helps wrinkles appear less visible and reduce signs of aging; and Firming Shaping Cream that helps skin appear firmer and plumper. The Roots of Strength line is available at The Body Shop stores nationwide.

‘PuRR-fect’ cat eyes

Durable leather bags help men carry all their essentials, whether at work or at play.

Quality leather products for modern men

hERE are only a few things that exude style and elegance quite like authentic leather accessories. a quality leather bag or wallet or belt can take anyone anywhere, from a meeting with clients to a formal event in a posh venue.

Leather is often associated with class and function, owing to its sleek elegance, versatile style, and durability. homegrown label McJim Classic Leather proudly showcases its authentic leather accessories, which it said, can be at par with international brands. Its offers finely-crafted and well-designed leather bags, belts, and wallets made for multitasking male professionals. highly mobile men look for bags that serve various functions when they’re on the road—from toting their gadg-

ets to stashing their grooming kits. From shoulder bags to cross body bags and to gadget bags, McJim Classic Leather bags are made to mature elegantly. Each bag is crafted from durable materials and designed along classic lines. Leather belts are likewise an essential part of a gentleman’s corporate or casual wear. The local leather label offers belts with unique-looking buckles that can match any piece in a man’s wardrobe. available in basic dark

brown, basic modernist black, and reversible minimalist, McJim’s authentic leather belts give men a sleek and elegant look. McJim Classic Leather also offers its collection of stylish leather wallets in elegant black or classic brown and in various sizes and designs, too. From basic billfolds to chic wallets with multiple slots, there’s a McJim Classic Leather wallet for every urbane Filipino gentleman with an active lifestyle. These leather products are available on leading online shopping websites and in all major department stores nationwide. For more information, visit McJim’s Facebook page at www.facebook. com/OfficialMcJIM.

Create intense and precise cat eyes like Katy Perry’s with the new Katy Kat Eyeliner from Covergirl that’s made of a high pigment formula to create bold to fine lines that lasts up to eight hours. Smoothly glide the liner on your eyelids and give it a gorgeous flick to create the perfect cat eye drama or opt for a smokedout finish by smudging out the liner with the special silicone tip at the other end of the eyeliner. The Katy Kat Eyeliner is available in KittyWhisPURR, Midnight Matte, and KittyKatdabra at P345 each. This eye makeup is available at Rustan’s Department Stores and leading Watsons outlets nationwide.

styLe guiDe

Lazy day looks FoR chill days when you can’t be bothered to put on an elaborate outfit but still want to look awesome, there are surprisingly simple ways to dress laid-back while still pulling off a stunner. The key in lazy day look are neutral styles and comfortable materials.

neutral solids

Lay off the tight jeans and leather jackets and play with earth-toned options for a more sophisticated allure. Wear tailored white blouses and pair it with a nude pleated skirt or a pastel wrap dress for a fresh and comfier take on summer wear. Don’t forget to put on a flexible comfortable shoes like a pair of Skechers Go Flex. Go for tailored white blouse and trousers in earth colors for a zeroeffort style

chic denims

Reinvent your denim game by wearing them as a dress or an outerwear. It’s no secret that denims and sneakers is the goto combo one can wear anytime, anywhere. When worn with the right slip-ons, denim looks extra modern and chic. With a hint of Los angeles street-cool to its aesthetics, the Skecher Street collection offers footwear that not only look stylish, but are equally comfy too thanks to the range’s signature air Cooled Memory Foam insole cushions. Chic denim dress

Leather belts in basic colors but with unique-looking buckles make for a stylish and versatile accessory.

Professional airbrush

makeup course in Manila LEaRn high-definition and airbrush techniques during the intensive Master Certificate Course on airbrush Makeup Techniques for Screen and Media happening on six Saturdays, from March 3 to april 14. The lectures are offered by Sprint asia Beauty, a Philippine-based source of imported revolutionary makeup, in collaboration with The School for Professional and Continuing Education of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Sessions will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with practitioners in their respective fields of expertise as speakers. Registration fee comes with a complimentary Temptu Pro airbrush Kit. For inquiries and registration, contact Marlon Eusebio or Cecile Juen at (02) 230-5100 local 3802, 400Learn airbrush techniques during the intensive workshop at Benilde 7405, 400-5425, or email space@benilde.edu.ph.

stripes

If you’re tired of your usual color blocking, stripes pattern is the way to go. It’s more attractive than solids but classier than prints, and this pattern can also do wonders for one’s figure, as long as you know how to play your coordinates well. To pull off a lazy striped ooTD, pair your distressed jeans with your striped shirt for street-ready garb; throw in a blazer for a more smart-casual look. Complete this comfy style by slipping on a pair off the Modern Comfort collection. Put on a blazer to make your striped shirt and distressed jeans ensemble smart-casual

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Simply Red...

NOW STREAMING

Venture into the world of sci-fi

From C4

The forecast for science fiction 2018 is bright with a chance of dystopian eras and complex characters --especially with the fantastic films and TV series now streaming and coming soon on Netflix. The great thing about the sci-fi genre is that it goes wide as our imagination; from exploring different themes (social commentaries, futuristic romance, and philosophical undertones, anyone?) to combining sub-genres into a melting pot of one interesting plot. Get ready to be mesmerized, captivated, and on the edge of your imaginary spacecraft seat. Whether you’re a long-time devotee or a newly minted fan, here are some of the coolest sci-fi picks that you’ll definitely want to check out (if you haven’t already). So go on and take that Netflix sci-fi binge—stream or download and watch—because a whole different world awaits you on the other side. The Cloverfield Paradox Orbiting above a planet on the brink of war, scientists test a device to solve an energy crisis-only to end up face-to-face with a dark alternate reality.

partisan Pandesal Forum of Kamuning Bakery Cafe with media after the destructive Feb. 6, 2018 fire held at a temporary venue in Quezon City, guest speaker Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairperson Atty. Teresita Herbosa reaffirmed SEC decision against Rappler. She reiterated that the move is not of any political nature as she was appointed not by President Rodrigo Dutertete but by his predecessor, Noynoy Aquino. She said she doesn’t know Pres. Duterte personally. Her decision and that of SEC en banc--after long deliberations---is totally non-political but just upholding the rule of law.

Herboasa has a two cum laude honors, one from University of the Philippines and another from University of Michigan where she earned her masters degree. She is also respected for being incorruptible. She’s a great grandniece of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Her great grandmother, Lucia Rizal, Jose Rizal’s elder sister. Kamuning Bakery Cafe hosts #PandesalForum as one of its unique, non-traditional socio-civic projects. Pandesal Forum encourages leaders, newsmakers, artists, rebels to dialogue with media and intellectuals to help elevate the quality & reforms of public discourse on issues.

FullMetal Alchemist In this live-action adaptation of the hit anime series, alchemist Edward Elric who searches for a way to restore his brother Al’s body with the military government and mysterious monsters watching closely. iBoy In this British sci-fi thriller, a teenage boy discovers he can control electronic devices after shards of a cell phone end up lodged in his brain. He then uses his newfound power for revenge.

SEC Chairperson Atty. Teresita Herbosa (right) with Kamuning Bakery owner and journalist Wilson Flores

Altered Carbon Based on the cyberpunk novel by Richard Morgan, it revolves around a prisoner who returns to life in a new body with one chance to win his freedom: by solving a mind-bending murder.

The Discovery Now that the afterlife’s been proven to exist, people are killing themselves in droves. Seems like a good time to fall in love. 2001: A Space Odyssey In this Stanley Kubrick classic, two astronauts battle their ship’s intelligent computer system while investigating the appearance of mysterious monoliths throughout the universe. Mute A mute man with a violent past is forced to take on the teeming underworld of a nearfuture Berlin as he searches for his missing girlfriend.

Lucid Dream An exciting Korean sci-fi thriller where a devastated father attempts to track down his missing child through lucid dreams.

The Expanse Set in a future where humans have colonized the solar system, a missing person links an asteroid belt detective, the captain of an ice freighter, and a diplomat trying to avert a war.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, February 28, 2018

ACROSS 1 Clean the deck 5 Feel sore 9 Stays near the shore 14 Whey-faced 15 Creme caramel 16 “Too many cooks ...” e.g. 17 Upper limbs 18 Strong, as venison 19 Type of eclipse 20 Chinese exercises (2 wds.) 22 On a bicycle 24 Suspense 26 Circle of flowers 27 Slide-show need 30 Cheer 35 Slack 36 Debatable 37 Airport exit 38 Non-flying bird 39 Ivories tickler 42 Upsilon preceder 43 Nasty remarks 45 Network 46 Smells awful 48 Sentimentality 50 Art categories 51 GI address 52 Long-plumed heron 54 Vulture’s dinner

58 Kind of tire 61 Comic-strip queen 62 Pharaoh’s god 64 Branch 66 Like a judge 67 Brad of the movies 68 Jacob’s son 69 Exhilarating 70 Divers’ milieus 71 Shangri-la DOWN 1 Mineral spring 2 Toad feature 3 — mater 4 Anyway 5 Crochet project 6 Prospector’s filing 7 Smokehouse hanger 8 “Shepherd Moons” chanteuse 9 Squandered 10 Like some fans 11 Surrealist painter 12 Victorian oath 13 Desiccated 21 Go furtively 23 Ribs, slangily 25 Worry, plus 27 Sleighs or luges 28 Stand-up performer

29 Scratchy 31 Burglar’s “key” 32 Dinner guest 33 Property marker 34 Kiddie-lit author 36 Shopping plaza 40 Ice hut 41 At bay 44 Felt a sharp, stinging pain 47 License 49 Drone’s home 50 Endowments 53 The fabulous Garbo

54 Billfold contents 55 — vera lotion 56 Ms. McEntire of music 57 Nods off 59 Impressed, plus 60 Not taped 63 Rail securer 65 Win at rummy

Itching to go home and binge but stuck in traffic? With Netflix’s download feature, you’ll never dread waiting time anymore! Just click the download button on the details page for a film or series and you can watch it later even without an internet connection.

IC Mendoza recently discovered the revolutionary Medsonix Acoustic Resonating Therapy, undoubtedly a big help to soothe the lower back pain he has been experiencing after regularly playing volleyball and going to the gym. Similarly, IC’s mom, entertainment columnist Dolly Anne Carvajal, has also tried Medsonix after repeatedly complaining of shoulder pain. She attests the therapy has been a big help to ease her mobility, especially in carrying even her shoulder bag while walking. IC and Dolly Anne were introduced to the Medsonix Therapy at Clinica Manila at SM Megamall. The machine was brought to the country by Ateneo Graduate School of Business professor, Enrique M. Soriano, nearly two years ago. The Medsonix Therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free, pain-free, safe and effective method of relieving pain and discomfort. It integrates a medical device that uses low frequency sound waves to increase blood flow and mobility, reduce inflammation, pain and relieve symptoms of many diseases and disorders. Medsonix was developed over 10 years ago in Las Vegas by Alphonse Cassone who experimented with sound waves for the past 15 years. The device is registered with the US Food and Drug Administration. Among the many medical conditions that can be addressed by the Medsonix Therapy System are arthritis, bursitis, migraine, carpal tunnel syndrome, back and joint pain, multiple sclerosis, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, sciatica, diabetic neuropathy, lupus and peripheral vascular disease. Patients can simply sit, relax and absorb the low frequency acoustic pressure waves generated by the Medsonix Therapy System. The treatment is scheduled for only 30 minutes per session. No preparation time is necessary. Patients do not need to disrobe or take in anything. The therapeutic procedure is safe, completely non-invasive and nonpharmaceutical. The acoustic wave form generated by Medsonix does not inter-

fere with a pacemaker, pain pump, other implanted or electrical device. Last year, entertainment couple Richard and Roni Merk both did Medsonix Therapy, too, after their much-publicized physical ordeal and sickness. Richard’s right foot was nearly amputated, while Roni underwent colon surgery. Medsonix helped the couple in their recovery. Medsonix Therapy is available at Clinica Manila, second floor SM Megamall Building A. For inquiries and appointments, please call 730-3237 or 0947-5951524 or e-mail info@medsonix.com.ph *** Gelli (Loisa Andalio) is fighting back against the people who have made fun of her appearance as her dream of becoming beautiful finally comes true with the help of a powerful genie in Wansapanataym Presents: Gelli in a Bottle. After enduring years of mockery, Gelli stunned her schoolmates, especially Robin (Ronnie Alonte), with her new and improved look when she attended their sophomore ball, where she becomes the star of the night. However, people’s praises easily got into her head and made her conceited shaming her enemies anywhere. Their confrontation will lead to a chaotic catfight, which will ruin the school’s celebration. In the recent episode last Sunday, Gelli’s desire to control the genie in the bottle led to her being imprisoned in the bottle herself while the genie is freed from the bottle. Meanwhile, viewers were instantly hooked on Wansapanataym’s new series as it won in national TV ratings. Its pilot episode on Feb. 4 ported a national TV rating of 31 percent versus Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko (16.8 percent), according to data from Kantar Media. The show’s official hashtag #WansaGelliInABottle also joined the trending topics on Twitter and received thousands of tweets and praises from netizens. Wansapanataym Presents: Gelli in a Bottle airs Sundays on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Jennifer Lawrence

Anne Curtis, Lovi Poe in Metro’s most stylish 2018 list ISAH V. RED By Isah V. Red FROM 50 driven and fashion forward ladies, ever-alluring Anne Curtis and captivating Lovi Poe both reign at no.1 in Metro magazine and lifestyle website Metro.Style’s Metro Most Stylish 2018 list. Metro magazine honors both Anne and Lovi on its February issue covers having undeniably captured the whole country’s attention with their charming personalities, elegant gowns at events, and trendy but polished streetwear. Anne is always amazing in her girly ensembles, Korean-inspired outﬁts, or up-and-coming foreign designers’ looks in It’s Showtime. She also wowed everyone with her two iconic designers gowns at her wedding: Vera Wang for the welcome dinner, and Monique Lhuillier for the big day.

Anne Curtis (top) and Lovi Poe on the cover of Metro Magazine's Most Stylist list issue

Lovi especially caught the public’s attention during the Vicki Belo – Hayden Kho wedding in Paris, mesmerizing everyone in her black, backless Mark Bumgarner gown. As seen in her Instagram feed, her daring and elegant outﬁts during her trip to Europe also deserved applause. The magazine also features 48 other striking women of impeccable style and substance, which includes news and current affairs personalities, like Rated K host Korina Sanchez-Roxas, Bandila news anchor Karen Davila, and entertainment journalist Marie Lozano. Big names, like ABS-CBN’s chief content ofﬁcer Charo Santos-Concio, actresses Kris Aquino and Heart Evangelista, and 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, also made it to the list. Young actress Julia Barretto and mompreneur Isabelle Daza are also categorized as multi-hyphenate women with year-round modish looks, while other notable names of reputable sense and style are Tootsy Angara, Jess Wilson, Martine Cajucom, KC del Rosario, Maxene Magalona, and Kim Cam Jones. *** C3 In the recent edition of Turn the to non-

in hotly-anticipated

‘Red Sparrow’

ENNIFER Lawrence gives the spy genre a whole new spin as she stars in her most badass, highly-sensual and R-rated movie Red Sparrow opening today in cinemas nationwide. Directed by Francis Lawrence (who also directed Jennifer Lawrence in the worldwide box-office Hunger Games), Red Sparrow is based on the novel of Jason Matthews, a former CIA operative that also stars Joel Edgerton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Charlotte Rampling, Joely Richardson, Mary-Louise Parker and Jeremy Irons. Red Sparrow, which is rated R-16 in the Philippines, trails the journey of prima ballerina Dominika Egorova (Lawrence) as she faces a bleak and uncertain future after she suffers an injury that ends her career. She soon turns to Sparrow School, a secret intelligence service that trains exceptional young people to use their minds and bodies as weapons. In the Sparrow School, the trainees undergo a merciless program that turns them into intelligent killing machines. Egorova soon emerges as the most dangerous Sparrow after completing the sadistic training process. As she comes to terms with her new abilities, Dominika meets CIA agent Nathaniel Nash (Joel Edgerton) who tries to convince her that he is the only person she can trust. “Dominika is a fascinating character, fiercely intelligent. She’s forced into a program that trains in espionage. She turns the tables, her mind is fascinating. She’s ten steps ahead with everybody who’s trying to use her, and it’s this moment where she gains power,” says Lawrence of her role. The movie’s most brutal and sexiest thrilling spins takes the spy genre a notch higher as director Lawrence vouches that the movie is a very different kind of spy film. Red Sparrow delivers the biggest thrills this year with its hard R, perverse and intriguing journey of the most lethal spy the Sparrow School has ever created. “This is a thriller, it’s not action, again it’s not gadgety. When we started working on the story, I fell in love with it because I fell in love with the story of the girl in the movie. I fell in love with the character, I fell in love with her dilemma, and I fell in love with how she deals with that dilemma. I’m really attracted to stories about isolated, quite lonely characters, and that’s what pulled me in. Topically and thematically, the Cold War, when we started the project, was sort of irrelevant. That wasn’t back in the news in the way that it is now,” shares the director. Red Sparrow is from 20th Century Fox.

Lawrence in a scene from the spy film 'Red Sparrow'

IN FULL FORCE. The cast of 'Red Sparrow' joins its lead star at the movie's grand premiere in London.

Digital Media

Stream your favorite series on-the-go WHEN it comes to data, size definitely matters. The new Smart GigaX Plans doubles open access data allocation plus 10GB dedicated to video streaming to go with the latest LTE-capable handsets for free. Under Giga Plan 2399, you now get the following inclusions: Huawei Mate 10 handset, 10GB of data exclusive to video streaming, unli all-net texts, 60 minutes all-net calls, and 10GB of open access data (doubled from previous 5GB open access allocation). “We know how much our customers love to stream videos and play games on their smartphones. This is why we are offering the new Smart GigaX Plans that doubles the monthly data from 5GB to 10GB. On top of that they will also get 10GB additional allocation for YouTube, iﬂix, iWantTV, Fox, and other streaming apps,” said Oscar Reyes, Jr., SVP of Consumer Business Market Development for PLDT-Smart. He added, “As the trusted digital partner of our customers, we don’t want 'Red Sparrow' lead star them to keep holding back from enjoyJennifer Lawrence brings ing mobile Internet. GigaX provides to life the most fearless and them the latest smartphones, incredmost astute heroine on the ible data allowance, and the counbig screen in the latest adult try’s fastest LTE.” spy thriller. Incidentally, Smart topped OpenSignal’s recent report on fastest

LTE in the country. The 10GB video streaming allocation is also part of other GigaX Plans, namely Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro Plan 799 (includes 2.5GB x 2 = 5GB open access data on top of the 10GB for video streaming plus 150 Unli all-net texts and 20 minutes of all-net calls) and Oppo F5 Plan 1299 (includes 4.5GB x 2= 9GB open access data on top of the 10GB for video streaming plus Unli all-net texts and 50 minutes of all-net calls). Like the Huawei Mate Plan 2399, both the J2 Pro and Oppo F5 smartphones are free under the mentioned postpaid plans. So what can you do with 10GB dedicated to streaming? Typically, an hour of standard streaming consumes about 1GB. So 10GB is just about an entire season of about 12 or 13 episodes assuming each runs about 40 to 45 minutes. The usual movie has a running time of less than two hours so you have monthly ﬁlm streaming allocation for about six or seven movies. Apart from the portion dedicated to streaming, you still have another 10GB (open access) when you get the Huawei Mate 10 Plan 2399. The fact that this particular handset sports a 5.9” full display screen adds to the overall entertainment experience.