Manila Standard - 2018 January 14 - Sunday

PACK UP, AVOID FIRING SPREE, GRAFTERS TOLD By John Paolo Bencito VOL. XXXI • NO. 331 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

MAJESTIC CONE. Mayon Volcano spit out ash in a ‘steam-driven eruption’ on Saturday afternoon, placing its environs under Alert Level 1 and putting residents of Albay province and nearby Legaspi City on edge. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the phreatic explosion—inset photo—started at 5:06 p.m. and was ongoing as of 6 p.m., Director Renato Solidum told CNN Philippines. Solidum advised residents of Albay to exercise caution, saying the potential for ashfall should make people cover their mouths and noses with wet clothes, handkerchief or masks. The towns of Camalig and Guinobatan in Albay have already reported ashfall, rumbling sounds, and the smell of sulfur near the volcano.

DU30 TO ABOLISH SENATE, PARTY-LIST

REJECTS TERM EXTENSION PRIOR TO FEDERAL SHIFT By John Paolo Bencito

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HERE will be no Senate nor party-list system under a federal government President Rodrigo Duterte is envisioning for the Philippines, the Chief Executive said Friday night as he shot down calls for him to extend his term.

In his exclusive interview with Mindanews, Duterte instead wanted a unicameral legislature with a “very limited” number of representatives, composed of around 50—doing away with the bicameral legislature proposed by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III. “Maybe if it’s provinces, [only a handful]” because it’s going to be expensive. “Very limited only. Fifty or whatever provinces, that’s the national body,” he said.

Duterte stressed there would be no repeat of the party-list system, saying it had been ineffective in representing the marginalized. “Look at the party-list members. Are they not communists? What are they doing with the money there. They’re funding demonstrations,” the President said, citing as example the demonstration outside the Batasang Pambansa during his second State of the Nation Address on July 24 last year. Duterte had earlier admitted

some Filipinos were not yet ready for a federal type of government, but asserted it would be the best solution to problems plaguing the country under a centralized system. In pushing for a unicameral legislature, Duterte apparently leaned towards the suggestion of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who serves as secretary-general of the administration party, that a unicameral legislature was a better option to speed up the country’s lawmaking process. Under a draft constitution by the ruling party PDP-Laban, there will be a bicameral legislature or two lawmaking bodies—the Federal Assembly and the Senate. Under this proposal, however, the Senate cannot initiate laws but only concur or reject bills that are created by the Federal Assembly. Under the current setup, both

the Senate and the House of Representatives can file bills which have to be agreed upon by the two chambers before they can be signed or vetoed by the President. Duterte also shot down calls to transfer the seat of government from Manila to Visayas, and said he would soon decide on the possible date for a plebiscite—whether by this year or 2019. The President, however, appeared cold to the possibility of banning political dynasties under a shift to federalism, saying “the voice of the people is the voice of God.” Despite his continued efforts in pitching the idea, Duterte earlier said a shift to a federal form of government did not seem to “ring a bell” for most Filipinos. But he insisted the move was the “right formula” to solve the problem in Mindanao, which he said stemmed from historical injustice.

TRAVEL BAN EO COVERS LGUS, EXEMPTS SOLONS, JUSTICES By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed an Executive Order banning the travel of all government officials, from the Executive Branch down to local government officials. Duterte said the order was part of his administration’s campaign against corruption, but stressed that diplomats, envoys, senators and representatives were exempted. In his speech during the birthday celebration of House Speaker Pantaleon Alavrez, Duterte warned government officials to avoid junkets, citing the example of Maritime Industry Authority

administrator Marcial Quirico Amaro III who had 24 foreign travels—18 last year and six in 2016. All but one was official travel. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque previously said the MARINA chief used government money to pay for his plane tickets. “That’s why I have this order: one, nobody travels, well, I do not include the Congress and the Judiciary,” Duterte said. He said he just signed an Executive Order banning travel, saying “You let me know first and I will read, I need to know what you are going for...” Turn to A2

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HONORARY JERSEYS. President Rodrigo Duterte (second from right) poses for a photo as he and birthday celebrator House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez receive honorary turtlenecks from Davao Aguilas football player Phil Younghusband during Alvarez’s birthday celebration at the New Tagum City Hall in Davao del Norte on Friday. Malacañang Photo

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CORRUPT government officials should pack their bags already and leave the government before President Rodrigo Duterte continues with his firing spree to eradicate pervasive corruption in the bureaucracy, Malacañang said Saturday. Instead, they should go to the private sector, where pay is higher, Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said. “I repeat the call. Those who want to travel, to become rich, get out of the government,” Roque told a news briefing in Cebu. On Thursday night, Duterte said he planned to fire more government officials accused of corruption—including 49 policemen and three generals. Roque insisted the President remained serious about his resolve to deal with the problem of corruption in government. As to the official who will be fired next, the Palace spokesman said he would be making the announcement soon. “A decision has been made. There’s a reason why it hasn’t been announced. But I will be announcing it very soon,” he added. Earlier, the President vowed to fire government officials who traveled abroad excessively, using public funds. Among prominent officials who had been axed were Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno, Dangerous Drugs Board chief Dionisio Santiago, and Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor Terry Ridon.

FOUR PETITIONS VS MARTIAL LAW ROLLED INTO ONE By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Supreme Court is set to conduct oral arguments on Jan. 17 after it has consolidated all four petitions requesting it to declare the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao as unconstitutional. In a Twitter post, the High court also confirmed it had officially received another two of the four petitions filed on Friday. It was former Commission on Human Rights chairman Loretta Ann Rosales who filed on Friday morning and another separate petition from the group of constitutional expert and lawyer Christian Monsod and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao. In her petition, Rosales told the SC there was no factual basis for extending martial law as there was no actual invasion, rebellion or the lives of the people were at risk. “Actual invasion or actual rebellion presupposes the existence of a theater of war that requires the imposition of military law on the civilian population. Thus, in the Turn to A2

RIGHTS WATCH STOKES FEAR OF TOKHANG II By John Paolo Bencito and Vito Barcelo A HUMAN rights group on Saturday warned of more egregious abuses and mistakes by the police following their “relaunch” of Oplan Tokhang to address the illegal drug menace, despite their vow to have it “bloodless.” “There will be blood (and possible crimes against humanity),” Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said in a tweet. However, President Rodrigo Duterte, who allowed the Philippine National Police to return to the drug war despite several high-profile deaths involving minors, defended his orders anew and insisted he will not stop fighting the drug problem until his last day of office in Malacañang. “So it started. Now, I am President. I will insist on [stopping] corruption. It has to stop. I will fight the drug problem to the last day of my term. It will not stop,” Duterte said, despite unrelenting international and local pressures Turn to A2

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absence of an actual invasion or actual rebellion, necessarily, there is no factual basis for extending martial law,” she argued. Meanwhile, Solicitor General Jose Calida, the government’s top lawyer, defended on Saturday that the proclamation of martial law was a matter entirely different from its extension. Calida released a comment after four individuals filed petitions before the Supreme Court seeking to declare the one-year extension of martial law as unconstitutional. “The declaration of martial law is an act of the President. The extension, on the other hand, is the prerogative of the Congress,” Calida stressed. “It follows that the judicial review of the proclamation of martial law is different from judicial review of the extension,” he added. According to Calida, the President requested the martial law extension but it was Congress that extended it. “In view of the presumption of constitutionality accorded to the extension of martial law, it is incumbent upon all the petitioners to overturn the presumption, meaning, show facts that the extension is without basis,” Calida opined. He said the petitions railed against the extension of martial law. “These Petitions rail against the extension of the martial law because Marawi has been liberated, and there is no rebellion, or the communist rebellion in Mindanao allegedly does not endanger public safety to warrant the extension and suspension,” Calida said. Rosales also urged the SC to decide in her favor as the High Tribunal was the only agency that could prevent the government from misusing martial law. “The Honorable Court is the last institution that prevents the misuse and normalization of martial law for ordinary peacekeeping and governance activities,” she noted. The group of lawyers led by Bag-ao and Monsod, on the other hand, told the High Tribunal there was no more reason to impose martial law and suspend the privilege of the writ of hebeas corpus in Mindanao since the fire fighting in Marawi City had ended in October last year. The petitioners also slammed Congress’ approval of the extension on Dec. 13 and accused the lawmakers of failure to exercise their mandate to establish if President Rodrigo Duterte’s request have met constitutional requirements. “The perfunctory manner by which Congress considered and approved the further extension of martial law is highlighted by the very limited time given to legislators to propound searching questions to respondents chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Secretary of National Defense, and other resource persons of the government during the deliberations to actually determine the factual basis for the extension of martial law in Mindanao,” the petitioners said. “Verily, Resolution of Both Houses No. 4 dated Dec. 13, 2017 underscores the fact that the Congress’ act of approving the further extension of martial law is indeed unjustified and unwarranted,” it added.

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The President said traveling abroad would be difficult for government officials. He directed officials to obtain travel authorization from his or her agency, including personal travels, even if at no cost to the government. The memo instructs agency heads and those in charge of approving travels abroad to submit quarterly a list to the Office of the Executive Secretary and the Department of the Interior and Local Government about all travel authorities they have issued. “Local government will enforce it, you have to—be sure to give me well ahead in time your itinerary and give me a synopsis or just a short memo of what you intend to do and what is it all about,” he said

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from human rights advocates. The President also denied that the drug war is anti-poor, despite reports that more than 2,000 people were killed, most of them indigent. This is the second time the PNP is rejoining the war on drugs. Oplan Tokhang has seen thousands of drug personalities killed since 2016 when Duterte took office, and PNP officials admitting there were cases of mistaken identity and police abuses. PNP chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, however, said the cops will instead literally “knock and plead” “toktok” and

TRUMP SCRAMBLES TO EASE OUTRAGE OVER 'SHITHOLE'

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ASHINGTON—United States President Donald Trump sought Friday to quell a global firestorm over his reported denunciation of immigration from “shithole countries”—a slur slammed at home and abroad as racist. The reported remarks, which drew unanimous condemnation from African nations at the UN and resulted in at least two US diplomats being called in by their hosts, are just the latest in a series of racially-charged comments by the president. Trump tweeted a convoluted denial early Friday about the comments allegedly made on Thursday at a White House meeting with lawmakers on immigration reform. “The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used,” Trump said, apparently referring to the remarks quoted by The Washington Post and The New York Times. But Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who was present at the meeting, publicly pushed back, saying Trump had repeatedly used “vile and racist” language. Thursday’s White House huddle was held to discuss a bipartisan deal that would limit immigrants from bringing family members into the country, restrict the green card visa lottery and boost border security, in exchange for shielding hundreds of thousands of young people known

as “Dreamers” from deportation. Trump scrapped an Obama-era program that gave the 800,000 young immigrants legal protection, setting a March deadline for Congress to offer a fix, though it has been reinstated by a court, for now. After lawmakers raised the issue of protections for immigrants from African nations, Haiti and El Salvador, the president reportedly demanded to know why the United States should accept immigrants from “shithole countries,” rather than, for instance, wealthy and overwhelmingly white Norway. Durbin said Trump specifically asked, “Do we need more Haitians?” before launching into a diatribe about African immigration. Trump then“said things which were hate-filled, vile and racist,” Durbin said, adding that “shithole” was “the exact word used by the president, not just once but repeatedly.” Trump denied he ever said “anything derogatory” about the people of Haiti. “Made up by Dems,” he tweeted. “I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians!”

But the government of Haiti— which Friday marked the eighth anniversary of a devastating earthquake that killed at least 200,000 people—declared itself “outraged and shocked” by the “racist” slur. Trump’s reported comments also drew a unanimous condemnation from the African Group of UN ambassadors, which said it was “extremely appalled” at the “racist and xenophobic remarks.” The group called for a retraction and apology, and also expressed concern at what it described as the “growing trend from the US administration” to “denigrate the continent and people of color.” The State Department was left scrambling to contain the damage, with a top official saying that—while Trump denies using the language attributed to him—diplomats had been briefed to convey Washington’s respect if summoned to explain themselves, as they were in Haiti and Botswana. US missions went into damage control mode. The embassy in South Africa said the United States “deeply respects” the people of Africa, and “there has been no change in our dedication to partners and friends across the continent.” Trump’s language triggered a barrage of criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Congressional Black Caucus Chair Cedric Richmond and House Judiciary top Democrat Jerrold Nadler said they would seek to introduce a censure resolution against Trump

next week. “We have to show the world that this president does not represent the feelings of most of the American people,” they said in a statement. The resolution could be embarrassing for Trump if Republican leaders of the lower house allow a vote on it. Hillary Clinton, Trump’s 2016 Democratic presidential rival, took to Twitter to blast his “ignorant, racist views of anyone who doesn’t look like him.” Some Republicans were also plainly unhappy, with House Speaker Paul Ryan describing the reported comments as “very unfortunate” and “unhelpful.” Mia Love, a Utah congresswoman of Haitian descent, called them “unkind” and “divisive” while South Carolina’s Tim Scott, the only black Republican senator, said if Trump really did use those words, it would be “disappointing.” In an oddly-timed coincidence, the US president on Friday signed a declaration honoring slain civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., three days before the federal holiday celebrated in his honor. Ignoring shouted questions about the mounting firestorm over race, the president paid tribute during a ceremony to the reverend’s “peaceful crusade for justice and equality.” Nevertheless, the uproar has revived attention on previous remarks by Trump that have ignited accusations of racism. AFP

TRAIN WILL MAKE THE RICH EVEN RICHER, IBON CLAIMS ONLY the rich will have larger take-home pay under the newly-passed tax reform package of the Duterte administration, a militant think tank claimed Saturday. Despite the lowering of income taxes for the lower middle class, IBON Foundation claimed “the highest earning 40 percent or about 9.1 million households, will have even more money” compared to earlier data released by the Finance Department. In a statement, IBON said that based on its own computation, “the richest 10 percent, now estimated by the DOF [Department of Finance] to be earning an average of P104,170 monthly, will have an additional P90,793 annually.” The poor will still bear the brunt of paying higher taxes, the think tank claimed. “This includes how a chief executive officer among the top 0.1 percent of families already earning P494,471 monthly will take home an extra P88,568 annually. This is a reversal of the previous estimate that a CEO among the top 0.1 percent earning P706,017 would lose P20,694'', said the group. Middle income and lowermiddle families, meanwhile, take home an additional P7,880 to P24,343 under the TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) law, the group

“hangyo” in Cebuano, hence Tokhang— and ask them to stop their illegal activities. The PNP stopped Oplan Tokhang and other operations against illegal drugs in October last year, after Duterte ordered the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to take the lead in the anti-drug campaign following public outcry over the killing of several minors in police drug enforcement operations. An oversight committee would monitor police commanders to ensure the “true spirit” of Tokhang is implemented, Dela Rosa said. The President admitted he underestimated the seriousness of the drug problem in the country and gauged his approach to that of Davao

said. IBON also claimed the poorest 60 percent of Filipinos, or 13.7 million households, will continue to have less money under the new tax law, though figures based on the more recent data are slightly lower than previously estimated. “Majority of Filipinos will not benefit from income tax exemptions from TRAIN. About 15.2 million families who already do not pay income tax because they are minimum wage earners or informal sector workers with erratic incomes will not have any income tax gains,” the think tank said. “Yet while not getting increased take home pay, they will have to endure price hikes as a direct or indirect effect of higher consumption taxes,” it added. IBON likewise slammed the proposed cash transfers to supposedly minimize the tax impact on poor households, saying the poor will still be burdened with higher spending. “These are only temporary and will only be given during the first three years while oil excise taxes continue to increase. The poor will no longer receive the temporary cash transfers after 2020, yet have the permanent burden of higher prices on their basic goods and services,” IBON said. John Paolo Bencito

BASECO BIRDS. Migratory birds, which make an annual escape from Siberia’s cold winter and hunt for fish in coastal marsh, look for food along garbage-laden Manila Bay the capital city’s Baseco Compound as the Philippines, an archipelagic nation, observes Saturday Zero Waste Month in January. Peak months for birds migrating to the south are usually from September to November while those traveling north often occur between February and April. Norman Cruz

NEW PCSO CHAIRMAN NAMED SOON By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will soon appoint a new chairman for the staterun Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office who will negotiate the squabble between its general manager Alexander Balutan and board member Sandra Cam, the Palace said Saturday. The move comes after PCSO’s chairman, former police general Jose Jorge Corpuz, resigned Friday due to “health reasons.” “What I do know, the President will task the new chairman so that all

City. “I was wrong when I said that I could stop it but at that time, I was uttering the words when I was only mayor of Davao City,” Duterte said. “But I was a bit successful in cleaning the city, a certain degree. But really, to make it drug-free is something which is really impossible,” he added. It was not until after he took office, Duterte admitted, that he had access to all information about drugs and its dimension in the entire country— despite declaring, “I’ll finish [the drug war] within three months.” Meanwhile, the Palace said it respects the decision of the Office of the Solicitor General to decline with complying with a Supreme Court directive to submit

squabbles will be settled,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in an interview at Cebu City. Corpuz, a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sandigan” Class of 1982, has traded allegations of corruption against Cam, who is linked to gambling lord Charlie “Atong” Ang. Cam had publicly accused Corpuz and Balutan of spending lavishly on the PCSO employees’ Christmas Party last December. Roque has already clarified that Corpuz was not the person President Rodrigo Duterte had wanted to fire.

documents related to the drug war, after they cited alleged “national security” concerns. “The Solicitor General is a statutory counsel of the Republic, [and] we respect their decision,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said. In a 14-page motion for reconsideration, Solicitor General Jose Calida asked the SC to set aside its order dated Dec. 5, 2017 and recall its directive for the Office of the Solicitor Generals to submit the information and documents mentioned in the order. Calida said that order “might send unrealistic expectations to present and prospective amparo petitioners that sensitive government documents will always be available to them even if they

fail to comply with the amparo rule. This will set a dangerous precedent for the lower courts hearing amparo cases.” “It would open the floodgates for the filing of groundless petitions that aim at nothing other than engaging in fishing expeditions. Moreover, amparo petitions may be utilized and manipulated by drug syndicates themselves to discover the amount of confidential information that the government has against them,” he added. The President expressed his frustration with the involvement of law enforcers and officials and local officials in the drug trade, saying even police, the customs and many more became his foes and was faced a formidable groups of syndicate.

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ABU SAYYAF MEN LINKED TO BASILAN KIDNAP FALL By Francisco Tuyay

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FTER 16 years in hiding, two Abu Sayyaf members who kidnapped 20 workers of a banana plantation in Basilan in 2001were arrested Friday night. Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, regional director of provincial regional office-9 in Zamboanga City, identified the two ASG members as Emran Sanduyugan Ismael, alias Bantong Basinti and Bryan Ismail Mahommad, alias Pojong. The two ASG bandits were facing kidnapping and serious illegal detention for their complicity in numerous criminal acts when subdued by police intelligence operatives inside the Mindpro City Mall in Zamboanga City at about 9:15 p.m. Reports said the bandits were arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Leo Jay Principe of the Isabela City Regional Trial Court with

no bail recommended. The arrest of Sanduyugan and Ismail brought to nearly dozens of ASG members who participated in the attack and kidnapping of at least 30 workers of Golden Harvest Plantation in Lantawan, Basilan in June 2001. In the said attack, nine civilians were beheaded by the ASG at the height of the kidnapping. The attack also resulted in the death of a worker who was shot by the bandits minutes before fleeing the scene to evade arrest from responding army and police personnel. The arrested ASG militants were positively identified by witnesses whom identities the authorities withheld for security reasons. The ASG operatives are now in the custody of the Zambaonga City Police Station-11 pending their turnover to the appropriate court. Among those already arrested in the Golden Harvest attack by the ASG were Abu Usman who was nabbed at the Port Area of Isabela City in Basilan. In July 2014, another ASG member, Ali Salih, also a culprit in the same incident, was arrested by joint police and military teams in Panigayan village in

Malamawi Island, Isabela City. At present, the ASG has been held at bay, not figuring in any terrorist acts following their defeat and the death of their supreme leader and ISIS emir in Southeast Asia, Isnilon Hapilon in the Marawi City bloody siege. Meanwhile, the Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were reported to be running out of funds and have linked with drug syndicates and is forcing civilians to shell out money in the form of “zakat” (religious tax) to fund its armed operations, Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said. In an interview, Mangudadatu said the collection of “zakat” is supposedly voluntary and no specific amount a Moro may share for the operation of a local Mosque or place of worship. “But the BIFF has been doing it under duress,” he said. “This is happening in remote villages where poor farmers could not refuse forced taxation, otherwise, they will be harassed.” Mangudadatu earlier told the Provincial Peace and Order Council, which he chairs, that BIFF members also turned to peddling illegal drugs, selling stuff in and out of Maguindanao. With PNA

FROM accuser to defendant. This may turn out to be the case for Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque after a lawyer of ex-Palawan governor Joel Reyes said that Reyes’ camp is contemplating of filing graft charges against the Palace official. Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, one of the lawyers of Reyes, said Roque may be liable for graft for his remarks against Court of Appeals justices, who recently ordered the release of Reyes, nearly seven years after he was named as the mastermind in the murder of broadcaster and environment advocate Gerry Ortega. “We are studying it [graft complaint],” said Topacio at a news forum in Quezon City. Reyes earlier asked the CA to cite Roque in contempt for saying that the ruling was a“travesty of justice.” Roque, who used to be the legal counsel of the Ortega family has made known his displeasure over the CA ruling in several interviews. Topacio said Roque’s statement constitutes “undue and improper pressure and influence on other public officials” citing the presidential spokesperson’s statement that he will meet with Solicitor General Jose Calida to push for Malacañang’s bid to reverse the CA ruling. Roque had maintained that his remarks against the CA’s ruling has the blessings of no less than President Rodrigo Duterte. But Topacio said Roque should choose between being the presidential spokesperson and being a private lawyer. “I’m not asking that he resign unqualifiedly. What I’m saying is he should choose—does he want to be presidential spokesman or does he want to continue as a private lawyer trying the cases of his clients?” said Topacio. Topacio, who said that Roque’s comments were “unethical” and smacked of “mental dishonesty, ” also said that it is “the prerogative of the Court of Appeals to overrule the finding of probable cause by the trial court.” Topacio also accused Roque of covering up his “lack of lawyering skills” by “using the bully pulpit of your Cabinet position to bully the Court of Appeals into seeing things your way.”

THE OLD AND THE NEW.

A mother and her child peer inside a fashion display window as a worker install Chinese New Year decors at a Makati City shopping mall over the weekend, while in a Pasay City Mall, workers dismantle Yuletide season lighting displays. Ey Acasio

NBI to help us if it is true that there are plenty [of fixers, scammers, and syndicates],” Cayetano said in a press briefing at the sidelines of the official launching of a 10-year validity passport. “We’ll take a second look,” he added. Cayetano, however, said that the existence of these fixers and scammers are not that massive due to the reforms he imposed when he first assumed the office. “Maaring magkatotoo kung may contact sila sa loob na wala namang appointment tapos nakakasingit. But it’s not massive,” he said. He explained that syndicates do not exist because they have already taken

out the passport schedule allotment for DFA employees and government officials. The department has also removed the 1,200 slots in DFA-Aseana previously reserved for travel agencies. “There are no allotment since five months ago,” he said. He added that those syndicate may be taking advantage of the express lane for pregnant, senior citizens, children, people with disability, OFWs, and solo parents. “We have also canceled 50,000 bogus appointments. The cancellation of bogus appointments has enabled the DFA to open more passport appointment slots to the public,” he said.

PH RANKS 72ND WITH POWERFUL PASSPORT By John Paolo Bencito THE Philippines has ranked 72nd among global countries with the most powerful passports, according to the latest 2018 Henley Passport Index. The country notched one rank up from 67th from 66th place last year, wherein Philippine passports can enter 62 countries visa-free. Germany topped this year’s list, with German passport holders able to enter 161 countries without a visa. Tied at second place were Singapore, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Italy, France, Spain and South Korea. The Palace welcomed Saturday the country’s improved rankings, now tying up with Zambia and Zimbabwe.

“We are assuring everyone that our people at the Department of Foreign Affairs [DFA] will continue to work towards securing visa-free access of Filipinos to more countries,” Roque said. Meanwhile, in line with the reported backlogs on passport appointments by the DFA, the spokesperson disclosed that the government is exerting all efforts to improve the process of passport applications. He cited the DFA’s plan to implement several improvements in the agency’s passport system to make it more convenient for the public, among which, the streamlining of the passport application process,

COMBINED elements from the Philippine National Police-AntiCybercrime Group and the Bureau of Immigration held 153 foreigners who are reportedly involved in fraudulent telecom operations. The foreigners, who are mostly from Taiwan and China, were seized following the raids in the villages of Nagtupacan and Bayubay Sur in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur, and in Las Piñas City in Metro Manila. The PNP-ACG and the Bureau of Immigration took custody of 153 foreigners in raids in the villages of Nagtupacan and Bayubay Sur in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur, and in Las Piñas City in Metro Manila. The PNP asaid the raids were made possible after Chinese police tipped them off on the alleged fround last November 2017. The suspects were monitored through a list of 100 Internet protocol addresses in China coming from the Philippines.

THE House of Representatives has expressed hope that the Senate will act on its approved bill declaring Nov. 8 of every year a special non-working holiday in the Eastern Visayas Region to be known as “Typhoon Yolanda Resiliency Day.” House Bill 6591, principally authored by Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez of Leyte, honors all those who perished as Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan), cut a wide swath of destruction in the Visayan region on November 8, 2013. It has been approved on third and final reading at the Lower House and referred to the Senate for action. The bill was also intended as a salute to the resiliency and selflessness of volunteers and organizations that took part and contributed to the recovery and rehabilitation of all communities affected by Typhoon “Yolanda.” Covered by the declaration is the Eastern Visayas Region which is composed of the highly urbanized City of Tacloban, and the provinces of Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar and Eastern Samar. The bill noted the impact of the strongest typhoon in recorded history was most felt heavily by the economic and social sectors, which together sustained nearly 93 percent of the total damage and loss. Maricel V. Cruz

BISHOP FINALLY REVISITS MARAWI

CAYETANO SET TO PROBE PASSPORT SCAM FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has said that he would coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation in addressing the persistent rumors of fixers or scammers offering fake or non-existent passport appointment slots. A spate of complaints, which flooded the agency’s official Facebook page, prompted Cayetano to once and for all explain and speak up before the media and deny that there are syndicate group involving the agency’s employees and travel agencies. “I personally will appeal again to the

ALIEN TELCO FRAUDSTERS NABBED BY PNP, BI

HOUSE WANTS NOV. 8 AS ‘YOLANDA DAY’

REYES’ CAMP TO CHARGE ROQUE

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

IN BRIEF

an improved and more user-friendly Online Appointment System (OAS), additional passport appointment slots and consular offices outside Metro Manila, the setting up of an ePayment system, availability of OFW lanes, and the reduction of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) backlog from 33,000 to zero, among others. Moreover, Roque said that the DFA also plan to deploy Passporting on Wheels (POW) vehicles starting January 2018 to decongest the consular offices in Manila. The agency would likewise continue to deploy weekly Mobile Passporting Services in key locations nationwide, he added.

Cayetano also admitted the long waiting time, which took six months, before an applicant can secure appointment for his or her passport. The Foreign Chief assured that the DFA is now addressing the issue by upgrading the DFA’s capacity to lower down the six months period to only three weeks. Cayetano said on Friday that the DFA will open new slots from March to April, but when checked, only one date was available in May. When asked for an explanation, DFAOffice of the Public Diplomacy executive director Charimaine Aviquivil said that appointment slots are made available from time to time.

AFTER several failed attempts, Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Peña was finally able to revisit the ruined city center of Marawi and the remnants of a desecrated Cathedral that he used to call home. Upon his entry to the Church, the Bishop quietly knelt before the altar where he celebrated the Holy Mass for 17 years. “It was a very emotional visit for me...For the first time since the siege of Marawi, we entered Marawi Cathedral. It was heartbreaking,” Dela Peña said. He then proceeded to the beheaded statue of Maria Auxiliadora (Mary Help of Christians), to whom the Cathedral is dedicated to. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

PAY HIKE FOR GOVT WORKERS PUSHED

By Maricel V. Cruz

LAWMAKERS on Saturday batted for salary adjustments not only for public school teachers but also other government workers. “If the police and military are now enjoying salary adjustments and the [Department of Budget and Management] found a way of providing necessary means to effect these presidential initiatives, why leave teachers behind?,” Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, deputy minority leader, said. Like administration ally and Easterm Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, Atienza said public school teachers deserve a higher take-home pay. “They too are essential in our desire for an efficient government to secure lives of our people. We must remember quality education for our youth is very important in nation building. Teachers have long been deprived of realistic salaries and they deserve higher take-home pay,” Atienza said. He said President Duterte’s initiatives to raise

the salaries of public school teachers must be supported and that the Budget department must find a way to accommodate this in their budgetary planning. But Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said the pay increase should apply not only to teachers but all government workers to help them cope with the rising cost of living. “Anything that will help the plight of government personnel is much welcomed,” Albano, majority leader for the House of Representatives’ Commission on Appointments, said. Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano shared Albano’s view. “I favor increasing salaries of public school teachers. But as much as possible, I think salary increases should apply to all government workers because we end up discriminating specific groups of government workers who are themselves as important as others,” Alejano, a former Marine officer, said.

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Opinion

SUNday, ja jaNUary 14, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

adelle Chua, Editor

editorial pOp gOeS the wOrld jenny OrtuOSte

freedom And feArlessness in KlimT And moneT

SaN FraNcISco BaY area—when one thinks of Klimt and Monet, what springs to mind but exuberant color that brings a joyous lift to the heart? San Francisco is home to several world-class museums, among them the Legion of Honor, which houses european paintings, decorative arts, and sculpture, including a fine collection of Impressionist art. Until Jan. 28, the museum is also showcasing 20 paintings and some drawings of austrian master Gustave Klimt alongside works of French sculptor august rodin. The exhibition, entitled “Klimt and rodin: an artistic encounter” is a study in contrasts—rodin’s static, poised busts and full-figures frozen in marble or bronze beside Klimt’s extravagant, vibrant splashes of colors and patterns indeed make for an interesting juxtaposition. Klimt’s early works were in the realist style. as his style matured, he began experimenting. His “Portrait of Sonja Knips” (1898) is his first foray into a square format, a lifesize rendering of the sitter, and the capture of “snapshot” moment— Knips is balanced on the edge of her seat, her left hand on the arm of her chair as if she were about to stand up. Knips’ pink and white frock is conventional for the period, but rendered in swift strokes that evoke the fuzziness of tulle; only her face is fully detailed. Greatly affected by the deaths of his father and brother ernst, Klimt moved on to pursue a different artistic vision, one that catapulted him to fame. This is the Klimt familiar to us, that of the “golden phase” that produced works such as “The Kiss.” From the early 1900s to his death in 1918, a bold use of colors and fascination with patterns became integral to his artistic expression. at the Legion of Honor, his “The Virgin” (1913) is prominently displayed, and rightfully so. It is a cheerful riot of patterns—spirals, circles, flowers made of circles within circles, all painted in the “weird” colors of the crayon box—red-orange, blue-violet, red-violet, yellow-green, yellow-orange. Nestled in the midst of the color explosion are the placid, dreaming faces of six pale maidens, their limbs tangled with each other’s. It literally made my jaw drop. It is that beautiful, that awesome, as in “inspiring awe.” Similarly, “The Baby” (1917) seems rather to focus more on the quilt wrapping the baby than the baby itself, whose head is located at the upper center of the canvas, close to the edge. The tiny face on a white pillow is almost undiscernible for the colors of the swaddling catch the eye first, and they make no sense, it is a hodge-podge of shapes and colors that do not easily resolve themselves into patterns. No matter. It is enough that

An Air of cerTAinTy PUBLIc school teachers—880,000 nationwide—would be correct to feel they have been taken for a ride. earlier this week, Presidential Spokesman Harry roque said the President wanted to double their salaries, just as he had doubled the salaries of soldiers and policemen. "But judging by what he [President duterte] wanted for the PNP and the aFP, it could be that he is also aiming to double the entry salary for teachers," roque said. Budget Secretary Benjamin diokno quickly pointed out, however, that no such thing was discussed during the cabinet meeting. as a result, roque said he was speculating but denied he made a mistake. “My statement was 'I am not sure how much the increase ... judging from the military and police ... could be double. No mistake there since I said I do not know by how much and speculated only," he told reporters. The spokesman’s speculation had a P337-billion price tag to it.

any leader with a heart would want to improve the lot of public school teachers. For the nobility of their profession, the influence they wield over millions of children—who grow up to be builders of the community and the nation—and the lack of attention they seem to get in the national discourse, teachers deserve economic help. roque's act of raising their hopes and then taking his words back smacks of insensitivity. Spokesmen are supposed to tell things as they are. This is why there is roque’s job exists in the first place— to offer clarity and structure, especially given the President’s temperament and tendency to utter things he would afterward qualify. who, then, would take roque’s word again? Speculation is not part of his job description. He should be reminded, from time to time, if there is one thing a presidential mouthpiece should not do, it is that he should not add to the uncertainty that most of us are already facing.

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lOng StOry ShOrt adelle chua Toward the end of 2017, TIME Magazine, as customary, came out with its choice of Person of the Year. on the cover were five women, two of them Hollywood celebrities ashley Judd and Taylor Swift, who represented “The Silence Breakers”—all those who spoke out against sexual harassment, misogyny, discrimination, and abuse.

Silence breakers have done much to challenge a culture that remains pervasive even in this day and age. They started a campaign, not only in show business, but across all industries in many countries of the world. on social media, the campaign #MeToo took off in numerous languages. It showed the malaise was widespread and the attitude about it even more so. More importantly, it showed that the experience—intimidation, fear, shame, guilt, anger and indignation—was universal. There is

The silenT silence breakers

no need for a woman to feel isolated. of sexual harassment are standing in She is not alone. solidarity, giving each other strength That the global and reassurance, culture had to be wherever they may shattered is long be in the globe. But that is not the overdue. Now we The fight against topic of this column. see many powerful the mindset of Look at the TIME men in prominent impunity and abuse, cover photo again. positions being taken to task for someon the lower right is never over. thing they thought corner, there is an they could get away arm—just an arm, with. They are being shamed for what cropped at the shoulder. they have been doing, and the victims The arm belongs to a young hospi-

tal worker from Texas. “She is a sexual harassment victim who fears that disclosing her identity would negatively impact her family,” said TIME. She “posed” for the cover still, to show her solidarity and to represent “all those who are not yet able to come forward and reveal their identities.” The owner of the arm made her complaint anonymously. In the interview with TIME, she said she could not stop wondering if there was anything she could have done to prevent what Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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happened to her. It is quite easy to tell victims of harassment or abuse to speak up. An injustice happened, and the guilty party must be made to pay. In reality, speaking out is never easy, especially if there are many other things at stake—families, careers, reputation. A victim will always doubt herself: Did she in any way encourage her attacker, did she give him mixed signals, did she fight back hard enough, did she really say no, unequivocally? What if, at that time of the abuse, she found herself unable to resist, too scared or intimidated or even aghast? What if her judgment was clouded and she did not run out screaming as she was supposed to? What if her abuser was someone she respected, even loved as a family member, or had immense power over her life? This is why the silence breakers are applauded—they have the courage to name and shame. But this is also why we have to be reminded we cannot at all judge those who decide to remain anonymous, drop their case or agree to a settlement, or simply write off the experience as a nightmare. We have never been in their shoes and we do not know what it must be like to battle these demons. The fight against the mindset of impunity and abuse, however far we seem to have come, is never over. It is a work in progress. Those who are still trying to come to terms with what happened to them are still part of this fight—in due time, under the right circumstances. If they were not able, or are not able, to protect themselves, then perhaps someday they will find a way to protect, stand up for, or empower another. adellechua@gmail.com

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PresidentiAl PhysicAls should include the BrAin

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it looks like Klimt enjoyed himself with this one, daubing paint on the canvas as he pleased. Also housed in the Legion of Honor are works by Impressionist masters. The star of the collection is Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies.” Actually one of a series of 250 paintings that the artist made of his flower garden, this particular painting is exceptionally vibrant in color. (Later renditions made when Monet had developed cataracts are mostly white and look washed out, an interesting interpretation of how the pond and flowers actually looked to his poor, blurred eyes.) The Legion of Honor’s Water Lilies is a delight to behold. It is a painting of flowers and leaves on a pond. If it were a photograph, it would look like a tight crop or a close-up of that particular spot. The pond waters are a swirl of blues and greens, the flowers are red, pink, and lavender. The effect is one of lightness, brightness, and natural splendor. It was a privilege to see the master’s brushstrokes up close. The painting has moderate to heavy textural layers, perhaps where paint was applied with a palette knife and blended on the canvas, while swirls and daubs of blue and green indicate the movement of water. The flowers, surprisingly, are quick simple swirls of deep red, lavender, and white. If there were a lesson to all this, it would be: Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid of color—love it, embrace it, use it in your art, even the weirdest hues. Do not be afraid of making up your own patterns, even if they make sense to no one, not even yourself. Do not be afraid of using simple shapes to describe complex figures and subjects. Do not be afraid of freeing up your strokes, of laying on paint with a flourish of the fingers like Salt Bae. Klimt and Monet painted without fear and with the utmost freedom of expression and confidence in their own desire and delight. This is why we enjoy their works, because they exude that freedom and fearlessness and enjoyment which attracts us and stimulates response. And that is why we need art—to remind us that the human spirit is always free.

SUNday, jaNUary 14, 2018

By Faye Flam RIGHT now, the technology exists to detect the very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease—as well as to flag abnormal protein deposits that can grow in peoples’ brains long before symptoms of dementia become apparent. No tests of this sort will apparently be featured in Donald Trump’s Jan. 12 physical, according to those in the know, but some brain experts and medical ethicists argue they should be. Such early evaluations might one day become important for ordinary citizens, if drugs now in the pipeline prove effective in forestalling dementia symptoms. In the meantime, it behooves us all to have more information when the brain in question belongs to someone with access to classified information and nuclear codes. The state of the current presidential brain has generated intense interest, from the gossip in journalist Michael Wolff’s new book to the concerns aired in the medical website STAT News— including an opinion piece titled “I’m a Brain Specialist. I Think Trump Should Be Tested for a Degenerative Brain Disease.” Experts say an evaluation would start with simple written and oral tasks: naming items in pictures, recalling strings of letters and numbers, calling up lists of words, and the like. If those tests signal trouble, doctors might move on to a brain scan to look for protein deposits called beta amyloid. The role of beta amyloid was controversial for years, since some perfectly sharp people die and reveal brains full of this abnormal protein. Harvard neurology professor Rudoph Tanzi has led experiments in cultured human brain cells pointing to amyloid as a first step in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloids can trigger growth of another abnormal protein deposit called neurofibrillary tangles, he said, and that situation can trigger excess inflammation, the death of brain cells, and full-blown dementia. Right now, he said, it is possible to use brain imaging to see which healthy people have a lot of beta amyloid and are therefore at elevated risk. Already several drugs have been shown to reduce amyloid plaques—and he’s gearing up to start clinical trials of another. No drugs have restored memory or thinking ability in advanced-stage patients, but Tanzi and others have high hopes for prevention by giving the drugs much earlier. Tanzi noted that an open letter has been circulating among the medical community urging experts to demand Trump get a neuropsychological evaluation. He has not added his name, he said, because he worries the letter might be misinterpreted as a statement that Trump has dementia in the eyes of the experts. He doesn’t think Trump should be diagnosed through his television appearances, but he does agree with those who argue that all presidents should be given a genuine, science-based evaluation. He says if such evaluations started taking place, the results wouldn’t be black or white. It’s typical for people to search for words or forget names more often in their 60s than in their 20s he said, just as older people develop problems with their knees or shoulders. At the same time, people gain wisdom with age and experience. A test result showing some risk of dementia

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with White House Physician Rear Admiral Dr. Ronny Jackson, following his annual physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on Jan. 12. AFP

and memory decline should be weighed alongside other factors. Not all forms of dementia primarily affect memory. A disease called frontotemporal dementia attacks the frontal lobe, which is the seat of judgment and impulse control. While FTD is less common than Alzheimer’s disease, it tends to hit people earlier in life—usually starting in their 50s or 60s. Neurology professor Murray Grossman, who directs the center for FTD at the University of Pennsylvania, said that the disease is characterized by a different mix of abnormal protein deposits than Alzheimer’s, and these can be picked up in a test of spinal fluid. Some cases are characterized by extremely rigid or apathetic behavior. In other cases, people become uninhibited and prone to making inappropriate comments or gestures. People with FTD often have very little insight into their own condition, said Grossman. They may think everything is fine, while those around them grow alarmed about their changing behavior. Some patients with this disease also develop progressive aphasia—the loss of language.

Of course, other incapacitating conditions could impair a leader’s ability to function, and yet this presidential check-up may be less informative than some would hope. Family physician Ranit Mishori, of Georgetown University School of Medicine, warned not to confuse the number of tests done with the value of the information gathered. VIP or executive physicals, she said, often take more time and incorporate more tests than standard check-ups, but they don’t necessarily yield more information. That's because not all the tests are equally evidence-based. In a conversation I had several months ago with NYU medical ethicist Arthur Caplan, he said he disapproved of speculation about Trump’s mental and cognitive health. In a recent piece for Forbes.com, written with University of Pennsylvania ethicist Jonathan Moreno, he urges Congress to impose a mandatory exam that would assess factors that affect a president’s ability to do the job. It would be a physical designed not for the president’s benefit, but for ours. This seems like as good a time to start such a policy as any. Bloomberg

Mark Zuckerberg Just blew up Facebook FroM the InsIde By Shira Ovide FOR much of the past few months, Mark Zuckerberg has been thinking aloud about Facebook Inc.'s mission. He kept saying he wanted Facebook to become a place for meaningful social interaction. His resolution for 2018 was to "fix" Facebook. It was a call to arms, but for what? It wasn't clear how his musings might translate into substantive changes to a digital hangout for more than two billion people. Now we know. Zuckerberg disclosed late Thursday the billionth, and seemingly the most drastic, change to how Facebook determines what people see when they surf the social network. The stated goal is to make Facebook feel less like a depressing cesspool. (Zuckerberg didn't put it that way.) Facebook has more than two billion users each month, more than the combined population of China and the US. The company is reprogramming its computers to prioritize posts on which people feel compelled to interact in a rich way, by writing a long reply to a grieving family member, for example, or by having a backand-forth with friends about a wacky local TV news story. It seems like a bit of a return to Facebook's roots, which was more about the first word in "social media" than the second. The company wants people to

aimlessly scroll and surf Facebook less and instead wallow for a while in a meaningful interaction or two. Whether this makes people feel less bad about hanging out on Facebook, or makes Facebook less of a tool for propaganda or misinformation, remains to be seen. People share puppy photos on Facebook but also misleading diatribes about people they don't like. And misinformation turns out to be pretty darn engaging. The effects of Facebook's strategy change are hard to know for certain; the company frequently shakes up what it prioritizes in the main stream of posts called the news feed. But this one sounds like a doozy. Facebook is likely to become a much different place from the one it is today. The big warning—imagine alarm bells ringing on a broker's desk somewhere—is that Zuckerberg expects the changes to lead to a decrease in the collective time Facebook's users spend there. There's a direct relationship between the quantity of time people spend surfing Facebook and revenue. More time translates into more slots for Facebook to sell ads, which translates into overflowing Facebook cash registers. Some stock analysts worried on Friday that Zuckerberg didn't address the potential business implications of Facebook's mission shift or didn't seem to care about them. Shares are declining in market trading.

It's worth noting that investors tend to say they want businesses to make short-term trade-offs to improve companies' long-term health. We're about to see if investors put their money behind Zuckerberg's principles, and their own. If Facebook's revenue growth slows materially in the next few months, will they panic? The big glaring losers—besides investors' delicate stomach linings— are the millions of companies that sought to build a business on Facebook. The company warned that its computer systems are likely to circulate less information from Facebook accounts of businesses and more from personal accounts. That's bad for news organizations, entertainment companies, Main Street coffee shops and giant corporations trying to reach existing and prospective customers on Facebook. Those businesses need to adjust to the billionth version of Facebook's rule book. And they don't even have a copy of the rules. Only Facebook does. More changes may be coming, too, that will have Facebook play a more direct role in determining what are legitimate news sources in its digital hangouts. That's something news organizations in particular have pushed Facebook and Google to do, but those tech superpowers have been reluctant to dictate what is trustworthy news and what's hogwash. It's

possible Facebook will no longer try to walk the fine line between neutral tech platform and editorial dictator. It was a stunning admission last month when Facebook's own researchers concluded the ways many people use the social network—passively scrolling through their streams of posts—makes people feel bad. Imagine if Ford had told people that taking long drives alone was bad for their mental health. I don't know if Zuckerberg can "fix" Facebook through the changes he's making. But it's clear that Zuckerberg, like so many people outside the company, bemoaned the ugly downsides of the product he created. It may not be enough or even the right changes at all, but he is taking what seem like bold steps to blow up Facebook from the inside. When Facebook, Google and other technology firms enshrine their founders with the power to overrule all other shareholders, this is exactly the moment to which they aspire. Zuckerberg doesn't have to fear being thrown out of his job because he's trading short-term interests for longer-term aspirations with both global social ramifications and financial uncertainties for one of the world's most valuable companies. Zuckerberg has absolute power. We now have a real world laboratory test of whether he's using it wisely. Bloomberg

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

CANADA HOPES G7 SUMMIT BECOMES IDEA SPRINGBOARD OTTAWA, Canada—Canada hopes the upcoming Group of 7 nations summit it is hosting will serve as a springboard for fresh ideas on key issues including climate change, the global economy and security, the lead organizer told Agence France Presse. “The G7 serves well as a proving or testing ground for discussions that could eventually go into the G20 or the United Nations or international financial institutions,” Peter Boehm, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s G7 representative, said in an interview with AFP. “The beauty of these summits is that there is informal dialogue between leaders,” said Boehm, who has participated in several past summits. Canada assumed the G7 presidency at the start of January and will host the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States in the picturesque resort village of La Malbaie on the shores of the Saint Lawrence River from June 8 to 9. The agenda for the 44th Group of Seven industrialized nations summit includes advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment, the implementation of the Paris climate agreement, and the global economy. Boehm said the discussion on climate change will “inevitably include energy and renewable forms of energy” and “more broadly the resilience of coastal communities.” AFP

POLL PROTEST. Members of the military police detain supporters of the presidential candidate for the Honduran Opposition Alliance Against the Dictatorship, Salvador Nasralla, during a protest near the presidential palace in Tegucigalpa on Friday. Thousands of people protested in the Honduran capital against the reelection of President Juan Orlando Hernandez, as the Jan. 27 start of his second term approaches. AFP

CALI MUDSLIDE DEATH TOLL RISES TO 18 LOS ANGELES—Authorities in southern California said Friday they had discovered the body of an elderly man killed by mudslides that battered the region earlier this week, lifting the overall death toll to 18. The 87-year-old man was “located by a search and rescue team in his residence,” said Bill Brown, the sheriff of Santa Barbara county. Rescuers are continuing their search operations, with the missing now numbering seven, including a two-year-old girl, according to the Santa Barbara sheriff ’s office. Heavy rain on Tuesday, which followed 10 months of drought, sent sticky mud and debris flowing from the hills into Montecito. In addition to the dead and injured, 65 houses have been destroyed while another 462 homes sustained damage. Terrifying wildfires forced people to evacuate in December, and the mudslides struck just two weeks after they returned. The fires burned most vegetation, leaving perfect conditions for the latest disaster to unfold. AFP

SUU KYI: ADMISSION OF ROHINGYA SLAYS A ‘POSITIVE STEP’ YANGON, Myanmar—Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has welcomed an unprecedented army admission that security forces carried out extra-judicial killings of Rohingya Muslims as a “positive step,” state-backed media reported Saturday. After months of staunch denials of abuse, the army on Wednesday said a probe found four members of the security forces helped kill 10 Rohingya militant suspects at Inn Din village on Sept. 2, leaving their bodies in a hastily dug pit. Some 655,000 Rohingya have fled western Rakhine state to Bangladesh since August, carrying with them consistent accounts of atrocities by Myanmar’s army. Rights groups have accused Nobel Laureate Suu Kyi of failing to condemn the widespread abuses during the army crackdown, which followed raids by militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. After meeting the Japanese foreign minister on Friday Suu Kyi raised the army’s admission of involvement in the Inn Din killings as a “new step taken by our country.” “In the end, rule of law in the country is the responsibility of that country. It is a positive indication that we are taking the steps to be responsible,” she added, according to a report carried by the Global New Light of Myanmar. Myanmar’s army has a grim track record of rights abuses chiselled out across the country over 50 years of rule. AFP

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TRUMP KEEPS IRAN NUKE DEAL ALIVE ASHINGTON—United States President Donald Trump announced Friday he would not reimpose nuclear sanctions on Iran, keeping a landmark 2015 deal alive... for now.

The Republican leader grudgingly agreed to sign sanctions waivers, ensuring Washington will live up to its commitments for another 120 days, but he cautioned it would be “for the last time.” During that four-month period, he wants Congress and America’s main European allies to draw up a new deal -- without negotiating with Tehran -- to replace the “disastrous flaws” in the current agreement. “Despite my strong inclination, I have not yet withdrawn the United States from the Iran nuclear deal,” Trump said in a statement. “Instead, I have outlined two possible paths forward: either fix the deal’s disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw.” The new deal -- which Trump envisions as being outlined in US law and involving Britain, France and Germany -- would impose tougher

controls on Iran if sanctions relief is to continue. It will not begin to expire after 10 years as parts of the existing deal do, but instead would impose permanent restrictions on not just Iran’s nuclear plants but also its missile program. “These provisions must have no expiration date. My policy is to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon -- not just for 10 years, but forever,” Trump said. “If Iran does not comply with any of these provisions, American nuclear sanctions would automatically resume.” Trump is also urging Congress to reform US law, so the president is no longer required to declare every 90 days whether he thinks Iran is complying, or to renew sanctions waivers every 120 or 180 days. Iran’s foreign minister, Moham-

mad Javad Zarif, took to Twitter to describe Trump’s decision and the announcement as “desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement.” The 2015 deal, he said, “is not renegotiable. Rather than repeating tired rhetoric, US must bring itself into full compliance -- just like Iran.” Trump’s decision was announced alongside another package of new sanctions -- punishing not Iran’s nuclear program, but its alleged abuse of human rights in a crackdown on recent street protests. The most prominent new name on the Treasury sanctions blacklist, which forbids Americans from doing business with the targets, is the head of Iran’s judiciary, Sadegh Amoli Larijani. The US Treasury said Larijani, the brother of Iran’s parliamentary speaker and former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, is to blame for the torture and degrading treatment of prisoners. Washington policy hawks hailed Trump’s decision, which they said

would concentrate minds in Europe, where leaders have urged the US president not to sabotage a deal they see as a landmark diplomatic success. “So, Trump now has issued explicit May deadline to Congress and Europeans: Fix Iran nuke deal or no more sanctions waivers,” wrote Mark Dubowitz, head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “Is he bluffing? I don’t think so. Busy four months ahead.” But supporters of the existing deal between Iran and six world powers, including the former officials in Barack Obama’s administration who negotiated it, denounced Trump’s plan. Diplomacy Works, a pressure group set up by former secretary of state John Kerry to defend the deal, was scathing. “Today, we learned that the president’s plan includes bullying our allies into fundamentally altering the terms of a deal that they know is working for our mutual security and have publicly stated they have no interest in amending,” it said. AFP

AT UN, DIPLOMATS ARE WATCHING CANDIDATE HALEY

ALL EYES ON HER. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks during a UN Security Council meeting concerning the situation in Iran on Jan. 5 in New York City. AFP

NEW YORK—One year into the job, Nikki Haley stands out as the star of United States President Donald Trump’s administration, and diplomats say the United Nations ambassador is directing some of that star power into a likely White House bid. Speculation about Haley’s presidential ambitious has picked up since she defended Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, staring down friends and foes alike at the world body. The 45-year-old Republican resorted to a veto to block criticism from the UN Security Council and threatened reprisals against those who voted against Washington at the General Assembly. The clash gave UN ambassadors a reality check: Haley, they say, is a politician, not a diplomat, and at the United Nations, she is playing to a domestic audience. “She is not trying to win votes at the General Assembly. She is trying to win votes for 2020 or 2024,” a council diplomat said. “She is clearly using this position to run for something, that’s obvious.” The former South Carolina governor arrived at the United Nations last year, promising a “new day” under Trump’s America First policy and

vowing to “take names” of countries that don’t toe the line. Seen at the outset as a foreign policy lightweight, Haley was quickly taken seriously because of her close ties to the unpredictable Trump. Over the past year, she has pushed through three new sets of sanctions against North Korea, bringing China and Russia on side to tackle what Trump sees as his administration’s number one security threat. Those sanctions won the unanimous backing of the council, where finding common ground with Haley is testing diplomatic skills. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Haley is hawkish on Iran, fiercely pro-Israel and a strong advocate of cost-cutting at the UN. That those three signature issues play well with the US Republican voter base is not lost on most diplomats. “What matters above all are perceptions internally, in the US,” said another council diplomat, who like many declined to be quoted. Haley was among the first administration officials to take a hard line on Russia, declaring that sanctions over Crimea would remain in place until Moscow gave the territory back to Ukraine. AFP

Sports

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 reuelvidal@yahoo.com

CATALAN PAVES WAY FOR NEXT GENERATION

Barangay Ginebra center Greg Slaughter (right) tries to pivot past Blackwater Elite defender Poy Erram. PBA

SLAUGHTER TOWERS ABOVE EVERYONE Rene ‘D Challenger’ Catalan (right) unloads with a high kick at opponent Zhang You Liang who falls back into the cage. Catalan beat Zhang by unanimous decision. ONE Championship

By Reuel Vidal

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IKE most everyone else fighters also want to share their knowledge with the next generation of practitioners. In this sense MMA fighter, coach and trainer Rene Catalan is not unique. What makes him unique is that Catalan is still at the peak of his fighting prowess and competing at the highest levels of MMA competition at ONE Championship. Though still an active professional fighter Catalan has already established the school Catalan Fighting System Philippines Fitness and Mixed Martial Arts at 4th floor Yague Street, Tejeros, Makati (0915-4989804). Catalan has a staff of equally welltrained and experienced fighters who can help upcoming fighters who want to become better at their craft. They also welcome fitness enthusiasts who just want to improve their physical conditioning through combat training. Meanwhile, Catalan wants to extend his three-fight win streak when he squares off against China’s Peng Xue Wen in a three-round strawweight battle at ONE: Kings of Courage at the Jakarta Convention Center in Indonesia on January 20. Catalan started 2017 on a high note by submitting Indonesian prospect Adrian Matheis via a second-round armbar in January before routing China’s Bu Huo You Ga by way of unanimous decision seven months later. Catalan will be the lone Filipino representative at ONE Championship’s first live event of 2018. “I am exerting a tremendous amount of effort in training. I want to keep on winning. I am inspired to win my match

this coming January 20 because I am representing the Philippines. It is always an honor to fight for my country. My goal in this bout is to win and bring pride to my nation,” said Catalan. “My goal is to compete for the ONE Strawweight World Championship. I know before I get to that stage, I still have a lot of work ahead of me.” Catalan had a rough start in ONE Championship in 2016. He lost to Alex “Little Rock” Silva who is now the ONE Strawweight World Champion. But Catalan has rallied and strung together three consecutive victories since September 2016 and will look to break into the upper echelon of the division. Peng is a 2014 Chinese National Youth Greco Champion who made his promotional debut at ONE: Legends of the World in the Philippines November, 2017. The Chinese standout leaned on his grappling to overwhelm Cambodia’s Phat Soda before knocking him out with an awe-inspiring suplex halfway through the opening round. Catalan is well aware of his opponent’s grappling expertise and is diligently train-

Members of the Catalan Fighting System Philippines go through their paces in their gym.

ing to stuff Peng’s grappling and then bring into play his own explosive skillset. “I am preparing a solid defense against him, but of course I am mixing in some of-

Rene ‘D Challenger’ Catalan (right) tries to wrap his arms around the neck of opponent Adrian Matheis. Matheis managed to wiggle out of the attempted rear naked choke but eventually lost to Catalan by submission through armbar. ONE Championship

fense as well. I am not sure if he will expect that I will add a twist to my game, but 80 percent of my preparation is in strength and conditioning,” said Catalan. “For this match, I think the strategy will flow once I am in the cage. I will just do my best to get the win, but also provide an exciting bout for the audience to enjoy.” Catalan said he expects to secure a decisive win over Peng at ONE: Kings of Courage and then go on to fight a rematch against Silva with the ONE Strawweight World Championship on the line. “Every fighter dreams to become a world champion. I really hope that ONE Championship will give me an opportunity to vie for the title in the future. This bout might be the door to a world title contest. Let us all hope for the best,” said Catalan.

AFTER powering Barangay Ginebra to its second Philippine Basketball Association crown under coach Tim Cone Greg Slaughter started the league’s 43rd season with bang. He played solid games as he led the Gin Kings to a pair of victories to earn the PBA Press Corp Player of the Week Award. Slaughter kicked off the PBA’s new season by knocking down 24 points, hauling down 12 rebounds and adding four blocks to lead Ginebra to an 89-78 victory over long-time rival Magnolia in the Manila Classico on Christmas Day at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. The former Ateneo big man is no doubt, Ginebra’s main weapon inside the paint. He used his size and length over shorter Magnolia defenders, like 6’6” Ian Sangalang and 6’4” Marc Pingris, to lead the Kings to their eighth straight Christmas Day win. Ginebra has only lost once in 11 Christmas Day games. The 6’11” Slaughter then, continued his dominant showing. Despite coming off a long Holiday break he flirted with a doubledouble—scoring 18 points and adding nine boards, while making his presence felt on the defensive end with five blocks as Ginebra squeaked past GlobalPort, 104-97 last Sunday. Slaughter’s impressive performances to start the season rewarded him the weekly citation. He beat a number of worthy candidates led by teammate LA Tenorio; Phoenix gunner Matthew Wright, rookie Jason Perkins and big man Doug Kramer; TNT’s Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario and Mo Tautuaa; San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo and Alex Cabagnot as well as Blackwater’s Mike DiGregorio and Mac Belo. Slaughter was born May 19, 1988 in the US. After he finished high school his family moved to Cebu He studied Political Science and played for the University of the Visayas from 2007 to 2009. He was a dominant force due to his height. He transferred to Ateneo de Manila University in 2010 and became eligible to play in 2011. He teamed up with Kiefer Ravena and Nico Salva in his two seasons for the Blue Eagles. He averaged 13.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists per game, 2.9 blocks per game and had 49.7 field goal percentage. He placed second in rebounds and blocks. Slaughter declared for the 2013 PBA draft. He then joined that year’s Rookie Camp and confirmed what everybody else had been thinking all along which was to make him the first overall pick.

CREAMLINE ADDS GUMABAO, GOHING TO POWERHOUSE SQUAD LOOKS like Creamline is pulling out all the stops in its bid to finally win its first title in the coming 2018 Premier Volleyball League. Already with arguably the best local spikers in the country in Alyssa Valdez and Risa Sato in its fold Creamline added Michele Gumabao and Melissa Gohing its powerhouse lineup. Both are defensive aces who will complement the sheer offense provided by Valdez and Sato. Gumabao is a stonewall at the net as middle blocker while Gohing mops the floor with her dynamic defense as libero. The two were teammates at De La Salle University. Gumabao led De La Salle to three UAAP

championships. He was a twotime Best Blocker winner and then won the Finals Most Valuable Player in Season 75 before giving up her last playing year the following season. Gohing won the UAAP Season 71 Rookie of the Year award and eventually collected four titles with De La Salle. Gumabao played in the PVL for Pocari Sweat. She bolted the squad to play for Cocolife in the Philippine Super Liga. She returns to Sports Vision-organized volleyball league after a year’s absence. Gohing played with Gumabao in the PSL in 2015. They left Generika Lifesavers to transfer to the Federated Distributors Inc. team Philips Gold Lady Slammers.

They teamed up to power the Lady Slammers to a bronze medal finish in the All-Filipino and Grand Prix before the club transferred to the PVL then-called the V-League. The squad was renamed Pocari Sweat. With Gumabao, Gohing and Myla Pablo the team won the Open Conference and Reinforced Conference by beating the Philippine Air Force squad and the Bureau of Customs team. Creamline on the other, also with veteran setter Jia Morado, placed third in the PVL’s Reinforced and Open conferences. The team obviously wants to take the next step and win a PVL crown with their new additions. The league opens its 2018 season in April.

Michelle Gumabao (7) tries to contain the attack of Alyssa Valdez (right) with the ball flying through Gumabao’s blocking hands. Gumabao and Valdez, rivals since college, teams up at Creamline this coming PVL season.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 Riera U. Mallari, Editor / Randy Caluag, Issue Editor

Sports

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

DASMA’S WHIZ KIDS DOMINATE CHESS SCENE By Randy Caluag

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WELVE-YEAROLD Jerlyn Mae San Diego is determined to follow in her sister’s footstep and make her and their father, Antonio, utterly proud. She’s one of the youngest among the Philippine bets in the recent ASEAN chess championship in Malaysia, yet, she unfurled a dominating performance that catapulted the country to its best ever finish yet in the tournament. She had a perfect stint that netted her six gold medals in the individual and team events in standard, rapid and blitz of the girls’ 12-under category. Her contribution told a lot in the Philippines charttopping production of 83 golds, 37 silvers and 29 bronzes. Malaysia followed with 8-33-41 and Indonesia at third with 12- 6-4. Jerlyn, younger sister of Women’s Fide Master Marie Antoinette, is just starting. “Pangarap ko pong maging WGM (women’s grandmaster),” quipped Jerlyn, who was attracted to the game when her sister and father travel abroad to compete. “Nung nakakapunta po sila sa ibang bansa, na-engganyo na po ako. Nag start na po akong magpaturo kay daddy,” said the grade 7 student, who idolizes GM Wesley So. Jerly vows to continue her splendid game as the Philippines take turns to host the tournament in Davao this June. “Pagbubutihan ko pa po nang husto and mag-train.”

Almost but not quite

Jerlyn’s teammate from Dasmarinas City, Kyleen Joy Mordido, almost had a perfect game too. She just missed one and ended up with five golds and a silver in the same Malaysian event. But Joy is not complaining. “Tuloy-tuloy lang naman po. Parang career na po ito sa akin at mas gagalingan ko pa,” said the grade 10 student, who hopes to avail of scholarship from Manila schools when she turns college. The 15-year-old started playing four years ago and she learned the tricks quickly. Thanks to his younger brother, Eric, who is her teammate in

The multiple medalists in the recent ASEAN Chess tournament in Malaysia, (from left) Kyleen Joy Mordido, Daren dela Cruz, Jerlyn Mae San diego, Michael Concio, Justin Mordido, Mark Jay Bacoo, Daniel Quizon, with officials of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines led by chairman and president Prospero Pichay (center).

a finalist in the 2017 Battle of the Grandmasters. Quizon, with an Elo rating of 2132, is touted to be the strongest junior player in his age level. Powerhouse team San Diego, Mordido, Concio and Quizon maybe training under different coaches but they are all under the care of Roel Abelgas, playing for the City Dasmarinas in Caviete. Dasmarinas City, with the full backing of mayor Elpidio Barzaga and his wife fourth

rinas City team. Barzaga has put up at chess library that contains computer, books, chess sets and a chess room that can accommodate 50 players at a time. Abelgas said at least 200 players visit the chess library every day. Barzaga also provided the Dasmarinas players each with laptop so they can train on-line every day. He also provides allowances for the players competing abroad under the Philippine uniform. “Kaya malaki ang tsansa

Kyleen Joy Mordido and Jerlyn Mae San Diego are the emerging power in women’s chess.

the national team. “Naglaro kasi ang kapatid ko, na-engganyo din ako kaya nagpaturo na din ako sa tito ko.” She said, chess looks easy for her. “Enjoy lang naman po ako, parang hindi naman ako napapagod, “ added Joy, who trains using her computer, most of the time.

Upbeat and confident

Two more best from Team Philippine, Daniel Quizon and Michael Concio Jr., are upbeat about their return to the ASEAN tourney and getting the chance to earn FIDE Master norms that will be at stake for the first time in the lower age levels of 16, 14 and 12-under. “Sana makapasok ulit ako sa qualifiers,” said the 13-yearold Quizon, who won three gold medals the last time it was held in Kuala Lumpur last November.

He took home the individual medals in the standard, rapid and blitz categories and 14-under division. Quizon will be joining the tournament for the sixth straight time. And his performance in Kuala Lumpur was his best ever finish so far. On the other hand, Concio claimed took the standard and blitz honors, and a silver in the rapid matches of the under-12 rapid action. Because of this Concio feels that it will be his chance to come with better finishes this time around. “Expect ko po ito,” said Concio. Concio, who is coached by his father Michael Sr. is playing his fourth international tournament. It was hi second best showing for the year after becoming

Daniel Quizon and Michael Concio show off their medals

district Cavite representative Jenny Barzaga, is touted as the powerhouse team among local age-group campaigners. Dasmarinas players comprised the majority of Team Philippines. “Malaki talaga ang pasalamat namin kay mayor Pidi (Barzaga) dahil sa buong suporta niya sa chess,” said Abelgas, chess consultant of the Dasma-

naming mahigitan pa ang performance sa Malaysia dahil full support sa amin si mayor.” Four players from Dasmarinas will join the Philippine team next week to compete in the China Youth International Open under-20 tournament. “Sana makakuha kami ng norms doon,” said Abelgas. With reports from Peter Atencio

TEAM SE ASIA LAUDS PRADERA LADIES STAGING TEAM Southeast Asia looks forward to scoring a repeat in the Pradera Verde Ladies Challenge firing off tomorrow (Monday, Jan. 15) and reaffirms its support to the event pitting the top players from other SEA countries against the country’s leading jungolfers and amateurs at the Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga. “We are very quite optimistic about our chances,” said Team SEA co-captain Jantsoon Kan, whose team is made up of the leading amateurs from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. “But we would like to thank this opportunity to thank the organizers for putting up this event.” The visiting side fashioned out a dominant 19.5-10.5 romp in the inaugural staging of the event put up by Archen Cayabyab, Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab, and coach Norman Sto. Domingo last year not only to boost the country’s junior and amateur golf program but also to foster camaraderie and friendship with the neighboring SEA countries. “We’d like to thank the organizers for this pioneering event and hope the Pradera Challenge will continue every year,” said Team SEA co-skipper Phunampa Pornperapan, who will be banking on wards Kultida Pramphun, Onkanok Soisuwan and Pinkaew Trachentong along with Indonesian Michela Tjan and 13-year-olds Pimkwan Chookaew and Phannarai Meesom-us of Thailand and Singapore’s Shannon Tan. Team SEA is also fielding in three Malaysian players in Ashley Lau, Audrey Tan and Zulaikah Nurzian with veteran Winnie Ng providing the experience and leadership.

ALASKA, JR.NBA CONTINUE TO NURTURE FUTURE STARS ALASKA Milk Corporation continues to open doors for future champions as it continues its partnership with the Jr. NBA Philippines– the breeding ground of the rising stars in Philippine basketball. The NBA’s global youth basketball program began with coaches seminar and official tipoff ceremony, attended by officials from Alaska Milk Corporation, NBA Philippines and Asia and its partners at the at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati. Alaska’S newly designated managing director Marco Bertacca said it will be his major campaign to make the Filipino children healthy. “Some of the health problems of children here are malnutrition and obesity. We will continue to do projects that promote active and healthy lifestyle. “Let the children get out and play sports in the sun. The camp which will run until May 2018 - has produced some of the most promising basketball talents in the country today. Alaska Milk and Jr. NBA/WNBA have laid down their pathway to success by building their character at an early age through the STAR values: Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect. “As part of our long-standing partnership with the NBA, Alaska Milk Corporation is proud to play an active role in shaping the basketball players of tomorrow through good nutrition and proper life values,“said Alaska Milk Corporation Marketing Director Blen Fernando. The Jr. NBA camp will hold regional selection camps in Bacolod (Feb. 10-11), Butuan (Feb. 24-25), Baguio (March 17-18) and another in Manila (April 7-8) with the top 37 boys and girls to be invited in the National Training Camp which is tentatively set in the last week of April or early May.

PHILRACOM COMMISSIONER’S CUP BLASTS OFF TODAY THE PHILIPPINE Racing Commission unleashes its first big salvo for the year, the 2018 Philracom Commissioner’s Cup at the Saddle & Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite today (Sunday). Held in honor of former Philracom Commissioner and Executive Director Francisco Paulino V. Cayco, the Commissioner’s Cup will be raced in the distance of 1,700 meters. The Philracom is honoring Cayco with the stakes race for his “distinguished service during his incumbency as Commissioner and Executive Director of the commission from 1994 to 1998.” Out to open the year with a bang and leading the seven-horse field is Sepfourteen, last year’s Triple Crown winner owned by SC Stockfarm. Standing in the way of Sepfourteen are Bite My Dust of owner Nicomedes Cruz, Electric Truth of Leonardo Javier Jr.,

coupled entry Eugene Onegin and Lakan of owner Banjamin C. Abalos Jr., Messi of Narciso Morales, Salt and Pepper of Herminio Esguerra. A total of P1.5 million is offered in the stakes race, with P900,000 going to the winner and P337,500 awarded to the runner-up. Third and fourth get P187,500 and P75,000, respectively. A purse of P70,000 is also set for the breeder of the winning horse. Meanwhile, Philracom sales amounting to P7.3 billion in 2017 has netted the government P1.2 billion in taxes, an increase of P88 million or 7.56 percent from the previous year. The commission said this is due to its innovations and membership in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), whose mission is to promote good regulation and best practices on international matters pertaining to the sport, such as the ratingbased handicapping system.

“The Philracom is very proud of this accomplishment as the commission not only arrested the dwindling horse-racing sales for the past three years, it also bettered last year’s revenues,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez. The actual figure for 2017 stood at P7,378,571,897 in sales, an increase of P159,830,562 from 2016’s P7,218,741,335. Taxed by 17 percent, the total revenue for the national coffers will amount to P1,254,357,222.49 for a 7.56% increase of P88,208,096.55 compared to 2016’s P1,166,149,125.94. “The boost in revenues is a product of the increase in our prizes and the implementation of a new rating-based handicapping system as a result of our recent membership with IFHA,” added Sanchez. “Aficionados are now more confident to place their bets because they know the races are not only very competitive, they are conducted fair and square.”

NBA Philippines’ head Carlo Singson and Alaska Milk Corporation managing director Marco Bertacca hold the ceremonial ball during the Jr. NBA Philippines tipoff yesterday at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@manilastandard.net

BANK EXECUTIVE JOINS GRAB

From left: Minette Navarrete, president of Kickstart Ventures Inc.; Rico Gonzalez, chairman of Ashoka Philippines; Paolo Agloro and Luis Gaza, co-founders of The Spark Project; Patrick Dulay, founder and CEO of The Spark Project; Paola Betita, community and product manager of The Spark Project; and Mikey Garrovillo, head of innovation at Globe Telecom.

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HOW A FILIPINO PROJECT SPARKS GROWTH OF SMES

rowdfunding” has become the default avenue to raise funds for a campaign, a project, an appeal for help and other issues that tug the heart. This phenomenon has reached global levels and has sparked numerous initiatives, especially in developing socially relevant projects that seek to create a difference. One such crowdfunding website is “The Spark Project,” which was spearheaded by founder and chief executive Patrick Dulay. It aims to create a “spark” among local entrepreneurs or the socalled “changemakers” and doers and empower them through an online platform to showcase their creations and projects while at the same time, attract people who are willing to provide exciting and socially-meaningful projects. Thus, Dulay was elated when The Spark Project was chosen as one of the Top 5 winners of the Globe Future Makers program, besting 130 other entries. “Globe enables our technology and there are a lot of potential for synergies with Globe. GFM can really help the project by creating a bigger community and expanding our membership, or through resources to help us grow in the next few months. Our goal is to spark 100 projects and to achieve that, we need all the help we can

get,” he said. “Through our partners in GFM such as Kickstart Ventures Inc. and Ashoka Philippines, we are facilitating the winners’ access to relevant startup workshops or clinics, introductions to potential partners, mentors, advisers, and investors so that they can build their products faster and launch sooner to benefit the communities that they aim to serve. Together, we hope to influence and build a whole ecosystem of social innovators who use technology to create a positive impact on society,” said Chelle Gray, director for Globe Citizenship. It was in 2009 when Dulay started to toy with the idea of funding something by the people. He later on began his own project together with his co-founders. “I felt there are a lot of ideas and I believe in people’s talent. Being abroad gave me a deeper appreciation of Filipino talent being world class and I’d like to contribute to that, make their ideas happen through technology and crowdsourcing so they can enable their dreams and ideas to fly,” he said. Dulay was proud to note that in five years, they were able to “spark” a total of 63 projects valued cumulatively at more than P5.8 million. On average, a project can raise from P80,000 to P120,000. To qualify for crowdfunding, creative entrepreneurs and change-makers should be local or homegrown. Even if not enterprising, the effort should have an impact on society and community and should be innovative enough. Through crowdfunding, Dulay reported that

they were able to help a lot of interesting projects, mostly product-based or consumer goods. One example is the Gouache Waxed Canvas Bags. The business was launched through Spark in 2013 and already opened a mall-based store in September. “Crowdfunding really helped them raise more than P180,000 to produce their first batch of bags and grow their business,” he said. Another noteworthy project, though not a money-making venture but more of a civic action project, was the rehabilitation of Estero de Paco, one of the 48 tributaries or “esteros” of the Pasig River through the group Earth Ventures which came out with a treatment “ball” that uses Bokashi or Japanese water treatment technology that eliminates bad bacteria using good bacteria. “They used crowdfunding to create those balls and organized a mud-ball throwing into the estero. This is an example of a community-based project and due to their campaign they got a lot of exposure. Through Spark, they were able to raise awareness and bring more people in to participate. Those were really intangible benefits and not just financial,” said Dulay. He said the most challenging part is how to draw the public to a project since there is a high degree of accountability where project proponents have to be able to deliver what they promised. There should always be transparency, Dulay said, so everyone goes through a screening process to determine if they can really deliver.

MINING FIRM PROVIDES LIVELIHOOD TRAININGS IN ORDER to build and strengthen t h e c a p a c i t i e s o f p e o p l e’s organizations in its host and n e i g h b o r i n g co m m u n i t i e s, Marcventures Mining and Development Corp. has organized a series of livelihood trainings on abaca and falcata plantation. A two-phase training and seminar on the effective management of falcata plantation w a s c o n d u c t e d r e c e n t l y, facilitated by forester Rito Artazo of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Cantilan municipality. At least 26 farmers from the Cabangahan Falcata Plantation Livelihood Association benefited from the training, where they learned the intricacies of growing falcata and how to maximize earnings from it. The group consists of land beneficiaries who are each cultivating a hectare of land for falcata with 1 hectare of land per

beneficiary for falcata cultivation. MMDC also organized a training for 33 abaca growers belonging to the Cabangahan Abaca Plantation Livelihood Association. Agriculturist Nicociamo Comon handled the training at Barangay Magosilom Social Hall in Cantilan. Both trainings were funded

from the company’s Social Development and Management Program. MMDC personnel also underwent their own training—this time on bamboo farming. One of the goals is to enable the selected personnel to share their learnings to community organizations that may benefit from it.

But the main objective in engaging the services of Life, Earth and other Systems Solutions Advocacy Inc. is “mine site rehabilitation through ecological training and education, tree planting, maintenance, monitoring and development of botanical culture in mine affected vicinities.” As part of its services, Life, Earth and other Systems Solutions Advocacy Inc. is also tasked with conducting bamboo planting activities and to provide Marcventures the knowledge, management and maintenance of the company’s bamboo nursery/ plantation. MMDC’s Community Relations department regularly conducts trainings for its livelihood projects to sharpen the knowledge and business management skills of beneficiaries.

GRAB, the leading on-demand transportation and mobile payments platform in Southeast Asia, appointed Ooi Huey Tyng as managing director of GrabPay Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. GrabPay is the mobile payments solution of Grab. Based in Singapore, Huey Tyng brings on board more than 25 years of experience in senior positions at global banks and leading payments providers. Following shortly after a number of GrabPay milestones to end 2017, the appointment underlines the scale of the payments platform’s ambitions coming into 2018. Huey Tyng joins Grab from Visa, where she was the country manager for Singapore and Brunei. During her time, Huey Tyng drove the company’s innovation and digital roadmap as well as the strategic engagement of regional banks headquartered in Singapore. Prior to that, Huey Tyng held leadership roles at DBS, UOB and Citi among others, where she was responsible for managing retail cards businesses, co-branding and rewards partnerships, as well as engagement with merchants. Huey Tyng also served as a representative to the MAS Payments Council and the Committee on the Future Economy. “ H u e y Ty n g b r i n g s d e e p leadership expertise from some of the region’s premier banks and payments providers. Her experience with our current and potential payments partners will be invaluable as GrabPay moves into its next phase of growth. Millions of people in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines are still heavily dependent on cash. Huey Tyng’s skills in forging business partnerships across each country will enable us to bring more merchants and consumers into the cashless future faster,” said Jason Thompson, managing director of GrabPay Southeast Asia. Commenting on her new role, Huey Tyng says: “It’s an exciting moment to join Grab. There are unique opportunities and challenges in the payment space for each country in Southeast Asia. For instance, more than 4 out of 5 Filipino households remain unbanked and only 1 percent of transactions were done electronically as a result. With GrabPay, we can complement the work of our partners and offer millions of consumers in the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, the opportunity to go cashless.” To close out 2017, Grab also moved beyond transport in the Philippines by launching its peer-to-peer fund transfer feature in December. In the cash-heavy Philippines, this feature enables Grab consumers to send GrabPay Credits to one another in an instantaneous, simple and secure way. In Singapore, GrabPay onboarded a total of 1,000 merchants, reaching its target a mere two months after launching its in-store and in-restaurant payments service. For 2018, the payments platform will continue to focus on Singapore’s more than 20,000 local, cash-based merchants who will see the most immediate benefits from adopting cashless. In Malaysia, GrabPay was granted the e -money license by Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysia’s central monetary authority. As a result, consumers in Malaysia will be able to pay with Grab in restaurants, shops and online, starting in the first half of 2018. The Grab platform facilitates more than 3.5 million transactions daily.

Business

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 business@manilastandard.net

FORMER WAITER NOW RUNS BIG HOTEL

T MJC Investment Corp., the owner and operator of Winford Manila Resort and Casino in Sta. Cruz, Manila, appointed Jeffrey Lim Evora as its chief operating officer in December. Evora has an extensive experience in international hospitality and gaming industries, having worked in mega-resort casino operations both in the United States and the Philippines. He started out in the hospitality industry as a wait help in a small restaurant in Kahului, Hawaii in 1990. From then, he worked his way up, serving in different capacities for wellknown hotels and casinos in the US, including the Hyatt Regency Maui, The Flamingo Hilton and notably at Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. Previously, Evora served as the senior director of gaming marketing for the first integrated resort to operate in the Philippines, Resorts World Manila. “The one big advantage of the hospitality and gaming industries in the Philippines compared to other countries is its people,” Evora said. “All the best hotels, cruise ships and hospitality companies in the world have one thing in common, and that is the Filipino smile. Imagine being in a country where everyone is happy to see you, ready to serve and ensure that your stay is comfortable and satisfying,” he said. Primed in a location that is conducive for rest and recreation and for people who want to skip heavy traffic in Manila, WMRC is an P8-billion development that towers over the San Lazaro Business and Tourism Park, integrating lifestyle and entertainment alternatives for its clientele. “The WMRC is a place that no one expects in the City of Manila. Our rooms are top-notch, we offer value for money, and our biggest advantage is our location,” Evora said. The luxury hotel houses 128 deluxe rooms, a ballroom that can accommodate 600 guests for MICE activities, a heated swimming pool, gym and wellness spa and restaurants, including the Choi Garden Manila, and the enter tainment venue Hippodrome Bar and Lounge.

MEDICAL GROUP REVERSES POSITION ON E-CIGARETTES

HE Philippine College of Chest Physicians should consider following the lead of the— British Medical Association, which recently reversed its negative position on electronic cigarettes or vapes and now supports their availability as a means to reduce the harm caused by smoking cigarettes, a consumer advocacy group said.

“We call on the PCCP to carefully look at the reasons behind the BMA’s about-face on e-cigarettes. As the premiere specialty organization of Filipino pulmonologists and acknowledged authority in pulmonary medicine in the Philippines, the PCCP can be a huge influence in the adoption of tobacco harm reduction measures in the country that could potentially save millions of Filipino lives,” said Tom Pinlac, president of The Vapers Philippines. Pinlac said local tobacco harm reduction advocates including The Vapers Philippines were asking the Department of Health to emulate the British government’s anti-tobacco policy, which supports consumers in stopping smoking and promotes the use of less harmful nicotine products, particularly e-cigarettes. Last year, about 2 million people in England used e-cigarettes and completely stopped smoking while nearly half a million more were using e-cigarettes as an aid to stop smoking. In its position paper “E-cigarettes: Balancing risks and opportunities”, which was released on Nov. 29, 2017, the BMA stated: “Increasing numbers of smokers are using e-cigarettes, with many people finding them helpful in cutting down or quitting cigarette use. There are clear potential benefits to e-cigarettes in reducing the harms associated with smoking, and consensus that e-cigarette use is likely to be significantly safer than smoking. It remains important, however, that in realizing any benefit to health, any potential risks associated with e-cigarette use are minimized.” Written specifically for policymakers, the BMA paper aims to highlight the association members’ concerns, and potential opportunities surrounding the use of e-cigarettes. It sets out what the BMA believes is an appropriate policy response, taking into account the evolving regulatory and policy environment for these devices in the UK. The BMA is the professional association of doctors in the UK. The BMA paper has three key messages for policymakers on tobacco harm reduction: First, there is a growing consensus that e-cigarette use is significantly less harmful than smoking. Second, e-cigarettes are the most popular device used in attempts to stop smoking. Although there is a lack of high quality research proving “effectiveness” as required for drugs, most reported studies demonstrate a positive relationship between e-cigarette use and cessation. Third, consumer regulations and feasible standards currently in force in the UK should be kept under review but are sufficient to address concerns about e-cigarette use, something which would not have been possible if e-cigarettes were regulated as medicines, noted the BMA.

The Vapers Philippines president Tom Pinlac

The BMA noted that the way in which e-cigarettes are regulated will influence their potential to reduce tobacco-related harm. All e-cigarettes presently available in the UK are regulated as consumer products, and there are now over 2.9 million people using these devices. The wide availability of e-cigarettes as an alternative to tobacco is likely, overall, to be playing a positive role in supporting tobaccoharm reduction, and consumer regulations will ensure a minimum standard of product quality. Prior to the introduction of regulations contained within the Tobacco Products Directive, the BMA supported calls for e-cigarettes to be regulated as medicines, on the grounds that this would help ensure their efficacy, quality and safety, and bring them in to line with other NRT products. “However, no medically licensed

products have been brought to the market yet… [which] is most likely because of the prohibitive costs associated with the application process and manufacturing. There are also particular concerns that licensing and presentation as medicines may reduce the appeal of e-cigarettes to smokers,” the BMAsaid. The TPD is the set of European Union regulations covering sales of all tobacco products, including cigarettes and e-cigarettes. It was originally created in 2001, but was revised in 2014 to include e-cigarettes. “With appropriate regulation, e-cigarettes have the potential to make an important contribution towards achieving the BMA’s ambition of a tobacco-free society, leading to substantially reduced mortality from tobaccorelated disease,” the BMA paper stated.

HOW A CEMENT FIRM CREATED JOBS FOR VILLAGE WOMEN AS A leader in the building materials sector, sustainability is a key guiding principle of Republic Cement’s business strategy. By creating shared value with society through its corporate social responsibility initiatives, the company is able to meet the community’s challenges and contribute to nation-building. Over 10,000 people in Iligan have since benefited from Republic Cement’s CSR initiatives and the company is set to double this number this year. “Sustainability is a fundamental prerequisite to future growth. Hence, as a responsible corporate citizen, we strive to meet the highest standards of environmental management, and to enhance quality of life for the community. We focus not only in our area of operations, but also reach out to the far-flung remote communities in Iligan,” Republic Cement Services Inc. president Nabil Francis said. In 2009, the Bunawan Mat Weavers Women’s Association was established in Barangay Bunawan, as a part of Republic Cement’s social development and management program. The association was established for the purpose of setting up a livelihood project for women. Women-members

of the association are trained to weave and create new and different products out of Romblon or Pandan plant, and are taught to cultivate and grow the plant to ensure sustainable supply. Within eight years of operations, the Bunawan Mat Weavers Women’s As s o c i at i o n h a s s e e n m a r k e d improvement in the quality of life of its 30 plus members, whose products such as wallets, bed mats and place mats have gained accreditation and ack nowledgement by the Department of Trade and Industry and the City of Iligan. “The income from woven products has greatly helped the community. We are very grateful to Republic Cement’s Iligan Plant for supporting the development of our livelihood, greatly benefiting the women in the community,” Bunawan Mat Weavers Women’s Association president Primitiva Cuesta said. Republic Cement said it continues to look for ways to further support the community and tapped the association to produce corporate gifts. “We are glad to be given the opportunity to produce placemats for Republic Cement to satisfy their requirement for corporate souvenirs,” Cuesta said, noting that the additional

Unemployed mothers weaving handicraft products help support their families through livelihood income.

income has enabled them to celebrate Christmas with their respective families on a joyful note. Th e B u n aw a n M a t We ave r s Women’s Association, in turn, gives back to other barangays under Republic Cement’s SDMP. Just recently, Cuesta served as the resource person who trained members of the Barangay

Kiwalan Women’s Association on Mat Weaving during livelihood workshops organized by Republic Cement. Republic Cement also extended to communities in Mindano during the Marawi siege and declaration of Martial Law. In partnership with Pilmico Foods Corp., Republic Cement provided assistance to the

students, families and members of the military affected by the conflict. Food and clothing were donated to police officers and soldiers stationed in Iligan, in acknowledgment of their dedication to the city and its constituents. In addition, Republic Cement has an ongoing partnership with the Lasallian Volunteer Program of De La Salle Philippines benefiting the Alayon community, especially young pre-school aged children in Purok Langilanon, Barangay Pugaan, Iligan City. Vital structures were either built or improved, including a nursery school, a social hall and basketball court facilities, all of which are essential to community development. These CSR programs were designed and implemented on top of Republic Cement’s SDMP, and carry the support and participation of the city council down to the ‘purok’ presidents. The local government unit representatives are also involved in the planning process of these programs prior to implementation. “By investing in our communities, we are ultimately investing in the future. After all, stronger communities help build a stronger Republic,” Francis said.

Tech & Gadgets

LENOVO DEVICES RESHAPE FUTURE information in your field of view, to giving step-by-step directions and instructions for repair, identifying disabled equipment and trouble-shooting issues with a remote colleague all while keeping your hands free. The New Glass C220 is an AR wearable terminal device which features anti-noise interaction, mobile computing capacity, customized mods and more. Lenovo NBD AH Cloud 2.0 is an enterprise SaaS platform based on AR, AI and big data technology. It can enhance the awareness and working ability of the field staff. AH Cloud does conforms to the concept of the Augmented Human, making it ideal for remote industrial maintenance, intelligent command and dispatch,3D diagnosis, intelligent tourism and other fields. The video communication system is based on Kepler technology including on-to-many two-way video; the workflow management system is based on titan technology, user can build and edit project without programing ability; and the intelligent detection system, based on martin technology, can do real-time object detection for multiple type of objects simultaneously after being trained using images. Start and End Your Day Smarter with Lenovo Smart Display Lenovo Smart Display with the Google Assistant built-in makes using technolVirtual reality gets even better with a new take on VR consumption and creation. ogy at home more convenient, intuitive and shared. Make it the command hub for your connected smart home deLenovo Mirage Camera with Daydream. vices, from lighting to AS VEGAS—At the Consumer Electronics Show 2018, This pocket-sized point-and-shoot heating and Lenovo outlined its 2018 vision for technology innocamera simplifies the technology more – convations—this new portfolio of intelligent devices will needed to capture 3D photos and trolled with your voice make reality better, from the pocket to the PC to the home. videos with its dual 13 MP fisheye camera and its 180 x 180° field or touch. And of view. We’re making the tools use Google AsVirtual reality gets even better with a and get PC diagnostics and support to make your own VR content sistant to show new take on VR consumption and creation. through one app with Lenovo Vantage,on accessible and fun. The you directions The Lenovo Mirage™ Solo with Daydream™ our Windows 10 PCs. Lenovo Mirage on Google Whether it’s virtual, augmented or C a m e r a headset offers one of the simplest ways of Maps™, ™ exploring VR experiences to date. The head- smarter features. Reality has never been p h o t o s watch set brings immersive VR within the reach of so exhilarating. and vidYouTube Better Together: Lenovo Mirage mainstream consumers in a standalone, fully eos can be v i d e o s, Solo with Daydream Headset + self-sufficient simple-to-use design. Use the uploaded to your video call Lenovo Mirage Camera Lenovo Mirage Camera with Daydream to personal Google Phoyour friends VR is done differently with the Mirage tos™ and YouTube™ accapture life’s memorable moments and then with Google Lenovo Miix 630 with relive them in 3D on the headset. Profession- Solo standalone VR headset and Mirage count for viewing and Duo™, listen to music detachable keyboard als too can transform their work through VR180 camera from Lenovo, allowing VR- sharing – watch on a and more. The Lenovo Smart and digital pen Augmented Reality (AR) with Lenovo C220 curious crowds to consume and create standard browser on Display comes in 8-inch or smart glasses. This monocular, light weight, content in an incredibly seamless way. your Mirage Solo with 10-inch screen models and Break free from wires, PCs or phones Daydream headset or on most popular VR is powered by the Qualcomm® Home hands free AR hardware and software experience leverages your smartphone’s with the comfort and simplicity of the headsets you may already own. It comes Hub Platform. capabilities to augment service tasks, train- world’s first standalone Daydream equipped with the Qualcomm Connected Always On, Always Connected PC headset. And be one of the first to Camera® Platform which features highing and more. We’re taking PC mobility up a notch At home, get a more personalized, immersive yourself with WorldSense™ quality dual cameras, built-in WiFi and with the Miix 630. This 2-in-1 detachable convenient and shared technology ex- motion-tracking technology on Google X9 LTE cellular modem in the LTE version. defies expectations of what a laptop can perience with the Lenovo Smart Display Daydream’s virtual reality platform. UsNew Glass C220 Solution Pairs truly do. It gives you the flexibility and that has the Google Assistant™ built-in.™ ing WorldSense, you can lean, dodge Artificial Intelligence Learning productivity of a Windows 10 S laptop We’ve also added more brainpower to or duck through space naturally as you & Augmented Reality with the always on, always connected our laptops: the always on, always con- move through a large library of magiThe Lenovo New Glass C220 system mobility of a smartphone.1 Rely now on nected Miix 630 2-in-1 detachable gives cal, reality-defying content. Based on consists of a Glass Unit and Pocket Unit fast 4G LTE2 instead of Wi-Fi with up to you the mobility of a smartphone with the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835 VR and works by recognizing and identifying 20 hours of local video playback.2 Built LTE1 and up to 20 hours of battery local platform, the Lenovo Mirage Solo deliv- real-life objects using AI technologies. on Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 mobile video playback2 with the full performance ers high-quality, immersive experiences. The lightweight 60-gram Glass Unit runs Mobile PC platform, the Miix 630 is a 15.6 and the productivity you’d expect of a And you can make games even more on Android. You experience AR through mm (0.6 in) thin and 1.33kg (2.93 lbs) light Windows® 10 S PC. ThinkPad ups its game lifelike with the wireless Daydream con- one eye, while keeping the other on the mobile companion. Equipped through with a revamped X1 line and customer- troller – baseball bat, steering wheel or real world. Download the LNV app (AH Windows 10 S with Cortana® you can use centric innovations on the X, T and L Series. whatever fits your chosen app. Cloud) to your smartphone and then plug your voice to access your personal digital Now you can create your own VR the Pocket Unit into the phone. The New assistant and use Windows Hello™ bioWe’re also bringing users an easier way to migrate files and settings from one PC to content and then experience once-in-a- Glass C220 applies to a variety of work and metric facial recognition for more secure another, identify secure Wi-Fi networks lifetime moments, on demand, with the learning scenarios, from letting you gather and convenient log-in.

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OPPO F5 YOUTH NOW AT P12,990 OPPO Philippines kicks off 2018 with a price drop announcement of the OPPO F5 Youth. Now priced at P12,990, everyone can experience the innovative A.I. Beauty Technology for natural selfies with 6” Full screen display for an immersive visual experience. “Our OPPO F5 Series is known for its strong value proposition, especially its admirable selfie feature and solid performance. With an OPPO F5 smartphone matching our customers’

needs, we believe our lineup is now more appealing to the market,” said Eason de Guzman, OPPO Philippines’ Public Relations Manager. The OPPO F5 Series now has a more competitive lineup: the F5 Youth at P12,990, the OPPO F5 at P15,990, and the OPPO F5 6GB Red at P21,990. All smartphones feature OPPO’s A.I. Beauty Technology, known for its unique approach of delivering natural looking selfies. It can analyze the face of a subject with more than 200 rec-

ognition spots and determine the age, gender, skin type, and skin tone. This produces a customized selfie experience with effortless editing. For more information about the whole OPPO F5 series, customers may visit http://www.oppo.com/ph/ smartphone-f5 or http://www.oppo. com/ph/smartphone-f5-youth. They can also follow OPPO on Facebook via https://www.facebook.com/OPPOPH/ for the store list and latest updates.

MELTDOWN AND SPECTRE: VULNERABILITIES MAY FACILITATE MEMORY LEAKS SYMANTEC has released the following detection for attempts to exploit the Multiple CPU Hardwares Information Disclosure Vulnerability (CVE-20175753/Spectre): A series of newly discovered vulnerabilities affecting processor chips could permit attackers to gain unauthorized access to a computer’s memory. Dubbed Meltdown and Spectre, the vulnerabilities affect nearly all modern processors and can only be mitigated through operating system patches. Of the two, Meltdown poses the greatest threat because it is easier to exploit and affects all kinds of computers, including personal computers and virtual machines in the cloud. Symantec is not aware of either vulnerability being exploited in the wild. The vulnerabilities are significant, since a successful exploit could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, including passwords. However, exploit of any vulnerable computer would require an attacker to gain access to the targeted computer via a prior step, such as running a malicious application on it; through JavaScript which triggers an exploit in order to run as native code; or running JavaScript to map the kernel. All of these malicious activities can be blocked by Symantec products. Nevertheless, users are advised to apply operating system patches as soon as they are made available. Both Meltdown and Spectre exploit flaws in processors in order to bypass memory isolation in the operating system. Operating systems are designed in a way to block one application from accessing memory being used by another. If memory isolation fails to work, a malicious application could steal information from memory being used by other applications.

What is Meltdown?

Meltdown (CVE-2017-5754) exploits a flaw in out-of-order execution, a performance feature found in many modern processor chips. The researchers who discovered it have confirmed that it affects every Intel processor since 1995 (with the exception of pre-2013 Intel Itanium and Intel Atom processors). However, they added that it remains unclear whether ARM and AMD processors are also affected by the vulnerability. If successfully exploited, an attacker can obtain a copy of the entire kernel address space, including any mapped physical memory, in other words, any data stored in memory at the time of the attack. Meltdown can be exploited regardless of the operating system a computer is running. It affects both individual computers and any computers hosting cloud services, meaning an attack on a single server could lead to the compromise of multiple virtual machines running on that server. Exploitation against cloud services is potentially the most worrying scenario, since the Meltdown can be exploited on a virtual machine in order to access memory from the host machine. Attackers could potentially buy space on a vulnerable cloud service and use it to stage an attack against other customers using the same host.

What is Spectre?

Spectre (CVE-2017-5753 and CVE2017-5715) has a similar outcome but works in a slightly different way, and exploits a flaw in processor design to trick an application into leaking information stored in memory. According to the team who discovered Spectre, virtually all modern processors are affected by the vulnerability, including Intel, AMD, and ARM chips. Once again, the vulnerability is operating system agnostic.

ENJOY THE GIFT OF MEMORIES WITH HP ZINK PHOTO PAPER WHAT’S a good way to remember and make beautiful memories last for a long time? You can reinvent the way you capture moments and relive sweet experiences with the gift of HP Sprocket. As a portable pocket-sized printer, the HP Sprocket gives a more exciting way to showcase your favorite memories by printing them directly from your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. You can also bring out your creative side and add your own personal touch by editing your images with cute frames and filters with the HP Sprocket App which you can download from Apple Store or Google Play. Now, you can hold on to more unforgettable moments with loved ones in personalized printouts when you buy your own 20-sheet pack of HP ZINK Photo Paper

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

at a 50% discount from any HP Stores and other participating retail stores nationwide. The HP ZINK Photo Paper works compatibly with the Sprocket printer to easily transform your cherished snapshots with friends and family into 2x3-inch smudge-free, colorful pictures that you can share with everyone. You can even peel the back off your printouts to turn them into stickers that you can use to customize a family scrapbook or decorate spaces with your favorite photos. So, start capturing life’s special moments and share them with everyone with the HP ZINK Photo Paper promo. Visit the nearest HP Store or other participating retail stores to get your own HP Sprocket. Promo ends Jan. 31. See posters and print ads for more details.

Mitigation

Users are advised to apply operating system patches immediately. Patches have already been released for Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, and Linux to patch Meltdown. Spectre is reportedly more difficult to patch but also more difficult to exploit. Work is underway to harden software against any potential exploits. Operating system vendors have already warned that patching is likely to have a performance impact on affected computers. According to Microsoft, the impact may not be noticeable on most consumer devices, however the specific impact “varies by hardware generation and implementation by the chip manufacturer.” The developers of the Linux patch said average performance could decline by 5 percent, but instances of a 30 percent decline were observed.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

TECH & Gadgets

GADGETS FOR KIDS STILL A HIT DESPITE CONCERNS

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AS VEGAS—The children’s section at the giant Consumer Electronics Show this week touted “innovations that enable 21st century kids to learn and play smarter than ever.“ The timing may have been unfortunate following revived concerns of the dangers of too much technology for young children. But as the debate swirled, exhibitors at the Las Vegas extravaganza sought to showcase devices aimed at health, education and entertainment for youngsters, including educational robots. Pai Technology introduced its interactive storybooks for children, which use virtual reality and according to its website “encourages a love of reading” and offers “thoughtful stories.” Amy Braun, marketing director for the group, acknowledged concerns about kids and technology but said these devices still have value. “Technology is here to stay, and it’s important to expose our children to technology but in beneficial ways,” she said. “We really focus on making sure that the time that we put it in front of our children is all about learning and development. And it’s not either or.” Braun said parents must decide on appropriate limits for screen exposure and other technology usage. Chinese startup Dragon Touch unveiled its colorful tablet computer aimed at kids between three and six years old, with educational apps and parental controls. Dragon Touch’s Lei Guo said the tablets may be valuable but also suggested parents supervise their use. “I really don’t want my kids to spend too much time on the internet,” he said. “So that’s why we also have the parent control mode, so that the parents can set a time, for example

By Peter Atencio

France-base Kolibree shows off a toothbrush that uses augmented reality and a smartphone application to make a game of children brushing their teeth during CES 2018 in Las Vegas. AFP

maybe 30 minutes per day.”

Augmented reality toothbrush

An augmented reality toothbrush meanwhile introduced by French startup Kolibree allows children to look at a smartphone or tablet screen to motivate and educate them about oral hygiene. “With image analysis, the application detects the brushing motion,” Kolibree’s Leonie Williamson. The device makes brushing a game, enabling kids to earn points by holding and using the toothbrush correctly. Williamson said the toothbrush would not be a big contributor to too much screen time for kids: “It’s just three brushings of two minutes each day.” The electronics show has long featured devices for children, and exhibitors

typically plan their displays and products many months in advance. But the show opened just amid fresh fears that too much technology may be harmful for children. In the United States, the nonprofit group Common Sense Media found 95 percent of US households have a mobile device in the home. Screen time has been shifting, the group said, from television to mobile devices. Earlier this week, two large shareholders urged Apple to study whether iPhones are proving addictive for children and if intensive use of the smartphones may be bad for their mental health. The investors cited a recent study suggesting children are negatively distracted by digital technologies in the classroom. Apple, which is not present at CES

but whose system is used by many app developers, said in a statement it “has always looked out for kids, and we work hard to create powerful products that inspire, entertain, and educate children while also helping parents protect them online.” At CES, Ahren Hoffmann of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, said determining how much technology to use for kids is “all about balance.” “We want to make sure that our kids today are both getting outside and play, and that they are playing with traditional toys, that they’re playing board games, but they’re also using iPads and tech toys, and learning about coding and other things that are happening in the world around us today,” she told AFP at the show. AFP

NOKIA OFFERS FREE JBL BLUETOOTH SPEAKER GET into the Beat this new year with HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones. With any purchase of a Nokia Android smartphone, consumers will receive a free JBL GO Portable Bluetooth Speaker. From Jan. 1 until Jan. 31, get the Bluetooth speaker for free when you purchase a Nokia 3, Nokia 5, Nokia 6 or Nokia 8. The promo can be availed through purchases made in authorized Nokia mobile phone dealers nationwide,

INTERNET USERS MUST BE CAUTIOUS ON USE OF WEBCAMS

as well as online through argomall.com. Nokia’s midrange phones are optimized for everyday use. The Nokia 3 features a precision-machine aluminum frame to ensure a strong build unheard of in the affordable smartphone segment. The Nokia 5 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 octa-core processor and a 13MP camera with dual-tone flash. For an immersive audio experience, the Nokia 6 boasts Dolby Atmos™ dual speakers

and a smart amplifier. With this affordable smartphone range, you can get Android that is pure, secure and up-to-date. The phones come in various colors to suit different styles. The Nokia 8, Nokia’s flagship smartphone, features 13MP front and rear cameras that can run simultaneously with the world first Dual-Sight camera technology in collaboration with ZEISS optics, inspiring everyone to “Be less Selfie, be more Bothie.” The Nokia 8 lists at P29,990

SRP while the Nokia 6 is available for P11,990. The Nokia 3 and Nokia 5 are priced at P6,990 and P9,990, respectively. The free JBL Bluetooth Speakers can be claimed until February 15, 2018 from the dealer where the Nokia smartphone is purchased. Just present the official receipt as proof of purchase within the promo period. For any inquiries about the promo, contact support.philippines@ hmdglobal.com.

INTERNET banking is safe, but people need to be cautious about the webcams on their personal computers and laptops. Rey Lugtu, a veteran business executive and entrepreneur, said this at the launch of the Forum on Cyber Security and the Internet of Things recently at the Discovery Primea. Lugtu is one of the advisers of Global Chamber Manila, which is organizing a one-day cyber security forum on Jan. 31. He said that in terms of security, the Philippines is at par with other countries in the region in terms of security infrastructures. But individuals need to take care of what transactions they do and what websites they use to do business. On the other hand, net users need to put plastic covers or any form of protection on their webcams when they activate Facebook or any social media programs on their laptops. This is to keep hackers from possibly spying on their activities from remote locations. “I always talk about this. That 95 percent of security breaches happens based on behavior. Awareness is important. Awareness among individuals and organizations is important,” said Lugtu. The one-day forum, dubbed as the “Forum on Cyber Security and the Internet of Things,” will be held at the Enderun Colleges at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. Web expert Marc Goodman is coming and he will talk about many advances in technology and its pitfalls. The New York Times bestselling author is a global strategist and consultant, who is focused on the profound changes that technology is having on security, business and international affairs. Questions on how people in the Philippines can protect themselves from the dangers of cyber security will be tackled. The speakers who will come will also talk about how social media and computer programs can be made more secure. Organizers expect more than 250 representatives from both the public and private sector to attend. Global Chambers is a community of CEOs, executives, professionals and students from over 500 metropolitan areas around the world.

VIVO DELIVERS INDUSTY-LEADING OPTICAL FINGERPRINT SENSOR LAS VEGAS—Vivo, a young global smartphone brand, showcases the world’s first ready-to-produce in-display fingerprint scanning smartphone that draws attention from a global audience at the CES 2018. Leading with distinct innovative breakthroughs, the futuristic Vivo in-display fingerprint scanning smartphone offers consumers an unprecedented mobile experience, defining a new era of mobile interaction. Vivo In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology in Detail At CES 2018, Vivo shows the world the first ready-to-produce smartphone featuring in-display fingerprint scanning technology, demonstrating its continued commitment to bringing an extraordinary user experience to consumers. This latest fingerprint scanning technology delivers a whole new mobile experience by enabling users to unlock their smartphone through one-touch fingerprint scanning directly on the smartphone display,

while solving the industry’s challenge of providing a better and more convenient fingerprint authentication experience in future smartphones. According to statistics from global consultancy Canalys, smartphone vendors shipped 22 million full-screen smartphones worldwide in the second quarter in 2017, up from 700,000 in the first quarter of this year. UBI Research predicted that bezel-less displays will grow in market share from 20% in 2017 to over 50% by 2020. Fingerprint recognition has long been one of the most common and well-known biometrics used to secure smartphones. As the industry moves into a new era of full-screen displays, it is natural that the fingerprint scanning technology needs to evolve to accommodate new user habits and demands for bigger screens without sacrificing user experience. “With our efforts in extensive consumer research and long-term R&D investment, Vivo is well positioned to pioneer the development

of fingerprint scanning technology. We first presented a prototype of our fingerprint scanning solution at MWC Shanghai 2017 based on an ultrasonic sensor, and have remained committed to realizing our vision for future smartphones,” said Alex Feng, Senior Vice President of Vivo.“Today’s showcase of a ready-to-produce in-display fingerprint scanning smartphone featuring an optical fingerprint sensor is a big leap forward in bringing consumers this long-awaited, futuristic mobile experience. We are very excited to make it available to consumers soon.” Innovation that Delivers a New Level of User Experience Vivo’s full-production smartphone is equipped with the industry-leading, world’s first in-display fingerprint scanning technology supported by global partner Synaptics. Vivo In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology supports various usage scenarios beyond unlocking the smartphone, and is only activated

when needed. A graphical UI will show up on Vivo’s smartphone screen in any scenario that fingerprint recognition is required, such as when the screen is off, during software unlocking, or even mobile payment authentication. Users can press the fingerprint graphic on the screen to perform unlocking, payment and other operations. When fingerprint recognition is not required, the UI will be invisible and will not disrupt the overall visual experience. Vivo In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology outperforms other authentication solutions available for fullscreen smartphones in many aspects. Compared to fingerprint sensors on the back of smartphones, Vivo In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology offers a more convenient operation without sacrificing the sleek and unified design of the smartphone. It also enables quick and secured authentication. Full-screen displays are set to deliver a more immersive user experience for consumers as various interactions

The futuristic Vivo in-display fingerprint scanning smartphone offers consumers an unprecedented mobile experience will be integrated and consolidated on the display. Vivo In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology replaces the physical fingerprint button on the screen, laying the foundation for a truly immersive experience. The showcasing of the world’s first in-display fingerprint scanning smart-

phone ready for mass-production marks a significant leap forward in the industry’s development, taking users’ smartphone experience to a new level. The availability of Vivo’s first in-display fingerprint scanning smartphone will be announced in early 2018.

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sunday, january 14, 2018 Isah V. red, Editor

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Young Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com.ph

Fun workouts

devon seron’s sweet seoul style

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to do with a

partner

Many experts agree that exercising with a partner comes with several benefits—you become more motivated, for instance. even an HMo president, Dr. nicky Montoya, agrees, saying, “exercising with a partner has many advantages—physically, mentally, and socially. Working out with someone has been shown to make you happier and more motivated to achieve your fitness goals. When you exercise with a partner, strenuous physical activities can be more tolerable.” If you’re ready to reap the benefits of working out with someone, may he be a friend or a significant other, here are some exercises you can try with your workout buddy:

PRETTY IN PASTELS. young actress Devon seron shows us how to wear these sweet and soft colors, Korean style.

oreans have a way to inject a certain kind of chic to a rather classic style. While pastels have long been a favorite choice in getting that soft, sweet look, there’s a special kind of Korean flair in doing a mix of pastel outfits.

Pretty Pleats

Play with shape and volume with oversized pleats that lend a structured look without looking too stiff. complement the look with lightwashed jeans and a pair of skechers Uplift for its stacked platform style that adds height without sacrificing comfort. Shoes by Skechers

Inspired by character in her by Korean-Filipino movie, young actress Devon seron shows us how to expertly don that sweet seoul style.

Vested Interest

Go for contrasting lengths with a short heather gray romper topped off with a long soft vest. add a street edge vibe with the comfort-fuelled Go step lite – Ingenious that combines a modern athletic look, slip on sock-fit design, and a Gogamax cushioned foot bed for 360 degree comfort. Long vest by @shopmaygirl, shoes by Skechers

Dream Girl

a sky blue bomber jacket with an airy yellow top gives off a feel like you’re walking on air, just like the dusty blue Fashion Fit with its athletic mesh fabric design for a cooling effect and super comfy cushioning. and here’s a little secret, this pair comes with almost two inches of added height. Top by @shopmaygirl, cutoff shorts by Jewels, shoes by Skechers

Retro Redux

Go for a modern retro look with a demure button-down tucked inside a chambray a-line skirt. nail the look with oh-so-chic cleo – razz Dazz ballet flats featuring soft knitted material, a woven-in metallic pattern and Memory Foam insoles that will keep you polished and comfy from day to night. Shoes by Skechers

Rock climbing

It is a full body workout that pushes you to use your entire body to climb a wall. rock climbing has loads of benefits – it builds muscle, increases endurance, reduces stress, and boosts brain function. In addition, rock climbing teaches you to trust your partner. He is tasked to anchor you to the ground, give enough rope for you to move on to the next handhold and foothold, and keep you safe if you make a misstep—now that’s some trust test for you, guys.

GiGi in Tommy as BarBie the tommyXGigi barbie doll wears the same outfit Gigi Hadid wore at the (inset) tommynow experiential runway event wherein the tommyXGigi capsule collection was introduced

In celebratIon of the unforgettable runway event where international supermodel Gigi Hadid was introduced as global brand ambassador for tommy Hilfiger womenswear, the fashion brand partnered with barbie to launch a special edition tommyXGigi barbie. the doll was created in the likeness of Gigi and styled in a classic navy tommy Hilfiger flag hoodie, white shorts with red trim and brand logo, and white slip-on sneaker—the outfit she wore as the closing look for the Fall 2016 tommynow experiential runway event at which tommyXGigi capsule collection was introduced.

“the collaboration with Gigi and barbie was an exciting new twist on our brand’s history of partnering with pop culture icons and our ongoing ambassadorship with Gigi,” said Tommy Hilfiger. “the final look of the tommyXGigi barbie doll is a celebration of a defining moment in the history of tommy Hilfiger womenswear.” the doll will be available on tommy.com and barbie.com, at select tommy Hilfiger flagship stores, and select retailers globally. It has a suggested retail price of $50 and comes with a doll stand and certificate of authenticity.

Cycling

Make cycling more enjoyable by bringing your partner or best friend along! Did you know that an hour of vigorous cycling can burn between 590 to 930 calories? It’s definitely a great way to help both of you lose weight, increase cardiovascular fitness, decrease stress levels and strengthen bones. Turn to C2

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sunday, january 14, 2018 isahred@gmail.com

fun...

from C1

Zumba

dance your way to a fit body and even better, do it with your pal! Zumba is not only a fun and healthy way to bond, it is also a full body workout that burns fat, boosts your mood and increases confidence. In addition, Zumba also works for every age and is a great opportunity to meet people with the same goal as you.

Miss universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach explores jiufen, a mountain town in northeastern Taiwan, on her bicycle

Hiking

Want to see the beauty of nature and work out at the same time? Then hiking is for you and your significant other. Hiking gives you numerous health benefits such as improved blood pressure and blood sugar levels, increased bone density and a strengthened core. Hiking with a partner for your safety is also a good reason why you need someone to accompany you, especially if you’re going through a remote and challenging trail. On top of that, it is also more enjoyable to have someone to share the awesome views with.

Pia WurtzbaCh

exPlores taiWan on a bike e ver since Taiwan granted Filipinos visa-free entry last year (on a trial period until july 31), the small island nation has been a favorite destination among Philippine passport holders. There’s just so much to see in this country. and today, our very own Miss universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach shows us another way to explore Taiwan—on two wheels. Wurtzbach, together with other high-profile influencers, are featured on Taiwan on Two Wheels (www.taiwanon2wheels.com), a website built by Fox sports and powered by Fox Content Labs which aims to help tourists easily research and plan a cycling trip to Taiwan. “We’re encouraging everyone to come and explore Taiwan on two wheels—from

pro cyclers to those who prefer to take it slow,” says joe Chou, director general of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau. The online hub supports Taiwan Tourism Bureau in driving more cycle tourism to Taiwan by providing everything a cycle-happy visitor could need, including english-language bike routes, rental information, and packing advice. Wurtzbach bikes around jiufen, a mountain town in northeastern Taiwan,

as Olympic gold medalist Owain doull, Bollywood actress and philanthropist evelyn sharma, former captain of england rugby 7’s team Ollie Phillips, and travel show host edward russell explore other locations. Together, these celebrities make up a unique collective of influencers capable of engaging a wide range of tourists— leisure peddlers, bicycle enthusiasts, nature lovers. These stars, on camera, explore Taiwan on bike and show the variety of cycle exploration on offer in the country. “Fox sports has been able to highlight the wide variety of cycle adventures in Taiwan through a diverse group of people,” enthuses Chou.

Yoga

For a low-impact and relaxing workout with your partner, enroll in a yoga class. yoga allows the mind to be calmer and more focused. It also provides the means to attune the body, thus improving overall health. It also increases circulation, slows heart rate and lowers blood pressure. Try yoga at the MediCard Lifestyle Center, one of the most convenient fitness and wellness sanctuaries in the metro, The MediCard Lifestyle Center has surya Fitness yoga, which offers hatha, vinyasa, ashtanga, and basic yoga classes. Go to mlc.medicardphils.com for more information.

Taiwan On Two Wheels (www.taiwanon2wheels.com) is a website that aims to help tourists easily research and plan a cycling tour around Taiwan

Where to Watch movies in Boracay

sure, you can watch a film on your tablet or laptop or mobile phone anywhere you are today, but it can’t be argued that seeing a motion picture in a cinema is a different experience altogether. But sadly for the residents in Boracay, they had to leave the island by boat and travel for hours just to watch a movie on the big screen. not anymore, as CityMall Commercial Centers Inc. (CMCCI) has recently opened the first cinema on the paradise island. The cinema at CityMall-Boracay has two theaters that can seat 220 guests. It features state-of-the-art projection and sound system comparable to cinema houses in metropolitan areas. It was launched in partnership with aBs-CBn Corp., and is one of the many cinemas that CityMall is progressively rolling out in its branches across the country, including theaters at CityMall-anabu in Imus, Cavite; CityMall-Consolacion in Cebu;

CityMall-Boracay's cinema has two theaters and can seat 220 moviegoers

CityMall-dumaguete; and CityMallFor inquiries on movie schedules or to Mandalagan in Bacolod, all of which purchase tickets, call 0917-3286017 or are already in operation. visit facebook.com/citymallcinema.

From left: CityMall head for corporate affairs jonathan umali, Bong Tirol, and head of marketing ellena Mercado

Showbiz

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018

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Isah V. Red, Editor / Nickie Wang, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com

2018 IS THE YEAR J

OF JADINE

ADINE is going to rule the local entertainment scene. From recording studio to the concert stage, and from the boob tube to the big screen, the power couple is making an explosive comeback aiming to dominate multimedia platforms. But how are they going to do that? Let’s count the ways. Kicking things off in red-hot fashion is the couple’s second major concert, Revolution: The JaDine Concert on Feb. 9 at the Big Dome featuring a starstudded lineup of special guests. The concert promises to give pop fans a night of unforgettable upbeat production numbers and heart-melting romantic moments worthy of the multi-talented multi-media love team. Among the highlights will be select songs from James Reid’s current album, Palm Dreams. Released last year to wide acclaim, the charttopping album not just showcases James’s growth as a singer, it also marks his songwriting and producing his own music label, Careless Music Manila. The label has also produced one track in Nadine Lustre’s ’s upcoming as-yet untitled new album. James and Nadine will take Revolution on the road in the summer with a provincial tour in April and a series of shows in the US in May. But that won’t be their first out of the country trip this year. The box-office stars will be flying to London in midJanuary to shoot scenes for their upcoming new movie, Never Not Love You. A contemporary romancedrama about love among millennials, the highly-anticipated movie marks JaDine’s reunion project with their On The Wings of Love director Tonet Jadaone. It’s the trio’s first big screen outing together and JaDine’s first since 2016’s blockbuster, This Time. Never Not Love You will be followed by at least two more movie projects this year. James will costar with superstar Sarah G in the big comedy The Granny (20 Again),, a local adaptation of one of the biggest Asian movie hits in recent years. He is also set to start shooting the

big action-fantasy epic Pedro Penduko later this year. Nadine, on the other hand, will also branch out on her own with not just one but two movies that will further showcase her versatility – the light romance-comedy Ulan from the writer-director of Camp Sawi, Irene Villamor and the thriller The Nurse from the acclaimed director of Die Beautiful Jun Lana. Beautiful, As though these projects won’t fill their schedule, James a n d Na-

Star Wars-inspired device is being developed is Malaysia

dine are also set to return to primetime television on ABS-CBN with a new television series. To be directed by acclaimed director Dan Villegas, the as yet-untitled soap is scheduled to start taping in the second quarter of the year. And that’s how JaDine will rule 2018.

After focusing on their career as music artists in 2017, James Reid and Nadine Lustre are back with numerous projects this year making their love team visible in multimedia platforms

HONORING POP CULTURE’S ICONIC SYMBOL THINK about this: a Star Warsinspired pop culture device to be held and ignited in your very own hands. How cool is that? Not so long time ago (three years to be exact), in a galaxy far, far away, a group of like-minded individuals based in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Dubbed Expedio Design, the passionate band of rebels have been toiling away to be able to bring the galaxy into the palm of your hand. With over 250 projects under its belt, Expedio Design is ecstatic to present a device inspired by the iconic lightsaber which they aptly call LighterSaber. Made out of premium zinc alloy and measuring 2.5 cm in diameter and 12.1 cm in length, this customized lighter is wholly inspired by the iconic lightsaber, a pop culture item made famous by the Star Wars movie franchise. Whilst the Jedi’s lightsaber is powered by kyber crystal, the LighterSaber requires only your everyday lithium coin cell batteries. The icing on the cake is the special sound effect of the lightsaber when the flame of the lighter is ignited. “Our toughest challenge was making the prototype look and feel like a LighterSaber should. It wasn’t easy to create a unique yet practical, everyday product that isn’t only well-designed but extremely easy to use and carry. We hope that other Jedis (and Siths) out there are equally as excited about this product as we are,” said the group’s Lead Engineer. This is the perfect piece for those who appreciate individuality and quirkiness in all aspects of life; those who have always wanted to hold and feel something intergalactic in the palm of their hands. The distinguishable sound effect is an interesting conversation starter and the perfect tool to scare off uninvited guests from outer space – a dream come true for all Star Wars fans out there! To those keen on joining the team on their journey of bringing this cool little Star Wars-inspired lighter model to life, check out their Kickstarter page at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1513153946/ lighter-saber

KAPUSO UNVEILS NEW SHOWS GMA Network is revving up its programming by releasing its 2018 slate of original series. From heavy drama, to fantasy and romantic comedy, the Kapuso is offering something for everyone. Let’s have a quick look at the network’s list of new shows that aims to continue its lead in the numbers game: The One That Got Away Probably inspired by Katy Perry’s hit song, Kapuso network’s opening salvo is a story about three women who formed an unlikely friendship after discovering that in different times in their lives, they were romantically linked with the same guy. Starring Lovi Poe, Rhian Ramos, Max Collins and Dennis Trillo, the sexy romantic comedy unfolds tomorrow.

Sirkus The family-oriented show revolves around the story of twin siblings who escape an evil villainess by running away with a traveling circus. Throughout this cat-and-mouse chase, the twins discover secrets about their newfound circus family and a revelation about their own identities that will change their lives. Top billed by Mikoy Morales and Mikee Quintos, the series premieres on Jan. 21. Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka Headlined by Yasmien Kurdi, the series that is set to premiere on Jan. 29 is about a young mother named Althea “Thea” Balagtas-Angeles. In the teaser, Thea’s family is depicted as a happy family until she discovers that she is HIV positive. The advocacy series also stars Mike Tan, playing husband to Yasmien’s character.

Sherlock Jr. Featuring Ruru Madrid in the title role, the series is set to premiere on Jan. 29 replacing Super Ma’am on the network’s GMA Telebabad line up. Dubbed as the local rendition of a classic British fictional character, Sherlock Jr. is more of a legal drama about a young blind detective who is assisted in solving the most difficult crimes by a dog named Siri.

The Stepdaughters The drama, which is set to premiere in February replacing Impostora on the network’s afternoon block, stars StarStruck graduates Miss World 2013 Megan Young and Katrina Halili. Directed by Paul Sta. Ana, The Stepdaughters is about Mayumi (Megan) and Isabelle (Katrina) who grow up as rivals. Isabelle’s rich father marries Mayumi’s mother, which fuels their rivalry for their whole family’s attention.

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sunday, january 14, 2018

Desiree Carlos, Editor

Pets

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

the short, happy LiFe oF

Cats and dogs

By Jing Montealegre

E

AsT and West differ in our appreciation of animals, particularly cats and dogs. Not that we, in the East, love them less; but we love them more on our dinner plates. Cooked dog meat keeps us warm in the highlands, and it makes gin taste better. A Chinese restaurant i frequent is famous for siopaos made from cat meat. But how come we still have so many strays roaming around?

in the provinces especially, cats and dogs roam our streets with the pigs, chickens, ducks, urchins, drunks and tanods. The local barangay recently undertook a sweeping activity for strays in our community. They rounded up five cats, ten dogs, a turtle, a chick, and my neighbor’s wife, who was stalking him. On Animal Planet and Discovery channels, even on CNN and Fox News, we see Occidentals move heaven and earth to rescue a trapped animal - a cat up a ledge, a horse in quicksand, a whale stranded ashore, a golfer stuck in a sand trap. And we’re quite impressed at how far they’d go to save distressed creatures and nurse them back to health. Examples come to mind: Willy, the lovable killer whale in Free Willy, the Chicago Bulls after Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods after being caught cheating (on the wife) and chased with a seven iron. (The last two, unfortunately, never recovered fully.) “But we do the same,” you complain. “We care for the silly animals just as much!” Only that we usually botch the rescue attempt and the luckless creatures wind up dead or in a worst position than before. so, to our dinner plates they go just the same. Just kidding. That was of course before the emergence of private animal welfare groups such as PAWs, CARA, PETA, save ALL, AWC, AKW - when the government handled (and mishandled) all animal protection and rescue. With the passage of Republic Act 8485 (the Animal Welfare Act) and animal rights on the rise, individuals and communities are readily extending protection and adoption services to our four-legged friends. To be sure, animal abuse, like wife beating, is now a criminal activity. But it’s also true that cats have less than nine lives in our neighborhood. They only have two or three. The rest of the “kitty” goes to the contractor, the governor, the congressman, the mayor, the police chief and the barangay captain. Like our western friends, we too have a great variety of dog breeds – shih-tzus, retrievers, terriers, pugs, shepherds, asPins (asong Pinoy) and AsKALs (asong kalye). We have protection dogs, guard dogs and trained dogs for bomb sniffing and drug sniffing. They are called police dogs. We have guide dogs for the blind and the disabled and they are called GDB or service dogs. We also have celebrity sniffing dogs. They are called celebrity hounds or movie reporters. seriously, we love our cats and dogs. Remember ‘Kabang,’ that plucky hero of a dog that lost half a face to save two young girls from an onrushing vehicle? We took care of him – not without a ‘little’ help from the international community, of course – but took care we did, and sent him packing on an extended U.s. hospital stay for snout surgery and reconstruction. You don’t do that even for your mother-in-law. While dog meat trading continues and dog meat still favored as delectable fare by some (ghastly gourmets, i must say), we are making notable progress. Compare us to countries like south Korea, which allows dog meat farms to thrive and exist without government intervention at all, and you’ll realize that we’re better off than some First World economies. (Even the North’s Dear Leader will be happy knowing that.) With smart phones cocked and ready, trigger-happy Filipino netizens now provide round-the clock video coverage of any acts of cruelty to animals. The 24-hour news cycle and Facebook make this happen. so, in our neck of the woods, it’s payback

My Furry Bestie

This corner features pets of animal lovers every week. We hope new owners and those thinking of getting a pet will be encouraged to be responsible “furparents” through these features. We also hope more people will be moved to be kind to animals when they read about the great relationship that can be created between humans and animals. For contributions, please email to daycarlos28@yahoo.com and put My Furry Bestie as subject.

KiTTY loves to play with Bella, the grandchild of sylvia P. Ongsing, They grew up together, says sylvia who rescued Kitty.

Jing feeding Lanz, now two years old.

time for those sadistic bastards who regularly beat, trade and eat our beloved cats and dogs. About the author: Mr. Jing Montealegre is a retired advertising executive. Editor's note: Sunday Pets Page accepts contributions from readers such as articles or personal essays on their experience as dog or cat owners or any subject about animals, proper pet care, animal welfare, animal protection, and animal rights. The article must be written in English with a maximum of 700 words. Please attach two (2) photos. Please send to daycarlos28@yahoo.com. COFFEE is the third dog given to Lourdes Caliwan by her father and sister because she loves dogs. he is now four months old.

Jing's fur buddy, Lanz, a German shepherd, when he was three month old.

MhiN is just like the cartoon character Garfiled except for his color. Wenna Redaniel Tapican says,” he's fat, mean, and noisy when hungry. But he is also sweet and very clever.” “he always stays at my bedside and keeps me awake when i bring office work at night,” Wenna says. Mhin also drinks water from the faucet (see photo). Mhin was adopted by Wenna three years ago when the parents of his former owner did not allow the latter to bring him inside their house.

ViTO was shaking, severely emaciated, and had no hair due to a skin disease when he was rescued. The mother of Jem Ortanez serrano thought he would not survive at all. But he did. Today, he is healthy and strong. Jem and her family describe him as “super kulit” and “pinakamayabang dito sa amin.”