Manila Standard - 2018 January 22 - Monday

Floirendo fails to stop graft trial

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman has denied the plea of Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo to reverse his indictment in connection a joint venture agreement between his family’s Tagum Agricultural Development Co. and the Bureau of Corrections for the use of land belonging to

the Davao Penal Colony.

On Jan. 15, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the decision by graft investigation and prosecution officer II Voltaire Africa to file charges against Floirendo and rejected the lawmaker’s motion for reconsideration.

Morales also rejected Floirendo’s bid

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VOL. XXXI • NO. 339 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

House sidelines Senate ‘Federal leaves no role for senators’

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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HE vice chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments said Sunday that under a federal system of government they envision, the Senate would no longer have a role in lawmaking, even as he derided the current crop of senators as being lacking in stature.

REBEL-RETURNEES. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte engages in an animated discussion with the two rebel returnees from the New People’s Army who were presented to him at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City on January 20, 2018. Story on A3 Presidential Photo

Roque blasts House threat on zero budget for LGUs

By Bill Casas A ZERO budget will be almost impossible to implement, but House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has threatened to give “zero budget” to the politicians who will not support President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to shift to a federal form of

government, Malacañang said Sunday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque told dzMM radio that while the Palace respects Alvarez’ views, it was doubtful that local government units that would defy Alvarez will get no funds.

“We have laws, laws that say that the internal revenue

allotments are automatically disbursed,” Roque said.

“This will be very difficult for us because a zero budget must be approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.”

Meanwhile, Malacañang said Duterte had nothing to do with the threats recently made by Alvarez to give

“zero budget” to local politicians who would not support the President’s plan for a federal form of government.

“The President’s stand is that he will not interfere with the affairs of Congress,” Roque told reporters in an interview in Kalibo, Aklan.

“Proposing amendments Next page

“I personally believe, legislation will be the basic responsibility of the congressmen,” said Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso, in an interview on radio dzBB. “We call them the federal assemblymen. We will make it a point that the Senate will just be a training ground for [the] presidency,” Veloso, a retired Court of Appeals justice, also questioned the qualifications of the sitting senators.

“Who among those senators have the stature of of [Claro M.] Recto, of [Arturo] Tolentino, and the ones who were really good, such as [Jose] Diokno, and [Jovito] Salonga?” he asked.

“One can see who among us who have substance during committee hearings,” he added. “Of course, some may see there are several who are asking silly questions, but many of us know how to ask questions. Many of us understand [the issues].”

Under a House-drafted constitution, senators would be left with confirming public officials and ratifying treaties.

Like Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Veloso said the House could go it alone in

amending the Constitution if the Senate insists on boycotting its call for a constituent assembly.

“The Constitution does not say the senators must always be present, too, but [it is] always the congressmen,” he said.

He said he is “100 percent confident” that the Supreme Court would render a favorable decision on joint voting.

“As a magistrate, No. 1, what is the law? You don’t have to interpret something that is not there,” he said, noting that the Constitution does not mention separate voting for constitutional amendments.

Under the proposals submitted by one of the panel’s subcommittee, legislative power will like with Parliament or a federal assembly similar to the current House of Representatives.

The Senate would be the legislative body representing the regions.

Veloso is the head of one of the four subcommittees of the House committee on constitutional amendments tasked to scrutinize the proposed amendments of Articles 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 of the Constitution.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who earlier proposed that senators who join the House constituent assembly be expelled, said it was time leaders of both chambers meet to discuss charter change.

He said the two majority and minority leaders of the House and the Senate should be included in the talks.

Lacson again warned that the Senate would object to any move to have both chambers vote jointly.

“We are really a wall when it comes to that issue,” he said.

On Tuesday, the House adopted a resolution to convene as a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution, with voting being done jointly by both chambers of Congress.

But senators maintained that voting jointly with House members may technically dissolve the 24-member Senate as the chamber will easily be outvoted by the House, which has 292 members.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said the two chambers should hold joint hearings, but must vote separately.

PH keeps distance as China, No disruptions US tangle over Scarborough at Naia, Clark,

By Bill Casas THE Palace on Sunday distanced itself from a maritime incident near the Scarborough Shoal involving China and the United States.

“The United States can take care of its own interest,” said presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who said the Philippines does not wish to be part of a US-China dispute.

“The Philippines’ claim over Scarborough Shoal is recognized under our constitutional law and international law,” Roque also said.

Last week, an American missile destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of Scarborough Shoal, a ring of reefs that lies about 230

kilometers from the Philippines, where China’s claims are contested by other nations, including Manila.

On Saturday, Beijing said it had dispatched a warship to drive away the US vessel that had violated its sovereignty and put Chinese ships “under grave threat.”

“That is America’s problem because for our part, we have different tactics in dealing with China,” Roque said in Filipino on radio dzMM. “We have reached a point where we have independent foreign relations, and a problem of America is no longer a problem of the Philippines,” Roque added.

China in 2012 seized control of Scarborough Shoal, Next page

Palace vows

By Bill Casas

THE Palace on Sunday said there will be no disruption of services at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and Clark International Airport terminals after the government decided against renewing the contract for baggage handling services of Miascor Groundhandling Corp. over several instances of reported theft.

“Our airport authorities have assured us that there will be no service disruption that will affect the traveling public,” said presidential spokesperson Next page

ON HOLD. File photo shows medical worker displaying vials of Sanofi’s dengue vaccine Dengvaxia in Manila on December 5, 2017. The Philippines has suspended the sale and distribution of Sanofi’s dengue vaccine after the French pharmaceutical giant warned it could worsen symptoms for people who had not previously been infected. AFP

P1-b refund won’t get Sanofi off the hook, says Health chief

By Macon RamosAraneta EVEN if Sanofi Pasteur refunds the Philippines P1.161 billion for it store of unused Dengvaxia, the French company would not be off the hook for putting at risk the

health of more than 800,000 children, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Sunday.

“We are still studying if they are still concealing some material information or knowledge which they did not reveal to those who de-

cided to launch this immunization program… under the previous administration,” Duque said in an interview on radio dzBB. On Dec. 22, 2015 the Philippines granted marketing approval to Dengvaxia, making it the first vaccine to

be licensed for the prevention of dengue in Asia, just three weeks after then President Benigno Aquino III and his Health secretary Janette Garin met with Sanofi officials in Paris.

In January 2016, Garin Next page

Revilla elevates graft case to SC, cites lack of due process

By Rey E. Requejo FEAST OF STO NINO. Devotees raise images of the young Jesus to be blessed with holy water on Sunday morning, January 21, 2018 after an eucharistic celebration in honor of the feast day of Senor Santo Niño at the Sto. Niño parish church in Moriones,Tondo. Ey Acasio twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

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DETAINED Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. has petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the anti-graft court from conducting further proceedings manilastandard.net

on the plunder and graft cases filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with his alleged misuse of his pork barrel for violating his right to due process.

In a petition he filed through his counsel Estelito Mendoza, Revilla also asked the high court to order his provisional release from jail while the high court resolves his case.

He said the proceedings before the Sandiganbayan violates his constitutional right to due process, to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, to be informed Next page

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MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

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Sereno won’t resign despite ‘squeeze play’

By Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

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HIEF Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will not be pressured into resigning from the Supreme Court despite the attacks on her at the impeachment hearing in the House of Representatives that have gone “below the belt,” her lawyer said Sunday.

Jojo Lacanilao criticized what he described as the attempts to put Sereno in a bad light, including her supposed lack of support from her colleagues in the Supreme Court.

“Officials of Congress

have already asked her to resign. We feel it’s below the belt. This is just a squeeze play for her to resign,” Lacanilao said.

He said Sereno will continue to fight for judicial independence.

“We will ask Congress to prove any complaint that they have and [we will face them] in the Senate,” Lacanilao said.

He made the statement even as House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Congress will find time to transmit the articles of impeachment in March in a bid to oust Sereno despite its tight schedules.

“Maybe by March, that [articles of impeachment] would already be there [Senate]. Before we go into a break, we are probably done with it,” he said.

He slammed Sereno for allegedly trying to preempt the actions of Congress instead

of facing the impeachment proceedings.

“Just wait. She can never dictate to us. The problem here is, she does not want to attend [the proceedings] and face the truth.”

But Lacanilao said the testimonies of at least six incumbent supreme Court justices had no bearing on the impeachment case because those were purely personal opinions and not grounds to remove Sereno from office.

“Most of the things they have said are disagreements with the chief justice on how the rules of the Supreme Court would be interpreted. Some of them are complaints about

management or maybe leadership style,” Lacanilao said.

Some of Sereno’s colleagues were not happy when she was appointed chief justice as she leapfrogged other senior associate justices to become the head of the judiciary for 18 years, or until she reached the mandatory retirement age of 70, he said.

Lacanilao said some people were out to destroy Sereno.

He said it was unfortunate that some of her colleagues were allowing themselves to be part of the process threatening the independence of the judiciary as a co-equal branch of government.

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of the nature and cause of the accusations against him, ato have an impartial trial and to meet the witnesses against him face to face.

In particular, Revilla assailed the Sandiganbayan’s order issued on Dec. 7, 2017 denying his motion to file a demurrer to evidence, which would have sought the dismissal of his plunder case, as well as its Dec. 28, 2017 resolution denying his motion for reconsideration.

In its ruling, the anti-graft court instead directed Revilla to submit evidence that would disprove the allegations against him.

But Revilla also questioned the resolution of the Sandiganbayan dated Feb. 23, 2017 denying his motion to quash the case as well as his motion for reconsideration.

He accused the Sandiganbayan of committing grave abuse of discretion for allegedly failing to perform its constitutional duty to enforce his rights that resulted in his continued detention in the past four years.

He said the prosecution had failed to offer any evidence to show that he or his representative personally received at least P224 million in kickbacks or commissions from alleged pork-barrel- scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.

“In the instant case, the petitioner has been in the game not just with one arm tied to his hack but with both eyes completely blinded,” Revilla said.

He said his petition for demurrer of evidence should have been granted due to the prosecution’s failure to present evidence linking him to the pork- barrel scam.

OLYMPICS-READY. Hyon Song-Wol (C), leader of North Korea’s popular Moranbong band, arrives at the Gangneung Arts Center where one of the planned musical concerts is due to be held, in the eastern city of Gangneung on January 21, 2018. North Korean delegates arrived in South Korea on January 21 to inspect venues and prepare cultural performances for next month’s Winter Olympics, in the first visit by Pyongyang officials to the capitalist South for four years. AFP the Philippines for the unused vaccines.

Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, which is investigating the dengue vaccine controversy, said Sanofi should not only meet with the Health Department but also with various health experts.

“People are already very anxious and enraged by the latest developments in this anomalous issue, what with forensic examination on the exhumed body of several children who received the Dengvaxia vaccine showing emerging patterns that led to their deaths. It may further fuel public suspicion if the meetings will not be made transparent,” Gordon said.

The Blue Ribbon commit-

tee will conduct its fourth hearing today, Jan. 22, to tackle the issues on the undue haste in procuring the vaccines and the accountability of the Office of the President, the DOH, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Budget and Management, and other agencies that were involved.

“While charges in courts may already have been filed by certain groups, the duty of Congress [is] to propose recommendations in aid of legislation, particularly on the undue haste of procuring the vaccines... It is Congress’ duty to make people aware of these issues,” Gordon said.

Sanofi has asked for a meeting with the DOH to discuss the reimbursement and ways to give the public a “more bal-

anced and evidence-based” perspective on the dengue vaccine and the national vaccination program in general.

Duque said his is willing to sit down with Sanofi.

Duque said his department would release reports on the deaths of 14 children who were inoculated with Dengvaxia Monday.

The government’s vaccination program was put on hold last month following Sanofi’s advisory that Dengvaxia should not be given to patients who have not had dengue in the past as it may cause severe diseases in the long run.

Sanofi has been imposed a P100,000 fine while the Food and Drug Administration has suspended Dengvaxia’s certificate of registration.

Harry Roque in a statement on Sunday.

“There is nothing to appeal as government has no existing contract with Miascor Groundhandling Corporation,” said Roque.

Roque also said the Manila International Airport Authority’s (MIAA’s) lease and concession agreement contract with Miascor has already expired.

Roque said, in light of the recent directive of President Rodrigo Duterte, the position of the MIAA is not to renew the contract following its expiration because of many instances of pilferage, both in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark International Airport.

“These include the theft committed to the wife of a Turkish diplomat and the al-

leged involvement of a Miascor supervisor with illegal drugs,” said Roque.

“We have to look at the bigger picture: Our national interest is of paramount importance. In particular, we need to protect airport travelers from baggage theft, especially overseas Filipino workers who work so hard to earn a living, and to make sure that potential tourists and investors are not turned off by such incidents at the airport,” he said.

“We are concerned with the workers but we cannot give their employer a concession on that basis alone, considering all the thefts by Miascor,” Roque said.

“Having said this, qualified Miascor personnel will be absorbed by other existing ground handlers,” he said.

The fact is the jobs are there so these will be filled up either by new hires or qualified staff from Miascor,

said Roque.

“On the proposal to create Presidential Action Desks in our airports, NAIA authorities have been proven effective in this regard,” said Roque.

The MIAA will not renew its contract with ground handler Miascor, which is set to expire on March 31, following luggage thefts involving Miascor employees.

On Friday, Jan. 19, MIAA General Manager Eddie Monreal wrote a letter to Miascor president Fidel Reyes, asking his company to vacate the premises it occupies at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) within 60 days.

This comes after six employees of Miascor at the Clark International Airport were charged with theft in connection to a luggage pilferage incident.

The victim involved an overseas Filipino worker whose video of his looted

baggage was widely circulated on Facebook.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, Jan. 18, warned he would fire airport officials if similar cases of theft happen again.

Duterte personally apologized to Jovenil dela Cruz, an overseas Filipino worker and a victim of luggage theft at Clark airport.

Duterte called a meeting with airport and transportation officials to resolve the luggage theft issue on Thursday.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered all baggage handlers to wear body cameras.

Tugade also gave security firms operating in airports five days to clean their ranks.

Airport officials were asked to produce an initial 100 cameras, while security firms were directed by the transportation chief to buy their own, said the MIAA chief.

was immaterial if Floirendo had intervened or not, because under the law, the mere possession of prohibited interest suffices.

On Sept. 4, the Ombudsman said her office found probable cause to indict him for violating the Anti-Graft

and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits any public official from “directly or indirectly having financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction… in which he is prohibited by the Constitution or by any law from having any

interest.”

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez filed a complaint of graft against Floirendo for having a direct and indirect financial interest of P7.5 million in Tadeco’s shares of stocks and entering into an agreement with BuCor for the manage-

ment of a 5,308.36-hectare banana plantation inside the Davao Penal Colony.

He said Floirendo was then the sitting representative of Davao del Norte in 2003 when Tadeco and BuCor renewed their arrangement for another 25 years.

P1-b...

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announced that the Health Department would buy P3 billion worth of the dengue vaccine and by April 2016, a full-blown inoculation program was launched.

Some 830,000 public school students had already been vaccinated when Sanofi announced that the use of the vaccine on people who had not previously been infected by the virus could result in more severe cases of dengue.

The Health Department suspended the vaccination program shortly afterward.

Sanofi has not yet retrieved all of the unused Dengvaxia stock but has said it is amenable to reimburse

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Roque...

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to the Constitution is a responsibility of Congress convening as a constituent assembly. We believe Congress is independent, and we do not interfere.”

Last week, Alvarez threatened local politicians who will not back federalism that they would receive a “zero budget.”

His statement came just days after the House hastily adopted a resolution to convene as a constituent assembly to draft a new charter and pave the way for federalism.

But senators and former chief justices criticized the move as a form of “railroading” as the resolution was adopted without going through debates at the plenary.

Floirendo...

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to reopen the case so that he could show that he did not intervene in any way in closing the deal.

The Ombudsman said it

Icebreaker: NoKor team inspects Olympics sites SEOUL―North Korean delegates arrived in South Korea on Sunday to inspect venues and prepare cultural performances for next month’s Winter Olympics, in the first visit by Pyongyang officials to the capitalist South for four years.

Television footage showed a group of seven officials led by Hyon Song-Wol, the leader of the North’s popular Moranbong band, crossing the heavilyfortified border on a bus before arriving at a Seoul train station about an hour later.

The stony-faced officials, surrounded by hundreds of Seoul police officers, then boarded a train to the eastern city of Gangneung, where one of the planned musical concerts is due to be held.

Hyon, a star singer and also the leader of the 140-member Samjiyon Orchestra chosen to visit the South, was seen leaving the train station in Gangneung without talking to throngs of journalists.

The two-day visit is the first by Pyongyang officials to the South since before left-leaning South Korean President Moon Jae-In, who advocates dialogue with the North, took office last May. The trip comes two weeks after the neighbors agreed to send Pyongyang’s athletes, cheerleaders, artistic troupes and other delegates to the Games, due to begin in the South’s alpine resort of Pyeongchang on February 9.

The International Olympics Committee on Saturday endorsed the deal, saying the North would send 22 athletes in sports ranging from figure skating to shorttrack speed skating.

The two nations also agreed to march together at an opening ceremony under a unification flag―a pale blue silhouette of the Korean peninsula―and to form a joint women’s ice hockey team.

Under the cross-border deal, the orchestra led by Hyon will hold two concerts―one in the capital Seoul and another in Gangneung―during the Olympics.

Seoul will also send skiers to the North’s Masikryong ski resort for joint training with their North Korean counterparts, and hold a joint cultural event in the scenic Mount Kumgang area north of the border, according to the deal.

The delegation led by

Hyon will inspect venues in Gangneung on Sunday and those in the capital Seoul on Monday before returning to the North on the same day.

Another team of delegates will visit the South next week to check the logistics for North Korean athletes, while Seoul will also send its own officials to the North’s ski resort to inspect the venue.

Seoul and organizers hope that the Games, which they have promoted as the “Peace Olympics,” could ease tensions on the peninsula that surged to new heights in recent months over the North’s nuclear standoff with the US. The North last year staged a nuclear test and test-fired multiple long-range missiles believed to be capable of reaching the US mainland.

The North’s ruler Kim Jong-Un also traded colorful personal insults and threats of war with US President Donald Trump, sparking fears of another conflict on the peninsula once devastated by the 1950-53 Korean War. Moon has tried to use the Winter Games as an opportunity to defuse tension, even asking the US to postpone a scheduled joint military exercise during the event―a request Washington accepted.

Kim, who had remained silent to repeated calls by Seoul to take part in the Olympics, abruptly announced an intention to join in his New Year address.

But the recent moves also irritated many in the South, who accused Seoul of making too many concessions to the hostile, wayward neighbor that regularly issues military threats against the South.

The deal over the unified women’s ice hockey team sparked fury in the South, where critics accused Seoul of robbing some of its own players of the opportunity to compete at the Olympics for the sake of politics.

Tens of thousands have joined online petitions on the presidency’s website urging Moon to scrap the plan.

Even as two Koreas reached deals over the Olympics, the North’s state media accused the dovish Moon of “brown-nosing” the US and threatened to withdraw its offer to join the Olympics if Seoul did not show enough respect. AFP

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pacity, and performing routine operations within the area”.

News of the encounter followed Friday’s release of a new US national defense strategy that says America is facing “growing threats” from China and Russia.

China is a “strategic competitor using predatory economics to intimidate its neighbors while militarizing features in the South China Sea”, the document says.

China’s defense ministry dismissed those claims on Saturday, saying “the situation in the South China Sea has steadily stabilized,” in comments attributed to spokesman Wu Qian.

But it added, “the United States has repeatedly sent warships illegally into the adjacent waters of the South China Sea islands and reefs.”

Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea despite rival claims from Southeast Asian neighbours and has rapidly built reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.

China seized Scarborough Shoal in 2012 after a brief stand-off with the Philippine Navy. The shoal is also claimed by Taiwan.

With AFP

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following a three-month standoff where the Philippines tried to arrest Chinese fishermen found illegally hauling giant clams there.

Washington, Manila’s only treaty ally, dispatched patrol vessels in the strategic waters, intensified joint patrols with Filipino troops and backed an arbitration case filed by then President Benigno Aquino III. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2012 and invalidated China’s historic claims to the resource-rich sea.

However, President Rodrigo Duterte has set aside the arbitral ruling as he sought to forge closer ties with Beijing.

China has stopped driving Filipino boats away from Scarborough, Roque said.

The USS Hopper recently entered the US Navy’s 7th Fleet area of operations, where the ship is on an “independent deployment,” according to a statement released earlier this month on the Navy’s website.

Its mission in Asia involves “security cooperation, building partner ca-

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MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

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Palace chides Robredo: Get real

By Bill Casas

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ICE President Leonora “Leni” Robredo is “out of touch” with reality, Malacanang said on Sunday.

“With all due respect to the Vice President, we find Ms. Robredo’s remarks during the anniversary of the Liberal Party completely out of touch with the existing realities on the ground,”

said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

“Genuine and meaningful change has been felt by our people. The darkness that Vice President Robredo may be referring to per-

haps pertains to the future of those discredited politicians who wish to return to power,” said Roque.

The Philippines under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is the third happiest country in the world in the Gallup International report, and the fifth highest country in terms of economic optimism index also in the Gallup International report.

Roque said 96 of Filipinos entered the new year

with hope – the highest recorded since 2002, as cited by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

He said fewer Filipino families considered themselves poor or “mahirap” as cited also by the SWS survey.

“People’s high levels of hope and optimism have been complemented by high satisfaction, approval, trust ratings,” said Roque.

Roque also stold Robredo to consider the following.

First, more than eight out of ten Filipinos trust the President, according to the last quarter 2017 SWS survey.

Second, Duterte is the most approved (at 80 percent) and the most trusted (at 82 percent ) among the top national officials of this country, according to the last quarter 2017 Pulse Asia survey.

Third, satisfaction with the Duterte administration is excellent (at +70) – the highest recorded for the ad-

ministration in the last 28 years, according to the last quarter 2017 SWS survey.

Fourth, net satisfaction rating of the Duterte cabinet remains the highest since 1990 at + 32, according, according to the last quarter 2017 SWS survey.

Robredo had earlier rallied the remaining members of the Liberal Party to remain true to what is right and not lose heart in the face of the “darkness” shrouding the nation.

Wearing black during the party’s 72nd anniversary celebration, Robredo lauded members who remained with the once-powerful party despite its waning influence under the Duterte administration.

“Many ask us if there is still hope, where we are headed. Darkness envelops us. But we should not lose hope. Our party history is about fighting,” Robredo told members of the LP, which she chairs.

Angara bill waives fees on 1st time jobseekers

By Macon Ramos Araneta

RUN FOR A CAUSE. Hundreds join fun-run enthusiasts to help spread the awareness of Lupus on Sunday at the Mall of Asia, Pasay City. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissues. It is a slow, incurable disease that primarily affects women. The fun run was led by DPWH Secretary Mark Villa, Rep. Emma Aglipay Villar, actresses Patricia Javier and Ynes Veneracion. Norman Cruz

2 communist rebels surrender in Davao PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday welcomed two New communist rebelreturnees and urged them to relay a message of hope to their comrades.

During the presentation of the NPA rebels at Matina Enclaves in Davao City, the Chief Executive expressed his gratitude to the two former rebels – Nilo Legazpi and his wife Wendy – for deciding to surrender to government.

At the same time, Duterte appealed to the for-

mer NDF members for their continued support to his administration.

Legazpi served as NDF spokesman in the Far South Mindanao area.

The President had assured the rebel returnees of government’s protection and assistance as they begin to immerse in the civilian way of life.

In previous statements, Duterte had urged members of the NPA to surrender, vowing to provide them with houses and jobs.

Recto makes vigorous push for irrigation bill SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the signing of the free irrigation bill—which has been on President Duterte’s desk since January 4—would sustain the farm sector’s turnaround, which posted a 3.97% growth last year, after posting a 1.4% dip in 2016.

Recto said the bill for the chief executive’s signature grants free irrigation to farmers owning not more than 8 hectares of land, and condones unpaid irrigation fees by farmers who till the same size of land.

The bill “writes in stone” the Duterte administration’s

suspension of the collection of irrigation fees, he said.

“By making such a policy into a law, the idea is to make it permanent and durable, so it can’t be easily repealed by executive action.”

Once signed into law, Recto said irrigation fees – pegged at the price of two cavans of palay per hectare during the wet season, and three cavans during the dry months – are waived.

Recto said free irrigation will not harm the financial bottomline of the National Irrigation Administration.

“Foregone revenue is about P1.5 billion a year. But

this will be recouped through appropriations. Kung ano ang nawala, i-re-refund sa national budget, which is reflected in the 2018 General Appropriations Act.” Recto said the enactment of the bill will also not hamstring the NIA from expanding its coverage area.

But Recto said expanding “the irrigation footprint” is the greatest challenge. At present, of the three million hectares of irrigable land, only 1.7 million are irrigated, leaving a backlog of 1.3 million hectares.

Last year’s NIA budget of almost P39 billion, “while

impressive on paper,” was only enough to build new irrigation in 29,000 hectares of farmland and repair facilities existing in 18,000 hectares.

“At the rate we are appropriating, which is compounded by the slow utilization of funds, it will take us 45 years – almost half a century – to wipe out the deficit,” Recto said.

“The funds for the expansion of the service area remain a drop in the bucket of what is needed. This dripdrip of funds must end. The farm sector should also be part of the ‘Build, Build, Build’ drive,” Recto said.

SENATOR Edgardo Juan Angara has called for the passage of a bill that seeks to waive government fees and charges on the issuance of documents required in the application for employment of firsttime hires.

“It is alarming that the Philippines has one of the highest unemployment rates in the region,” said Angara.

The government should do what it can to help jobseekers, especially new graduates, find employment.

“Let us not burden them with the expenses in looking for a job,” said Angara, principal author of Senate Bill 1629 and the vice chair of the Senate committee on labor and employment.

Under the bill, no fees shall be collected for the following documents: police clearance certificate, NBI clearance, barangay clearance, medical certificate from public hospitals, birth and marriage certificate, tax identification number, unified multi-purpose ID card, and other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be required by employers for first-timers.

Those who can avail of this incentive are new graduates who finished a bachelor’s degree, completed the K-12 program or a technical-vocational course from all schools, colleges and universities, and technical-vocational institutions.

MWSS bares 10-year water supply security plan AS PART of its 140th celebration this year, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System has unwrapped its 10-year development plan to address key issues on water infrastructure development, resource management protection, sewerage and sanitation, water distribution efficiency attuned to President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ development policy.

“We shall pursue major flagship projects, like the Laiban, Kaliwa at Kanan Dam projects, that will ensure adequate, steady and sustainable water supply for our consumers in Metro Manila and adjoining provinces in the next 25 to 50 years,” says MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco.

Angat Dam and Dyke Strengthening Project

The MWSS chief said the Angat Dam, which is the major source of water for Metro Manila and its environs accounting for 95.6 percent supply, is being secured under the Angat Dam and Dyke Strengthening Project (ADDSP).

“To ensure its stability and safety to withstand the potential risk posed by possible seismic activity associated with the West Valley Fault, the structural roadmap for securing and opti-

MWSS Administator Reynaldo Velasco

mizing the Angat Dam has been defined and it is projected for completion in the next two years,” Velasco said.

Kaliwa Dam Project

Among the major water projects now being pursued by MWSS whose main component is the construction of the Kaliwa Dam in Brgy. Pagsangahan, General Nakar, Quezon and Brgy. Magsaysay, Infanta, Quezon, the Kaliwa Dam Project which has a 600 million-liters-a-day (MLD) capacity, and the water supply tunnel has a 2,400-MLD capacity.

“The proposed New Centennial Water Source Project (NCWSP) is set to provide water security, reliability and addi-

tional supply for Metro Manila, planned to be site specific, zeroing in on the Kaliwa-Kanan-Agos River Basin as an alternative water source,” Velasco said.

The NCWSP also involves the construction of a dam at the Kaliwa River (Laiban Dam), and a smaller dam (Kaliwa Dam) downstream to maximize the water supply, and to ensure short and long-term supply for Metro Manila and its adjoining areas.

“Because of population growth, if we project demand versus the supply that is available from Angat, even with the additional supply you build in Putatan plus the projected reduction in non-revenue water, the water that will be available is still insufficient for us in Maynilad to meet the growing demand in the South,” says Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez. “That is why the Kaliwa Dam is important and they are now reviewing that to ensure that there won’t be a failed bid.”

Manila Water President Ferdinand M. De la Cruz also expressed full support for the Kaliwa Dam project citing the need to insure water security on account of the over dependence of Metro Manila’s water supply on Angat Dam and the ever-increasing population in the metropolis and other serviced areas by MWSS.

Sumag Diversion

Another project being implemented and funded by the Common Purpose Facility (CPF) Office of the two Concessionaires (Manila Water and Maynilad Water) and located in Umiray, General Nakar, Quezon, is the Sumag Diversion and Relocation Project which is a diversion tunnel that supplements the water coming from Umiray River going to the Angat Reservoir.

Initially part of the Umiray-Angat Transbasin Project but was temporarily deferred during the construction of the transbasin tunnel, the Sumag River Diversion Works will divert raw water from the Sumag River through the existing transbasin tunnel with an estimated volume of 188 million liters per day (188mld).

“Our primordial goal is to make General Nakar Relocation as a Model Resettlement Area that will ensure adequate housing, land area to enable them to plant fruit bearing trees on top of a sustainable livelihood project to sustain them and make them economically dependent for 10 years and beyond,” says Velasco. “This undertaking is actually in preparation for the future resettlement of families to be affected in the planned Laiban Dam project.”

The Sumag River Diversion Project is expected to generate an additional 2 cms

inflow to Angat Reservoir, as approved in NWRB and funded by the two concessionaires, enough to cushion the possible effect of El Nino or dry spell.

Angat Water tunnel

Velasco also cited the ongoing Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project (AWTIP) that seeks to improve the reliability and security of the raw water through partial rehabilitation of the transmission system from Ipo to La Mesa and the introduction of water safety, risk and asset management plans.

The project involves the construction of a new Tunnel No. 4 which is 4.00 meters in diameter by 6.4 kilometers in length from Ipo to Bigte in Norzagaray, Bulacan with a design capacity of 19 cubic meters per second.

The new tunnel seeks to augment the present three tunnels connecting the Ipo to Bigte transmission route.

Total cost of the project is US$133.98 million broken down into US$123.64 million to be financed by loan and US$10.34 million to be financed by the Philippine Government. Contract amount with CMC Ravena is Php3.29 billion. The Asian Development Bank is the source of fund for the design and built contract.

A4

Opinion

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

A charitable recognition

T

HE student council of University of Santo Tomas is protesting the decision of the school’s alumni organization to give blogger and Assistant Secretary for Communications Esther Margaux Uson an award for her service under the current administration.

Uson, who earned her degree in medical technology from the university, helps preserve its motto “Veritas in Caritate”—“Truth in Charity.”

But the current crop of student leaders “strongly denounce” the recognition.

“We express our dismay over this event as Mocha Uson does not, in any way, embody the ideals of a real Thomasian,” they said. “[Uson is] widely known as the main purveyor of politically motivated propaganda against known members of the government’s opposition; an avid spreader and citer of fake news...she is also known to utilize her following to initiate blatant personal attacks against her critics and the government’s, including students and members of the press, all under the guise of fake

nationalism and freedom of speech.”

These are strong words from the student council members, who perhaps thought long and hard about whether they would go against their elders’ decision to grant the government service award.

The next days will tell us what fate awaits these outspoken youth leaders, or whether the alumni association would buckle amid pressure—on either side—and revoke, or maintain, the controversial recognition.

But what would be truly interesting to know is how the organization arrived at its decision in the first place. It will also put the matter, how polarizing it may be, to rest.

That citation would be reprehensible if it was given to curry favor from the administration or to secure cozy relations with the powers-that-be.

But if the alumni group really and truly believes that Uson is deserving of the award, given the criteria it had designed in the first place, then who are we to judge and react?

Awards are freely and subjectively given. When some body is recognized for service, that is because members of a selection committee thought he or she deserves it. For the rest of us non-Thomasians, this is neither universally binding—nor absolutely true.

Our OFWs in Taiwan

On the Rappler case I HAVE just read the complete decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission “In re: Rappler, Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corp., January 11, 2018.”

This is my contribution to a public understanding of the issue(s).

1. Was there a political motive behind Rappler’s misfortune? The best answer I can give is “probably.” After all, Rappler (for which I have written) has been one of the most critical of media against the administration.

2. Was the decision legally correct? To this question, my answer is

yes. I have taught Corporation and Securities Law and I know enough of it to be able to give this answer with confidence.

Distinguish therefore between the possible political motive and the legal correctness of the decision.

3. Some basic legal considerations: 3.1. Article XVI, Sec. 11 (1) requires that control and management of mass media be limited to Filipino citizens. In short, for corporations engaged in mass media 100 percent of voting shares and equitable ownership should be Filipino.

3.2. Piercing the veil of corporate personality: This is a judicially crafted doctrine that allows a court or a quasi-judicial

body to look beyond the fictive personality of a corporation into the persons behind it, when the fiction of corporate personality is used for fraudulent, illegal or dishonest purposes.

So if A, B, C, D, and E set up Corporation X and the corporation borrows heavily while A, B, C, D and E squander its resources and its income, the Court will ignore the personality of Corporation X and make A, B, C, D, and E liable for the debts of Corporation X. Owning virtually all the shares of another corporation and having the same officers though not conclusive are red flags.

3.3.

Depositary receipt: generally, it is a certificate representing shares

Conclusion: Rappler violated the provisions of the Constitution. of a foreign stock owned and issued by a domestic bank. That concept is applied mutatis mutandis (changing what needs to be changed) in this case.

4. Facts 4.1. In 2013, Rappler, Inc negotiated with Omidyar for funding.

Omidyar is a foreign entity.

4.2. In 2014: Rappler, Inc negotiated with North

Base Media also for funding.

4.3. Maria Ressa admits this much when she says that they looked for foreign investors to be “independent.”

4.4. Rappler Holdings Inc. came into being—a corporation distinct from Rappler, Inc, but NOT REALLY distinct, because 98.84 percent of all of Rappler, Inc.’s shares were held by Rappler Holdings.

4.5. In fact, the roster of officers for both corporations—Rappler, Inc. and Rappler Holdings is the same: President: Maria Ressa Treasurer: Jose Maria Bitanga Secretary: Jose Hofileña 4.6. Rappler Holdings issued 12 million Philip-

pine Depositary Receipts covering shares of Rappler Inc to NBM (North Base Media) Rappler (a foreign juridical entity).

4.7. Rappler Holdings announced partnership with North Base Media in 2015.

4.8. Rappler Holdings issued 7 million Philippine Depositary Receipts covering Rappler shares to Omidyar Network (foreign).

4.9. In the PDRs issued to Omidya, there is the clause that Rappler was required to seek the “approval of Omidyar Network on corporate matters”. Clearly this meant DILUTION of the constitutionally-required all Filipino control.

5. Rappler therefore

PERHAPS one of the most important functions of a foreign post is that of providing assistance to our kababayans working overseas.

The Filipino overseas worker has been a ubiquitous presence in so many countries all over the world. The diaspora contributes some 30 billion dollars annually to our economy.

But aside from the social impact of separated families, there are instances where our overseas workers suffer from abuse by their employers, or brokers, or encounter simple brushes with the law in their areas of work.

Such incidents are not as prevalent in Taiwan as in other countries where most Filipinos seek employment, such as in the Middle East and elsewhere in Asia.

This can be attributed to the proactive work being done by both the Philippine and Taiwanese governments to ensure the welfare of OFWs on the island.

Taiwan employs hundreds of thousands of migrant workers in their factories, fishing vessels and households. Around 137,000 of these workers are Filipinos.

This makes Filipinos the third-biggest group of foreign workers in Taiwan, next to the Indonesians and the Vietnamese. Thai workers come in fourth.

According to the Philippine labor office in Taipei, only about 1 percent of the total number of OFWs in Taiwan have encountered labor and contract violations from their employers, and almost all of them were resolved and decided in their favor.

Aside from empowering our workers through a sustained information and awareness campaign against unfair and abusive labor practices, our labor office set up 24/7 telephone hotlines manned by welfare or case officers that attend

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

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Opinion

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

A5

The best argument against federalism Early shock waves CONSUMERS are starting to feel the initial shock of Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. Hundreds of gas stations started raising fuel prices despite warnings from the Department of Energy to fuel retailers not to charge the new excise tax until their old stocks have been consumed. Several news reports even showed video footage of several gas station already charging higher prices.

Some oil companies have announced an increase of 55 centavos for diesel and 80 centavos for gasoline due to the rising cost of imported fuel. Adding excise taxes, gas prices will increase by P3.77 and P3.35 for diesel.

As directed by the TRAIN law, a P7-per liter excise tax on gas will be charged this year, an increase by P2.65, which goes up to P9 per liter next year and P10 per liter by 2020. As for the fuel of the masses, diesel is now slapped with a P2.50-perliter excise tax rising to P4.50 in 2019 and P6 by 2020.

Anticipating the direct effect on public transportation, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board likewise warned drivers and operators of public utility vehicles not to implement any unapproved fare hikes or face fines and even cancellation of their franchise. Despite the warning, some UV express drivers have been reported to have started distributing flyers to passengers advising of a fare increase blaming the increase in fuel cost and basic commodities. Jeepney groups also have filed petitions for a P2 fare increase.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas officials have confidently said that the new taxes from TRAIN would add less than one percent to inflation keeping price increases at manageable levels. However, BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla was quoted last week saying that the central bank “may need to react” because of second-round effects of the TRAIN law which some economists see to push up to the 2-percent-to-4-percent range resulting from increasing transportation costs and pressure for higher wages.

To remind the public of the “game changing” benefits of TRAIN, the National Economic and Development Authority announced that the government will start breaking ground on 34 out of the 75 megainfrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program. The big-ticket projects highlighted to be started this year are 12 bridges that will provide new traffic routes across the Manggahan Floodway, Marikina and Pasig rivers. Several multibillion-peso infrastructure projects such as the Philippine National Railway North 2 Project, the PNR North 1 from Bulacan to Clark and the PNR South Long-Haul Project linking Manila to Legazpi.

Latest estimates from Neda on the total cost of 66 of these projects are already at a whopping

P2.289 trillion.

Not doubting the high competence of the government’s economic team, reassuring and even exciting statements might prove to be empty lip service to tens of millions of consumers. The bannered gains from TRAIN might be negated if the burden becomes too much for ordinary Filipino consumer.

After imposing all these new taxes, the government must prove to the Filipino people that the hundreds of billions in new revenues from TRAIN will not be squandered in the massive gaps in our frontline revenue collection agencies, the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue.

A recent multi-industry study by the University of Asia and the Pacific shows that in just five years, illicit traders were able to smuggle at least P904.6 billion worth of contraband into the country.

HOUSE Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez may not realize it but he’s turning out to be the best argument against federalism. His bullying, intimidating style is rallying the senators to close ranks and resist his proposal for a joint session of the House and the Senate for a constituent assembly and a joint voting on a revised Constitution.

Alvarez has upped the ante by threatening to give the Senate and provinces voting against federalism a zero budget. Alvarez thinks he can do that because it is the House appropriations committee that prepares the national budget. Now Alvarez wants Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III to attend the constitutional assembly being rushed by the House. He said Pimentel, as president of the ruling PDP Laban espousing federalism, should attend

This shocking figure only covers eight industries with frequently smuggled products like petroleum, steel, resins, wood, cigarettes, sugar, palm oil, and automotive batteries. Actual numbers would perhaps approach above the trillion-peso mark.

We all know that there are chronically massive gaps in the way that the Bureau of Customs is policing our ports, resulting in massive revenue losses for the government. Some estimate that illicit trade had an impact of no less than P495.5 billion on the country’s gross domestic product from 2011 to 2015. Add to that, more than a trillion-peso loss in domestic production or gross output and some 291,070 displaced workers, all due to smuggling.

The BIR’s performance, though improved, did not make its P1.8-trillion target in 2017. Being the lead implementer of TRAIN, the government should must prioritize on instituting what might be said to be out-of-the-box and uncompromising reforms in tax administration.

Just a month after the TRAIN law was passed into law, the Department of Finance already submitted the draft for tranche 2 of the TRAIN to the House of Representatives. Though it’s supposed to be revenue neutral, the precedent of surprise taxes in TRAIN 1 sends warning alarms of another wave of new taxes being inserted without the benefit of stakeholder consultations.

As the inflationary effects of TRAIN start burning into the thin wallets of the masses, proposing new taxes will be an unnecessary risk for the Duterte administration. We don’t need more taxes, we need real results in efficient tax administration and in making good the President’s promise to kill corruption in government.

Senate President Pimentel and the House Speaker.

Does Alvarez want to pole-vault himself into the pinnacle of power under a parliamentary /federalist form of government ?

The likelihood of Alvarez as prime minister is not remote under a parliamentary system where he can herd the so-called supermajority into acclaiming him as PM. President Duterte , after all, has stated publicly he does not want to stay in office longer than his single six-year term. Hmm. Is the scenario of Alvarez as prime minister a farfetched one or within the realm of possibility?

Pimentel is in peril not only of losing his post as PDP-Laban president if he ignores Alvarez. Senator Panfilo Lacson has warned fellow senators they could be expelled from the Senate if they cross the line to attend a House convened Con-ass. The contentious issue of Con-ass/federalism has really stoked the political heat among the country’s leaders. Who will prevail?

The country has never seen such a controversial and divisive House Speaker. From the time of Cornelio Villareal, Joe de Venecia, Monching Mitra, Manny Villar to Sonny Belmonte, the House leadership has always worked with the Senate during bicameral committee meetings to tackle important bills emanating from the lower chamber.

But not Alvarez, who talks and acts more aggressively than President Rodrigo Duterte.

Perhaps it’s time for the President to replace Alvarez with a more subtle, sober House leader who can work with the Senate instead of bullying it. It would take only a word or a hand signal from the Palace for the supermajority in Congress to oust Alvarez.

By now, President Duterte should realize that Alvarez is doing him a disservice. As an extension of Malacanang’s power, whatever Alvarez says or does is interpreted by the public as Palace policy.

Meanwhile, former Senator and Senate Presi-

dent Juan Ponce Enrile will discuss the issue of Constituent Assembly, Constitutional Convention, federalism and parliamentary system as guest speaker at the Samahan Plaridel breakfast forum at the Manila Hotel today.

It would be interesting to hear what Enrile has to say on these vexing issues currently confronting the country. Enrile, in small private gatherings, has already indicated his stand on the joint session of the House and the Senate visa-vis joint or separate voting on a revised charter.

He said the Constitution is clear in its provision that the Senate and the House should vote separately and not jointly on important issues affecting the national life.

Asked whether he would be open to seeking a seat in a constitutional convention, Enrile said he would so he can contribute to the crafting of a new, revised Constitution. At 94, Enrile’s mind is still sharp and his vast knowledge of the law would surely be an asset to writing of a new charter.

A sinister subtext

By Albert Hunt

And it has begun.

the House con-ass. We are getting a glimpse of political tyranny under Alvarez.

The man is totally drunk with power. He tells the Senate president what to do when Koko’s own father, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., does not tell his son what to do. In fact, the elder Pimentel as has cautioned the House not to rush the process of charter change.

President Rodrigo Duterte, on the other hand, said he’s not going to meddle in the House-proposed constituent assembly. But not Alvarez, who probably thinks he is now bigger than Duterte and Pimentel.

There’s a sneaking suspicion in some quarters that Alvarez’s agenda is actually to install himself as prime minister/ head of government with Digong merely as ceremonial president. Under the 1987 Constitution, the order of succession for the presidency is the Vice President (which could be former Senator Bongbong Marcos if he wins his poll protest against VP Leni Robredo),

PRESIDENT Donald Trump is firing up a stunt on Wednesday to try to shame news organizations he doesn’t like: “The Fake News Awards, those going to the most corrupt & biased of the Mainstream Media, will be presented to the losers on Wednesday, January 17th, rather than this coming Monday. The interest in, and importance of, these awards is far greater than anyone could have anticipated!”

It’s a cheap ploy, but it comes with a serious, sinister subtext. Trump has been making a case for changing US libel laws to make it easier to punish publishers of news he considers “fake.”

What he doesn’t seem to realize is that actual fake news is already outside the protection of current laws.

That’s the opinion of

one of the foremost experts on US libel law, Robert D. Sack, a senior judge on the US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. Sack has focused on these issues for decades; before becoming a federal judge in 1998 he was a libel lawyer representing notable media clients like the Wall Street Journal.

Fake news, “invented and disseminated with the intention of fooling the recipient into believing it is genuine,” is actionable under present law, he writes in the latest edition of his definitive two-volume treatise on defamation, “Sack on Defamation: Libel, Slander and Related Problems.”

What he means is that if Trump were correct that mainstream news outlets deliberately published false information with the intent of making him look bad, he could successfully sue them

Our...

From A4

to our OFWs’ calls for assistance.

Likewise, Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor maintains an all-day, all-week hotline to receive reports of labor disputes involving migrant workers.

The labor office, as well as the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, conducts business on the first and third Sundays of the month to further provide service to OFWs who can only leave their place of work during their weekend off.

Incidentally, MECO is the only representative office in Taiwan that maintains two other satellite offices, in Taichung and Kaohsiung, to attend to the needs of Filipinos working outside Taipei. Every other country maintains office only in Taipei even those who have far sizable numbers of contract workers than Filipinos.

When we assumed office, the DOLE and its attached agencies such as OWWA, even Philhealth, SSS and Landbank were housed separately from the MECO office, an inconvenience for our OFWs who have to shift from one office to another. To address this physical inconvenience, we have caused the transfer to a single, second-floor office less than a hundred meters from the MRT station, which

On the...

From A4

attempted to disguise foreign ownership by creating Rappler Holdings. However, Rappler Holdings is clearly the alter ego of Rappler—as the holdings and the roster of officers show, as well as the acts by which

without any changes to existing law.

Contemporary libel law grows out of a 1964 landmark Supreme Court case, New York Times v. Sullivan, in which the justices ruled that a public figure can win a defamation case only by showing that false and harmful charges against him were made with “actual malice.” That’s a legal term-of-art that means publishing something knowing it was false or with “reckless disregard” for whether it was true or not.

This daunting standard applies only to public figures; ordinary citizens can win libel judgments if they are defamed negligently. It’s designed to protect a free, aggressive press against intimidation or even bankruptcy.

Sack has written that profound changes in the structure of the news media since 1964 have only

made these protections more important.

“If the classic institutional press is less robust now than it once was, the response surely cannot be less protection, but perhaps in some respects recognition of the need for more so it can continue to serve,” he wrote in the latest preface to his libel book.

Trump uses the “fake news” label to tar almost any news outlet or story he doesn’t like, including the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, NBC News and most recently the Wall Street Journal, whose owner, Rupert Murdoch, has been Trump-friendly. The idea is to give core supporters an excuse to disregard damaging stories.

In anticipation of Wednesday’s “Fake News Awards” charade, Senator Jeff Flake, one of the few implacable Trump critics remain-

would house all Philippine-related offices, including trade and tourism all together.

Nonetheless, disputes and claims of abuse can not be totally avoided.

Most of these issues and concerns are borne out of circumstances which are beyond the control of Philippine authorities.

Examples would be disparity in the salaries and benefits of Filipino workers as compared to other migrant or local workers, and incidents of management or individual employer problems.

On calls from OFW groups to dismantle the broker system, as much as the present MECO board advocates direct hiring, the former is a deeply-entrenched and widely-accepted labor practice in Taiwan that eliminates the inconvenience of dealing with Taiwan laws and procedures for employers, especially the smaller ones.

Some small companies even outsource their entire Human Resource Department to take care of their personnel requirements.

Big business like I-MEI, a food manufacturing company, however recently conducted direct hire recruitment for 200 job positions in Davao and Manila, but only because they have the wherewithal to facilitate hiring of foreign workers. MECO encouraged and assisted them in this direct hiring program, and I-MEI has been very happy with its Filipino workers.

A household needing a caregiver does not have similar resources or direct hiring abili-

Rappler Holdings issued PDRs covering shares of Rappler.

Conclusion: Rappler violated the provisions of the Constitution.

One of the powers of the SEC is to cancel the certificates of incorporation of corporations that violate the law.

SEC cancelled the incorporation of Rappler.

6. Could SEC have imposed other penalties?

Yes, there is an array of sanctions open to SEC, and cancellation of registration is among them.

7. Why this harsh a sanction? “Harsh” is debatable. If you violate a key provision of the Constitution on corporate control, is that not serious enough to warrant

ing among conservative Republican politicians, has prepared blistering remarks about the president’s contempt for a free press. Recalling Trump’s charge that the press is “the enemy of the American people,” the Arizona lawmaker noted that the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin used similar language to justify purges against real and imagined opponents.

(Not that Stalin had a free press to worry about.)

“The president has it precisely backwards— despotism is the enemy of the people,” Flake said in remarks prepared for delivery in the Senate. “The free press is the despot’s enemy, which makes the free press the guardian of democracy. When a figure in power reflexively calls any press that doesn’t suit him, ‘fake news,’ it is the person who should be the figure of suspicion, not the press.” Bloomberg

ties, so they rely on brokers and manpower agencies.

Work contracts signed by our workers are followed to the letter in Taiwan, so there can be no violation thereof unless the employer reneges on any of its provisions or any other applicable law.

Sometimes employers go bankrupt, experience ownership disputes or run away from their obligations, occasions that can not possibly be avoided. Such incidents are often exaggerated in the news or social media.

It’s a thankless job at times. MECO and labor front liners bear the brunt of often baseless criticisms.

But whenever a Filipino in Taiwan is in distress, MECO and its attached agencies are prepared to leap into action and extend assistance.

Even if there is a Philippine overseas labor office, as well as welfare officers, MECO has an active Assistance to Nationals department manned mostly by tri-lingual personnel who can thus communicate to OFWs in Filipino and English, and to employers as well as local officials in Mandarin.

The reality on the ground is an overwhelming majority of Filipino workers find work conditions and pay better here in Taiwan than in other countries for similar work.

And MECO as well as its attached offices continue to work as best as we could for the welfare of our kababayans.

cancellation. On the other hand, there comes in once more the possibility that the SEC found Rappler particularly odious.

But on this matter, your guess is as good as mine.

8. In summary: Through its acts—which it thought clever—Rappler provided the government with an excuse or a legal pretext, on solid legal ground, to cause

the demise of its corporate existence.

9. Should this threaten press freedom? Why should it? There will be a threat only if press freedom is identified with Rappler. But social media has provided the platform for almost unfettered free discussion. Just see to it that people are willing to follow you.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

A6 Standard

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

Manila

mst.daydesk@gmail.com TODAY

DENR: Arrest Manila Bay polluters

By Rio N. Araja

T

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Sunday ordered a crackdown on Manila Bay polluters.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu vowed to punish those who pollute the Manila Bay as he called for a concerted effort among all sectors to clean up one of the country’s most polluted water bodies.

He said the department will be more stringent in enforcing laws on solid waste and wastewater, a key part of addressing the worsening pollution problem in the historic bay.

“The DENR is changing its paradigm of enforcement, prioritizing and doing a clean sweep of all dischargers of volume and toxic wastewater, randomizing inspections, imposing holidays on those who have not secured wastewater discharge permits, and raising penalties and surcharges for those who still do not have them after the prescribed amnesty period,” he said.

ing in danger areas.

“These people are discharging directly into our waterways so it is no surprise that fecal coliform is very high in our urban water bodies,” he said.

With about 30 percent of the country’s population living within the Manila Bay basin and 17 river systems draining into it, Cimatu said it was not surprising the world-famous sunset destination is the country’s “most polluted body of water and an urgent rehabilitation project.”

Citing a 2008 World Bank report, he said the country’s economic losses from neglecting sewage could reach up to P78 billion a year, on top of the losses in ecosystem services and biodiversity.

Apart from this, waterborne diseases are killing up to 55 Filipinos a day, Cimatu said.

During the first consultation meeting with Manila Bay stakeholders, he said they came up with plans to help the DENR comply more effectively with the writ of continuing mandamus issued by the Supreme Court in 2008 directing the department and 13 other government agencies to clean up and rehabilitate Manila Bay. The DENR chief said the rehabilitation of Manila Bay requires a multi-sectoral approach and cultural change in the way people regard the bay.

“Caring for the environment is like brushing your teeth, you have to do it every day,” Cimatu said.

Cimatu said the operational plan for Manila Bay would again make a huge effort to remove illegal structures along the bay and its tributaries, and to relocate people liv-

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health CENTRAL OFFICE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID PROCUREMENT OF VARIOUS GOODS AND SERVICES 1.

The Department of Health (DOH), through the General Appropriations Act CY 2018 intends to apply the amount of Four Hundred Nine Million Eight Hundred Sixty Five Thousand Eighty Five Philippine Pesos (PhP409,865,085.00) for the projects listed below. Bids received in excess of each ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening: IB No.

IB No. 2018-024 IB No. 2018-030 IB No. 2018-031 IB No. 2018-032 IB No. 2018-037 IB No. 2018-038 IB No. 2018-040 IB No. 2018-041 IB No. 2018-042 IB No. 2018-043 IB No. 2018-039

ABC (PHP)

Cost of Bidding Documents (Php)

13,680,000.00

25,000.00

30,000,000.00

25,000.00

28,000,000.00

25,000.00

40,194,000.00

25,000.00

23,800,000.00 36,000,000.00 35,985,750.00

25,000.00 25,000.00 25,000.00

21,440,000.00

25,000.00

13,665,335.00

25,000.00

10,500,000.00

25,000.00

Name of Contract Procurement of CD4 Cartridge Compatible with FACSPRESTO Machine Procurement of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Procurement of Lubricant Procurement of NRL HIV Viral Load Reagents Procurement of Filariasis Test Strip Procurement of Safety Collector Boxes Procurement of Dengue Rapid Test Procurement of Malaria Combo RDT Test Kit (POCT) Procurement of Nucleic Acid Amplification Test – Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay (NAATLAMP) Compatible with Existing Device Procurement of PPD (Tuberculin Solution)

Procurement of Warehousing Services 156,600,000.00

50,000.00

Total 409,865,085.00

2.

3.

Single Largest Completed Contract

Slight decrease in Bataan migratory birds recorded At least Twenty Five Percent (25%) of the ABC within the specified period in the Section III. Bid Data Sheet

At least Fifty Percent (50%) of the ABC within the specified period in the Section III. Bid Data Sheet

The DOH now invites Bids from eligible Bidders for the procurement of the above-caption projects. Delivery of the Goods as specified in Section VI. Schedule of Requirements. Bidders should have completed, within the specified years from the date of submission and receipt of bids a contracts similar to each of the above-cited procurement projects stated in the Bidding Documents. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

4.

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

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents for each procurement package listed above may be acquired by interested bidders on 22 January 2018 to 13 February 2018 from the address above and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB Resolution No. 04-2012, dated 24 February 2012, in the amount specified above.

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

Bidding Documents Fee may be refunded in accordance with the aforementioned Guidelines based on the grounds provided for under Section 41 of 2016 Revised IRR of RA 9184.

6.

The DOH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference and the Submission and Opening of Bids at the COBAC Conference Room, G/F, Building 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila, which shall be opened to all interested parties on the schedule given below:

7.

Bids must Bids must be delivered to the address stated below. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated below: Form of Bid Security

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Cash, Cashier’s/manager’s check issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank.

Bank draft/guarantee or irrevocable letter of credit issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank: Provided, however, that it shall be confirmed or authenticated by a Universal or Commercial Bank, if issued by a foreign bank.

Surety bond callable upon demand issued by a surety or insurance company duly certified by the Insurance Commission as authorized to issue such security.

Bid Securing Declaration

Amount of Bid Security (Not less than the required percentage of the ABC) Two percent (2%) Five percent (5%) No percentage required

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

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

9.

For further information, please refer to: COBAC-C Secretariat Department of Health San Lazaro Compound Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. Nos. 651-7800 local 1625 to 1627; 1650 to 52 Facsimile No.: 741-9775; 740-6830 (SGD) MARIA FRANCIA M. LAXAMANA, MD, MHSA, CHS Assistant Secretary of Health COBAC - C Chairperson

(MS-JAN. 22, 2018)

SALON OF BEAUTY QUEENS. Leyte (1st District) Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Kath Hipolito (left), owner of 65A Salon at De La Rosa St. corner Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, lead the ceremonial ribbon cutting to formally opening the salon Sunday afternoon. Romualdez and Hipolito are 1996 Binibing Pilipinas beauties. Ver Noveno

BALANGA CITY – Some 13,065 migratory birds were present in one day in wetlands in this Bataan city, the Asian Waterbird Census recorded over the weekend.

The number was a slight decrease from the 15,075 birds counted in January last year.

Representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Tourism, and the Wild Bird Club made the count in barangays Lote, Sibacan, Puerto Rivas Ibaba, Puerto Rivas Itaas, and Tortugas – all seaside villages in this city.

The tourism department has declared the five villages as among the birdwatching sites in the country.

The DENR-led waterbird census is simultaneously held in various birdwatching sites every January. It is an international endeavor of scientists to monitor the popula-

Republic of the Philippines NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Cabanatuan City 044-463-0226 www.neust.edu.ph INVITATION TO BID The Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology through the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invites Contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for hereunder contracts: NO. 1

2

PROJECT TITLE

LOCATION

Provision of N E U S T Gabion Gabaldon (Along Asan C a m p u s , Creek) Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija Proposed N E U S T Two Storey G a b a l d o n Science and C a m p u s , Te c h n o l o g y G a b a l d o n , Building Nueva Ecija

180 CD

APPROVED BUDGET FOR CONTRACT (PHP) 15,300,000.00

210 CD

13,000,000.00

DURATION

FUND SOURCE

AMOUNT OF BIDDING DOCUMENTS(PHP)

GAA 2018

25,000.00

GAA 2018

25,000.00

The BAC is conducting the public bidding for this Contracts in accordance with RA 9184 and Its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Interested contractors are required to present to the BAC original copies of the following documents on the scheduled dates for Receipt of LOI’s stated hereunder: 1.

Valid and Current Mayor’s permit/Municipal License 2.

Valid Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) License 3.

DTI Certificate of Business Name Registration/SEC Registration Certificate 4.

Certificate of PhilGEPS Registration 5.

Net Financial Contracting Capacity (NFCC) at least equal to the ABC 6.

Certificate of BIR Registration 7.

Statement of all ongoing government and private contracts within the relevant period, where applicable, including contracts awarded but not yet started, if any, whether similar or not similar in nature and complexity to the contract to be bid; and statement of the bidder’s Single Largest Completed Contract (SLCC) similar to the contract to be bid in accordance with ITB Clause 5.4 of PBD. 8.

Audited financial statements, stamped “received” by the BIR or its duly accredited and authorized institutions, for the immediately preceding calendar year, showing, among others, the total and current assets and liabilities 9.

Tax Clearance Certificate Bidding documents shall be issued only to those contractors declared by the BAC to be eligible for the bidding upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding documents stated above.

The schedule of the bidding activities is as follows: Activities

Schedule

1. Advertisement/Receipt of Letter of Intent January 22-29, 2018 2. Issuance of Bid Documents January 30-February 10, 2018 January 30, 2018, 9:00 AM 3. Pre-bid Conference NEUST President’s Office Conference Room, Gen. Tinio St., Cabanatuan City February 12, 2018, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 4. Submission of Bids NEUST President’s Office Conference Room, Gen. Tinio St., Cabanatuan City February 13, 2018, 9:00 AM 5. Opening of Bids NEUST President’s Office Conference Room, Gen. Tinio St., Cabanatuan City February 14, 2018, 9:00 AM 6. Post Qualification NEUST President’s Office Conference Room, Gen. Tinio St., Cabanatuan City Bids must be delivered on or before the deadline for the submission of bids and it must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the Instruction to Bidders. The bids shall be opened in the presence of the bidders or their duly authorized representatives. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The participating bidders/contractors should have completed a similar project with the value of at least 50% of the ABC, and have key personnel and equipment (Listed in the Eligibility Forms) available for the prosecution of the contract. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass and fail criteria in the eligibility Check/Screening as well as the examination of the bids. The BAC will conduct post qualification of the lowest calculated bid.

The Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For more information concerning this bidding, please contact the following: ATTY. BENER O. BAUTO/MS. MICHELLE A. SUPEÑA NEUST Gen. Tinio St., Cabanatuan City Telephone No. (044) 463-0226 Email Address: neustmain@yahoo.com Approved by:

(MS-JAN. 22, 2018

(SGD) ATTY. BENER O. BAUTO BAC Chairman for Infra

tion of waterbirds in Asia.

The bird count started in Balanga City in 2009.

Based on the latest report, there are 63 species of migratory birds, mostly small, medium, and large egrets, whiskered tern, and blackwinged stilt frequenting Balanga. PNA

Group hits lead paint in Sto. Niño statuettes THE EcoWaste Coalition, a non-profit waste and pollution watch group, yesterday said lead paint is still used in some Santo Niño statuettes despite a ban on lead-containing decorative paints in effect. The group made this revelation after procuring and analyzing painted statuettes of the Holy Child sold for P50 to P200 each from religious craft retailers outside the Quiapo and Tondo Churches in Manila. The statuettes were screened for lead, a toxic chemical, using a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence device. Lead in paint was detected in five of the 10 samples of Santo Niño statuettes in the range of 252 to 3,944 parts per million (ppm) in violation of the maximum allowable limit of 90 ppm. The green paint on a five-inch green “Welcome Santo Niño” had 3,944 ppm lead. Lead was not detected in the other five statuettes, indicating the availability of paints without lead for decorative applications. “We appeal to religious craft makers to ensure that only lead safe paints are used for religious statues and figurines in keeping with the law that seeks to protect human health and the environment against the toxic effects of lead,” said Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner of EcoWaste Coalition.

DoJ’s chief state counsel passes away

By Rey E. Requejo Chief State Counsel Ricardo “Dickie” Paras III of the Department of Justice has returned to his creator on Sunday morning.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Paras died at about 5:30 a.m., but did not specify the cause of his passing.

“We mourn the sudden demise of CSC Paras. We ask the pious members of the DOJ family to pray for the eternal repose of his soul,” Aguirre said in a statement.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

A7

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Rockets topple Warriors

L

OS ANGELES—The Houston Rockets ended the Golden State Warriors’ 14-game road winning streak Saturday, thwarting the NBA champions’ comeback bid in an impressive 116-108 victory.

Chris Paul scored 33 points and James Harden cemented his return from injury with 22 for the Rockets, who also saw Clint Capela, Luc Mbah a Moute and PJ Tucker score in double figures.

The Rockets out-rebounded Golden state 46-

33 and led by as many as 17 points in the second quarter en route to the win in a marquee match up of the two highest-scoring teams in the league.

“We had to get this win,” said Harden, who was supposed to be limited to less than 30 minutes of action

in his second game back from a hamstring injury but played more than 34.

His step-back three-pointer with 1:10 left to play in the fourth helped sound the death knell, stretching the Rockets’ lead back to six points.

The Rockets, second in the Western Conference, improved to 17-0 this season when Harden, Paul and Capela are all active.

Although they battled back to lead by as many as four in a fourth quarter that saw six lead changes, the Warriors were ultimately undone by 19 turnovers.

Forward Kevin Durant led the Warriors with 26 points and Draymond Green added 21 points with seven rebounds and six assists.

Stephen Curry connected on just six of 20 shots from the field en route to 19 points and Klay Thompson scored just eight points, but Warriors coach Steve Kerr said it was the turnovers and defensive lapses that cost the game.”Shots go in or shots don’t, but you can control turnovers,” Kerr said. “And out of the 19 turnovers, it didn’t feel like many of them were forced by the defense.

It seemed like we were in a rush and too frantic.”

In Cleveland, LeBron James’s bid to become the seventh player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points was thwarted and the Cavs found themselves looking at a milestone of a far different kind in a humbling 148-124 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

James scored 18 points, falling seven shy of the 30,000 plateau, before departing the game midway through the fourth quarter.

He’ll have another chance to become the youngest

player ever to reach 30,000 points when the Cavaliers face the Spurs in San Antonio on Tuesday.

In the meantime, he and the Cavs must try to sort themselves out after the Thunder’s 148 points tied the club record for the most scored against Cleveland in a non-overtime game.

“I don’t think I have ever in my basketball life given up 148 points. Not even in a video game,” James said.

“I am not here to look for pity. No one is going to feel sorry for us. We just got to get better.” AFP

Morales, Prado capture 2 golds each in cycling JAN PAUL Morales and Jermyn Prado completed a double-gold medal performance by ruling the criterium races of the Philippine National Cycling Championships for Road yesterday (Sunday) at McKinley West in Taguig City.

Winners of the men and women elite road races (massed start) in Subic, Olongapo City and Bataan a week ago, Morales and Prado made their team—Standard Insurance-Philippine Navy—proud of their accomplishment in the PhilCycling race that highlighted PRU Life UK’s PRUride PH 2018.

Morales, a veteran internationalist, who owns an Asian Championship bronze medal in track’s 1-kilo more than a decade ago, won solo in the one-hour-plus-three-laps criterium raced over a 1.10-km circuit.

He crossed the finish solo, beating by 1.386 seconds national team mainstay and Go For Gold’s George Oconer and Dominic Perez of 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines by 1.528 seconds.

Prado, on the other hand, edged Singapore 28th SEA Games individual time trial gold medalist Marella Salamat in a sprint finish—with Rombaon, a teammate of Salamat at Corratec—completing the podium.

“It feels different to be crowned national champion, and I am proud to wear both jerseys,” Morales said after the race that lured hundreds more in the amateur races that accompanied the national championships.

“I hope I could make the national team and try to bring honor for our country in international races,” Prado said.

Aidan Mendoza emerged as the men under-23 champion, beating Ronilla Quita and Tomas Mojares in the race for the top three places. Jeremy Gene Marana and Irish Wong finished 1-2 in the women under-23 category.

Pru Life UK Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga and Prudential PLC Head of Sponsorship Diane Pender awarded the medals to the winners during elaborate ceremonies held last night also at McKinley West.

PhilCycling President Tagaytay City Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino congratulated the winners and expressed optimism about the country’s strong performance in next year’s 30th SEA Games which the country is hosting.

Nick Young and Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors, and James Harden of the Houston Rockets jockey for the best position for a rebound during their teams’ game at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. AFP

Age-group triathlon season opener on Jan. 28 A RECORD field of 630 triathletes fires off the 2018 National Age-Group Triathlon series on Jan. 28 at 6 a.m. at the ACEA Resort area at San Bernardino in the Subic Bay Freeport.

The NAGT series is the Triathlon Association of the Philippines’ main platform in recruiting new talents for the national team competing in the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games, Asia Cup events and the ITU World Cup events.

The Youth Olympic Games aspirants are entered in the Sprint distance events to gauge their readiness after shifting from the shorter Super Sprint distance.

This year’s roster is the largest in the seven-year history of the NAGT series

and entries for the Super Sprint and Sprint distance races showed remarkable growth.

Organized by the TRAP in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Tourism Department, the event is composed of Standard Distance (1.5 Km swim – 40 Km bike – 10 Km run), Sprint Distance (750 meter – 20 Km bike – 5 Km run) and Super Sprint Distance (500-meter swim – 10 Km bike – 2.5 Km run). The swim will be held at ACEA Beach resort followed by the bike leg, which will stretch out to Argonaut Highway and the run will be in San Bernardino.

At stake in the event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission,

Gatorade, SBMA, Harbor Point Ayala Mall, Standard Insurance and Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines are qualifying points for the Youth Olympic Games triathlon event, which will be held this October at Buenos Aires, Argentina. Meanwhile, the Top 3 finishers on each age-group category (on all 3 distances) and team relay categories will receive medals.

All participants are advised to claim their respective race kits at Harbor Point Ayala Mall on Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and a mandatory race briefing will be held at the same venue from 6 to 6:30 pm. A mandatory bike check-in will be held at ACEA from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

From A8

Relieved...

Patrombon, Rogan clinch Suarez Cup net crowns

World number two Wozniacki turned on the style in her match to take another step towards a maiden Grand Slam title.

The assured Wozniacki, a semi-finalist in 2011 who has never quite lived up to the hype in the majors, annihilated 19th-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-0 in her most impressive performance to date.

“She really mixes up the pace, I just tried to calm down, get my returns in and wait for the opportunities to attack,” she said after crushing the Slovak, who made the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year.

“I think you can tell my confidence is pretty good at the moment.”

Her easy passage sets up a last-eight clash with gritty Spaniard Suarez Navarro, who battled back from a set and 4-1 down to shatter the hopes of 32nd seed Anett Kontaviet.

The Estonian had been bubbling with confidence after despatching French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the third round, but nerves got the better of her.

The Spaniard, who has made the quarter-finals in Melbourne twice before, most recently in 2016, credited her fightback with a conscious decision to be more aggressive.

“My team all the time they say (to) me, play aggressive, play aggressive. That’s I think what I did,” said Suarez Navarro, one of the few who still uses a one-handed backhand.

JESON Patrombon and Aileen Rogan came away with a pair of straight-set victories over their respective top seeded rivals to capture the singles crowns in the first PPS-PEPP Fr. Fernando Suarez Cup at the Colegio San Agustin in Bulacan over the weekend.

Patrombon kept the momentum of his emphatic 6-1, 6-0 romp over PCA Open champion Bryan Otico in the semis and crushed Johnny Arcilla via the same scoreline to run away with the men’s singles diadem while Rogan, 37, dominated Patricia Velez, 6-3, 6-1, in the women’s finals to complete the second-seeded bets’ romp in the event held in honor of the healing priest and presented

by Asiatraders Corp. with Slazenger and Dunlop as official balls.

They capped their big weekend by ruling the doubles with Patrombon teaming up with PJ Tierro to thwart Vicente Anasta and Arcilla, 6-2, 7-5, and Rogan partnering with Bambi Zoleta to hold off siblings Frances and Regina Santiago, 7-5, 6-0.

Bracing for a fierce duel, Patrombon, 24, instead had an easier time disposing of Arcilla, breaking the latter right in the second game of the opening set then taking the sixth en route to the 11:35-minute victory. It was more

Jason Patrombon (second from right) and Aileen Rogan (second from left) hold their trophies as they pose with organizer Jonathan Bernardo (left) and CSA coach Luisito Hipolito after completing their two-title romp in the first PPS-PEPP Fr. Suarez Cup in Bulacan.

of the same in the second frame with Patrombon yielding just 12 points while hammering in winners and five aces, including three in the sixth game.

So impressive was the Iligan City ace, who only gave up seven games to clinch the crown worth P60,000.

Rogan, on the other hand, broke Velez in the fifth game of the first set then dominated the ninth game to take the set. She sustained

her form in the next, breaking her rival in the second and sixth to fashion out the 23-minute victory worth P30,000.

“We’d like to thank Fr. Suarez, whose support will surely boost the development of the sport, particularly in the junior level, along with the country’s leading players who are also members of the national team,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/ CEO Bobby Castro.

Spence mauls Lamont, bags title NEW YORK—Errol Spence battered Lamont Peterson on the way to an eighthround technical knockout on Saturday to retain his International Boxing Federation welterweight world title.

Spence strengthened his reputation as one of the best of boxing’s rising stars, scoring his 10th straight win inside the distance as he improved to 23-0 with 20 knockouts.

Spence, making his first defence of the title he seized from Britain’s Kell Brook in May, dominated from the opening bell at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, pummelling Peterson with combinations to the head and body.

He sent former two-time world champion Peterson to the canvas in the fifth round with a combination that included a left hook to the head.

Both of Peterson’s eyes were swelling shut by the seventh round, and as the bell sounded to start the eighth Peterson’s trainer Barry Hunter called for it to be stopped by referee Harvey Dock.

Dock waved the fight off at one second into the eighth round.

“I want to thank Lamont Peterson,” Spence said. “A lot of guys did turn down the fight and he took it, like a real warrior. I commend him for that.”

While Spence has been tipped as a future poundfor-pound king, he says he’s got plenty of room for improvement.

“I still can improve a lot on my defense,” he said. “I just have to keep perfecting my skills and keep progressing. You’re going to see a better Errol Spence next time I get in the ring.” AFP

Arellano U tossers nail 5th win in a row ARELLANO University made short work of Lyceum of the Philippines University, 25-16, 25-17, 25-11, yesterday to streak to its fifth straight victory in the women’s division of the 93rd NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Atena in San Juan City.

Rookie Necole Ebuen uncorked a matchhigh 11 points, while team captain Mary Ann Esguerra, Regine Anne Arocha and Andrea Marzan added 10 each to help power the Lady Chiefs to the top, while leaving behind the idle San Beda Lady Red Spikers, who have a pristine 4-0 (win-loss) mark.

Their solid efforts more than made up for Jovielyn Prado’s forgettable three-hit performance.

Perpetual Help, for its part, survived an error-prone effort as it trounced Jose Rizal, 25-21, 22-25, 25-14, 25-21, to keep its stranglehold on the third spot.

Maria Lourdes Clemente paced the Lady Altas with 19 hits, including 14 on kills and two on blocks, while Cindy Imbo chipped in 18 points to help them solidify their hold of third with a 4-1 (win-loss) slate.

Perpetual Help coach Macky Carino, however, rued his team’s poor services.

“We got really improve our service, which was really bad in the first two sets especially in the second set,” said Carino, whose team committed a whopping 35 errors, the bulk came on services. “If we can do that, we’ll have a strong chance to this season.”

While Clemente and Imbo did most of the heavy lifting, Hershey Kate Llorente made the most out of her first start of her collegiate career and finished with seven points.

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

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

A8

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

Manalang takes lead, carries NU to victory

By Peter Atencio WHEN Paul Matthew Manalang took charge in the second period, the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups pulled away and never looked back.

The Bullpups went on to hand the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs their third straight setback following a 109-75 swamping Sunday at the Arena in San Juan.

“Kailangan maging maganda ang decisionmaking ko sa game,” said Manalang, the team’s skipper after the Bullpups posted their eighth win in 10 games in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball Tournament.

With the 5’9” Manalang leading the way with the 25 points, three rebounds, five assists and a steal, the Bullpups went on to assure themselves of a Final Four semifinal seat.

Manalang was at the forefront of a 19-5 blast at the start of the second period with his back-tobaskets.

With big man Paolo Javillonar effectively manning shaded lane, NU turned a 25-26 firstquarter deficit into a 4431 lead.

Javillonar finished with nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds, while Rhayan Amsali had 13 for NU. “Gumanda ang defense.

Nakagawa kami ng stops,” said Bullpups’ coach Goldwyn Monteverde.

The Bullpups joined the Ateneo Blue Eaglets in claiming a semis berth.

Ateneo, which came up with its lowest output this season, edged the defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws, 68-65, on Saturday.

FEU-Diliman booters make UAAP finals

FAR Eastern University overwhelmed Ateneo, 9-0, to gain qualification in the UAAP Season 80 juniors’ football championship match yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Kieth Absalon and Gio Pabualan netted braces, while Andrei Sabrejon, Pete Forrosuelo, John Angelo Reoyan, Nikko Caytor and Viejay Frigillano also scored for the Baby Tamaraws.

Gunning for a record eighth crown, FEU-Diliman solidified its hold on the lead with 19 points.

National University kept its Finals hopes alive with a 2-1 nipping of University of Santo Tomas.

Khenn Francis Taala found the back of the net in the 38th minute which turned out to to be the Bullpups’ winning moment.

NU, a tournament debutant, wrapped up its elimination-round stint with 16 points, three clear of idle De La Salle-Zobel.

With a huge goal differential advantage over the Bullpups, the Junior Archers need to beat the Baby Tamaraws in the final elims matchday at 8 a.m. on Sunday at the same Malate venue to claim the other title match berth.

Meralco’s KG Canaleta raises his award as 5,000-Point Club Member during a break in his team’s game with sister team Talk ‘N Text. He is joined here by PBA Officer in Charge Willie Marcial (right).

Texters waylay skidding nd Bolts for 2 straight win

By Jeric Lopez

M

ETHODICALLY imposing its will, TNT KaTropa stamped its class and led from start to finish to rout skidding Meralco, 99-81, for its second straight win in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City last night.

Troy Rosario had a fantastic showing, scoring a game-high 22 points, including six triples and 10 rebounds for a double-double to spearhead TNT’s charge.

The Tropang Texters made the three-point shot their main weapon in this contest, converting a whopping total of 18 makes from downtown.

Right from the get-go, TNT KaTropa seized command as it zoomed to a double-digit lead

right away, starting the game with a 13-1 surge off the bat, thanks to three booming triples from Rosario.

“Maganda ‘yung naging start namin, nakuha namin agad ‘yung rhythm and na-keep namin for the game,” said Rosario, who was all over the place.

He set the tone as three-point shooting proved to be the decisive factor with the Texters breezing through for most part and keeping

their double-digit lead intact until the game was decided.

The Tropang Texters enjoyed their first winning streak of the season as they improved to 3-2 to remain in fourth place.

The slump continued for Meralco as it has now dropped three games in a row, sliding to 1-3 near the bottom.

The Bolts were unable to impose a serious threat as the Texters had all the answers for their every attempted run.

Meralco briefly had some good moments when it trimmed its deficit to single-digit several times early in the third, but that proved to be its best shot as TNT stayed disciplined and quickly restored its double-digit barrier for good.

The Tropang Texters grew their biggest lead to 22 points, 92-70,

with 4:31 left after a triple from RR Garcia.

Garcia also had a nice game, scoring 18 points, while Roger Pogoy added 15 more markers for TNT KaTropa.

Meralco was led by Jared Dillinger with 14 points in another losing cause.

The scores: TNT 99 - Rosario 22, Garcia 18, Pogoy 15, Castro 12, Reyes 10, Semerad 10, Hernandez 3, Carey 3, Williams 2, Torres 2, Tautuaa 2, Onwubere 0, Golla 0.

Meralco 81 - Amer 20, Dillinger 14, Canaleta 11, Tolomia 8, Newsome 6, Lanete 5, Hugnatan 4, Bono 4, Ballesteros 3, Faundo 3, Baracael 2, Sedurifa 1, Salva 0, Caram 0.

Quarters: 27-18, 46-36, 73-62, 99-81.

Ababa targets 2nd PH Golf Tour Asia title at Pradera JHONNEL Ababa hopes to cash in on his top form as he seeks a second Philippine Golf Tour Asia crown at the Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club starting Wednesday (Jan. 24) against practically the same field he dominated at Eagle Ridge over the weekend.

Ababa banners the elite 87-player field in the $100,000 ICTSI Pradera Verde Classic, brimming with confidence after snapping a three-year title drought with a PGTA record seven-shot victory over Elmer Salvador in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational at the windy Aoki layout.

“I just hope this is just the start of something big for me,” said Ababa, referring to his victory in the sixth leg of the region’s newest circuit put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Still, the former amateur hotshot expects a fierce challenge from the stellar cast, including 29 foreign rivals led

by Americans Nicolas Paez and John Michael O’Toole, Thais Pasavee Lertvilai and Tommy Mansuwat and Canadian Lindsey Renolds.

Others tipped to contend for the top $17,500 purse in the 72-hole championship are Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang, Aussies Rick Coleman, David Gleeson and Dane Mcardle, Indonesians Elki Kow and Clement Kurniawan, Macedonian Peter Stojanovski and Dutch Guido Van der Valk.

Meanwhile, torrid scoring is expected at the flat par-72 layout, which is hosting a tournament of this magnitude for the first time, although it could change in the presence of the wind.

“We do expect to score low but if the wind come into play in all four days, it could lead to a wild, unpredictable finish,” said PGTA Wack Wack leg winner Tony Lascuña, who is out to rebound from his joint fourth finish at Eagle Ridge.

Justin Quiban, who dominated the Tarlac stop of the PGTA in the CAT Open last December, is also raring to atone for his wobbly finish last week where he contended in the first two days but faded with closing 77 and 75.

Rene Menor, who outlasted aLertvilai in a PGTA record five-hole playoff at Splendido, likewise vowed to rebound from a missed cut stint at Eagle Ridge, together with Elmer Salvador, who lost steam in the final round that enabled Ababa to run away with the victory.

Jhonnel Ababa looks for another PGT Asia win at Pradera Verde

Wesley, Shakh hold their ground GRANDMASTERS Wesley So and Shakh Mamedyarov, two chessers who recently went up in the unofficial world rankings, continued to hold their ground in the 80th Tata Steel Chess Masters Tournament.

So, now ranked no. 3 in the unofficial FIDE rankings after posting back-toback wins, played Anish Giri to a draw in 40 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined last Saturday at Wijk Aan Zee, the Netherlands.

A repetition of moves by his rook and knight forced So to split the point with Giri, allowing the 24-year-old Filipino playing for the US Team, to stay in a four-way tie for second spot behind Mamedyarov.

Giri and Vladimir Kramnik share second with So with 4.5 points, along with world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen.

Mamedyarov, who was ranked no. 13 last year and moved to no. 2 after Round 6, took the solo lead after he beat Wei Yi in 30 moves of a Catalan.

The 32-year-old Azerbaijani threatened to promote a passed pawn at endgame and when Wei resigned.

Mamedyarov tallied 5.5 points in the no. 1 spot.

Now with an ELO rating of 2817.5, Mamedyarov takes on Giri next and will look for a chance to improve on his record of four wins and three draws. The 32-year-old Mamedyarov broke the 2800-barrier for the first time in his career.

Peter Atencio

Relieved Nadal survives test as Wozniacki turns on style MELBOURNE—Rafael Nadal battled through a huge test to make his 10th Australian Open quarter-final Sunday as a ruthless Caroline Wozniacki kicked into full gear to book a date with Carla Suarez Navarro.

On an overcast and muggy day at Melbourne Park, the Spanish world number one was up against his most dangerous opponent yet in pocketrocket Diego Schwartzman, one of the smallest men on tour.

The Argentine 24th seed endeared with his astonishingly powerful groundstrokes before Nadal prevailed Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki celebrates beating Slovakia’s Magdalena 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-3 in almost four hours on Rod Laver Arena.

Rybarikova in their women’s singles fourth round match on day seven It kept alive his push for a 17th of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

Grand Slam title and also ensured he will remain number one will the new rankings come out after the tournament ends.

“It was a great battle,” said Nadal, who is chasing his second Melbourne title after beating Roger Federer in the 2009 final.

“Of course, I feel little bit tired, but I was able to keep fighting until the end.”

He will play sixth seed Marin Cilic for a place in the semi-finals after the Croat beat Spanish 10th seed Pablo Correna Busta 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/0), 7-6 (7/3).

The win was Cilic’s 100th at a Grand Slam.

“I have played great tennis from the first round against tough opponents and now I am really looking to the next match, it will be definitely be a big challenge,” he said of the Nadal clash.

Ordinarily Nadal, as the top seed, would have top billing on Rod Laver in the evening, but not with local star Nick Kyrgios in action.

The maturing Australian 22-yearold dispatched French veteran Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last round and faces third seed Grigor Dimitrov later.

The winner will play Briton Kyle Edmund, who reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final with a 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win over Italy’s Andreas Seppi.

Turn to A7

Market tests 9,000 points again; eyes on GDP data

B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

B

SM Prime building 21 new malls SM City Telebastagan, SM City Legaspi, SM City Ormoc and SM City Dagupan in 2018.

ROPERTY developer Documents showed SM Prime expectSM Prime Holdings ed in 2019 to complete SM Daet, SM BuInc. is staying tuan, SM Olongapo Central, SM Balanga Bataan, SM Sorsogon, SM Tagum, SM aggressive on its expansion City Tuguegarao, SM Mindoro and SM as it lined up 21 new malls Grand Central. for completion from 2018 to The property unit of the SM Group will launch SM City Roxas, SM Calamba 2020, documents filed with SM Tanza, SM San Fernando, the Securities and Exchange Turbina, La Union, SM Laoag, SM Zamboanga Commission show. and SM Malolos in 2020.

Except for the SM Grand Central in SM Prime, which prepared a P20-bil- Caloocan, all new malls will rise in prolion fixed-rate retail bond offering, aims vincial areas.

SM Prime also continues to implement to complete SM City Urdaneta Central,

By Jenniffer B. Austria

IN BRIEF Big Boss appeals cement tax perks BIG Boss Cement Inc., a new company in the cement industry led by businessman Henry Sy Jr., on Thursday asked the Board of Investments to reconsider its application for tax incentives under the 2017 Investments Priorities Plan.

Big Boss president Gilbert Cruz said the BoI was taking a second look at the company’s technology producing the greenest cement product in the country.

“The Trade Department and the BoI probably realized that ours is a gamechanging technology. They began communicating with us and asked us to resubmit our application,” Cruz said during the launch of the company in Pasay City.

The BoI rejected the company’s initial application because of the limitation in the IPP. The IPP states that incentives should be given only to cement companies using clinker in the manufacture of portland cement.

Big Boss, a manufacturer of pozzolan cement, does not use clinker.

Othel V. Campos

P

its strategy of building business process outsourcing office towers next to shopping malls.

The company plans to build eight new office buildings, including one in SM Cagayan de Oro, two in SM Southmall, one in SM Fairview, one in SM Iloilo and two in SM North Edsa.

SM Prime said assuming the oversubscription portion of the planned bond offering was exercised, it planned to spend for the expansion of eight existing malls and the construction of Four Ecom Center at Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City.

Under the company’s five-year roadmap ending 2018, the group plans to have 75 malls with a total gross floor area of 10.5 million square meters.

SM Prime earlier announced plans to issue P15-billion, fixed-rate bonds with an over subscription option of up to P5 billion and maturities of 5 years and 7 years.

The latest bond offering comprises SM Prime’s third tranche of the P60-billion, three-year debt securities program approved by the SEC in July 2016.

If the entire P20 billion is issued, SM Prime would have still have P10 billion worth of unissued bonds under the debt securities program.

SM Prime tapped BDO Capital and Investments Corp., China Bank Capital, BPI Capital Crop., First Metro Investments Corp., PNB Capital and Union Bank of the Philippines as joint underwriters for the offering.

FOOD SECURITY. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations strengthens its partnership with the Philippine government to ensure food security and nutrition with the launch of the FAO Legislative Advisory Group-Philippines, which is initially composed of 10 legislators from both houses of Congress. At the launch of the advisory group at Makati Shangri-La Hotel are (from left) FAO strategic adviser Aristeo Portugal, parliamentary expert Michael Planas, regional program officer Kaori Abe, assistant representative for program Tamara Palis-Duran, FAO representative in the Philippines José Luis Fernández, Senator Cynthia Villar, Senator Sonny Angara, Rep. Bernadette HerreraDy, Tala Maralit representing Senator Loren Legarda, Rep. Peter Calderon and Rep. Deogracias Victor Savellano.

Court bans release of imported steel THE Makati Regional Trial Court banned the release of imported steel unless inspected and certified by Bureau of Product Standards to ensure the shipments are compliant with local standards.

The Makati RTC said the bureau must issue another set of implementing rules and regulations for steel importation after they were earlier declared null and void.

The court declared Department Order No. 5 dated 2008 and its IRR and DAO No. 15-01 “null and without force and effect because they gave DTI (Department of Trade and Industry)/ BPS authority/powers beyond what the law prescribed (ultra vires).” It said that the DAOs and IRRs violated/ amended RA 4109.

RA 4109 required the IRR to be approved by the Trade secretary and the President. But the court noted that it was BPS director Jesus Motoomol who “alone drafted” the IRR of DAO 5. Othel V. Campos

Cusi to name key geothermal project THE Energy Department is set to declare a geothermal project with a capacity of over 100 megawatts as the first energy project of national significance under Executive Order 30.

“I’m ready to declare one company as a project of national significance geothermal... Local firm, I don’t know who are behind. It’s a Filipino corporation,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said over the weekend.

EO 30 tasked the council to streamline the regulatory procedures affecting energy projects.

Cusi said he was supposed to sign the the project of national significance last week but had to ensure other agencies were aligned. He declined to give further details on the project.

He said the project was selected because of the difficulty in developing indigenous power development projects.

Alena Mae S. Flores

PH exports to EU up in 2017—Lopez THE Department of Trade and Industry said over the weekend exports to the European Union under the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) hit €2 billion in 2017.

“We are pleased to hear of the significant increase of our exports entering the EU market through the GSP+.

This trade preference has benefitted several communities in the Philippines and opened opportunities for our micro, small, and medium Enterprises.

In the same manner, it has allowed our MSMEs to be more competitive in the local and foreign market,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

Total Philippine merchandise exports to the EU amounted to $8.4 billion in 2017, making the EU the third largest export partner of the Philippines. Othel V. Campos

Local glass manufacturer investing P5b for three-year expansion program

By Othel V. Campos TQMP Glass Manufacturing Corp., a local company that acquired the subsidiary of Japanbased Asahi Glass Co. Ltd., said it will invest P5 billion to create new product lines and build a new glass plant under a threeyear development program.

TQMP Glass president Paul Vincent Go said the company was bullish on creating value-

added products with the additional investment as this would translate into higher turnover.

“We hope to satisfy the market with the new product lines.

This time we want to manufacture figured glass, coated and colored glass products. This opportunity will also give the local glass industry an upper-hand on imports,” he said.

TQMP Glass recently acquired AGC Flat Glass Philippines Inc.

from AGC Asahi Glass, making it the sole manufacturer of architectural glass, popularly known as flat glass, in the country.

Tokyo-based Asahi Glass is a world leader in glass manufacturing.

“When we go into coated glass, we can supply high-end glass to buildings and residences.

We’ll not be captured in low-cost glass anymore. Not really low end but since the products have

not really evolved, we’re stuck at producing clear and bronzed glass only,” Go said.

The company will continue to import value-added products particularly those that are not locally manufactured to supplement local production, he said.

Go said imports would continue to provide the perfect mix for the industry especially on specialized glass products.

He said the proposed new glass

Dominguez blames PSE for slow growth of capital markets Eton plans

By Alena Mae S. Flores

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez said over the weekend the government will not tolerate the actions of private institutions that prevent the development of the capital markets.

Dominguez cited the Philippine Stock Exchange’s failure to comply with the provision of the Securities Regulation Code on the allocation of their shares to other shareholders. It was one of conditions for the approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission of PSE’s plan to acquire Philippine Dealing System Holdings Inc.

“The development of the capital market is being slowed down by the PSE’s protracted compliance with the law. The Duterte administration will no longer tolerate private institutions thwarting the goal of achieving a robust and inclusive financial system,” Dominguez said in a statement.

Dominguez recalled that three months after President Duterte took office, he already told the PSE in September 2016 to follow the law on the allocation of PSE shares to other shareholders so that it could comply with the 20-percent ownership limit of Exchanges and Exchange Controllers as mandated under the SRC.

This was a requirement before the PSE could proceed with acquiring 100 percent of the outstanding capital stock of the PDS Holdings.

The PSE has been planning to acquire a majority stake in PDS Holdings, which serves as the holding firm for fixed-income trading platform Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp., Philippine Depositary and Trust Corp. and Philippine Securities Settlement Corp.

PDEx is the dealing exchange for fixed-income securities while PDTC acts as depository and registry for participants for both fixed income and equity

securities.

“As of now, 16 months later, they are not compliant,” Dominguez said.

The PSE said Thursday it obtained the approval of the SEC to conduct a stock rights offering worth P3.1 billion, a key development that could finally facilitate the merger of the bond and stock exchanges.

SEC secretary Armando Pan said the regulator cleared local stock rights offering that could result in the reduction in stockbrokers’ ownership in the exchange to less than 20 percent as required under the Securities Regulation Code.

NTC to help 3rd telco pass legal hurdles

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE National Telecommunications Commission said it will help the third major player in the telecom sector overcome legal hurdles.

“We are studying all possible legal issues. We have to minimize the probability of bringing it to the court.

Anybody can go to court but we will make sure that they can’t get an injunction,” NTC deputy commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said.

Cabarios said the agency’s legal team was now looking at how to avoid controversies to make sure there would be no delay in the entry of a third player.

plant would produce new product lines at four times the capacity of the existing facility in Pasig City.

The company also beefed up distribution lines to be closer to clients through the Cebu and Davao logistics centers.

TQMP started negotiating with several banks to finance the construction of the new plant.

Go said he was optimistic the board would approve the proposed three-year expansion program.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology earlier issued policy guidelines in selecting the major third player in the telecom industry.

Under the guidelines, the applicant with the highest committed investments for the first five years would be selected and should issue a performance bond.

The potential applicant for a third player should have a valid Congressional telecommunications franchise. It should not be a subsidiary or affiliate of either Globe Telecom and PLDT Group of companies.

Cabarios said the potential candidates for the third player should invest at least

P250 billion to P300 billion over five years to compete with the existing players.

PLDT and Globe Telecom announced they would spending P50 billion and over P40 billion, respectively to expand their mobile and fixed-broadband networks this year.

Cabarios said the government expected to select the third player by end of March this year and the new player to start rolling out its services by end of 2018.

Among the possible third telecom players are Mel Velarde’s Now Telecom, PT&T and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. along with their foreign partners.

BUKIDNON POWER PLANT. Aboitiz Power Corp.’s subsidiary Hedcor Bukidnon Inc. is on the final phase of commissioning its 69-MW hydropower plant in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. Eight electric cooperatives in Mindanao have already signed up for Manolo Fortich Hydro’s renewable energy generation beginning 2018. Hedcor’s engineers inspect the 69-MW hydropower plant, which is now on its commissioning phase and is set to begin commercial operations this year.

to venture into hotels

ETON Properties Philippines Inc., the real estate arm of tycoon Lucio Tan, plans to venture into the hotel business under its own brand.

Eton Properties chief operating officer Josefino Lucas said in an interview the company planned to start building two projects under the Eton Hotel brand this year, including one in Pasay City and another in Quezon City.

Lucas said the plan was to construct a 160-room hotel within a P2 billion mixed-use development across Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.

Lucas said the hotel would be a part of two-tower development on a 4,000-square-meter lot, which would also include retail and office components. The property was acquired by Eton Properties from sister company Philippine National Bank.

Eton Properties also aims to put up Eton Hotel within a 12-hectare property in Centris at the corner of Edsa and Quezon Ave. in Quezon City, according to Lucas.

He said the 400-room, threestar hotel would cater to BPO executives and workers who live in Bulacan and Pampanga.

The company’s move develop its own hotel brand is a part of its strategy to boost recurring income, he said. Jenniffer B. Austria

B2

Business

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

PLDT, Amdocs of US near outsourcing deal

By Darwin G Amojelar PLDT Inc. said it is likely to close a deal this month with Amdocs, a US-based software and services provider, to outsource some of its information and technology operations.

“There now negotiations ongoing with Amdocs, we hope to complete that by end of January,” PLDT chairman and president Manuel Pangilinan.

Amdocs offers digital and network transformation through innovative solutions, delivery expertise and intelligent operations to customers. It has 25,000 employees serving customers in over 85 countries.

Pangilinan said PLDT earlier signed an agreement with Huawei involving the

integrated online billing system and integrated service delivery platforms of the company.

PLDT signed a $28.5 million partnership with global information and communications technology leader Huawei to transform the group’s wireless service delivery platforms.

The project is part of PLDT Group’s massive capital expenditure program for the overhaul of its fixed and wireless networks infrastructure and its information technology systems, which is expected to exceed P50 billion in 2018.

When asked on the number of employees that would be affected from IT outsourcing, Pangilinan said, “ That’s being quantified, I don’t think it would be significant.”

Market tests 9,000 points again; eyes on GDP growth

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to test the 9,000-point level again this week as investors position ahead of the release of the fourth-quarter GDP figures Thursday.

The government earlier projected a gross domestic product growth rate of between 6.5 percent and 7.5 percent for the full of 2017.

COL Financial research head April Lee Tan expects the index to end the year at 9,300 on the robust outlook of the economy, especially with the passage of the first

package of the tax reform program.

Tan said the tax program, which enables the government to spend on much needed infrastructure projects, gave investors more confidence on the Philippine economy registering a 7-percent to 9-percent growth this year.

However, Tan cited the risks brought about by the passage of the tax reform plan, including higher than expected inflation rate, which could dampen consumer spending, and wider budget deficit, especially if the government failed to collect taxes against a programmed spending.

Tan said the market’s current level haf already priced in the positives and that a technical correction could be in the offing before the market resumed its upward trend.

The bellwether PSEi last week ended at 8,915.92, up

1.2 percent from the previous week’s close, while the broader All Shares Index climbed 1.03 percent to close at 5,151.07.

Except for the financial index which declined 1.6 percent as two banks— Bank of the Philippine Islands and Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.—reported stock rights offering plans, all other indices ended in the green.

The industrial index advanced 3.4 percent, mining and oil by 2.34 percent, holding firms by 1.65 percent, services by 1.2 percent and property by 0.4 percent.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

JANUARY 15-19, 2018 Close Volume

Value

JANUARY 8-12, 2018 Close Volume Value

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

3.83 59.95 159.50 123.50 3.89 1.97 36.8 10 15.68 31 9.29 0.69 1.75 980.00 0.560 100.2 1.23 13.08 25.90 56.65 89.3 109 241 55.65 250 1976.00 89.10 1.24

11,389,000 46,840 16,133,520 22,249,980 337,000 2,828,000 3,359,400 1,100 71,400 8,325,400 4,300 1,063,000 675,000 2,440 2,226,000 39,196,000 64,653,000 272,000 40,000 1,889,750 16,690 2,030 23,620 3,179,540 4,157,920 2,000 218,570 558,000

FINANCIAL 37,206,900.00 2,796,571.50 2,581,123,162.00 2,573,491,684.00 1,311,820.00 5,597,710.00 124,316,815.00 10,997.00 1,118,426.00 256,901,715.00 37,294.00 742,770.00 1,150,390.00 2,385,750.00 1,263,330.00 3,918,584,316.00 84,876,170.00 3,521,548.00 1,003,225.00 107,903,095.00 1,481,714.00 206,721.00 5,695,474.00 177,010,108.00 1,047,759,304.00 3,921,595.00 19,738,588.50 692,370.00

3.18 59.85 164.90 116.80 3.90 1.94 37

1,833,000 37,670 13,079,740 9,929,300 521,000 2,138,000 5,662,300

5,684,890.00 2,247,964.00 2,125,581,452.00 1,148,765,380.00 2,042,570.00 4,146,940.00 201,344,540.00

15.6 31.05 7.70 0.7 1.7 970.00 0.580 109.7 1.18 12.8 24.50 56.95 88.95 107 240 55.6 255.4 1901.00 90.05 1.24

24,600 13,420,300 900 4,258,000 139,290 1,450 1,271,000 12,170,740 61,590,000 355,000 37,900 875,100 15,300 420 58,040 927,140 6,066,250 655 379,830 1,619,000

384,002.00 418,746,420.00 6,930.00 2,978,330.00 205,890.00 1,384,945.00 730,020.00 1,313,477,548.00 70,750,370.00 4,503,472.00 919,250.00 49,855,066.00 1,359,788.50 44,158.00 13,928,016.00 51,538,235.00 1,547,390,878.00 1,245,385.00 33,465,782.00 2,031,230.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

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

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

41.5 11.14 0.63 1.33 17.62 0.215 137 18.80 4.8 16.18 171.9 54.8 58.5 100 62 1.89 5.59 10.92 12.760 15.34 13.08 7.97 5.68 1.76 15.9 62.25 31.30 10.00 17.98 1.970 280.00 58.45 4.1 3.03 20.50 27.9 18.12 19.5 0.200 330.00 8.83 2.47 4.85 9.13 6.6 8.25 1.81 12.48 66.2 6.3 4.80 2.17 4.08 560 1.75 15.7 5.4 0.130 1.15 170 2.9 2.12 25.15 0.81

8,227,100 9,055,400 1,669,000 826,300 117,100 3,920,000 4,890 68,700 32,963,500 4,434,300 620 3,658,200 9,180 290 3,636,430 494,000 57,000 79,200 30,669,900 6,282,100 11,993,700 7,695,600 14,854,600 34,000 8,694,200 382,552 7,297,600 4,023,400 11,654,000 9,156,000 6,776,950 13,150 783,000 119,000 2,500 7,743,500 4,122,000 21,916,900 3,430,000 1,381,810 374,300 36,469,000 1,441,400 19,387,300 5,244,200 404,400 9,251,000 2,300,500 2,641,220 160,700 329,000 59,000 117,000 458,320 1,344,000 18,464,000 879,300 13,600,000 833,000 6,337,500 691,000 43,058,000 9,900 2,243,000

INDUSTRIAL 336,913,905.00 98,356,350.00 1,042,060.00 1,483,290.00 2,014,222.00 839,590.00 629,531.00 1,315,672.00 168,749,821.00 70,733,054.00 100,168.00 199,159,683.00 541,419.00 26,540.00 225,458,748.50 942,700.00 316,412.00 850,126.00 375,417,600.00 97,264,564.00 158,336,916.00 61,616,933.00 84,309,370.00 59,820.00 138,197,420.00 32,846,258.00 223,798,130.00 40,236,129.00 209,677,626.00 18,448,740.00 1,855,745,804.00 781,059.00 2,006,082.00 366,960.00 50,917.00 218,292,055.00 74,784,256.00 421,766,875.00 679,160.00 457,613,854.00 3,427,194.00 86,709,170.00 7,083,052.00 178,106,007.00 34,626,318.00 3,351,003.00 16,606,100.00 28,601,206.00 170,968,770.50 1,014,002.00 1,580,240.00 121,660.00 472,950.00 252,592,235.00 2,399,690.00 278,426,546.00 4,801,356.00 1,793,850.00 961,310.00 1,063,376,075.00 1,989,430.00 90,445,280.00 253,625.00 1,810,450.00

40 10.78 0.65 1.35 17.7 0.219 120 19.50 5.27 15.5 182 54 61.8 83 62 1.91 5.4 11 11.660 15.5 12.88 7.87 5.60 1.65 15.92 62.95 28.25 10.04 18 2.000 255.00 58.25 4.13 3.28 20.15 28.25 18.1 17.94 0.203 331.00 9.37 2.25 4.97 9.25 5.01 8.30 1.78 12.42 64.05 6.35 4.82 2.07 4.13 557 1.77 14.06 5.5 0.134 1.19 163 2.85 2.05 23.45 0.82

5,463,100 9,770,700 4,033,000 1,830,000 77,500 2,580,000 2,640 21,300 31,108,600 6,273,300 270 3,826,900 2,140 50 524,710 923,000 64,300 50,600 15,221,000 20,692,600 20,624,600 8,168,200 32,765,500 58,000 18,101,000 354,160 5,049,100 1,657,300 3,180,100 12,646,000 4,260,230 2,810 212,000 75,000 8,600 5,223,300 2,336,300 11,179,100 2,000,000 1,833,460 471,300 11,560,000 3,569,300 14,701,000 1,657,900 238,400 14,106,000 4,244,500 604,650 218,500 185,000 111,000 69,000 765,130 3,276,000 3,989,400 653,800 3,820,000 457,000 9,571,600 743,000 38,885,000 3,200 12,071,000

223,742,335.00 104,960,822.00 2,535,230.00 2,424,220.00 1,345,636.00 555,680.00 324,664.00 411,068.00 165,678,573.00 97,457,182.00 49,456.00 204,288,470.50 127,771.50 4,150.00 32,789,500.50 1,764,100.00 339,440.00 548,938.00 176,730,682.00 319,661,702.00 264,877,792.00 64,736,917.00 183,177,232.00 99,260.00 288,425,548.00 22,132,472.50 145,630,155.00 16,648,951.00 57,339,570.00 25,540,650.00 1,090,956,898.00 164,188.00 887,830.00 239,830.00 167,650.00 151,272,830.00 42,601,544.00 199,646,846.00 403,420.00 605,397,512.00 4,398,176.00 25,455,440.00 18,495,071.00 136,440,776.00 8,925,697.00 1,988,907.00 25,050,120.00 55,542,410.00 38,530,914.00 1,413,290.00 906,630.00 234,870.00 292,690.00 413,114,580.00 5,945,500.00 55,242,060.00 15,385,717.00 509,860.00 533,280.00 1,611,741,260.00 2,171,070.00 79,760,670.00 75,045.00 10,399,740.00

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

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

Lopez Holdings Corp.

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

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

0.300 78.00 16.20 0.96 6.91 0.400 0.450 1031 1200.00 7.41 14.64 5 5.5 7.66 0.198 1392 7.71 79.00 5.8 5.28 5.7 0.69 5.61 23 0.330 6.8 3.27 0.0430 1.240 2.080 2.60 133.00 2.74 1060.00 1.60 0.78 281.000 200.80 0.2130 0.1820 0.192

1,640,000 5,903,960 43,678,900 375,000 212,200 30,670,000 10,608,000 1,465,280 70 4,015,800 23,127,700 418,900 4,400 661,500 590,000 1,003,180 14,500 7,069,590 181,300 800 1,800 1,358,000 1,652,300 36,179,800 750,000 88,631,200 38,000 118,000,000 3,197,000 1,033,000 50,000 1,821,530 134,000 1,257,855 4,529,000 297,000 26,040 690 1,440,000 300,000 780,000

HOLDING FIRMS 495,050.00 452,578,557.50 698,331,492.00 357,740.00 1,475,348.00 12,531,750.00 4,857,855.00 1,536,546,725.00 86,675.00 30,418,397.00 342,696,846.00 2,088,770.00 24,610.00 5,001,521.00 114,050.00 1,373,856,220.00 112,433.00 549,927,181.50 1,040,269.00 4,230.00 10,255.00 925,900.00 9,413,730.00 807,118,065.00 245,250.00 594,451,549.00 125,550.00 5,072,000.00 4,237,860.00 2,132,880.00 127,540.00 239,116,315.00 344,830.00 1,315,955,190.00 7,507,530.00 236,280.00 7,351,634.00 129,702.00 314,910.00 55,190.00 148,620.00

0.300 73.70 16.10 0.97 6.99 0.440 0.490 1065

1,930,000 8,187,590 19,387,400 192,000 141,700 56,431,600 28,410,000 1,294,165

583,300.00 610,647,395.00 314,973,540.00 186,540.00 991,989.00 25,796,268.00 14,040,850.00 1,367,687,300.00

7.68 14.60 5

27,247,600 41,947,100 206,000

210,060,707.00 618,574,084.00 1,043,060.00

7.60 0.185 1430 7.60 77.90 5.5 5.29 5.37 0.69 5.7 21.3 0.330 6.55 3.29 0.0440 1.260 2.060 2.50 129.00 2.53 1029.00 1.76 0.80 283.000

222,700 400,000 608,325 3,783,100 6,818,230 9,500 4,700 100 1,741,000 8,273,300 17,562,000 930,000 85,988,800 27,000 44,000,000 2,360,000 180,000 146,000 4,928,380 106,000 2,091,155 7,848,000 178,000 21,090

1,690,770.00 72,950.00 843,811,295.00 28,794,267.00 536,023,266.50 53,304.00 9,007.00 537.00 1,201,700.00 47,917,487.00 365,931,790.00 287,150.00 575,212,449.00 89,280.00 1,936,000.00 3,057,860.00 373,130.00 365,220.00 627,610,521.00 268,860.00 2,158,233,855.00 13,858,660.00 142,530.00 6,014,486.00

0.2320 0.1820 0.192

2,230,000 500,000 520,000

472,770.00 91,270.00 99,800.00

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

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

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

6.180 1.00 14.50 2.280 0.920 44.900 3.9 5 5.8 6.09 0.475 1.13 1.100 0.220 0.430 40.5 0.630 0.140 1.89 1.36 0.74 4.88 5.13 0.315 0.3600

1,667,800 23,426,000 852,800 2,771,000 17,302,000 47,870,700 3,722,000 13,826,300 359,000 2,800 12,340,000 151,000 2,458,000 32,100,000 3,590,000 1,779,800 3,235,000 710,000 36,820,000 13,578,000 1,302,000 13,000 275,070,400 381,140,000 9,230,000

PROPERTY 10,322,123.00 24,185,250.00 13,331,196.00 6,145,850.00 16,636,070.00 2,148,658,015.00 14,355,520.00 69,355,277.00 2,057,974.00 17,052.00 5,895,900.00 170,330.00 2,752,900.00 7,026,730.00 1,561,550.00 71,934,635.00 2,077,780.00 97,970.00 69,764,470.00 18,590,260.00 996,100.00 58,690.00 1,362,161,557.00 124,093,250.00 3,342,600.00

6.200 1.09 13.46 2.290 1.010 44.350 3.89 4.9 5.77 6.09 0.480 1.12 1.160 0.219 0.465 40.8 0.650 0.139 1.87 1.38 0.82 4.80 5.1 0.340 0.3600

5,871,300 27,035,000 126,900 458,000 31,381,000 68,843,700 14,349,000 6,397,000 418,000 12,700 13,350,000 33,000 1,439,000 14,050,000 5,480,000 2,007,100 5,923,000 900,000 35,754,000 19,343,000 5,980,000 3,000 129,501,800 127,660,000 11,920,000

36,720,261.00 29,121,430.00 1,656,826.00 1,060,590.00 30,352,520.00 3,095,381,280.00 57,318,140.00 30,674,110.00 2,383,493.00 73,646.00 6,434,350.00 36,460.00 1,640,510.00 3,088,270.00 2,456,150.00 83,456,015.00 3,816,080.00 124,520.00 85,289,110.00 26,962,010.00 4,873,160.00 14,400.00 667,527,870.00 45,891,900.00 4,182,900.00

STOCKS

JANUARY 15-19, 2018 Close Volume

JANUARY 8-12, 2018 Close Volume Value

Value

Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

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

0.590 35.95 4.81 20.00 2.1 3.22 39.00 1.06 9.3 0.830 5.950

18,711,000 1,100 4,265,100 20,190,600 2,956,000 4,040,000 35,021,600 7,623,000 126,700 1,032,000 9,533,500

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

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

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

21.2 34.05 1.4 0.440 0.046 11.6 5.04 10.72 0.0690 99.2 8.99 8.42 8.28 2.86 66.40 1000 1725 5.97 21.80 12.18 4.57 112 2.63 13.98 8.33 0.139 1.4100 3.39 15.6 4.07 1.15 21.85 18.40 0.520 4.21 8.23 3.64 4.190 10.86 10.50 2.9 9 105.00 7.07 1482.00 0.375 1.280 53.10 98.00 5.80 3.10 1.510 2.99 4.12 0.990 9.030

1,221,800 280,200 373,000 2,540,000 137,300,000 159,800 26,500 41,778,000 31,530,000 1,293,790 43,600 3,846,000 1,027,200 2,273,000 10,326,210 55 220,070 1,797,100 492,600 3,900 26,887,000 3,261,680 119,000 52,900 616,100 16,300,000 1,644,000 299,000 7,400 5,425,000 9,802,000 18,737,700 21,400 569,000 5,032,000 29,002,300 4,021,000 111,482,000 85,300 150,400 68,000 58,100 213,400 4,462,900 594,085 1,470,000 7,836,000 10,075,540 2,562,030 174,900 1,897,000 5,047,000 75,969,000 8,004,000 40,251,000 64,308,000

SERVICES 26,429,510.00 9,632,240.00 521,960.00 1,123,100.00 6,275,400.00 1,860,458.00 134,478.00 462,723,206.00 2,187,860.00 128,754,212.00 385,083.00 32,553,412.00 8,129,506.00 6,299,690.00 519,804,021.00 54,790.00 382,204,925.00 10,761,764.00 10,879,290.00 45,286.00 123,182,520.00 364,111,895.00 314,710.00 729,604.00 5,133,975.00 2,284,300.00 2,290,910.00 977,920.00 114,778.00 21,826,150.00 11,795,080.00 404,279,575.00 377,188.00 298,150.00 21,821,350.00 240,142,222.00 14,694,920.00 386,446,530.00 926,012.00 1,661,760.00 194,440.00 528,127.00 22,645,675.00 31,711,470.00 861,004,900.00 537,250.00 10,020,320.00 542,380,894.00 253,339,401.50 982,756.00 5,918,510.00 7,753,860.00 260,951,670.00 33,134,920.00 36,610,750.00 570,831,579.00

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

United Paragon

0.0022 1.52 4.95 14.68 1.7000 1.7100 1.58 0.330 7.47 2.520 0.195 0.154 0.159 0.009 0.0100 1.67 6.5 1.42 0.4750 0.9300 0.0130 0.0130 6.73 8.84 0.0120 2.2500 38.55 0.0072

270,000,000 22,840,000 640,000 6,900 149,000 134,000 4,461,000 3,210,000 105,100 6,308,000 1,410,000 39,450,000 4,930,000 20,800,000 200,000 543,000 10,098,300 743,000 70,000 885,000 108,700,000 434,500,000 8,240,300 42,643,200 572,100,000 308,000 11,436,600 49,000,000

MINING & OIL 596,600.00 35,922,260.00 3,167,320.00 95,874.00 254,730.00 230,460.00 7,048,930.00 1,055,150.00 774,942.00 16,234,860.00 272,600.00 6,086,270.00 775,960.00 195,000.00 2,000.00 912,710.00 66,563,920.00 1,044,280.00 31,950.00 820,190.00 1,267,200.00 5,384,700.00 56,656,410.00 388,286,249.00 6,658,500.00 689,770.00 440,432,655.00 339,200.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

33.75 531 527.5 103.6 108 115.9 517 530 5.7 1009 1016 101.3 1.06 108 1048 1098 1005 105.7 112 76.7 79.5 75.8 77 78.65 77.4 78 78.9 2.19

318,300 1,930 10,480 74,150 10,330 129,270 7,100 4,740 1,885,300 4,520 19,365 39,330 393,000 29,920 905 75 8,935 1,080 1,520 12,370 103,560 2,240 53,880 327,040 66,370 156,870 187,460 20,000

LR Warrant

2.400

WARRANTS & BONDS 1,650,000 4,033,910.00

Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Philab Holdings Xurpas

2.94 8.14 3.56 4.82

13,000 6,358,100 300,000 9,578,400

First Metro ETF

134.5 10.2 10.3 1

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

11,012,150.00 37,910.00 20,648,139.00 414,698,224.00 6,172,160.00 12,932,650.00 1,373,487,040.00 7,959,370.00 1,161,135.00 856,680.00 56,576,088.00

0.590 32.00 5 21.05 2.11 3.18 38.90 1.04 8.1 0.860 5.950

43,969,000 1,000 8,323,900 21,364,200 7,759,000 688,000 35,205,200 4,333,000 63,800 173,600 21,907,000

25,735,980.00 32,000.00 41,981,670.00 453,101,135.00 16,902,750.00 2,199,540.00 1,084,005,830.00 4,468,740.00 543,126.00 182,060.00 130,754,728.00

22.15 34.7 1.43 0.435 0.045 12 4.95 11.30 0.0710 98.95 8.8 8.36 7.35 2.32 22.70

2,104,700 535,100 165,000 16,400,000 133,800,000 34,800 11,500 57,922,300 31,770,000 1,684,980 16,500 6,411,300 588,700 326,000 1,461,100

45,025,410.00 18,607,645.00 232,010.00 7,302,050.00 5,989,100.00 411,642.00 56,380.00 659,072,652.00 2,232,720.00 168,683,159.50 145,697.00 54,342,432.00 4,285,679.00 751,900.00 29,757,414.00

1740 5.93 21.95 12.00 4.48 108.5 2.64 14.5 8.32 0.141 1.4100 3.16 15.2 3.89 1.13 22.60 18.78 0.530 4.37 8.2 3.68 2.950 10.94 11.36 2.9 8.9 107.50 7.31 1419.00 0.375 1.280 53.50 100.00 5.96 3.09 1.540 3.15 4.09 0.990 8.700

264,475 2,743,100 392,600 6,100 11,022,000 5,207,920 84,000 351,300 700,200 10,800,000 4,055,000 184,000 33,200 2,647,000 1,841,000 10,163,300 41,400 75,000 1,846,000 59,137,900 10,194,000 31,847,000 237,500 180,900 273,000 100 2,259,550 7,931,800 861,195 6,350,000 13,393,000 12,998,300 3,527,990 804,200 2,604,000 12,682,000 27,825,000 6,598,000 15,946,000 29,344,000

455,226,035.00 16,423,743.00 8,565,960.00 69,326.00 50,097,770.00 575,458,856.00 222,300.00 5,135,306.00 5,831,584.00 1,506,570.00 5,662,170.00 568,260.00 519,718.00 10,241,510.00 2,091,450.00 231,537,785.00 760,112.00 39,870.00 8,172,110.00 503,479,052.00 37,697,050.00 92,093,520.00 2,600,294.00 2,070,548.00 767,300.00 890.00 248,563,886.00 57,496,178.00 1,218,460,650.00 2,311,650.00 17,403,170.00 687,537,649.50 345,450,460.00 4,648,066.00 8,162,600.00 19,434,490.00 87,467,430.00 26,819,540.00 15,794,640.00 251,083,681.00

0.0023 1.58 4.95 14.78 1.7400 1.7500 1.59 0.325 7.18 2.620 0.198 0.156 0.159 0.010 0.0100 1.69 6.59 1.48 0.4350 0.9200 0.0120 0.0120 6.59 8.05 0.0110 2.1000 37.00 0.0070

699,000,000 9,730,000 1,242,200 7,500 30,000 94,000 2,122,000 5,260,000 87,700 16,420,000 2,020,000 20,910,000 6,120,000 45,020,000 10,000,000 611,000 17,222,000 445,000 680,000 1,317,000 13,500,000 513,100,000 4,378,000 7,530,800 404,800,000 153,000 18,184,400 8,000,000

1,545,400.00 15,263,950.00 6,143,103.00 109,964.00 52,220.00 162,740.00 3,381,750.00 1,714,300.00 641,846.00 43,160,190.00 402,100.00 3,214,180.00 965,810.00 606,700.00 100,000.00 1,048,950.00 115,095,117.00 632,980.00 303,150.00 1,214,450.00 162,000.00 6,306,800.00 28,337,925.00 60,442,506.00 4,777,700.00 320,190.00 678,409,410.00 58,200.00

33.8 513.5 518 104.4 105.8 110.7

866,900 3,710 2,730 87,660 18,290 20,010

29,583,180.00 1,912,010.00 1,399,330.00 9,151,782.00 1,875,403.00 2,216,132.00

530 5.64 1008 1025 102.1 1.04 105.7 1070 1149 1000 207.4 108.7 76.7 79.5 76.7 78.8 76.2 78.6 78 2.07

310 3,155,900 22,430 1,315 40,640 2,731,000 25,830 25 10,965 5,520 2,650 160 35,300 114,570 54,780 181,890 91,000 147,110 153,700 347,950 20,000

162,535.00 18,070,957.00 22,588,815.00 1,342,630.00 4,147,732.00 2,868,420.00 2,728,944.00 26,750.00 12,041,275.00 5,524,770.00 274,805.00 17,392.00 2,673,670.50 9,149,795.00 4,150,611.50 13,948,587.00 7,165,549.00 11,185,201.00 12,076,643.00 27,138,135.00 40,990.00

2.370

1,112,000

2,662,140.00

2.81 7.77 3.53 5

7,000 15,724,400 311,000 7,833,700

19,700.00 138,966,792.00 1,112,380.00 39,706,454.00

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 847,790 112,844,219.00

133.3

111,520

14,855,128.00

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 149,760 1,529,352.00 142,960 1,469,503.60 50,000 50,000.00

10.12 10.26

13,640 59,200

138,538.40 602,520.00

PREFERRED 10,754,940.00 1,004,260.00 5,428,755.00 7,718,356.00 1,075,715.00 14,995,293.00 3,621,070.00 2,497,050.00 10,798,174.00 4,555,195.00 19,804,420.00 4,007,545.00 413,210.00 3,165,580.00 948,440.00 83,970.00 8,939,115.00 113,013.00 170,240.00 940,985.50 8,201,897.50 170,363.00 4,131,467.00 25,766,207.00 5,068,318.50 12,073,464.50 14,799,121.00 44,220.00

SME 37,280.00 50,716,149.00 1,089,870.00 46,564,933.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Philodrill Corp. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ MRC Allied Ind. Megaworld Abra Mining Apollo Global Pacifica `A’ NOW Corp.

Oriental Pet. `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

VOLUME 572,100,000 434,500,000 381,140,000 275,070,400 270,000,000 137,300,000 118,000,000 111,482,000 108,700,000 88,631,200

STOCKS Metrobank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI Ayala Land `B’ Jollibee Foods Corp.

Ayala Corp `A’ GT Capital SM Prime Holdings Megaworld SM Investments Inc.

VALUE 3,918,584,316.00 2,581,123,162.00 2,573,491,684.00 2,148,658,015.00 1,855,745,804.00 1,536,546,725.00 1,373,856,220.00 1,373,487,040.00 1,362,161,557.00 1,315,955,190.00

Foreign investors were net buyers by P2.85 billion, while average daily value traded stood at P8.5 billion from the previoud week’s average of P7.5 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc., which rose 11.6 percent to P15.70; Megawide Construction Corp., which climbed 8.7 percent to P19.50; and LT Group Inc., which gained 7.9 percent to P23.

Weekly top price losers were Metrobank which declined 8.6 percent to P110.20; Robinsons Land Corp., which dropped 5 percent to P20; and 2GO Group Inc., which fell 4.3 percent to P21.20.

Global stock markets, meanwhile, rose on Friday, with major Wall Street indices ending at all-time records, as investors shrugged off a looming shutdown of the US government.

The S&P and Nasdaq both finished at all-time highs, while the Dow also gained.

Leading bourses in Europe and Asia advanced, while the dollar recovered some of its losses from the prior session against the euro. With AFP

Ayala unit mulls over Rizal diesel power plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores AC Energy DevCo. Inc. of Ayala Corp. plans to put up a diesel power plant with an output of up to 150 megawatts in Pililla, Rizal province to meet the peaking and reserve requirement of the Luzon grid.

“We’re looking at developing a peaking/ancillary plant, diesel in Pililla. We’re now going through pre-development process—permitting, ECC (environmental compliance certificate), we’re doing the studies now,” AC Energy chief executive officer John Eric Francia told reporters.

AC Energy, which earlier served as the holding company of the Ayala’s energy investment, is now the umbrella brand for its energy group of companies after the board approved a restructuring last week.

AC Energy’s brand now consists primarily of AC Renewables Inc. and ACE Thermal Inc. “We’re hopeful that we’ll get to start the construction as soon as we complete all the requirements. We’re hoping this year,” Francia said.

The company has already received approval to conduct a grid impact study for the planned diesel facilities in Rizal.

Francia said the company was exploring diesel power plant opportunities because “we believe the country will need more peaking and reserve, ancillary capacity... especially in a world where you inject more renewables.”

Francia said as more renewable energy was injected to the grid, there could be more intermittency of power and “you need ancillary for that.”

“This (Pililla plant) is going to be fast-start,” he said.

Francia, meanwhile, said Ayala decided to restructure the business, citing that renewables and conventional power were two distinct businesses that attract different types of investors.

“This move therefore provides AC Energy a sharper proposition and greater flexibility in the event that we broaden our investor base for our platforms,” he said.

Business/World THE GOLDEN FINEX FINANCIAL executives play a huge role in how an enterprise or corporation is governed. This was what the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) has espoused and continues to advocate, the propagation of a more meaningful appreciation of the role of finance officers and executives in good corporate governance.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation

U.S. Ambassador Sung Y. Kim

Two years ago, in the annual Search for CFO of the Year by FINEX and ING Bank N.V., the theme was “The Decade of the CFO: Championing Good Governance”. I am proud to say, the FINEX CFO of the Year for that year (2016) was none other than our indefatigable Chief Finance Officer (CFO) for Philex Mining Corporation, Danny Yu. As Danny’s colleague, I can say that he was very much deserving of the accolade and award both for his financial expertise and his nononsense handling of Philex corporate governance, together with our President and CEO Euls Austin Jr., which has paid off in leaps and bounds.

Who would have thought that a mining company, navigating through the tempest waters of regulatory challenges and public perception, would emerge as one of the top 50 Publicly-Listed Compa-

nies (PLCs) in the ASEAN Region for Corporate Governance and one of the top 3 publicly listed companies in the Philippines for Corporate Governance.

But I digress.

FiNEX was registered as a nonstock, non-profit corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) back in January 1968; thus, it is now celebrating its Golden Jubilee as a forerunner in finance development not just in the country but also worldwide.

Recently, it held its Gala Night and, of course, corporate governance was at the forefront.

Former Prime Minister Cesar Virata spoke about a solid finance education as the backbone of good governance. The Virata School of Business (VSB) in the University of the Philippines is known as the leading institution for management education in the country. It has partnered with FINEX for scholarship programs and in the Development Center for Finance.

US Ambassador HE Sung Kim spoke about how corporate governance was a key element for their partnership on inclusive growth with the Philippines. He stressed that the deepening of cooperation between government and the private sector must go hand-in-hand with promoting good governance.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, who delivered the keynote, spoke about harnessing globalization and technology to deepen understanding of good governance. In his introduction of MVP, former Press Secretary Coloma said they chose MVP since he has, in running the companies under his wing, shown a passionate and unflinching adherence to good corporate governance .

MVP surprised the audience when he correlated good governance with basketball. At first glance, these two concepts look poles apart, but a deeper inspection would reveal that both actually correlate at the level of values and right practices.

Other noted guests, stalwarts of good governance all, were BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla, BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier, SEC Chairperson Tess Herbosa, and National Treasurer Rosalia De Leon.

The evening was also the occasion to launch the FINEX Golden Jubilee Book, Pillars of Good Governance.

My hats off to FINEX, led by its president, Benedicta Du-Baladad, on the celebration of its Golden Jubilee. May it have 50 years and more in advocating the cause for good finance practice and good corporate governance.

Women join marches in anti-Trump protest L OS ANGELES―Protesters took to the streets en masse across the United States Saturday, hoisting anti-Donald Trump placards, banging drums and donning pink hats for a second Women’s March opposing the president―one year to the day of his inauguration.

Hundreds of thousands of marchers assembled in Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Chicago, Denver, Boston and other cities nationwide, many donning the famous pink knit “pussy hats” -- a reference to Trump’s videotaped boasts of his license to grope

KABUL―Gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in Kabul and killed at least six people including a foreigner, sparking a 12-hour fight with security forces that left terrified guests scrambling to escape and parts of the building ablaze.

People trapped at the top of the six-story Intercontinental Hotel, on a hilltop overlooking the Afghan capital, could be seen tying together bedsheets and climbing over balconies to escape the overnight siege.

One lost his grip and fell in dramatic television footage by Afghanistan’s Tolo News station, which also showed black smoke and flames billowing from the top of the hotel.

During the night special forces were lowered by helicopters onto the roof of the landmark 1960s building, with Afghan security forces killing four attackers in the hours-long assault, the interior ministry said.

“Five Afghans and one foreigner have been killed,” interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told AFP Sunday, adding around 150 people were rescued including more than 40 foreigners.

“The body of the foreigner, a woman, was recovered from the sixth floor as the last attacker was being killed,” he added. AFP

GREEN LIGHT

With MVP and Amb. Sung Kim

With former PSE president Atty.

Francis Lim and SEC Chair Teresita J. Herbosa

Ma. Victoria C. Españo, 2018 FINEX President, Atty. Benedicat Du- Baladad ,2017 FIINEX President and 2018 Chairman of FINEX Research and Development foundation Inc, Hon. Cesar E.A. Virata, former Prime Minister of the Philippines, Dean Ben Paul B. Gutierrez ,UP Diliman Ms. Ma. Victoria C. Españo, 2018 FINEX President, Florencia Tarriela, FINEX director , U.S. Amb. Sung Kim, Grace Tiongco, FINEX VP for Professional Development, Esther P. Magleo, FINEX VP for Corporate Governance

women without repercussions.

Protesters hoisted signs emblazoned with slogans like “Fight like a girl”, “A woman’s place is in the White House” and “Elect a clown, expect a circus.”

The largest demonstrations were in cities where Trump per-

formed poorly at the polls: the Los Angeles mayor said estimated turnout in his city was 600,000, while New York police estimated about 200,000 protesters.

In Manhattan, a diverse crowd descended on Central Park West, the avenue that borders the city’s beloved park and arrives at the foot of the Trump International Hotel -- part of the magnate-turned-commanderin-chief’s real estate empire.

“We live in an alternate universe―it is so bad,” said Althea Fusco, 67, who traveled to the city from upstate New York with two neighbors.

“I see an erosion of democracy,” she said.

Speakers at the New York rally included activist and actress Rosie Perez and entertainer Whoopi Goldberg, who emphasized that “we are here to say―as women― we’re not taking it anymore.”

Throngs of demonstrators paraded in Los Angeles, where actress Natalie Portman was among the celebrities pumping up the crowd: “Because of you the revolution is rolling.”

“The way Trump has treated women and still been elected―I want him to be aware that we are coming together as a powerful force and we’re going to change this,” said 44-year-old artist Heather Arndt in the California metropolis. AFP

At least six killed in siege of Kabul hotel

IAN BENEDICT MIA

With MVP

B3

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

I WAS first introduced to the concept of design thinking through a friend who’s fond of saying, “bad design!” to practically anything he sees as having an actual, bad design. For instance, something as simple as the oddly small sidewalks along certain streets in Metro Manila have a bad design, primarily because people have to squeeze through these sidewalks. These people also run the risk of getting hit by vehicles when they step beyond the sidewalk. A better design would be not just bigger sidewalks, but sidewalks that are designed by taking into consideration the safety and perspective of the people who will actually cross there. In a broader perspective, however, what is design thinking?

In an article by Tim Brown and Jocelyn Wyatt at the Stanford Social Innovation Review, they state that design thinking as an approach involves “capacities that we all have, but that are overlooked by more conventional problem-solving practices.” The traditional design approach to business, for instance, has usually been on enhancing the look and functionality of products. Design thinking, however, goes beyond the façade of looks and functionalities, and places a heavy emphasis on creating products and services that are humancentered and solve a particular problem faced by people. The entire process itself integrates

ONSTAGE. Singer/songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen performs as she opens for Katy Perry at T-Mobile Arena on January 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

‘The Shape of Water’ best film at Producers Guild LOS ANGELES―Guillermo del Toro’s fantasy romance “The Shape of Water” took home best movie at the Producers Guild Awards on Saturday, putting it in pole position for Oscars glory in March.

The movie bested leading Academy Awards contenders including “Call Me by Your Name,” “Dunkirk,” “Get Out,” “I, Tonya” and “Lady Bird.”

In a crowded field, it also saw off “The Big Sick,” “Molly’s Game,” “The Post,” “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” and “Wonder Woman.”

The 1960s-set fairytale about a mute government laboratory janitor falling in love with a mermanlike creature won best director for

Del Toro at the Golden Globes, considered a dry-run for the Oscars.

It also has 12 nominations for February’s BAFTAs, Britain’s version of the Oscars, and is expected to do well when yhr nominees for the actual Academy Awards are announced on Tuesday.

The 53-year-old filmmaker, who co-produced alongside J. Miles Dale, was not there to pick up his trophy due to having gone to his sick father’s bedside in Mexico.

In one of the ceremony’s highlights, “Get Out” director and producer Jordan Peele was recognized for making a film that raises awareness of social issues and talked about “the sunken place,”

the term used for the hypnotic, brainwashed state that traps victims in his movie.

“The sunken place is the system that silences the voice of women, minorities, and of other people,” he said in politically charged speech condemning President Donald Trump for derogatory comments about Haiti, Africa and black football stars kneeling during the national anthem.

“Every day there is proof that we are in the sunken place,” he added.

“Coco”―Pixar’s love letter to Mexico based on the country’s Day of the Dead festival―won best animated picture, the first prize of the night handed out at the Beverly Hilton. AFP

Applying design thinking in social innovation and entrepreneurship various human elements and cultural aspects.

Simply put, what design thinking aims to tackle are what one may call institutional voids or systemic problems that have been plaguing society for many years. Be it in the inadequacies of the Philippine government, our healthcare system, mass transportation system, and agricultural productivity, among others, design thinking can bring out new and innovative solutions. However, design thinking is obviously not easy as it involves a continuous articulation of the issue at hand and finding creative means to address that issue.

Moreover, the caveat is that not every individual or organization would immediately subscribe to the notion behind design thinking, as this typically involves veering away from traditional and well-established mechanisms. Like any radical or innovative change, however, a pinch of resistance is usually expected.

The compressed idea behind design thinking involves three aspects: inspiration, ideation and implementation. This does not necessarily mean you have to undergo it sequentially, because these three aspects are treated more as a system with overlapping effects and interrelations.

In doing business, how do these three aspects come into play? Let’s take a look at one

particular trend in the country that is slowly gaining traction: social entrepreneurship. In fact, in an October 2017 study by the British Council Philippines, there is estimated to be now over 164,473 social enterprises in the country.

The most common form of social innovation in the Philippines involve social enterprises that tackle marginalized groups or communities. For instance, Karabella Dairy, a social enterprise that produces dairy products from carabao milk, partners with carabao farmers in Bulacan and also has goals of scaling up its business. Another social enterprise, ANTHILL Fabric Gallery, partners with local indigenous communities across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to create beautifully handwoven products including fabrics, accessories, handbags, and dolls, among others. My last example is MAD Travel, a social tourism platform which offers travel packages that involve meaningful experiences with marginalized communities in the Philippines.

In these examples, design thinking comes into play with the fact that these are not just products or services created for the satisfaction of the consumers, but are also created to support marginalized groups by partnering and working with them. This is where the human-centered element of design thinking comes in. The

inspiration involves the marginalized communities and their struggles, the ideation focuses on finding out creative means to help them through employment, and the implementation stage tackles the concrete steps that will be taken. Design thinking even goes beyond the usual operations of the business itself, and zooms further into how empathizing with stakeholders can bring about certain issues, and with it, simple and innovative solutions.

In a nutshell, what these social enterprises and many others in the Philippines are attempting to change is the systemic problem of employment and empowerment among rural communities.

Design thinking has been applied for quite some time now, and as it is slowly gaining popularity in the country, the more we should take advantage of it to solve our societal ills.

Ian Benedict Mia is an undergraduate student currently taking up AB Psychology and BS Business Management at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University (DLSU). He is currently working part-time as a research assistant under the DLSU Center for Business Research and Development – Social Enterprise Research Network (CBRD-SERN), and is an aspiring social entrepreneur.

You may contact him through ianbrmia@gmail.com.

LGUs

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

B4

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

THE Makati City government has announced it paid five theatre owners more than P38 million for the free movie tickets given to elders and persons with disability in the city who availed the privilege in 2017.

The privilege covers 80,000 senior citizens and some 7,715 registered PWDs of Makati who can watch free movies at any of the cinema-partners in Glorietta and Greenbelt, Century Mall, Power Plant Mall, Cash and Carry, and Waltermart.

Mayor Abigail Binay said her administration has sustained the program because of what she described as “priceless” benefits for the elders and PWD. “We cannot put a price on the joys derived by the beneficiaries from this program. Many of our senior citizens have come to love their regular movie dates with their contemporaries, which also give them the chance to socialize and do some catching up,” said Binay.

She also noted that having free access to movies is an enriching experience for the city’s PWD constituents.

“This program enriches their lives by giving them the freedom to learn more about places and other cultures around the world from every film they watch.”

The program was started in 1997 for the benefit of the elderly, and was later expanded in 2006 to include the PWD sector.

In a report submitted to the Office of the Mayor, city chief accountant William Dayrit stated that for the whole year, the city paid P35,353,925.19 for the movie tickets issued to senior citizens and P3,175,612.14 for PWD. Joel E. Zurbano

Tax deadline extended

By Joel Zurbano

T

HE Makati City government will extend the deadline of assessment of business permits without penalty to Jan. 25, and the payment of business and realty taxes to Jan. 31, following the approval by the City Council of City Ordinance No. 2018-001, Mayor Abby Binay said.

Binay urged the city’s business and real property owners who did not make the Jan. 20 deadline to take advantage of the extension to avoid incurring penalties and surcharges.

“We have extended the deadline to accommodate clients who really intend to be prompt in their payments. We urge you not to wait until the deadline again to avoid having to endure

THE city government of Valenzuela has inaugurated its new Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela campus.

The P757.9 million tertiary education building is located along Tongco Street in Barangay Maysan, Valenzuela City.

According to Mayor Rex Gatchalian, “the quest for high-quality” tertiary education in Valenzuela City continue to advance by leaps and bounds.”

In September 2016, the city government implemented a

longer lines and other inconveniences,” the mayor said.

The acceptance of payments for business licenses without penalty has also been extended up to Jan. 31, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. only.

Penalties on late payments of business taxes include a 25-percent surcharge and a two-percent penalty per month of delay until the amount due is fully settled.

For Real Property Tax collection, taxpayers may avail of the 10 percent discount up to Jan. 31, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. only, pro-

vided that full payment is made for the whole year.

The Business Permits and Licensing Office and other frontline offices involved in the processing of business permit and license applications, payments of taxes and fees, and other related transactions will continue to extend work hours until Jan. 31.

On weekdays until Jan. 31, BPLO will be open until 10 p.m., while on Saturday and Sunday (Jan. 27 and 28), they will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Under the Makati Revenue

Code, discounts are given to non-delinquent taxpayers, as follows: 10 percent for full year RPT payments made until Jan. 20, and five percent discount for prompt quarterly payments (Quarter 1 until Jan. 20; Quarter 2 until April 20; Quarter 3 until July 20; and Quarter 4 until Oct. 20).

Annual RPT payments made after March will incur an eight-percent penalty on the first quarter, and two percent on every succeeding month. For late quarterly RPT payments (made after the last day of the quarter, that

is March 31, June 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31), an eight-percent penalty will be imposed for that quarter, and two percent on every succeeding month.

For miscellaneous fees and taxes, the deadline for professional tax payments is on Jan. 31, while the deadline for payments on Community Tax, both corporate and individual, is on Feb. 28.

The Miscellaneous Division will continue to extend work hours, as follows: Jan. 22 to 26, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Jan. 27 and 28, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Jan. 29 and 31, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Masbate Gold backs coral reef restoration

‘ANGAT BUHAY.’ Vice President Leni Robredo (center) talks to Muntinlupa City residents before the launch of the Office of the Vice President’s Metro Laylayan through Angat Buhay Program at NHA Southville, Brgy. Poblacion last Thursday. Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (second from left) joined Robredo and led the ‘Salu-Salo sa Barangay’ at the NHA Covered Court. The OVP and Muntinlupa conducted a medical mission, social service programs, and a job fair during the event.

6k Davao kids get shots after measles outbreak

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—Over 6,000 children have been vaccinated against measles after an outbreak was reported in two call center agencies in the city.

City Health Office Head Dr. Josephine Villafuerte said they immediately conducted an Outbreak Response Immunization (ORI) covering the different barangays in the city.

In a span of two days, over 6,000 were covered by the ORI, Villafuerte said.

“Though the affected area was call center companies, children are the most vulnerable ones in times of measles outbreaks. We intend to cover the entire city to ensure that the children will be safe from measles,” she said.

Last week, 16 call center agents were reported with measles. The CHO recom-

New Valenzuela PLV campus opens

By Jun David

By Roy Tomandao SANTA ROSA, Laguna—Dancers from eight public secondary schools presented this city’s 226 years of history in less than 10 minutes through a colorful and vibrant street dance competition at the opening of this year’s Sikhayan Festival.

The festival, held every Jan. 18, is celebrated in conjunction with Santa Rosa’s founding anniversary. Sikhayan, which stands for Sikap sa Kabuhayan, is an annual event celebrating the Rosenians’ spirit of enterprise that has, through the decades, fueled the city’s economic growth.

The Santa Rosa Science and Technology High School emerged as Grand Champion of the dance meet and grabbed the Best in Costume Award. Aplaya National High School won first runner-up, followed by Labas Senior High School, Pulong Sta. Cruz National High School, and Sinalhan Senior High School.

In harmony with this year’s theme, “Biyaya ng Kaunlaran Tagumpay ng Sikhayan ng Mamamayan,” the presentations of the schools centered on the different sectors that contributed greatly to what Santa Rosa is today—one of the most dynamic cities in the country.

Participants of the Sikhayan Festival grand parade competition perform their dance numbers as Laguna 1st District Rep. Arlene B. Arcillas (left, inset) addresses the crowd with Santa Rosa City Mayor Dan S. Fernandez (center) and Vice Mayor Arnold B. Arcillas (right) to celebrate the city’s 226th founding anniversary. Roy Tomandao

Makati pays P38m for movie benefits

Santa Rosa marks triumphs through Sikhayan Festival

full subsidy on tuition and miscellaneous fees, including school ID, library, medical, newsletter, handbook, laboratory, sports, multimedia, and guidance and counselling fees in its public tertiary institutions – PLV and the Valenzuela City Polytechnic College (ValPoly).

The initiative is way ahead of the signing of the Republic Act 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,” Gatchalian said.

The new PLV campus consists of three modern western Mediterranean-inspired

buildings with hi-tech amenities, such as engineering and Information and Communication Technology laboratories, a spacious library, and an audio-visual room.

Also, the PLV World Card will also be launched on the same day. The card is the students’ access to a whole new world of topnotch university experience. It will serve as their access to enter the campus. Once tapped, their parents or guardian are notified through a text message whether the student is in or out of the campus.

mended their immediate leave “otherwise the entire batch inside the facility will be affected with measles.”

Villafuerte stressed that a single case of measles left untreated can create an outbreak, reason why the CHO treats measles with urgency.

They have requested the call center companies to let city health staff enter their facilities for vaccination.

However, firms declined

their request, the CHO said.

“You can easily get measles in a place like a call center office. Their facility is so closed that the air is just circling around their office, for an airborne disease such as measles, one can easily acquire it,” she said.

A total of 222 cases have been recorded by the CHO from last November to Jan. 12 this year—68 recorded in January alone.

TWO major mining firms that comprise the Masbate Gold Project have begun installing 400 to 800 reef balls in a fishing and mining town in Masbate, in a bid to help regenerate new reef covers.

The coral reefs had had been severely damaged by past destructive and illegal fishing activities in the area, officials of the two firms said.

MGP member-firms Filminera Resources Corp. and Phil. Gold Processing and Refining Corp. installed reef balls in Colorada Point in Barangay Tigbao, Aroroy in the province.

Recently, the Colorada Point was declared a marine protected area with MGP as its main driver.

A reef ball is an innovatively designed artificial reef with holes that create whirlpools around it. It is placed under water to restore ailing or destroyed coral reefs and to create new fishing and scuba diving sites.

The reef balls, used around the world, are made of a special, marine-friendly concrete and used to create habitats for fish as well as

other marine and freshwater species. Reef balls are of varied sizes to best match the natural reef type.

Reef balls mimic nature and can be floated and towed behind boats of any size.

MGP has continued expanding the mangroves planting program to provide additional livelihood to the coastal community of Port Barrera.

This rehabilitation project is pursued by MGP in tandem with the United States-based Reefball Foundation.

The Foundation is a publicly supported non-profit and international environmental NGO whose mission is to rehabilitate the world’s ocean reef ecosystems and protect the natural reef systems using artificial reef technologies.

Meanwhile, the Masbate Gold Project environmental team also planted a total of 345 corals from Dec. 19 to 21.

This is part of the MGP’s initiative for the Port Barrera Rehabilitation, which the company launched in partnership with the local government of Aroroy.

SNACK PACKS. About 800 elementary school children from Balloc Elementary School of San Clemente, Papaac Elementary School of Camiling, Dona Felisa Wasit Elementary School of Pura, San Leon Primary School of Moncada, and San Jacinto Elementary School of San Manuel in Tarlac receive snacks gift packs through the efforts of Tarlac Heritage Foundation Co-Founder Dra. Isa Suntay, (left, in blue shirt) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines represented by Philippine Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat (AFP Commander NOLCOM), Major Gen. Filemon Santos (Commander, 7th Infantry Division), Major Gen. Gilbert Gapay (Division Commander, Mechanized Infantry Division) and Lt. Col. Ramon Antonio Bello. Lino Santos

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

food

monday, januaRy 22, 2018

C1

A New York

steak of mind

Wolf down this beautiful slab of Porterhouse steak at Wolfgang’s. It comes at a four-digit price tag, but it is worth every peso you’d be happily forking out.

W

oLFGANG’S Steakhouse is not for the faint of heart, literally.

A one-kilogram Porterhouse steak for two would cost you back P5,988 (a little higher than the same massive slab you’d get in Wolfgang’s New York City branch, and without having to travel to the US, too). Double that Porterhouse’s size and you’d have to fork out P11,888.

And we are talking about USDA Prime Graded Black Angus steak, the highest grade given by the US Department of Agriculture—delightfully tender and juicy with a buttery flavor, distinctly superior than any other steak. In fact, of all the beef produced in the US, less than two percent is certified as USDA Prime.

People who go to Wolfgang’s do so with a purpose: to eat steak, never mind that there are other non-steak options on the menu. Perhaps there is a celebra-

Grilled shrimp and avocado salad

Seafood platter

tion – a birthday or anniversary, or a not walk past Wolfgang’s mahogany bar not frozen but chilled. We ship it within promotion at work. or, simply because just to waffle on the bill. two to three days from slaughter. And you can. Money is not an issue. You do “ours is a great piece of beef. It is Turn to C2

Play Doh Kitchen Creations Jr. Chef Competition at SM Supermalls

Tong Yang Plus is touted as the ultimate hotpot and grill restaurant

The new Tong Yang Plus in SM Davao, Mall of Asia HoStING balikbayan friends next week? Looking for a place to hold your get-togethers? Book a table at tong Yang Plus, the newest buffet restaurant that recently opened at SM Davao and on Level 1, North Wing, Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia.

Run by Pacific Apex, Inc., the same group that owns and manages Vikings Luxury Buffet, Four Seasons Buffet and tong Yang Hot Pot and Shabu-Shabu and Marina Bay Spa and Lifestyle Club, it is touted as the ultimate hotpot and grill experience in terms of selection and variety.

Similar to the concept of the original tong Yang, tong Yang Plus offers so much more. It lets diners select from a wider buffet spread and bring these to their table where they can have them either grilled or cooked hotpot style. the selection is definitely more lavish, presented market-style. You choose what you want to and cook it the way you prefer. the choice is yours.

Put off your diet plans for the meantime because there are so many things to fill your plate with – from juicy selections of pork, beef and chicken including imported U.S. beef, pork neck and belly to a fresh smorgasbord of gindara, blue marlin, salmon belly, shrimps, crabs, clams, lapu-lapu fillet, tuna belly, spicy squid and a whole lot more.

You, your family, and friends can experiment with different sauces on a variety of meats and make your own hotpot concoction starting with a soup base available in chicken, sinigang, spicy sate, vegetarian, kimchi and taiwan Mala.

While waiting for the soup to boil, you can already start grilling meats (and planning your next get-together).

Grill it the way you and your companions like it with the Korean Barbecue Grill, the tong Yang Hot Plate (perfect for cooking with butter, garlic and chili) and Charcoal Grill. You can also create your own flavor with tong Yang Plus’ assorted condiments ranging from the sweet, savory, salty, and spicy.

If you’d rather spend the day catching up with the group instead of cooking your food, just ask tong Yang Plus’ cheerful waiters and they will be more than happy to do it for you.

Aside from its extensive selection of fresh ingredients, the buffet tables are teeming with appetizers including sushi, sashimi and maki as well as dimsum and dumplings. Leave some room for fresh fruits, cakes, pastries and other sweet treats. there’s also an ice cream and halo-halo station for those who want something cool after a spicy meal.

And there is, of course, the unlimited drinks station.

toY Kingdom in partnership with Play Kit Philippines recently held the first-ever Play Doh Kitchen Creations Jr. Chef Competition at SM North Edsa, SM Southmall and S Maison.

Around 38 kids age 5-10 years old made cooking more fun and exciting when asked to create their own versions of dishes and desserts using the newest Play Doh Kitchen Creations collection like the Magic oven Set, Sizzlin’ Stovetop Set, Noodle Makin’ Mania Set, Breakfast Bakery Set, Frost ‘N Fun Cakes Set and Shape ‘N Slice Set. Four winners were declared for each of the two batches. For the first batch (ages 5-7 years old) winners were Kirsten Olegario, Liya Tuason, Barbara Galpo and Sarina Sanri while for the second batch (ages 8-10 years old) winners were Whinneth Locquiao, Jhanaica Santos, Izzy Chua and Samantha Baltazar.

All winners received toy Kingdom Gift Certificates and Play Doh products. Meanwhile, runner up winners also received Play Doh Jr. Chef medals while grand winners were able to take home Play Doh Jr. Chef trophies.

Kirsten Olegario’s Play Doh frozen delights — a bowl of banana split and ice cream in a cone

Being the first ever Play Doh Junior Chef Competition, the event was star studded. Celebrity moms like LJ MorenoAlapag, Barbie Almalbis-Honasan, Priscilla MeirellesEstrada, Joy Sotto, Paula Peralejo-Fernandez and Christine Jacob-Sandejas also joined the fun Play Doh experience and were the guest judges during the competition.

Play Doh Kitchen Creations Sets are now available at all Toy Kingdom Express outlets in The SM Store, as well as Toy Kingdom stores in most SM Supermalls.

Thalia and Julia Concio had a great time creating their own dishes and desserts using the latest Play Doh Kitchen Creations collection

Little chef Lhexine Bernardo creates her own noodles using Play Doh’s Noodle Makin Mania set

Life

C2

monday, january 22, 2018 isahred@gmail.com

F

Fruit shakes redefined

RUITAS Holdings Inc., the trailblazer that redefined fruit shakes in the Philippines, has introduced two new products to provide more exciting and healthy choices to all food lovers. Set to invigorate the market is Fruitas Super G, featuring the superfood guyabano— known to be nature’s immune system warrior—and the more affordable Fruitas Ice Candy line.

Guyabano is usually found in tropical countries such as the Philippines and is famous for containing natural immune boosters and nutrients. As the cooler months come and cold-causing viruses emerge, Super G is a tasty and excellent way to get Vitamin C, B1 and B2, potassium, magnesium, and dietary fibers, which help fight fever, cough and colds, and other viral infections.

Super G comes in four delicious flavor combinations: Pure Guyabano, Guyabano Melon, Guyabano Pineapple, and Guyabano Mango, priced at P89 for large (16 oz.) and P119 for grande (22 oz.).

“Fruitas Holdings Inc. is dedicated to continuously introduce the best food choices to the Filipino market. With the launch of Super G, we are proud to diversify and venture to other fruit options fit for the Filipino taste buds. We’re also glad to make Filipinos’ favorite childhood treat, the famous ice candy, more affordable for everyone,” says Peter Carrillo, marketing manager of Fruitas Holdings Inc. Alongside the launch of the Fruitas Super G juices, Fruitas Ice Candy is also launching a new and exciting size of for its Classic flavors, which are available at an affordable price of P5.

Classic flavors include time-tested favorites such as Buko Pandan, Chocolate, Cafe Latte, Cookies & Cream, Double Dutch, Quezo Real, Ube and Vanilla. The kiddie size costs P5 while regular costs P10 – a truly affordable and refreshing treat good for any day.

For those who want the taste and benefits of real fruits, the Premium Fresh Fruit line flavors include Avocado, Buko, Buko Salad, Fruit Salad, Mango, Melon, Strawberry, and Melon-Mango, available at P10 for kiddie size and P20 for the regular size.

These treats are available in all Fruitas and Fruitas Ice Candy branches nationwide. For more information on Fruitas and Fruitas Ice Candy, Super G, a latest product of Fruitas, comes in four guyabano flavors: Pure Guyabano, Guyabano Melon, Guyabano Pineapple, and Guyabano Mango you may follow them on Facebook.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Party the King Sue way PARTYING is fun with all the food and festive decors you get to share with family and friends. Hosting one at your own home— with the budget, menu, and motif to consider plus guests to entertain— could be both exciting and challenging, But if you have the knack for organizing events and if you want to personalize your get-togethers, parties will always come surprisingly easy.

Start with a checklist. Make a list of logistics (guests menu, theme, costs). Then do a day-by-day tasking schedule so you would know what needs to be done on a specific date.

Social media is your friend. Technology is the easiest way to bring everyone together. All you have to do is to create an event page on your social media account and post the invite.

Think outside the box for themes and decors. Kiddie parties are the easiest to plan because it’s typical of them to choose their favorite cartoon character, activity or color.

But there are kids who want something different. A “royal celebration” for a little prince’s first birthday would include crowns, clowns and a festivity fit for a “king”. For your little miss, a ballerina-themed party is a fancier concept.

Aside from the usual videoke sessions, adults love parties that show what they dig most. An outdoor picnic or barbecue party is perfect for an outdoorsy person while a 1960s party is best for a 60-year-old celebrant. Other unique concepts can be based on hobbies and interests.

Finally, food! Aside from great company, people remember a party because of its good food. And when it comes to personalizing your party, planning the menu, and cooking the dishes, King Sue got you covered. Have mini booths or food carts that serve kiddie favorites such as cotton candies, fries, lollipops, and ice cream. Kids love a hotdog stand. So be ready to skewer some King Sue Hotdogs and marshmallows. Adults prefer their own version of the hotdog

—the best comfort soup

King Sue Hungarian Sausage is perfect for barbecue parties

stand, except that they get to eat their way with some grilled King Sue German Franks, Hungarian-Style and Old English Sausages.

For luaus, Hawaiian sliders are spot on, with slices of King Sue Hawaiian or Pina-sliced ham, cheese and pineapple slices. Assemble King Sue Cold cuts like bologna, sweet or spiced ham, salami and pepperoni. Add chunks of your favorite cheese, macadamia, walnuts or pistachio nuts, grapes and bread. A nice bottle of wine completes the picture.

Everyone loves spaghetti with lots of meat! So aside from ground beef, be sure to add King Sue Luncheon meat to satisfy their craving. Should you wish to serve Filipino dishes, King Sue has Pinoy local favorites Chicken Relleno, Sisig, Garlic Longganisa, Chicken Tocino, Pork Tocino, and Chorizo Filipino that balikbayan guests will love.

Capture the memories. Do a gallery or exhibit of sorts for the occasion. Display photos of the celebrant. There are DIY/craft stores that sell stylish frames, colored strings, and trendy pins where you can attach the photos to and hang them near the buffet table. Take lots of pictures during the party and post them in your event page afterwards.

A PIPING-HOT bowl of soup is truly a delight on cold, gray days or whenever you’re in need of filling pick-me-up.

There’s nothing better than the classic chicken noodle soup for a dose of warm comfort, especially when paired with an all-time favorite meal like the Jollibee Chickenjoy.

Jollibee, the country’s number one fast-food brand, is bringing comfort and joy together in the newest Chickenjoy P99 Perfect Pair with the all-new Chicken Noodle Soup.

A deliciously complete way to enjoy your favorite crispylicious, juicylicious, fried chicken, the Chickenjoy P99 Perfect Pairs offer a satisfying dining experience by pairing a one-piece Chickenjoy meal and regular drink with your choice of the perfect side: Jolly Crispy Fries, Mini Sundae, Creamy Macaroni Soup, Mashed Potato, or Buttered Corn—all for just P99.00.

Adding to the variety of sides is the all-new Chicken Noodle Soup, fit for Chickenjoy fans who seek variety, packs the perfect combination of com-

forting, savory goodness of real chicken meat and broth with the texture of al dente noodles and vegetables.

“As our days grow colder, there’s nothing more perfect to warm us up than a classic Chicken Noodle Soup,” said Cathleen Capati, Jollibee Marketing director. “And there’s no better way to enjoy this ultimate comfort food than pairing it with the crispylicious, juicylicious, Chickenjoy!”

Savor the joyful and comforting warmth of your new favorite Perfect Pair! The Chicken Noodle Soup will be available as a complement to P99 Perfect Pairs in all Jollibee stores in Metro Manila starting December 28, 2017, and nationwide in February 1, 2018. Jollibee customers can also order Chicken Noodle Soup as a solo item for P30 or as an add-on to any value meal for P29.

For more information on the latest Jollibee products and promotions, like Jollibee Philippines on Facebook or follow @Jollibee on Twitter and Instagram.

P100 - billionaire’s hot chocolate

Costa’s Billionaire Hot Chocolate

WARM your hearts and spirit with a rich and creamy cup of Costa Coffee’s Billionaire’s Hot Chocolate.

A festive favorite among all of Costa Coffee’s festive line-up, the Billonaire’s Hot Chocolate is Costa Coffee’s signature Hot Chocolate that’s abundantly layered with caramel sauce, topped with freshly whipped cream, then drizzled with buttery golden biscuit crumbs. So whether you’re meeting up with old friends, whiling time away with your family, or simply sipping solo, it’s always the best time to bask and feel like a billionaire with Costa’s Billonaire’s Hot Chocolate.

Costa Coffee stores are in Robinsons

a new york...

From C1

the meat is aged here,” said Peter Zwiener, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse’s president, during the launch of its second branch in the Philippines (and 19th globally) at The Podium in Ortigas.

“Many people will try to follow fads or trends, but they always go back to steak. And when you open a second branch of your restaurant, that means you are doing well,” he added.

And for Wolfgang’s, which opened its flagship branch at Resorts World Manila in February 2016, they must be doing extremely well, for they are set to open a third location at One Bonifacio High Street Stock Exchange Building in June.

Globally, Zwiener said Wolfgang’s will open its first location in Europe in May and its sixth in New York City in June.

Raymund Magdaluyo, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse local partner, said the de-

Galleria, Robinsons Place Manila, Robinsons Place Antipolo, Robinsons Magnolia, Robinsons Supermarket Manila, Robinsons Selections Venice Grand Canal, Robinsons Supermarket Galleria, Robinsons Summit Center, Cyber Sigma, Eastwood, UP Town Center, SM North Edsa, SM City Manila, and JP Morgan, Net Plaza.

Indulge in this warm and luxurious drink handcrafted by Costa Coffee’s skilled barista, ensuring that, like your coffee, every cup is prepared to make you chill out and welcome the brand new year, luxuriously #Londonstyle.

cision to open their second and third branches in the Philippines, albeit a little smaller than the first one, was demand driven.

“We initially thought that stores would be sufficient in Manila because we have four branches for the entire Japan. But traffic has worsened. Clients from the northern part of the metro kept on asking if we have plans of opening a branch that is a little closer, thus this one at The Podium,” he said.

The group is also exploring the possibility of opening a fourth branch in Cebu, although that has yet to be firmed up.

For Magdaluyo, the cost of Wolfgang’s steak is not prohibitive, considering that the same Porterhouse steak sells for $100 in their New York location.

“The pricing of Wolfgang’s is reasonable. In fact, for our Resorts World branch, we found that there is an increase in the average amount spent per guest from about $70 to $90,” he said.

And what accounts for that P1,000

($20) increase in average spending?

“Filipinos are consuming more wine,” Magdaluyo said. Their Resorts World branch has its own wine cellar, and carries an extensive selection of over 1,200 wines from across the globe.

Wolfgang’s steaks, without doubt, are worth every peso. Its side dishes, however, are another story. The lobster mac and cheese tasted a bit bland. And the creamed spinach was overcooked, tasting almost like ‘laing’ and with the texture of saluyot.

But surely, you won’t go to Wolfgang’s with creamed spinach at the top of your mind. Whatever needs improvement in their side dish selection, their glorious steaks more than make up for it. Every bite evokes a close-your-eyes-and-justsavor-the-moment-calories-be-damned reaction. It is the only respectful way to eat such a beautiful piece of meat.

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

Bear Brand Fortified Powdered Milk Drink representatives handpick the raffle winners

Bigatin sa Milyon, Bigatin sa Tibay

Raffle Promotion winners

BEAR Brand Fortified Powdered Milk Drink recently drew winners of Bigatin sa Milyon, Bigatin sa Tibay Raffle Promo with over P20 million in prizes at stake. The grand draw was held at the Elizalde Hall of Star City, Pasay City.

Bear Brand Fortified powdered milk drink representatives handpicked grand prize winners each from Southern Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, South Luzon 1 and 2, Central Luzon and three from the National Capital Region.

The grand prize winners won cash prizes, either P100,000 or P1,000,000, depending on the size of the packs of

any participating Bear Brand Fortified Powdered Milk Drink products, submitted in the raffle promotion. Entries with packs 600g and up proof of purchase won P1 million in grand prize.

The names of the winners were announced on-air at MBC radio stations nationwide. They were also informed through registered mails and telephone calls and posted on the official Facebook page of Bear Brand Fortified Powdered Milk Drink and published in newspapers of general circulation.

Prior to the grand draw, over 1,200 have already won P1,000 each as the prize in the weekly draw through the promo’s partner radio stations nationwide.

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

ROBIN, RICHARD, JODI in

Young stars have no respect for older actors—Robin Padilla ACCORDING to Robin Padilla, young stars nowadays lack the acknowledgment and respect for senior actors whenever they cross paths or are present in the same place.

“I must say that it’s so different these days as compared to my time,” he avers. “There’s really something amiss when it comes to showing respect for older or more veteran stars. Contemporary young stars don’t know how to show it and they’re not the slightest concerned on the matter.”

Binoe reveals that he himself has an experience of this kind.

“Oh, yes! Many times actually. You meet this young crop of stars in the elevator and they’ll not acknowledge you as if you were non-existent. Sometimes, I’m tempted to say, ‘Hey! I’m Robin Padilla!’ But of course, you don’t want to impose on them, right?”

This development saddens the Sana Dalawa ang Puso lead.

“It’s because I was brought up in an era where junior stars have high respect for their senior counterparts. Like Boss Vic (del Rosario, Jr.) of Viva. For the longest time, I worked with them. Snubbing senior stars was a big no-no for him. He would talk to the stars personally to explain this. That’s the system I’m used to that’s why I’m somewhat disappointed with the present set-up.”

Robin reiterates though that he’s not obliging the generation of young stars to do such although he’s searching for that tradition in contemporary setting.

“I just miss it but I cannot impose or oblige the young stars of today to do the same. I don’t want it to become a big issue.”

Speaking of being a senior in the industry, the Pilipinas Got Talent judge doesn’t hide his true age.

“I’m proud to say that I’m now 48 years old. Why would I be shy to reveal my true age? What matters, I’m happy to still be here in showbiz. I was able to meet this fresh crop of talents. It’s a blessing to have met them at this time. For me, it’s an asset.

“One thing more, reaching this stage in your life gives you an authority to speak up on certain things. Being part of the so-called old school has its positive side. Just like when I get asked what my secret success formula is, I realize that it’s the humility that I have after all these years,” ends Binoe. ******** 2017 was a year of realization for Judy Ann Santos about her life in show business.

“That’s true! It’s all about acceptance of everything that’s taking place--- the change, the trend and the fast turnover of stars,” she says.

The actress, who’s headlining the movie Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes opposite Angelica Panganiban, knows that she can’t be at the top forever.

“When I see the present crop of young stars, how popular they are at present, I couldn’t help but just smile and feel thankful because at one point in your life, you were there as well. I know that time will come that the public would forget you. I’m in the middle of that. More fresh faces will crop up in the coming days and our batch will gradually disappear from the scene. I’m very much aware of that. But at the end of the day, you will realize that life is good!”

She’s been working for more than 30 years now and still, she remains a famous fixture in the ‘biz.

“Of course, I’m grateful. It makes me feel proud that I’ve reached this stature. But I must admit that despite this, there are still moments when I doubt my capability, as if I’m back into baby steps once again. Looking back, I realize that maybe, I really had to undergo everything that I went through before or else, I would have been a different person now,” states Juday.

‘Sana Dalawa Ang Puso’ T

HREE of the biggest stars in the industry today—Robin Padilla, Richard Yap, and Jodi Sta. Maria Maria—make one of the biggest comebacks on television teaming up for the first time to star in ABS-CBN’s newest teleserye, Sana Dalawa Ang Puso.

From the hit morning series Be Careful with my Heart in 2012, Jodi and Richard reunite with new roles that will, again, endear among viewers. In an interview with TV Patrol, Richard shared he was thrilled when he found out that he would be working with Jodi again for another project.

“I’ve always wanted to do another show with Jodi because she is fun to be with and she is a great actress,” Richard said.

Jodi, on the other hand, is just as thrilled since she is playing dual roles for the first time.

“It was not an easy task for me, but at the same time I’m excited to do this. This is one of the challenging roles I have ever done in my career,” Jodi stated.

Meanwhile, fresh from the success of his blockbuster movie Unexpectedly Yours, Robin finally stages his soap opera comeback after his last stint in Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw in 2013. Familiar with the massive following of the JoChard loveteam, the idol ng bayan opted to formalize things between him and Richard.

“I went to Papa Chen (Richard) and asked permission if I can join them,” Robin revealed.

He also jested, “ I have been watching them since I was a kid and I’m amazed by Jodi Sta Maria’s beauty.”

Sana Dalawa ang Puso follows the story of Lisa and Mona, two different people with identical faces but are both facing big ordeals in their lives.

Lisa is known to be a strict and hardworking boss

‘Sana Dalawa Ang Puso Ko,’ which marks the return of the trio on the small screen drama.

in their family business, the Laureano Group of Companies. However, her world suddenly turns upside down when her father, Juancho Laureano (Christopher de Leon), betrothed her to their rival’s son, Martin Co (Richard). In order for her to run away from the responsibility, she decides to hide and live with one of their workers, Leo Tabayoyong (Robin).

Kapuso Executives in New York Festivals grand jury anew AFTER winning three Gold Medals at the New York Festivals “World’s Best TV and Films” Competition last year—an unprecedented feat in Philippine broadcast history— GMA Network is making another mark as Senior Vice President for News and Public Affairs Marissa Flores has been chosen once again to be part of the New York Festivals Advisory Board and Grand Jury.

Joining Flores in the Grand Jury for 2018 is GMA Network’s First Vice President for Public GMA Senior Vice President Affairs Nessa Valdellon.

The New York Festival’s for News and Public Affairs “World’s Best TV and Films” Marissa Flores competition recognizes TV programs and films from all over 50 countries. As members of the Grand Jury, Flores and Valdellon join award-winning directors, producers, writers, actors and various other creative media professionals from across the globe.

Over the years, GMA Network has been the most awarded local broadcast news organization in the New York Festival International TV & Film Awards. GMA Network’s First Vice Just last year, it won three President for Public Affairs gold medals for GMA Public Nessa Valdellon

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, January 22, 2018

ACROSS 1 Augur 5 Golfer’s peg 8 Kind of phobia 12 Cager Shaq — 14 Heavy hydrogen discoverer 15 Tobacco plug 16 Video-game pioneer 17 Ocean fish 18 Ms. Fossey 19 Dialogue 21 Break away 23 Advanced degree?

24 Triumphed 25 Gave supper 26 Supple 30 B, in chemistry 32 You’re — — pal!

33 Abandoned ships 37 Parade stopper 38 Tough spots 39 — Te Kanawa 40 Out of whack 42 Star in Cygnus 43 Deke or juke 44 Railroad flares 45 Amtrak et al.

48 Pub pint 49 Cakelike cookie 50 Wheel 52 Prolonged lament

BIG COMEBACK. Jodi Sta. Maria (center) flanked by Robin Padilla (left) and Richard Yap (right) during the launch of

57 Footnote abbr.

(2 wds.)

58 Sweater fronts 60 Ski trail 61 Meat substitute 62 Before, a while back 63 Fishtailed 64 Actual 65 Squeal on 66 Latin I verb DOWN 1 Old U.K. airline 2 Well aware of 3 Bargain 4 Rank below marquis 5 Salver 6 Mouse alert 7 Trash bins, etc.

8 Angus Young’s group 9 Boss 10 “The Cloister and the Hearth” author 11 Possessed 13 Richie of pop 14 “Nope!” (hyph.)

20 15 min. on the gridiron 22 Organic compound 24 Verbose 26 Escapade

27 “Of wrath” in a hymn 28 Golda of politics 29 Canadian park 30 Poet William Rose — 31 Shoes with “swooshes” 33 Moon of Saturn 34 Motion picture 35 Orchard unit 36 Twins, e.g.

38 Erupt (2 wds.)

41 Wife of Jacob 42 Force

44 Not close 45 Butler of fiction 46 Turbine part 47 Muddle 49 Kindest regards 51 Hint 52 Kid around 53 Marseilles Ms. 54 Debtors’ notes 55 Does a takeoff 56 “— Dinah” (Avalon tune) 59 Pitcher’s stat

Affairs programs Reporter’s Notebook, Front Row, and Reel Time.

Flores has been credited for the comprehensive growth of GMA Network’s News and Public Affairs organization that currently airs more than 30 regular programs, as well as numerous public affairs specials.

Under her leadership, GMA News and Public Affairs has earned the distinction of being the most awarded broadcast news organization in the country. She also concurrently serves as GMA News Online’s Executive Vice President for Editorial.

Valdellon, who also served as part of the New York Festival Grand Jury last year, has worked in television for more than two decades as a producer, executive producer, and program manager of documentaries, public affairs, reality TV and drama programs. In 2011, she spearheaded the launch of GMA News TV, which is now regarded as the leading local news channel. She recently launched GMA’s online exclusive digital programs GMA ONE.

Her doppelganger Mona, on the other hand, who works as a collector of bets in cockfights, is struggling to save his father from peril after the later got involved in a networking scam.

What will happen when the two cross paths? Will they be able to solve each other’s problems?

Sana Dalawa ang Puso airs on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN H D ( SkyCablech167).

Nadine Lustre and James Reid gear up for their upcoming preValentine concert at the Big Dome, which kicks off the couple’s explosive lineup of big projects this year

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

JADINE

to rule 2018 D

ESPITE criticisms of late from the movie press after the love team of James Reid and Nadine Lustre, or Jadine, caused the shoot for their upcoming movie Never Not Love You to be packed up, fans of the pair are still confident their “lodis” would be the love team to beat this year.

ISAH V. RED

by at least two more movie projects this year. James will co-star 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 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 by the writer-director of Camp Sawi, Irene Villamor, and the thriller The Nurse by Die Beautiful diretor, Jun Lana.

As though these projects won’t fill their schedule, James and Nadine are also set to return to primetime television on ABSCBN with a new teleserye. To be

ticket inquiries. *** BG Productions International recently held a press gathering coinciding with the birthday celebration of Dennis Evangelista, Baby F. Go’s most trusted henchman, at Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas Centre.

During the press gathering, the lady now known as the “queen of indie” introduced three directors that would be active in the movie projects her film company will engage this year.

Almost in the can is Almost a Love Story by Louie Ignacio with Barbie Forteza and Derrick Monasterio shot mostly in Italy in cooperation with Salento Cinema.

“We will just shoot some scenes in the Philippines, mostly interior,” Ignacio announced.

The director is also scheduled to roll into production two more movies, one of them is School Bus intended for this year’s Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and if it would be accepted would be Baby F. Go’s film company first in the highly regarded “indie” fest. Another project of Ignacio will feature the superstar Nora Aunor among midgets in a bar frequented by tourists and the curious.

Joel Lamangan, with whom Baby F. Go jump started her film production journey is up for a couple of films, one of which will star Heart Evangelista in a Furthermore, the director is also project called Angela Lumunsad going forward with a film that touches about a woman mistaken for a the environment titled Maruming teacher but keeps a relationship Hangin, which BG Productions is with both a member of the rebel planning to enter in this year’s Metro group NPA and a member of the Manila Film Festival.

Film producer Baby F. Go (second from left) with seasoned film directors (from Philippine military.

Mel Chionglo is scheduled left) Mel Chionglo, Joel Lamangan, and Louie Ignacio Lamangan said it speaks about to shoot Sixty in the City based on Lualhati Bautista’s book (the James and Nadine will take directed by acclaimed director the importance of education.

Revolution on the road in Dan Villegas, the still untitled soap summer with a provincial tour is scheduled to start taping in the in April and a series of shows in second quarter of the year. the US in May. But that won’t And that’s how Jadine will rule be their first out of the country 2018. trip this year.

Revolution: The Jadine The box-office stars are in Concert will have Sarah London to shoot scenes for Never Geronimo, Sam Concepcion, Not Love You. A contemporary Kiana Valenciano, Bret romance-drama about love among Jackson, and Vice Ganda as millennials, the highly anticipated guest performers. movie marks Jadine’s reunion Tickets are priced: VIP – project with their On The Wings P4770; Patron – P3710; Box of Love director, Tonet Jadaone. Premium – P2968; Box Regular It’s the trio’s first big screen outing – P2120; and Upper Box – together and Jadine’s first since P1272.

Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (center) and select Miss Universe 2017 2016’s blockbuster This Time.

Call Ticketnet at 911-5555 delegates pose for a photo op at the entrance of Buca di Beppo in BGC Never Not Love You will be followed or VIVA Live at 687-7236 for during their visit to the country in December Kicking things off in red-hot fashion is the couple’s second major concert, Revolution on Feb. 9 at the Big Dome (Smart Araneta Coliseum).

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 songs from James’s current album, Palm Dreams.

Released last year to wide acclaim, the chart-topping album not just showcases James’s growth as a singer, it also marks his songwriting and producing debut under his own music label, Careless Music Manila. The label has also produced one track in Nadine’s upcoming but still untitled album.

Gary V jumpstarts 35th year with ‘LOVE IN MOTION’ GARY Valenciano kicks-off the yearlong celebration of his 35th anniversary in the industry with an amazing surprise treat with the much-awaited reprise of his critically acclaimed Valentine concert Love In Motion on Feb. 14 at the grand ballroom of Shangri-La Hotel in Bonifacio Global City.

Directed by Paolo Valenciano with musical direction by Mel Villena and vocal musical direction by Mon Faustino, Love In Motion had a two-night run in 2017 marking Gary’s very first solo Valentine concert in Manila in almost 20 years.

Originally conceptualized as a special two-night Valentine concert for the benefit of victims of Typhoon Nina, which hit Gary’s hometown, Camalig in Albay province in late 2016, as well the Shining Light Foundation’s scholarship programs,

and UNICEF causes, Gary and his team along with representatives of Operation Blessing Foundation visited Bicol in May 2017 and tendered two free concerts at the evacuation centers.

A historic milestone in Gary’s illustrious career, Love In Motion featured him performing with the amazing 18-piece AMP Band for the very first time, and the multi-talented Cebuana Anna Fegi and the Manoeuvres. The concert showcased a different side of Gary as he scatted, crooned, and belted his way to the hearts of his audiences with a delicious sampling of standard classics and iconic jazz tunes as well as a selection of his hits that were especially re-arranged for the big band.

“I have been so blessed and I feel that the best way to start 2018 and my 35th anniversary is though the repeat

of Love In Motion which is basically very much a benefit concert like its original run.

It feels so good to pay it forward and give back as I have so much to be thankful for,” says Gary.

To spice things up, Jona will join Gary as his very special guest.

“Love In Motion is one of the many events that my team and I will mount this year,” says Gary. “We are gearing up for a series of events that are all unique and creative. We are working very hard to be as innovative as we can be. It’s our goal to show something new and something that everyone will never forget. 2018 will truly be a very exciting year.”

Proceeds of Love In Motion 2018 go to Shining Light Foundation and Operation Blessing as well as the victims of the recent eruption of Mayon Volcano in Albay.

author also wrote the screenplay) which he is pitching for Charo Santos of ABS-CBN to star in.

The producer said, “For so long as there’s budget we will continue to produce movies.”

Her statement was met with a thunderous applause not just from her followers, but also from some members of the press. *** Miss Universe 2017, DemiLeigh Nel Pieters, recently visited globally renowned Italian restaurant Buca di Beppo® at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

With her were Miss Universe 2016, Iris Mittenaere, as well as Miss Philippines, Rachel Peters; Miss China, Roxette Cui; Miss Russia, Kseniya Alexandrova; Miss Canada, Lauren Howe; Miss Great Britain, Anna Burdzy; Miss India, Shraddha Shashidhar; Miss Italy, Maria Polverino; Miss Spain, Sofia

Del Prado; Miss Malaysia, Samantha James; Miss Korea, Cho SeWhee; Miss Singapore, Manuela Bruntraeger; and Miss Netherlands, Nicky Opheij.

The stopover coincided with the Miss Universe Philippine promotions tour from Dec. 7-10.

Being “the home of celebrations,” Buca di Beppo® pulled out all the stops to honor such a beautiful assembly. From the moment the ladies entered the restaurant’s doors, Buca’s management and staff embraced them as part of the family.

For dinner, classic Italian favorites were served family-style in the nostalgic and whimsical Poster Room of Buca di Beppo®.

Buca di Beppo® is located at the Ground Floor, BGC Corporate Center, 11th Avenue corner 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.