Manila Standard - 2018 January 10 - Wednesday

VOL. XXXI • NO. 327 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

4-m devotees join country’s biggest religious festival

By Vito Barcelo, Bill Casas and AFP SOME four million devotees poured into Quiapo Church and nearby areas Tuesday as the image of the Black Nazarene wended its way toward the basilica on its yearly procession, the Philippine National Police said.

This year’s number of participants was more than double last year’s PNP crowd estimate at 1.4 million during the 22-hour-long procession.

Manila Police District Chief Supt. Joel Coronel said the 2018 Traslacion is expected to finish by Tuesday midnight.

The sea of heaving, towel-waving humanity swarmed the black statue of a cross-bearing Jesus Christ in one of the country’s largest religious festivals.

In a frenzied display of religious fervor, men, women and children climbed over heads and shoulders and flung themselves at the centuriesold Black Nazarene that they say performs miracles.

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Joma: I’m Pinoy, not Dutch; says yarn ‘fake news’ THE founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Jose Maria Sison, denied Tuesday a claim by Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque that he has already become a Dutch citizen, dismissing it as fake news.

“I have never applied for Dutch citizenship and have never been naturalized as a Dutch citizen.

The legitimate mass media or any respectable person can verify this fact from the Dutch authorities in The Hague or the Dutch embassy in Manila,” Sison said in a statement.

Sison was reacting to a video posted on social media showing Roque talking to reporters and claiming that he [Sison] had already taken Dutch citizenship.

Sison said the Duterte administraton was spreading “fake news” about himself and other leftist leaders such as Teddy Casiño and Renato Reyes to divert public attention from its “monstrous crimes,” such as the extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs and the destruction of Marawi City.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, meanwhile, said it was “far-fetched” that the Armed Forces could finish off the communist rebels in Mindanao within the year martial law is in effect.

President Rodrigo Duterte had declared martial law in Mindanao to deal with the occupation of Marawi City by Maute Group terrorists. Congress gave him several extensions to the original

BLACK NAZARENE. Part (above) of the at least 4-million Catholic devotees who joined Tuesday the annual Black Nazarene procession (inset) in Manila, which started at 5 a.m. at the bayside Quirino Grandstand and expected to be at the Quiapo Church, home of the ebony icon of Jesus Christ, after dusk in a tradition that has been going on for 221 years. The Andas or the carriage bearing the icon plied a different route this year, skipping the traditional routes of MacArthur and Quezon Bridges. AFP

PH steps up island devt in China sea Protest Sino militarization of Kagitingan

By Francisco Tuyay, Bill Casas and Vito Barcelo

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HE Philippines will follow the lead of China and Vietnam and develop islands under its control in the disputed South China Sea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday.

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Local execs next anti-corruption target—Palace

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s unrelenting anti-corruption crackdown will now turn its heads from political appointees to local chief executives, in an apparent bid to cleanse the government of scalawags, the Palace said Tuesday.

In a Palace news briefing, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque warned the so-called “cleansing” up the ranks would now include all those occupying important government positions.

“The President stated [during the Cabinet meeting] that he will continue with the process of cleansing the bureaucracy and that he will now turn more of his attention to local government units, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” Roque said.

“The President mentioned in the Cabinet meeting his resolve also to clean up the ranks of the local government executives to highlight that it’s not just presidential appointees that would be subject to this campaign to promote public accountability but includes (sic) everyone in government,” he added.

Duterte, despite his “firm resolve against corruption” has yet to constitute members for his Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, created by Executive Order 43 last October 2017.

Asked why it has taken long for the President to act on appointing members of his new antiNext page

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ISLANDS IN THE SUN. The Philippine government, which has allotted funding for the rehabilitation of a runway at the country’s-held Pagasa Island near Puerto Princesa, will follow the lead of China and Vietnam and develop islands under its control in the disputed South China Sea, according to defense authorities Tuesday, short of disclosing technical details.

‘It stinks,’ SolGen tells CA over decision to release ex-gov

By John Paolo Bencito said in a statement.

THE government’s top lawyer on Tuesday said the decision by the Court of Appeals to release former Palawan governor Joel Reyes, accused of murder, “stinks” and vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court.

“The CA Decision stinks.

As to where the stench came from, we will investigate it,” Solicitor General Jose Calida

“We are ready and raring to take this case all the way to the Supreme Court. There will be no miscarriage of justice under my watch,” he added.

The Court of Appeals had last week ordered the Palawan Regional Trial Court to dismiss the case against Reyes and release him due to lack of evidence linking him to the 2011 murder of radio broad-

caster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega.

Calida said the appeals court was “clearly in the wrong” in the Ortega case and said there is sufficient ground to jail the former governor.

“In this case, from the perspective of a reasonably discreet and prudent man, there is sufficient ground to order the arrest of Joel Reyes,” he said.

On his radio program,

Ortega had accused Reyes of large-scale corruption and the violation of environmental laws.

A gunman came up from behind Ortega and shot him in the back of the head on Jan. 24, 2011, while shopping at an ukay ukay (used clothing) store in San Pedro, Palawan, near the veterinary clinic he shared with his wife.

His family has condemned the CA decision.

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Teachers pay at P30k eyed, similar to that of cops, soldiers

By Vito Barcelo PUBLIC school teachers may soon receive a salary of more than P30,000 a month as President Rodrigo Duterte sought to seek to increase the salaries of public school teachers, Presidential facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

Spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday.

The move was made following the government’s earlier pronouncement that it would double the pay of soldiers and police officers.

He said the President had instructed the budget depart-

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ment to find means to increase teachers’ pay as the government prepared for the submission of its second tax reform package to Congress.

Malacañang said the increase in teachers pay might be similar in pay of police and soldiers.

“The President is aiming for the doubling the salary of teachers,” Roque said during a press briefing in Malacañang.

Joint Resolution 1 of Congress signed by Duterte, authorized a 100 percent increase in their base pay and Next page

“My plan of action is also to develop all the islands there because they are occupied by us,” Lorenzana said, referring to China’s aggressive posturing in the South China Sea and evidence of its massive reclamation projects in various disputed islets and atolls.

The government has alloted funding for the rehabilitation of a runway at the Philippine-held Pagasa Island, a few nautical miles away from Puerto Princesa.

Modern facilities have also been built at Pagasa intended to Next page

‘Filipinos still optimistic on quality of life’ FILIPINOS remain optimistic over their quality of life in 2018 in a new “record high,” according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey released Tuesday, which also showed more Filipinos maintaining their positive outlook on the country’s economy.

In the latest survey conducted from Dec. 8 to 16, some 49 percent of Filipino adults expect their quality of life to improve in the next 12 months (“Optimists”), while 3 percent expect it to get worse.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Du30's nightmare? Term extension

By John Paolo Bencito and Macon Ramos-Araneta

in power under the Duterte administration’s plan to shift to a federal form of government.

“Gigil na gigil. Parang nanliligaw pa lang, gusto na agad maka-iskor para makaisa,” Lacson said.

This early, he said, some members of Congress were already showing their intention to stay in power.

He said the Filipino people, who would ultimately be tasked to amend the Constitution, were not stupid not to see the malevolence.

Despite the fears over the possible amendments to the Constitution, Senator Fran-

cis Pangilinan vowed on Tuesday to promptly conduct hearings on the proposed Charter change as he promised that would not be a cause of delay.

“We will conduct hearings promptly. We will not be a cause for delay but neither will we be pressured into coming up with a hastily crafted committee report,” Pangilinan said.

While Roque maintained that Duterte, as the chief implementor of the Constitution “will abide” by its terms, the mid-term elections would still depend on whether a

new Constitution was ratified and made a transition period mandatory.

“He reiterated he is against no-el,” Roque told reporters after Duterte “discussed” the issue of postponing the 2019 midterm elections.

“He wants to push through with the elections in 2019 and has committed to give us the most honest and the most credible elections in 2019,” Roque said.

A no-el scenario would only be an option, Roque said, if Congress succeeded in amending the Constitution and had it ratified by the peo-

ple next year.

Without that, “the elections will push through.”

Last week, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said Duterte’s term might be extended beyond 2022 should the country become a federal state.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier floated that a “no-election” scenario was possible in 2019.

A framer of the 1987 Constitution, however, said the proposals to overhaul the Charter and push a federal system would only “suit the interests of the clans and dynasties in Congress.”

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claimed islands,” Lorenzana said.

Fiery Corss is located in what Manila calls the West Philippine Sea and is within the victinity of the Kalayaan Group of Islands near Palawan.

Pamalakaya, a group of militant fishermen, urged the government to file a protest over China’s transformation of Kagitingan Reef into a full-scale military airbase.

Kagitingan Reef is part of the disputed Kalayaan Group of Islands in the Spratly region of the South China Sea. It is part of the Philippines’ 220-naughtical mile exclusive economic zone.

In 2004, China began to construct an artificial island on the reef.

A recent report from a Hong Kong-based news site said the reclaimed island now features a 3,125-meter runway for strategic bombers to land.

“The Philippine government must pursue filing a

diplomatic protest to condemn and expose Beijing’s aggressive usurpation in our marine territory. China destroys not only our marine biodiversity but also the livelihood of our Filipino fishermen who used to fish in the West Philippine Sea. The continuous reclamation of our waters in the West Philippine Sea is also a threat to our domestic supply of fish products,” Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya chairman, said in a statement.

The group hit Lorenzana for “dilly-dallying” on defending the country’s territory.

“Why would Secretary Lorenzana have to wait for the complete militarization of Kagitingan Reef before filing a diplomatic protest?

It seems that the complete transformation of our resource-rich reef into military airbase is not enough for the government to get alarmed over this outright foreign invasion. The government’s

indecisive action is the reason why China has been able to swiftly reclaim our waters and construct military facilities without us knowing,” Hicap said.

The group also urged the government to assert the international tribunal ruling that invalidates China’s claim over Philippine waters.

The Palace, however, said that China had not breached its good faith obligation because it has not embarked on new reclamation work in the South China Sea. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said that while aerial photos showed the extent of development on Kagitingan Reef, this was one of the islands that China had already reclaimed.

“And this is one of the islands subject of the arbitral tribunal’s decision that it is within the Philippine economic zone,” Roque said.

“When we invoke the good faith of China, it is against making further reclama-

tions and not making further works on islands that it had already reclaimed,” he said.

But he added that if China militarizes these islands, that would constitute a further threat to peace and security in the area.

“But for as long as there is [no] reclamation of new islets or reefs, then we continue to respect that they are true to their commitment... But I think from the very beginning, China, we knew, was militarizing the area by reclaiming these areas and by using them as military bases,” Roque told reporters.

“The point is, has there been a breach of Chinese commitment not to reclaim any new islands or shoals in the area? None. The good faith we’re relying on is the commitment of China not to embark on new reclamations,” he added.

Roque agreed with Lorenzana that filing a diplomatic protest was the proper remedy.

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aries in 1606 and is believed to have survived disasters and calamities.

“Filipinos who come to Quiapo... get a sense of being near the Lord, of the Lord touching them and of the Lord accompanying them... through difficult challenges,” Quiapo Church parochial vicar Fr. Marvin Cruz said.

A devotee for 30 years, 61-year-old Julio Castillo watched from the sidelines of the procession Tuesday after both his feet were fractured in a motorcycle accident last month, leaving him in a wheelchair.

“I came here because this is my devotion. I hope my family will have good health and a prosperous life, that we will have no illness and I will heal,” he said.

Earlier, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle warned that greed and hunger for power would lead to abuse, adding that forgetting the importance of serving God would lead the country down a false path.

The Cardinal made the statement in his homily during the midnight Mass for the Black Nazarene Feast at the Quirino Grandstand, in Rizal Park, Manila.

“Unless wealth and power are used at the service of society, they risk becoming instruments of abuse.

“Life does not lie on power. We were born without power, and when we die, we are powerless as well. Let us live without being greedy for power and you will be a real person,” Tagle told thousands of Nazarene devotees who attended the Mass.

The church leader also urged the faithful to be more altruistic and to better look

out for the poor and hungry instead of living “false lives” of selfishness.

“Be an instrument of life for others,” he said during Mass attended by thousands of devotees and some top government officials including Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

As early as Monday, devotees already gathered at the grandstand where a replica of the 410-year-old Black Nazarene image was brought for an overnight vigil.

More than 5,000 police and volunteer marshals were stationed within the six-kilometer stretch of the “traslacion” from the grandstand to the Quiapo Church, the minor basilica that has housed the Black Nazarene since 1787.

The traslacion commemorates the transfer of the venerated image from Intramuros to Quiapo Church.

Authorities said the situation in the area remained largely orderly, though the day was not without its share of people who had difficulty breathing or who complained of dizziness.

Police placed the number of injured at 258 people as of 4 p.m.

The Philippine Red Cross said it responded to 22 “major” health cases and 240 minor ones.

Manila Police District officers said there was also a steady stream of people trying to find their companions who had been separated from them in the clogged streets.

Among the millions, one devotee, Cesar Navarro, found a wallet belonging to Leo Mijares and returned it to him with the P5,700 in cash intact. With AFP

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POSSIBLE term extension would be the “ultimate nightmare” for President Rodrigo Duterte as he rejected proposals for a no-elections scenario in 2019, Malacañang insisted on Tuesday.

In a television interview, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte would not want to extend his sixyear term “even a day longer.”

“To him that’s the ultimate nightmare. He wants to finish his term. He wants

President still wants firecracker total ban

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is pushing a measure to ban all firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices nationwide, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“He wants Congress to enact this law at the soonest time possible so that the public debate on the banning of fireworks and pyrotechnics could begin as early as possible,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said.

He said Duterte discussed the idea during a Cabinet meeting and reiterated his view that firecrackers and pyrotechnics were inimical to human health and safety.

“The President has always banned firecrackers in Davao City as a mayor,” Roque said.

“So I don’t think it’s a result of a recommendation of any other than it’s a result of his own prognosis that firecrackers and pyrotechnics are inimical to human health and safety.”

To prevent job loss to the thousands of firecracker and pyrotechnic workers who would be affected by the ban, the President has instructed the Trade department to look for alternative livelihoods for around 75,000 Filipinos working in the industry.

Earlier, the Department of Health recorded zero deaths and fewer firecracker injuries in the celebrations to welcome 2018.

The department reported a 68-percent decline in firecracker injuries from Dec. 21, 2017 to Jan. 1, 2018, as compared to the same period in 2016.

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corruption watchdog, Roque simply said the President “has not waited for its constitution before he has started actually the purging of corrupt officials in government.”

“As you know, even without the commission, he has gone ahead and fired many of his presidential appointees,” Roque said.

“He has shown that with or without it, he has a firm resolve against corruption and he will implement it,” he added.

Duterte created the agency last year at the height of his continued tirades against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and her deputies, whom he threatened to investigate for allegedly abusing their powers and committed corruption.

He has so far not made good his threats against the Ombudsman.

Duterte, who has repeatedly said a “whiff of corruption” is enough basis for him to fire a government official, was recently on a firing spree with Maritime Industry Authority administrator Marcial Amaro III on the chopping block for taking excessive foreign trips.

Prior to this, Duterte also dismissed former Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor chairman Terry Ridon over “unnecessary trips.”

to give it his best shot and that’s it,” Roque said.

He made his statement even as Senator Panfilo Lacson slammed the congressmen whom he described as “hell-bent” on amending the Constitution in order to stay

support the 300 inhabitants, including communication facilities and ports.

Lorenzana gave no technical details of the projects that would be established in all of the Philippine-held islands.

At the same time, Lorenzana said, the Philippines is set to file a diplomatic protest of China’s militarization of the South China Sea and the recent harassment of Filipino fishermen by the Chinese coast guard.

Reports said China has been deploying soldiers in Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef, in violation of Beijing’s recent commitment not to militarize any of the reclaimed islands in the area.

“Our stand here is that we will register our protest through the Department of Foreign Affairs because I know for a fact that the Chinese government sometime ago said that they are not going to militarize those re-

Drawn by devotees pulling on thick ropes attached to its carriage, the icon left a central Manila park with 490,000 people in tow waving white towels and chanting “Viva” (“Long live”), Manila police said.

The statue passed through the streets of old Manila as it was taken to its home in Quiapo Church, a journey that usually takes 20 hours or more and which police said would draw millions of participants.

“It is really tough climbing to get to the Nazarene. I get squished, and people step on my face. But I have a devotion,” Honey Pescante, a 24-year-old housewife from Bataan province, said.

City officials say about 500 people get injured in the procession each year as pilgrims risk life and limb to touch the icon with towels, believing its miraculous powers will be transferred to the cloth. In 2016, two devotees were killed.

The risky behavior has drawn frequent criticism, with some saying it resembles pagan worship.

But church officials and sociologists say devotees see the event as a challenge.

“Filipino Catholicism follows the belief that the presence of a higher being can only be made real through the body and via the material,” Maria Yohana Frias, an ethnology researcher at the National Museum said.

“Enduring a challenging procession where devotees walk barefoot is also seen as a test of faith for some.”

The Black Nazarene was brought to Manila by mission-

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modifies the existing base pay schedule of military and uniformed personnel, “to make it more commensurate with their critical role in maintaining national security and peace and order.”

The resolution also takes into consideration “their exposure to high-risk environments in the performance of their duties.”

A teacher 1 to teacher 3 levels gross pay is only about P20,000 to P25,000 but their net pay is reduced to P15,000 to P18,000 because of deductions from the tax, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG contributions.

Malacanang said with the implementation of the Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion and the 3rd tranche of the Salary Standardization Law of 2015 in effect, a teacher 1 is expected to receive a gross basic salary of P20,179 and will have a net take-home pay of P20,012.89.

However, the Department of Education said if the increase was approved, the fat raise might not be given in just one swoop, and it would also be dependent on the

teaching field such as science and math teachers.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2018, the base pay of a Police Officer I in the Philippine National Police, a Private in the Department of National Defense, and equivalent ranks in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Public Safety College, Philippine Coast Guard, and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority will be doubled, with a monthly base pay of P29,668.

The highest-ranking enlisted personnel, candidate officers, and officers, however, will be receiving a much higher base pay starting 2019.

A Senior Police Officer IV in the PNP, a First Chief Master Seargent in the DND, and equivalent ranks in the BJMP, BFP, PPSC, PCG, and the NAMRIA will have their base pay increased from P35,456 in 2018 to P38,366 by 2019.

A General in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Director-General in the Philippine National Police will have their base pay increased from P121,143 in 2018 to P149,785 in 2019. With John Paolo Bencito

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The Palace on Tuesday also criticized the Court of Appeals for defying the Supreme Court when it ordered Reyes’ release.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, a former counsel for Ortega’s family, said the Palawan RTC had the sole authority to determine the existence of probable cause and not the Court of Appeals.

“The Court of Appeals brazenly defied the decision of the Supreme Court… that the determination of the existence of probable cause lies with the RTC,” Roque said in Filipino.

“The point here is why would you meddle with the RTC’s decision? The RTC received all the evidence.

The Court of Appeals would really find no evidence,” he said.

He branded the 3-2 decision—with Associate Justices Marie Christine Azcarraga-Jacob and Maria Filomena Singh dissenting— “irregular.”

“The RTC heavily relied

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60-day period specified by the Constitution, including a one-year extension starting this year.

Duterte has said he would use the year to go after the communist New People’s Army as well.

“To finish the communist terrorists in one year is farfetched. It’s a tall order and we may not be able to do it,” Lorenzana said. The goal instead was to degrade their ability to conduct largescale attacks, he added.

He would not speculate if another extension to martial law would be required.

Also on Tuesday, the Justice department said it would reopen an investigation into an anomaly during the previous administration where firearms from the Philippine National Police were sold to the NPA. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct the new probe that had previously been investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Aguirre said the reinvestigation of the reported 1,004 missing high-powered firearms was upon the order of President Duterte.

The earlier Ombudsman investigation led to the in-

on the prosecution witnesses’ sworn statements. Such reliance, however, was misplaced,” said the decision penned by Associate Justice Normandie Pizarro, with concurrences from Associate Justices Danton Bueser and Victoria Isabel Paredes.

Calling the appellate court’s decision “alarming” and a “travesty of justice,” the Palace on Monday vowed to exhaust all legal remedies to overturn the CA ruling on Reyes.

The former Palawan governor still faces another 36 counts of graft for P1.5 billion worth of grossly incomplete projects funded by the Malampaya fund.

In an interview with ABSCBN in Puerto Princesa City, the just released Reyes told reporters that Roque, who had previously served as lawyer of the Ortega family in the case, may no longer continue doing so due to a conflict of interest.

“You [Roque] cannot be lawyering for somebody else because that’s a conflict of interes. The office that you represent can easily sway the judiciary,” Reyes said of Roque. dictment of top police officials before the Sandiganbayan. The new investigation will focus on private individuals involved, the Justice secretary said.

Aguirre said they have received information that more private individuals were involved in the anomaly but were not covered by the Ombudsman probe.

“With this, we are confident that those individuals who are responsible for this felonious act will be held accountable,” he said, in a statement.

In 2014, it was found that over 1,000 high-powered firearms of PNP worth P52 million had been sold to NPA since 2011 with the unwitting assistance of 19 senior police officials at Camp Crame.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group discovered the irregularity after it was found that a cache of AK-47 assault rifles disappeared while papers were being processed by the PNP. The CIDG had found that a certain Isidro Lozada, owner of a security agency based in Caraga region in Mindanao, bought the firearms.

Lozada bought all the 1,004 AK-47 from gun supply firm Twin Pines using his security agency and also used the names of other security agencies.

Rey E. Requejo

Palace eyes drafting 4k Maranaos to AFP, PNP THE Palace is studying the proposals to draft the more than 4,000 Maranaos affected by the Marawi siege to join the military and the police, a senior Cabinet official said Tuesday. “[The President] instructed the Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Affairs, Tesda, the Presidential Adviser on OFW to study ways and means to conscript into the AFP and the PNP at least 4,000 Maranaos affected by the fighting in Marawi and other areas where the Maranaos have settled,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.

He did not provide details as to how the conscription would take place.

He made his statement even as Armed Forces Chief Leonardo Guerrero predicted a significant negative effect on the ongoing military operations against the threat of terrorism in Mindanao if martial law was lifted.

Guerrero said stopping the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao would affect the military operations against terrorist elements in Mindanao.

“We expect that there will be a significant effects considering the bulk of military operations we have in Mindanao, and we will be relying and depending on some of the martial law powers,” Guerrero said in Camp Aguinaldo.

Meanwhile, the United States Agency for International Development has allocated an additional P330 million ($6.6 million) to support the vulnerable populations affected by the conflict in Marawi City and surrounding areas.

In a statement, the US Embassy said the fresh assistance would provide opportunities for young women and men to enhance their job skills to find livelihoods and help stimulate the economy.

“This new funding will support some of the most vulnerable populations affected by the conflict,” US Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim said.

The 17th Congress in December extended the declaration of martial law in Mindanao until the end of 2018. John Paolo Bencito, Francisco Tuyay and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

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Net Personal Optimism rose to +46, classified by the SWS as “excellent” from +42 in the previous quarter.

The same survey also revealed that 52 percent feel optimistic about the general Philippine economy next year getting better, and 9 percent feeling it would deteriorate.

Net Optimism about the Economy likewise rose +42, classified as “excellent” — some 12 points above the +30 in the previous quarter.

Some 41 percent of those who were surveyed said their lives improved, while 18 percent said they worsened, for a new record-high Net Gainers score of +23, still classified as “excellent.”

The net change in Personal Quality of Life is 4 points above the previous record of +19 in September 2017.

Palace Spokesman Harry Roque welcomed the renewed optimism of Filipinos in facing the new year, saying this was due to the fact “that the President has shown that he has political will to make changes as he promised in the elections.”

“The people know that all the directions taken by the President are towards the right direction and that they seem to be benefiting from initiatives undertaken by the President,” he added. John Paolo Bencito

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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PDEA chief vows to wipe out illegal drugs

By Rio N. Araja

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HILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency Director Aaron Aquino on Tuesday vowed to wipe out illegal drugs in 5,000 drug-affected barangays every year until 2022.

In a television interview, Aquino said he has directed all regional directors to conduct 30 to 40 antidrugs operations every month to be able to attain his objective.

He also created a

committee to closely monitor the progress of every regional office, he added.

“They must reach the target,” he said.

He added that the agency would also put up community-

based rehabilitation centers for each of the 1,500 towns and cities.

The facilities would be called Balay Silangan reformation centers, he added.

According to Aqui-

no, 5,100 barangays are already drug-free.

PDEA earlier said 49.65 percent or 20,872 of the 42,036 barangays in the country were affected by illegal drugs.

Aquino bared that

DoJ reopens investigation on missing firearms

Cam files grave threats rap vs Balutan PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan is facing criminal charges filed by board member Sandra Cam. In her complaint she filed before the Mandaluyong City Criminal Unit and the Mandaluyong City Prosecutors Ofice, Cam said Balutan committed grave threats against her person.

Cam said she experienced threats on two separate occasions on Dec. 27 and Dec. 29, which, can only come from Balutan, a retired marine general.

Balutan had dismissed Cam’s threat claims, and accused her of using her post for political gains.

By Rey E. Requejo and Bill Casas THE Department of Justice will reopen an investigation into the anomaly in the previous administration involving the missing firearms of the Philippine National Police that were allegedly sold to the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

In Department Order No. 7 issued on Tuesday, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct the new probe on the controversy already previously investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Aguirre required the NBI to “conduct investigation and case buildup over missing PNP firearms which were sold to the [NPA] in Mindanao, and if evidence warrants, to file the appropriate cases against government personnel and private individuals found liable.”

According to Aguirre, the reinvestigation on the reported 1,004 missing high-powered firearms was upon the order of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Justice Secretary said the new probe will be an offshoot of the earlier Ombudsman investigation, which led to the indictment of top police officials in the Sandiganbayan, and will focus on private individuals involved.

Aguirre said they have received information that more private individuals were involved in the anomaly but were not covered by the Ombudsman probe.

“With this, we are confident that those individuals who are responsible for this felonious act will be held accountable,” he said, in a statement.

out of the 42,036 barangays, only 208 were “seriously affected,” while 6,744 barangays were moderately affected.

On the other hand, 13,920 had been slightly affected.

Du30 appoints ex-SBMA chair as DILG usec OUTGOING. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte poses for a photo with outgoing Republic of Korea Ambassador to the Philippines Kim Jae-Shin as the latter was awarded with the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu Gold Distinction at the Malacañang Palace on Jan. 8, 2018. The awarding was held after the outgoing Korean Ambassador’s farewell courtesy call on the President. Presidential Photo

Japanese tycoon faces multiple raps filed by former firm

By Rey E. Requejo CONTROVERSIAL Japanese gaming tycoon Kazuo Okada is again facing criminal charges in the Philippines, but this time filed by his former company, Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc..

In separate complaints, TRLEI accused Okada of two counts of estafa before the Parañaque City Prosecutor’s Office and another charge for perjury before the Makati City

Prosecutor’s Office.

Okada served as chief executive officer of TRLEI, local subsidiary of Japanese firm Universal Entertainment Corp. and owner and operator of casino resort-hotel Okada Manila, in April and May last year.

In the first estafa case, TRLEI sought for the prosecution of Okada for illegal disbursement of company funds amounting to $3 million supposedly for his consultancy fees and salaries

during his one-month tenure as CEO. TRLEI alleged that Okada himself, within a span of just one month, caused the disbursement of the corporate funds through his accomplice, Takahiro Usui, who was then TRLEI president and chief operating officer.

Usui was also named respondent in the complaint.

The complainant claimed that there was “no Board resolution, approving or authorizing the payment of

(such) astronomical sums to Mr. Okada, whether as consultancy fee or salary. It is clear that (these) amounts received by Mr. Okada were unlawfully disbursed as these were not authorized or approved by TRLEI Board of Directors.”

“Mr. Okada, taking advantage of his power and influence, as then most senior officer of TRLEI, fraudulently received TRLEI’s corporate funds (of at least $3,158,835.62) as supposed

salaries and consultancy fee, which were not authorized, much less approved, by TRLEI’s Board of Directors.

As said corporate funds were wrongfully received or acquired by Mr. Okada without authority and through fraud, he holds the $3,158,835.62, by operation of law, in trust for, and thus, under legal obligation to return the same to, TRLEI,” read the complaint, copy of which was furnished to Department of Justice reporters last Monday.

MMDA resumes operation vs ‘colorums’ in bid to ease traffic

By Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz THE government has resumed operation against colorum and out of line public utility vehicles along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and other major thoroughfares.

The latest operation, accord-

Free tuition program not for ‘delinquents’

By Maricel V. Cruz CONGRESS will exercise its oversight powers to ensure that the funds allocated for the government’s free college tuition program would not be wasted on malingerers and recidivist absentees or “bulakbol” students, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said on Tuesday.

“Our state and local colleges and universities should not become Iskul Bukol even as we give free education to our students,” Nograles said.

“Through our oversight function, Congress would assist the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the participating educational institutions in making sure that deserving students or those who truly want to study will benefit from the free college tuition program.

The funds we have set aside are simply too precious,” Nograles added.

The House appropriations committee was instrumental in realigning P40 billion from the current P3.767-trillion national budget for the purpose of bankrolling the free tuition program, which is provided under Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

ing to Metro Manila Development Authority supervising officer for operation Edison Nebrija Jr., resulted in the apprehension and impounding of 21 vehicles, mostly buses and vans operating without franchise.

“We started our operations against colorums on Monday and we were able to apprehend four buses, six vans, two [pas-

senger] jeepneys, one multicab and one AUVs [Asian Utility Vehicles]. Most of these vehicles came from Pala-Pala, Dasmariñas in Cavite,” said Nebrija.

On Tuesday, the InterAgency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) - Task Force Alamid composed of men from the MMDA and Land Transportation Office impounded seven

colorum vans in the areas of Coastal Mall and Dongalo in Paranaque City, Tramo Street and in front of Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.

“They were caught with passengers going to Lawton [Manila] from Buendia Avenue [Pasay]. We will continue doing this until Friday. Illegally parked vehicles will be

towed as well,” said Nebrija.

MMDA general manager and I-ACT chief Thomas Orbos said the government is determined not only to minimize, but to put a stop to the traffic problems caused by colorum vehicles, which if left unattended will further cause more headaches to the general public and the authorities.

COUNTERFEIT.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña led the destruction of counterfeit branded footwear worth P.2.4 million seized by the Bureau of Customs in various operation last year.

Norman Cruz

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Martin Diño as undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The President signed Diño’s appointment paper on Monday but was released only on Tuesday to the media.

According to a Malacañang official, Diño is DILG’s undersecretary for the Barangay Affairs.

Diño was kicked out of the SBMA which he earlier alleged that a big group within the SBMA is behind for his ouster.

Vito Barcelo

Naia plans to buy new CCTV cameras THE Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the country’s premier gateway, will soon be equipped with top of the line Closed Circuit Television cameras, Airport general manager Eddie Monreal said Tuesday.

Monreal said the Manila International Airport Authority, in coordination with the Department of Budget Management, has started the bidding process for the procurement of P486 million worth of CCTV cameras to be installed at the NAIA complex.

The MIAA came up with the decision allowing the DBM to handle the bidding process to avoid any irregularity.

“The project is very expensive because it would cover the whole airport complex including the perimeters of terminals,” Monreal said.

Joel E. Zurbano

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Who is better?

T

HE latest opinion poll shows President Rodrigo Duterte maintaining his majority trust and approval ratings, which remain at an alltime high.

Pulse Asia reports that its fourth quarter 2017 survey, conducted from Dec. 10 to 15 and 17, shows the President’s trust and approval ratings remain at 80 percent and 82 percent.

Mr. Duterte’s allies and administration officials were quick to jump on the latest poll findings, saying the results affirmed the President’s strong political will and no-nonsense style of governance.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, meanwhile, welcomed the

release of the latest survey, saying that it showed that people “are aware of and recognized the significant strides that the President undertook in his one year and a half month in office.”

He further assured the public that the President would continue to discharge his duties with the nation’s interest foremost in his mind.

Remarking on the latest survey results, Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes said Duterte’s scores were only slightly higher than those received by his predecessor, President Benigno Aquino III. But Social Weather Stations, a rival polling company, said seven of 10 Filipinos believe President Duterte is better than his immediate predecessor.

In a survey conducted from Dec. 8

to 16, 2017—70 percent of Filipinos believe Duterte’s performance is better compared to that of his predecessor, while only 8 percent believe otherwise.

Some 22 percent of the respondents said the performances of Duterte and Aquino were just the same.

Of course, comparisons are inevitable.

Both Aquino and Duterte—if the polls are to be believed—were extremely popular during their first years in office. In both instances, their allies used those high poll ratings to justify administration policies and courses of action. For the chief executives, high survey ratings translated into political capital that they could spend as they saw fit.

If the Aquino administration is any

indication, how popular one is is far less important than what one chooses to do with that popularity.

Awash with a strong election victory in 2010, President Aquino chose to squander his political capital to persecute his opponents. He misused public funds to entice congressmen and senators to impeach and convict the chief justice of the Supreme Court, simply because he stood in the way of Mr. Aquino’s plans. He also used his political capital to cover for the ineptitude and corruption of his allies.

All of this took time and resources away from the more important business of nation building.

Mr. Duterte and his allies must remember the lessons of the past, or be doomed to repeating them at our considerable expense.

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

History may repeat itself CALL it fanaticism or any other name. But the devotion of some 17-million Filipinos to the Black Nazarene shows the piety of Roman Catholics.

The traslacion is more than enough proof that Catholicism remains deeply rooted in us.

My gulay, even foreigners come to Manila to witness this spectacle. It is just unparalleled!

Many believe that touching the image of the Black Nazarene could bring miracles.

The President must stop the leaders of Congress from ramming down constituent assembly down our throats.

Cart before horse LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES MAYBE it’s just me, but all this talk about “term extensions” and “no elections” is just way premature. And a case of putting the political cart before the constitutional reform horse.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was supposedly the first person to talk about these things, when he was discussing priorities of Congress in the new year. But Alvarez was really talking about a shift in the form of government, from unitary-presidential to federal-parliamentary, an idea long espoused by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Of course, the critics of the Duterte administration, led by Vice President Leni Robredo, were quick

to see “no-el” scenarios, specifically with regard to the holding of the midterm elections next year. And no amount of explaining that these supposed “threats to democracy” (as Robredo called them) will only happen after the 1987 Constitution is revised first will placate them.

But did Alvarez really float the idea of postponing the scheduled elections? A review of the television interview last week where he was supposed to have said so is actually unclear on the matter.

The Philippine Star reported last Jan. 4 on the Alvarez interview on ABSCBN, saying: “When asked if this [push for federalism] could lead to a no-elections scenario in 2019, Alvarez said, ‘I have to be frank, anything is possible. You know why? Let’s be practical. If you shift to a new

system of government, you need a transition. You cannot implement it immediately after it is ratified.’”

As for Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Alvarez’ PDP-Laban party

‘No-el’ is just more useless political talk from the usual do-nothing suspects. mate and alleged “riding in tandem” partner in a bid to float a no-el, term-extension scenario, he’s even more of a non-starter on the issue. In a text message to reporters last week, this is

what Pimentel said: “Depends... on when we approve the new Constitution. If 2019, then the next three years will be the transitory period. We can extend the President’s term 1. if really necessary, and 2. if he is amenable to it, and 3. since that extension will be part of the new Constitution, the new Constitution is approved by the people themselves,” Malacañang, through its spokesman Harry Roque, also made it clear last week that the elections next year will push through unless revisions to the charter are made and the changes are ratified before the polls.

And that, less than a year and a half before May 2019, is one big “unless.”

The context is absolutely clear for anyone not belonging to Robredo’s Liberal Party or various other politicians who are automati-

cally inclined to believed that Duterte intends to stay in power beyond his term.

Revising the constitution, a long and arduous process that nearly all previous administrations have attempted since 1987, has to happen first before we can even talk about postponing the midterm elections.

I know Alvarez has nearabsolute control over the majority in his House. And that Pimentel also holds sway (albeit by a substantially slimmer margin) in his own chamber.

But for the life of me, I can’t see how the effort to change the basic law can happen by the end of this year, by which time our political system will be consumed by the preparations for the midterm polls. I just don’t see it happening in the amount of time remaining before the campaign period for the midterms starts.

As proof, I present the fact that even the old debates about “Con-Ass vs.

Con-Con” and about the two chambers voting separately or together have not been resolved. And the promise, made supposedly by the president in a Cabinet meeting last Monday (as reported by Roque), that the elections will take place as scheduled next year.

I think Robredo and all the other politicians from the opposition who are getting their undies in a bunch over these scenarios are just hell-bent on painting yet another “Duterte is a dictator” masterpiece. And just because they’ve scared themselves silly by actually believing these theoretical situations that they themselves created doesn’t necessarily make them true.

It’s just more useless political talk from the usual

Turn to A5

This is why I am glad I am a Catholic. *** I am confused with the statement of Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque that he was given permission by President Duterte to give personal comments on the Court of Appeals’ decision on the Gerry Ortega case. The appellate court cleared former Palawan governor Joel Reyes for the murder of Ortega, a journalist and activist.

I cannot by any language separate the position of Roque as a presidential spokesman and his personal belief as a former lawyer of the Ortega family.

Roque went on to say that the release of Reyes was a sad development for freedom of the press and that the murder of Ortega was a classic case of extra-legal killing.

But how can you separate Roque’s words from his position as presidential Turn to A5

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Opinion

THE share price of First Philippine Holdings has dropped lately to record 12-month lows. This values the company at P34.6 billion, down 17 percent from its 12-month peak of P41.56 billion in February 2017.

The wealth of the Lopez family, which owns 50 percent of FPH, has declined by P3.6 billion, to P17.58 billion or $345 billion.

A P3.6-billion nominal loss is small change. The Lopez family bought the Energy Development Corp. from the government for a whopping $1.5 billion in 2007, making FPH the world’s single largest producer of geothermal energy.

Other listed Lopez companies are also in the doldrums.

The share price of their family holding company, Lopez Holdings (formerly Benpres) has fallen from its peak of P8.05 per share in January 2017 to P5.80 as of yesterday (Jan. 9, 2018), a drop of 28 percent to value the company at only P26.6 billion.

This is a loss of P10 billion in wealth. Lopez Holdings owns 46 percent of FPH and 56 percent in economic interest in ABS-CBN Corp.

ABS-CBN itself has seen better days. Its share price is down from its January 2017 high of P48.95 a share (or P41.64 billion in market cap) by 27 percent to P29.69 billion, a loss of P11.95 billion in wealth.

President Duterte doesn’t like the Lopezes (not related to me). In their heyday, the Lopez family could make or unmake a president and could also plot to kill one, if you believe Ferdinand Marcos before 1972.

The Lopezes in business —media, renewable energy, power generation—is a story of resilience and business savvy (though they bet wrongly against Duterte).

FPH has refinanced for $544 million FPH’s Sta. Rita refinery and acquired for $360 million the assets of British Gas in 2012. In August 2017, FPH sold 31.7 percent of EDC for $1.3 billion to Philippines Renewable Energy Holdings Corp.

PREHC is a consortium of investors whose funds are managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets, and Arran Investment Pte Ltd, an affiliate of GIC Pte Ltd. MIRA and GIC are long-term investors with a track record in both global infrastructure and renewable energy. They own and operate a combined installed capacity of over 11,000MW globally.

David Luboff, MIRA senior managing director, says of their acquisitions: “As a world-leader in the geothermal energy industry, EDC is an important supplier of clean and sustainable power to the Philippines.”

The Lopez business empire dates back to the 19th century. But today’s Lopez empire is reckoned to have started big in 1961, 15 years after Independence, when Meralco Securities Corp. was established by the patriarch Eugenio Lopez Sr. to buy giant Manila Electric Co. for $66.286 million from its American owners.

“It was the single largest corporate buyout in the history of Philippine business,” wrote FPH Chair Emeritus

Oscar M. Lopez later.

After 26 years as CEO, Oscar, 86, turned over management of the Lopez empire to second son, Federico “Piki” Lopez, 55, on March 31, 2010.

Piki has double major degrees, cum laude, in Economics and International Relations, from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983.

Piki’s dream is to launch another Golden Age for the Lopez businesses.

There is a slight problem, however: Duterte, arguably the most popular Philippine president in the past 50 years and the second most powerful president since Marcos.

He has repeatedly denounced ABS-CBN for alleged “bias” and fraud. The Lopezes are used to the slings and arrows of outrageous politics, though.

From distribution of electricity using “dirty” energy (that was Meralco) to generation of “clean, green, and sustainable” power (that is EDC, now First Gen which has installed capacity of 3,468 megawatts in various energy assets, 21.4 percent of the Philippines’ total generation capacity).

First Gen is a leading power producer in the Philippines that primarily utilizes clean and indigenous fuels such as natural gas, geothermal energy from steam, hydro-electric, wind, and solar power.

EDC is the largest vertically-integrated geothermal company in the world. With 1,471MW of clean and renewable power assets under its portfolio, it is also the largest pure-play renewable energy company in the Philippines.

In 1966, FPH began businesses to support Meralco— two pipelines in 1967 to feed bunker and crude to Meralco and pipe refined petroleum products from Shell and Caltex in Batangas to Manila, a transformer plant called Philec in 1970, a lubricating oil plant called Philippine Petroleum Corp., an electricity engineering company called PECCO in 1969, and a computer information system to print Meralco bills.

This “Golden Age” ended when Marcos declared martial law, forcing a 14-year exile for the Lopez family.

FPH and Meralco fell into the hands of Kokoy Romualdez.

The patriarch Eugenio Lopez Sr. died in the US only July 6, 1975. His son, Eugenio “Geny” Lopez Jr., younger brother of Oscar escaped from his Fort Bonifacio prison on Sept. 30, 1977.

Two days after People Power on Feb. 28, 1986, the Lopezes got back Meralco, PCIBank, First Holdings, and of course, ABS-CBN. Piki Lopez defines the values that have carried the Lopez empire through the decades: pioneering entrepreneurial spirit, business excellence, unity, nationalism, integrity (tell that to Duterte), employee welfare and wellness, and social justice.

Says Piki with pride: ”There have been many instances in our history when other principles mattered much more than the drive to make profit.” “That fact will be true of us heading into the future as well.”

Cart...

creases in the salaries of policemen and soldiers.

The government will push Congress to approve the second phase of the three-phase TRAIN starting this month.

The second part of the tax reform scheme will focus on reducing corporate income taxes while plugging leaks in the system of handing out financial incentives to various industries.

It’s not known yet how Duterte and his DBM will find the money, except that it’s supposed to come from revenues in the second part of TRAIN. But if no one among Duterte’s critics mentions the plan to double the teachers’ pay, I really won’t be surprised.

From A4

do-nothing suspects. We can all move along now, because there’s really nothing to see here. *** What’s more deserving of comment is Duterte’s request for the Department of Budget and Management to find a way to double the entry-level pay of public school teachers through the second phase of the tax reform package, also known as TRAIN. According to Roque, Duterte wants a doubling of the teachers’ pay similar to the president’s earlier proposal to hefty in-

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A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Overstaying Cojuangco must go

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

The Lopezes in business

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO THE Pasig Regional Trial Court ordered new elections on Feb. 23 for president of the Philippine Olympic Committee. The post of POC president has been held

by Jose Cojuangco, Jr. for the last 13 years. Impartial observers and sports followers have been clamoring for a younger man to lead the country’s athletic program for Olympic competition.

Cojuangco is a former Tarlac congressman. He is the brother of the late President Cory Aquino and uncle of former President Noynoy Aquino III. He is 83 years old. The age limit for a POC president, according to the rules of the International Olympic Committee, is 70 years old. Somehow, Cojuangco has managed to stay on at his post for so long. The IOC which governs all the Olympic bodies of countries has expressed its concern over the anomalous POC situation.

The Pasig RTC declared the POC’s Nov. 16, 2016

elections null and void because it disqualified Cojuangco rival Ricky Vargas allowing the former to run unopposed for his third four-year term.

The POC president has international travel perks and heads the Philippine athletic delegation to the Olympics every four years.

Aside from a hefty salary and allowances, the POC president also has a lot of influence on the sports training program of various Philippine amateur athletic associations.

Cojuangco’s grip on the POC is blamed for the rut in the Philippines’ performance in past Olympics.

The most the Philippines has achieved in Olympic competitions are the silver medals won in boxing by featherweight Anthony Villanueva in the 1964 Tokyo Olympiad, and Mansueto Velasco in the1996 Atlanta Games. Villanueva narrowly missed the gold in a controversial split decision loss to Russian opponent Stanislav Stephaskin.

The most recent silver was won by Hidilyn Diaz in women’s weightlifting in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro,

Brazil.

Anthony’s father, Jose Luis “Cely” Villanueva, won a third bronze for the Philippines in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics where Filipino swimmer Teofilo Ydelfonso and high jumper Simeon Toribio also took home bronze medals.

But it has been mostly zilch for the Philippine teams in more recent Olympic Games .The Philippines failed to win a single medal in the Seoul, Beijing and London Olympiads. Compare the Philippines’ dismal showing to Olympic newcomers Singapore and Vietnam which each won a gold in the Rio games.

As in politics, the air at the top of Mount Olympus has a heady effect on certain people who can’t see the reality on the ground. This has been the case of Cojuangco who has to be pushed to get off the top and leave sports in better hands. The Pasig Regional Trial Court did just that.

Runaway TRAIN The government’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion is careening like a runaway train.

It was conceptualized by

the Department of Finance to generate some P300 million a year in government revenues. On the plus side, TRAIN exempts workers in the annual P250,000 income bracket from paying taxes.

The new law to some people, however, has the effect of a train wreck. Public school teachers, many of whom earn only P17,000 a month, will benefit the most from the tax exemption clause.

On the other hand, there are profit-driven merchants who are already implementing the law even when will not come into effect until the middle of this month.

These unscrupulous traders are mostly in the retail sector, selling sweetened soft drinks and ready-mixed coffee containing sugar.

I’m not really affected by the new excise tax on food and drinks containing sugar.

I am a diabetic who must and should really lessen his intake of sugar that spikes my glucose level. As far as tax exemption is concern, it does not affect me as I’m a retired person.

For millions of our countrymen, TRAIN has its benefits but also a downside in the increase of food

prices. Profiteering retailers and wholesalers have passed on to consumers the excise tax levied on them by increasing their cost.

The price of gasoline at the pump and other oil products will also have a ripple effect in the increasing prices of other commodities This is the principle of commerce and the law of supply and demand.

The rich, including many of our legislators who passed TRAIN, are hardly affected.

Trust and good faith?

On the Feast of the Black Nazarene attended by millions of Filipino devotees, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said “we must trust in the good faith of China in its territorial dispute with the Philippines.”

Oh, really? The man is totally out of touch and does not have an iota of geopolitics about the Chinese grand plan for hegemony in the region.

Perhaps Roque should join the punishing Black Nazarene procession for a miracle that China see the light and stop its sweeping claim over the entire South China Sea.

Smartphone addiction is a problem Apple won’t solve

By Leonid Bershidsky TWO big shareholders of Apple Inc. are right to add their influential voices to those concerned with smartphone addiction. If they are serious about finding a solution, however, they’ll start looking elsewhere for progress on the issue. Like tobacco companies before them, tech companies are incapable of studying their products dispassionately and then regulating themselves for the common good.

The letter from Jana Partners and the California State Teachers Retirement System cites existing research, primarily by the best-known smartphone addiction alarmist, San Diego State University psychologist Jean Twenge, to urge Apple to take action. According to Twenge, excessive screen time increases the probability of teenage depression and suicide. Though “some may argue that the research is not definitive” (and indeed, it has been challenged for confusing correlation with causation and cherry-picking data), the investors point out that where there’s so much smoke, there has to be some form of fire: “The average American teenager who uses a smart phone receives her fi rst phone at age 10 and spends over 4.5 hours a day on it (excluding texting and talking). 78 percent of teens check their phones at least hourly and 50 percent report feeling “addicted” to their phones. It would defy common sense to argue that this level of usage, by children whose brains are still developing, is not having at least some impact, or that the maker of such a powerful

History...

From A4

spokesman?

This is something for Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! *** Pulse Asia’s Ulat ng Bayan found, in mid-December 2017, that eight out of 10 Filipinos have given President Duterte high trust and approval ratings.

I can believe that.

President Duterte has been doing many things that the people have been clamoring for. He has been firing executive officials for traveling too much at the people’s expense.

No other president has done this before.

Even in his war on drugs, the President continues to have the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority run the show. The Philippine National Police can just come to help the PDEA when needed. The result—there are fewer summary killings.

As far as the people are concerned, President Duterte is the

product has no role to play in helping parents to ensure it is being used optimally.”

Noting that Apple’s existing parental controls are limited and third-party software is confusing, Jana and CalSTRS want the company to design better, intuitive ways for parents to protect children. To get there, the investors recommend that the company form an expert committee, preferably including the popular Twenge, and partner with academics “to assist additional research efforts.”

The backlash against intrusive tech is in a very early stage, as these proposals make painfully clear. Since 2013, BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal, one of the world’s most respected academic publications in the health realm) and affiliated journals won’t even consider for publication any research funded by the tobacco industry. The funding doesn’t necessarily mean that the research is tainted, but the journal cites the World Health Organization on Tobacco Control, which mentions “a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry’s interests and public health policy interests.”

A similar conflict prevents a reasonable reader from taking at face value the recent assertion by Facebook Director of Research David Greenberg—based on research, of course—that while using social media passively can make users feel bad, interacting a lot with their content, just the kind of behavior Facebook sells to advertisers, is great for them.

Big tobacco companies have been caught suppress-

ing research damaging to their interests and observed funding research that was positive for them. There’s nothing in the history of the tech industry (think Uber’s lawless behavior or the relentless fight by Apple and Google to avoid being taxed where they do business) to suggest it would behave differently. On the other hand, tech addiction alarmism can be a business, too. Twenge leverages her fame as a speaker and consultant, and she’s written a bestselling book.

Tech companies also have plenty of enemies in industries they disrupt. Last year, a study asserting that Airbnb was turning into a platform for professional landlords made quite a splash in the media. It was funded by US hotel lobbyists.

In tobacco’s case, it took decades of research—much of it government-funded and painstakingly peerreviewed—to establish that prohibitive and even punitive regulation was needed.

With tech products and tech companies’ business models, it shouldn’t take nearly as long. Within a year of Donald Trump’s election victory, dozens of authoritative papers have emerged on the spread and effect of fake news. But, as with tobacco, government agencies must commission and analyze the research until they’re reasonably satisfied that it provides a complete picture—especially since governments appear overeager to take action that may amount to censorship (following Germany last year, France is preparing to adopt an anti-fake news law).

The starting point is rather unimpressive. “The diversity of criteria and meth-

odological approaches that have been used is notable, as is a certain lack of conceptual delimitation that has resulted in a broad spread of prevalent data,” says a 2016 review of available research on smartphone addiction states. “There is a consensus about the existence of cell-phone addiction, but the delimitation and criteria used by various researchers vary.” A 2017 review of studies dealing with the effect of gadget use on cognition also calls the extant literature “inconclusive.”

This calls for coordinated, interdisciplinary study programs to obtain conclusive evidence on tech’s effects on the individual and on society. Only governments or blocs like the European Union are capable of creating such programs and—one hopes—keeping them free of commercial bias.

I have a lot of intuitive sympathy for Twenge’s argument: I’m fighting a bad case of smartphone addiction, and I’ve stopped my younger daughter from playing iPad games since it demotivated her from doing anything else. I also believe that better research is necessary to figure out what’s going on. I have some specific questions for researchers to ask, too, as long as they can put together large, agedifferentiated samples and observe subjects’ behavior rather than rely on self-assessment questionnaires, as they mostly do today.

I’d like to know which smartphone applications, if any, cause withdrawal symptoms characteristic of substance addiction—irritability, lack of sleep, productivity declines. There’s no such thing as smartphone

addiction per se—it’s specific software that keeps people checking their gadgets. I would also test heavy users of different apps for symptoms of social dislocation, depression and stress—and for factors that can mitigate these symptoms. I’d try to fi nd out whether user reactions differ by demographic group and from country to country. I’d do more research using modern diagnostic equipment, like the recent South Korean study that found heavy smartphone users expose their brain chemistry to dangerous imbalances.

I’d also specifically focus on the subject of distractions and productivity. At this point, it’s anybody’s guess whether the contribution of smartphones and social networks to our working and school-related lives is net negative or net positive.

Clear answers to that question for various areas of human endeavor, meanwhile, could prompt serious changes to corporate regulations and legislation—or prevent them. For example, we’d know whether the upcoming French ban on smartphones in schools is a good idea or an overreaction.

Millions of people died from tobacco-related diseases before governments and international organizations moved to accumulate a strong body of research that, in turn, lent credibility to anti-smoking campaigns.

Screen or social network addiction may not be as deadly, but it’s capable of serious social and economic damage.

It’s time to assess it properly —and to realize tech companies won’t be much help in organizing and funding the effort. Bloomberg

change they never experienced under the Aquino administration. PNoy just had his hypocritical Daang Matuwid and selective justice.

With eight in 10 Filipinos believing in him, the President can do so much more.

He can, for instance, stop both the House of Representatives and the Senate from ramming down Constituent Assembly down our throats. This could lead to the extension of terms of all duly-elected incumbent officials, from the President all the way down to barangay officials.

The President himself has said repeatedly that he is against extending his term. He would rather step down after the federal system of government is put in motion.

So Mr. Duterte must now put on the brakes on his allies who are tinkering with the fundamental law of the land.

To my mind, this is what the high approval ratings mean.

He continues to enjoy support so he could do what is good for

the greatest number.

The President should stop both Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez from pushing the country over the edge.

Santa Banana, history may just repeat itself. In the past, people had enough of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos so they ousted him during the 1986 People Power Revolution. *** The Duterte administration is trying to push for the swift passage of the second phase of the law on tax reform. This is to ensure the government’s fiscal position remains stable and its deficit target attainable.

I see the need for government to conduct a massive information and education campaign so the people would know what the law is for.

According to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, the projected P89.9 billion corresponds to only about two thirds of the P134 billion original revenue target under the

2018 budget.

Dominguez explained that the lower-than-expected revenue gain from the tax reform law could widen the country’s fiscal deficit this year to 3.3 percent of the gross domestic product—unless Congress approves an additional revenuegenerating measure.

According to DoF estimates, Dominguez said, Package 1B is seen to increase government revenue by P38.9 billion, resulting in incremental revenues of P128.8 billion when combined with Package 1A. Package 1A, signed into law, involved the reduction of personal income taxes, adjustments in the excise tax on fuel, automobiles and imported coal and expansion of the value-added tax base, among others.

Package B will comprise an estate tax amnesty program, adjustments in the Motor Vehicle Users charge and amendments to bank secrecy laws, which are expected to be tackled by Congress when it

resumes its sessions.

That’s clear enough if government must achieve its ambitious Build Build Build infrastructure program and attract foreign investments.

But, as I said, in the wake of consumers still trying to meet the increase of prices, government must reach out to the people and enlighten them. *** I see a light at the end of the tunnel for the MRT—even as the tunnel has been long.

The required investments of Metro Pacific could reach P20 billion, including the equity component. MPIC has already secured an original proponent status from the Department of Transportation for the expansion and rehabilitation of MRT 3. MPIC will buy out the government’s stake and also those of the private sector.

Santa Banana, given how desperate people are about the daily glitches of the MRT, they would be willing to pay higher fares just to get to their destination in one piece!

News News

A6 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com A6 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

2 graft raps vs Negros ex-mayor A FORMER mayor of a Negros Occidental town is facing two counts of graft and four counts of violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or Republic Act 6713 before the Sandiganbayan.

The Office of the Ombudsman indicted Francisco Nazareno, the former mayor of Moises Padilla municipality, for failure to disclose two business interests in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth from 2007 to 2010.

Nazareno did not reveal that JF Merchandise was registered in his name, and that Juco Enterprises’ registration was in his wife’s name.

The Ombudsman’s field investigation unit in Iloilo City said during his incumbency, Nazareno approved the mayor’s permit of JF Merchandise and Juco Enterprises in violation of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. It invoked Section 8 of RA No. 6713 that says public officials and employees have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth, and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and unmarried children 18 years of old living in their households.

RA 3019’s Section 3(h) prohibits public officials from directly or indirectly having financing or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction in connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity, or in which he is prohibited by the Constitution or by any law from having any interest. Rio N. Araja

Zambo logging firms suspended

By John Paolo Bencito and Rio N. Araja

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Environment department to suspend the operations of several logging concessions in the Zamboanga Peninsula, as deforestation was blamed for the flash floods and mudslides there last month, the Palace said Tuesday.

“This after [the President] was apprised of concerns of indigenous populations that they have been displaced by logging operations of some companies,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a Palace news briefing. “[The President] also observed that it is widespread

logging that is responsible for the flash floods that Mindanao experienced only this month of December with two typhoons,” Roque added.

In a Facebook post following the monthly Cabinet meeting on Monday night, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol quoted the President as telling

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to “implement a closure order” against the Sodaco Agricultural Corp., which holds a 60,000-hectare concession under the DENR’s Integrated Social Forestry program.

DENR regional director Felix Mirasol Jr. said the two industrial forest management agreement suspension orders were served on Dacon Group of Companies through its companies, the South Davao Development Co. Inc and Sirawai Plywood & Lumber Corp. in Sibuco town.

A 12-member investigator team, composed of local DENR officers from the forestry, mines and environment bureaus, have been deployed so that “an exhaustive probe

can be conducted to see if there have been violations in their permits,” Cimatu said.

“Roy, ipasara mo yan. Hindi naman maghihirap yan si Consunji kasi Oligarch na yan [Roy, order it closed. Consunji isn’t getting poorer because he’s an oligarch already],” the President told the Environment Secretary, referring to the billionaire family that owns Sodaco.

Also in his recent talks with Cimatu, Piñol said the DENR chief has already ordered an immediate investigation into the reported logging operations by the company owned by the Consunji group.

“I have formed a team to investigate not only what Sodaco did in the Zamboanga

Travel Tour Expo looking for more space

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Philippine Travel Agencies Association is currently exploring how it can expand its biggest annual Travel Tour Expo beyond its normal format, citing several international companies and airlines that would want to participate in the event.

In a press conference, Marlene Dado Jante PTAA president and TTE 2018 organizing committee chairman, said around 400 industry stakeholders and airline companies will occupy the 16,000 square meters of floor space at the expo, and offer “great, big” travel deals to Filiapino travel enthusiasts.

“When we open on February 8, it will be a very special moment for the country’s tourism industry as Travel Tour Expo will be celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Since 1993, we have been bringing together all the stakeholders under one roof. We are playing a key role in the growth of Philippine tourism,” Jante said.

She said the number of exhibitors this year grew by 21 percent compared to last year, and the expo figure “is currently considered as the highest figure in its history.”

From 2011 to 2017, TTE exhibitors have grown by 30 percent, as the expo went from having three halls to covering all of SMX Convention Center’s eight halls.

For TTE 2018, Jante said the expo will also occupy all the meeting rooms of SMX in Pasay City.

“This is the reason why we are pushing forward and searching for ways to evolve the expo from its venue, program, and offerings to the public. Right now, the TTE is running parallel to the growth of our tourism industry. In its current format, there is a need to expand,” she said.

Aside from Philippine tourism stakeholders, the TTE plays host to hotels and resorts, airlines, tour operators, cruise lines, theme parks, and national tourism organizations from across the world.

It also features embassies and regional tourism offices, and local government units.

At the same time, the third installment of the International Travel Trade Expo will be tucked into the expo during the duration of TTE 2018.

The iTTE is the business-tobusiness component of TTE, which allows PTAA members to have preappointed one-on-one meetings with executives from international tourism companies and national tourism organizations.

Among the countries and territories expected to participate in iTTE include Australia, Cambodia, China, Egypt, France, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United States, and Vietnam.

Some of the options being looked at by the PTAA are venue expansion or holding the TTE at two different locations.

In Loving Memory of

but also in the KalamansigLebak mountains,” Cimatu was quoted as telling Piñol.

Piñol, who recently conducted a helicopter fly-over on the portion of the mountains that have been deforested, said the logging operation “is blamed for the flash floods and mudslides which killed dozens of people and damaged agricultural lands in four towns of Zamboanga del Norte Dec. 22 at the height of Typhoon ‘Vinta.’”

The President also promised to aid fisher folk families in Barangay Anubgan, Sibuco town, whose homes were swept to sea when flash floods brought down logs that rampaged through the isolated coastal community, Piñol said.

Duterte watched a fiveminute video of the deforested portion of the Zamboanga mountain range where the flash floods brought down the logs, Cimatu said.

Under their IFMA terms, SPLC and Sodaco are allowed to establish industrial tree plantations from which they can harvest, but are not allowed to cut residual trees unless authorized by Cimatu under very strict conditions, such as site development and plantation establishment.

DENR had issued five IFMAs to the two firms with a combined area of 70,709 hectares covering 12 towns traversing the boundaries of Zamboanga del Norte and del Sur.

Suspect in Jee kidnap-slay turned into state witness ONE of the suspects in the case of the abduction and murder of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo in October 2016 has been turned into a state witness.

The Angeles City Regional Trial Court in Pampanga granted the motion filed by Department of Justice prosecutors to discharge SPO4 Roy Villegas from the case against the suspects in the Jee slaying.

Angeles City RTC Branch 58 Judge Irineo Pangilinan Jr. said Villegas satisfied all the requirements to become a state witness, such as the absolute necessity for the accused’s testimony, lack of direct evidence for the proper prosecution of the case, and that the accused should not appear to be the most guilty.

“Wherefore, guided by the foregoing hornbook doctrines, the motion to discharge Villegas as state witness is hereby granted,” read Pangilinan’s order dated Jan. 3.

Citing Section 17, Rule 119 of

the Revised Rules of Court, Pangilinan explained the law allows the dismissal of an information as to one of several persons accused of a crime, so he may be used as a witness for the State, on condition that he testifies against his co-accused.

The judge said that from the evidence submitted by the prosecution in support of its motion to discharge accused Villegas, “it appears that while accused Villegas directly participated in the execution stage, he had no direct participation in the actual killing of Ick Joo Jee.” “So far, the records are bereft of evidence that he had active participation in the actual killing of Ick Joo Jee,” he added.

Pangilinan agreed with the point raised by the prosecution that the testimony of Jee’s maid, Marisa Morquicho, was “very limited, as it is only confined to the alleged carnapping, kidnapping of victims Ick Joo Jee and Marisa Morquicho,” but not the actual killing of Jee. PNA

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

AMADO ‘JAKE’ MACASAET August 9, 1936 - January 7, 2018 survived by his wife Karen and son Allen.

Remains lie at Heritage Park- Chapel 3, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Date of inurnment to be determined

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Sports

A7

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Djokovic leads walking wounded at Open

Nadal loses 1 match of year

MELBOURNE— Twelve-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic headlines a list of walking wounded at the Australian Open, with the Serb desperate to get back to winning ways after six months out injured.

The former world number one is making a tilt at a record seventh Melbourne Park crown, but has some serious rust to shake off if he is to make an impression.

Djokovic has been sidelined since Wimbledon in July, with a Tie Break Tens exhibition event on Wednesday and the Kooyong Classic, where he is drawn to play world number five Dominic Thiem, his only chance to test his right elbow injury.

“Finally back in the land down under. I feel ready.

Idemo! (let’s go),” he tweeted on Sunday, posting a video of himself hitting on Rod Laver Arena.

But after pulling out of an Abu Dhabi tournament late last month and admitting “I still feel the pain”, a big question mark hangs over how competitive Djokovic can be.

Having added mercurial former tour player Radek Stepanek to a coaching team spearheaded by Andre Agassi, Djokovic only started hitting tennis balls again in November.

He admits being sidelined has not been easy, and that missing the US Open last year, the first Slam he has not played since 2005, was particularly hard. AFP

Nadal’s knee injury hampered the end of his 2017 season and forced him to skip last week’s Brisbane International, but he was able to give it a workout at the non-tour event in Melbourne.

Though he lost in straight sets, the Spaniard said he would keep working hard

st

M

ELBOURNE—World number one Rafael Nadal lost his first match of the year 6-4, 7-5 to Richard Gasquet at the Kooyong Classic on Tuesday, but said he was happy after his troublesome knee held up “fine”. until the start of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Monday.

“I”m very happy to be back in Australia,” he said.

“I had a heavy year in 2017 and I started my preparation later than usual.

“But I’ve arrived in plenty of time. It’s great to get the feeling once again of

playing a match.

“This was a good test for me after some good training, that’s the most important thing.”

The 16-time Grand Slam winner was far from his best in the exhibition encounter against a player he has beaten 15-0 on the ATP Tour in a rivalry dating back to junior days.

Nadal, 31, heads the entry list for the Australian Open and said he will be ready to front up for the first round.

“The knee is fine,” he said in answer to the inevitable question. “I’m here.

“If I was not feeling good I would not be here, so that’s good news.

“I’ll train hard over the next few days for the Australian Open, I will be ready.”

‘Best in history’ Nadal is only playing the one match at Kooyong, but is also scheduled to turn out for a Tie Break Tens tournament at Melbourne Park on Wednesday evening.

Gasquet, who missed Kooyong last year through illness and injury, was happy to get even an informal win over the Spaniard.

“It’s always a pleasure to

play Rafa—I hope to beat him one day on the ATP before retiring. He’s a friend of mine and it’s great to play him,” he said.

“I’m happy with how I’m playing after a test against Rafa, who along with Federer is the best in history.”

Gasquet took the opening set, relying on a single break for 5-4 before serving it out against an opponent still trying to shake off the rust of inactivity.

The Frenchman found himself in more of a battle in the second set despite going up a double break for 3-0.

Alab-Pilipinas goes for 4th straight win

Rafael Nadal of Spain throws a towel to the ballboy during his men’s singles match against Richard Gasquet of France at Kooyong Classic tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

TANDUAY-Alab Pilipinas hopes to extend its winning streak in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) as it goes up againts rival Singapore Slingers once again this Wednesday at the San Juan Arena.

The game, which will air live over S+A and S+A HD starting at 8 p.m., is third between Alab and Slingers this season, with the Philippine contingent edging the Singapore side in their last game, 89-80.New Alab world import Justin Brownlee was all over the place once more in last Sunday’s game as he poured in an all-around game of 17 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, with majority coming in crunch time to give Alab its third straight win.

Fellow Alab import Renaldo Balkman chipped in 26 points, eight rebounds, four steals, and two blocks to lead the entire game in the scoring department while being the primary de-

N Korea offers to attend Olympics in talks with South SEOUL—North Korea offered to send athletes and a high-level delegation to the forthcoming Winter Olympics in the South on Tuesday as the rivals held their first official talks in more than two years after months of tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme.

Seoul urged that reunions of families divided by the 1950-53 Korean War—one of the most emotive legacies of the conflict —be held at the same time as the Games.

The talks were held in Panmunjom, the truce village in the Demilitarized Zone that splits the peninsula, with the North’s group walking over the Military Demarcation Line to the Peace House venue on the southern side —just yards from where a defec-

tor ran across in a hail of bullets two months ago.

Looking businesslike, the South’s Unification minister Cho Myoung-Gyon and the North’s chief delegate Ri Son-Gwon shook hands at the entrance to the building, and again across the table.

In accordance with standard practice in the North, Ri wore a badge on his left lapel bearing an image of the country’s founding father Kim Il-Sung and his son and successor Kim Jong-Il. Cho also wore a lapel badge, depicting the South Korean flag.

As well as its athletes, the North proposed sending a highlevel delegation, supporters, art performers and a taekwondo demonstration team to the Games, the South’s vice unifica-

tion minster Chun Hae-Sung told journalists.

Seoul suggested the two sides march together at the opening ceremony, he added, and called for the resumption of family reunions, as well as Red Cross talks and military discussions to prevent “accidental clashes”.

“Let’s present the people with a precious new year’s gift,” said the North’s Ri. “There is a saying that a journey taken by two lasts longer than the one travelled alone.”

The atmosphere was friendlier than at past meetings, and Cho told him that Seoul believed “guests from the North are going to join many others from all around the world” at the Olympics.

“The people have a strong de-

sire to see the North and South move toward peace and reconciliation,” he added.

‘Peace Olympics’ It was a radically different tone from the rhetoric of recent months, which have seen the North’s leader Kim Jong-Un and US President Donald Trump trade personal insults and threats of war, while Pyongyang has launched missiles capable of reaching the US mainland and carried out its sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date.

Seoul has been keen to proclaim the Games in Pyeongchang, just 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the DMZ, a “peace Olympics” but it needs Pyongyang to attend to make the description meaningful.

Kim indicated in his New

Year’s speech that the North could take part in the Games and Seoul responded with an offer of high-level dialogue.

Last week the hotline between the neighbours was restored after being suspended for almost two years.

Issues still to be settled include the question of joint entrances to the opening and closing ceremonies, the size of the delegation and their accommodation —widely expected to be paid for

by Seoul—as well as any linked discussions.

The North so far has only two winter sports athletes qualified for the Games, but hundreds of young, female North Korean cheerleaders have created a buzz at three previous international sporting events in the South. AFP

Ikeda ties Thailand ace at ICTSI Golf Tour helm MEXICO, Pampanga—Chihiro Ikeda rode on a fiery windup to card a three-under 68 and force a tie with Yupaporn Kawinpakorn of Thailand, two strokes ahead of Cyna Rodriguez at the start of the ICTSI Beverly Place Ladies Classic at the Beverly Place here yesterday.

Save for a player or two, the compact field scorched the flat par-71 layout’s backside with a run of under-par scores with Ikeda, seeking a followup to her Forest Hills playoff win over Thai Wannasiri Sirirampant last November, closing out with three birdies in the last six holes to rebound from an even 34 start.

Kawinpakorn, flashing the form that netted her the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s seasonending event crown at South Forbes three weeks ago, actually looked headed to seizing the solo lead with a solid threeunder card after 15 holes. But the Thai veteran campaigner bogeyed No. 16 and needed to birdie the par-5 17th to join the Fil-Japanese at the helm.

“Happy to get into the groove in the last few holes and made those late birdies,”

The deficit barely bothered Nadal, who showed some of his classic form in closing the gap to 3-3.

Gasquet forced Nadal to save break points throughout as the pair stayed levelpegging.

But the Frenchman finally broke for 6-5 and claimed victory with a smash winner on his first match point a game later.

In the women’s competition, Germany’s Andrea Petkovic rallied to defeat Australian teenager Destanee Aiava 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in windy conditions. AFP

said Ikeda, who had a rollercoaster start of two birdies against two bogeys in the first seven holes. After five pars, she drilled in a six-foot birdie putt on No. 13 then hit backto-back birdies from No. 16.

Rodriguez, who used to dominate the LPGT before campaigning in the LPGA and Symetra Tours with Dottie Ardina and Princess Superal, rebounded from a three-over card at the front with a sizzling four-birdie feat at the back, including the 18th, also a par-5, to wrest solo third at 70.

But while the frontrunners cashed in on the birdie holes at the back, Superal reeled back with a bogey on the 17th to settle for a 71 in a tie with Chihiro Ikeda closed out with three birdies in the last six holes to rebound from an even 34 start.

Ardina and Tiranan Yoopan, also of Thailand, three shots off the joint leaders with 36 holes to play in the three-day event sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas THE 4th Red Kings Year-Opener tioned by the National Chess Fed- kiddies’ categories.

Golf Tournaments, Inc. Chess Individual Tournament gets eration of the Philippines through Registration fee is P250 for kidArdina, who birdied No. 9 to going on Jan. 28 at the Tiendesitas the En Passant Chess Association dies and P350 for the Open category. snap a run of pars, also flounMall, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City. and backed up by Team Henry Go Participants must present valid dered with bogeys on Nos. Organizer Fide Master “Elo” Jr., Sales Director Samivin V. Delos identification card (government 11 and 16 but birdied the 17th Mariano III said tournament format Santos of SM Development Corpo- issued ID, school ID), while in the while Yoopan recovered from is a seven-round Swiss System, with ration and Ortigas and Company. kiddies’ division, students must bogeys on Nos. 7 and 9 with a rate of play of 20 minutes, plus a Participants may compete in present school ID and their birth birdies on Nos. 15 and 17. three-second time delay. It is sanc- the Open section and under-12 certificate.

Red Kings Year-Opener chess starts Jan. 28

fender of the come backing Christien Charles.

Resident ABL analyst Marco Benitez believes that Alab can use the current run as a springboard to make a deeper run in the tournament and make a return to the semifinals despite a slow start.

“If Alab can continue to improve their chemistry and the support from the local players, having Brownlee and Balkman —both do-it-all imports —it will likely be able to carry them to the top 6 in the standings, enough to make it to the postseason.

The major area of concern for Alab is on the rebounding end, as they will be facing teams, like Chong Son for instance, with taller and better rebounders. But if they can overcome that with their hustle and athleticism, then there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be able to compete against the best the ABL has to offer,” he said.

Yuka, Bianca lead chase at Ladies Open IN-FORM Yuka Saso shoots for a second straight major championship while Bianca Pagdanganan seeks a repeat of her record feat as they lead the chase in the 2018 Champion Infinity Philippine Ladies Open beginning today (Wednesday, Jan. 10) at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

With a mix of talented foreign and other local players also all primed-up and ready to slug it out with the two fancied bets, a spirited battle is expected in the next three days of the country’s premier ladies championship organized and conducted by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

The Orchard’s Palmer course, with its bunker-laden set-up and its hazards coming into play in most holes, toughens up the chase for top honors among 64 players from eight countries, including Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Korea and Guam.

Saso drew Singapore’s Shannon Tan, Felicia Medalla and rising star Annyka Cayabyab in the 8:20 a.m. flight on No. 10, hoping to flash the form she showed in dominating the country’s top pros and a slew of foreign aces in the kickoff leg of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour at Ayala Greenfield last week.

“I’m going for it (crown). It will probably be my last year as an amateur, so I’m going all out and give it everything I got to win,” said Saso, who placed second to Princess Superal in 2016 and finished third in last year’s staging of the event backed by Champion Infinity, Eva Air, San Miguel Corp., Metro Pacific, Atty. Gilberto Duavit, Inquirer, Alveo Land, G&W Clubshares Inc., Crimson Hotel Filinvest, Golfers Club Shares Inc., Cherrylume and NGAP. But the Fil-Japanese remains wary of the elite field in the centerpiece Open division, led by Pagdanganan, who set a record 16-under 200 total in dominating the event at Wack Wack last year. Now with the University of Arizona, Pagdanganan opens her title-retention drive at 7:50 a.m. on the first hole with Thai Kultida Pramphun, Grace Quintanilla and Alexandra Etter.

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

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018

Federer win looms as rivals struggle

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) grabs the rebound against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 8, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP

MELBOURNE, Australia —The prospect of an unprecedented 20th Grand Slam victory has strengthened for ageless wonder Roger Federer as his main rivals flounder ahead of the Australian Open.

The 36-year-old is coming off an extraordinary 2017, when he won a fifth Australian Open title and a record eighth at Wimbledon, and there could be yet more glory with a depleted field of top contenders in Melbourne.

Andy Murray and Japan’s Kei Nishikori are already out of the year’s opening Grand Slam with injuries, while 12-time major champion Novak Djokovic is troubled by an elbow complaint and hasn’t played for six months.

World number one Rafael Nadal withdrew from his first tour event of 2018, in Brisbane, with continuing knee problems, and is seeking match practice in a Melbourne exhibition event ahead of the January 15 start.

The 2014 winner Stan Wawrinka, who hasn’t played since last year’s Wimbledon and subsequent knee surgery, has had little warm-up work and is no longer with his four-year coach Magnus Norman.

Yet amid it all Federer

Timberwolves trounce Cavs L

OS ANGELES—The Minnesota Timberwolves humbled LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, leading by as many as 41 points en route to a 127-99 triumph in Minneapolis.

led the Nets with a careerhigh 31 points, had a last chance for the hosts but missed a driving layup in the final second.

The Raptors lost Kyle Lowry in over-time as the guard went down hard on a frightening fall in which he was sandwiched between two Nets players and landed on a hip.

He got to his feet, but quickly crumpled to the court again clutching his lower back and was finally carried off by two teammates. He was diagnosed with “an acute back spasm” the Raptors said.

Brooklyn saw guard Allen Crabbe depart with an apparent left ankle injury in the fourth quarter.

Elsewhere, the reigning champion Golden State Warriors shook off an injury

scare for superstar Stephen Curry to beat the Denver Nuggets 124-114 in Oakland, California.

Curry left the game briefly after a hard fall, but returned with his left knee taped to score 32 points.

Warriors forward Draymond Green scored 23 points with 10 assists and five rebounds and guard Klay Thompson chipped in 19 points as Golden State again coped admirably with the absence of Kevin Durant, who missed his third straight game with a strained right calf.

Denver’s Nikola Jokic notched a triple-double of 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

In Los Angeles, C.J. Williams drained the game-winning three-pointer with 9/1 seconds left to lift the Clip-

pers to a 108-107 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

In New Orleans, the Pelicans held on for a 112-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons despite losing star forward Anthony Davis to a sprained right ankle in the third quarter.

The Houston Rockets, without NBA leading scorer James Harden for a fourth straight game, drained 20 threepointers in their 116-107 victory over the Bulls in Chicago.

James and the rest of the Cavs starters also sat out the fourth quarter—although for Isaiah Thomas that absence came courtesy of his third-quarter ejection.

Thomas was tossed when he reached out toward a driving Wiggins and caught the Minnesota forward under the chin. Assessed a flagrant-2 foul, Thomas was

immediately ejected, although he said he was merely reaching in for a steal.

“I’ve gotten numerous steals like that, so it just happened that I hit him in the throat,” Thomas said. “I apologized right away because I knew I didn’t mean to do that.

I’m just glad he’s all right.”

Thomas was playing his third game for the Cavs after a hip injury had sidelined him since he joined the team in a pre-season trade.

In his first two games back, the Cavs averaged 129 points a game, but they never fired on Monday.

“As a team, we just had no rhythm on both ends,” Thomas said. “It’s tough when you’re getting the shots that you want and they’re just not falling—it kind of rubs off on the defensive end.” AFP

Andrew Wiggins scored 25 points to pace a Timberwolves team that led from start to finish against a Cavs team that went to the last three NBA Finals, winning the title two seasons ago.

Karl-Anthony Towns— the only Timberwolves starter to play in the fourth quarter—added 19 points with 12 rebounds and Wolves forward Taj Gibson added another double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Jimmy Butler flirted with a triple-double, amassing 21 points with nine assists and eight rebounds while

playing a key role in limiting four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James to 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

The Cavaliers fell to 2614. They’re third in the Eastern Conference behind Thomas’s former team, the Boston Celtics, and the Toronto Raptors—who edged the Nets 114-113 in overtime in a bruising encounter in Brooklyn.

DeMar DeRozan’s 35 points included a threepoint play with 26.1 seconds remaining in over-time that put the Raptors up 114-113.

Spencer Dinwiddie, who

Arellano advances to finals

Teo battles Xiong for Strawweight world crown

Game today

(Rizal Memorial pitch) 6 p.m.- San Beda vs CSB (srs)

ARELLANO University overpowered Lyceum of the Philippines University, 3-1, to clinch the first finals berth even as defending champion San Beda downed St. Benilde, 2-0, to live for another day in the 93rd NCAA seniors football tournament at the Rizal Memorial pitch Monday night.

Charles Gamutan, Roberto Corsame, Jr. and Patrick Bernarte delivered the decisive blows with goals on the 46th, 56th and 71st, respectively, to help propel the Chiefs straight to the best-of-three finals and closer to their goal of winning their second title after claiming their first ever crown two seasons back.

Levi Mahilan struck back for LPU with an 81st minute rocket but it turned out its last show of resistance as AU hang on to preserve the win.

Now AU awaits its foe in the finals, which could be between San Beda and St. Benilde.

The Red Booters drew strength from goals by Mark Anthony Magtoto and Nimrod Balabat as it downed the Blazers to force a do-or-die duel at 6 p.m. today with the winner claiming the final slot in the finals set to unfold Friday.

It was a morale-boosting win for San Beda, which almost didn’t make it this far after admitting midfielder Dane Penaflor was ineligible due to academics that resulted to three forfeited games.

JAKARTA, Indonesia— Singapore’s Tiffany “No Chill” Teo will take on Chinese female martial arts star Xiong Jing Nan for the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship on January 20 at the iconic Jakarta Convention Center.

The match was announced during the launch of ONE: Kings of Courage yesterday.

The co-main event contest features Indonesian Stefer Rahardian battling Muhammad Imran for the right to challenge for the ONE Flyweight World Championship.”

Teo holds an unblemished professional record of seven wins and no losses, including three submissions and two knockouts.

Teo began training in taekwondo before moving on to compete in boxing and Muay Thai and eventually transitioning to the ONE

Championship cage.

“As a martial artist, I am constantly seeking to improve. This title shot means a lot to me and I am excited to get right back in the cage. This one is for my fans in Singapore. I will bring the belt home for you guys,” said Teo. In her last bout, Teo impressed with a quick submission victory over Puja Tomar.

Xiong of Shandong is known as one of the top three leading female martial arts talents in China.

With a professional record of 13-1, she began her career competing in professional boxing and was inspired by her father, who imparted in her values of courage and integrity.

Featuring a wide array of skills, Xiong recently bagged a gold medal at the prestigious China Open Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament in 2017.

“This is a great honor for me, and for China. I have been training and dreaming of becoming a world champion for a long time and I am ready to defeat whoever is standing in front of me. My entire career has been about making this dream come true, and now it’s time for me to make that dream a reality,” said Xiong.

In her last bout, Xiong made quick work of Filipino wushu specialist April Osenio, finishing her opponent via technical knockout in the first round.

Rahardian impressed in his ONE Championship debut by winning the ONE: Titles and Titans Flyweight Tournament in August of 2016.

Rahardian finished both Yotha Hutagalung and Hendrick Wijaya by first round rear-naked choke to become the tournament winner.

Xiong “The Panda” Jing Nan celebrates at the center of the cage after posting a TKO win over April Osenio. ONE Championship

keeps going, winning all his matches at the mixedteams Hopman Cup in Perth this month and seemingly injury-free.

“I just have to pace myself all the way up to the tournament in Melbourne, and I’ll be ready,” he said after his Hopman Cup final victory with Switzerland team-mate Belinda Bencic.

“I’m just excited going back to Melbourne where I had my fairytale run last year. It was crazy.

“It’s great to be the defending champion. I take it the right way. I won’t put extra pressure on myself, regardless of who’s going to play, or not play.

“For me it’s just important to be in a good mindset, well prepared, and ready to go. And I feel like I am ready.”

Nadal, who lost to Federer in five sets in a vintage Australian final last year, has opted to join Djokovic at the Kooyong Classic exhibition event for some match practice in the week before the Open.

The Spaniard, who hasn’t played since the World Tour Finals in London, had a stellar 2017, winning his 10th French Open, a third US Open crown and the year-ending world number one spot. AFP

Monsour backs call for POC election

By Peter Atencio THERE is a clamor for an election to decide the fate of the present leadership of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Philippine Taekwondo Association secretary general and Makati Congressman Monsour del Rosario said this after he expressed his sentiments on a court decision that seeks new elections be held on Feb. 23, 2018 for the position of president and chairman of the POC. “I think that’s the clamor.

For majority of the national sports associations and other sports leaders of the NSAs, I think that’s the big clamor,” said del Rosario following a huddle with karatedo official Raymund Lee-Reyes and squash head Robert Bachmann.

Del Rosario made his thoughts known after the Pasig Regional Trial Court recently ruled in favor a complaint that was filed by boxing chief Ricky Vargas last December.

Judge Maria Gracia Cadiz-Casaclang of Branch 155 declared the election for the position of president and chairman on Nov. 25, 2016 as null and void, and stated this in a decision that was released last Dec. 1.

The polls are expected to push through unless the POC seeks a temporary restraining order if the court decides in favor of its motion for reconsideration.

Del Rosario, who has been appointed chef de mission for the national delegation that will see action in the 2019 Philippine Southeast Asian Games, is appealing to sports leaders like POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco and Vargas to work out their differences before the Games come around next year.

Magnolia, Kia clash; Bolts face Alaska Aces

By Jeric Lopez TEAMS at the middle and at the bottom of the pack plunge back to action as all of them are itching for a needed win the resumption of the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. The Magnolia Hotshots (1-1) hope to get back on track when they square off against winless Kia Picanto (0-2) at 4:30 p.m. even as the Meralco Bolts (1-1) aim on doing the

same against the Alaska Aces (0-2) in their own 7:30 p.m. encounter at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Following an impressive opening game win, the Hotshots got derailed in their last outing by Barangay Ginebra, 89-78, on Christmas day.

Magnolia now hopes that it climbs the ladder again and cracks the upper echelon by regaining its winning ways.

On the other hand, the Picanto want to break into the win column after two straight losses, the last of

which came at the hands of Phoenix, 125-102, last Dec. 27.

However, Kia welcomes the new year with a new coach.

First time PBA coach Ricky Dandan is set to make his debut as he now calls the shots for the Picanto, taking the place of Chris Gavina, who stepped down from his post last Dec. 30.

Kia is hopeful that this change can be a positive one for the team as it hasn’t won for the longest time.

In the second game, the Bolts are also looking to bounce back while the Aces are desperate to finally post a win.

After a positive start, Meralco bowed to defending champion San Miguel Beer, 97-103, last Dec. 27.

In its first game in 2018, Alaska is hoping that it can finally turn the corner after a forgetful 2017.

The Aces have yet to register a win in two games.

They lost to TNT KaTropa, 98-106, last Dec. 29.

Alaska Aces forward Calvin Abueva (8) prepares to dribble past a pair of Meralco Bolts defenders including Baser Amer (9).

Aboitiz unit streamlines ownerships B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018

B1

Stock index surpasses 8,900 level S

TOCKS passed the 8,900-point level for the first time on record Tuesday, as the local market moved in line with a global rally that gave the Asia-Pacific region its best start since 2006.

IN BRIEF Globe blocks 2,500 illegal, lewd websites

GLOBE Telecom Inc. said it blocked nearly 2,500 illegal sites as part of a drive against lewd content and child pornography.

The company owned by conglomerate Ayala Corp. has taken a stronger stance to combat child pornography by blocking websites and related content as stipulated under Republic Act 9775, or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009.

“As a purpose-led organization, we have a responsibility to ensure that our products and services will not be used for illegal activities. Globe Telecom is strongly committed to help address child pornography in the country,” Globe senior vice president for corporate communications Yolanda Crisanto said.

She said the company would actively look out for illegal sites with vulgar content involving children.

Globe has also taken an active role in promoting legitimate sources of online content.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Meralco seeks partners in wind power projects MANILA Electric Co. through unit Meralco PowerGen Corp. is keen on teaming up with potential wind projects that could potentially generate up to 300 megawatts of power capacity with an investment cost of $800 million to $900 million, officials said over the weekend.

Meralco president Oscar Reyes said if plans pushed through, Meralco would need to invest around $200 million under a 75 percent-25 percent debt equity scenario at a 100 percent project ownership basis.

“We have gotten attractively priced, significantly lower than the second round of FIT (feedin-tariff),” Reyes said, when asked why Meralco was venturing into wind projects.

The FIT guaranteed a rate of P8.53 for every kWh produced by a qualified wind producer. The FIT was later revised downward for the second round to P7.40 per kWh for wind projects. Alena Mae S. Flores

ING Bank sees peso weakening to P51.50:$1

THE Manila-based unit of Dutch financial giant ING Bank expects the peso to weaken to 51.50 per dollar by the end of 2018 due to a wider trade deficit .

ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said in a report Tuesday the local currency was likely to weaken this year after posting 49.81 at the close of 2017. “... We had revised our Philippine peso forecast to a milder weakness of 51.50 by year-end.

This is slightly weaker than the latest Bloomberg consensus forecast of 50.80. The weak external payment position is likely to resurface as a reason,” Cuyegkeng said.

Cuyegkeng cited the latest Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas forecast that showed that current account would deteriorate to a deficit of $700 million this year.

“We expect the trade deficit to widen to show a worsening capacity of OFW remittances to finance the trade gap. We expect remittances to grow by 4 percent this year to $29.2 billion. Julito G. Rada

PLDT to launch Clark Freeport recovery facility

A SUBSIDIARY of PLDT Inc. said it expects to inaugurate by the third quarter of the year its first purpose-built disaster recovery facility in Clark Freeport, Pampanga, which is seen to complement the daily operations of its existing data center in the region.

PLDT Clarktel said the new disaster recovery facility had a total 1,300 seats, which could be availed as a stand-alone service, or coupled with VITRO racks.

This allows enterprises in Clark Economic Zone and neighboring communities to easily conform with global requirements and comply with ISO 22301, or the Business Continuity Management System guidelines.

PLDT Clarktel president and chief executive Boy Castañeda said ensuring business continuity through the disaster recovery facility was imperative to delivering the best service to all stakeholders within the region.

Darwin G. Amojelar

BPI-IFC DEAL. Bank of the Philippine Islands signs a pioneering agreement with Philippine Green Building Initiative, the local partner of International Finance Corp., a member of the World Bank Group, to help turn more buildings in the country into energy-saving, low-carbon and environment-friendly structures. Shown are (from left) BPI vice president for sustainable energy finance Jo Ann Eala, senior vice president for corporate credit products group Eric Luchangco, PGBI president Dave Farala and executive director Ramon Aguilos.

Tax reform to hike power rates by P0.08 per kWh

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE implementation of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion program will increase the power rates by P0.08 per kilowatthour in February.

Rates in January, however, are expected to go down because of lower demand amid cooler temperature in December, according to Manila Electric Co. Meralco head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez said the power retailer was waiting for the billing from National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, following the lifting of the value added tax exemption.

“For NGCP, the Train is in effect Jan. 1 so with their January bill to us, we expect them to apply the VAT on transmission wheeling charges. Before, there was no VAT. Under their franchise, they were exempted.

With 12-percent VAT, the estimate is P0.07 per kWh,” Fernandez said. Another P0.01 per kWh was expected to be passed on to consumers, because of a higher excise tax on coal under Train.

He said the price impact of Train on electricity could be passed on to consumers in the February billing.

“If NGCP incorporates it in their January billing, we

should expect by February that it will be effective,” Fernandez said.

Under Section 9 of Republic Act 9511, NGCP should pay only a franchise tax equivalent to 3 percent of all gross receipts from its operation.

The payment of the concession fees due to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. “under the concession agreement shall not be subject to income tax and value added tax.”

The said tax exemption was repealed under Section 86 of RA 10963 or the Train law.

Meanwhile, Fernandez

said the impact of higher excise tax on coal was estimated at P0.01 per kWh. “For generators, it will depend on their stock of coal if they bought it new or in stock.Our expectations is they will stagger the implementation of the coal tax,” he said.

Fernandez said the company used in its simulations the November dispatch level of one-third coal utilization and minimal oil generation.

“At P50 per MT, excise tax of coal and oil, the effect is around P0.01.

The VAT on transmission charge, that’s P0.07, total is P0.08 per kWh,” he said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, jumped 178 points, or 2 percent, to close at 8,923.72, its biggest advance in 12 months.

The bellwether was also up 4.3 percent since the start of the year, following a 25.1-percent gain in 2017.

The broader all-share index also climbed 72 points, or 1.4 percent, to settle at 5,138.63 Tuesday, also an all-time high, on a value turnover of P8.4 billion.

Gainers outnumbered losers, 118 to 93, while 47 issues were unchanged.

Fifteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by retailer Puregold Price Club Inc. which surged 7.2 percent to P53.95 and food manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. which advanced 5.4 percent to P174. BDO Unibank Inc., the largest lender, gained 5.3 percent to P164.60.

Meanwhile, Asian markets mostly rose Tuesday, with Hong Kong marking 11 straight wins and Tokyo at a 26-year high, as investors press on with a global rally that has the region enjoy its best start since 2006.

Wall Street provided yet another record lead as eyes turn to the beginning of the corporate earnings season, with sentiment buoyed by strong economic readings and hopes that Donald Trump’s tax cuts will help fire up profits.

“This environment of strong global growth and contained inflation is actually a great environment for Asian equities, including tech,” Ajay Kapur, head of Asia Pacific and global

SEC warns public vs buying unregistered virtual currency

SMC eyes expressway completion by 2020

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission has warned the public against investing in the so-called “initial coin offerings” and “virtual currency.”

The SEC posted an advisory on its website stating that ICOs and virtual currency were considered securities or investment contracts which under the Securities and Regulation Code should be registered with the corporate regulator.

“In view thereof, the public is hereby advised to be vigilant when investing in this kind of investing activity and to have necessary precautions in dealing with ICO entities,” the regulator said.

Virtual currency refers to digital representation of value issued and controlled by its developers and used and accepted among the members of a specific community.

An ICO is the first sale and issuance of a new virtual currency to the public usually for the purpose of raising capital for start-up companies or funding independent projects.

“Based on the information gathered by the commission, some of these new currencies, based on the facts and circumstances surrounding their issuance, follow the nature of a security defined by Section 3.1 of the Securities Regulation Code,” the SEC said.

Section 3.1 of the SRC provides that a security includes an “investment contract,” which means a contract, transaction or a scheme whereby a person invests his money in a common enterprise and is led to expect profits primarily from the effort of others.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

GIFT OF HOPE. As Marawi City gets back on its feet, Hedcor Bukidnon, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp., shares in giving hope to those who were displaced by the armed conflict.

Through the Department of Health, Hedcor handed over a recycled container shipping van converted to a health clinic for the locals of Marawi. Dan Drave Afasan oversees the 24/7 operations of the Department of Health center and the health clinic van. The health clinic van is utilized as a depot for dispensing medicines to medical aid workers, then to the families who are prescribed to take medicines.

Govt set to start $500-m Metro Manila flood control project this month

By Julito G. Rada THE government plans to start the $500-million Metro Manila Flood Control Management Project this month, following the approval by the boards of the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank of the loans for the project, according to the Finance Department.

The department said of the total project cost, $207.603 million would come from the World Bank as approved by its board of executive directors on Sept. 28, 2017.

The AIIB will provide

another $207.603 million, which was approved by its board of directors on Sept.

27, 2017. The Philippine government will provide the remaining $84.794 million.

The Finance Department signed the loan agreements with both the World Bank and AIIB on Dec. 19, 2017.

The first phase of the project, which was approved by the Investment Coordination Committee and the National Economic and Development Authority in September last year, includes the rehabilitation of 36 pumping stations in Metro Manila and the con-

emerging market strategy at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong, told Bloomberg TV. Hong Kong rose 0.2 percent, marking its best run of gains since October 2012, while Shanghai finished 0.1 percent higher.

Tokyo closed up 0.6 percent–at its highest close since November 1991―as traders returned from a long weekend break.

Sydney rose 0.1 percent and Singapore climbed 0.4 percent.

There were also gains in Wellington and Kuala Lumpur but Wellington and Taipei slipped.

Seoul closed down 0.1 percent hit by a more than three percent drop in market heavyweight Samsung Electronics, which was hit after its forecast for record fourth-quarter profits missed expectations.

However, while markets continue to push ever higher, there are worries the advances this week could be petering out, and there are also warnings of a sharp correction on the horizon.

The dollar held on to its gains against the pound and euro, consolidating its recent mini-rebound with the single currency unable to make inroads despite data showing eurozone economic sentiment at its highest since 2000.

However, with Trump’s tax cuts already built in and the European Central Bank expected to begin winding down its stimulus, analysts say the greenback will likely face further pressure from the euro down the line.

With AFP

struction of 20 new ones in Manila, Pasay, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Valenzuela and Quezon City.

Many of Metro Manila’s existing pumping stations were built in the 1970s and have become inefficient and underperforming.

The World Bank said in a statement on Sept. 28 that floods, particularly during the typhoon season from June to October, were a recurring problem in Metro Manila that caused inundation of roads, exacerbated traffic congestion and destroyed lives, infrastructure and livelihood of

people, especially the poor.

Mara Warwick, World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, said recurrent flooding made life more difficult for the poorest populations who lived in lowlying areas, on riverbanks and in other danger zones.

“When floods occur, the capacity of people to earn a living is constrained, and many can fall back into poverty. Investments that improve flood management helps protect vulnerable communities as well as boost resilience against the impact of climate change,” Warwick

said in a statement.

Supee Teravaninthorn, director-general for investment operations of AIIB, said the lives of people in Metro Manila – especially the poor, women and children – were severely affected by exposure to frequent cyclones and flooding induced by heavy rain.

“The floods disrupt business and commercial activities, causing unnecessary economic costs. Investing in sustainable infrastructure is a key priority for AIIB and we feel this project is a great fit for our first investment in the Philippines,” Teravaninthorn said.

SAN Miguel Corp. said it expects to complete the construction of the Southeast Metro Manila Expressway, a toll road connecting Skyway/FTI in Taguig City and Batasan Complex in Quezon City by 2020.

“We’re very glad to be starting 2018 on a very positive note. Because of the hard work of our partners in government, we will finally be able to proceed with this vital infrastructure project,” SMC president Ramon Ang said.

The 34-kilometer expressway is expected to decongest roads in Manila and Quezon City, particularly major thoroughfares such as Edsa, C-5, Ortigas Ave. and Ortigas Extension. It is also seen to provide commuters from Metro Manila and the south faster and direct access to the major airports.

The project represents the first phase of the much larger Metro Manila C-6 Expressway Project, which will extend all the way to San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

SMC, together with the Department of Transportation, the Toll Regulatory Board, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority broke ground on Tuesday for Section 1, Phase 1 of the project.

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Business

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Sta. Lucia prepares P5b worth of corporate notes

By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer Sta. Lucia Land Inc. plans to raise up to P5 billion through the issuance of corporate notes.

Sta. Lucia said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board approved the issuance of P3 billion worth of sevenyear debt paper with an over allotment option of P2 billion.

The company plans to use proceeds from the fund raising activity to prepay some obligations, finance project development costs, and for general corporate purposes.

Sta. Lucia said the board authorized the company to purchase eight parcels of land in Dagupan City, Cavite, Laguna, Batagas, Rizal, Iloilo, Davao and General Santos City. It gave the go-signa to enter into joint ventures involving the development of the eight parcels of land in Baguio City, Bulacan, Quezon City, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, Palawan and Negros Occidental.

The company in September said it earmarked P15 billion in capital expenditures over the next three to five years to develop a recurring income business to complete its residential projects.

The property firm said it planned to develop more retail, commercial and tourism-related establishments to complement its massive residential developments.

Govt OKs SM Retail’s purchase of Goldilocks

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE Philippine Competition Commission approved the acquisition of Goldilocks Bakeshop Inc. by SM Retail Inc. after the two companies committed to address potential competition issues in the transaction.

The SM Group made the voluntary commitment after PCC’s mergers and acquisitions office issued a statement of concerns about the competition issues resulting

from the transaction.

“While selection of tenants in a mall is market-driven and based on consumer preferences, a mall operator should not be allowed to dis-

criminate mall tenants and lease applicants, especially those that compete with stores owned by the mall itself,” said PCC chairman Arsenio Balisacan.

The SM Group made the commitment after a series of hearings and discussions The PCC expressed concerns about the possibility of partial or total foreclosure in the supply of retail space in SM malls to competitors of Goldilocks after its acquisition by the SM Group.

“Such discrimination or

unfair treatment can come in the form of arbitrarily assigning competitor tenants to disadvantageous locations or unfavorable lease terms, which amounts to partial foreclosure. It can also come in the form of giving less favorable lease terms or completely refuse them lease space in the mall, which amounts to total foreclosure,” Balisacan said.

Another major concern raised by the PCC was the possibility of the SM Group sharing business information on competing mall ten-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.17 526,000 59.5 5,200 115.1 1,425,300 3.91 1,000 164.6 1,668,120 1.96 351,000 33.4 607,200 15.78 4,000 31 5,375,300 0.7 22,000 1.7 12,000 970 10 0.58 128,000 108 2,412,980 1.14 11,358,000 12.7 100 24.5 100 56.9 186,830 239.2 50,730 107 350 88.85 10,360 55.7 129,960 252.6 732,150 88.5 127,820 1.25 300,000

1,658,330 309,400 163,762,655 3,910 268,731,242 691,190 20,259,885 63,120 167,036,645 15,100 20,290 9,700 73,160 260,228,023 12,581,480 1,270 2,450 10,647,893.50 12,174,758 36,568 920,736.50 7,242,883 185,054,330 11,232,512.50 375,550

297,500 87,405,810 43,594,819 -78,430 1,359,890.00 7,890 -15,932,750 -7,100 -17,100 25,015,635 -7,960 -9,014,334.50 -4,615,855.50 52,709,362 344,663.50 -

40 10.2 0.62 1.33 16.94 0.216 131.3 5.1 15.52 182 53.05 19.06 62.75 61.7 83 1.91 5.25 10.8 11.42 15.14 12.5 7.82 5.57 1.66 15.82 62 26.5 9.98 17.9 1.97 255 58.55 4.14 3.08 19.4 28.55 18.18 17.7 325 0.204 8.73 2.17 5 9.22 5.5 8.3 1.73 13.5 63 6.4 510 4.9 4.36 1.75 13.36 5.45 0.132 1.17 164.5 2.85 2.01 0.84

INDUSTRIAL 41 1,352,800 11.14 1,478,200 0.62 433,000 1.34 220,000 17.68 12,900 0.216 690,000 131.3 240 5.15 12,672,700 15.6 139,700 182 110 53.8 523,550 19.1 5,300 62.75 1,660 61.7 20 83 50 1.91 168,000 5.25 51,200 10.94 17,000 11.7 4,181,700 15.54 4,095,200 12.7 7,382,500 7.9 974,900 5.59 8,274,100 1.66 6,000 15.86 5,507,900 62.25 145,840 27 1,038,300 9.98 182,500 17.92 770,400 1.99 5,250,000 255.8 978,180 58.55 30 4.24 41,000 3.17 10,000 20.45 5,600 29 2,113,400 18.26 1,090,700 17.8 2,905,100 328.2 280,170 0.21 150,000 9.69 17,400 2.17 4,586,000 5.1 2,455,100 9.27 2,363,500 5.5 375,800 8.3 41,200 1.78 3,544,000 13.5 462,000 63.6 119,050 6.4 129,500 530 292,590 4.95 21,000 4.46 23,000 1.84 1,462,000 13.6 1,202,200 5.5 40,600 0.133 320,000 1.18 52,000 174 2,819,150 2.9 20,000 2.01 6,751,000 0.85 6,711,000

55,419,530 16,037,312 268,460 293,790 222,900 149,470 32,356 67,872,434 2,182,970 20,020 28,396,971.50 101,126 104,431.50 1,234 4,150 321,240 268,900 183,976 48,710,672 63,225,216 93,111,622 7,713,810 46,307,760 10,160 87,431,074 9,079,204 28,385,390 1,833,460 13,856,882 10,486,660 250,188,588 1,767 170,190 31,020 109,110 61,291,250 19,894,484 52,200,980 92,171,068 30,800 162,037 10,072,040 12,623,306 21,961,683 2,083,605 341,960 6,203,790 6,290,270 7,548,773 835,400 154,966,995 103,400 102,210 2,655,640 16,379,620 221,454 42,620 61,210 481,059,855 57,490 13,785,480 5,952,740

13,865,045 770,458 -12,706,978 -1,266,340 46,698 -103,172.50 19,800,458 5,529,418 15,193,274 4,714,634 -1,524,112 5,446,226 2,782,050.50 -4,260 -1,047,380 -2,433,550 -30,560 -97,953,162 596 6,160 -21,947,250 25,564 -29,284,132 37,901,304 -4,008,140 574,600 132,482 249,000 3,278,120 6,380,178.50 341,250 -144,249,195 -536,140 8,530,594 16,350 222,681,210 -331,620 -

0.315 77.5 16.44 0.97 7.02 0.445 0.495 1,075 7.82 14.94 7.64 5 1,385 7.81 81 5.33 5.37 0.72 5.84 21.05 0.305 6.85 0.046 1.16 2.12 126.2 2.6 1,067 1.82 287.6 0.22 0.183 0.192

0.305 75.65 16.24 0.97 6.98 0.425 0.48 1,052 7.66 14.5 7.6 5 1,347 7.79 78.5 5.33 5.37 0.68 5.7 20.6 0.305 6.67 0.044 1.16 2.07 121.8 2.53 1,025 1.77 282.4 0.22 0.183 0.192

HOLDING FIRMS 0.305 390,000 77.5 1,130,000 16.32 5,004,500 0.97 1,000 6.99 45,000 0.43 8,860,000 0.495 7,580,000 1,065 309,775 7.77 8,305,100 14.9 9,301,600 7.64 57,200 5 125,000 1,385 131,480 7.79 3,500 81 1,973,980 5.33 200 5.37 100 0.7 631,000 5.8 6,461,900 20.8 1,582,400 0.305 70,000 6.67 22,122,000 0.044 5,100,000 1.16 81,000 2.09 89,000 125.7 1,132,340 2.59 33,000 1,046 372,515 1.78 1,561,000 287 6,470 0.22 40,000 0.183 210,000 0.192 140,000

119,600 86,470,475 81,644,338 970 314,286 3,853,450 3,705,850 330,143,665 64,311,105 138,638,322 434,995 625,000 179,584,020 27,313 158,092,870 1,066 537 434,220 37,496,206 32,889,255 21,350 148,847,877 230,300 93,960 184,640 141,350,832 83,770 390,108,165 2,781,850 1,856,534 8,800 38,430 26,880

47,754,570.50 5,672,402 816,700 48,913,465 -21,922,319 59,528,482 66,004,460 64,001,951.50 87,040 34,694,402.00 5,175,795 24,843,269 18,472,968 75,944,955 29,120 5,740 -

6.2 1.04 12.5 2.35 0.89 46.4 4.1 4.77 5.74 6.1 0.49 1.18 0.222 0.445 42 0.65 1.9 1.42 0.8 5.32 0.375 0.35 0.59 5.6 21.45

6.04 1.01 11.1 2.29 0.88 45.2 3.87 4.65 5.73 6.1 0.48 1.11 0.219 0.435 41 0.64 1.87 1.4 0.77 5.2 0.355 0.34 0.57 5.25 21.2

5,252,206 1,336,930 181,126 345,450 424,010 672,897,640 36,809,640 8,069,940 52,753 7,320 1,002,400 621,810 737,850 84,250 27,708,780 1,318,510 5,023,350 2,864,810 423,590 95,137,547 7,489,200 1,686,300 2,569,260 9,619,229 100,829,570

-2,246,178 -54,812.00 219,910,590 12,222,670 3,533,810 42,439 200,150 434,935 3,200 1,129,300 -9,870 -8,891,528 -1,154,639 -23,889,695

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.4 59.5 113.8 3.91 158 1.95 33.35 15.78 32 0.66 1.69 970 0.57 108 1.13 12.7 24.5 57 239.8 104.1 87.05 55.95 251 87.5 1.26

3.4 59.5 115.5 3.91 164.6 2.02 33.4 15.78 32 0.71 1.7 970 0.58 108.3 1.18 12.7 24.5 57.45 240 110 88.9 55.95 255 88.95 1.26

3.07 59.5 113 3.91 157.5 1.93 33.25 15.78 30.85 0.66 1.69 970 0.57 107 1.04 12.7 24.5 56.9 239.2 104 87.05 55.45 250.8 87.5 1.25

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 CONCRETE B 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 MACAY HLDG 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 HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

41.6 10.46 0.62 1.37 17.78 0.217 135 5.3 15.68 182 55.95 19.06 63 61.7 83 1.93 5.25 10.8 11.44 15.14 12.5 7.83 5.62 1.7 15.9 62.9 27.3 10.08 17.92 2.05 256 59.6 4.3 3.1 19.5 28.55 18.18 17.7 328 0.204 9.75 2.19 5.16 9.4 5.52 8.3 1.74 13.8 63.65 6.45 519 4.95 4.36 1.9 13.38 5.45 0.134 1.18 165 2.97 2.03 0.86

41.6 11.2 0.62 1.37 17.8 0.22 135 5.53 15.68 182 55.95 19.1 63 61.7 83 1.93 5.35 10.94 11.78 15.6 12.96 7.96 5.64 1.7 15.92 62.9 28.45 10.18 18.2 2.05 258 59.6 4.3 3.17 20.45 29.2 18.28 18.24 330 0.21 9.75 2.25 5.34 9.4 5.7 8.3 1.78 13.8 63.7 6.5 531 4.95 4.47 1.9 13.9 5.51 0.134 1.18 174 2.97 2.05 0.95

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 GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A KEPPEL HLDG B LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.315 75.95 16.26 0.97 6.98 0.425 0.48 1,057 7.66 14.6 7.63 5 1,360 7.81 78.5 5.33 5.37 0.72 5.81 20.9 0.305 6.74 0.045 1.16 2.07 121.8 2.6 1,025 1.82 284 0.22 0.183 0.192

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

6.2 1.03 12.4 2.33 0.89 45.2 3.87 4.73 5.74 6.1 0.48 1.14 0.221 0.445 41.8 0.65 1.9 1.41 0.79 5.24 0.36 0.35 0.58 5.57 21.3

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

2.14 3.2 38.4 1.03 8.7 0.83 6.01

2.19 3.21 39.7 1.04 9 0.85 6.03

2.13 3.2 38.15 1.03 8.7 0.83 5.98

2.18 3.21 39.7 1.04 8.7 0.85 6

1,548,000 12,000 7,899,600 960,000 14,100 70,000 5,902,500

3,353,760 38,500 308,288,840 993,570 124,142 59,130 35,378,009

21,600 82,004,890 -5,200 5,100 -17,924,787

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE 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

20.1 34.9 1.41 0.465 0.042 11.82 4.88 11.66 0.07 100.2 9.09 8.68 6.7 2.4 15.7 1,730 6 21.9 4.46 2.62 108 13.9 8.33 0.14 1.37 3.17 15.9 3.9 1.15 22.5 4.47 8.6 3.75 18.78 2.98 10.9 2.77 8.9 110 7.3 1,412 1.28 0.355 50.5 94.2 5.45 3.19 1.51 2.7 4.05 0.99 8.48

21.8 35.2 1.43 0.465 0.044 11.82 5.4 11.78 0.071 100.3 9.09 8.68 6.7 2.46 16.3 1,745 6.04 22 4.57 2.63 111 14.88 8.34 0.141 1.4 3.18 15.9 3.92 1.19 23.2 4.57 9.1 3.76 18.78 2.99 10.96 2.8 8.9 110.5 7.4 1,475 1.33 0.36 54 97.7 5.45 3.21 1.54 2.72 4.2 0.99 8.6

20 34.6 1.41 0.455 0.041 11.82 4.88 11.02 0.07 98.8 8.8 8.52 6.69 2.3 15.7 1,686 5.96 20.85 4.35 2.62 108 13.54 8.33 0.139 1.37 3.17 15.7 3.8 1.13 22.5 4.42 8.59 3.7 18.2 2.9 10.9 2.77 8.9 105.6 7.2 1,384 1.28 0.355 50.5 94.2 5.44 3.15 1.5 2.61 4.05 0.96 8.41

SERVICES 21.8 34.9 1.43 0.455 0.043 11.82 5.4 11.06 0.071 98.8 8.8 8.52 6.69 2.3 16 1,690 6 21.9 4.57 2.63 110.5 14.6 8.33 0.14 1.39 3.18 15.7 3.91 1.16 23 4.45 8.66 3.71 18.2 2.96 10.92 2.8 8.9 110 7.23 1,419 1.3 0.36 53.95 95 5.44 3.15 1.52 2.68 4.09 0.98 8.52

733,900 161,800 17,000 3,150,000 8,300,000 100 8,100 20,547,100 9,110,000 419,950 15,000 1,036,500 141,100 93,000 44,600 56,065 275,200 90,700 2,699,000 15,000 899,190 44,200 122,000 3,410,000 437,000 27,000 21,200 457,000 374,000 3,059,700 120,000 17,044,100 1,125,000 14,400 2,690,000 5,100 15,000 100 2,138,830 2,515,000 232,965 4,579,000 50,000 4,550,440 525,100 36,200 404,000 2,006,000 695,000 2,556,000 2,215,000 6,790,600

15,444,330 5,651,515 24,150 1,440,400 356,600 1,182 39,580 233,372,104 638,470 41,928,695 132,497 8,895,308 945,226 216,460 715,224 95,443,045 1,653,502 1,962,845 12,118,550 39,320 99,033,359 637,230 1,016,680 476,960 606,080 85,610 333,968 1,765,470 431,850 70,135,280 536,560 149,991,842 4,198,960 264,078 7,930,870 55,696 41,730 890 235,248,600 18,171,807 328,039,965 5,996,520 17,850 242,056,682 50,098,331 197,064 1,281,300 3,042,970 1,864,940 10,567,340 2,160,080 58,026,874

-94,410.00 5,050,028 9,019,327 1,669,964 -365,800 3,445,375 53,950 3,977,521 -833 39,300 47,400 -369,180 -508,595 60,035,329.00 373,140 2,930 -14,318,008 -1,446,110 53,032,830 -1,750,770 138,909,014.50 -16,610,572.50 171,060 895,950 31,950 55,860 684,386

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

0.0022 1.55 5 14.78 1.74 1.74 1.6 0.34 7.12 2.63 0.205 0.152 0.155 0.0094 1.7 6.5 1.46 0.465 0.91 0.012 0.012 0.012 2.08 6.35 7.95 36.35

0.0023 1.58 5 14.78 1.74 1.74 1.6 0.34 7.23 2.65 0.205 0.153 0.155 0.0094 1.75 6.73 1.46 0.465 0.92 0.012 0.013 0.012 2.11 6.4 7.96 36.8

0.0022 1.55 4.9 14.78 1.74 1.74 1.59 0.33 7.1 2.59 0.204 0.151 0.154 0.0094 1.7 6.5 1.4 0.465 0.91 0.011 0.012 0.011 2.08 6.33 7.89 36.15

MINING & OIL 0.0022 89,000,000 1.56 1,925,000 5 133,300 14.78 100 1.74 20,000 1.74 6,000 1.59 532,000 0.33 450,000 7.23 4,300 2.61 1,769,000 0.204 20,000 0.152 3,120,000 0.155 810,000 0.0094 17,000,000 1.73 84,000 6.68 3,154,800 1.45 135,000 0.465 10,000 0.91 38,000 0.011 8,500,000 0.013 2,000,000 0.012 121,400,000 2.1 9,000 6.4 1,138,500 7.9 1,251,200 36.55 1,818,400

200,900 3,002,400 663,316 1,478 34,800 10,440 847,320 149,000 30,577 4,614,770 4,090 473,080 125,390 159,800 144,920 20,984,160 191,700 4,650 34,690 101,600 24,100 1,441,300 18,900 7,243,038 9,906,452 66,239,420

5,240 2,257,882 -2,400 -63,454 569,820 4,557,160

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

35 512 105 109 110.5 525 5.7 1,020 102 1.05 108.8 103.7 2.01 76.5 80.1 76 78.7 77.5 78.7 77.9

35 516 105 109 110.5 525 5.79 1,020 102 1.06 108.8 103.7 2.07 76.5 80.1 76.05 78.7 77.5 79.35 77.9

34.4 512 104 108 110.5 525 5.7 1,020 102 1.05 108.8 103.7 2.01 75 80.1 75.75 78.65 77.5 78.7 77.8

34.5 512 104 108 110.5 525 5.75 1,020 102 1.06 108.8 103.7 2.07 75.5 80.1 75.75 78.65 77.5 79.35 77.85

3,108,160 435,410 151,244 16,210 1,105 21,000 3,366,018 51,000 1,429,020 46,260 27,200 103,700 10,270 2,037,833 1,041,300 2,941,950 1,573,200 81,375 1,572,565 3,871,120

-1,024,205.00 20,480 -3,111,128 -1,506,258 -

LR WARRANT

2.49

2.49

2.39

WARRANTS 2.39 268,000

643,090

28,800

21,452,312 2,810 211,810 7,485,100

199,220 3,450 705,800

4,406,062

-

66,027 152,900

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 6.06 1.03 12.5 2.29 0.88 46.4 4.03 4.71 5.73 6.1 0.485 1.18 0.219 0.435 41 0.64 1.9 1.41 0.79 5.26 0.365 0.345 0.57 5.3 21.2

860,400 1,305,000 14,700 149,000 479,000 14,713,900 9,178,000 1,721,000 9,200 1,200 2,070,000 557,000 3,350,000 190,000 664,600 2,060,000 2,655,000 2,030,000 539,000 18,092,900 20,610,000 4,900,000 4,488,000 1,790,400 4,742,600

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

11.16 2.81 3.49 5

11.46 2.81 3.5 5.16

10.74 2.81 3.42 4.96

FIRST METRO ETF

133.4

134.4

132.9

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.2 10.16

TRADING SUMMARY

10.2 10.26

SHARES

FINANCIAL

25,957,426

INDUSTRIAL

101,991,283

HOLDING FIRMS

83,152,685

PROPERTY

116,351,955

SERVICES

123,324,459

MINING & OIL

255,062,234

GRAND TOTAL

709,371,110

10.1 10.16

10.8 2.81 3.45 5.05

SME

89,800 850 1,450 150 10 40 584,000 50 14,010 44,000 250 1,000 5,000 26,950 13,000 38,800 20,000 1,050 19,900 49,700

1,950,300 1,000 61,000 1,477,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 134.4 33,060 DDS

10.1 10.26

6,500 15,000

VALUE 2,292.52 (up) 50.32 1,179,455,082.95 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,664.14 (up) 135.14 1,892,817,599.94 HOLDING FIRMS 9,130.42 (up) 154.98 1,818,065,207.16 PROPERTY 4,137.94 (up) 96.97 SERVICES 1,613.91 (up) 13.18 1,444,238,670.67 MINING & OIL 11,609.99 (up) 116.55 1,871,214,414.18 PSEI 8,923.72 (up) 178.60 116,680,132.512 All Shares Index 5,138.63 (up) 72.86 8,356,072,022.03 Gainers: 118; Losers: 93; Unchanged: 47; Total: 258

ants with Goldilocks. The mall operator, through its point-of-sale system, has access to sales records of tenants.

“Every mall goer knows that location is important, while every businessman knows that data informs business strategy. In this transaction, what we want is fair opportunities for big and small players,” Balisacan said.

In a voluntary commitment approved by the commission in a decision issued on December 29, 2017, SM Prime Holdings Inc. vowed to give Goldilocks’ competitors a fair shake in their lease at all times.

It also committed data protection with an assurance it would not give Goldilocks access to information on competing mall tenants, including sales data captured by the POS system of SM Prime tenants, whether referring to consolidated sales, product category level or stock keeping unit level information, such as prices or quantities sold.

Maintaining the “information firewall” between SM Prime and SM Retail/ Goldilocks is aimed at ensuring that SM Retail/ Goldilocks will not be able to use sales data or information to their advantage.

“The Commission appreciates SM’s move to make these voluntary undertakings–proof that PCC and the business community can work together to promote a culture of competition,” Balisacan said.

With AFP

Aboitiz unit streamlines ownerships

By Alena Mae S. Flores THERMA Power Inc., a unit of Aboitiz Power Corp., is streamlining its share ownership structure in GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd. Co. and GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. for “simplicity.”

Aboitiz Power said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange the restructuring involved the transfer of direct ownership in GNPower-Mariveles and GNPower-Dinginin from the offshore subsidiaries of Therma Power to Therma Power and the eventual dissolution and liquidation of the offshore intermediary subsidiaries that own the GNPower-Mariveles and GNPower-Dinginin shares.

“As a result TPI will directly own 66.01 percent partnership interest in GNPower-Mariveles and 50 perceht partnership interest in GNPower-Dinginin,” it said.

Aboitiz Power president Antonio Moraza said the move to streamline the ownership structure was for “simplicity purposes.”

GNPower Mariveles is a partnership among Therma Mariveles Holdings Inc. and Therma Mariveles Camaya B.V., both Aboitiz Power subsidiaries, and Mariveles Coal Project GP Corp., Power Partners Ltd. Co. and AC Energy Holdings Inc.’s affiliates Arlington Mariveles Philippines GP Corp., and Arlington Mariveles Netherlands Holdings B.V. GNPower Mariveles owns the 690-megawatt coalfired power plant located at Mariveles, Bataan.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018

B3

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

Bats’ brains boil in heatwave

LANTERN FESTIVAL. Visitors look at giant lanterns installed in the Foucaud Park in Gaillac, southwestern France, on the occasion of the Lantern Festival on January 8, 2018. Thirty-six paintings and nearly five hundred monumental silk sculptures are exhibited in Gaillac from December 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018. In China the traditional Lantern Festival marks the end of celebrations for the Chinese Lunar New Year period. AFP

SYDNEY―hundreds of bats have died in sweltering conditions in Australia, with many dropping from their perches as the scorching temperatures “fried their brains”, wildlife officials said Tuesday.

A record-breaking heatwave saw the mercury rise to 45 Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in Sydney’s western suburb of Campbelltown on Sunday where hundreds, if not thousands, of the animals fell from trees after succumbing to the heat.

“They basically boil,” Campbelltown flying fox colony manager Kate Ryan

told the local Camden Advertiser.

“It affects their brain― their brain just fries and they become incoherent. It would be like standing in the middle of a sandpit with no shade.”

The flying fox, Australia’s largest bat, is listed as a “vulnerable” species nationally with its survival ranked as a “critical priority” under local laws.

Sydney recorded its hottest day since 1939 on Sunday when the suburb of Penrith reached 47.3 Celsius.

New South Wales Wildlife Information, Rescue

and Education Service (WIRES) said the loss of bats to the brutal conditions could run into the thousands.

Rescuers were able to save the lives of more than a hundred of the animals, but many scattered across the ground perished and others died still clinging to trees.

“In extremely trying conditions volunteers worked tirelessly to provide subcutaneous fluids to the pups that could be reached and many lives were saved but sadly many were lost too,” WIRES said on Facebook.

AFP

Tough 2018 start for Venezuelans

C

ARACAS―Luis Briceno built up a small bottle branding business over the last 25 years but in the maelstrom of Venezuela’s economic crisis he and many like him are facing closure.

“This New Year is criminal,” he said, reflecting the anguish of millions of Venezuelans facing acute shortages sparked by falling oil prices, political unrest and corruption.

Socialist President Nicolas Maduro last week decreed a 40-percent increase in the minimum wage to try to contain the crisis, after food protests broke out in several cities.

But Briceno believes it will only complicate things for his and other small businesses.

“It seems criminal, because ask the workers themselves if they want the government to increase the minimum wage and they say no, because the next day everything increases.”

Although he tries to avoid thinking about it, the 70-year-old business-

man knows that the next few months will be crucial for his small firm, which is already battling a shortage of supplies and a hyperinflationary spiral that the government said reached 2,616 percent by the end of December.

To make matters worse, two of his three remaining employees are planning to join the lines of young emigrants fleeing the crisis. Not long ago, his firm used to employ 10.

In the business district of the capital, 53-year-old housewife Raquel Benarroch said she was saddened by the closure of scores of businesses that “will never open again.”

“Before, we saw the bottom of the abyss, now we see things much blacker than that.”

Despite Maduro’s announcement of a minimum wage increase, most Venezuelans will still earn only about $7 a month in salary and food vouchers, based on the commonly used black market exchange rate.

Bricelo said he pays above minimum wage to his employees, but he now has to increase the food voucher quotient, which represents 69 percent of the total wage. His costs will rise, and so will costs all along the chain of production, he said.

The government says 13 million Venezuelan workers earn the minimum wage or receive the vouchers, out of a workforce of 19.5 million.

Ever-rising inflation means the basic income barely buys a basket of staples like a kilo of meat, 30 eggs, a kilo of sugar and a kilo of onions.

“Every time you go shopping you buy less and your budget is limited to food,” 50-year-old tourism employee David Ascanio told AFP as he shopped in a Caracas market.

On Saturday, the government forced more than 200 supermarkets in the capital to lower prices, causing

Hong Kong activists facing new charges HONG KONG―The founders of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement that sparked mass rallies in 2014 appeared in court Tuesday in the latest case brought against activists.

The nine defendants face public nuisance charges related to the Umbrella Movement demonstrations, which shut down several major roads in the semi-autonomous Chinese city for 79 days.

Hong Kong’s government has brought a raft of protestrelated cases against democracy campaigners in the past few months. Supporters of the activists see them as political prosecutions under pressure from an increasingly assertive China.

The most high-profile case so far saw the jailing of leading student activists including Joshua Wong.

The founders of the protest campaign known as Occupy Central with Love and Peace, Benny Tai, Chan Kin-man and Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, were among the nine who appeared Tuesday.

Their campaign galvanized momentum behind the idea of a mass protest in the heart of Hong Kong to put pressure on Beijing and the local government to introduce democratic reforms.

After student groups joined the campaign and po-

lice fired tear gas to disperse protesters, it exploded into the Umbrella Movement.

Defense lawyers at a pretrial review Tuesday questioned why the three Occupy founders faced separate charges of conspiracy to commit public nuisance, incitement to commit public nuisance and incitement to incite public nuisance.

Lawyer Gerard McCoy told the court it was “prosecution overload... unnecessarily and artificially bringing charges to increase pressure on the defendants”.

He said a more appropriate charge would be unauthorized assembly, which carries a lesser sentence.

Public nuisance charges carry a maximum sentence of seven years.

The other six defendants, including serving pro-democracy lawmaker Tanya Chan, face either one or two public nuisance charges.

Prosecutor David Leung said the offenses were “separate and distinct” and the prosecution would not change its position.

Other leading pro-democracy campaigners were in the packed court to support the defendants.

Dozens of supporters outside shouted “Shame on political prosecution!” and “The Umbrella Movement is innocent!” AFP

huge lines to form outside as Venezuelans jumped at the chance to stretch their meagre incomes.

Experts say wage increases are needed to cope with hyperinflation, but they are useless without other government measures, such as reducing liquidity.

Monetary liquidity increased 1,100 percent in 2017, according to the analysts Rendivalores.

“The problem is not the pill that you take, but the one your are not taking,” said economist Luis Vicente Leon, adding that the government needed to free up and rationalize the economy and

promote private enterprise.

The government said the increases are necessary to counter the runaway inflation, which it has long insisted is part of an “economic war” aimed at overthrowing Maduro.

Falling oil prices―in a country where oil contributes 96 percent of state income―political unrest, and corruption have decimated the country’s economy under Maduro, leading to chronic food and medicine shortages.

The Fedecamaras employers’ union says industry is working at 30 percent of capacity due to state controls and expropriations. AFP

Salvadorans to get deadline to leave US

BRUSHES ON WHEELS. A Sri Lankan brush vendor drives his electric tricycle at the Cinnamon Gardens diplomatic quarter in Colorado on January 9, 2018. AFP

WASHINGTON―The US government announced Monday the end of a special protected status for about 200,000 Salvadoran immigrants, a move that threatens with deportation tens of thousands of well-established families with children born in the United States.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced the end of the “temporary protected status” (TPS) granted to Salvadorans already in the United States in 2001, when two major earthquakes rocked the Central American country.

They were given 18 months to leave or be deported, which officials said is enough time for a legislative solution to be crafted by Congress to allow them to stay.

“Only Congress can legislate a permanent solution addressing the lack of an enduring lawful immigration status of those currently protected by TPS,” said the Department of Homeland Security.

Part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration by President Donald Trump, the move comes after 59,000 longtime resident Haitians and 5,300 Nicaraguans were stripped of similar protections late last year, after having been allowed to set deep roots inside the United States for decades.

Democrats in Congress are also fighting to protect the right to stay inside the US of 690,000 young immigrants known as “Dreamers,” people who arrived in the country as children.

Trump has said he will back a compromise on the Dreamers if Congress budgets $18 billion to build an anti-immigrant wall along the border with Mexico.

Canada said it wanted to “make sure we’re ready” for an influx of Salvadorans, in an effort to prevent the kind of massive flooding of the border that took place after the US ended protections for Haitians.

Many, if not most, of those shielded by TPS had originally entered the country illegally or overstayed visas, but the program had effectively allowed them to settle down without the constant fear of deportation.

Previous governments rolled over the protected status with little debate, but Trump has pursued a tougher “law and order” approach to the issue.

For TPS beneficiaries, the decision was a thunderbolt.

“My life is here,” said Minda Hernandez, a 48-year-old housekeeper from Long Island who fled conflict in El Salvador 20 years ago -- leaving a oneyear-old child behind. AFP

Oprah ignites speculation she will run for president NEW YORK―Could Oprah Winfrey run for president and beat Donald Trump?

The United States was ablaze Monday with speculation that the billionaire talk show queen might be nurturing White House ambitions after an impassioned Golden Globes speech.

Winfrey had barely heralded a “new day” following a sexual harassment watershed, before calls snowballed for one of America’s most famous women, a selfmade tycoon born into

poverty, to run for the highest office in the free world.

H o l l y w o o d ’s loathing of Trump and the Democrats’ bafflement that a crass-talking reality star with no previous government experience could win the presidency have fueled talk of, well, why not another television star, only one with the “right” politics?

Twitter ignited, D e m o c r a t s championed her as superior to Trump and even Republicans

admitted she was a formidable opponent to a reality star president, who himself named Winfrey as his pick for vice president in an interview 20 years ago.

The White House even waded in, saying Trump would “welcome the challenge, whether it be Oprah Winfrey or anybody else,” when a spokesman was grilled aboard Air Force One. The only fly in the ointment? Winfrey’s denial.

“I don’t, I don’t,”

she reportedly said backstage at the Globes when asked if she planned to run.

“There’ll be no running for office of any kind for me,” she told CBS in October.

But fevered speculation only escalated. “Oprah for president? She’s got my vote,” tweeted pop superstar Lady Gaga.

CNN quoted two anonymous “close friends” as saying Winfrey was “actively thinking” about a presidential run. Her longtime partner suggested that she

could be persuaded.

“It’s up to the people,” Stedman Graham was quoted as telling the Los Angeles Times. “She would absolutely do it.” AFP ERRATUM In the Notice of Extrajudicial Sale of Real Property under Act 3135 (As Amended) re: RTC-QC, PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Mortgagee, vs. SPS. DONNY DEL PRADO AND IVY E. DEL PRADO rep by LILIA DEL PRADO as Attorney-In-Fact, Mortgagor/s published on Oct. 16, 23 & 30, 2017 the CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. N-004-2014027187 Registry of Deeds-Quezon City should have read as: CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 004-2014027187 Registry of Deeds-Quezon City Our apology.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

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wednesday, january 10, 2018

LocaL government units

CITY SISTERHOOD. The City of Parañaque and the City of Carson, California USA recently sealed a sisterhood agreement to foster understanding, unity and goodwill at the International Sculpture Garden in Carson. The memorandum of understanding was signed by Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez (second from left) and Carson City Mayor Albert Robles (left) during the celebration of the 121st anniversary of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. The ceremony came in time for Carson’s 50th cityhood anniversary and Parañaque’s 20th. Signing as witnesses were Olivarez’s wife Janet, Parañaque Councilor Marvin Santos (right) and Carson City Councilor Elito Santarina (not in photo).

Kalinga gets most out of road projects

By Dexter A. See TABUK CITY, Kalinga— The province of Kalinga has been named the best implementer of the Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces in the Cordillera region.

“At this time, Kalinga is the best in so far as the implementation of the CMGP,” Department of the Interior and Local Government Cordillera Regional Director Marlo Iringan said during the yearend Program Implementation Review.

Highlights of this year’s PIR include site visit to the different road projects and learning the best practices of Kalinga in implementing road projects.

Speaking before attending local chief executives, DILG provincial and City directors, and members of Local Road Management Teams of the seven provinces and lone city of Cordillera, Iringan praised the pace of Kalinga’s implementation.

“Kalinga received P88 million [in additional funding] owing to its completion rate,” he noted.

For 2015 and 2016, the province received over P246 million to build more than 20 kilometers of provincial roads under the CMGP and its predecessor KALSADA program.

The Bulanao-LayaBalong Provincial Road was turned over to beneficiaries April this year while the CabaruanSucbot Provincial Road and the Cabaritan-Dugpa Provincial Road are under way.

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya―The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Cagayan Valley has opened scholarship slots for secondary students this year.

Dr. Ronaldo Libunao, BFAR regional scholarship coordinator, said 23 slots have been opened under their Fisheries Industry Leaders Grant and Fisherfolk Children Educational Grant.

The FILG is open to senior high school gradu-

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista wants to construct a 5.3-hectare state-ofthe-art modern sports arena within the Amoranto Sports Complex.

He instructed city engineers to upgrade the sports complex located at 140 Don A. Roces Avenue.

The mayor also vowed to continuously support sports programs to enhance the skills and talent of the youth, and to promote a drug-free and productive community as well.

Moreover, Bautista ordered the development of a 34-hectare property of the Piedad Estate in Capitol Hills into a modern green recreation park and sports complex.

He vowed to deliver more infrastructure projects in 2018, such as modern sports facilities.

Meanwhile, Bautista congratulated the 15-man Quezon City Stars Basketball Team for bagging the championship in the north division under the men’s senior category of the 1st Metro Basketball Tournament 2017.

The Quezon City Stars Basketball Team is composed of city residents from 16 to 24 years old with head coach John Paul Ycasiano.

SBMA bans 3 brokers

By Butch Gunio

S

UBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has blacklisted three customs brokers for their involvement in an attempted smuggling of expensive liquor worth around P40 million.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said this was the initial action of the agency in connection with the smuggling attempt that was foiled by the SBMA Law Enforcement Department just before Christmas.

The SBMA Seaport De-

partment identified the blacklisted brokers as Ellen Baylon, an authorized representative of the brokerage firm Alava Alliance Inc.; John Louie Pabico, a processor of Phil-Hohan International Corp.; and Cherry Springael, a freelance pro-

cessor and authorized representative of Alava Alliance.

“These persons have been banned from doing business with the SBMA Seaport, and the companies they represented have been placed on indefinite suspension pending the final results of investigation by the Bureau of Customs,” Eisma added.

She added that the BOC, which received custody of the smuggled items from the SBMA, will also file appropriate criminal charges against the brokers for violation of the Customs and Tariff

Act, as well as Republic Act 7227, or the Bases Conversion and Development Act. “Let this serve as a warning that Subic authorities won’t tolerate illegal activities in the Freeport, and we will apply the full measure of the law in cases like this,” Eisma added.

The SBMA earlier said its law enforcement operatives seized a total of 1,321 boxes of liquor from a closed van that was about to leave the Freeport on Dec. 24, and from a 40-footer container van parked at the Subic Seaport Terminal on Dec. 28.

The seized contraband included 54 bottles of Remy Martin Louis XIII, which sells as much as P170,000 per bottle, and eight boxes of Remy Martin Centaure De Diamant, which fetches P60,000 per bottle.

The SBMA police began the operation on Christmas Eve after a tipster informed them that a closed van and a Nissan Patrol SUV would attempt to smuggle contraband from the Freeport.

Subsequently, SBMA-LED operatives posted along the Argonaut Highway leading

to Subic’s sea ports monitored the vehicles and tailed them to the 14th Street Gate where they were stopped by sentries.

The Fuso van, bearing File No. 036404 of BCR Trucking, was found to contain 275 boxes of Remy Martin Cognac Champagne, 448 boxes of Martini, 66 boxes of Remy Martin XO, 17 boxes of Remy Martin Champagne, 8 boxes of Remy Martin Louis XIII, 8 boxes of Remy Martin Centaure De Diamant, 7 boxes of Remy Martin Club, and 7 boxes of Remy Martin.

Underserved schools gain digital learning tools

STRIKE TECH. The Department of Information and Communications Technology recently reserved five slots of Technology for Education, Employment, Entrepreneurs, and Economic Development to the City of Bacoor’s public schools. “Technology plays a vital role in our lives, especially nowadays. But we need to use it responsibly,” says Rep. Strike Revilla (right). The Tech4ED is a DICT project that helps improve communication of Filipinos.

‘Wing walking’ teams added to balloon fiesta

By Romeo Dizon CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga―A high-flying entertainment team from Europe was included in this year’s 22nd Philippine International Hot Air Ballon Festival scheduled here on Feb. 8 to 11, 2018.

Joy Roa, president of the PIHABF, said the exhibi-

tion will be performed by a “wing walking” team from the United Kingdom.

“The other members of world wing walking teams who have 30 years experience in air acrobats come from Germany, Switherland, USA, The Netherlands and Asian countries,” Roa said.

According to Roa, the teams will perform breath-

CV BFAR opens scholarship slots

By Ben Moses Ebreo

Herbert orders Amoranto sports stadium upgrade

ate or graduating students not more than 25 years of age, have not earned any units in college, and must belong to the top 10 rank in the graduating class.

“The applicant must also be a resident of a municipality in Cagayan Valley, for at least six months and should also be of good moral character,” Libunao said.

He added that the FCEG is open to any senior high school graduate or graduating student whose parent or guardian is a registered fisherfolk.

“For senior high school graduate applicants, general weighted average shall not be lower than 80 percent. For graduating students, GWA of the last 3 semesters must be 80 percent,” Libunao added.

Scholarship coverage, he said includes free matriculation and related school fees, monthly stipend of P4,000, OJT support of P3,000, book allowance of P2,000 per semester, thesis support of P7,000 and graduation support of P1,500.

ing sequences of acrobatics maneuvers and handstands while strapped on top of the wings of the team flying Boeing Stearman biplanes.

The world famous Aero Super Batics team exhibition is the first in the Philippines.

During a signing of Memorandum of Agreement with Clark Development Corp. president and CEO Noel

Manankil, Roa said this year’s participants reached a total 25 coming from Europe, North America and Asia Pacific countries, including the Philippines.

Roa said about eight participants have unique shape, sizes and colors to their balloons, while the others will be also colorful and attractive to the audiences.

IT MAY be hard to believe, but there are still places in the country where children have never seen a light bulb, much more a mobile phone.

Without digital tools and connectivity, they do not have access to the world of knowledge available to most people.

But with the help of kind-hearted individuals, the private sector, and public agencies, several public schools all over the Philippines—many from places without electricity—received digital learning packages this year that will make learning more fun and effective for students.

These come in the form of a TechnoCart and School-in-a-Bag, both created by PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications.

The TechnoCart, which can be wheeled from one room to the next, contains 20 tablets, a projector, a laptop-tablet, and a pocket Wi-Fi with starter load.

The tablets and laptops are preloaded with fun educational content.

Meanwhile, the Schoolin-a-Bag is a waterproof backpack that can be

brought to far-flung areas like islands and mountains that have no electricity.

It has a solar panel along with digital tools and learning content. Both the TechnoCart and School-ina-Bag come with training sessions for teachers and yearlong monitoring.

Smart, organizations, and individuals have sponsored these packages and brought them to underserved schools in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, including those catering to indigenous people. Units have also been donated to the Department of Education, for use in the Alternative Learning System.

One team of PLDT and Smart employees trekked for six hours through muddy trails and difficult slopes to bring a Schoolin-a-Bag to the off-grip mountaintop Kibungan municipality in Benguet.

Former Urbandub frontman Gabby Alipe and his record label MCA Music also sponsored a School-in-a-Bag and traveled all the way to Palawan to deliver it to an island school.

NO-OIL GENERATOR.

Inventor Joel Raraz, 53, of Barangay San Antonio, San Pedro City, Laguna shows off his invention, a power generator that doesn’t use oil or other petroleum products, to generate a 220-volt current, ideal for houses and small businesses.

Roy Tomandao

I

T may be winter in the northern hemisphere, but summer (or dry season) beckons in the Philippines and other Southeast asian nations.

Life fashion & beauty

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

wednesday, januaRy 10, 2018

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Luxury designer Ermenigildo Zegna has allowed us to take a peek at his summer collection.

Luxury Leisurewear

The Luxury Leisurewear collection is characterized by its innovative designs and ample use of luxurious yarn blends, fine leathers, and elegant details. By pairing precious cashmere knitwear and drawstring pants with luxurious leather outerwear and travel accessories, ermenegildo Zegna has created a new style concept that merges understated elegance and leisurewear. The sophisticated color palette, based on light grey and Vicuna with alternating navy blue and black accents, further complements the progressive attitude and exquisite drape.

The concept of designing intensely comfortable, elegant clothing was first seen in miniature at the Winter 2017 show as an element of Alessandro Sartori’s dialog between exquisite tailoring and the fast-paced needs of urban globetrotters. Now, for Spring/Summer 2018 the Luxury Leisurewear collection has come into its own with a selection of luxurious clothing and accessories that are comfortable, ultra-modern, and suitable for men of all ages. ermenegildo Zegna introduces “movement” a solo dance by Benjamin Millepied to celebrate the new Luxury Leisurewear collection, an entire selection of sophisticatedly versatile clothing designed to ensure complete freedom of movement.

The studied mix of hybrid garments with indulgently informal lines and a decidedly fresh approach to dressing represents the perfect encounter between easy comfort and contemporary masculine style.

To demonstrate the degree of unrestricted liberty, choreographer and dancer millepied, dressed exclusively in ermenegildo Zegna Luxury Leisurewear, performs “movement”, a dynamic and passionate solo dance piece in which his clothing perfectly echoes his distinctively masculine body language.

Chocolate brown leather backpack from the Maserati Capsule Collection

TRAVEL IN STYLE. Stylish globetrotters can explore the world wearing these sophisticated pieces, including luxurious personal leather bags and accessories, from Ermenegildo Zegna’s Maserati Capsule Collection.

the look of summer by

ermegildo Zegna Maserati Capsule Collection

The new maserati Capsule Collection inspired by the GranLusso trim package featuring a dedicated ermenegildo Zegna fabric is now available for Quattroporte, Ghibli, and Levante models. The sophisticated collection of travel-oriented clothing in microfiber fabrics with micro nubuck details, together with the luxurious personal leather bags and accessories, are tangible representations of the craftsmanship and elegance that characterize the two made in Italy brands. The collection also demonstrates another concrete result of the multi-year partnership that was inaugurated in early 2013.

The dual color, dual material composition of the leather and exclusive anthracite silk trim package designed by ermenegildo Zegna for maserati is reflected in the strong presence of premium leather accessories, including a special edition

trolley, two different backpacks and special edition Triple Stitch sneakers. Premium leather is also featured on the hybrid glasses case, travel wallet and other small leather goods, reflecting the understated luxury of the brands.

The capsule collection is characterized by its refined use of leather and micro nubuck paired with high-performance hybrid and quilted outerwear in chocolate brown and grey mélange. Other important pieces in the collection include the chocolate brown leather trolley, whose memory foam structure protects it from impact, leather backpacks, premium leather footwear, and premium leather driving and travel accessories, together with denim jeans, polo shirts in pure cotton jersey with the maserati trident em-

broidered on the chest, and a silk jacquard scarf featuring the maserati logo.

Ermenegildo Zegna Beachwear

ermenegildo Zegna expands its comprehensive wardrobe by launching the new ermenegildo Zegna Beachwear collection. a first for the global luxury brand, the inaugural collection of swimwear, beach attire and accessories, which is characterized by a fresh, summery Italian allure, was presented at Pitti Immagine Uomo in a dedicated area of the fair.

“In my new vision of the ermenegildo Zegna Style, I could have not think about the perfect wardrobe without a Beachwear Collection, where the rere search in Innovative materials like the ‘microlite’ or ‘Ultralight Seer Seersucker’ meets the new Zegna aesthetic,” said Sartori.

Turn to C2

Joseph in style

The idealized masculine, the idealized feminine in British brand Joseph’s collection, each mirrors the other; a distorted reflection where clichés are twisted and magnified.

Typical signifiers of a masculine uniform—city man attire, military fatigues in camouflaging neutrals—contradict the overtly female caricatures of purity and provocation portrayed alongside the wardrobe as role play.

Nostalgic english tapestries, regal silhouettes and buttoned up details jar against plastics and glossy PVC. handmade garments with slipping hems, unraveling seams and trailing topstitching oppose the immaculate processes of technical manufacture. exaggerated collars and cuffs become markers of gender. Solid, sometimes stiff, fabrics—cotton, felt, canvas—reveal the slinkiness of heavy sateens, leotard jerseys and French laces.

With a symphony of classic styles rehashed and reinvented, Joseph will surely keep you ahead of the fashion pack this season.

Selected styles are available at Joseph at SM Aura Premier, and S Maison at the Conrad Hotel.

Get that high shine look in timeless classics done in glossy PVC

Joseph combines masculine elements and feminine details in its Autumn/Winter 2017collection

Life

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wednesday, january 10, 2018 isahred@gmail.com

Healthy Options’ gift boxes

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packed with beauty essentials

EgIN the year by sharing your blessings.

Aside from taking your pick from a bountiful array of gourmet treats, and decadent desserts, a wide assortment of naturally formulated beauty essentials are available at Healthy Options, the Philippines’ premium retail store chain specializing in all-natural and organic products. Customize your own gift boxes, or opt for stellar gifts carefully curated and pre-packaged by the one-stop shop for natural product finds.

Not to be missed out are skin pampering treats or travel beauty packs with natural, chemical-free ingredients for your loved ones and for yourself for a more radiant, fresh look this new year. Healthy Options has something that will leave your recipients smiling with gratitude.

Visit any Healthy Options branch to indulge and immerse yourself with great product finds. Shopping, after all, need not be stressful. Make your gift-buying spree a thoroughly delightful experience..

Healthy Options is more than just a healthy shopping destination for grocery items. gift sets inspired by clean and natural beauty include the Be Dazzling hair care set, Pure radiance skin care pack, and Shine On travel sets containing skin and hair care options formulated with nature’s potent ingre-

‘Pure Radiance’ pampering gift box comes with Andalou Body Lotion, Hand Cream, and Shower Gel

dients including argan oil and shea but- gift recipients’ gift cards in P500 and work and business partners an experiter. Shoppers can also customize their P1000 denominations. ence full of light. beauty essentials gifts with a more give your family members, friends, For more information on Healthy Oppersonal touch. Sure to light up your colleagues/staff members, VIPs at tions box selections, visit any Healthy

Blanc White is a six-step whitening and antiaging regimen

Whitening fusion from Diana Stalder

DIANA Stalder Face, Body, Skincare Center brings the premium whitening fusion, a combination of two powerful brands for fast and effective whitening.

Casmara Nacar Treatment is an imported brand from Spain. It is a skin lightening and illuminating treatment, which is suitable for all skin types, especially for skin with localized and/or diffused blemishes.

Blanc White is a full range of whitening and anti-aging system. It is a six-step, high quality beauty regimen packed with

a powerful combination of premium products that work together to deliver an antiaging and whitening benefit for a youthful-looking and radiant skin. It actively supports generation of new cells, helps stimulates collagen synthesis, enhances skin elasticity and firmness, and promotes healthier and fairer-looking skin.

Clients can avail of the Premium Whitening Fusion on discounted price for only P35,988 with a savings of P8,000 that they can consume within a year. Promo period is until Feb. 15.

The look...

From C1

Pelle Tessuta is the result of pioneering Ermenegildo Zegna research enabling craftsmen to weave extremely thin strips of nappa leather on special looms, thereby replicating the traditional way of weaving cloth. The exclusive manufacturing process extends the quality of Zegna’s textile heritage into the leather world, where the lightweight and highly versatile leather fabric has become a protagonist of the leading luxury brand’s collections.

The Asola moccasin back for another season is realized on elongated and elegant last with the reverse construction which requires a highly level of expertise; the upper of the shoe features a new designed band, with the cut of the buttonhole of a jacket, fixed by and hand-stitch on the side, available in Suede—Deep blue, green and dark brown; Lamb nappa—Deep blue and green, dark brown and light blue and brown suede.

The buttonhole Asola is an aesthetic and iconic detail that also functions as a useful pocket for tickets or credit cards.

This season features new additions, continental wallets, zip cases, billfolds and card cases. All in Nappa leather in shades of Light blue, Yellow, Opera red, Vicuna, Dark brown and Black.

Stores Specialists, Inc. distributes Ermegildo Zegna in the Philippines with stores at Greenbelt 4 and Rustans Makati.

Developed in partnership with ISA S.p.A, Ermenegildo Zegna Beachwear is stylish, cool and extremely comfortable. From boxer shorts and tailored swim trunks with their dedicated waterproof pochette, to polos, boat-neck shirts and towels, the offer blends performance and design with quality craftsmanship and a focus on subtle details. Lightweight and technicallyenhanced materials provide natural softness while ensuring maximum performance in the water or when enjoying the sun. Styles are sporty and chic, ranging from solid colors with contrasting hems to the prints and patterns that form the fil-rouge of the collection.

With its hand-drawn Biadera stripes and stylized flowers and geometric micro designs, the new Ermenegildo Zegna Beachwear collection reflects a contemporary summer masculinity typical of today’s Zegna man.

Leather accessories

This season the innovative Ermenegildo Zegna real leather “fabric” is featured in backpacks, holdalls, luggage, crossbodys and pouches. Available in shades of blue, vicuna, light brown, white and black with colored crossing threads.

Derma-E gift set includes Age-Defying Moisturizer with SPF 15, Hand Cream, Night Cream, Day Cream, and Eye Cream

Options store nationwide, check out the Healthy Options Facebook site for holiday updates, or log on to www.healthyoptions.com.ph.

Make the golden switch to unfrizz MOrE women are discovering how to unfrizz their hair and are loving what they are experiencing with Pantene’s gold standard in smoothing, Silky Smooth Care Shampoo and 3-Minute Miracle.

Silky smooth hair is every woman’s want but more often than not, frizz gets in the way. Frizz is an everyday hair problem that can be caused by styling, pollution, or other external factors. This is why Filipinas are always on the lookout for the right hair product to un-frizz their hair.

Thankfully, a growing number of Filipina women are making the golden switch.

Eager to share how she maintains silky smooth hair and frizz, actress Gabbi Garcia explained to friends and media why she has made the golden switch to all new Pantene Silky Smooth Care Shampoo and 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner during the exclusive Pantene media luncheon.

“Being in front of the camera almost every day means changing and experimenting on different hair styles! While this is a fun part of the job for me, it also means that my hair is overworked and exposed to damage causing frizz.

Like most Filipinas, on off cam days – all I want is hair that is smooth, falls naturally and beautifully without frizz,” said gabbi, Pantene’s first Filipina Ambassador to Asia.

The all NEW Pantene Silky Smooth Care Shampoo and 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner helped her achieve hair that is strong and beautiful. “I couldn’t have been happier with the results. Pantene Silky Smooth Care gives me 24-hour frizz-free hair that can withstand long days of taping and being out and about.”

With its one-of-a-kind moisturizing formulation, Pantene Silky Smooth Care Shampoo cleanses the hair and provides moisture up to 10x frizz protection. The Keratin Damage Blockers technology present in the shampoo locks in essential moisture and shuts out excess humidity, creating silky-smooth hair all day long.

Pantene Silky Smooth Care Shampoo is used best with Pantene Silky Smooth Care 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner, which repairs 3-months of damage in just 3 minutes and protects hair from the damage causing frizz from mechanical, chemical styling and even the environment. Pantene 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner evenly yet thinly wraps around the hair fiber creating an outer shield protection. It repels unwanted particles from depositing on the hair’s surface giving the hair more strength and makes sure to un-frizz the hair from root to tip. It also uses anti-oxidants called Histidine which gets inside the hair preventing any further damage. Its Pro-Vitamin ingredient called Panthenol, penetrates to fillin voids, further strengthening the hair.

Fortified hair from the inside is therefore made stronger.

Pantene Silky Smooth Care 3-Minute Miracle and Pantene Silky Smooth Care Shampoo

Making the golden switch

Pantene girls are also sharing their switch stories. Camille Co, Chinchin Obcena and Say Tioco shared that like most girls, they enjoy getting a new do every now and then. With constant hair coloring and bleaching at the salon it is important for them to use a product that protects their hair from being dry, dull, and frizzy.

Alodia Gosiengfiao, Rhea Bue and Pat Henson who often travel as part of their job believe the importance of using a product that gives them smooth and manageable hair. Whether it’s a trip to the beach that makes their hair exposed to the sun or a trip abroad where hair gets exposed to a whole new environment, these instances tend to cause one to have frizzy hair. Alodia shares how she’s made the big switch to Pantene Silky Smooth Care Shampoo and 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner. “With my recent travels, I really like how my hair can stay healthy and looking good with a product that I trust. Pantene Silky Smooth Care Shampoo keeps my long hair frizz free while Pantene’s 3-Minute Miracle deeply conditions and feels light on my hair, making me achieve smooth hair in a matter of minutes.”

VJ, Kim Cruz and actress, Jasmine Curtis, who are usually up and about all day with their shoots and tapings always want to make sure their hair is silky smooth 24/7 on and off camera.

Friends and co-influencers of Pantene Ambassadors are also making the golden switch to Pantene Silky Smooth Care. Yanna Cowper, Char Deocareza, Kyna Sy and Trish Ramos are just some women who have tried out Pantene Silky Smooth Care Shampoo and 3-Minute Miracle and are amazed with its results.

“The all new Pantene Silky Smooth Care Shampoo and 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner is a real miracle worker.

I just made the golden switch to Pantene and instantly I see and feel the difference. From my hair feeling dry and having strands sticking out, now it definitely feels smoother. I now know why even my closest friends Kim and gabbi love Pantene so much!” said Trish ramos.

Indeed, Filipinas deserve to have silky smooth hair every day which can only be achieved by Pantene’s gold standard in smoothing, Pantene Silky Smooth Care Shampoo and Conditioner.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018

Local cinema’s opening salvo

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SM Little Stars 2017 Grand Prize winners Gaea Mischa Salipot and Darren Andre Navarro

SM’s Little Stars IT WAS a shining night for Gaea Mischa Salipot and Darren Andre Navarro when they were named SM Little Stars 2017 during the Grand Finals at the Samsung Hall of SM Aura Premier.

Gaea Mischa, 7, who represented SM BF Paranaque, amazed the audience with her delightful performance from the animated film, Anastacia; while Darren Andre, also 7 representing SM City Cagayan de Oro, charmed the audience by singing “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” from The Lion King.

They bested over 28 finalists in the annual nationwide search for cute, adorable and talented kids, and as Grand Prize Winners, they each received amazing prizes. These included a brand- new Chevrolet Sail, P200,000 worth of cash and SM GC’s, Economy class round trip travel certificates with routing Manila USA-Manila for two via Philippine Airlines, Trip to China for two for five days and four nights, inclusive of round trip tickets, tour itinerary and hotel accommodations with breakfast, lunch and dinner.

They were also entitled to a four-year college scholarship grant from National University; and P15,000 worth of Gift Cards from Toy Kingdom.

Other shining stars: First Runner-Up Sinead Reese Canlas of SM City Consolacion , who sang and danced the Sound of Music theme ; Second Runner Jacey Jean Wills of SM Center Muntinlupa who touched the audience with her soulful rendition of “You Raise Me Up”; and Third Runner Up Jenesis Simpson from SM City Iloilo who was all high energy with her acrobatic gymnastic dance.

Hosted by TV Personality Andi Manzano, the distinguished board of judges included movie and TV director Mac Alejandre, television celebrity Regine Tolentino, beauty queen mentor Jonas Gaffud, businesswoman and blogger Princess Velasco, and the god of the dance floor, Zeus Collins. They chose the winners based on the following criteria: 40 percent for Star Quality, 20 percent for Personality and 40 percent for Talent.

TV director Mac Alejandre said, “If we will have kids as talented as these participants, our country will be a very beautiful place.”

One of the highlights of the program was the participation of the SM Little Stars winners from China who also showcased their talents during the event. They were SM City Xiamen’s Lin Jiahao and Dai Ziwen, SM City Jinjiang’s Cheng Hsiang-Hsueh and Huang Shicheng, SM City Chongqing’s Wu Yifan and Wang Xinyue, SM City Zibo’s Zhang Hongye and Zhai Xueying, SM City Chengdu’s Jin Tianyi and Hu Siqi, SM City Suzhou’s Xu Rongjian and Liu Bohan, and SM City Tianjin’s Mu Zi and Cui Yuhan.

The SM Little Stars pageant is one of the many exciting events of the SM Supermalls.

HE Metro Manila Film Festival is finally over after its successful twoweek run, but three films are making us feel as if the annual festival is extended until the end of the month.

Two commercial movies are playing on the same date and there’s another that will open after a week.

From the same writer and director of the surprise hit Kita Kita come Mr. and Mrs. Cruz, another romantic island movie set in an idyllic location in Palawan. Opening on Jan. 24, the movie sees the big screen team up of JC Santos and Ryza Cenon.

In this movie from Viva Entertainment, the onscreen couple plays two strangers who meet when they both travel to Palawan in an attempt to get rid of their personal situations. Gela (Cenon) is a firm believer in marriage while Raffy (Santos) wants nothing to do with it. Despite their different beliefs, they both spend their time together on the island and eventually discover their similarities.

Shot in stunning locations highlighting the beauty of the island province, it follows the tradition that This Thing Called Tadhana started and recently reinforced

by Siargao. It’s good to note that Mr. and Mrs. Cruz is making some good impression this early. It is a hit among netizens with its trailer hitting almost 5.5 million views on Facebook since its upload.

Opening on Jan. 17 is Star Cinema’s

New Binibining Pilipinas candidates known soon AS THE Philippines continues to cement its reputation as a powerhouse in international pageants, Binibining Pilipinas, the most prestigious beauty tilt in the country, is now searching for a new batch of queens who will carry on the Philippines’ incredible streak.

Last Monday was the last day for submitting applications and then interested applicants will then go through a rigorous screening process led by Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. Chairwoman Madam Stella Marquez Araneta, which will culminate on January 15.

The prestigious international titles up

Nelda Ibe, Miss Globe 2017 first runner up, and Elizabeth Clenci, Miss Grand International second runner up, are congratulated by Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. Chairwoman Madam Stella Marquez Araneta (center).

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, January 10, 2018

ACROSS 1 Expedite 6 Mix it up 10 Poor review 13 Ticket info 14 Chili con — 15 Prospector’s find 16 Computer-chip maker 17 Outlying community 18 Luau souvenir 19 Percolated 21 Slackening off 23 Dressing-down 26 Where Bryce Canyon is 27 Thunder god 30 Tarzan’s friends (2 wds.)

33 Lowest ebb 35 Economize 36 Robberies 38 Showy lilies 42 Wishes for 46 Works a cure 47 Murmured 50 Inventory wd.

51 Faculty honcho 52 Move out 54 Varied within certain limits 57 Corrected a manuscript 61 Arith. mean

62 Used a doormat 65 Video-game pioneer 66 Round veggie 67 Writer — Zola 68 Sir, in Mumbai 69 Do the wrong thing 70 Ridge of rock 71 Ladies of Paris DOWN 1 Weigh anchor 2 Knotty wood 3 This, in Tijuana 4 Astonishing 5 Metropolis of India 6 Jazz instrument 7 Capote nickname 8 About (2 wds.)

9 Melodious — McEntire 10 Courteous 11 Fight locales 12 Horse sound 14 Evergreens 20 Unit of work 22 Additional 24 Last mo.

25 Auricle 27 HBO alternative 28 Derisive snort 29 Shelley offering

opening salvo for 2018.

The comedy billed as Ang Dalawang Mrs Reyes relies heavily on the tandem of Judy Ann Santos and Angelica Panganiban who both play devoted wives to their cheating husbands who turn out to be gay in the story.

With their combined forces, they are out to ensure that their husbands don’t get what they took away from them -- a happy ending.

But if there’s one film hitting the theaters this month that I’m really excited about is Regal Entertainment’s Mama’s Girl, which will go head to head with Ang Dalawang Mrs Reyes.

My college professor, whom I remember for teaching us how to sell ideas in the most subtle way possible, is at the helm of Mama’s Girl.

The director, Connie Macatuno, is a writer and a TV director. She’s been in the business for more than 20 years now and is known for being the director of Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Paraiso (2012) starring Jessy Mendiola and Matteo Guidicelli. But the work that I can easily associate with Macatuno is the indie film Rome & Juliet. It is about two women (Mylene Dizon and Andrea del Rosario) who become enmeshed in a lesbian affair.

Though it’s hard to recall a film I saw more than a decade ago, Rome & Juliet left a lasting impression. It’s provocative and intelligent, with actors you would remember for the roles they played.

With Mama’s Girl, Macatuno teams up with screenwriter Gina Marissa Tagasa.

The film is a light drama about a single mom (Sylvia Sanchez) and her struggles to raise her only daughter (Sophia Andres).

But Macatuno isn’t the only reason why the film caught my fancy. Not only

31 Twitch 32 Memsahib’s servant 34 Motorist nos.

37 Maple syrup base 39 Youngster 40 Hirt and Gore 41 Compass dir.

43 Gun the engine 44 Firearms org.

45 Withdraw 47 Loom user 48 Jet garage

49 Water barrier 51 Arrange gracefully 53 Back-comb hair 55 Pitcher 56 Two nickels 58 Wonka’s creator 59 Huron neighbor 60 Claims 63 Slapstick missile 64 Folkloric being

for grabs at this year’s competition are Miss Universe Philippines, Binibining Pilipinas International, Binibining Pilipinas Grand International, Binibining Pilipinas Supranational, Binibining Pilipinas Globe and Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental.

Binibining Pilipinas has recently produced queens who have made the Philippines proud. In 2015, Pia Wurtzbach ended the country’s 43-year drought when she won the Miss Universe title. A year later, Kylie Verzosa bagged the country’s sixth Miss International crown.

Last year’s winners were not to be outdone either. Nelda Ibe finished first runner up at the Miss Globe competition held in Albania, while Elizabeth Clenci emerged second runner up at the Miss Grand International contest held in Vietnam. Rachel Peters landed in the Top 10 of the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, while Chanel Olive Thomas also scored a Top 10 finish and the Miss Friendship award at the Miss Supranational contest in Poland.

Binibining Pilipinas International Mariel De Leon, on the other hand, has a budding showbiz career, starring opposite Coco Martin in her film debut Ang Panday.

Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental Katarina Rodriguez is slated to compete in Egypt on January 25.

For more information on Binibining Pilipinas, visit www.bbpilipinas.com or visit the pageant’s official Facebook page.

JC Santos and Ryza Cenon team up in Viva's island romance, 'Mr. and Mrs. Cruz'

Sofia Andres and Sylvia Sanchez play mother and daughter in Regal Entertainment's 'Mama's Girl'

Judy Ann Santos and Angelica Panganiban join forces in Star Cinema's 'Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes'

the film is brave enough to be up against a bigger film, it makes me think whether I would recognize someone based on what she offers

on the table. Will it have the same lasting impression like her previous work? That’s something I need really need to find out.

Members of the cast of ABS- CBN's afternoon drama 'Pusong Ligaw' pose for a photo opportunity during the series' grand presscon

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018

Last two days of

‘PUSONG LIGAW’

F

OLLOWERS of the daytime series on ABS-CBN will miss it as Pusong Ligaw fades to black on Friday.

But the question is, will love be enough to lead lost hearts back to its rightful paths?

Hold on to the thrilling and must see finale of ABS-CBN’s hit afternoon series of Pusong Ligaw and find out what happens to the lives of Tessa (Beauty Gonzales), Marga (Bianca King), Caloy (Joem Bascon), Ira (Diego Loyzaga) and Vida (Sofia Andres).

Tessa and Caloy’s hunt for truth continues after it was revealed that Marga and Leon were allegedly the ones behind the death of Rafa and Tessa’s mother. Marga, however, decided to runaway from all the

accusations against her, making everyone more puzzled.

Upon hearing Tessa and Caloy’s conversation, Vida gets torn between keeping the truth to herself or revealing to Caloy and Tessa the truth about Jaime being the mastermind and how he only manipulated Marga and Leon for his evil schemes.

Ira, on the other hand, starts see the goodness in Tessa and slowly opens his heart to his biologocial his mother.

Will Ira finally forgive and accept Tessa? With Marga putting Tessa and Caloy’s life at risk, will there still be a room for forgiveness in Tessa’s heart for her old friend or will she end their friendship once and for all?

Pusong Ligaw airs after It’s Showtime on ABS-CBN and on ABSCBN HD (SkyCable ch 167). Catch up on past episodes via iWanTV or skyondeman.com.ph

Aga Muhlach in one nostalgic TVC REP Theater for Young Audiences also returns with a magical retelling of 'Rapunzel'

THEN AND NOW. Andres and Atasha with their mom Charlene in Jollibee's latest TVC (left photo); the Muhlach twins with Aga in a TVC shot more

than decade ago (right photo)

AGA Muhlach is one of the country’s most memorable actors—he has graced the silver and TV screens as a teenage matinee idol to a serious performer—and one of the most sought-after endorsers during his heyday.

He has been one of the most popular endorsers of Filipino fast-food titan Jollibee for over 25 years and churned out TV commercials for the brand that are now permanently part of Pinoy pop culture.

Aga has always been a vital member of the Jollibee family, all throughout his transformation as one of the country’s hottest bachelors to upstanding family man. In fact, his twins Atasha and Andres have even starred in several Jollibee commercials as young children!

This 2018, as Jollibee celebrates its 40th anniversary, Aga returns to the Jollibee

family with a new commercial for Jollibee Chickenjoy. In this latest ad, the whole Muhlach family—Aga, Charlene, and the now-teenage Atasha and Andres—head over to Jollibee for a time-honored family tradition: bonding over their favorite crispylicious, juicylicious, Chickenjoy.

Here we see candid and relatable moments—playful teasing, inside jokes, and even re-enactments of the iconic “Isa pa! Isa pa! Isa pang Chickenjoy!” ad—that all families, even celebrity ones like the Muhlachs, have enjoyed while sharing their favorite meal.

There are also several flashbacks of past Chickenjoy ads starring Aga and his family, which will surely serve a hefty amount of nostalgia for those who grew up seeing these commercials. We also

get a generous serving of mouthwatering Chickenjoy shots, the adorable Muhlach twins as young kids, and numerous frames of Aga’s signature dimpled smile as he bites into his favorite fried chicken.

“More than the heartwarming story of Aga’s transformation over the years with the Jollibee family, this new TV commercial emphasizes how the Chickenjoy remains to be a centerpiece in Filipino family bonding time over the years,” said Cathleen Capati, Jollibee Marketing Director for the Flagship Category. “Aga’s love for the Chickenjoy is something that he passed on and continues to share with his family, like many generations of Filipino parents.”

This new TVC is a milestone for Atasha and Andres, who are also returning to the Jollibee family with their parents.

“2018 is truly a special year for Chickenjoy and the Jollibee family as we welcome back Atasha and Andres, who represent this generation of children who have grown up in a family that truly loves Jollibee,” Capati added. “As we celebrate Jollibee’s 40th anniversary, we are cooking up more surprises and gathering more stories that highlight how Jollibee has always been part of Filipino life.”

Celebrate your family bonding time like the Muhlachs with the one and only crispylicious, juicylicious, and gravylicious Chickenjoy, available for dinein, take-out, delivery, and drive-thru in all Jollibee stores nationwide.

For more information on Jollibee’s latest products and promotions, like Jollibee Philippines on Facebook and follow

The latest Jollibee commercial features numerous clips from various TVCs the Muhlach twins starred in together with their parents

REP’s 81st season pass

WHILE Christmas is over, you can still gift friends and loved ones with the most unforgettable live theater experience they can enjoy all-year round.

Surprise them with REP’s 2018 Season Pass for Repertory Philippines’ 81st Season and give them a golden – or silver – ticket to REP’s new lineup of amazing shows.

Get the special people in your life a subscription ticket to the first three productions at a 30 percent discount. If they won’t be able to watch one of the first three shows of 2018, the season subscription ticket can be used to watch REP Theater for Young Audiences’ Rapunzel for free.

A Gold season subscription ticket (Orchestra Center) goes for only P3,200, while the Silver season subscription ticket (Orchestra Side) is at P2,500.

You could also gift them with a one-year subscription to all four wonderful productions at a 30 percent discount, with a Gold season ticket (Orchestra Center) for only P3,700 or a Silver season ticket (Orchestra Side) for P3,000.

The season kicks-off with

a hilarious comedy about a colorful crew of musicians called Comedy of Tenors running from Jan. 26 to Feb. 18, followed by the groundbreaking true story of female astronomers in Silent Sky from March 2 to 25.

Then from April 6 to 29, laugh yourselves out of your seats as you watch Arsenic and Old Lace, a classic popularized through a film-adaptation starring Cary Grant. REP Theater for Young Audiences also returns from Sept. 15 to Jan. 27, 2019 with a magical retelling of Rapunzel.

Where else will you get such a great deal enjoying the finest live theatrical productions in Manila?

Make the REP 2018 Season Pass your gift of choice and give someone the chance to experience the stage with REP. For inquiries, you may call REP at 843.3570, and Ticketworld at 891.999 or log on to www.ticketworld. com.ph.

For updates and show schedules, log on to www. repertoryphilippines. ph, like and follow repertoryphilippines on Facebook and Instagram, and follow @repphils on Twitter.