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SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2017
Business
Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@manilastandard.net
SOFT DRINK TAX TO HIT TANG, KOPIKO Kris Library head Arizza Nocum
FILIPINA SHINES IN HONG KONG CONFERENCE
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SWEETENERS.
Mayora (Vouno Trade and Marketing Services Corp.) regulatory manager Joan Mary Sumpio (left) and Mondelez Philippines Inc. head of corporate and government affairs Shanahan Chua
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GOVERNMENT attempt to discourage soft drink consumption and raise additional revenues by taxing sugary drinks now threatens to unsettle the entire P147-billion non-alcoholic beverage industry, with prices of instant coffee and powdered juice likely to shoot up by over 50 percent and 200 percent, respectively. “This is anti-poor. About 92 percent of Filipino households consume instant three-in-one coffee,” says Joan Mary Sumpio, the regulatory manager of Mayora (Vouno Trade and Marketing Services Corp.) which distributes the Indonesian coffee brand Kopiko in the Philippines. Sumpio says an excise tax of P10 per liter of volume capacity on sugar-sweetened beverages will likely increase the base price of a 25-gram sachet of Kopiko from P5 to P8. The House of Representatives earlier passed House Bill No. 5636, the first package of tax reforms, which includes the imposition of P10 or P20 excise tax per liter of sugar-sweetened beverages such as soft drinks, sweetened tea, sweetened coffee, carbonated beverages with added sugar, flavored water, energy drinks, sports drinks, powdered drinks not classified as milk, juice, tea and coffee, cereal and grain beverages and non-alcoholic beverages that contain added sugar. The Department of Finance hopes to raise an additional P47 billion from taxes on sugarsweetened beverages. The excise tax, however, will not be imposed on milk products, infant formula, milk alternatives (soy milk, almond milk), flavored milk (chocolate milk), 100-percent natural fruit juice, 100-percent vegetable juice, meal replacement, medically indicated beverage, ground coffee and unsweetened tea. Also exempted are drinks made inside coffee shops, juice shops and made by street vendors.
“A lot of products will be slapped with P20 per liter excise tax. So, it’s not just a 100-percent rate maximum increase. It is really over 200 percent just like in the case of Tang. The public needs to be aware that it’s not just the carbonated drink [soft drinks] that will be impacted. There are other beverages like powdered juices and three-in-one coffee which really the target the C, D and E market. The poor will be affected the most,” says Shanahan Chua, head of corporate and government affairs at Mondelez Philippines Inc. which distributes Tang powdered juice in the Philippines. The proposal is to slap a P10 excise tax on beverages using pure Philippine sugar and P20 on products using other sweeteners. “So, if you look at our product like Tang, the price increase would be P20, because we are a fully imported finished good. We are going to be taxed P20, so the base price of a 25-gram sachet of powdered juice that could make a 1-liter drink would increase from P9 or P11 including VAT at sari-sari stores to over P30. “That is about a 200-percent price increase,” Chua says. “For Tang, our consumers are mostly C, D and E market. I don’t think the D and E consumers will be able to afford over P30 Tang. They have been buying it for less than P11 at sari-sari stores,” says Chua. Chua says an excise tax of P20 per liter of volume capacity on SSBs will be the highest in the world, exceeding P15 a liter in Norway and P9 a liter in the US. Mayora and Mondelez are among the 13 member-companies of the Beverage Industry Association of the Philippines, which operates more than 100 manufacturing sites with over 35,000 direct employees and P130 billion in investments in the country. Chua says about 80 percent of the consumers of SSBs are low-income earners. Data show that carbonated beverages alone account for 31 percent of sari-sari store sales. A UA&P economic impact study of the SSB bill says the measure will hurt sugar and coffee farmers, and sari-sari store owners. “Based on UA&P study, we’re looking at around 30-percent impact on revenue. In the end, it’s our consumers who would be impacted,” says Chua. Sumpio, a nutritionist by profession, also
contests the reason for taxing SSBs, saying there is no concrete study linking sweetened drinks to obesity or diabetes in the Philippines. She says Filipinos’ per capita consumption of nonalcoholic ready-to-drink beverages is insignificant compared to other countries. A study shows that the annual beverage per capita consumption in the Philippines was only 160 servings (8 ounces per serving), compared to over 600 servings in Mexico and over 500 servings in the US. Sumpio says that of the 192 countries in the world obesity index of the World Health Organization, the Philippines ranks only at 155th. “Based on national studies, the contribution of sugar to total grams of food intake among Filipinos is low, and it will be lower if you convert it into caloric contribution. It is not enough to be a direct cause of diabetes or obesity,” says Sumpio. Chua says the UA&P impact study based on AC Nielsen data also shows that the proposed tax will result in reduced government revenues, economic contraction and job losses. The study forecasts a P20-billion decline in sales of SSBs, P51-billion drop in revenue of related industries, a loss of 133,750 direct jobs, 1.5-percent increase in unemployment rate, P30-billion loss in revenue from VAT and corporate income tax and a total of P63 billion in economy-wide losses. Chua says the tax computation should be based on the sugar content and not on the whole volume of the product. “Generally, if we look at the volumetric tax rate, it applies differently across our products. It is not targeting the sugar content. It is per liter, and our 25-gram sachet makes one liter. Regardless of how much sugar you have in the product, you are taxed at the end product. So technically, they are also taxing the water,” says Chua. Sumpio agrees, saying “technically, 85 percent of what they are taxing is water.” Chua says sugar accounts for less than 2 grams of a 100-milliliter glass of Tang juice. “That’s around 20 calories per serving,” he says. Both Chua and Sumpio says the excise tax, at its current form, will hurt the sales of Kopiko and Tang. “Coffee is a very price sensitive category. A 50-percent price increase could result in a 40-percent decline in sales,” says Sumpio. “The Philippines is a very price sensitive Turn to C2
MARVIN AGUSTIN BRINGS GEN KOREAN BBQ HOUSE TO MANILA
Actor Marvin Agustin leads the opening of GEN Korean BBQ House at SM by the Bay.
EXCELLO Restaurant Management Group of actor Marvin Agustin has expanded its list of restaurants in the Philippines, with the opening of an ‘all-youcan-eat’ Korean barbecue restaurant at SM by the Bay along Seaside Boulevard within the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. GEN Korean BBQ House, which originated in the sunny California and is famous for top-of-the-line and premium meat and seafood, has made its way across the Pacific and landed on Manila shores, becoming the latest foreign brand brought to the country by Agustin’s Excello group. Agustin’s business partners in Excello are Raymund Magdaluyo and Leina Bolinas. David K im, the founder of GEN Korean BBQ House and senior corporate manager
David Ghim, attended the opening of the first Philippine outlet, which is also the brand’s first location outside the US. “We are very happy for this brand. We are happy for the presence of the owners from the USA. Thank you very much,” says Agustin. The restaurant has a modern ambiance of a blacklit restaurant, replicating the design of US locations. It offers over 20 meat options paired with side dishes including kimchi. “Walking into the Manila branch will feel exactly the same as if you were on the West Coast,” Excello says in a statement. The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 12 midnight on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on weekends. Marielle Franchesca Santiago
A YOUNG Filipina social media marketer and peace advocate represented the Philippines in a prestigious five-day international youth leaders forum in Hong Kong. Arizza Nocum, 22, of KristiyanoIslam Peace or Kris Library, was invited by Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups to share her knowledge and experiences with local young leaders in the “Leaders to Leaders 2017 Summer” program on Aug. 1 to 5. Nocum, who was asked to discuss the issues of poverty and education to more than 1,000 students and working youths, is one of the five eminent global leaders from different countries picked by HKFYG, the city’s largest youth service organization. The other speakers from Singapore, Hong Kong and Jordan talked about climate change, women empowerment, public speaking and social investments. “I am both proud and humbled to be invited here to discuss the intertwined issue of poverty and education,” Nocum said, citing the impact of poverty to the global problem of lack of access to quality education among the youth. “It would be an honor and a great achievement for us to impart to the young people of Hong Kong our works and experiences in the KRIS Library. Together, we can make this world a better place for everyone,” she said. Born to a Catholic father and a Tausug mother, Nocum is the overall head of Kris Library, a non-profit organization that aims to promote peace through education by building libraries, providing scholarships, and distributing educational materials in areas affected by poverty and conflict. Thus far, Kris has built six libraries, provided more than 400 scholarships and spread more than 50,000 books and computers. A magna cum laude graduate of UP Diliman College of Engineering, Nocum also serves as a junior partner and head of the social media arm of the public relations firm Dean & Kings Communications run by her father, former Philippine Daily Inquirer journalist Armand Dean Nocum. The young Nocum is also active in the international campaign to fight violent extremism; she represented the Philippines in Geneva last year as one of the 10 young leaders selected from different countries to serve as peace ambassadors of the Kofi Annan Foundation. The organization was founded by former United NationsSecretary General Kofi Annan in 2007 to promote better global governance and strengthen the capacities of people and countries to achieve peace. Nocum was selected as one of Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines in February 2017. She was also named the youth awardee during the 2017 Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneurs Awards organized by “Go Negosyo”, the advocacy of the non-profit organization Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, in March. Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship and Asean Business Advisory Council chair Joey Concepcion cited Nocum “for championing the advocacy of erasing animosity between the Catholics and Muslims through education,” especially in Mindanao.
Business
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2017 business@manilastandard.net
SOFT DRINK...
From C1
market,” says Chua. He says companies have introduced products in smaller packages and sachet in the Philippines so that more Filipinos could avail of them. “Modelez and all other members of BIAP are very supportive of what the government wants to happen about raising revenues to support its ‘Build, build, build’ projects. It’s really for the Filipinos. But from Modelez’s perspective, we really need to look at, study and have more time to asses if it is the right taxation,” says Sumpio. “Is the volumetric tax the right one or will it be more fair and equitable if you look at the sugar content. Let’s look at the fair and equitable way of taxing it so that it would not discourage the whole industry,” Chua says. “On average I think we are looking at a 40-percent to 75-percent sales volume decline, and that’s significant. And that would impact upstream and downstream sari-sari stores,” says Chua. Chua says there is also a danger that consumers will shift to more affordable but informal products which are not property handled such as ‘sago’ and ‘gulaman’ peddled by street vendors. “What will happen is that consumers will look for alternatives or those unregulated without any assurance of food safety. And it may actually cause food-borne illnesses,” he says. “We are not against taxation per se, but let us really assess its impact on businesses and consumers,” says Chua. Sumpio says sugar drinks tax can also have an impact on nutrition in the Philippines. “Filipinos are food insecure. A part of the National Nutrition Survey shows that 13 million households or 60 million Filipinos belong to the food insecure group. So increasing the prices of food products will contribute to food insecurity,” she says. Sumpio says instead of taxing sugar to avoid obesity, the government should encourage lifestyle change among inactive Filipinos. “A Food and Nutrition Research Institute study shows that nearly 50 percent of Filipinos are inactive,” she says. Roderick T. dela Cruz, Marielle Franchesca Santiago
CHINESE COMPANIES SHOWCASE MACHINERIES THE Philippines and China continue to strengthen bilateral relations as both countries experience unprecedented growth in political and regional cooperation, trade, investment, tourism and agriculture with the total exports of the Philippines to China growing by 14 percent in the first five months of the Duterte administration. For the past thirteen years, one trade show has been making sure that Philippine companies get the chance to explore business opportunities with the Asian tiger.The China Machinery and Electronics Brand Show is a trade event aimed at connecting Chinese manufacturers with potential distributors and importers in the Philippines. It will be back with an even bigger showcase on Aug. 17 to 19 at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Mall of Asia Complex. The organizers behind the said event is the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, an organization that is composed of more than 10,000 leading manufacturers and trading companies engaged in import and export business of machinery and electronic products. With the show generating hundreds of visitors and exhibitors, it is set to feature products and equipment from industry sectors such as agricultural m a c h i n e r y, b u i l d i n g m ate r i a l s, co m m e rc i a l ve h i c l e, c o n s u m e r electronics, hardware products, household appliances, industrial machinery, labor protection products, power and electrical tools, power tools, new energy & lighting products, water technology and more. “Over the years, the show has generated numerous amounts of business deals, all happening in under one roof. The show successfully provided a platform for Chinese enterprises and their Philippine counterparts. We, China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, as the organizer of this event, want our visitors and exhibitors to take advantage of this wide opportunity for companies to exceed their business potentials in this growing industry,” said Zhang Yujing, president of CCCME.
COMPANY GIVES EMPLOYEES CHANCE TO GET COLLEGE DEGREE
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T IS never too late to finish school for three employees of a Laguna-based property developer. Regardless of various circumstances, earning a degree is a must for Ma. Theresa Amante, Jennalyn Borromeo and Reynelyn De Roxas who are full-time employees at real estate company P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corp.
Amante, 50 and a supervisor at the finance and treasury department of Laguna-based P.A. Properties, earned her BS Accountancy degree from San Pedro College of Business Administration in May this year –about 30 years since she stopped schooling to serve as a cashier in her father’s jueteng (illegal numbers game) operations. “The money was good [from jueteng]. Since I started earning already and I got married, I didn’t pursue my studies anymore,” Amante said in Filipino, recalling that she only reached second year-college then, taking up BS Business Administration. Having a baby and dealing with financial constraints were factors that delayed her return to school, said Borromeo, 27, a purchasing assistant at the purchasing and warehousing department of P.A. Properties. She first completed a caregiving program for a year, and in May 2017, earned her BSBA Human Resource Development Management degree, also from Laguna-based SPCBA. For De Roxas, 27, a documentation staff for P.A. Properties’ conversion and retention department, having an associate degree in Computer Science was not enough so she returned to school in 2015, taking up BSBA Marketing Management also at SPCBA. Amante had a lot going on against her – from becoming an employee to returning to school. She said that she lost her jueteng job when the government started cracking down on the illegal numbers game. She was only two months short of completing her payment for a lot she purchased from P.A. Properties. Thus, she approached the owner, the late Pelagio A. Alvarez, saying that she would not be able to pay on time anymore. She approached again the Alvarez patriarch (fondly called Tatay), this time, with her resume in hand, and asked if she could apply for a job. Tatay told her that he would ask his son, now P.A. Properties chairman Romarico “Bing” Alvarez. “I didn’t finish school. I only knew how to debit and credit. I didn’t know how to use a typewriter. I was only holding on to Tatay’s trust. Still, Boss Bing agreed to hire me. [And] it was a major adjustment for me,” Amante recalled how she started her 21 years in P.A. Properties. Thus, Amante took the initiative to study basic computer skills; learn about MS Excel from the younger employees; and seek help to simply use a printer. She eventually explored prospects for advancing her career in the company. “But to be eligible, one must have earned a four-year degree, so despite reservations, I went
P.A. Properties #BalikEskwela employees (from left) Jennalyn Borromeo, Ma. Theresa Amante and Reynelyn De Roxas share the joys and struggles of being working students. back to school,” she said, letting her two children graduate first before her turn. Amante, Borromeo and De Roxas kept shifting work schedule or filing for undertime so they could attend their classes in the afternoon (all weekdays, at times Saturdays included). They also have to sprint to the 4th floor to make it on time for their class or else, dash to the classroom in a dramatic fashion; or catch their breath and rush to answer the remaining questions in a day’s surprise quiz. There were instances also that some of their younger, full-time co-students excluded them from group project or thesis, thinking they would not be of any help at all since they were working students. Amante recalled that her blood pressure rose twice and she was also hospitalized while studying, proving that it was indeed challenging to juggle work and school – to submit her monthly report or review for her mid-term examinations, she illustrated. But she kept in mind what P.A. Properties president Jonathan Lu told her: The boat will not sail smoothly if you are the one weighing it down. “I wouldn’t like to be phased out, to be outdated, thus I really needed to upgrade myself,” Amante said. Borromeo, who has been with the company for five years, said it also helped that her colleagues in the company applied reverse psychology on her. “I really wanted to quit then because I was getting sick, I was missing time for my six-year-old kid. But they said, ‘it’s up to you. It’s not our money, our time spent, anyway,’” she said. For De Roxas, completing her education is also about making her a more relevant member of the company, thus she is taking up a degree
that is aligned with P.A. Properties’ line of business. She has been with the company for seven years now. The three P.A. Properties’ employees also acknowledge that very helpful professors, classmates and understanding family members motivated them to push through. The three P.A. Properties’ employees also give credit to the company’s top management, as well as their people managers, for their consideration and encouragement. Some colleagues also offered to cover for them so they could review for their crucial exams. The company, known for its low- to mediumcost housing projects in Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, and Metro Manila also supports educational activities as part of its corporate responsibility efforts. In June, P.A. Properties’ #BalikEskwela initiative donated school supplies to elementary students of Gulod, Laguerta, Tagapo, and Langgam public schools in Laguna – schools that are within the community were select developments of the company are located. Amante, who is now reviewing for her certified public accountant exams in September, is thankful that the Alvarez family behind P.A. Properties have been supportive of her goals to finish school, and shared that the chairman offered to shoulder her review tuition and other expenses. Borromeo said what also motivated her to continue is her dream of wearing a black toga (academic dress of robe, hood, and cap usually donned during graduation ceremonies). “I’m told we couldn’t wear the black toga when I finished my Caregiving program because it wasn’t a full degree. So I told myself that one day, ‘I’m going to wear that black toga.’ I finally did.”
PH EYES ISRAELI DRONES TO ASSIST GROUND TROOPS
The Hermes 450 is a common medium surveillance UAV. S TAT E - O F - T H E - A R T d r o n e s o r unmanned aerial vehicles will soon be dotting the skies of the Philippines with President Rodrigo Duterte announcing that he would accept the offer of UAVs made by Israeli defense manufacturer Elbit Systems. In a press conference held at the House of Representatives shortly after his second State-of-the-Nation Address, Duterte said he was earlier offered two high altitude UAVs that could fly beyond the reach of bullets and survey the ground beneath, acting as the eyes in the sky of ground troops and police forces as they come into the battlefield. He said that the troops will now be able to study the high definition reconnaissance images provided by the high flying drones before they leave their camps to patrol.
The president was referring to the two UAVs that was demonstrated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police by Elbit Systems in Lipa City, Batangas and offered in a government-to-government procurement arrangement with Israel. The two UAVs, a Hermes 900 and a smaller Hermes 450, are cutting edge military drones that are technologically on par with, or even better than, US military drones such as the Predator and Global Hawk. The Hermes 900 has a remarkable flight endurance of 72 hours—or three full days in the air—and can carry various military payloads, including high definition thermal imaging devices that can scan and detect any enemy presence 24/7, day and night and even in inclement weather. These
Elbit’s Hermes 900 MALE UAV can provide unparalleled battlefield awareness and eliminate the possibility of ambushes, as well as allow quick and well-informed reaction for reinforcing and responding forces. The high-tech UAV can also perform laser designating for high-precision smart ammunition, allowing pin-point air and artillery strikes and eliminating the possibility of ‘friendly-fire’ casualties or collateral damage similar to what happened at different stages in the Marawi conflict. Israel has been the pioneer in military drones and the Israel Defense Forces has been using them extensively over the decades, which explains the renowned accuracy of their precision strikes and their relatively few casualties (compared to their enemies) in recent battles and skirmishes.
In fact, the highly reliable Hermes 450 accounted for a noteworthy 52 percent of the flight hours of the Israeli Air Force in 2016. Together with the bigger Hermes 900, the two account for about 70 percent flight hours of the Israeli Air Force. For unmanned flight hours of the Israeli Air Force, the two easily chalks 80 percent to 85 percent. The president said that he wants to buy more of these high-altitude drones as part of the AFP modernization even as he prepares the Armed Forces for war footing vs. terrorists and the communists. The UAVs are expected to prevent large scale losses of police and military armed personnel and could easily turn the tides of war in favor of the government.
Sports
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2017 reuelvidal@yahoo.com
SPORTS NOT LIMITED TO ELITE ATHLETES By Randy Caluag
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Janelle Frayna
T LOOKS like a bigger community will have the last laugh when the government decided not to push through with the hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. The big chunk of the money that will be saved, according to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez, will be used for community sports projects. Some of the government’s grassroots and sports-for-all projects are the Laro’t Saya sa Parke program, featuring the sports of arnis, basketball, boxing, chess, taekwondo, volleyball, table tennis and zumba, and the Children’s Games. More than the competitive side of the sports, the PSC is promoting large-scale participation to help the government in promoting an active lifestyle among Filipino families. “We will focus more on community sports and the grassroots (program),” said Marc Velasco, director of the Philippine Sports Institute, which has sports coordinators all over the country to implement the PSC’s thrusts to spread sports participation down to the farthest community. This is a clear statement that government budget for sports is not just meant of elite athletes. Ordinary citizen are now given more platforms and avenues to play and enjoy sports. The most recent Laro’t Saya sa Parke program was participated in by hundreds of enthusiasts in Tagum City in Mindanao. LSP is a park-based sports program of the PSC aiming to draw Filipino families into play and sports. “It’s the community’s gain and we really feel good that we make thousands of Filipinos happy,” added Velasco.
Sports against drugs
Another community-based sports that’s gaining popularity among local governments (LGUs) is the Kabataan Iwas-Droga which had its inaugural event in Bacoor, Cavite. Hundreds of students participated in badminton and chess clinics while local barangay officials joined in pencak silat and zumba. When the talks about the 2019 hosting were still upbeat, Clark in Pampanga was being offered to be
INT’L CHESS: FRAYNA FINISHES IN 5-WAY TIE AT 11TH PLACE
Teens try the Filipino martial sports of arnis during the Laro’t Saya sa Parke program in Tagum City.
the main hub. Now, the PSC is more keen on renovating and building sports facilities in the provinces. ``We thought in two years we could build facilities for the SEA Games in 2019 and we planned to take it at Clark Green City,’’ said Ramirez.``But there are many areas that need sports facilities and sports programs that we feel that the PSC should address,’’ said Ramirez. While the PSC had already announced the government’s pullout from the hosting job, the POC is not yet giving up. There are plans for the national sports associations under the POC umbrella to hold talks with President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider the government’s position. POC president Peping Cojuangco is also toying with the idea of getting the local governments, especially the governors, to take charge of the Games, although proceeding with it is still needs the support of the national government. ``We also share in the fervor of all peace-loving Filipinos to protect our country’s reputation even in the face of adversity. As such, we wish to promote the Philippines as a beautiful place and safe haven for international events,’’ added Co-
Boys, dreaming to become future world champion like Manny Pacquiao, get free training from coaches provided by Laro’t Saya program
juangco, who is batting for sports tourism. Cojuangco said the hosting (of the Games) will show the world the tenacity of the Philippines in the midst of challenges. ``We need the 2019 SEA Games to help generate more tourism receipts and invite leisure and business travelers from around the world. It is in this light that we appeal to the President to support the hosting of the Games,’’ said Cojuangco.
Hundreds of youth in Bacoor City get free sports training to help fight against drug addiction in the community
KL Games
Meanwhile, the country is preparing hard for the coming edition of the biennial meet happening on August 19-31 in Kuala, Lumpur Malaysia. The Philippines set out to the games with 498 athletes out to better its 7th place finish the last time out. Out of the 405 gold medals at stake, Philippine officials, led by chef the mission Cynthia Carrion, are looking hoping to get at least 50 gold medals. Carrion said the gilts are expected to come from athletics, boxing, billiards, taekwondo, triathlon, wushu and team events rugby and basketball. Even as the PSC is putting more efforts to grassroots program, it is keeping its vow to fully support the elite athletes. It is spending P86.7 million for the athlete’s participation in the KL Games. “We will continue to support our national athletes who make us proud in the global stage, even as we also focused on grassroots development,” said Ramirez. On Thursday, the PSC and POC will jointly hold a sendoff party for the Filipino athletes competing in the KL SEA Games.
JANELLE Mae Frayna downed Germans Nguyen Ha Tranh and Tiffany KInzel in the final two rounds to finish in a five-way tie at 11th spot in the just concluded Women’s International Open in Erfurt, Germany. A day after dropping two straight games, Frayna, the country’s first Filipina Woman Grandmaster, vented her ire on Nguyen in the eighth round and then Kinzel in the last to end up in a five-player logjam at No. 11 with Czech WIMs Kristyna Havlikova and Karolina Olsarova, Russian WIM Elena Sazanova and German Antonia Ziegenfuss with 5.5 points apiece. After the tiebreakers, Frayna wound up 13th overall. The final win surge made up for a pair of painful defeats in the sixth and seventh rounds to fourth seed and WGM Evgeniya Doluhanova of Ukraine and German Linda Krumina. Frayna zoomed to an unbeaten start highlighted by a win over WGM Galina Strutinskaia of Russia and three draws against WGMs Joanna Majdan of Poland and Ilze Berzina of Latvia and Woman International Master Nino Khomeriki of Georgia. Her other win came at the expense of German Victoria Wagner of Germany in the opening round. The Erfurt tilt is Frayna third tournament since she embarked on an ambitious European campaign with an aim of barging into the top 10 in the world’s women’s rankings and become the first male GM in the Philippines. Frayna’s European campaign is being bankrolled by Philippine Sports Commission chair William “Butch” Ramirez with backing from the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, FEU’s Aurelio Montinola, The Philippine Star’s Miguel Belmonte and Edward Go, Senate President Koko Pimentel and Bobby Ang.
SISON TOPS 3RD PLARIDEL GOLF
TOP WINNERS. Gene Sison (4th from left) emerged overall champion at the 3rd Plaridel Cup golf tournament held Aug. 4 at the Wack Wack golf course. With Sison are the other winners: Dino Datu (lowest net), Ariel Javiloza (class A champion), Zaldy Carpeso (class A runner-up), Paolo Legaspi (class B champion), Roland Lallana (class B runner-up), Danny Dunca (class C champion), Ray Enaño (class C runner-up), and Cora Aguinaldo (ladies champion).
GENE Sison of The Turf Company fired a 72 gross score to win Lowest Gross and emerge the overall Champion, while Dino Datu trailed with a net 68 to win Low Net at the 3rd Plaridel Cup golf tournament held on August 4 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City. Ariel Javiloza came home with a net 68 to win top class A honors. Runner-up was Zaldy Carpeso also with a net 68. Class B champion was Paolo Legaspi with a net 69, followed by Roland Lallana with net 70. The top finishers in class C were Danny Dunca (71) and Ray Enano (72). Cora Aguinaldo emerged Ladies Champion with a net 71. Special awards went to Jomel Gomez for Nearest to the Pin (six feet) at Hole no. 3; Gene Sison for
Accurate Drive (two feet to the line) at Hole no. 13; and Roland Rotoni for Longest Drive (250 yards) at Hole no. 13. The 3rd Plaridel Cup was sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Oriental Group, Philippine Airlines, Pagcor, Social Security System, Stradcom, Philex Mining Corp., GMA Network, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Ayala Land, Cherrylum, SM Investment, International Container Terminal Services Inc., Globe Telecom, Manila Water, Emperador Deluxe, Vitamax, Optimum, South Forbes and The Turf Company. Media partners include Manila Standard, Market Monitor and Business Mirror. The Plaridel Cup is an annual golf tournament of the Association of Philippine Journalists—Samahang Plaridel Foundation Inc.
PLARIDEL CUP. Rolando Estabillo (right), president of Samahang Plaridel; Roland Schissau (center), deputy head of mission of German Embassy; and James Jimenez, Comelec spokesman, do the honors at the ceremonial tee off at Wack Wack golf course to start the 3rd Plaridel Cup last Aug. 4.
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Sports
SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor / Reuel Vidal, Issue Editor / Randy Caluag, Issue Editor
sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
HE’S HOME. Alaska Milk president and CEO Wilfred Steven Uytengsu says he’s home as he invites children at Mactan Elementary School to live a healthy lifestyle by engaging in sports and starting the day right with a nutritious breakfast with milk. Jamil Buergo
UYTENGSU COMES HOME TO CEBU
MEET THE PROS. Some of the top professional triathletes in world gather during the press launch of the 2017 Cobra Energy Drink IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa, yesterday, Aug. 5.
By Reuel Vidal
REED TARGETS COBRA IRONMAN THREE-PEAT
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APU-LAPU CITY, Cebu —This year’s biggest and best triathlon competition in the country, the 2017 Cobra Energy Drink IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines, reels off today, Sunday at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa with defending champion Tim Reed eyeing a rare “three-peat” against an elite field. Reed wore down worldclass competitors to rule the first IRONMAN 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship. He also won the contest the year before to complete a back-to-back romp in the 1.9k-swim, 90k-bike, 21-k run event at the Ironman 70.3 here. Reed likes his chances to gain a third consecutive title but conceded that this year has the toughest field of rivals yet, led by his compatriot Tim Van Berkel, the winner of this year’s IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam, as well reigning Xterra world titlist Mauricio Mendez of Mexico and three-time Regent 5150 winner Sam Betten. “This time of the year, I’m extremely fit. I built my season getting strong and ready to race. I saw the start list and it makes me excited. When you got good guys alongside you, they push you to a level you wouldn’t do if they weren’t there. We’ll make each other race a lot better,” said Reed. The Australian is already one of the best in the world but actually continues to improve every year. Not known
to be the best swimmer in triathlon competitions Reed surprised all the experts during the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship on the Sunshine Coast of Australia with a powerful swim leg and eventual victory. Close to 3,000 triathletes from a record field of 52 countries will see action in the country’s premier triathlon produced and organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. with title sponsor Cobra Energy Drink and backed by presentor Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and Summit Natural Drinking Water, the official hydration partner. Elite professionals and the best age groupers will compete not just for the top $5,000 purse in the men’s and women’s divisions but also for 30 coveted slots in the world tilt slated in Mandela Bay, South Africa next year. Sunrise Events founder and Alaska Milk president and CEO Wilfred Steven Uytengsu said the competition has grown from just a race to a social and economic event which benefits the public.
Tim Reed raises his hands in triumph after winning his first Cobra Energy Drink IRONMAN 70.3 in this file photo.
“We’ve changed so many lives. These are people who came out of the couch to swim, run and bike. We are creating a healthier nation. We’re welcoming tourists through sports tourism not
just in Cebu but throughout Philippines,” said Uytengsu. “All these are made possible because of the support of the sponsors like Cobra Energy Drink who have been with us all of these years as
well as the outstanding cast of professional triathletes who come to Cebu year in and year out.” Among these professional triathletes are Braden Currie, Eddie Rawles and Callum Millward of New Zealand, David Mainwaring, Alexander Polizzi and Luke Bell of Australia, Americans Brad Williams and Iain Alexandridis, Czech Jakub Langhammer, Johan Stofberg of South Africa, Italian Jonathan Ciavatella and Eric Watson of Bahrain who are all eager to beat Reed. Dimity-Lee Duke, in the absence of perennial champion Caroline Steffen who will compete in the relay instead of the full race, looms as the woman to beat. Providing Duke plenty of challenge for the women’s crown are Jacqueline Thisleton, Alise Selsmark, Kirra Seidel, Monica Juhart and Kerry Mulholland, Hungarian Anna Eberhardt, New Zealand’s Amelia Watkinson. Local bet Kim Kilgroe will participate although a realistic goal for her is to improve on her 10th place finish in her rookie season last year. “I’m feeling good. I am excited to be back racing with amazing athletes. I am grateful to be with this kind of caliber field. I am proud to represent my heritage. It’s an exciting weekend for me and I’m looking forward to it,” said Kilgroe.
IT’S more than just business. If you were to ask Alaska Milk president and CEO Wilfred Steven Uytengsu the secret of his success then that would be the answer. Whether it’s building Alaska Milk from a manufacturing company to the empire it is now. Or building the Ironman brand from a niche sport to the pervasive and fastest growing participation sport in the Philippines. Uytengsu’s success is about going the extra mile and doing more than conventional wisdom dictates. His philosophy is about involving people. It’s about building relationships. It’s about bringing back to the community and helping children grow and become the best they could be. The Cobra Ironman 70.3 will hold its sixth season in Cebu and the ninth overall and Uytengsu has come home Cebu to involve the entire province in his endeavor. It’s not surprising therefore that the first activity is going to the Mactan Elementary School to treat students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 to a nutritious breakfast of champorado and Alaska Milk with the run out from Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa by the participants of the 2017 Alaska IronKids and professional triathletes competing in the 2017 Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3. Facing a sea of red – with teachers, students and parents all clad in red tshirts – Uytengsu thanked the school officials for the warm reception and engaged the children. He said coming to Cebu always felt like a homecoming. “I was born in Cebu and I’m always glad to be back. I’m happy to hold both the Iron Kids and the Cobra Ironman here regularly and I hope that one day soon one of you kids will not only participate but win the event. In the meantime, study hard, stay in school and always drink your milk,” said Uytengsu. Superintendent Marilyn Andales, Mactan Elementary School Principal Jojo Rosales, all the teachers and Grade 4, 5 and 6 students, in turn welcomed the triathletes. Andales thanked Alaska Milk for the visit as well as for teaching the value of starting the day right, with exercise in the morning followed by a nutritious and healthy breakfast of milk. Jean Pagobo, one of the teachers, along with some of the students presented a play which enumerated the important nutrients derived from a nutritious breakfast which included milk. Finally, the teachers and all the students, who turned the yard of the school into a virtual sea of red, performed a dance number choreographed by Pagobo and Kenny Roger Bactol to the tune of “Alaska Gatas for Breakfast.” The event concluded with a milk toast and a healthy nutritious breakfast for the children and the teachers courtesy of Alaska Milk.
FAMILIAR FACES RULE 2017 ALASKA IRONKIDS
By Patricia Bianca Taculao
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu—Young triathletes Juan Francisco “Wacky” Baniqued and Tara Borlain concluded their IronKids career with pride as they won their respective final races in the 2017 Alaska IronKids triathlon held at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa. Baniqued finished with a time of 38:50 in the male age 13 to 14 category and Borlain dominated the female category with 41:34. Despite the triumph of the young athlete from Biñan, he almost lost the title to Joseff Miguel Quirino who also finished with a time of 38:50. Quirino sprinted at the homestretch but a photo finish review showed Baniqued
winning the race. Baniqued admitted that the competition was getting tougher and the 2017 tournament taught him that he should not underestimate his fellow competitors. “My goal was to lead in the swim, bike and run until the finish line because that’s what I did last year. I had a one-minute gap ahead of my competitors at the second transition and protected the gap until the finish line,” Baniqued said. Adrian Thomas Dionisio finished third with a time of 38:58. While Baniqued felt the challenge of the swim-bike-run event, Borlain breezed through the race course and reached the finish line with a lead of four minutes and thirteen seconds over
the next IronKids finisher, Nicole Marie Del Rosario. Borlain did not experience any trouble throughout the race but confessed that she found the bike ride challenging due to the winding the road. Marielle Estreba finished third with a time of 45:36. This will be the last IronKids competition for both Borlain and Baniqued who reached the age limit. Still, it is not the end for Baniqued and Borlain since they both plan to continue participating in other triathlons. Hyonde Keum won the boys 11 to 12 years old category with a time of 35:28. Glendwyn Giles (36:22) finished second while Matthew Justine Hermosa (36:40) finished third.
Moira Frances Erediano (34:25) won the girls 11 to 12 age group. Sophia Psalm Belican (34:32) and Jesma Marille Caneta (35:03) finished second and third. Winners in the boys 9 to 10 years old category are Beboy Dolan (24:29), first; John Christian Pabuaya (27:21), second; and Michael Gabriel Lozada (27:22), first. Winners in the girls 9 to 10 years old category are Kira Ellis (28:16); Alexeis Gunhuan (28:41); and Franchezka Borlain (30:04). Rafael Jopson (17:38) won the boys 9 to 10 years old. Van Wincy Pagnanawon (18:02) was second while Ryonde Keum (19:57) was third. Winners in the girls’ 6 to 8 years old are Kyle Emialle Toledano (21:18); Eleora Calle Avanzad (22:50); and Mireille Dee (25:21).
Wacky Baniqued (right) and Joseff Miguel Quirino finish almost at a dead heat. Photo finish review eventually showed Baniqued as the winner. Marielle C. Santos