Manila Standard - 2019 February 26 - Tuesday

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Palace slams MNLF poseurs Peace adviser clarifies representation in BTA

By Joyce Pangco Pañares and Nat Mariano

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RESIDENTIAL peace adviser Carlito Galvez on Monday dismissed claims by persons passing themselves off as representatives of the Moro National Liberation Front that the group was left out in the formation of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 16 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

“There are many people who want to be part of the BTA because it is very historic. They [Emmanuel Fontanilla and Montaha Babao] also applied but were not included. I believe they are making these statements for selfish and personal reasons. More importantly, they are not authorized to speak for the MNLF,” Galvez told Manila Standard.

Galvez was reacting to a claim by Fontanilla, reported

by CNN Philippines, that the MNLF would not recognize the BTA because it was not a part of it.

But Galvez told the Manila Standard that 14 members of the 80-man BTA represent the MNLF, of which nine were nominated by the group headed

by Nur Misuari. The government also named three people who have worked very closely with the MNLF. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front also allotted two out of its 41 seats in the BTA to the MNLF. Next page

‘Dangerous years ahead in drug war’

CLARIFICATION. In this file photo, MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari (left) and President Rodrigo Duterte (right) embrace each other before the formation of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority—with presidential peace adviser on Monday dismissing claims by what he describes as poseurs passing themselves off as MNLF representatives.

CEBU CITY—President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued a stern warning Sunday that he will make the remaining years of his presidency the “most dangerous years” for people who are into drugs.

Duterte noted during a sortie of the ruling party’s senatorial candidates here that illegal drugs have created social dysfunction that directly affects Filipino families.

“Consider my last three years as the most dangerous years for people who are into drugs either pusher, trafficker, or drug lord… I will make it very dangerous for you to live,” Duterte told Next page

Allies score gov’t policy on Chinese workers

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE allies of President Rodrigo Duterte as well as opposition senators on Monday rejected his view that the government should accommodate illegal Chinese workers as a way of protecting hundreds of thousands of undocumented Filipino workers in China.

Senators Panfilo Lacson and Joel Villa-

neva said that even though there are many Filipinos working illegally in China and other countries, Philippine laws must be strictly enforced.

“First of all, we have immigration laws to obey and adhere to. No exception please—Chinese, Japanese, Americans, even from planet Mars,” Lacson said.

“Whatever the President says, I would rather that we give premium to Filipino

workers by deporting foreign nationals illegally working here, and worse, taking away scarce job opportunities from our own countrymen,” he added.

Villanueva, also a member of the majority bloc in the Senate, said “If you are illegal, you have no right and you are not protected by laws. So the bottom line is enforcement of laws to protect workers’ rights and our Filipino first policy.”

Next page

Duterte takes up Uphold power of the votes—Rody cudgels for priests By Nat Mariano, Rey E. FOLLOWING the concerns raised by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle that priests have been receiving death threats from people claiming to be working for the presidential family, President Rodrigo Duterte warned impostors to stop it or face him.

He made the statement remark during the campaign rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan in Cebu City on Sunday night.

“Either Muslims or Christians, they have nothing to do with us. Do not do it. Do not try to do it.

Religious [leaders] have nothing to do with the vagaries of life. Lay off! Stop threatening them or Next page

Oscars: Roma pulls off a hat trick HOLLYWOOD—Alfonso Cuaron bagged a hat trick of Oscars on Sunday for “Roma,” his love letter to his childhood in 1970s Mexico City, but civil rights drama “Green Book” crashed his party with a win for best picture.

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Requejo, Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called on all Filipinos to uphold the power of their votes as the country commemorated the 33rd anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

In a speech, the President recalled how Filipinos turned the tide of the nation through a bloodless revolution.

“As the entire nation prepares for the upcoming midterm elections this May, let us always remember how this historic revolution restored our power

to collectively chart our future through the ballot. May we all have a profound sense of appreciation and understanding of what we lost and what we reclaimed,” Duterte said in his message.

Filipinos showed the world three decades ago that “history can be rewritten without the need to resort to violent means,” the President said.

“Indeed, the peaceful revolution that brought together Filipinos from all walks of life during those tense four days of February 1986 has given rise to a Philippines that was reborn from the ashes of its tumultuous past,” he said.

Duterte also expressed optimism Next page

ABSENT: PRESENT, FORMER. Confetti rain on participants in the 33rd anniversary of the Catholic Church-backed EDSA Revolution at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City that led to the ouster of then President Ferdinand Marcos.

Conspicuously absent are incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte, who issued a statement asking Filipinos to remember how the revolution ‘restored our power to collectively chart our future,’ and former President Fidel Ramos who stayed away for health reasons. Manny Palmero

Bohemian Rhapsody makes Oscar history

Four Kims in Kim Jong-un team

HOLLYWOOD—Rami Malek transformed his look, gait and accent to portray iconic Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody”—an all-in performance that has catapulted him onto Hollywood’s A-list Next page and into Oscar history.

HANOI—North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will be aided, guarded and advised by his most trusted team in Hanoi this week for his much-anticipated second summit with US PresiNext page dent Donald Trump.

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News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sara left to her own devices, Rody concedes PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said over the weekend that his daughter Sara was now in charge of the family’s political future.

Duterte, who is almost halfway through his six-year term, said he would soon have no influence over his eldest daughter who succeeded him as Davao City mayor.

“Inday is the one taking the lead…

Wala na ako eh. I know that after three years, wala na talaga ako,” Duterte said in a speech delivered in a mix of Bisaya, Tagalog and English in Cebu City.

“I will no longer be able to run and you will also not be able to tell Inday what to do.”

Meanwhile, Malacañang on Monday slammed journalist Ellen Tordesillas for being critical of President Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, describing her opinion piece as “nonsensical” and a form of “black propaganda.”

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made the remark following Tondesillas’ opinion piece titled “Pres. Sara in 2022 is Duterte’s insurance from ICC arrest when he is out of Malacañang.”

In her blog, Tordersillas claimed that the President would be able to escape possible arrest from the International Criminal Court if Carpio succeeded the presidency.

“There is no need to revise the Constitution to allow Duterte to continue being in power after 2022,” Tordesillas said.

“Sara succeeding him in Malacañang will assure Duterte that the International Criminal Court won’t be allowed in the country to arrest him when the case progresses to that stage. He would not have to answer for the extrajudicial killings attributed to him.” Duterte said Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez felt the influence of Sara, one of his two “very mean” daughters and the “most superior” among his children.

Nat Mariano

Oscars...

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The 57-year-old Mexican filmmaker won the prizes for best director, cinematography and foreign language film, capping a brilliant awards season for him—and offering streaming giant Netflix a new feather in its cap.

Diversity, though, was perhaps the biggest winner on a night when a beloved black filmmaker won his first competitive Oscar, a superhero blockbuster set in Africa scored big, and two black actors and an Egyptian first-generation American won three of the four acting prizes.

And the wide range of films honored at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre bridged the divide between arthouse fare and popular blockbusters.

“I grew up watching foreign language films, learning so much from them, being inspired—films like ‘Citizen Kane,’ ‘Jaws.’ And there are no waves, there’s only the ocean,” an emotional Cuaron said.

“I think the nominees tonight have proven that we are part of the same ocean.”

Rock legends Queen, fronted by US singer Adam Lambert, opened what turned out to be one of the more enjoyable ceremonies in recent years with a mini-medley of mega-hits “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.”

The British rockers may have experienced more nerves than during a normal gig: biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” was up for several awards and ended up the biggest winner of the night with four Oscars.

The film—which tracks the band’s rise to fame from the moment when Freddie Mercury joined the band in 1970 to their legendary 1985 Live Aid performance—took statuettes for best actor Rami Malek, as well as sound editing, sound mixing and film editing. AFP

Bohemian...

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Malek, 37, on Sunday rode his Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild success to the pinnacle of Tinseltown’s award season, snatching the Academy Award for best actor in a showdown with Christian Bale (“Vice”).

“We made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life just unapologetically himself,” Malek said.

“The fact that I’m celebrating him and this story with you tonight is proof that we’re longing for stories like this,” he added, noting for the audience that he is “a first-generation American” of Egyptian descent.

Malek’s win seemed unlikely at the outset, given that he was about the only constant in the film’s troubled road to the big screen: stars dropping out, director Bryan Singer departing mid-production, lackluster reviews.

But he likely sealed the deal—even despite the much-maligned prosthetic teeth he wears in the film—with his preening, foot-stomping recreation of Mercury’s electric performance at Live Aid in 1985, which audiences loved.

The film was also a commercial success, raking in more than $820 million worldwide. AFP

Duterte son ’harassed’ by gay Reds P

By Nat Mariano

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday claimed that his son, Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, was harassed by gay New People’s Army rebels— something that Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison immediately rejected.

In his speech in Biñan, Laguna, over the weekend, Duterte said his son was “abused” by gay NPA rebels during the turnover of the two captured soldiers and six militiamen in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur. He said Sebastian was “kissed” by four NPA rebels during their stay in the rebel group’s hideout last Tuesday.

With nothing to back his claim but his son’s narrative, Duterte surmised that 40 percent of NPA soldiers were gay.

“Did you know that 40 percent of NPA fighters are gay?” He told the attendees of

the PDP-Laban campaign sortie in Laguna last Saturday.

Sebastian, together with former presidential top aide Christopher “Bong” Go, went into the wilds of San Juan village to conduct a formal ceremony for the turnover of the prisoners.

Asked how the turnover went, the presidential son told his father that he was smooched on the cheeks by the communist rebels.

“Four NPA rebels brought me to an area filled with coconut trees. All of them kissed

Palace...

Babao, speaker of the Bangsamoro People’s National Congress of the MNLF, had also expressed dissatisfaction with the apportioning of seats, saying the MNLF expected more of the 39 positions that remained after 41 were allotted to the MILF. He said while the MNLF nominated 22 members, only five were chosen—a far different number than the 14 that Galvez mentioned on Monday.

Babao then called on the government to provide a bigger representation of MNLF in the BTA, saying that “those who had prepared the food were not allowed to eat.”

Galvez said MNLF members will have “equitable representation” in the BTA. “As I have always emphasized, bringing about necessary reforms to the BARMM depends not on the number of representatives per sector or grouping but on the effectiveness, efficiency, and sincerity of each member of the BTA,” Galvez said in a statement.

He said the BTA faces the “gargantuan task” of establishing the formal structure of the new Bangsamoro region.

From A1

“It is incorrect to say that the MNLF was left out. Originally, they wanted 19 seats, but we had a meeting with Yusoph Jikiri [an MNLF leader under Misuari] in January before the start of the plebiscite and explained to them that it is very unfair to ask for parity because it was really the MILF that worked hard for this agreement. There is a great difference between parity and equity,” he said.

Galvez said President Rodrigo Duterte has already given the green light to start talks with Misuari.

“Undersecretary Nabil Tan spoke with Misuari today [Monday] and he was receptive to the suggestion. We just have to schedule a date for the dialogue,” he said.

On Friday, the President formalized the creation of the BTA, composed of 80 members, which will serve as the interim government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao until elections are held in 2022.

’Dangerous...

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the crowd that attended the PDP-Laban rally at the Plaza Independencia.

He said he had warned the drug syndicates at the start of this term after the 2016 presidential elections that he would go after them.

He described a person addicted to drugs as having a “monkey riding on his back” that keeps scratching and biting and makes him commit other crimes just to sustain his addiction.

The President warned of the impact that drugs would have on a family.

“The money intended for the family [would be used for drugs]. Like rice, no more [food] would reach the table. Children could no longer go to school because the tuition and other stuff are gone,” he said in Bisaya. “The family becomes dysfunctional.”

Duterte reiterated his earlier warning that the ill-effect of drugs on the human brain would make a person commit crimes such as rape. He deplored incidents when drug addicts raped even a toddler.

He warned those who are not yet into drugs to to refrain from doing so because this would make their lives miserable.

“Those who have not started yet, please don’t… Those who have started already, if you can stop it, please stop it, just bear the hardships in the rehabilitation center,” Duterte said.

He also warned the so-called narco-generals against “committing treason” against their fellowmen.

The President mentioned Daanbantayan, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot, a retired one-star police general, who was one of the five alleged narco-generals he named at the beginning of his term in 2016.

In a speech during the distribution of conditional cash transfer benefits at the Cebu Trade University before the evening rally at Plaza Independencia, he also warned residents of Talisay that he intended to wipe out illegal drugs in that city.

Meanwhile, residents of Davao Oriental

Uphold...

From A1

that its observance will inspire all, especially the youth, “to deeply value the freedom and liberty that we won in EDSA.” “Let us never forget the sacrifice of those who came before us so that we may always be motivated to preserve and protect the democratic way of life that we enjoy today,” Duterte added, wishing everyone a meaningful commemoration.

In a speech Sunday night, however, Duterte said the military and police should have established a junta instead of giving back power to politicians after EDSA 1.

“They [politicians] are all the same, they are all thieves. They just transfer from one political party to another,” the President said during a PDP-Laban sortie in Cebu.

“That is your [military and police] fault.

coastal town of Caraga fished out 39 bricks of cocaine worth P215 million Sunday, prompting the Police Regional Office-11 to ask the Coast Guard to scour the province’s coast.

Residents of Purok Talisay in Barangay Santiago found the cocaine bricks, in four bundles, at around 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

At past 11 a.m. Monday, three more bricks were fished out in the same area where the cocaine bundles were found, police said.

PDEA-Region 11 Director Antonio Rivera said the bricks were confirmed to be cocaine after laboratory tests. Each brick, he said, contained a kilo of cocaine.

Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, Police Regional Office-11 director, said he has already requested the Coast Guard to scour the area as there may be more cocaine bricks that are still floating in the Pacific coast.

In a press conference Monday, the Davao City Police Office and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency presented the recovered bricks of cocaine bricks brought from the area by village councilor Emeliano Bantayan of Barangay Santiago.

Bantayan was escorted by the local police and the Army’s 701st Infantry Brigade.

Morales said the bricks of cocaine were similar to the 34 bricks found floating off the waters of Surigao del Sur based on the packaging.

“These are subject of our investigation.

We have to determine the source and origin,” Morales said.

Rivera, however, said the bricks found in Caraga appeared to be new, while the ones found in Surigao del Norte and Dinagat provinces two weeks ago already have moss on the boxes.

Rivera said he cannot discount the possibility that the bricks were intentionally dumped.

“We have asked the residents to be wary of their area and to immediately report to the police if they see suspicious items,” Rivera said.

Morales said that based on the list obtained by PRO-11, at least 20 domestic and foreign vessels passed through the waters of Davao Oriental seas since Feb. 14. PNA It is but right that you seize power through a coup d’etat but do not give the power to politicians. Look for 10 intelligent people— military, police, executives—who will work well. Give them power in Congress.

Support them instead,” he added.

Malacañang allayed concerns on the whereabout of the President during the anniversary rites.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte has been on a tight schedule since the weekend and was attending several engagements.

Panelo said the President “has been working tirelessly” by attending an event in Laguna on Saturday, two public events in Cebu on Sunday, and one in Pasay on Monday.

“While the President has to attend to more pressing matters of the state and may not be physically present during the commemoration of the People Power Revolution, he will however be there in union with

me,” the President quoted his son as saying.

“So, you were abused? He said, ‘Yes, everyone kissed me.’ That’s okay. You now know how it feels to be kissed by gays. It feels better. That flirt!” Duterte said.

According to Duterte, he was really wondering why the communist rebels wanted Baste to lead the turnover of the captured soldiers.

“I was wondering why they wanted to turn over the captured soldiers to Baste... It turned out, those fools were after Baste,” he said without providing any details about the release.

Sison, however, found the President’s narrative difficult to believe.

“In making a joke, Duterte has obviously invented the story that gays in the NPA brought his son Baste to the woods to be subjected to kissing, mashing and other acts amounting to molestation,” Sison said in a statement.

He said the NPA observes a “strict rule of discipline” against sexual molestation and taking sexual liberties against the will of

He also emphasized the need to have lawyers, technocrats, professionals, and other specialists in the interim government.

These experts are then expected to craft the region’s electoral, local government, education, administrative, revenue, and civil service codes as well as the new Bangsamoro Development Plan.

“The BTA represents not just the MILF and MNLF but the entirety of the Moro and non-Moro people.

The 80-member transition body will see to it that by 2022, a strong institution shall have been lain down and the people of BARMM will be ready to exercise their right of suffrage and install their government officials,” he said.

“We recognize that there are many more who want to serve the Bangsamoro through the BTA, but let us not forget that there is a multitude of ways to render our service for the people,” he added.

Last month, the President noted that he needs to hear the suggestions raised by Misuari on the peace process in Mindanao and consider the sentiment of the people of Sulu who rejected the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

Allies...

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“This is a matter of enforcing our own rules and regulations, not just for the protection of jobs for Filipinos but also the protection of the rights of the workers regardless of nationality,” he added.

Instead of turning a blind eye to illegal workers here, the government should help Filipino workers abroad become legal workers, he said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said “deportation is a consequence if laws are violated by foreigners.”

Opposition Senator Francis Pangilinan said Labor and Immigration officials who allowed the entry of 40,000 illegal Chinese workers should be fired and charged criminally.

“Uphold the rule of law and without fanfare deport these illegals,” he said.

He said the administration should not be afraid of China.

“What it should fear is the anger of millions of our people who remain jobless while we give special treatment to these Chinese illegals,” he said.

The senator also pointed out that the government has been silent about the smuggling of illegal drugs from China, and the “illegal invasion of our seas.”

Earlier, President Duterte said he would tolerate the influx of Chinese workers amid criticism that they were taking jobs from Filipinos.

Speaking during the PDP-Laban campaign rally in Laguna, the President said he would allow the illegal Chinese workers because there were so many undocumented Filipino workers in China.

The Philippine consulate-general in Hong Kong estimated that there are 200,000 Filipinos who have been working as domestics in China since 2016.

Sulong Dignidad party-list took strong exception to the President’s statement.

“The pronouncements made by the president are not only demeaning but also an affront to the dignity of Filipino workers,” said Sulong Dignidad president Rico Paolo Quicho. With Vito Barcelo the celebrators as well as in recognition and reminder to all that our government is a fruit of democracy and our sovereignty resides in the people and all authority emanates from them,” Panelo said in a statement.

“The lesson learned in EDSA is unmistakable. Power is transitional as life is ephemeral. You abuse either and it will be taken away from you,” he added.

More than a thousand people gathered Monday at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

Multi-sectorial groups, officials and personnel of government agencies, religious groups, academe, students, civic and other non-government organizations attended the event to commemorate the historic event, which ended the two-decade leadership of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. With PNA

others.

He, however, noted that if the armed rebels had indeed molested or took liberties with Duterte’ son, then “they would face disciplinary action.”

“It is up to the NPA command concerned to inform us how Baste was treated,” he said.

Sison also slammed Duterte for claiming that four out of 10 communist rebels were gay, emphasizing that it was the “most unbelievable part of the joke.”

“How can he make such a survey finding when his military and police minions cannot locate the thousands of Red commanders and fighters in more than 110 guerrilla fronts? These armed revolutionaries reveal their momentary location only when they are already ambushing or raiding his armed minions,” Sison said.

“At any rate, Duterte is again exposing his misogynist and anti-gay character with his macho kind of joke.”

Sison then admitted that the revolutionary forces accept LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenders) into their ranks.

Typhoon threatens PH, PAGASA warns A TYPHOON outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility is threatening to enter the country on Wednesday night or Thursday morning, the weather bureau said Monday.

“Wutip,” the typhoon, will be renamed “Betty” once it does enter the Philippines, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

But the agency said the typhoon will be downgraded into a tropical storm once inside the country.

“Wutip” was estimated 1,740 kilometers east of Southern Luzon and it was moving slowly toward the Philippines.

Rio N. Araja

Duterte...

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you’ll have to face me,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, Duterte on Sunday also said Catholic priests, even those who are gay, should be allowed to marry.

“Priests should be allowed to marry.

That’s the only solution there,” Duterte said during the distribution of cash grants in Cebu. `”Even the gay ones, allow them to marry, same-sex marriage. I am in favor of that so the problem will end.”

Duterte cautioned the impostors using his name and urged them to leave the religious leaders alone since they had “nothing to do with politics.”

“The moment you touch nuns, priests or Imam…don’t touch them. Those are religious people,” he said.

Duterte read to the public the message he received from Tagle about some priests receiving death threats.

“Good day po, greetings from Rome,” Tagle said in his message.

“I was informed that Bishop David and some priests got death threats from someone claiming to be working for the President’s family. Just to let you know.

Perhaps someone is trying to damage the President’s reputation. Thanks, we pray.”

Tagle is in Rome to attend the recentlyconcluded four-day Vatican summit on sex abuse by priests.

Duterte said former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go had also assured Tagle that the administration had no hand in sending those death threats.

“There is no such thing, Cardinal.

Thank you. Just to let you know that there are persons using the name of the President and his family,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, Duterte reiterated his accomplishments halfway through his term, including a “harsher” drug war. PNA

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Some of them are already in the Vietnamese capital preparing for his expected arrival early Tuesday, while others joined Kim on his epic train journey across China in his special armoured train.

Who are the cast of characters joining the North Korean leader and what role will they play in Hanoi?

The Righthand Man Kim Yong Chol, a senior North Korean party official and the counterpart to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, has been on the frontlines of the ongoing diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington.

He is seen as Kim’s most trusted aide and is accompanying him on his olive green train en route to Vietnam.

Kim flew to Washington with a letter for Trump from the North Korean leader last month, after which the White House announced the second summit to break months of deadlock since the first meeting in Singapore last June.

He was in charge of overseeing negotiations in Singapore—the first-ever summit between the leaders of the US and North Korea—and likely remains a key player in Hanoi. AFP

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PhilHealth ready for UHC enactment —Ferrer PHILIPPINE Health Insurance Corp. acting president and CEO Dr. Roy B. Ferrer assured the Filipino public that the state-run agency is prepared for the imminent enactment of the Universal Health Care (UHC) bill.

“Our strong performance last year clearly displayed our capability to run the National Health Insurance Program [NHIP],” he said.

In fact, he said PhilHealth’s recordsetting performance in 2018 is a perfect prelude to transition to UHC. Ferrer said PhilHealth has filed a total of 298 cases against 71 hospitals, resulting in the suspension of accreditation of some 31 hospitals.

The NHIP coverage jumped to 98 percent of the Philippine population translating to a total of 104.5 million out of the 2018 projected population of 106.4 million. PhilHealth said the bill’s passage will be a deciding factor to finally cover the entire nation under the NHIP. “One decisive push,” said Ferrer.

“That’s all we need and that’s what this law will provide.”

Upon its enactment, the UHC mandates the inclusion of all Filipinos in the NHIP, and that no Filipino will be denied access to health care whenever they need them.

PhilHealth even urged its members and stakeholders to involve themselves in discussions and activities that ultimately help UHC achieve its purpose.

As this developed, reelectionist Senator JV Ejercito has assured overseas Filipino workers that they too are covered

by Universal Health Care (UHC) law, or Republic Act 11223.

“OFWs are definitely covered. Basta Pilipino, kasama dito. Kapag umuwi sila after their tour of duty, they will be covered. Basta may proof na ikaw ay Pilipino, you would be covered by the National Health Insurance Program,” he said on Saturday during the “Executive Session” program of radio DZRH where he was the guest. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Big-time oil price increase set for third straight week

By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL players implemented big-time price increases for the third consecutive week of P1.45 per liter effective 6 a.m. Tuesday, reflecting the bullish trend in the global oil markets.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Petro Gazz raised the price of gasoline and diesel by P1.45 per liter. Shell also raised the price of kerosene by P 1.35 per liter.

“Petro Gazz will implement price hike on fuel products, effective 6am February 26, Tuesday, diesel by P1.45 per liter and gasoline by P1.45 per liter,” the company said in its advisory. Other oil firms are expected to follow.

Unioil Philippines forecast diesel prices to go up by P1.40 to P1.50 and gasoline should go up by P1.30 to P1.40 per liter.

On Feb. 9, the country’s oil firms raised pump prices by P0.70 per liter for diesel and gasoline and P0.35 per liter for kerosene.

According to the latest monitoring report of the Department of Energy, yearto-date adjustments prior to the latest bigtime hike stand at a net increase of P2.20 per liter for gasoline, P3 per liter for diesel and P2.05 per liter for kerosene.

DOE said the surplus in oil production in 2018 was a result of the anticipated US-led economic sanctions on Iran which triggered members of the Oil Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-members to ramp up production to make up for an expected shortage of oil.

JOB FAIR. Jobseekers flock at DOLE’s Job Fair dubbed as ’Trabaho Negosyo Kabuhayan’ Job and Business Fair, with its theme ‘EDSA 2019: Pagkakaisa Tungo sa Pambansang Kapayapaan’ at the Second Floor, Activity Center Starmall, EDSA-Shaw in Mandaluyong City. Manny Palmero

Probe ‘underperforming’ distribution utilities—Win

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATOR Win Gatchalian wants to dig deeper into the operations of underperforming distribution utilities in the country amid persistent complaints of rolling brownouts in several areas in the country.

Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, recently filed Senate Resolution No. 1022, which directs the conduct of an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the operations of underperforming DUs in the country and the remedies to hold them accountable.

Gatchalian said it is high time for Congress to assess whether or not non-performing DUs should continue operating using their franchise by looking at their respective performances.

“Various hearings of the Senate Committee on Energy has brought to light the issues surrounding DUs, such as non-compliance with the system loss caps, System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI), System Average Interruption Frequency Index

(SAIFI), financial liabilities, in the case of electric cooperatives; and failure to electrify areas within their respective franchises—thereby resulting in the prejudice of consumers,” Gatchalian said in the resolution.

“Given the foregoing shortcomings of DUs, there has been no policy or procedure for DOE [Department of Energy] or ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission] to determine underperforming DUs, whose franchise will be recommended for revocation,” he added.

Gatchalian said he received numerous complaints with regards to the reported underperformance of several DUs across the country.

Palawan, for example, had experienced an average of 126 power interruptions in 2017, which, according to the lawmaker, was

beyond the NEA standard of 25 interruptions per consumer per year.

Citing data from the DOE, Gatchalian also said that 72.6 percent or 449,410 out of 618,600 households in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao remain without power as of Dec. 31, 2017, making it the top “unelectrified” region in the country.

The DOE and ECs locked horns last month after the former submitted a letter to Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recommending the cancellation of the legislative franchises of at least 17 ECs. In its December 2018 report, the National Electrification Administration revealed at least 10 of the underperforming ECs are in Luzon while seven others are in Mindanao.

However, the Energy department backpedaled on Jan. 30 after it received reports from these electric cooperatives that they had already addressed the issues against them.

Gatchalian said that while he fully supports holding distribution utilities accountable in their services to consumers by reviewing their technical and financial performance, he stressed the need to have a clear policy and procedure on the recommendation for revocation before actually submitting the recommendation to Congress.

Batangas cops kill seven robbery-gang members

By Francisco Tuyay POLICE operatives gunned down seven armed members of a suspected robberygangs in a shootout in Batangas early dawn Monday.

Sr. Supt. Edwin Quilates, Batangas police director, said the robbery suspects, who have yet to be identified, were killed after they exchanged gunfire with police operatives in Barangay Banyaga, in Agoncillo town at about 4:45 a.m.

Quilates said the suspects had earlier pulled a heist at a commercial establishment in Batangas province, which alerted authorities who subsequently monitored the movements of the group.

Quilates added that the suspects were

involved in several robbery activities in the province. Last Feb. 23, the group reportedly burglarized a feeds mill/grocery by dismantling its roof. The robbery, however, was monitored through the CCTV. In its latest heist, the robbery gang used a white Toyota Hi-Ace Van with license plate TIH 344 with blue LED lights on both side mirrors.

The suspects were monitored to be travelling along the boundary of Talisay town and Tagaytay City, prompting police operatives along the said roads to try to intercept the suspects.

Quilates said policemen posted in Laurel town spotted the white Toyota van approaching its checkpoint in Barangay Berinayan, but instead of stopping, the

van carrying the suspects rammed the checkpoint barriers and tried to escape.

The policemen chased the suspects for 45 minutes. The van passed another checkpoint in Barangay Banyaga, and this time the suspects fired at the authorities.

The police retaliated, which resulted in the killing of all seven robbery suspects, and the recovery of at least five firearms.

Quilates said the group had been involved in a series of robberies, victimizing a total of eight establishments since 2017, carting away more than P2 million.

Based on the profiles, the suspects were not natives of Batangas province but originated from other provinces.

BI reminds aliens on registration deadline

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration reminded all foreigners living in the country that they have only until March 1 to pay and register for their 2019 annual report and go to the nearest BI field office.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente reiterated that the annual reporting period is non-extendible and warned that non-compliant aliens may be fined or prosecuted for violating the alien registration act.

Morente also directed aliens to report to any of the BI’s designated field, satellite and extension offices nationwide, the list of which can be accessed via the bureau’s website.

The 1951 Alien Registration Act obliges all BI-registered aliens, who are

holders of immigrant and non-immigrant visas, to make the annual report within the first 60 days of a calendar year.

Lawyer Jose Carlitos Licas, BI Alien Registration Division chief, said each alien shall bring and present his alien certificate of registration identity card (ACR I-Card) and pay a P300 annual report fee and P10 legal research fee to the government.

“For those who are currently abroad, they shall make the report within 30 days from the date of their return to the country, provided they have valid reentry permits,” Licas said.

In the case of alien minors aged 14 years and below, it shall be the duty of their parent or guardian to make the report on their behalf.

ROBBERY GROUP. Crime scene investigators inspect the belongings of seven suspected members of a robbery group who were killed in an alleged shootout with police in Agoncillo, Batangas, on Monday, Feb. 25. Also in photo is the bullet-riddled van used by the suspects. Norman Cruz

MIAA to intensify security at airports MANILA International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal on Monday renewed call to air travelers to cooperate with the intensified security screening procedures at the country’s main gateway.

“Redundancy checks will remain because it keeps everyone safe,” the airport chief said.

Monreal said at present, passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport go through seven security checks from the time they enter the terminal building until they get to the pre-departure gate.

Check-in bags, on the other hand, are checked four times and are escorted by security going to the aircraft. Additional checks are conducted when screeners notice suspicious-looking items.

The Office for Transportation Security maintains a list of prohibited items both for check in and hand-carry bags. The list is updated from time to time.

In 2018, NAIA screeners intercepted and confiscated a total of 2,291 prohibited items ranging from simple empty bullet shells used as amulets to semi-automatic pistols. Joel E. Zurbano

Avail of amnesty, taxpayers urged SENATOR Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Monday encouraged taxpayers with unsettled estate tax liabilities to avail of the amnesty period provided by Republic Act 11213, signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte last Feb. 14.

He said he new “Tax Amnesty Act” aims to enhance revenue generation for the government by encouraging citizens to pay the correct amount of taxes without any of the incurred penalties and fines.

The senator, who is seeking reelection in the upcoming May elections, is the author of Senate Bill 293 in 2016 providing for a one-time amnesty on estate taxes. The bill was made part and became an integral portion of RA 1121.

“Now’s the time for those with estate tax delinquencies to settle their obligations with the government,” said Pimentel. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Arroyo mourns demise of Espenilla THE House of Representatives led

by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo condoled with the family of the late Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor and Chairman of the Monetary Board Nestor Espenilla Jr. Espenilla passed away last Saturday.

Arroyo credited Espenilla for his exemplary performance in leading reforms at the BSP to strengthen the country’s economic foundation.

“We mourn the demise of Governor Nestor Espenilla, who steered the BSP with great dignity as he pursued his Continuity Plus Plus program in response to the formidable responsibility that President Rodrigo Duterte entrusted on him, of further strengthening the economic foundation of our country through economic policy,” Arroyo said.

The former president recalled that Espenilla helped her administration institute reforms in ensuring a sound economic policy.

“Even during my Presidency, Nesting Espenilla showed exemplary leadership as BSP deputy governor for the very sensitive Supervision and Examination Sector.’’ Maricel V. Cruz

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Opinion

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The revolution is a myth AS EXPECTED, the Yellows made a big thing of the 33rd anniversary of the People Power Revolution.

This brings me to a basic question: What is there to celebrate when nothing has changed?

That four-day event has been distorted so much.

It culminated with the abduction of Marcos and his family, supposedly to Ilocos Norte where he expected to be safe. But he was taken instead to Hawaii.

EDSA was more of a pocket of mutiny.

The Yellows talk about the People Power Revolution as some sort of glorious moment in history. But, may I ask, what revolution was there when there were only over half a million people, and mostly from the middle class? They were joined by priests, nuns and students.

As Salvador Escalante and J. Augustus dela Paz of the Truth and Justice Foundation said: “The scented and sanctified image of EDSA was never a revolution but a pocket mutiny that grew into a localized revolt.”

So how in the world could that mutiny be called a revolution when no more than half a million people were there?

But as always, the Yellows romanticized, scented and sanctified the image of EDSA. And, as always, the Western media took it upon themselves to do the same. I think it's distortion of history that led to questions on the mythological and even quixotic portrayal of EDSA and its fanciful delusions woven

by Marcos haters.

So what is there to celebrate, indeed?

Worse, the aspirations of the people for real change have never been achieved.

Not until now.

My gulay, what should be commemorated was the breakaway from Marcos by the combined efforts of Juan Ponce Enrile, Fidel Ramos and Gringo Honasan. Without them, there would be no EDSA to commemorate. *** Another fake news that got scented and sanctified was that the late President Cory Aquino was an icon of democracy. What icon, when Cory was not even present during that four-day event!

I asked Enrile why he led the breakaway group that made Cory the president when he was already holding the ball, and had in fact named a civilian junta to succeed Marcos?

Enrile told me he was not too sure whether the people would accept a ci civilian junta. Cory, too, was the face of the opposition. She was the logical choice for the presidency. He added: “It was a big mistake because she did not follow through the aspirations of the RAM.” This is exactly why there were nine coup attempts by the RAM against Cory when she was president.

Enrile also told me that the reason for the breakaway was to preempt the plan of then-Defense Secretary Fabian Ver to establish a military junta in case Marcos died. At this time, Marcos was already seriously ill. Enrile said he knew about this from somebody very close to Ver. *** The move of President Duterte to legitimize thousands of Chinese nationals who came as tourists to the Philippines lest China retaliate and deport some 300,000 overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong comes from the false premise that OFWs in China went there illegitimately.

The presence of no less than 119,000 Chinese here who are already working odd jobs is what is illegal in the first place.They came in as tourists and visitors but never left. The figure comes from the immigration office, but many

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

S

Shooting the messenger

“

PEAK not in the ear of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.”

A concerned citizen who posted a video of a dangerous footbridge online this month learned the wisdom of this biblical passage when the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) threatened to sue him for his trouble.

On Feb. 14, Pio Fortuno Jr. posted a video of a footbridge along the intersection of Mindanao and Congressional avenues, showing cables and wires crossing the pedestrian walkway, posing a threat of tripping.

The video, posted on his Facebook page, has been shared 22, 689 times—enough, apparently, to draw the attention of the MMDA. In an interview with CNN Philippines, MMDA Chairman Jojo Garcia said they find the video malicious, as the footbridge has yet to be officially opened for public use.

He accused Fortuno of forcing his way onto the footbridge and said he would investigate a witness report that a security guard had unsuccessfully tried to stop him—charges that Fortuno has denied.

The MMDA chairman said his

agency’s legal department would file charges of malicious mischief, trespassing and possibly cyber libel, as what he reported was untrue.

In a separate interview, an MMDA spokesperson also accused Fortuno of removing barriers to the unfinished footbridge, another allegation that he denies.

"I find it amazing that MMDA said they interviewed a security guard who said he tried to stop me. That is just nuts. First of all the stairs were wide open," Fortuno told CNN Philippines. "Second, the security guards couldn't care less who go[es] up the stairs.

It's not their mandate to do so.

Third, the corner where I went up, there is no establishment near there, hence no security guard."

Fortuno said people around the area will testify that there were no barriers or even warning tape, and that some people had already begun using the footbridge.

If indeed there were barriers, these were clearly insufficient— and it would be wrong to assume that Fortuno removed them because anybody else could have done so. The failure to keep the public out of an unfinished bridge falls on the MMDA, which could have easily boarded up the entryways and posted large “Danger: Keep Out” signs. They obviously

did not do this.

In view of all this, we have a few questions for the MMDA chairman and other government officials who believe they are above criticism.

1) Do you believe criticism of government officials is wrong?

Or that people must be humble and meek when seeking redress?

2) Section 4 of our Bill of Rights that states: "No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances." Which part of this do you not understand?

3) Do you think it is right to use cyber laws to bludgeon people who come forward to expose your shortcomings?

4) Don’t you think all the money and manpower spent on a frivolous suit could be put to more productive use?

5) Who pays your salary?

When President Rodrigo Duterte came to power on the promise of a more responsive government, this kind of response most likely wasn’t on his mind. We do not need more arrogant and hyper-sensitive officials who threaten to sue at the mere hint of criticism. That is not what we pay them to do.

Turn to A5

Linking arms with Leila THIRTY-THREE years ago today, a series of events led to the EDSA Revolution and precipitated the ouster of the more than two decades of Marcos dictatorship. It was a glorious, peaceful, four-day revolution that showcased the best of the Filipino. It was an extravaganza of selflessness, patriotism, generosity, piety and love where people opted for non-violence over violent means to oust a dictatorship; to give out love instead of selfishness in order to effect change. This spirit has been immortalized as the spirit of EDSA. The Marcos era was a very dark chapter of our history. Human rights violations were rampant, dissent was suppressed, the tyrant controlled government institutions, the military and security forces were used as instruments of State repression, and handful cronies who enabled the Marcoses to plunder state coffers controlled the economy.

Despite the platitudes by State apologists, people were reeling in poverty and the economy was moribund. Except for the Communists and a handful of activists and dissidents, the largest portion of the populace was mostly compliant and cowed by the repressive regime.

Surely, when Ferdinand Marcos was booted out of the Palace to spend his last days in exile in Hawaii, and President Cory Aquino took over the reins of government, it was a cause for celebration. The newfound democratic space was a breath of fresh air after decades of overbearing control by the dictatorial regime.

There was overwhelming euphoria and unbounded hope that finally the country could move forward and be forever free from the stranglehold of tyranny and abuse. But as time goes by, the spirit of EDSA, if there ever was one, has begun to wane and recede.

Thirty-three years hence, the Marcoses are back in power as if they never left, as if they were not unceremoniously booted out of the country. The Marcos remains are now buried in the hallowed grounds of the Libingan ng mga Bayani and Marcos himself is being hailed by historical revisionists as a hero and that his days in power the halcyon days of Philippine nationhood. Human rights violations perpetrated under the guise of cleaning up the streets of drug trade

are back with a vengeance. Democratic institutions, like the Supreme Court and Congress, are being intimidated into submission and compliance. Even the Catholic Church has not been spared.

The few who choose not to toe the line are pilloried, threatened, ousted from office and imprisoned. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senators Antonio Trillanes and Leila de Lima, the Commission on Human Rights and some in the media including Maria Ressa of Rappler, are the few dissenting voices that dared. In particular, De Lima, because, as then chairperson of the Human Rights, investigated extrajudicial killings allegedly carried out by the Davao Death Squad in Davao City under the then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, is now in detention due to highly questionable drug charges. An implacable critic of the President, she, as elected senator, filed a resolution to investigate extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration.

The spirit of EDSA is but a shadow of its glorious past.

As I have written in the past two columns, the United Nations has chron chronicled how the rights of De Lima, as a detainee and accused, were and are being violated, particularly her rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. According to the UN Working Group, the evidence and charges against Ms. De Lima were manufactured and fabricated upon the orders from the highest official of the land. Worse, according to the UN Working Group opinion following the President’s orders, the Secretary of Justice pronounced the guilt of Ms. De Lima in public even before any formal government investigation had been conducted against her. But despite strong evidence that the rights of De Lima for a fair trial have been violated, and the calls by local and international organizations for her release, the Duterte administration refuses to budge and release her from detention.

So many things are presently happening which reminds us back to the dark days of Marcos era with some expressing their fear that we are sliding,

Turn to A5

What really happened at EDSA 1?

MOMENTOUS events such as the People Power Revolt that took place in February 1986 and put an end to the Marcos regime’s more than two decades years in power have tended to be viewed from differing perspectives, depending on one’s ideological moorings and political inclinations.

One point of view looks at the event as the culmination of a long struggle against tyranny and corruption. But

It depends on one’s ideological moorings and political inclinations.

there are also those who are convinced that the end of the Marcos era cannot simply be ascribed to people and events that we Filipinos have been told were responsible for the four-day popular upris-

ing that marked a watershed in contemporary Philippine history.

Of those who belong to the latter journalcategory, there’s a colleague in journal ism and among the top officials during the Arroyo administration, Rigoberto Tiglao, who now writes a column for another daily broadsheet and has sought to shatter what he considers the myths surrounding People Power.

I distinctly remember that last year, he wrote a column on EDSA 1 that’s esbeen included in a collection of his es says entitled “Debunked.” Let me quote at length what he said in this particular column, to make sure that the reader would know exactly what he said: 1) “Cory Aquino had little to do with Turn to A5

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can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

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Opinion Dalisay

Should it matter that due process has repeatedly vindicated Mrs. Arroyo? Of course it should, at least to us law-abiding citizens. But obviously not to Colmenares and Alejano, whose very DNA seems to be imprinted with an abiding disregard for the law.

Should these two now be voted into THE current campaign is proving once the Senate? Any repercussions from that again how the extremes on both sides of will be squarely on those among you the political divide can always find com- who choose to do so. *** mon ground in their shared looniness.

Come now two “Otso Deretso” candidates—Neri Colmenares from the far left of the CPP-NPA-NDF, and Gary Alejano from the far right of the Magdalo recidivist mutineers—who, for lack Always and ever a of anything better to say, are beating the deadest of dead horses by trying to resblessing from the urrect the old GMA bogeyman.

Lifegiver At the ABS-CBN senatorial debate, Alejano said the former president should be jailed “for destroying the country’s institutions.” Colmenares chimed in that Mrs Arroyo had been “the most corrupt president.”

Thankfully, the ABS-CBN news I’m among those on either side of the piece included some helpful reminders of how the various charges against Mrs. political divide who share in what must Arroyo have actually fared in the courts: be the unalloyed happiness of senatorial One, the Supreme Court in July 2016 aspirant Mar Roxas and his news-media voted 11-4 to junk the PCSO-related star wife Korina over the birth of their plunder case that had allowed her suc- twins.

With Korina well north of 50 years cessor, the autist PNoy, to jail her for old, the birth was obviously technologyfive years.

Two, she was cleared in Decem- assisted, using the services of a surrober 2018 of electoral sabotage charges gate mother. But the process of creating in connection with the 2007 senatorial new life in vitro is long, risky, expensive and often painful, and whenever the reelections.

Three, the “Hello Garci” case in con- sults are successful, nothing short of unnection with the 2004 elections simply qualified applause is called for.

The problem, of course, is that there lapsed in 2009. Colmenares and Alejano should talk to their team-mate Romy is no nine-month buildup to the blessed Macalintal, an election lawyer, who as- event, if the couple chooses to keep it serts that there was no proof Mrs. Ar- quiet. Which is why the most virulent of Mar’s critics are calling him out for timroyo cheated in 2004.

Four, the office of former Ombuds- ing the twins’ arrival so fortuitously at man Conchita Carpio-Morales—no the start of his campaign.

The candidate may rightfully be exfriend of Arroyo—cleared her in all of the major cases filed against her: coriated for “kaplastikan,” a criticism OWWA/PhilHealth; fertilizer fund that has never had trouble sticking to scandal; and NBN/ZTE. These were all, him. But that is certainly no excuse for by the Ombudsman’s own reckoning, his critics to drag his new babies into the “very, very complicated” cases—thus, messy picture. The process of creating easily milked for all their yellow propa- those babies would have been too comganda value by the godfathers of Otso plicated to include any additional considerations of political expediency.

Deretso.

The revolution...

From A4

fear the number can reach 400,000 in two years.

These tourists were able to work because they secured from Immigration Special Working Permits. There are also claims that Chinese nationals secured SWPs illegally.

There is a great difference between the Chinese who come here and then work illegitimately and Filipinos who come to Hong Kong for real jobs. Mr. Duterte must remember that the country is suffering from a lack of jobs. Please,

Linking...

From A4

rightly or wrongly, inexorably toward a one-man rule. The suppression of dissent, the violation of human rights, the corruption of state institutions, the peddling of lies and half-truths, these are some of the more undesirable features of a dictatorial rule.

Arguably, the spirit of EDSA is but a shadow of its glorious past. In the midst of present-day realities, many have chosen to consign the memory of EDSA into the dustbin of history. But then again, De Lima and other hardy souls who refuse to accept misrule sitting down rekindle the spirit of EDSA. It is they who, by their actions, keep on reminding us that when everything seem to be lost, never to lose hope because

What really...

From A4

EDSA I. Ironically, it was Marcos’ legal and military pillar, his longtime defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile who—in a last stand to defend himself and his “RAM boys” from certain doom—was mainly responsible for EDSA I. The events that led to it were triggered by the botched coup attempt by the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) cabal of colonels under Enrile’s aegis.

It was to have been a classic coup by colonels as happened in Latin America and other parts of the world... As revealed more recently in Juan Ponce Enrile’s biography published last year and articles written by the colonels since 1986, the conspirators after months of planning, decided to attack—boldly or foolishly—Malacañan Palace at 2 a.m. of February 23, 1986, and capture Marcos and his family, for its coup d’etat to take over government.

2) “Only a small faction of the military supported the mutineers. Enrile’s RAM boys consisted mostly of the colonels he had taken under his wing as defense minister. Air Force Commander Vicente Piccio, Army Commander Josephus Ramas and Marine Commandant Tadiar were all loyal to the chain of command. The Philippine Constabulary, surprisingly though, as it was headed for more than a decade by Ramos who was

Mar may also rightfully be criticized for a wide range of performance shortcomings, from the multiple increase in drugs, smuggling, and other major crimes during his watch at DILG, to the MRT corruption scandals during his earlier tenure at the Department of Transportation, to all the skeletons he must have buried in his closet during his years as a key factotum of the autist PNoy. Unfortunately for his critics, between the storied Roxas name, the star power of his TV celebrity wife, the name recall left over from two failed presiden presidential bids, and a campaign war chest that must be bulging from six years of LP ascendancy, Mar now finds himself very much within the “Magic 12.”

His new babies can only solidify his position there. But that shouldn’t be laid on the babies. No matter what the political fall-out, at the end of the day they are nothing more, nothing less than the latest additions to a family like any oth other—devoutly to be wished for, always and ever a blessing from the Lifegiver. *** I’d like to close this column by asking the reader’s prayers for my aunt, the late Dalisay Bocobo-Balunsat, who passed away over the week-end in San Francisco.

Tita Daly made her way to the United States a long time ago, before I was even born, where she became a fixture in the cultural, literary, journalistic, and educational circles of the Fil-Am community in San Francisco.

She was the last to go of the Bocobo siblings—children of Jorge and Felisa Bocobo—whose very different names betrayed the principal influences on the thinking and character of their father: the classics (Elvira, Florante, my mother Celia, Ariel), the Protestant tradition (Israel), and Filipino culture and history (Dalisay, Malaya).

Today she’s back in their company, together with her husband Uncle Tony who left year earlier to prepare her welcome mat. It’s the passage of an entire generation. May the eternal light illuminate them, may they rest in peace.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@ yahoo.com.

sir, do not compare our OFWs with the Chinese. *** President Duterte with a straight face claimed that he had fulfilled all his campaign promises except solving the traffic problem on Edsa, and this was because Congress did not grant him emergency powers.

How about the drug problem, which he said he would end in three months?

The problem with the war on drugs is the continued killing of those involved in it. Some are luckier—they are just arrested, Now, the President promises harsher times.

But why does he still see the problem as a peace-and-order issue? It's a health problem! And so long as there is demand for illegal drugs, supply will always be there.

And then, there is corruption in government. The President cannot eradicate it—as he may be discovering by now. In fact, he is making the problem worse because he is waging this war selectively, and recycling—even promoting—his friends accused of corruption.

We know Mr. Duterte is no superman. We just need from him the truth.

we, as a people, are not only resilient but can redeem ourselves and choose to do what is right.

Six years ago, I wrote in this column that we should speak not so much of the unfulfilled promise of EDSA, as that is undisputed, but that we make as citizens a promise to the legacy of EDSA. I said then and I repeat that with urgency today: “We have to rebuild that sense of citizenship, of civic pride and participation, that we often see in extraordinary political times, but rarely in normal times. We should see as equally heroic the prosaic tasks of citizenship, in political, economic, social, environmental terms. Not only are we called to elect leaders of integrity and capability, but also to engage them with our interest and concerns; to call them to account (not in the adversarial, accusa-

tory fashion we are too familiar with, if they haven’t broken the law or faith with the electorate, but in a constructive, forward-looking attitude) and work with them to solve the small challenges of democracy in our own barangay or municipality. And as we linked arms in EDSA, can we not link arms in ordinary times, to face tests like global warming, or social accountability, or inclusive development that lifts the poorest with the rest of us?”

In these times, the most urgent task is to link arms to defend human rights and democracy. And that includes linking arms with Leila de Lima, democracy and human rights heroine of the Duterte era.

succeeded by his protégé Renato de Villa, was divided in its loyalties. The Marcos military succumbed to the EDSA forces because they realized that they were helpless facing the huge crowds in EDSA: Marcos had given them the categorical order which was impossible to implement: “Disperse the crowds but do not shoot them.

3) “Marcos had negotiated with the US to evacuate him and his family by helicopter from Malacañang to Laoag City, the capital of his home province of Ilocos Norte. We’ll never know what Marcos—who even his archenemies concede was a brilliant strategist—intended to do in the North: To rally his army to defend him and re-take Malacañang, or to negotiate a peaceful retirement?

4) “Under both the 1935 and 1973 Constitution, Corazon Aquino was not qualified to run for president in the 1986 “snap elections”. Both the 1935 and 1973 constitutions specified that a president must be a “resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years immediately preceding the election.” Cory had left the Philippines together with her husband—voluntarily—to live in Boston in 1980... So why didn’t Marcos, a lawyer, and his stable of the country’s brightest legal minds raise this objection to Cory’s candidacy? Perhaps he was confident that there was no way for Cory to win the snap elections. Or perhaps the

Americans demanded that he prove his legitimacy in an electoral contest with Aquino’s widow.

5) “Cory’s 1986 electoral campaign was a PR job. Sawyer Miller, an American public-relations and political-strategist firm that would be in the 1980s and 1990s the most expensive and most sought-after outfit in the world after EDSA 1, handled almost in its entirety Cory Aquino’s public performance in the 1986 snap elections. This is confirmed by US documents that Sawyer Miller submitted in compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act.” At a time when facts and “alternative facts” compete for public attention, it’s not easy to tell which is which.

But things are getting more interesting from where we sit. Vice President Leni Robredo pointed out during the commemoration of the People Power Revolt in Naga City last Saturday (February 23) that it was not the “Yellows” that made Edsa 1 happen but the unity and the will of the people: “Laging natatatakan ng kulay ang celebration ng (They always mark with color the) EDSA People Power Revolution, but we know this celebration is not about the ‘Yellows’ and other groups but to remember the Filipinos who sacrificed during that time for the freedom that we are enjoying now.”

What do you think?

www.emiljurado.weebly.com

Facebook Page: Professor Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

ernhil@yahoo.com

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

In Congress, every year is Year of the Pig ONE of my all-time cartoon favorites involves pigs: In the cartoon, two pigs are at a trough, eating the usual swill. Then one of the pigs turns to the other and says: “You have the manners of a human being.” I was reminded of that cartoon —it appeared in New Yorker magazine, if I am not mistaken—because of the confluence of two events.

One event was the start of the Chinese New Year. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, February 5 was the start of the new year, which this year is the Year of the Pig. In a gesture of recognition of the role played by the Chinese-Filipino community in the life and development of this country, Malacañang several years ago declared the first day of the Chinese New Year as a non-working national holiday.

The other event was the finalization of the national budget, more formally known as the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2019.

Notwithstanding the fierce denials of the Secretary of Budget and Management (DBM), every year is pork barrel year for the GAA drafters of the House of Representatives—under the Constitution all money bills must emanate from the Lower House—and 2018 was a particularly profitable time for the Representatives involved in the drafting of the 2019 GAA. Nostrils far from the Batasan Hills could pick up the smell of pork. The years in which the disgraced Janet Lim-Napoles was actively chasing PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) allotments were bad years for the anti-pork barrel folk, for 2018 was a particularly bad time for them.

The 2018 GAA con artists made the Lim-generated PDAF payouts seem almost like loose change. The irregular P2.4 billion and P1.5 billion Congressional district allocations claimed by DBM chief Dr. Benjamin Diokno and the P75 bil-

lion Diokno insertions claimed by Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. can only be described as breathtaking and awesome.

The Chinese lunar New Year calendar is a permanent system and the designation of 2019 as the Year of the Pig was done long ago. It is the greatest of coincidences that the Year of the Pig came into being at a time when Congressional pork barrel activity reached unprecedented heights.

‘You have the manners of a human being.’

Fervid explanations have been offered for the alleged outsize district allocations and post-approval insertions. The explanations sound unbelievable, for they could be valid. In any event, as the saying goes, where there's smoke, there's fire.

The accusations and counteraccusations exchanged between Benjamin Diokno and the appropriations/ finance committee heads of the House of Representatives and the Senate have already received much media coverage, in the process making Congress appear like a den of con artists. How unfortunate it is, though, that the legislative slugfest should have taken place on the eve of the Year of the Pig's onset. Porcine activity has been highlighted.

This brings me back to the cartoon of which I spoke at the start of this column. The stern pig in the cartoon may well have rebuked his fellow pig with a “You have the manners of the leaders of the Philippine Congress.”

I guess that when they greeted one another on February 5, the legislators involved in the making if the 2019 GAA emphasized the word “fat” in the greeting “Kung Hei Fat Choi.”

Has the DBM gone bankrupt?

SECRETARY Benjamin Diokno of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) must come clean and disclose to the public the factual truth behind the controversy over unpaid contractors of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The insinuation that a corruptionridden DBM has gone “bankrupt” is simply terrifying for the ordinary Juan de la Cruz, who is already aggravated by the delayed National Budget for this year and disgusting allegations irregularities involving Diokno’s contractor in-laws.

The DBM has, “in a press statement,” strongly denied claims made

by Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya, House Committee on Appropriations chairman, that the government now owes DPWH over P100 billion for 2018 projects.

Sources inside the DPWH and among its contractors confirmed to me that payments have, in fact, been delayed since last November.

The contractors said they have sought DPWH officials for explanation over the delay of the payments by the government on finished infrastructure projects, but they were pointed to DBM, who have yet to release funds to the public works department.

Similarly, our efforts to reach Dio-

kno proved futile, as the Budget Secretary would not return our phone calls.

Again, he must come clean and clear up these gut-wrenching issues that threatened blow up in the face of the Duterte administration’s anticorruption campaign.

Andaya alleges that unpaid contracts for infrastructure projects have ballooned from P44 billion in November to P100 billion at the end of 2018.

He further alleges that some contractors were prompted to “cough up bribe or pay some officials’ kickbacks just to be paid for completed infrastructure projects.”

The DBM reportedly belied Andaya’s allegation, saying that it only released “spending authority and notice of cash allocation (NCA).”

But one contractor told me that the government has owed him over P100 million for a finished concrete highway in Southern Tagalog since October last year.

The contractor said he has been paid only P10 million in November and has not been paid since then.

I wish Andaya were wrong in saying the P100-billion payables is just “the tip of the iceberg.”

Worse, the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program could be in “peril” as an “economic slowdown is imminent” and a “contractors’ revolt is possible.”

Unfortunately for the general public, all these persistent allegations of irregularities involving the DBM muddle up the enactment of this year’s P3.7-trillion national budget.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Batuan mayor, vice told to answer raps T

By Rey E. Requejo

HE Department of Justice has required the mayor and vice mayor of Batuan town in Masbate to answer the complaint filed by the police against them, in connection with the highpowered firearms and explosives seized from their house and resort early this month.

In an order dated Feb. 19, the DOJ’s panel of prosecutors led by Assistant State Prosecutor Josie Christin Dugay ordered Mayor Charmax Jan Yuson and his father, Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson III, to submit their respective counteraffidavits on the charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in violation of Section 28, Paragraph (a) of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Regulation Act. “Under and by virtue of the authority vested in us by law, you are hereby directed to submit your counter-affidavits and other supporting documents,

TIEZA welcomes extension of tax perks

or affidavits of witness/witnesses, if any, to be sworn before us on March 1, 2019 at 2p.m. and on March 12, 2019 at 10a.m. at the Department of Justice, Padre Faura, Manila,” the order stated.

Failure on the part of the Yusons to answer the charges “shall be considered as a waiver to present your defense in this preliminary investigation,” the panel warned.

The complaint was filed after a joint military and police team raided the mayor’s residence and his father’s beach resort in Batuan where an Armalite rifle and a fragmentation grenade were recovered from the former’s residence.

Seized from his father’s beach resort were an M16 Bushmaster rifle, two 12-gauge shotguns, a 45 caliber Colt pistol, three 38 caliber revolvers without serial number and a hand grenade.

The police said only the mayor has firearms licenses but these are only for a 12-gauge shotgun, two Glock pistols and an S5-PVAR rifle.

The Yusons were not present during the operation and the raiding team arrested the vice mayor’s security guard, Jeason Clemente, who was armed with a shotgun.

THE Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority welcomes the adoption of the Bicameral Conference Committee Report of both chambers of Congress which seeks to extend the grant of fiscal incentives for tourism enterprises zones until Dec. 31, 2029 or equivalent to additional 10 more years.

RA 9593 or Tourism Act of 2009 stipulates that the incentive schemes for the tourism enterprises shall be in effect for a period of 10 years from the effectivity of the said law.

The Act specifies that these incentives include income tax holidays, gross income taxation of five percent, 100 percent exemption on all taxes and customs duties on the importation of capital equipment, as well as the exemption of transportation and spare parts from tariffs and duties.

After the adoption of the bicameral committee report on Feb. 6, 2019, the proposed measure will be transmitted to the President for signature.

Senator Richard Gordon was the sponsor of the bill in the Senate and Davao Oriental Representative Corazon NunezManlayaon sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives.

The sponsors of the bill asserted the need to extend the sunset clause in order to give life to the intent of the law that the incentive scheme should be implemented for 10 years.

During the deliberations, there was a consensus that the tourism enterprise zone development has a major impact in the economic development of the province where the tourist destination is located and in the growth of the tourist industry in general.

TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Paragas noted that the extension of the fiscal incentives until 2029 will help encourage more tourism-related investments into the country which are expected to create more jobs and stimulate growth in the tourist destinations.

“The approved measure of the bicameral conference committee sought to end the confusion and apprehension among prospective investors in flagship TEZs and private tourism enterprise zones,” he added.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region BRANCH 101, QUEZON CITY IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR THE CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF JONATHAN LAPING BAETIONG CASE NO. R-QZN-18-14284-SP IRENEA PIO LAPING

Petitioner. x---------------------------------------------x

ORDER

The instant petition prays for the correction of the Certificate of Live Birth of Jonathan Laping Baetiong to JONATHAN LAPING (no middle name).

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that the instant petition will be heard before this Court sitting at Room 212, Hall of Justice Building, Regional Trial Court, Branch 101, Quezon City on February 27, 2019, Wednesday at 8:30 in the morning.

All persons interested may appear on the aforesaid date and time of hearing and show cause, in writing, why the petition should not be granted.

Let a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation pursuant to Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1079 and further served together with a copy of the petition and its annexes to the Local Civil Registry for Quezon City, the Philippine Statistics Authority; and the Office of the Solicitor General, all at the expense of the petitioner. The Clerk of Court of the Branch is to transmit a copy of this Order to the Office of the Executive Judge for the determination, through raffle, of the newspaper as provided for under PD 1079.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Philippines, November 8, 2018.

(Sgd.) EVANGELINE C. CASTILLO-MARIGOMEN Presiding Judge Copy Furnished: [x] Irenea Pio Laping Petitioner Block 9, Lot 9 Lilac Street, Villa Magdalena III, North Caloocan City (MStandard - Feb. 13, 19 & 26, 2019)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF QUEZON CITY

FISCAL INCENTIVES. The Tourism and Enterprise Zone Authority says it welcomes the adoption of the Bicameral Conference Committee Report of both chambers of Congress which seeks to extend the grant of financial incentives for tourism enterprise zones until Dec. 31, 2019, or equivalent to additional 10 more years.

Alaminos residents want waiting sheds construction probed

BANK ONE SAVINGS CORPORATION (formerly known as Bank One Savings and Trust Corporation), Mortgagee/s, -versusFRE No. 12577

By Joel E. Zurbano RESIDENTS of Alaminos, Pangasinan have sought the help of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the construction of waiting sheds along Sadsaran Street in Barangay Poblacion which they claimed was overpriced.

In a complaint filed by Concerned Citizens of Alaminos City before the office of PACC commissioner Greco Belgica, the waiting sheds, made of concrete and were installed in various places in Alaminos, cost P543,489.49 each.

Belgica’s office received the copy of

SPOUSES PAULINO AND ELENA CHUA, Mortgagor/s. x-----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED)

Upon exta-judicial petition under ACT 3135, as amended by ACT 4118, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Real Estate Mortgage executed on July 1, 2015, by SPOUSES PAULINO AND ELENA CHUA, Mortgagor/s, with residential address at 25 North Lawin St., Philamlife Homes, Quezon City, in favor of BANK ONE SAVINGS CORPORATION (formerly known as Bank One Savings and Trust Corporation), Mortgagee/s, with address at 4201 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Sta. Mesa, Metro Manila, to satisfy the mortgage debt now in the total amount of FORTY SIX MILLION ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED TWENTY ONE AND 33/100 (Php 46,115,921.33) PESOS as of October 31,2018, inclusive of interest, penalties, charges and expenses of foreclosure sale, the Office of the Clerk of Court and the Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City and/or his duly authorized Deputy Sheriff, hereby announces that on April 2, 2019, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., at the Office of the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, will SELL thru public auction to the highest bidder and for cash, in Philippine Currency, the following described real property/ies with all the improvements existing thereon, to wit:

(Sgd.) ARNULFO O. LIM Sheriff IV (Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD Clerk of Court VII & Ex-Officio Sheriff

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF THE PROTEST AGAINST THE IMPORTATION OF WHEAT FLOUR FROM THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY (AHTN 2012 SUBHEADING NO. 1101.00.10)

PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION OF FLOUR MILLERS, INC. (PAFMIL) Protestant. x----------------------------------------x

SPOUSES PAULINO AND ELENA CHUA 25 North Lawin St., Philamlife Homes, Quezon City

(MStandard-Feb. 26, Mar. 5 & 12, 2019)

FOR: ANTI-DUMPING MEASURE (Republic Act (RA) No. 8752 Investigation No. 2014-1

NOTICE OF THE IMPENDING EXPIRY OF THE EFFECTIVITY OF THE DEFINITIVE ANTI-DUMPING DUTY Pursuant to Section 19 (b) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 8752 (Anti-Dumping Act of 1999), as adopted in Section 711 of RA10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act or CMTA), a notice is hereby given of the impending expiration of the anti-dumping duty imposed on imports of wheat flour (AHTN 2012 Subheading No. 1101.00.101) from the Republic of Turkey. The imposition of said duty took effect on 09 January 20152 and is set to expire on 08 January 2020. Concerned parties may file a petition for an expiry review before the Secretary of Agriculture.

For inquiries and other details, please contact Director Ma. Lourdes M. Saluta of the Research, Investigation, and International Trade Analysis Service (RIITAS) at Telephone Nos. 926-7476 and 928-8419 or at email address info@tariffcommission.gov.ph.

Issued this 20th day of February 2019, at Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Copy Furnished: BANK ONE SAVINGS CORPORATION (formerly known as Bank One Savings and Trust Corporation) 4201 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Sta. Mesa, WARNING: Metro Manila

It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or before the date of the auction sale under penalty of the law

Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. They said the law prohibited any elective and appointive government officials to grant government contracts to any business he or she owned.

CCAC also compared the waiting sheds to the housing projects for rebels in Mindanao who surrendered to the government which only costs P320,000 inclusive of water connection and solar lights.

“Why is a house with walls, windows, doors, electrical and piping system cheaper than a waiting shed with just only four posts and a roof?” the group questioned.

The CCAC said the politicians were “robbing them of the taxpayers’ money in broad daylight.”

President Rodrigo Duterte last month

granted the PACC additional powers to expand its jurisdiction.

Through Executive Order No. 73, Duterte cited his earlier EO creating the PACC to amend the agency’s jurisdiction, powers, and functions.

“The Commission shall have the power, on complaint or motu proprio, and concurrently with the Office of the Ombudsman, to hear, investigate, receive, gather, and evaluate evidence, intelligence reports, and information on administrative cases against all presidential appointees in the Executive Branch of the government, any of its agencies... or who otherwise represent the interests of the government for acts or omissions constituting violations,” the law read.

‘1,200 ha in metro may be used for housing’

Transfer Certificate of Title No. 21454 Registry of Deeds – Quezon City “A parcel of land (Lot 6 Blk. 23 of the amd. Plan Pcs4048 Amd. Being a portion of the cons of Lots 1-A & 1-B Esd-20031 & Lot 2 & 3 Esd-10937 LRC Rec. No. 7681), situated in the Dist. Of Diliman Q. City bounded on the SE., along line 1-2-3 by north Lawin Ave., (Rd. Lot 19) on the SW., along line 3-4 by Lot 5 Blk. 23; on the NW., along line 4-5 by Lot 8 Blk. 23 & on the NE., along line 5-1 by Lot 7 Blk. 23 all of the amd. Plan. Beginning at a pt. marked /1” on plan, being N. 26 deg. 55’W., 1707.12m from BLIM 7, Q. City; thence S. 48 deg. 43’W., 5.11 m. to pt. 2; thence S. 48 deg. 56’N., 9.59m. xxxxx containing an area of FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR (464) SQ.M., more or less xxx” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned at the aforesaid Office on the above stated date and time.

Interested parties are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title/s to the said property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if there be any.

In the event that pubic auction should not take place on the said date due to fortuitous event or if the same be declared a non-working holiday, it shall be held on April 10, 2019, at the same time and place without further notice.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, February 8, 2019.

the complaint last Feb. 18.

The CACC said the waiting sheds were constructed by contractor Jasa Builders and Development Corp., reportedly owned and operated by a family of politicians in Alaminos.

The group said the Alaminos City Council approved P9.3 million as budget allocation for the project which came from the 20 percent City Development Fund.

It added that other city’s infrastructure projects were “monopolized” by the said contractor.

The residents urged the PACC to look into the conflict of interest against the politicians involved in the construction, saying this was a clear violation of Anti-

MARILOU P. MENDOZA Chairperson 1 2

Now classified under AHTN 2017 Subheading Nos. 1101.00.11 and 1101.00.19.

Date of Customs Memorandum Order No. 2-2015 issued by the Bureau of Customs for the imposition of definitive anti-dumping duty pursuant to the Department of Agriculture’s Order dated 17 November 2014.

(MS-FEB. 26, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

By Maricel V. Cruz NEGROS Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez on Monday said there were some 1,200 hectares of idle government lands that could be used for mass housing.

Benitez, chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on housing and urban development, said that instead of developing low-cost housing in places far from the livelihood of the people intended to live there, they might be relocated to near their places of work.

Benitez made the statement following criricisms the creation of the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development would result in the loss of jobs of government workers now employed in various agencies involved in mass housing,

like the National Housing Authority, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and others.

“The agencies involved in the mass housing now will not be downgraded, and instead their functions will be enhanched,” he said.

The law clearly states that no employee in any of the government housing agencies will be dismissed,” Benitez, principal author of the measure, said.

Benitez noted that after then President Ferdinand Marcos left office, mass housing was considered mere squatter relocation and no support was given to the relocatees.

When President Corazon Aquino assumed office, the implementation of various housing projects started during the Marcos administration was stopped.

BI orders Korean fugitive deported

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration ordered the deportation of a Korean fugitive wanted by authorities in Seoul for the murder of a compatriot in the Philippines 15 years ago.

The Korean, Sim Sang Bum, is now detained at the BI Detention Center in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City following his arrest in Gonzaga, Cagayan by operatives from the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU).

Immigration Commissioner Jaime

Morente said Sim, who has not left the country since 2002, will be sent home after the Korean embassy informed the BI about his pending case in his homeland.

It was learned that Sim went into hiding after his Korean victim, identified as Jeong Gachoon, was killed in Santiago City, Isabela on Jan. 12, 2003.

Sim reportedly had a heated argument with Jeong before passing a caliber .45 pistol to a Filipino accomplice who then fatally shot Jeong.

Sports Negros Occidental bet claims games’ 1st gold medal ILOILO CITY—Elika Salmorin of Negros Occidental ruled the girls’ 2000m walk to emerge the first gold medal winner in the Visayas Leg of the 2019 Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy at the Iloilo Sports Complex here.

Salmorin, 14, needed to just beat Rhyza Vaflor of Escalante, Negros Occidental by clocking 14 minutes and 16.08 seconds to claim the weeklong event’s very first gold and a spot in the National Finals set in October in either Ormoc City or Tagbilaran, Bohol.

Vaflor timed in 14:36.48 to end up with a silver. The Grade Nine Romanito Maravilla, Sr. National High School student later dedicated the win to his epileptic 25-year-old brother Eduardo.

“This is for him (Eduardo). Whatever amount I get from here, I will spend it for his medicines,” said Salmorin in Filipino.

Cebu Province struck hard in centerpiece athletics thanks to golden efforts

by Gio Baguna, who reigned supreme in boys’ discus throw in 36.79m, and Donalita Torres, who ruled the girls’ high jump in 1.35m.

Bago City’s Kate Julienne Martinez (girls’ shotput) and New Washington, Aklan’s Din Wel Barrosa (boys’ long jump) were the other winners in the track and field’s morning events.

Over at the pool, Ormoc and Negros Occidental went neck and neck as each harvested four golds.

Coby Marcus Rivilla and Maria Angela Cimafranca spearheaded Ormoc’s charge with triumphs in the boys’ 12-and-under 200m individual medley in 2:44.67 and girls’ 13-15 years old 200m IM in 2:44.68, respectively.

Rex dela Cruz, Jr. copped the 50m backstroke gold for boys’ 12-and-under in 35.93 and Martina Anele Estrella snared the 50m backstroke mint for girls’ 12-and-under in 37.68 to account for Ormoc’s other mints.

The 11-year-old Rivilla, an Ormoc Immaculate School Foundation fifthgrader, had a chance to pocket a second gold in the 100m freestyle but he lost to eventual winner Troy Castor of Negros Occidental and settled for the gold.

Castor checked in at 1:07.94 to deliver one of Negros Occidental’s four swim victories.

Alexie Kouzenye Cabayaran emerged the first double-gold medal winner after she topped the girls’ 13-15 100m free in 1:02.36 and 50m back in 32.01.

Ateneo routs Enderun 5 in PBA D-League Games Tuesday (Paco Arena, Manila) 2 p.m. - SMDC-NU vs Marinerong Pilipino 4 p.m. - UST vs AMA Online Education

CIGNAL-Ateneo survived Family Mart-Enderun’s assault and took a 8268 win Monday in the 2019 PBA DLeague at Paco Arena in Manila.

Tyler Tio was instrumental in helping the Blue Eagles break off from the Titans, pouring 20 points, 14 coming in the payoff period, as he went 6-of9 from beyond the arc. He also issued five assists and grabbed two rebounds.

Ivorian center Ange Kouame was a force to be reckoned with down low as he got 20 points, eight rebounds, five blocks, and two assists, while William Navarro chipped in nine points, 15 boards, and three assists, on top of a steal and a block in the victory.

“It’s a tough game, good game,” said coach Tab Baldwin. “Enderun got the jump in the beginning. But our defense kicked in after first quarter. Offensively, we don’t ask a lot right now, but Tyler did a good job, Ange pulled some boards, and Will Navarro did a good job for our guys. I’m happy that we got the win.”

Tio’s sudden explosion in the fourth quarter broke the game wide open as Cignal-Ateneo wiggled out of Family Mart-Enderun’s reach as the UAAP champions took a 19-point lead, 79-60.

Valandre Chauca paced the Titans with 27 points as he shot 5-of-11 shooting from threes, to go with five rebounds and three assists.

Marvin Hayes added 12 points and eight rebounds in the defeat.

A7

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

NY Knicks stop bleeding NEW YORK—Damyean Dotson scored 27 points and the New York Knicks snapped their franchise-record home losing streak at 18 games with a 130-118 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night.

Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith and Emmanual Mudiay all had 19 points in the Knicks’ first home victory since December 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks.

“It’s major,” guard Smith said. “We’ve been having our fans come out and support every night and haven’t won here since December 1.

“I’m glad that we could get it tonight and just give the fans something to see.”

The NBA win even attracted the attention of the 2019 Oscar presenter Samuel L. Jackson, who pointed out the result during Sunday’s show to Hollywood director Spike Lee before presenting Lee with the Best Adapted Screenplay award.

“The Knicks won tonight. I repeat, the Knicks won tonight,” Jackson said addressing Lee, a Knicks’ megafan.

Smith also had 13 assists and Knox had 10 rebounds, while rookie Mitchell

Robinson finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds.

DeMar DeRozan had 32 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, who dropped to 1-6 on their road trip that ends Monday against the Brooklyn Nets.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 18 points, but was limited to just 13 minutes through three quarters because of foul trouble.

The Spurs came in as the NBA’s best three-point shooting team but were just six for 24 from behind the arc.

The Knicks led by nine at halftime and then started to seize command in the third quarter to go up by 19 with just over two minutes left in the period.

San Antonio cut it to 94-83 entering the fourth but their troubles continued in the fourth.

- Magic beats Raptors Elsewhere, Terrence Ross torched his

former team for a game-high 28 points and center Nikola Vucevic finished with 23 points and 12 assists as the Orlando Magic beat the Toronto Raptors 113-98.

Ross, who played over four seasons in Toronto, came off the bench to spark the Magic.

“He’s been great,” Vucevic said of Ross. “When he scores for us like that, it just gives us a huge advantage.”

The Magic, who were coming off a disappointing loss to the Chicago Bulls at home on Friday, snapped the Raptors winning streak at seven games.

“This is the part of the season where you’ve got to move forward, no matter what,” Ross said. “You’ve got to make sure that you’re ready to play.”

Ross made nine of 21 shots, including three of eight from three-point range. He equalled his season high with nine rebounds.

The Raptors, who played without star Kawhi Leonard, fell to 44-17 and slid two games behind Milwaukee for the best record in the NBA and the Eastern Conference. Leonard was rested to manage his workload, the Raptors said.

- Nuggets over Clippers Meanwhile in Denver, Colorado, the Denver Nuggets cruised past the struggling Los Angeles Clippers 123-96 behind strong performances from Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap.

Jokic had 22 points and 16 rebounds, and Millsap had 21 points and 16 boards for the Nuggets, who won their fourth straight.

After leading the charge, Jokic went to the bench two minutes into the third quarter after getting hit with his fourth foul.

Their combined 43 points helped the Nuggets improve to 26-4 at home and pull within a game of the Western Conferenceleading Golden State Warriors.

Lou Williams scored 24 and Danilo Gallinari had 19 for the Clippers, who couldn’t capitalize on Denver’s uncharacteristic 22 turnovers and 12 missed free throws because they couldn’t make a basket.

Given NBA teams tendency to now shoot more three pointers, the Clippers did their part on Sunday but managed to make just three of 24 from beyond the arc. AFP

Cignal eyes 3rd straight win in PSL Games Today (FilOil Flying V Center) 2:00 p.m. -- F2 Logistics vs United VC 4:15 p.m. -- Foton vs PLDT 7:00 p.m. -- Generika-Ayala vs Cignal

Dennis Smith Jr. of the New York Knicks tries to get around Patty Mills and DeMar DeRozan of the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs ,130-118. AFP

Ayonayon, Mangahas top MPBL vote getters MIKE Ayonayon of the San Juan Knights and Allan Mangahas of the Muntinlupa Cagers emerged as the top vote receivers in the recent PayMaya-MPBL All-Star polls and were inserted in the starting unit by fans.

The PayMaya-MPBL All-Star Game will be held on March 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Ayonayon, the high-leaping guard who was also entered in the slam dunk contest, received the most votes among any player.

He garnered 2,086 votes, earning him a spot in the starting unit of the North All-Stars where he will join veteran Gary David of the Bataan Risers in the backcourt. Also included in the first five were Mac Andaya of the Pasig Pirates at center spot and Aris Dionisio of the Manila Stars and Cedric Ablaza of the Makati Super Crunch.

Head coach of the North All-Stars is Jojo Lastimosa of the Bataan Risers.

A 10-time PBA All-Star, Lastimosa then selected the eight players to compose play-

ers coming off the bench.

Named as reserves were veteran guards Paolo Hubalde of the Valenzuela Classic and Almond Vosotros of the Caloocan Supremos, frontliners Jay Collado of the Quezon City Capitals and Gian Abrigo of the Mandaluyong El Tigre, forward Jaypee Belencion of the Pasay Voyagers, burly undersized but hardworking center JR Taganas of the Bulacan Kuyas, Levy Hernandez of the Pampanga Lanterns and Marlon Gomez of the Navotas Clutch.

Over at the South side, Mangahas led the players’ voting and locked himself up for the guard spot where he will join forces with celebrity baller Gerald Anderson of the Marikina Shoemasters. Up front, Mark Yee of the Davao Occidental Tigers and Gab Banal of the Bacoor Strikers will be the starters in the forward positions while Jhaymo Eguilos of the Batangas City Athletics will play as the starting center.

Dulay, who once participated in the Three-Point Shootout of the PBA All-Star festivities, selected Cebu Sharks gunner Patrick Cabahug, former Rain or Shine teammate and current Basilan Steel guard Jojo Tangkay, underrated stretched four forward Marco Balagtas of the Rizal Crusaders, deadshot guard Reed Juntilla of the Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines, spitfire guard Ian Melencio of the Imus Bandera, highly-physical big man Michael Mabulac of the Laguna Heroes, guards Paolo Castro of the Parañaque Patriots and Chris Masaglang of the General Santos City Warriors.

The selection of All-Stars also took an exciting twist when Lastimosa and Dulay agreed on the condition of having two wildcard picks and this was approved by MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.

Lastimosa’s wildcard picks were Chris Bitoon of the Manila Stars and Larry Rodriguez of the San Juan Knights.

Johnson holds off McIlroy to win WGC-Mexico MEXICO CITY—Dustin Johnson captured his 20th US PGA Tour title on Sunday, firing a five-under par 66 to beat Rory McIlroy by five strokes in the final round of the WGC-Mexico Championship.

The 34-year-old American finished with a 21-under 263 total to win this event at the Club de Golf Chapultepec for the second time in three years.

“It clicked. I hit it really well this week,” Johnson said. “It means a lot, to get 20 wins out here is very difficult. To do it before I turn 35 is pretty incredible.

“This is a big win for me.

It gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the year. I feel like the game is in good form right now.”

McIlroy closed with a 67 thanks to a sizzling back nine -- six birdies in seven holes before a bogey at 18 -- but it wasn’t enough to catch red-hot Johnson, who posted five of his six birdies on the back nine.

Johnson has won at least one US PGA event in 12th consecutive years, with his 20th career win coming in his 246th start.

Englishmen Paul Casey and Ian Poulter shared third on 273, shooting 65 and 68 respectively in the fourth round, with Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who fired 68 to join the pack 10 off Johnson’s pace.

Sergio Garcia, Patrick Cantlay and Cameron Smith shot identical 70s

US golfer Dustin Johnson poses with the trophy after winning the World Golf Championship at Chapultepec’s Golf Club in Mexico City. AFP

and shared sixth.

Justin Thomas had the round of the day with a nineunder 62 which left him ninth.

He had four consecutive birdies on numbers 10-13 and fashioned nine birdies over his first dozen holes.

FOCUS will be on Cignal when it shoots for its third straight win in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix today at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

The HD Spikers collide with struggling Generika-Ayala at 7 p.m. following the encounter between Foton and PLDT Home Fibr in the 4:30 p.m. second game of this explosive tripleheader that has ESPN5 and 5Plus as broadcast partners.

Meanwhile, former Most Valuable Player Lindsay Stalzer will finally suit up for F2 Logistics when it clashes with United VC in the 2 p.m. appetizer of this women’s club tourney sponsored

by Asics, Mikasa, Mueller, Senoh, Team Rebel Sports, Bizooku, UCPB Gen, Cocolife, Hotel Sogo and Data Project.

Despite Stalzer’s absence, the Cargo Movers were off to a sizzling start as they posted back-to-back victories to occupy the second spot of the eight-team ranking behind bitter rival Petron, which is playing splendid volleyball as it has yet to drop a set in its first three matches.

Cignal, however, is at the third spot with a 2-1 win-loss card after posting impressive wins over PLDT and Sta. Lucia last week.

Cignal coach Edgar Barroga said their local players like Rachel Anne Daquis, Mylene Paat and setter Acy Masangkay are now starting to jell with their imports in American Erica Wilson and Azerbaijani Anastasia Artemeva.

In fact, in their 23-25, 25-11, 25-16, 25-23 triumph over the Lady Realtors, Wilson and Artemeva played well at the open spiker position while Paat moved to the opposite spot to give Barroga additional combination.

“That combination led us to a win over Sta. Lucia,” said Barroga, who opted to give Daquis limited minutes to preserve her for the tough grind ahead.

SBP holds seminar for cage coaches SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas National Capital Region-North, together with SBP Coaches’ Commission, in partnership with Jose Rizal University, on the occasion of its centennial year, conducted a coaches’ clinic Level 1.0 last Feb 23 and 24 at Jose Rizal University.

The seminar was conducted by coach Jong Uichico, assisted by Mark Solano.

There were 59 coaches from NCR including coaches from different schools, from the Philippine Army and from MPBL teams. The coaches also took the examination for SBP accreditation.

SBP NCR-North Director Paul Supan, who is also a member of the Board of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, headed the group that organized the two-day seminar.

Sports

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

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019

Emotional Blatche proves doubters wrong

By Peter Atencio THE game against Kazakhstan got the best out of Andray Blatche after he lifted Gilas Pilipinas to a 93-75 smothering of the host team Sunday in Astana in Group F of the 2019 FIBA Asian Qualifiers.

“It was a very emotional game for us. We knew what’s at stake for us. It’s either we win or go home.

I feel like we competed from the jump until the end,” said Blatche, who proved that he belongs his inclusion to the team after being dropped from the roster.

With South Korea winning in Beirut, and Blatche taking over in scoring for Gilas, the Philippines made it to the FIBA World Cup for a second straight time. It improved to 7-5 in Group F and emerged as the best 4th placer.

“We’re just glad it’s over. We were feeling the pressure prior to this game,” said coach Yeng Guiao.

The 6’11” Blatche scored a game-high 41 points, making 23 of it in the first half.

“We were having a bad start, and he (Blatche) took over from us,” added Guiao.

Gilas Pilipinas made it to the next stage with Japan and Iran, which finished with similar 8-4 slates.

Australia topped its bracket at 10-2, even after the Aussie Boomers took a 74-85 loss at the hands of Iran in Tehran and Japan prevailed over Qatar, 96-48 in Doha.

South Korea, which is in a different group from the Philippines, knocked Lebanon out of contention with its 10-2 card. Lebanon failed to advance because of its 6-6 slate.

For the 6’11” Blatche, it was a game to remember as he also had 13 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks and 5 three-pointers.

“We really wanted to make the World Cup. Andray carried us on his shoulders in the first half,” added Guiao.

The Philippines joined Russia, Japan, Iran, Jordan, Serbia and Cote d’Ivoire Sunday in becoming the seven latest teams to qualify for the World Cup. This brings to 29 the number of known teams that will compete at the first-ever 32-team World Cup, taking place in China from August 31 to September 15.

The last three places, which is two from the Americas and one from Europe, will be determined on Monday, the very last day of the Qualifiers.

Coach Yeng Guaio gets a victory ride from his wards after Gilas Pilipinas beat Kazakhstan, 93-75, in the the FIBA Asian Qualifiers in Astana. fiba.basketball

Top sports achievers in ‘18 honored today T

HE top achievers of 2018 gather together on this one special night when they have the limelight on their own during the SMC-PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Annual Awards at the Centennial Hall of the historic Manila Hotel.

Olympian weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, and the golf trio of Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan, and Lois Kaye Go are the stars of the two-hour affair presented by MILO, Cignal TV, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as they share together the coveted Athlete of the Year honor traditionally handed out by the country’s oldest media organization.

All five ladies accounted for the four gold medals the country won in the 18th Asian Games held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia last year.

This marks the second time the 28-yearold Diaz, a silver medallist in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics, will be the recipient of the highest honor being given by the Philippine sportswriting fraternity, while

Didal, Saso, Pagdanganan, and Go are first-time winners.

Top sports officials led by PSC chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas join the PSA under President Eduardo ‘Dodo’ Catacutan of SPIN.ph. in paying tribute to the various personalities and entities, who did the country proud with their achievements and advocacies in the year just passed.

Olympian and multi-titled gymnast and taekwondo jin Bea Lucero-Lhuillier serves as the special guest of honor and speaker during the gala night also backed

by Philippine Basketball Association, Mighty Sports, Rain or Shine, Chooks To Go, NorthPort, Tapa King, and SM Prime Holdings.

Bowling great Olivia ‘Bong’ Coo and cycling legend Paquito Rivas are the year’s recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Golf Association of the Philippines is the choice as the National Sports Association of the Year, Enrique Razon Jr. of ICTSI gets the Executive of the Year Award, while undefeated reigning UAAP women’s basketball champion National University Lady Bulldogs will get the prestigious President’s Award.

Special Awards will also be given out such as the Mighty Sports Mr Basketball (June Mar Fajardo), Mr and Ms Volleyball (Marck Espejo, and Jaja Santiago), and Mr Football (Neil Etheridge), as well as Mr Fan Favorite ‘Manok Ng Bayan’ Award (Kai Sotto), and a Special Recognition on Sports Journalism (Lito Tacujan).

Alexandra Eala and Daniel Quizon are the MILO Male and Female Athletes of the Year, while the Tony Siddayao Awardees include Jessel Lumapas, Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh, Marc Bryan Dula, and Czerrine Ramos.

Pasig Kings clinch 2nd leg of 3x3 tourney THE Pasig Grindhouse Kings found a way to get payback on the 1Bataan Risers in the second leg of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 President’s Cup last Sunday at the SM Megamall Events Center.

Fil-American cager Joshua Munzon knocked in the winning two-pointer in the closing minute for the Kings’ 21-18 triumph in their finals rematch with the Risers.

“We needed to stop fouling because we had a lot of fouls. We needed to find a way to control the game. So we found a way,” said the 24-year Munzon, who plays for AMA Online Education in the PBA D-League.

Time was already running out on Pasig when Munzon followed up on a missed basket from Risers’ cager Leonard Santillan.

The Risers, led by Santillan with 6 points, were trying to force a final tie after Dylan Ababou put Pasig ahead, 19-18, with his layup in the final 1:26.

Pasig, which went on to earn the P100,000 from MLV Accounting RPS Zamboanga, took its first crown after also reaching the finals against the Risers, the first-leg winners last week.

Pasig’s Taylor Statham had seven points, while Ababou chipped in six.

Pasig was in the driver’s seat with a 12-6 advantage midway through the contest.

But the Risers rallied and moved in front behind Santillan’s two freebies and Manganti’s jumper, 16-14.

The Risers then slowed down after Manganti hurt his right ankle while taking a jumper. Peter Atencio

WORLD CHAMP MEETS THE PRESIDENT. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte recognizes the achievement of World Boxing Organization Super Flyweight Champion Donnie Nietes with his traditional clenched-fist symbol during a break in the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan campaign rally at the Plaza Independencia in Cebu City. At left is senatorial aspirant Bong Go. Presidential photo

National U, UE solidify hold on 1-2 spots in UAAP tennis FORMER champion National University and three-peat seeking University of the East solidified their hold on the 1-2 positions in the men’s standings after sweeping the weekend ties in the UAAP lawn tennis tournament at the Colegio de San Agustin courts in City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

The Bulldogs, coming back from a one-year hiatus, overpowered Adamson University, 5-0, on Saturday before returning the following day with a 3-2 squeaker over Ateneo to rise at 4-0.

Still solid as ever despite the departure of two-time MVP AJ Lim, the Red Warriors edged University of the Philippines, 3-2, and overpowered the Falcons, 5-0, to improve to 3-0.

Before drawing a bye last Sunday, University of Santo Tomas bested Ateneo, 3-2, to raise its record to 2-1 in third place.

The Fighting Maroons rebounded their loss to UE with a 4-1 conquest of De La Salle for an even 2-2 slate in fourth spot.

Women’s action saw last season’s runner-up Ateneo and De La Salle tied in first place with identical 2-1 cards.

The Lady Eagles bounced back from a 2-3 loss to De La Salle last Saturday with a 3-2 win over reigning titlist UST the following day.

After beating Ateneo, De La Salle completed a weekend sweep with a 3-2 decision over NU, which is also returning in the distaff side after a one-year absence.

The Tigresses are tied with UP, which they defeated via a 3-2 scoreline Saturday, in third spot at 1-1.

Meanwhile, Kat Tolentino’s firepower could not be quenched as it proved crucial in the Ateneo Lady Eagles’s back-to-back wins in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament this week.

The tournament’s leading scorer unloaded a combined output of 41 points from Ateneo’s games against University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University that merited her the Chooks-to-Go UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week honors.

Taiwanese boost TCC Ladies’ roster

Yu Ning Huang

FIVE of the top 15 players in the current LPGA of Taiwan ranking are vying in first The Country Club Ladies Invitational, boosting the elite international cast chasing for the crown in the biggest, richest event on the six-year Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

No. 4 Babe Liu headlines the 29-player strong crew from Chinese Taipei, including three amateurs in Yu Chiang Hou, Tzu Yi Chang and Yi Ting Chou. Liu placed second to amateur Chia Yen Yu in the Party Golfer Ladies Open but pocketed the top purse in the first LPGT co-sanctioned event in Taiwan last October.

Also looming large in the 54-hole championship, featuring world No. 2 Sung Hyun Park of South Korea and the country’s top guns, are No. 8 Hsin Lee, ninth ranked Tzu Chi Lin, No. 12 Chia Pei Lee and No. 15 Yu Ning Huang.

Ching Huang, who bested the fancied Thai troika of Renuka Suksukont, Pannapa Polnamin and Supamas Sangchan in last year’s LGPT-TLPGA

Champion Tour at Tagaytay Midlands, is also in the fold, looking for another shot at a local crown in the $100,000 event also serving as the third leg of TLPGA. So do the likes of Yu Chiang Hou, Meng Chu Chen, Jessica Peng, Yu Ling Hsieh, Yi Ching Wu, Hanna Chen, Hsin En Tsai, Ching Ling Chang, Pen Wen Huang, Chia Wen Tai and Yi Ting Chou.

This marks the fifth year that the TLPGA is cosanctioning an LPGT event with the local circuit serving as another platform for the Taiwanese to hone their talent and skills for its level of play and prize money.

“The LPGA of Taiwan is constantly working on to provide more opportunities for everyone and let our players train and challenge themselves to raise their respective games to a new level. At the same time, we always see to it to enhance Taiwan’s visibility in the international community, to reach out into the world and put Taiwan golf on the world stage,” said TLPGA chairlady Mei-Chi Cheng.

IN BRIEF SEC stops religious group’s scheme THE Securities and Exchange Commission said it issued a cease-and-desist order against an independent religious corporation for soliciting investments from the public without the necessary license and in a manner resembling a Ponzi scheme.

SEC said it issued the order against Kappa Community Ministry International Inc. which also operates as Kapa Kabus Padatuon (Enrich the Poor), Kapa/ Kappa (Kabus Padutoon), Kapa-Co Convenience Store and General Merchandise and Kapa Worldwide Ministry, after finding substantial evidence that it was offering and selling securities in the form of investment contracts without the necessary license.

The order, which covers the religious firm’s partners, officers, directors, agents, representatives and all other persons acting for and in their behalf, directed Kapa to cease from promoting its investment scheme through the internet and remove its promotional presentations online.

It also barred Kapa, its affiliates and subsidiaries, including its directors and officers, representatives and the persons acting for and in their behalf from disposing of their remaining properties and other assets for the benefit of the investors. Jenniffer B. Austria

Cement tariff seen to hurt consumers CONSUMER advocacy group Laban Konsyumer said Monday consumers should not shoulder the safeguard duty imposed by the Trade Department on imported cement.

“To pass that duty on to the consumers may be a form of a corrupt action punishable under Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practice Act,” said Laban Konsyumer president Victorio Mario Dimagiba.

“The DTI found local plants supply at 35 million MT while demand stands at 32 million MT and that imports grew 17 percent in 2017 and caused serious injury to the local plants. The safeguard duty is prescribed as the medicine to the serious injury caused by imports, thus, passing the buck of the safeguard duty to the consumers makes the whole investigation useless. It appears that the agenda is to increase prices of cement at the expense of the consumers,” Dimagiba said.

He said the safeguard duty should not be a part of the cost of the goods, whether produced or imported.

“The safeguard duty should not injure the consumers at any time. The alleged injury to the local cement plants from imports of cement is solely, exclusively and primarily a business to business issue.

The importers, whether the local plants or traders, should absorb the safeguard duty,” he said. Othel V. Campos

Business Govt turns down Solar’s Sangley airport proposal T

By Darwin G. Amojelar

he Department of Transportation said it turned down the proposal of Solar Group’s All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp. to develop an international airport in Sangley Point, Cavite.

“We have rejected that [Solar Group’s unsolicited proposal] because the provincial government came to us that they would like to implement it. We already sent a notice to Solar,” Transportation Undersecretary for Planning Reuben Reinoso said.

Sangley Airport Infrastructure Group Inc., a consortium led by Solar Group’s All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp., submitted an unsolicited proposal to build the Philippine Sangley International Airport for $12 billion.

Another crucial portion of the ARRC development plan is the rehabilitation of Danilo Atienza Air Base which will be later used as a general aviation airport to decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals during the project development phase.

The rehabilitation of Danilo Atienza Air Base will complement the Naia, which is also subject of a proposed rehabilitation and expansion by Naia Consortium which is composed of Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., AEDC, Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

ARRC proposed a concession period of 50 years for the Sangley International Airport.

Under the proposal, the project will start with the reclamation of about 2,500 hectares of land north of the Sangley peninsula which will be used for the development of airport infrastructure and a commercial establishment to complement the project.

Under the ARRC proposal, Sangley

airport would be designed with two parallel independent runways and sufficient airside and terminal capacity to accommodate future demand for the domestic and the international traffic, not only for the Philippines but also for Southeast Asia.

Reinoso said the National Economic and Development Authority returned to the provincial government of Cavite its unsolicited proposal to build a new international airport in Sangley, Cavite because of an unclear implementing arrangement for the project.

“They submitted to Neda, but the Neda returned it to the Cavite government last January. Neda is asking the Cavite government what’s their legal basis,” Reinoso said.

“Neda wants to clarify what’s the implementing arrangement and what’s the legal basis? Is it a joint venture or is it a BOT [build-operate-transfer] law? They said government to government. What’s the meaning of the government to government? Is it the provincial government and the government of China? They need to clarify it to Neda,” Reinoso said.

Higher tax to cut smoking prevalence THE Finance Department said smoking prevalence will decline by around 17 percent if the Senate approves the proposal to increase excise taxes on tobacco products by P60 per pack.

Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua said simulations developed jointly by the Finance and Health departments along with the World Health Organization indicated that the proposal by Sen. Emmanuel Pacquiao to increase excise taxes on tobacco products to P60 per pack would bring down cigarette consumption by 16.8 percent and force 3.2 million adults to quit smoking.

Pacquiao’s measure―Senate Bill No. 1599―is similar to the DOF-DOH proposal to increase the excise tax on cigarettes, regardless of brand or price, to P60 per pack in the first year of implementation and an additional 9 percent per year thereafter. Julito G. Rada

Uy’s Chelsea posted ‘18 net loss of P551m CHELSEA Logistics Holdings Corp., a listed company led by Davao Citybased businessman Dennis Uy, declared a net loss of P551 million in 2018, a reversal from the P161-million net profit registered in 2017.

CLC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange a significant portion of the net loss could be attributed to its share in net losses of shipping company 2Go Group Inc. amounting to P453 million.

It said excluding the amount, CLC would have reported a net loss of just P98 million, which was primarily due to higher bunkering costs and increased interest rates.

CLC said the 2018 revenues rose 32 percent to P5.17 billion from P3.9 billion as each business segment of the group showed double-digit growth in sales.

CLC said tankering revenues increased 43 percent to P1.74 billion as a result of higher freight rates while freight revenues went up 23 percent to P1.7 billion following the acquisition of three freighters in November 2017.

Passage revenues grew 25 percent to P969 million while tugboat fees and logistics rose 28 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

Costs of sales and services surged 43 percent to P1.24 billion from P867 million with the deployment of additional vessels and higher fuel price caused by an increase in the benchmark rates in the international market and the implementation of excise taxes on petroleum products.

CLC, which is currently being transformed as the logistics and infrastructure arm of Uy, earlier reported plans of issuing up to P7 billion in fixed-rate bonds to finance expansion plans for 2019. Jenniffer B. Austria

NEW JAPAN AIRLINES FLIGHT. Japan Airlines commemorates its newly launched Manila-Tokyo via Haneda route with an inaugural flight on Feb. 1. JAL’s Boeing 737 departed Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 for Tokyo, marking another milestone for Japan’s flag carrier. Joining the launching ceremony are (from left) Captain Takashi Hatakeyama, JAL senior vice president for Asia and Oceania region Takahisa Hatakeyama, Manila International Airport Authority Terminal 1 manager Irene Montalbo, JAL executive director Tetsuya Onuki, Japan Embassy Minister for Economic Affairs Iyori Makoto, JAL general manager Chikara Mochihara, Japan Airlines Manila Station manager Koji Yamazaki and JAL cabin crew Misaki Kobayashi.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019

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Moody’s says 2 new PH laws ‘credit positive’

By Julito G. Rada GLOBAL debt watcher Moody’s Investors Service said the economic reforms being implemented by the government are credit positive because they will promote greater macroeconomic stability.

Moody’s said in a report Monday the Rice Tariffication law and the amendments to the charter of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas would support the economic stability in the country. President Rodrigo Duterte signed the two new laws on Feb. 15.

“These measures will enhance macroeconomic and financial stability― a credit positive for the sovereign,” Moody’s said Moody’s affirmed the government’s long-term local currency and foreign currency issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings at Baa2 (investment grade) with a stable outlook in July 2018.

The rice tariffication scheme will become effective March 5, eliminating the quantitative restriction on rice imports and replacing them with tariffs.

“We expect the expected increase in the volume of rice imports will diminish the price volatility of rice, helping to insulate Filipino households’ consumption to adverse agricultural shocks,” Mody’s said.

Moody’s said the amendment to the BSP’s charter would expand its supervisory oversight over non-bank financial institutions such as money service businesses, credit granting businesses and payment system operators. It said this would enhance the financial stability given the linkages between the banking system and these entities.

“In addition, the revised charter allows the central bank to issue its own debt securities, providing another tool to fine tune liquidity management and improve the effectiveness of monetary policy,” it said.

Other notable changes include the official removal of money supply and credit levels as a basis to determine monetary policy; the prohibition of any injunction or restraining order on the BSP, except by the Philippines’ two highest courts; an increase in BSP’s capitalization to P200 billion from P50 billion; and the exemption of the bulk of its activities from taxation.

Moody’s said that over the past decade, the Philippines became one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia Pacific, with accelerating credit growth contributing to a decline in domestic liquidity which contributed to rising domestic interest rates last year.

500-MW coal-fired plant in Quezon to start operations in fourth quarter

By Alena Mae S. Flores A 500-MEGAWATT coal-fired power plant in Quezon province is set to start operations in the fourth quarter this year, augmenting electricity supply in the Luzon grid.

San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co., the owner and operator of the plant in Mauban, Quezon, said the construction of the facility was more than 97-percent completed.

SBPL is a joint venture of Meralco PowerGen Corp., the power generation arm of the Manila Electric Co., and New Growth BV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Electricity Generating Public Co. Limited of Thailand.

“The construction of the project has progressed 97.38 percent. The commercial operation date is scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2019,” Egco said in a report.

SBPL contracted 455 MW of the plant’s capacity to Meralco pursuant to a 20-year power supply agreement which can be extended for another five years.

Meralco PowerGen president Rogelio Singson confirmed that the SBPL project would go online in the final quarter of 2019.

“Yes, correct end of September,” Singson said when asked to comment.

SBPL tapped Daelim Industrial Co. Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corp. as its engineering, procurement and construction

contractor for the project.

Singson said the project initially encountered technical difficulties because there is an existing power plant of Quezon Power Philippines Ltd. in the Mauban site which meant that certain structures needed to be avoided.

“It was quite a challenge and we acknowledge it was a very difficult situation,” he said.

Singson said SBPL was in discussions with Daelim to resolve the issues related to the plant “to make sure we complete the project as soon as possible.”

The groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held in December 2015 which signaled the start of construction of the power facility to provide the

baseload supply needed to serve electricity consumers in Luzon.

“The SBPL plant will be one of the first facilities in the Philippines to utilize the supercritical boiler technology leading to higher efficiency and significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions in comparison to traditional boiler technology,” Egco president Chanin Chaonirattisai said earlier.

The San Buenaventura power plant is seen to play a crucial role as electricity demand grows, especially in Luzon which accounts for about 70 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

The project is also aligned with Meralco PowerGen’s goal to have a power generation portfolio of about 3,000 MW.

Wilcon Depot plans to build 100 stores

By Jenniffer B. Austria WILCON Depot Inc., a leading home improvement and construction material supplier, plans to open 100 stores over the next few years.

Wilcon president and chief executive Lorraine Belo-Cincochan said in a recent interview the company was launching new stores in line with the target to open 100 outlets.

“We are thinking that we could have 100 stores. But we have yet to plot as what year we will be able to achieve that,” Belo-Cincochan said.

Wilcon is expected to open eight stores this year and five to six stores annually after that.

Belo-Cincochan said to achieve the target of 100 stores, the group began identifying areas suitable for expansion and next growth.

She said for this year, the company was aiming to hit a double-digit growth

in revenues and net income.

“We are still pushing for that―double-digit growth in net income and revenues. We are bullish this year because we want to open eight stores this year,” Belo-Cincochan said.

The company also expects to maintain its same-store sales growth of 5 percent.

Wilcon was listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange in 2017. It unveiled a target in that year to have 65 stores by 2021.

The company said it was now ahead of the target and expected to hit 65 stores between 2019 to 2020. The company ended 2018 with 51 stores after opening 11 new outlets. It opened its newest store in Palawan in January.

Wilcon recorded a net income of P1.39 billion in the first three quarters of 2018, up 24.3 percent from a year ago, driven by the opening and rampup of new stores and strong comparable sales growth.

MANILA WATER RECOGNIZES CDC. Manila Water Foundation recognizes Clark Development Corp. through its External Affairs Department for showing its commitment and support as one of the active partners of the utility company on various programs. CDC-EAD assistant vice president Rommel Narciso (third from left) receives the recognition with CDC-EAD senior officer III Agnes Matias (fourth from left).

They are joined by (from left) MWF executive director Reginald Andal, Manila Water Corp. president and chief executive Ferdinand Dela Cruz, MWF president Geodino Carpio and MWF trustee Janine Carreon.

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Business

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Shanghai jumps, leads rally across Asian marts

FOLDABLE SCREENS. Singtel Group chief executive officer Chua Sock Koong delivers a keynote speech at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 25, 2019.

Phone makers will focus on foldable screens and the introduction of blazing fast 5G wireless networks at the world’s biggest mobile fair starting February 25 in Spain as they try to reverse a decline in sales of smartphones.

Trump to delay higher China tariffs

By Olivia Hampton

W

ASHINGTON—US President Donald Trump said Sunday he would delay a planned tariff increase on Chinese exports after both sides hailed “substantial progress” in trade talks, raising the prospect of a summit with President Xi Jinping to seal the deal.

Trump said there could be “very big news” in the next two weeks, and he planned to meet with Xi at the US leader’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida if more progress is made.

Top negotiators met in Washington for four days of talks that ended on Sunday in an effort to resolve a months-long trade war that analysts fear could torpedo the global economy.

The United States had been due to increase tariffs on more than $200 billion in Chinese goods on March 1, but Trump said he would now delay the punitive duties following the “very productive talks.”

“I am pleased to report that the US has made substantial progress in our trade talks with China on important structural issues including intellectual property protection, technology transfer, agriculture, services, currency, and many other issues,” Trump wrote on Twitter.

The official Xinhua news agency

used almost the exact same language, reporting “substantial progress” on those thorny issues in the talks led by Xi’s top trade negotiator, Vice Premier Liu He. The delegations “came a step closer to realizing the important consensus reached” by Trump and Xi late last year, Xinhua said.

The report said the parties also agreed to “carry out follow-ups in accordance with the instructions of the two heads of state.”

“Assuming both sides make additional progress, we will be planning a Summit for President Xi and myself, at Mar-a-Lago, to conclude an agreement,” Trump tweeted.

“A very good weekend for U.S. & China!”

‘Big news’ After exchanging tit-for-tat tariffs on more than $300 billion in total two-way trade, Trump and Xi declared a truce in December and agreed to hold off on fur-

ther tariffs or retaliation for 90 days.

“If all works well, we’ll have very big news over the next week or two,” Trump told state leaders at the Governors’ Ball in the White House Sunday evening.

Noting the many questions on the state of trade negotiations from governors, Trump added: “China is everywhere.”

“Let’s see what happens. We still have a little ways to go,” he said of a deal.

Trump initiated the trade war, which ate into company profits and contributed to stock market plunges, because of complaints about unfair Chinese trade practices—concerns shared by the European Union, Japan and others.

Steps forward Shanghai’s stock exchange led a rally across Asian markets following Trump’s announcement of a delay in the tariffs increase.

The news also fired currency markets with the yuan extending gains to a seven-month high, while other high-yielding, riskier units were also up against the dollar.

Xi had also struck a positive tone in a letter Liu delivered to Trump on Friday, saying he hoped the negotiations would be held in a “win-win” spirit that would lead to a mutually beneficial agreement.

Analysts say the two sides are likely to trumpet mutual agreements to resolve the easier parts of the trade dis-

pute—increasing purchases of American goods, more open investment in China and tougher protections for intellectual property and proprietary technology.

The harder parts covering issues such as scaling back China’s ambitious industrial strategy for global preeminence, meanwhile, are another question.

“This is clearly not the end of the negotiations, let alone the underlying tension between the two countries,” said Louis Kuijs of Oxford Economics.

Agreement on how to enforce a deal will be hard to achieve, Kuijs noted.

“Underlying tensions on technology, China’s industrial policy and, more broadly, its rise, will not subside any time soon,” he said in a note.

Trump said Friday that an agreement on currency manipulation will be included in the trade pact, but otherwise few details have been made public.

Beijing has reportedly proposed a significant increase in its imports of US energy and agricultural exports. Still, a broader deal could be difficult given the US demands for far-reaching structural changes.

China’s retaliation has hit US farm exports hard. The US Agriculture Department estimated this month that US soy exports would not return to their pre-trade war levels for another six years. AFP

Global race on to make urban agriculture viable, durable

By Isabel Malsang PARIS, France—In a world faced with the conundrum of mountains of waste and obesity for some and dire shortages and malnutrition for others, the future of food is a main dish on today’s global menu.

A key ingredient is the trend in ever more imaginative forms towards urban agriculture, a multi-faceted recipe already being pored over by some 800 million people globally, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

The trend takes many forms—from collective market gardens in even the most run-down of urban districts to connected vertical farms using indoor farming techniques to meet spiraling food demand in areas largely bereft of arable land.

The FAO wants to see the trend prosper and become durably and sustainably embedded within public policy.

Yves Christol, of French cooperative In Vivo, has identified six models of the genre.

They include a key European variant, electronically managed without recourse to pesticide—or even soil or sunshine.

Green beans means... Iceland “That has allowed Iceland to become a major producer of green beans,” says Christol, thanks to geothermal heating.

Asian countries are also in on the act, not least Singapore, with the high density population city state bent on ensuring high-tech food autonomy.

Japan and China have sought to give new life to sites which once hosted electronics factories even if the strategy appears costly.

China has launched some urban farms even in areas where the soil has been polluted by heavy metals and would be too costly to clean up.

The US model, as cities including New York and Chicago seek to become sustainably hunger-proof, includes hydroponic gardens—effectively eschewing soil and using mineral nutrients in a water solvent, although profitability can prove elusive.

But scale is an issue and the concept will not be viable “so long as the price of the vegetables is not increased fourfold,” to cover energy costs, says Christol.

Strawberry containers for ever The cost of transporting food is something which particularly exercises entrepreneurs such as Guillaume Fourdinier, a founder of French start-up Agricool in Paris and Dubai.

HONG KONG―Shanghai surged more than five percent Monday, leading a rally across Asian markets after Donald Trump said he would delay a hike in tariffs on Chinese goods citing “substantial progress” in trade talks and fueling hopes of an end to the long-running stand-off.

Optimism over the negotiations had already provided support to global equities, spurring a rally in January and February, but the president’s comments gave extra ammunition to investors to ramp up buying.

The news also fired currency markets with the yuan extending gains to a sevenmonth high, while other high-yielding, riskier units were also up against the dollar.

Trump said on Twitter that the US “has made substantial progress in our trade talks with China on important structural issues including intellectual property protection, technology transfer, agriculture, services, currency, and many other issues.”

He added: “As a result of these very productive talks, I will be delaying the US increase in tariffs now scheduled for March 1.”

The president also said he planned to hold a summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to sign a deal.

China’s Xinhua news agency added that the two sides had “made substantial progress on specific issues” including on transfer of technology, intellectual property and agriculture.

Shanghai closed up 5.6 percent and Hong Kong added 0.4 percent in the afternoon while Tokyo ended 0.5 percent higher.

Sydney put on 0.3 percent, while Seoul was 0.1 percent higher, Taipei added 0.7 percent and Jakarta rose 0.4 percent.

There were also gains in Wellington, Bangkok, Mumbai and Singapore.

The gains in Asia followed another positive lead from Wall Street, where the Dow enjoyed its ninth straight weekly gain―the longest streak since May 1995. AFP

IN BRIEF Huawei unveils phone with foldable screen BARCELONA, Spain—Chinese telecoms giant Huawei on Sunday unveiled a phone with a folding screen, just four days after rival Samsung became the first major handset maker to offer the feature.

The phone, Mate X, will be compatible with the new fifth-generation wireless networks which are starting to be installed around the world, said Richard Yu, head of Huawei’s consumer business group.

“Our engineers worked on this screen for over three years,” he said at an event to present the new phone in Barcelona ahead of the start of the four-day Mobile World Congress trade fair in the Spanish city on Monday.

The phone will be available in mid-2019 and has a price tag of 2,299 euros ($2,600).

Yu acknowledged the price was “very expensive” but said the company was working to lower it.

The Mate X’s display can fold back on itself to become a 6.6-inch display, slightly bigger than the screen on the foldable phone which Samsung, the world’s biggest smartphone seller, unveiled on Wednesday in San Francisco.

Several other smaller companies are rumored to present their first foldable phones at the trade fair in Barcelona this week.

Handset makers are looking to folding screens to reverse falling smartphone sales as consumers hold on to their devices longer due to a lack of innovations, but analysts predict the market for the feature will be limited, at least in the early days.

Huawei, the world’s second biggest smartphone maker ahead of Apple, sold 206 million smartphones in 2018, compared to just over 150 million in the previous year, Yu said. AFP

Societe Generale to trim 1,500 jobs In this file photo taken on August 24, 2017 an employee of urban farming start-up Aeromate checks on vegetables and aromatic herbs growing on the rooftop of a building owned by French public transport group RATP as part of a rooftop farming project in Paris. Collective urban gardens or vertical farming: the urban agriculture, which varies across countries and cities, is in development but in search of sustainability and viability. AFP

His firm produces strawberries year round in shipping containers fitted out with LED lighting. Urban agriculture’s raison d’etre, he says, comprises fighting against “the ecological disaster of transport.”

“Today, with our containers, we are 120 times more productive per square meter than on open ground,” says Fourdinier.

“We produce in decentralized fashion and closer to customers,” he adds of strawberries sold marginally cheaper than their organic equivalent.

Paris has meanwhile come up with its own urban agriculture model, dubbed “Pariculteur,” a series of town hall-mandated projects designed to cover as much of the capital as possible with greenery via a rise in urban farming.

An initial 10 hectares (25 acres) for the project is set to grow to 30 hectares by next year.

Urban ecologist Swen Deral, who oversaw a pan-

European urban agriculture project last year, says if the concept is to be financially viable in cities it has to go “beyond production.”

“Either they recycle, or else they create services linked to urban agriculture, educational activities, restaurants and the like,” he explains.

Researchers point to urban agriculture’s additional benefit of fighting against the effects of climate change as its proponents seek to reinvent urban existence.

Francois Mancebo, researcher at France’s Reims University, summed up the challenge in an article published by peer-review open access publisher MDPI and entitled “city gardening: managing durability and adapting to climate change thanks to urban agriculture.”

Mancebo says the concept must become an integral part of urban planning with local politicians underlining the need for active participation of city dwellers. AFP

PARIS, France—French banking group Societe Generale is planning to cut 1,500 positions in its BFI corporate and investment banking arm, Le Figaro newspaper reported on Saturday.

Citing internal bank documents, the paper said the bank was looking at two scenarios, both of which envisage 1,500 job cuts worldwide, with around 700 of them in France.

The company said in a statement on Saturday it was still reviewing activities in its corporate and investor client business so it was not possible to comment on the impact on jobs.

“We have an ongoing dialogue with our unions and will consult them on our projects and their impact as soon as the review is completed in the coming weeks,” the bank said.

French CGT union representative Philippe Fournil could not confirm the information, but said the bank’s management had on Thursday indicated it was still reviewing activities within that business. AFP

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World

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Cubans vote in referendum

PRESENTERS. Melissa McCarthy and US actor Brian Tyree Henry present an award during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. AFP

Train station on lockdown anticipating Kim’s arrival DONG DANG, Vietnam―The train station on the Vietnam-China border where Kim Jong Un is expected to arrive by rail was closed to the public and surrounded by armed guards on Monday, days ahead of the North Korean leader’s summit with Donald Trump.

Kim boarded his trademark olivegreen train in Pyongyang on Saturday and its armored carriages were later spotted crossing a bridge into China.

The train apparently bypassed Beijing and is now thought to be chugging south en route to Vietnam, which is hastily preparing for the second meeting between Kim and US President Trump after their historic first summit in Singapore last June.

Sources in Vietnam said Kim could arrive at the Dong Dang border station in the early hours of Tuesday following his epic 4,000 kilometer, two-and-a-halfday journey.

His motorcade is likely to drive from Dong Dang to Hanoi and in an unprecedented move, the entire 170-kilometer stretch of road will be completely closed from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm Tuesday.

An AFP reporter at the scene saw armed guards stationed at Dong Dang station on Monday morning, while workers tended to the rail tracks. “[The station] is closed, no public access. We don’t know when it’s closed until but around tomorrow,” a guard told AFP, requesting anonymity.

Kim’s route through China remained a tightly guarded secret.

Ifeng, the online Chinese-language news website of Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television, posted a video on its Twitter-like Weibo account showing what it described as Kim’s special train passing through Wuhan in the central province of Hubei at 7:15 am local time on Monday.

Vietnam said on Saturday that Kim would make an official visit to the country “in the coming days”, but did not say whether that would be before or after the Trump-Kim summit on February 27-28.

Two sources told AFP on Monday that Kim would stay at a modern hotel in downtown Hanoi, about one kilometer from the colonial-era Government Guest house where the summit could take place. AFP

Trump and Kim facing unanswered questions H ANOI―US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meet in Hanoi this week, faced with putting meat on the bones of the vaguely worded declaration that emerged from their historic first summit in Singapore.

That encounter―the first-ever between the leaders of the US and North Korea― left many ambiguities on the key question of denuclearization and analysts say clearer answers need to emerge in the Vietnamese capital.

At the June meeting, Kim pledged to “work towards complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula” but the lack of progress since then has drawn criticism that the leaders were only after headlines and short-term gains.

Stephen Biegun, the US Special Representative for North Korea, acknowledged last month that Pyongyang and Washington did not have a “shared agreement of what denuclearization entails”.

The United States has repeatedly demanded the North give up its nuclear arsenal in a final, fully verifiable way.

Pyongyang sees denuclearization more broadly, seeking an end to sanctions and

what it sees as US threats -- usually including the American military presence in the South, and sometimes in the wider region.

“The ambiguity and obscurity of the term denuclearization only exacerbates the scepticism about both the US and North Korean commitments to denuclearization,” wrote Shin Gi-wook, director of the Korea Program at Stanford University.

Trump has employed both carrots and sticks to pursue North Korea’s denuclearization, praising the regime’s potential as a “great economic powerhouse” but saying tough sanctions will remain until it takes a “meaningful” step.

At a White House event on Sunday, he said the sanctions -- imposed over Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear tests -- would remain, and appeared to temper any expectations of a major breakthrough in Hanoi.

“The sanctions are on. Everything is on. But we have a special feeling and I

think it will lead to something very good.

Maybe not,” Trump said.

“I don’t want to rush anybody. I just don’t want testing. As long as there’s no testing, we’re happy.”

Pyongyang insists it has already taken such steps, by not testing ballistic missiles or nuclear weapons for more than a year, and blowing up the entrances to its atomic test site.

But at the same time, North Korea says it has completed the development of its arsenal and the facilities are no longer needed.

Diplomats in Pyongyang say authorities have emphasized Kim’s demand in his New Year speech that the US must respond with “trustworthy measures and corresponding practical actions”.

The two need to take “at least one step forward on denuclearization” in Hanoi, said Harry Kazianis of the Center for the National Interest, adding: “Nothing would be worse than for either side to come out of the meeting as if it was a waste of time.”

Officials are scrambling to prepare for the summit, with Biegun and his North Korean counterpart Kim Hyok Chol expected to wrangle over the text of the joint statement until early morning on Wednesday. AFP

Estonian nationalists mark independence TALLINN, Estonia―Thousands of supporters of Estonia’s nationalist EKRE party held a torchlight march to mark independence day in Tallinn on Sunday as the once marginal party is set make big gains in a general election next weekend.

Party chairman Mart Helme told the crowd that Estonians refuse to “die out” and want more autonomy in the EU, reflecting the EKRE’s euroskeptic stance.

Other protesters held a counter rally under the slogan “Sparkle and don’t be a Nazi”, but there were no incidents, according to police.

While EKRE won only seven of the 101 seats in parliament in the 2015 general election, opinion polls show it is set to capture around 21 percent of the vote next Sunday.

The result puts it narrowly behind the opposition liberal Reform Party and the governing centrist Center Party, which took office in November 2016.

According to experts, the EKRE’s growing popularity is rooted in the misgivings of rural Estonians who feel left behind, and reflects a trend that has seen the growth of right-wing nationalist parties elsewhere in the European Union.

“These people see few economic prospects and feel that the mainstream parties don’t care much about their problems,” Tonis Saarts, an associate professor of politics at Tallinn University, told AFP. AFP

Moving ahead from insults to two summits

CLASH. Demonstrators clash with Venezuelan National Guard forces at the Simon Bolivar international bridge linking Cucuta with Venezuelan city San Antonio del Tachira in Cucuta, Colombia, on February 24, 2019. International pressure mounted against Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro, with Washington vowing to ‘take action’ after opposition efforts to bring humanitarian aid into the country descended into bloody chaos. Maduro claims the aid is a smokescreen for a US invasion. AFP

Kim Jong Un impersonator deported from Vietnam ahead of summit HANOI―A Kim Jong Un impersonator was hauled from his hotel Monday ahead of his planned deportation from Vietnam before the real North Korean leader meets US President Donald Trump in Hanoi later this week.

Howard X arrived in town with Trump impersonator Russell White last week, staging a fake summit on the steps of Hanoi’s Opera House amid a swarm of press and hired security guards.

The real Trump and Kim will meet for a summit in Hanoi on February 27-28 to build on their first meeting in June in Singapore which failed to produce any concrete moves to dismantle Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal.

HAVANA―Cubans voted in a referendum on a new constitution Sunday with the backdrop of mounting pressure from the United States and continued support for Venezuela’s socialist regime.

The results of the vote, which the government turned into a plebiscite on the “irrevocable” role of socialism in the island nation, are expected late Monday.

“We Cubans are voting for our new constitution, we’re voting for Latin America and the Caribbean,” President Miguel Diaz-Canel said when casting his vote.

“We’re also voting for Venezuela, we’re defending Venezuela because in Venezuela the continent’s dignity is in play.”

Diaz-Canel hit out at the presidents of Chile, Colombia and Paraguay for joining Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Saturday in his attempt to force humanitarian aid across the Colombian border into Venezuela.

“A group of presidents on the Colombian border, they look like clowns,” said Diaz-Canel.

Diaz-Canel later tweeted: “The hawks of the empire and their lackeys failed, but the empire is not dropping its plans. Let’s continue the struggle.”

Cuba has been trying to galvanize international support for its ally and against US “military aggression.”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claims the humanitarian aid, mostly supplied by Washington, is a smokescreen for a US invasion.

Cuban authorities said that more than 80 percent of registered voters cast ballots. AFP

The Kim lookalike was questioned by Hanoi police on Friday and informed he would be put on a plane back to Hong Kong where he lives.

The impersonator was told by Vietnamese immigration officials his visa was “invalid”, but said he received no further explanation.

“The real reason is I was born with a face looking like Kim Jong Un, that’s the real crime,” he told reporters Monday, getting into a van headed for the airport with three Vietnamese men, not in uniform and who did not identify themselves.

White will be permitted to stay in the city but has been asked to stop appearing in costume in public.

The Trump doppelganger has been stopped on his Hanoi walkabouts by locals and tourists eager to snap a selfie with “The Donald”.

Howard X said he thought he was being deported because the real Kim “has no sense of humour”.

His plane ticket back to Hong Kong would also be cheaper for Vietnamese authorities than a flight for White back to his native Canada, he added.

“Satire is a powerful weapon against any dictatorship. They are scared of a couple of guys that look like the real thing,” said Howard X, wearing a signature Maostyle black suit and thick black glasses.

Vietnam is hastily preparing for this

week’s Kim-Trump summit, deploying security personnel across the city, where hotels and government buildings are getting lastminute facelifts ahead of the meeting.

The communist capital has billed itself the “City of Peace” ahead of the talks and is carefully corralling press events to avoid any embarrassing PR moments with the world watching the one-party state.

White said he would remain in Hanoi for the week, though his earlier plans of playing a round of golf and visiting a massage parlour with the lookalike Kim are no longer on the schedule.

Still, he said he’s committed to seeing progress at the Kim-Trump meeting this week. AFP

SEOUL―From mutual threats and insults to a second summit in Hanoi, US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have had a turbulent relationship.

Here is a look back at the two-year diplomatic roller coaster: Weeks before taking office, Trump vows on January 2, 2017 that North Korea will never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon capable of reaching US territory.

But Pyongyang in July conducts two intercontinental ballistic missile tests that Kim says “confirmed all the US mainland is within our striking range”.

Trump warns of “fire and fury like the world has never seen” if Pyongyang threatens America.

Undeterred, Pyongyang in September carries out its sixth nuclear test.

In his maiden speech to the UN General Assembly in September 2017, Trump nicknames Kim a “Rocket Man” on a “suicide mission”. He warns that if threatened, the United States will have “no choice but to totally destroy North Korea”.

Kim brands Trump “mentally deranged”.

Pyongyang conducts a new intercontinental ballistic missile test in November, with Trump later calling Kim a “sick puppy”.

Three days into 2018, Trump retorts that his “nuclear button” is “much bigger and more powerful” than Kim’s.

In September 2017 Trump accuses Pyongyang of having tortured American student Otto Warmbier, who was detained in North Korea for 18 months and died after being repatriated. AFP

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

B4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019

DOH-Calabarzon plans to improve health services

By Macon Ramos-Araneta TO MAKE rural health facilities and services available and endeavor to develop them as diagnostic centers for residents, the Department of Health in Calabarzon conducted a three-day Collaborative Planning Workshop on Quality Operational Management at the Bayleaf Hotel in General Trias City, Cavite.

As a result, residents could conveniently and confidently access primary care, dental care, emergency care, and other public health services in the region.

“We must also encourage patients to patronize health facilities in their communities to avoid the discomfort of having to travel to health facilities located outside their municipalities and lessen unnecessary expenses,” said DOH Regional Director Eduardo Janairo.

The workshop was led by the Health Facility Operation and Development Unit created by Janairo, with the prime purpose of providing technical assistance on standard requirements for physical plant, equipment, and human resource compliment.

The unit aims to find measures to help in the compliance for eventual licensure and accreditation toward achieving functional and equitable service delivery network.

Dr. Susana C. Castillo, head of HFODU for City Health Offices, Rural Health Units, Barangay Health Stations and other Health Facilities in the region, said the three-day activity identified the gaps in the operations of rural health facilities and prioritized actions to be taken to address these gaps.

The regional office is taking steps to augment the health human resource in areas needing doctors, nurses, midwives, medical technologists, and other health personnel through partnership with private sectors, Castillo said.

As of 2019, the region has a total of licensed 26 birthing homes, 14 Primary Care Package, 11 TBDOTS Centers, 8 Animal Bite Treatment Centers, 10 Maternity Care Package providers and 5 clinical laboratories.

The province of Cavite consists of 16 municipalities: Alfonso. Amadeo, Carmona, General Emilio Aguinaldo, General Mariano Alvarez, Indang, Kawit, Magallanes, Maragondon, Mendez, Naic, Noveleta, Rosario, Silang, Tanza and Ternate, with a total population of 4,187,538.

The participants in the event are City Health Offices, Rural Health Units and Barangay Health Stations of Cavite Province for the licensing and accreditation of health services of rural health units.

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

WARM WELCOME. Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos poses with the people of Laguna who show their support to her senatorial bid for the May 13 elections during the PDP-Laban campaign sortie at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan City on Saturday. Roy Tomandao

River body aids Cagayan work

By Brenda Jocson

C

AUAYAN CITY, Isabela—A river management organization will support and partner with the Philippine government in the restoration and protection of rivers in the Cagayan Valley region.

Dr. Eva Abal, International River Foundation chief operating officer, reiterated the Foundation’s support during the recent International Training-Workshop on Integrated Water Resource Management here.

Abal said the IRF is committed to build leadership and strong networks for the restoration, protection, sustainable man-

agement and resilience of the world’s rivers, including the Philippines.

Citing strong collaboration of IRF with OceanaGold Philippines, Abal said the restoration of rivers in Cagayan Valley will be for the benefit of the public particularly, the future generation.

“In the establishments of real time information on river behavior, we also

partnered with the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and state universities and colleges in the country,” Abal said.

She said the IRF has been sharing its expertise in river restoration and management to other countries and will do the same in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña emphasized the need to protect and manage water sources in the country for the future generation.

“Without water, there will be no living things on earth that can exist as water gives life, provides harvest for animal and human consumption and many other benefits,” Dela Peña said.

MODERN CARD.

Cavite Rep. Strike B. Revilla (left) tries the Secure Barangay Resident card in one of the mall stores in his hometown of Bacoor during its pilot test. The SBR card is a prepaid card powered

by Omnipay, and is part of the lawmaker’s E-STRIKE Barangay Modernization project.

Lino Santos

Distribution of livelihood assistance continues in Eastern Samar

By Ronald O. Reyes

TACLOBAN CITY—The provincial government of Eastern Samar has continued the distribution of its livelihood assistance to its beneficiaries, following the province’s flagship project dubbed as “Proyekto 25.”

Provincial administrator George Erroba said the distribution is part of the government’s “inclusive poverty solu-

tion” to its constituents.

“Proyekto 25 is our platform for development. It served as the backbone, supporting the growth of Eastern Samar for the five years,” said Erroba.

“We believe that if we reached the target of lowering the 46.3 percent poverty incidence in the province into 25 percent, Eastern Samar will change its direction,” he added.

ORTIGAS ART. The Ortigas Art Festival 2019 recently opened at Estancia

Mall in Pasig City to showcase their different artwork, including photography, painting, hand sketching and sculpture. Cutting the ceremonial ribbon are (from left) Atty. Mike Abundo and Architect Renee C. Bacani, VPs of Ortigas & Company; Ms. Maritess Ortigas; Renato Habulan, renowned social realist painter; Jaime E. Ysmael, president of Ortigas & Company; Helen Mirasol and Davee M. Zuniga, VPs of Ortigas & Company. Norman Cruz

The province’s “Proyekto 25” focuses on the development of agri-fishery, tourism, governance, and health in the province.

At least 9,281 families in Eastern Samar have recently benefitted from various livelihood assistance.

The province said it has distributed 101 gilts/sows with feeds, 491 piglets, 11,695 native chickens, 982 ducks, 515 goats, 5 egg-laying machines with 50

hens, 1, 200 broiler chicks with feeds, 28 tractors, and about 4, 371 sacks of fertilizers with other data to be accounted yet.

The livelihood assistance amounted to P16,503,364 was given to 1 670 Household-Based Organizations (HBO) comprising 9,281 families.

An HBO is composed of up to five families who are related to each other and living close to each other.

TUBA SCHOOLBUILDINGS. SM Prime, through SM Foundation, partners anew with the Philippine Stock Exchange Foundation to address the need for more classrooms in Tuba, Benguet through a new fullyfurnished two-story, four-classroom building. Present during the signing were DepEd SDS William Abance, Tuba Mayor Ignacio Rivera, SM Foundation School Building program coordinator Juris Soliman, Atty. Rebeca Apil, SMEDD Jeremy Serquina, SMFI’s Marr Lauriel Bringas, and Tuba local officials.

SMI names Belaro outstanding solon for 3rd year in row FOR winning the Outstanding Congressman Award for the third consecutive year, Superbrands Marketing International Inc. has held a special awarding ceremony for 1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list Rep. Salvador “Bong” Belaro Jr. at Seda Hotel, Vertis North, Quezon City.

According to Kenneth Rocete, marketing director of SMI Inc., Belaro is a “runaway choice” not only because of his legislative achievements in the 17th Congress, but also because of his superb academic qualifications and his professional pre-Congress experience.

Belaro welcomed the award, saying it is a testament of the Party-list’s hard work and “an affirmation of its assiduous advocacy” in Congress for legislations redounding to an accessible, high quality and globally competitive education.

Belaro has authored a total of 728 bills and resolutions, one of the highest records in the 17th Congress.

Twenty-three have already become laws, including the Free College Education Law, Free Wi-Fi in Public Places Law, and Philippine Qualifications Framework Law. Belaro is a valedictorian from Goa, Camarines Sur. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Cum Laude) and his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines. He also holds a Master of Laws degree from Cornell University (New York) where he was elected Class Representative of the LLM Class of 2004.

His professional experience spans more than 20 years as a lawyer, author, educator, newspaper correspondent, lecturer of the MCLE, exCommissioner of the Commission on Bar Discipline of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and ex-College of Law dean.

In 2018, Belaro was also named as one of UP’s Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumnus for Public Service and Good Governance.

MAGSAYSAY AWARD. Magsaysay Maritime Corp. was recently

recognized by the Home Development Mutual Fund or the Pag-IBIG Fund as the Top OFW Recruitment/Manning Agency for having the highest Membership Savings collection in 2018. Receiving the award is MMC president Arnold B. Javier (fourth from left) from Pag-IBIG Fund executives led by Sec. Eduardo D. del Rosario, chairman (third from left) and Acmad Rizaldy P. Moti, CEO (fifth from left).

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019

C1

How a cancer survivor coped with the disease “I

N GOING through cancer, it is important to take it slow—one day at a time,” said Gia Sison, a doctor specializing in Occupational Medicine, a TV host, and a breast cancer survivor.

An advocate for patients

She has been cancer-free since 2013 and according to her, having a positive mindset and support group helped her win against the disease.

Small milestones matter

“Be grateful for the small things. I’ve learned to be thankful if I don’t vomit after a session of chemotherapy or if I get appetite at all that would push me to eat. It’s about being grateful of the small things that you tend to overlook,” said Dr. Sison, who’s also a mental health advocate.

She also underscored the value of family in helping her go through the challenging period. She stressed, “You can’t fight this alone. You need a strong support system and you usually get this from your family.”

Dr. Sison may have developed the right values and mindset and have had Dr. Gia Sison, a mental health and cancer steady support from loved ones, but she patient advocate admitted to having difficulty accepting her condition. sick, that I had to set aside my knowledge as a doctor and deal with cancer as Keep the faith a patient.”

“I discovered the lump on my left Fortunately her friend, who’s also breast incidentally. I knew right away a doctor, convinced her to go through that the lump was breast cancer. It had the whole process, from diagnosis to the characteristics of breast cancer: it treatment. was fixed, it had no definite shape, and “I had the biopsy and found out that it was big. I wanted to have mastectomy I had stage 2 breast cancer. My diagright away, before even having a biop- nosis made me realize first-hand the sy,” she recalled. importance of early testing. The earAt first, she was in denial, ignored lier the cancer stage, the easier it is her symptoms. “There have been many to treat. Early detection really saves times that I wanted to deny that I was lives. I’m scared myself, until now, sick, or sad, or that I had to rest,” she because I undergo testing every year shared. “It took me humility and cour- to ensure that my disease hasn’t reage to be myself, to admit that I was curred. But it really takes courage to

Achieving fitness goals

Dr. Sison’s experience proves that good social support from family, loved ones, and even doctors helps ease the emotional pain brought by cancer.

Cancer survivor Dr. Gia Sison emphasizes that there is hope after diagnosis, and having a positive mindset helps in winning against the disease.

Her experience with cancer strengthened her compassion as a doctor especially in her dealings with patients. It also pushed her to advocate patients and to form a support group for those suf suffering from not just cancer, but chronic illnesses in general.

Dr. Sison is a cancer patient advocate fighting with the Hope From Within: Cancer Game Plan PH which espouses early detection, access to treatment, and improved patient navigation system in the Philippines.

“Our goal is that no patient dies because they don’t have financial support and access to treatment. Everyone should get the chance to live and fight.

We need funding, that is a given, and also increase access to clinical trials, to doctors and specialists, and to diagnosis and treatment facilities even in farflung areas in the Philippines,” she said.

She added that the group needs more volunteers to help care for cancer patients and to create a more centralized hub that will assist them throughout their journey.

The recently launched Hope From Within: Cancer Game Plan PH is a campaign that aims to put the patients at the heart of the fight against the dreaded disease.

Using powerful voices from leaders, advocates, policymakers, survivors, support groups, and patients, it boosts awareness of proper cancer care, sparks conversations and actions on how to reduce the burden of cancer-related mortalities and other challenges, and spreads information and increases access to new scientifically proven treatment options such as immunotherapy and targeted therapies.

face your fears,” she emphasized.

Dr. Sison underwent six cycles of chemotherapy with the faith that her journey would soon be over and that she would live. “Faith kept me going. Faith will help a lot in making the journey better, that there is something greater than us that’s in control.”

“I want to emphasize that there is hope after diagnosis. At third chemo cycle, I wanted to stop and discontinue my treatment. But before I knew it, I was already at my sixth and final cycle.

Don’t let a diagnosis define you because the brain, your mindset, can be power- Go to www.hopefromwithin.org to know where cancer patients can get support. ful against cancer.”

IN SOME cases, having the right workout gear, as in performance-based activewear, helps individuals push themselves harder.

A survey conducted by an athletic apparel brand found that nine out of 10 gym-goers feel motivated to “actually go to the gym when they’re not feeling up to it” by simply putting on gym clothes. While 79 percent of the 2,000 surveyed said owning “good” gym clothes is a crucial step toward accomplishing their fitness goals.

Global fashion retailer Forever 21’s latest activewear collection promises to make it easier for women to achieve their #fitnessgoals with pieces that combine durability and comfort in a versatile way.

The Forever 21 2019 Activewear collection consists of easy to mix and match colors, allowing every fitness enthusiast to enjoy transitional styles great for going out and working out. Pieces include lightweight jackets, comfy pullovers, high-waist bicycle shorts, drawstring

joggers, and flattering sports bra tops.

With low, medium, and high-impact pieces, the range promises to keep wearers cool and comfy from gym to street, as they are made of breathable, sweat-wicking fabric while flat-locked seams prevent chafing, allowing a hassle-free workout be it yoga, cycling, running, or dancing.

Launching the collection are UAAP Women’s Volleyball star players Desiree Cheng of the DLSU Lady Spikers and Kat Tolentino of the Ateneo Lady Eagles.

in style

Desiree Cheng of the DLSU Lady Spikers

Forever 21’s 2019 Activewear collection consists of easy to mix and match pieces--including lightweight jackets, pullovers, high-waist bicycle shorts, drawstring joggers, and sports bra tops--that promise to keep wearers cool and comfy.

Life

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

M

ONDELEZ Philippines has launched a program to help turn plastic packaging waste into play areas for its adopted Joy Schools as part of its global 2025 commitment to make all packaging recyclable and provide recycling information.

Turning plastic into play areas

The Joy Schools Plastic Play Areas project aims to engage the Joy Schools— a community program that provides a daily nine-month feeding for 300 undernourished students in the country—in collecting ecobricks or 1.5 or 1.75-liter plastic bottles which are stuffed with plastic packaging waste.

The partners’ employees are also tasked to collect ecobricks for this project. The target is to collect 400 ecobricks which are equivalent to some 400 kilos of plastic waste.

Once collected, these ecobricks will be turned into play areas for three Joy Schools in Metro Manila, located in Parañaque and Quezon City. The play areas will be constructed by construction firm First Balfour.

In this way, the students of the Joy Schools can learn about the importance of environmental protection and recycling, and have more opportunities to be active while enjoying their new play areas.

“We are excited about the launch of the Joy Schools Plastic Play Areas project,” shared Mondelez Philippines country director Ashish Pisharodi.

Pisharodi added, “Over the past years we have done similar projects to help promote the importance of recycling, including sharing of recycled plastic The play area, designed by First Balfour, will be utilizing ecobricks or recycled plastic bottles stuffed with plastic waste and will be constructed in the adopted Joy Schools of Mondelez Philippines.

From left: Boi Mojica, assistant department head of the City Environment and Natural Resources in Parañaque City; Dr. Flora Baggayan, assistant principal of Camp Claudio Elementary School; Ashish Pisharodi, country director of Mondelez Philippines; and Anchel Cruz, HR senior supervisor of First Balfour.

chairs with schools through our brand, Tang. With this new initiative, we will be able to support two things we value as a company: The well-being of our community and the planet.”

“It is critical that our actions today involve children, who will inherit the future. We must all work together to ensure the well-being of the planet which

we will leave behind to them.”

First Balfour HR head Carlos Pedro Salonga said anyone can recycle and create their own ecobricks. It only takes three steps: First, collect dry and empty plastic packaging. Then cut them up into small pieces. Lastly, stuff them tightly inside the similarly clean and empty plastic bottles.

He reminded to ensure they do not bend and weigh about 1 kilo each.

Finished products can then be used as building blocks for many projects.

“To date, we have built wash areas, benches, and buildings using ecobricks,” shared Salonga. “We are similarly excited to see our first recycled play areas come to life with Mondelez Philippines.”

Rainbow Warrior sails again in PH

Oral products help prevent spread of measles EARLIER in February, the Department of Health declared a measles outbreak in several regions in the country.

According to the DOH, there were 8,443 confirmed cases of measles as of Feb. 16. Data showed a sharp 253 percent increase compared with the number of incidents recorded in the same period last year. Of this number, 136 fatalities were reported.

Measles is a highly contagious and infectious disease. It can be transmitted by coughing or sneezing or through direct contact with anyone infected. The virus is very infectious and droplets in the air may infect people entering a room up to 30 minutes after an infected person has left it.

Symptoms, according to the World Health Organization, include high fever that lasts four to seven days, runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and white spots that develop inside the cheeks. After a few days, rashes appear and spread all over the body.

Children aged five years old or younger, and adults 21 and above are especially vulnerable to complications caused by measles. Some of the common complications are ear infections and diarrhea, while severe complications include pneumonia and encephalitis.

There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles at the moment. The most effective tool against it is prevention through immunization, especially in young children.

Betadine Throat Spray and Gargle

Proper oral, hand, and body hygiene helps stop the spread of measles virus.

Povidone-Iodine (Betadine) Throat and Mouth Care solutions, composed of Povidone-Iodine Gargle and Povidone-Iodine Throat Spray, claim that they are proven to effectively kill Rubeola virus that causes measles.

In a laboratory test conducted by Japanese doctors in 1997, they proved that Povidone-Iodine was able to kill many viruses, including measles virus, in a relatively short span of time.

Povidone-Iodine (Betadine) Gargle and Povidone-Iodine (Betadine) Throat Spray are available in drugstores and supermarkets nationwide.

iPhoto

Greenpeace’s flagship ship Rainbow Warrior returns to Philippine waters in March to campaign against plastic pollution.

GREENPEACE’S flagship vessel Rainbow Warrior is coming back to Philippine waters March to campaign against plastic pollution.

The iconic ship will be going on the Ship the Plastic Back tour, which is part of a global campaign that targets companies producing massive amounts of single-use plastic that pollute the world’s oceans.

The Philippines is constantly named as one of the top polluters of plastics in the ocean, among other Asian countries.

The country has been named third largest contributor to ocean plastic. Hence, the campaign aims to significantly contribute to minimizing the proliferation of plastics in the country.

Rainbow Warrior’s first stop is Ma-

nila Bay. On March 2 and 3 at the Port of Manila, Greenpeace will open the ship to the public for a chance to see Manila Bay after the government-led cleanups for its planned rehabilitation.

“The ongoing Manila Bay rehabilitation has put a spotlight on how we Filipinos are doing our part to clean our country. The cleanup has produced picture-perfect results, as we have seen on social media, but we have to remember that trash will always find its way to Manila Bay if we don’t address plastic pollution at source,” pointed out Abigail Aguilar, campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia - Philippines.

It will then sail to Cebu for another round of open boat on March 15 and 16 at Port of Cebu, as the province high-

lights its initiatives toward becoming a leader in fighting plastic pollution in the Philippines.

Greenpeace aims to highlight the responsibility of corporations whose production of plastic packaging has contributed greatly to the pollution of Manila Bay and other bodies of water in the Philippines.

The environmental organization said it is demanding corporations to reduce their single-use plastic packaging production and explore alternative systems of delivering their products to consumers.

The open boat events are free to all visitors, but interested parties must preregister on the organization’s Eventbrite page: shipitback.eventbrite.com.

Life insurer supports football league PHILAM Life continues its efforts in encouraging Filipinos to live a better life by taking part in the third season of the 7’s Football League.

Founded in 2018 by former Azkals player Anton del Rosario, the 7’s Football League encourages Filipinos to strive for a more active lifestyle through a fun game of football.

The league also serves as an avenue for veteran football players to get together and pursue their passion for the sport.

“Supporting fitness-related events like the 7’s Football League is how Philam Life continues to walk the talk when it comes to its advocacy of helping people live healthier, longer, and better lives,” said Bernadette Chincuanco, head of branding and communications at Philam Life.

From left: Philam Life marketing manager Lianne Salcedo, 7’s Football League head Anton Del Rosario, Philam Life head of branding and communications Bernadette Chincuanco, Philam Life chief marketing officer Leo Tan, and Philam Life head of corporate communications and PR Abbie Remo.

Entertainment

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

More viewers switching to digital as ABS-CBN TVplus sales hit 7M M ORE viewers are embracing the benefits of digital terrestrial television (DTT) as ABS-CBN TVplus, the country’s pioneering DTT product, has sold 7 million boxes as of February, on its fourth anniversary.

GOING STRONG. Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix have been onscreen partners for almost a decade now.

The number of households eager to experience crystal clear TV viewing of exclusive DTT channels continues to grow as CineMo and YeY kept their spot as the third and fourth most watched channels, respectively, based on Kantar Media’s Q4 2018 report of DTT households nationwide. Meanwhile, after being launched as among TVplus’ new channels last year, Jeepney TV claimed the fifth spot followed by Movie Central and Asianovela Channel on the sixth and eighth rank.

On the other hand, KBO has attracted 1.2M unique TVplus customers who register to watch Filipino movies, some of which are fresh off the cinema. KBO is also more accessible since registration to the service is now open to all networks.

ABS-CBN, which is rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company, is the first media and entertainment company in the country to make the historic switch from analog to digital terrestrial television to transform the TV viewing experience of Filipinos.

2018 was also a remarkable year for ABS-CBN TVplus since it saw a growing number of non-cabled homes that have shifted to digital TV. According to a Kantar Media establishment survey last August 2018, 72 percent of non-cabled homes in Metro Manila have an ABS-CBN TVplus box, versus 55 percent in August 2017. Likewise, the number of noncabled homes with a TVplus box rose in Mega Manila with 65 percent from 44 percent, while those in the suburbs grew to 57 percent from 33 percent in the same period last year.

TVplus users even had more

A sturdy love team

ABS-CBN's digital box celebrates its 7 million units sold with endorsers Sarah Geronimo and Coco Martin.

entertainment choices last year with the introduction of five new ABS-CBN TVplus exclusive channels such as Asianovela Channel, the first and only channel on digital free TV that airs uncut Asian dramas and movies and Movie Central, the first all-English movie channel on digital free TV. MYX, Jeepney TV, and O Shopping, a home TV shopping channel, complete the additional channel line-up of ABS-CBN TVplus. The free trial of the

new channels has been extended this 2019.

In November 2018, ABS-CBN TVplus added Batangas as its 16th signal coverage area, accelerating ABS-CBN’s mission to lead the country’s migration from analog to digital before the government mandated deadline for all broadcasting companies to switch to digital broadcast by 2023.

Besides Batangas, ABS-CBN TVplus continuously expands its signal coverage areas that also include Metro Manila,

Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Tarlac, Benguet, Cavite, Metro Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Davao.

More and more Filipinos have also experienced the benefits of ABS-CBN TVplus through various activities in different areas in the country such as the Sorpresaya Truck event that brings Kapamilya stars to remote provinces, among others.

Nar Cabico, Kyryll, Angel Guardian officially join GMA Music THE GMA Music family continues to grow as it welcomed GMA Artist Center talents Nar Cabico, Kyryll, and Angel Guardian in a contract signing held on Feb. 21.

Present in the contract signing were GMA Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara, GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President and Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Unit Simoun Ferrer, Senior Talent Managers Tracy Garcia, Vic del Rosario, and Daryl Zamora, GMA Music Managing Director Rene Salta, GMA Music A&R Manager Kedy Sanchez, and Angel’s co-manager Tyrone Escalante.

Nar, who has been part of the toprating GMA series My Love From The Star and The One That Got Away, also produced the latter’s OST entitled “GAGA,” which is his chart-topping debut single. It bagged the Best Novelty Recording award in the 31st Awit Awards. Moreover, his selfpenned single “Natapos Tayo,” the official theme song of the film All of You, received the Movie Original Theme Song of the Year recognition at the 34th Philippine

Newest GMA Music artist Nar Cabico, Kyryll, and Angel Guardian

Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards.

Aside from this, he is part of the upcoming primetime soap, Love You Two. Nar shared his happiness over this new chapter of his career, “I feel very privileged, I can’t seem to encapsulate all the things I’m feeling right now in a few words. I think it’s now a responsibility

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, February 26, 2019

ACROSS 1 Altar end 5 Uproar 8 Princes of India 14 Rangy 15 Flight dir.

16 Large glacier 17 Likelihood 18 Montgomery sch.

19 Golfer — Ochoa 20 Hot dogs 23 Find the sum 24 Swab target 25 Bookish types 29 Apply salve 31 Ms. Taylor, briefly 33 Yesteryear 34 Coax 38 Friend or —?

40 Slicker 41 Estuary 42 — — few rounds 43 Badminton stroke 44 Tiny tunneler 45 Neighbor of CTRL 46 Aurora, to Socrates 47 Protects from floods 49 Defendant’s answer 51 Wire measure 53 Galahad’s title

54 Waffle topping 56 Journal 58 Like Coke Zero (2 wds.)

62 Nonverbal communication (2 wds.)

65 Thick-skulled 68 52, to Livy 69 Gesture 70 Golf links 71 Caribou kin 72 Wife of Geraint 73 Caught some rays 74 Tint 75 Watches DOWN 1 Far above the ground 2 Peter, in Panama 3 Anwar of Egypt 4 Trap 5 Like Beethoven 6 Hand out 7 Kind of network 8 Get under one’s skin 9 Kind of squash 10 Pullover 11 Do extremely well 12 Leia’s rescuer 13 Hot spring 21 Inelegant solu-

tion 22 Flirt 26 Kind of numeral 27 Guzzled 28 Denominations 30 Flower 32 Moves very quickly 34 Decorates a gift 35 Not flat 36 Restaurant patron 37 Without effort 39 Waning 48 Stirs to action 50 Hair color

52 Reclined lazily 55 Oater extras 57 Merrily 59 “The — Mutiny” 60 Shooting marble 61 Makes a loan 63 Real-estate document 64 Winged Victory 65 Autumn mo.

66 Feathery scarf 67 Winery cask

and hindi pressure ‘yung nafi-feel ko. I’m inspired kasi I don’t want to disappoint the listeners and I promise to do my very best.”

The Clash alumna, Kyryll, who was dubbed as the ‘Millennial Chick ng Iloilo’, not only belts out powerful renditions of songs but can also rap and play the guitar.

“I can’t explain the happiness I am feeling right now. I’m so grateful for this wonderful opportunity,” she said.

“It’s been my dream since I was a child, pangarap din ng parents ko, kaya inaalay ko po ito para sa kanila.”

Angel also talked about how it has always been her dream to pursue music.

“I feel overwhelmed po ako kasi before, dream ko lang ito and ang focus ko lang talaga was acting, so it’s really hard to believe that I was given the opportunity to record, first time kong ma-experience lahat ng ‘to. Hindi pa rin nagsi-sink in that I am already here,” she shared.

Apart from appearing in TV commercials and being a model, Angel is also seen in the top-rating primetime series Onanay as Chelsea.

Meanwhile, GMA Music Managing Director Rene Salta proudly welcomed the three artists, “We are screening so many artists who are great singers, mga potential future stars kumbaga and we think sila ‘yun. Some write their own songs, so makakatulong ‘yun sa kanila and sa GMA Music.”

KAPUSO stars Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix, who have been paired as love a love team for a couple of years now, admit that they were able to overcome whatever challenges they faced the past year.

“It’s because our friendship has gone deeper over the years,” says Bianca.

“We’ve been through a lot on and off screen. We’re working together for nine years now. We won’t just let anything ruin our tandem.”

Bianca believes that the key factor in their sturdy relationship is communication apart from having a positive disposition.

“In our case, when struggles arise, we maintain a positive outlook, thinking that it’s just a phase and that it’s something that would eventually pass. We don’t want to sacrifice or lose the relationship we’ve built together due to the presence of stumbling blocks.”

Miguel states that he can’t afford to lose Bianca.

“I treasure her as one of the closest persons I have in my life both in the professional and personal aspects. We’ve gone through a lot already. We know each other too well. I really value her.”

Even if in truth they’re not romantically involved off cam, their friendship is special.

“In the nine years that we’ve worked together here in the ‘biz, seven there we spent as a love team. You know, it’s easy to let go of someone especially if you’ve encountered so much problems and complications but with Bianca, I can’t do that because she will always have a special place in my heart,” adds Miguel.

According to Bianca, she and Miguel are already used to each other’s attitudes.

“We know how to approach and talk to each other without apprehensions. We are aware as well of our respective likes and dislikes. We also engage in heartto-heart talks. Many don’t know that Miguel is an emotional guy, he easily sheds tears.”

“On her part, Bianca is a very caring gal. If you’re close to her, she will really make you feel that. In fact, she cooks for me. She will do things which would always remind you of her,” ends Miguel. *** Mika dela Cruz is aware of the high expectations on her latest GMA soap opposite Barbie Forteza titled, Kara Mia. “I’m confident of the material. The story is quite interesting. The cast is high calibre. In fact, we’re so happy that even before our maiden airing, we already went viral on social media, a proof that we were able to tap the interest of the public,” she points out.

“And we promise that they won’t get disappointed with what they’ll see. They won’t be misled. Whatever they saw initially in the teasers, they’ll get more than what they expect. I can assure that.

The story is very rich where lots of twists and turns can be made,” she adds.

Many are curious if their new offering will be able to topple the rival network’s long-running program Ang Probinsyano headlined by Coco Martin.

“I can say that we’ll be able to give a good fight ratings-wise. To topple the rival show is not our foremost goal.

What I’m saying is that ‘Kara Mia’ is the type of soap that will really have an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of viewers. Even if for example, it’s not me and Barbie who will top-bill this, it will draw the same effect. The people will laugh, cry and get amazed with our story.”

Speaking of Barbie, many say that they are a good match given their respective qualities. Is there a brewing rivalry between them?

“Barbie and I are okay off-cam. We’re like true sisters. That rivalry angle, we don’t focus our attention much on it.

Maybe it’s more on the acting side.

We’re like Sunshine Dizon and my sister Angelika dela Cruz. I guess, in that aspect, it would help us to bring out the best in ourselves,” states Mika.

Entertainment

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

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019

Viva Live presents ‘Playlist’ at the Big Dome

NICKIE WANG

J

GET ready for over the top singing, lots of rocking and a grand sing-along time as Viva Live brings the famed soloists of the biggest bands in Philippine pop music history in Playlist: The Best of OPM. The much-awaited concert of former band frontmen and vocalists is happening on Friday, March 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at Araneta Center in Quezon City.

All set for their first gig together are the voices of the hit machines that formed the Pinoy’s romantic soundtrack during the ‘80s and ‘90s eras. These are: Joey G. for the songs “Forevermore,” and “So Many Questions;” Jinky Vidal with “Before I Let You Go” and “So Slow;” Jay Durias of South Border with “Rainbow,” and “Kahit Kailan;” Ice Seguerra for the ditties “Pag Dating

ESUSA is a big screen project far different from ones Sylvia Sanchez had done previously. The film, directed by Ronaldo Carballo and produced by OEPM (Oeuvre Events and Production Management), is about a woman who became a willing victim of the prohibited drugs.

The premise of the film revolves around a simple woman who leads a rather “ordinary life” with her philandering husband. The movie is set in a shanty town where drug abuse is prevalent and difficult family dramas are a norm.

During the press conference of Jesusa, which is set for release this summer, it was revealed that the title role was initially offered to Nora Aunor, but before the producers and the Superstar could sign the contract, they had a few disagreements that prompted OEPM to look for a new actress who will play the part.

“It’s my dream project. When I started conceptualizing the film, I told myself, ‘I will not do this without Nora Aunor.’ She accepted it but some things came up when we were about to finalize the contract. But still, I respect her so much,” Carballo told the press.

“I think it’s not meant for her, but for Sylvia Sanchez,” he asserted.

Carballo pointed out Sanchez’s talent and experience as an actress made her fit for the role. He said that the seasoned actress made sure that his vision of the film is what exactly the audience will see onscreen when it’s finally hit the theaters.

In turn, Sanchez said that she has so much respect for the country’s lone Superstar and admitted that what she’s done for the industry as an actress is remarkable and unmatched.

“People should not compare us because we’re not of the same level.

I’m far from reaching her stature. I just respect and idolize her. She remains on top because Nora Aunor will always be Nora Aunor. She is the best actress for me,” Sanchez uttered.

Asked if Sanchez somehow felt pressured after knowing that the role was offered initially to Ate Guy, Sanchez admitted that her immediate thoughts were the opposite.

“Since the project was offered to Ate Guy, it only means that it’s a great project. I’d never played an addict before. From the moment I read the script, I knew Jesusa was me. I believe I could give justice to the role,” she claimed.

She doesn’t also mind if she wasn’t the first choice for the role, what mattered to her when she started doing the film, she’s the final choice and she’s the one portraying the character, which she considers very relatable in many aspects.

In Jesusa, Sanchez is joined by Allen Dizon, Ynez Veneracion, Mara Lopez, Malu Barry, Vince Tanada, Fanny Serrano, Beverly Salviejo, Mara Lopez and Uno Santiago, among others. *** No showbiz comeback for Jinggoy Unlike his best pal, Bong Revilla, Jr., who’s vocal about producing and starring in a film this year, Jinggoy Estrada is not keen on making any movie anytime soon. This he said during an advanced birthday party held in San Juan with the members of the entertainment press in attendance.

“I gained so much weight especially during my time in Camp Crame,” the

Ng Panahon,” and “Para Lang Sa ‘Yo;” Juris Fernandez with “A Love To Last A Lifetime,” and “I’ll Be There For You;” and Meds Marfil of True Faith with “Perfect,” “Huwag Na Lang Kaya,” and “Muntik Nang Maabot Ang Langit.”

Joining them in this very special concert is rising star Janine Tenoso of the big hit “Di Na Muli.”

Tickets to Playlist: The Best of OPM are available at TicketNet 911-5555 and at www.ticketnet.com.ph. Ticket prices are VIP P3000; Patron B P2450; Box Premium P1800; Box Regular P1250; Upper Box P525; and General Admission P270. Call Viva Live 6877236 for inquiries.

Presented by SCRATCHIT, official media partners are PBO, VIVA TV, TMC, The Philippine Star, Wish 107.5, Mellow 94.7 and Pinas FM.

Seasoned actress Sylvia Sanchez plays the title role in 'Jesusa,' a film set in a rundown community where she leads a normal life until circumstances drag her to be swallowed by the low lives of her neighbor.

SYLVIA

SANCHEZ is Jesusa Actor-politician Jinggoy Estrada

actor- politician who turned 56 two Sundays ago said.

“I wouldn’t look good on the screen.

Probably ‘pag pumayat na tayo ng kaunti,” he said in jest.

Jinggoy debuted as an actor in 1985 via the action film Markang Rehas: Ikalawang Aklat. Since then, he has appeared in 20 movies including Hiwaga ng Panday (1998), Utang ng Ama (2003), and Kimmy Dora (2009).

The last time he starred in a film was in 2009 movie, Ang Tanging Pamilya: A Marry Go Round. And his last TV appearance was in the family drama, Lorenzo’s Time (2012), top billed by then child star Zaijan Jaranilla.

“I don’t have any plans to produce any films as well because of my main focus these days,” he said and affirmed that there’s one thing certain though, he seeks Senate comeback. *** A mini-reunion It was a mini-reunion for Pop Royalty Sarah Geronimo and reelectionist Senator Sonny Angara when the two

Sylvia Sanchez with film director Ronaldo Carballo

did a shoot for a political ad in January.

The 30-year-old singer once again has chosen to endorse the politician who advocates lowering of taxes and promote social justice.

This is the second time that Sarah G is endorsing Angara who was elected to the Senate in 2013, placing sixth with 16 million votes.

“I’m so happy to be with Kuya Sonny again. People already know how I give my all-out support to the Angara family since before,” Sarah said.

She added that her heart is close to the Angara family. She first collaborated with the Angaras when she sang the campaign jingle for the late Senate President Edgardo Angara during the 2007 elections.

“I wouldn’t think twice if Kuya Sonny would seek for my help because I admire his works that concern education, and senior citizen welfare,” the pop star affirmed.

From left: Playlist: The Best of OPM headliners Joey G., Janine Tenoso, Juris Fernandez, Jinky Vidal, Ice Seguerra, Jay Durias, and Meds Marfil

Changing in major ways, iconic ‘American Idol’ returns

'American Idol' judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan with host Ryan Seacrest.

Pop star Sarah Geronimo with reelectionist Senator Sonny Angara

The actress with multi-awarded actor Allen Dizon who plays her husband in the film.

HAVING toured 24 cities across the U.S. last summer, American Idol is again in search of the next superstar. Philippine #AIONETC fans can catch the inspiring journey starting Monday, March 4 via satellite at 6:00 p.m. with a prime time encore at 8:00 p.m..

Watch ETC to see the first crop of Idol hopefuls audition for their shot at a ticket to Hollywood.

The cross-country audition tour will move forward with an allnew episode on Thursday, March 7, rounding out a talent-filled premiere week. New two-hour episodes will continue on ETC every Monday and Tuesday weekly with via satellite and prime time encore episodes airing back-to-back.

The iconic talent search series that revolutionized the television landscape by pioneering the music competition genre returns to find a fresh batch of talented hopefuls. Helping to find the next singing sensation are music industry legends and all-star judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie. Emmy®-

winning producer Ryan Seacrest also returns as host, and famed multimedia personality Bobby Bones takes on the role of inhouse mentor.

Stay tuned for American Idol All-Star Duets with guest appearances from artists such as Jason Mraz, Julia Michaels, Lukas Graham, Elle King, and Shaggy.

The home of American Idol since 2012, ETC has featured countless hopefuls go through the audition phase to get a ticket to Hollywood. Let us know what you think about the contestants in real time, tweet #AIONETC and your tweet could be featured on screen as you watch the show with fellow fans.

Tune in starting March 4 at 6:00 p.m. on ETC to find out, who will be the next American Idol. Join the conversation at #AIonETC. For all American Idol updates and happenings, tag ETC on www.facebook.com/ etctv, on Twitter and Instagram via @etc_channel, and log on to etc.com.ph.