Manila Standard - 2019 June 4 - Tuesday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circ@manilastandardtoday.com

13 SENATORS GO FOR SOTTO; VILLAR DISSES PACQUIAO MOVE

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THIRTEEN senators signed a resolution in support of the leadership of Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday, but Senator Cynthia Villar refused to

sign it, and confronted Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Manny Paquiao over rumors spread by their partymate, Senator-elect Francis Tolentino, that she was interested in the post. Next page

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 110 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Solon bets on Romualdez in speakership race

By Maricel V. Cruz IN A free-for-all speakership fight, Leyte Rep.-elect Martin Romualdez has the ace to win the House top post, a lawmaker from Mindanao said on Monday.

Deputy Speaker and Sulu Rep. Munir Arbison said Romualdez has the numbers to win the speakership of the incoming 18th Congress after getting the backing of the majority of their colleagues.

“Whatever the President’s choice will be the speaker. If he [President Rodrigo Duterte] will not intervene Martin has the ace,” said Arbison.

Arbison said Romualdez is the most prepared considering his experience as a legislator, businessman and president of the Philippine Constitution Association.

Earlier, President Duterte vowed to exercise a “hands off” policy in the selection

of the next speaker while her daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, chairperson of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago regional party, said she was not in the position to pick the House leader.

Several lawmakers earlier supported the speakership bid of Romualdez.

One of them, ANAC-IP Party-List Rep. Jose Panganiban Jr., chairman of the House committee on agriculture and

SENATE FACE-OFF. Not quite, with their backs against each other. One question raised Monday in the tug-of-war in the upper chamber while a resolution was being passed around for signature by Senator Manny Pacquiao (right) supporting Senate President Vicente Sotto III (left) was: Is there a move to declare the Senate presidency vacant? Mid-term elections front-runner Cynthia Villar (middle) did not sign the resolution. Senate PRIB/Joseph Vidal

Next page

Hike teachers’ pay—Rody Finance, Budget execs told to look for funding

By Nat Mariano

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is working on a salary increase for teachers and has already ordered his economic managers to find funds for it, the Palace said Monday.

OPENING DAY ANXIETIES. With the UNICEF providing tents for classrooms, the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education of the Bangsamorop Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has partnered with Radya Al-Salam Foundation during opening of classes Monday (topmost), while students of Rosauro Almario school in Tondo, Manila ride a jampacked tricycle in going to their classes (left above) and those in flooded Artex Compound (right above) sail to their classrooms on board a makeshift boat in Malabon City in the metropolis. Nash Maulana, Norman Cruz with AFP

Sunny side up: More Filipinos get ‘very happy’

By Nat Mariano THE number of Filipinos who are “very happy” with their lives in general increased in the first quarter of 2019, the latest Social Weather Stations’ survey revealed on Monday.

In the survey, SWS found that only four out of 10 Filipinos at 44 percent are “very happy” with their life in general, 49 percent said they are “fairly happy,” 7 percent said they are “not very happy,” while 1 percent said they are “not at all happy.”

“The 44 percent Very Happy is a 5-point increase from the 39 percent in December 2018. Prior to this, it had been declining for two consecutive quarters since the record-high 57 percent in December 2017,” SWS said.

“On the other hand, the 49 percent Fairly Happy is similar to the 50 percent Next page

Senate votes for ‘sin’ tax hike; House OK in offing

By Macon Ramos-Araneta VOTING 20-0-0, senators approved Senate Bill No. 2233 that seeks to impose higher taxes on cigarettes in a bid to reduce smoking prevalence among Filipinos and raise crucial funding for the government’s Universal Health Care program.

The measure proposes to raise excise tax on cigarettes to P45 per pack next year, P50 in 2021, P55 in 2022, and P60 in 2023, with five percent annual increases thereafter.

Senate ways and means committee chairman Senator Sonny Angara said tax amendments on heated tobacco products and vapor products were likewise adopted.

These products will be taxed per milliliter as follows: P10 for 0.00 ML - 10.00 ML; P20 for 10.01 ML - 20.00 ML; P30 for 20.01 ML - 30.00 ML; P40 for 30.01 ML - 40.00 ML; P50 for 40.01 ML - 50.00 ML; and P50 plus an additional P10 for every 10 ML beyond 50 ML. The Senate will transmit its version of the bill, which has been certified as an urgent measure by President Rodrigo Duterte, to the House of Representatives for review.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Speaker Gloria

Next page

‘Racial profiling’ shutters Sephora LOS ANGELES—High street makeup powerhouse Sephora has announced it will close all its US stores, distribution centers and corporate office for employee training after a racial profiling incident involving Grammy-nominated singer SZA. Next page

Next page

Ban on trash shipments eyed in wake of garbage dumping A BILL calling for a total ban on the import and export of waste was filed Monday morning at the House of Representatives while over in Misamis Oriental the Bureau of Customs held a send-off ceremony for garbage being returned to Hong Kong.

Misamis Oriental 2nd District Rep. Juliette Uy said in the explanatory note of

HB 9207, that the country is “awash with millions of tons of solid wastes, liquefied wastes, and toxic wastes. Our rivers, lakes, seashores, and seas are massively polluted by these wastes. Our cities, factories, and homes produce garbage like there’s no tomorrow.

“We already have a lot of our own gar-

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, however, would not say how soon teachers can expect the increase.

“I’ve talked with the secretary of Finance and the Budget manager and they said that they are working on it. Let’s see how it goes,” Panelo said.

The Palace statement comes in the wake of a call by ACT Teachers Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro for the President to make good on his promise to institute a “substantial” salary increase for public school teachers and other government employees.

Tinio said Duterte “has promised multiple times” that the salaries of public school teachers would be increased after hiking the salaries of uniformed personnel.

“It is high time that the Duterte administration fulfills [its] promise to increase the salaries of teachers to compensate for the continuing price increases of basic goods and services. Teachers are merely asking for a salary increase that would provide their families decent lives,” he said.

Castro echoed Tinio’s appeal, saying the President should “wake Congress up” and make the salary increase a top legislative priority, instead of making another promise.

Panelo said the three-year delay in raising teachers’ salaries does not mean Duterte is giving up on his promise.

bage. The more garbage we produce, the shorter and more polluted our tomorrows will become. We certainly need not import any more garbage,” he added.

Uy noted that “the Members of this Congress have not been remiss in their duty. There are dozens of pending bills Next page

A2

News

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

QC courts: Consolidate Dengvaxia cases

By Rio N. Araja

V

ARIOUS Quezon City courts have ordered the consolidation of the civil suits against the French drug maker Sanofi Pharmaceutical Inc. and its distributor, Zuellig Pharma Corp., in connection with the deaths of several children after receiving Dengvaxia vaccine shots.

Branch 84 Judge Luisito Cortez issued two separate orders granting the motions to consolidate the cases filed by the parents of Shiela Mae Guerra and Aejay Bautista.

“In the motion for consolidation, the plaintiff alleged, among others, that the instant complaint arose from the same series of events, involves identical issues in the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City,

Branch 226,” one of the orders read.

Branch 104 Judge Catherine Manondon also granted the motions for consolidation filed by the kin of Trishanne Casona et al; Vicente Arugay et al; Kianah Mae Racuya et al, and Christine Mae de Guzman et al through the Public Attorney’s Office.

Branch 215 Judge Rafael Hipolito also followed suit, directing the transfer of the

civil complaints filed by the heirs of Gilliane Rosal Vasquez et al. and Micaella Kayla Mainit et al. to Branch 226.

Branch 100 Judge Editha Mina Aguba also allowed the consolidation of the case filed by the parents of Annaliza Silverio, as well as Branch 220 Judge Jose Paneda in favor of the heirs of Christine Joy Asuncion.

Another judge, Madonna Echiverri of Branch 81, allowed the transfer of the case filed by the parents of Adeline Castroverde to Branch 226 for the promotion of an efficient dispensation of justice.

Ex-Health Secretary Janette Garin, Philippine Children’s Medical Center Julius Lecciones and other health officials were included in the suits, according to PAO. In May, Branch 226 Judge Manuel Sta.

Cruz Jr. denied Sanofi and Zuellig’s motions to dismiss the civil case filed by the kin of Abbie Hedia, a 13-year-old student who died of septic shock on Feb. 10, 2018, after receiving Dengvaxia vaccine shots.

“Hypothetically admitting the mentioned allegations together with other facts alleged in the complaint, the court may render a judgment upon the same,” the court order says.

PAO said “thus, the consolidation of the instant case, with other similar Dengvaxia cases, is desirable to expedite the hearing of the cases, and to avoid confusion, conflicting ruling, and unnecessary costs entailed with multiplicity of suits as the two cases involve common questions of facts and law.”

Taal fish kills Youth commission told: Cash leave credits rejected prompt warning on practices

By Rio N. Araja and Nat Mariano THE risk of fish kills can be reduced, if not totally prevented, if fish cage operators adhere to good aquaculture practices within Taal Lake, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said Monday.

The agency made the statement even as President Rodrigo Duterte ordered concerned government agencies to ease the effects of the fish kill in the lake, Malacañang said.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte was worried about the crisis in the fish cage industry in Taal Lake.

“The President has expressed concern about the fish kill in Taal,” Panelo said.

“The President has directed the appropriate government offices to closely monitor the situation, particularly the water quality in Taal Lake.

“He also required the officials concerned to undertake measures to mitigate the impact of the natural phenomenon.”

The BFAR vowed to continue conducting water quality monitoring and to ensure that fish cage operators are provided with the necessary technical assistance.

A regular monitoring of the water quality in the lake and its dissolved oxygen level will be conducted, the agency said.

On May 29, the depleted level of dissolved oxygen in the waters of Buso-buso and Gulod in Laurel and in Bañaga village in Agoncillo, Batangas, resulted in a fish kill.

The total allowable number of fish cages in Taal Lake is 6,000, but of this only 121 units or 2 percent were affected by the fish kill.

“This resulted in over 600 metric tons of losses in milkfish and tilapia stocks amounting to a total of P43.13 million,” the agency statement said.

The agency then advised fish cage operators to closely watch their stocks after it noticed a drop in the dissolved oxygen level.

“Fish cage operators in the areas where the dissolved oxygen level is down were promptly advised to start the emergency harvesting of bangus and tilapia and use oxygen pumps or aerators as part of mitigating measures,” the agency said.

‘Racial...

From A1

The black R&B star earlier tweeted she was in one of the beauty chain’s shops when security was called on her.

In a statement posted to social media on May 24, Sephora said it would close on Wednesday morning to “host inclusion workshops for our employees.”

“These values have always been at the heart of Sephora, and we’re excited to welcome everyone when we reopen,” the company added.

SZA had tweeted that security was called “to make sure I wasn’t stealing,” while she was at a Sephora store northwest of Los Angeles.

She added: “We had a long talk. U have a blessed day Sandy,” referring to an employee.

SZA has been nominated for several Grammy awards, including this year for best new artist and best R&B song.

Sephora responded directly with its own tweet, saying the firm “take complaints like this very seriously and are actively working with our teams to address the situation immediately.” AFP

Ban...

From A1

and resolutions addressing the massive problems of solid waste management and air pollution we face.”

“As we are all aware by now, at the Port of Tagoloan in Misamis Oriental, there still are over 5,000 tons of garbage yet to be returned to South Korea. Add to that the so-called municipal waste—processed fuel from Australia and another shipment from Hong Kong.”

Uy said she filed HB 9207 because she wants to put a stop to “the practice of other countries and companies overseas of sending their garbage to the Philippines [which] is an insult to all Filipinos and an affront to our laws.”

THE Commission on Audit has called the attention of the National Youth Commission personnel, including its officials, to refund disallowed cash leave credits of P680,675.91 and travel expenses of P129,718.66.

In a 2018 annual audit report, the Commission called on ex-NYC chairperson Ronald Cardema to return the total amount of P810,394.57 to the Bureau of Treasury.

On April 25, the state auditors sent a transmittal letter of the report to Cardema’s office.

Based on the report, the leave credit balances of 67 employees were “incorrect.”

The grant of compensatory time-off of 371 days or P680,675.91 designed to offset official travels on weekends or holidays was contrary to the provisions of a joint circular of the Civil Service Commission

and Department of Budget and Management dated 2004.

“We recommended and management agreed to require concerned officers and employees to refund the excess claims based on the notice of disallowance dated Feb. 20, 2019,” the report read.

NYC, for its part, assured CoA that it would refund the P810,394.57 non-commutable leave credits found to be “unjustifiable,” and that it would submit an explanation into the monetized leave credits.

CoA told the NYC’s chief accountant to entertain only transactions with appropriate documents.

According to the state auditors, the excess claims of travel expenses worth P129,718.66 emanated from the reimbursement of actual travel expenses granted to officials and permanent employees.

Hike...

From A1 “The President is not reneging on his commitment... You must remember that the mother of the President was a teacher and, so his heart is with the teachers,” he said.

Panelo, the President’s chief legal counsel, said a mere executive order would not suffice without having enough money to fund the increase.

Panelo also said the Duterte administration is open to having a dialogue with the teachers. “We will arrange for that. I’ll talk with the President about that,” he added.

Since 2016, teachers have only received a minimal increase of 11.9 percent annually under Executive Order No. 201, which was signed by then President Benigno Aquino III. In a statement, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers said some 800,000 teachers suffer from low wages that do not afford them a decent life.

“Such abandonment of the very backbone of the public education system in the country vividly reflects how the state values education, hence our stance that teachers’ salaries are the top most pressing issue this school opening,” stated ACT Secretary-General Raymond Basilio.

13 senators...

From A1 “Why do we have to sign this? Why are you getting me involved in your quarrel?

Why are you like that?” Villar told Pimentel and Pacquiao when they asked her to sign the resolution.

“Get your partymate in line. Don’t drag me into your quarrel,” she said, apparently referring to Tolentino.

Tolentino had earlier floated a rumor that Villar, the frontrunner in the last midterm elections in May, would be pitted against Sotto in the upcoming 18th Congress which opens in July.

Newly-elected Senator Imee Marcos, also a Nacionalista Party member, said Tolentino was pushing for Villar to go against Sotto.

But Villar said the resolution was unnecessary because she supported the leadership of Sotto.

She also said she wanted to talk to her partymates, Marcos and Senator-elect Pia Cayetano, who are both abroad, about the resolution.

Villar said she wanted to make sure they were taken care of—a reference to the committee chairmanships that have yet to be assigned.

Villar said she was more interested in retaining the chairmanship of the Senate committees on agriculture and food and environment and natural resources that the Senate presidency.

In a separate interview, Pacquiao said he understands Villar’s sentiments and said he was neither surprised nor offended by her reaction.

At the start of the session, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon questioned the manifestation signed by 13 senators expressing support to Sotto since there was no ouster plot against the leader of the chamber.

“What is this Mr. President? Is there a motion to unseat? asked Drilon as he stood after Pacquiao presented on the floor the maniMeanwhile, the 40-foot container van containing shredded gadgets and computers from Hong Kong, is being sent back today from the Mindanao International Container Terminal. The shipment has apparently been in the terminal since Jan. 2, but only discovered on May 22.

MICT Port Collector John Simon officiated the reexport to Hong Kong of 2.561 tons of mixed plastic waste packed in 22 sling bags that were wrongly declared as “assorted electronic accessories.”

The illegal traffic waste will be returned to Hong Kong via the container ship SITC Nagoya.

The reexport was witnessed by the representatives of the Bureau of Customs Region 10, Environmental Management Bureau Region 10, and civil society groups led by the EcoWaste Coalition.

Such was found inconsistent with the March 23, 2004 Executive Order No. 298.

Of the P37,581.84 travel expenses, at least 28.97 percent went up to meals which were considered “immoderate for one person’s consumption” from P794 to P1,500.

Some P858,926.62 vacation and sick leave credits converted into cash were also against the Omnibus Rules on Leave and CoA Circular No. 2012-01, CoA maintained.

The Commission on Elections en banc approved Cardema’s petition for substitution as the first nominee of the Duterte Youth Party-list, saying under the rules, withdrawal and substitution were allowed before election day.

On the eve of the May 13 elections, while sitting as NYC chairperson, Cardema filed a petition for substitution as the party-list nominee. Rio N. Araja

Some 27.2-million students returned to school for the opening of school year 2019-2020 Monday.

Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Danilo Lim on Monday led his men in apprehending more than 80 motorists for illegal parking and other violations in Quezon City in time for the opening of classes.

Lim also ordered the towing of vehicles obstructing traffic flow in the vicinity of Corazon Aquino Elementary School, Batasan Hills National High School in Batasan Hills Quezon City; and Ramon Magsaysay High School in Cubao, Quezon City.

“We want to see to it that roads are cleared to ensure the safety of the students walking to and from their schools and the unimpeded traffic flow in the opening of classes,” said Lim, who started the inspection and clearing operations as early as 5 a.m.

Light to moderate traffic greeted Metro Manila motorists during the first day of school year 2019-2020.

But anticipating a slowdown of traffic in the succeeding school days, Lim said more than 2,000 traffic personnel are deployed in areas with a high concentration of students.

“Our traffic personnel shall intensify enforcement of traffic rules and regulations and clearing obstructions near schools with large numbers of students,” said Lim.

festation expressing unequivocal support to continue Sotto’s presidency in the coming 18th Congress which opens in July.

Drilon also inquired if the manifestation was on the agenda of the Senate session for the day to which Pacquiao replied that they were merely presenting a resolution to express support for Sotto’s leadership.

The minority bloc leader also quizzed Pacquiao if the submission would form part of the record or would it be a personal submitted to the Senate President.

Pacquiao responded they merely wanted to air their support to Sotto. At this juncture, Drilon reiterated that they have not heard any move to declare the Senate presidency vacant, so this is “awkward.”

Drilon also pressed Pacquaio, who, along with Senator Panfilo Lacson spearheaded the manifestation, the reason for Villar’s refusal to sign.

“Did you inquire from her?” asked Drilon, pointing out that Villar of the Nacionalista Party was a member of the majority bloc in the Senate.

During Monday’s plenary session, Pacquiao said the senators who signed the manifesto include himself, Senators Gringo Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Grace Poe, Loren Legarda, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Escudero, Aquilino Pimentel III, Nancy Binay, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, and Ralph Recto.

The resolution expressed support to the current leadership for the new Congress to maintain the Senate’s independence and uphold its”proud tradition” of being the bastion of democracy.

According to reports, talk of a new Senate president arose following a tug-of-war between incumbent and incoming senators over the committee chairmanships for the new Congress.

Lacson earlier said a resolution would be routed among senators to serve as a vote of confidence in Sotto’s leadership. With PNA “Today, we are shipping back one container van of mixed garbage consisting mostly of plastic scraps and shredded electronic parts to their source. The export of this hazardous waste from Hong Kong in the guise of ‘assorted electronic accessories’ is illegal under the laws of Hong Kong and the Philippines and the Basel Convention,” Simon said.

“In line with the mission of the BOC to strengthen efforts against smuggling and other Customs fraud, we are returning this unlawful shipment to protect our nation’s health and the environment,” he added.

“We find it very disturbing that illegal waste cargoes are entering the country through the region’s ports. This alarming trend is totally unacceptable and should discontinue as soon as possible. Mindanao is not a garbage bin,” said Atty. Mark Petalver, Program Coordina-

Senate...

From A1 Macapagal Arroyo has committed to adopt and support the Senate version, which allows the 17th Congress to forego a bicameral conference committee.

Once the Senate and the House approve the measure, the enrolled bill will be transmitted to the President for his signature.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said their yes vote for the bill is “a vote in favor of the health of the Filipino people.”

“Every hour, 17 Filipinos lose their lives due to diseases related to tobacco. Tobacco is like a serial killer.

Cigarettes kill not only its users, but also those who are exposed to second-hand smoke,” he said.

Health advocates led by former PhilHealth director Anthony Leaachon and Antonio Dans of the National Academy of Science and Technology lauded the passage of the measure, noting that it serves as a perfect way to begin the National No Smoking Month this June.

Dans, however, acknowledged that funds raised by the current tobacco tax rates are not enough to cover the economic cost of smoking.

“Every year, the government loses around P 210 billion due to productivity losses, health care costs, and premature deaths caused by the top four tobaccorelated diseases, namely lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, and cardiovascular disease. The losses are significantly greater than the P106 billion collected from the tobacco tax revenue in 2017. This further emphasizes the need to raise taxes on cigarettes,” Dans said.

The Department of Finance said the measure will help fill the P62- billion funding gap for the UHC. According to the Department of Health, 85 percent of the proceeds from excise tax is used to finance government health programs, of which 80 percent is allocated for UHC and 20 percent for improvement of facilities in government hospitals.

The remaining 15 percent of the proceeds goes to livelihood programs and financial assistance to tobacco farmers. tor, Interface Development Interventions Inc., a Davao City-based environmental NGO. “By quickly returning the illegal waste shipment and skipping bureaucratic delay, our nation is sending a clear and unambiguous warning to waste traffickers to stop sending other countries’ wastes into our ports,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition. “We heaved a sigh of relief as the entry of some 70 containers of similar trash was aborted with the seizure of this test cargo.”

“The strong presence of local civil society groups in this important event indicates a growing concern among Mindanaoans against the use of the region’s ports as entry points for waste imports from overseas. We encourage them, the local authorities and the general public to keep a close watch over illegal waste traffic in the region,” she added.

Overall deputy Ombudsman’s ouster upheld

By Rey E. Requejo MALACAÑANG has sustained the dismissal of Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Monday.

“His [Carandang’s] MR [motion for reconsideration] has been denied,” Guevarra said in an interview.

“The order was signed by ES [Executive Secretary Salvador] Medialdea.”

The Palace dismissed Carandang last year due to his 2017 disclosure of President Rodrigo Duterte’s bank transactions that he claimed had reached P1 billion without the authority of the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

Carandang was also slapped with accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, barred him from taking civil service examinations and made him perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

The decision arose from the administrative complaints separately filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras and former Biliran Rep. Glenn Chong.

The decision said Carandang was only interested in broadcasting information adverse to the President.

“His keeping mum about information that was favorable to the President clearly amounted to manifest partiality,” the decision said.

It also found Carandang liable for giving any party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.

The Overall Deputy Ombudsman was also found to have violated the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees on disclosure and/or misuse of confidential information “to give undue advantage to Senator Antonio Trillanes.”

“The transgressions of respondent Carandang constitute Graft and Corruption, as well as Betrayal of Public Trust, which gravely affect his fitness to remain in public office,” the decision said.

Solon...

From A1 food, said Romualdez has the edge over the other candidates for the speakership.

Panganiban said Romualdez “has the edge in leadership qualities, experience, and goodwill among House members” compared to the other candidates for the post.

Earlier, House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said Romualdez is a sure winner in the speakership race following the declaration of President Duterte that he will let lawmakers elect their own leader.

Suarez said a manifesto of support for Romualdez has reached the “magic number” of more than 153 signatories needed to win the post.

Sunny side up:...

From A1 in June 2018 and 48 percent in Decenber 2018, following the 37 percent in December 2017,” it continued.

“The 8 percent Unhappy [7 percent not very happy and 1 percent not at all happy] is a 5-point decline from the 13 percent in December 2018,” the pollster added.

According to SWS, the five-point rise in the nationwide “Very Happy” score was due to increases of 14 points in Metro Manila, 12 points in the Visayas, and 7 points in Mindanao, combined with a 1-point decline in Balance Luzon.

“The proportion of ‘very happy’ was highest in Mindanao at 58 percent, followed by the Visayas at 57 percent, Metro Manila at 43 percent, and Balance Luzon at 32 percent,” it said.

On the other hand, the proportion of “fairly happy” was highest in Balance Luzon at 59 percent, followed by Metro Manila at 48 percent, Mindanao at 38 percent and the Visayas at 37 percent.

“Unhappiness” was highest in Metro Manila at 9 percent, and Balance Luzon at 9 percent, followed by the Visayas at 6 percent, and Mindanao at 4 percent.

SWS said “very happy” figures in all education levels are higher compared to December 2018.

It was highest among college graduates at 56 percent, followed by non-elementary graduates at 43 percent, elementary graduates at 43 percent, and high school graduates at 42 percent, SWS said.

On the other hand, the proportion of those “fairly happy” was highest among high school graduates at 51 percent, followed by non-elementary graduates at 50 percent, elementary graduates at 48 percent, and college graduates at 41 percent.

Unhappiness was also highest among elementary graduates at 10 percent, followed by non-elementary graduates at 8 percent, high school graduates at 7 percent, and college graduates at 3 percent.

Those number of respondents who said they were “very happy” was highest among Muslims at 66 percent, followed by other Christian denominations at 50 percent, Catholics at 42 percent, and Iglesia ni Cristo members at 39 percent.

Unhappiness was highest among other Christian denominations at 8 percent, and Catholics at 8 percent, followed by Iglesia ni Cristo members at 5 percent, and Muslims at 2 percent.

News

A3

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Du30’s men endure MIAA repair

By Nat Mariano and Joel E. Zurbano

E

VEN President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet members had to endure the inconvenience caused by the ongoing renovation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

Malacañang on Monday called out Manila International Airport Authority for the two-hour delay in the retrieval of check-in luggage in the airport, saying that the management of NAIA could have easily remedied and avoided the situation.

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo called out MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal for the inconvenience following the fourday working visit in Japan.

“First of all, I’d like to call the attention of the NAIA General Manager. Of course,

I already told [Transportation] Secretary [Arthur] Tugade about the incident last Saturday. It took us more than two hours to retrieve our luggage. Why? Because there was only one or two carousel functioning and there were four trips arriving simultaneously at the airport,” Panelo told Palace reporters.

He explained that the inconvenience was made worse by the several arrivals coming from different flights.

“There was the trip from London, from Bangkok, Singapore and from Japan.

Not only that, the air condition was not functioning, if at all; and there was no space to maneuver or to move, because can you imagine hundreds of passengers in front of one or two carousels,” Panelo said.

“We understand of course, that it’s under renovation, but I think they can be better than what happened last Saturday,” he added.

According to the Palace official, the MIAA could have easily remedied and avoided the inconvenience from getting out of hand.

“Although the General Manager has apologized today for the inconvenience. But we suggest— because their explanation is that one carousel broke down. Carousels should be checked on a regular basis. If you do that every week or at least twice

a week, I don’t think a carousel will break down,” he said.

“Another explanation is that there were simultaneous arrivals, but that can easily be remedied. How? All the NAIA would do is to request the airlines or their respective planes, not to disembark the passengers for at least 30 minutes interval so that they will not be all there in one sweep,” he added.

Meanwhile, Monreal was quick to apologize to all airport users for the inconvenience brought by the malfunctioning baggage carousel and the surge in arrivals.

“I personally apologize to all NAIA T2 passengers who had to contend with two carousels servicing several flights not to mention the limited ventilation due to the rehabilitation,” he said.

AGFO slams Tulfo for rude remarks directed at DSWD chief

By Francisco Tuyay and Nat Mariano THE Association of General and Flag Officers on Monday strongly denounced the offensive behavior displayed by radio broadcaster Erwin Tulfo to a former Philippine Army Chief turned Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista.

Tulfo has since ‘unequivocally’ apologized, saying that he will personally seek forgiveness from Bautista for cursing and vilifying the DSWD chief.

“Ako po at ang buong pamilya Tulfo ay nagpapakumbabang humihingi po ng kapatawaran kay retired general at ngayo’y Secretary ng DSWD, Rolando Bautista, sa pagmumura at pambabastos ko sa kanya on air. Nawa’y mapatawad ninyo ako bilang isang tao na may mga kamalian at pagkukulang din,” Tulfo said.

Last week, Tulfo vilified Bautista for declining him a live radio interview.

He argued that it was the obligation of Bautista to respond to his possible questions about government services.

Tulfo’s derogatory comments against Bautista drew the ire of the military establishment, including the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association.

“The Association of General and Flag Officers [AGFO] is deeply saddened and seriously alarmed by the abused of press freedom by Mr. Erwin Tulfo with his profanity and crude language to get the attention of a senior government officials, DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista, a retired General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” AGFO said in statement.

‘Bikoy’ back in police custody

PETER Joemel Advincula, who claimed he was the hooded man “Bikoy” in the videos, is back in police custody.

Advincula gave himself up to police authorities on May 27, two days after he was freed on bail on fraud charges.

According to Major Gen. Amador Corpus, chief of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Advincula, who linked President Rodrigo Duterte and his family to the illegal drug trade is now under “protective” police custody.

The polic said Advincula turned over his cellphone and his desktop computer which supposedly contained his conversations with various people, said Philippine National Police chief General Oscar Albayalde.

Advincula earlier said in a press briefing at the PNP headquarters that his allegations in the video series “Ang Totoong Narco-List” were all lies allegedly led by the opposition Liberal Party and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, an outspoken Duterte critic.

Trillanes and members of the Liberal Party denied Advincula’s allegations and threatened to file charges against him.

Albayalde said they are now determining whether Advincula could be charged over the videos.

Pag-IBIG releases record-high MPL IN THE first three months of 2019, Pag-IBIG Fund disbursed a record-high P11.67 billion in multi-purpose loans (MPL), otherwise known as cash loans, to assist 571,681 members. MPL disbursement for the first quarter of 2019 registered a 7 percent yearon-year growth and exceeded the P10.92 billion released in the same period last year

by P751 million. The amount of cash loans and number of members assisted by the agency through its MPL program are both the highest for any January-March period.

“We are exerting all efforts to help Pag-IBIG members following the directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to provide Filipinos with affordable loans so that they will not resort to loan sharks. In the first quarter of 2019, MPL disbursements helped 571,681 members with their immediate financial needs,” said Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario, chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.

With Pag-IBIG Fund’s MPL program, qualified members can borrow up to 80 percent of their total Pag-IBIG Regular Savings, which consist of their monthly contributions, their employer’s contributions, and accumulated dividends earned. The loan is payable within 24 months and comes with a deferred first payment. The MPL comes at an interest rate of 10.5 percent per annum. A significant part of the income derived by Pag-IBIG Fund from the loan program is returned to its members in the form of dividends.

A4

Opinion

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Incompetence at the FDA PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s trip to Japan, with over 200 Cabinet officials, staff, security, communications group including his partner and daughter, was truly a junket.

I have joined many presidential trips during the Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo administrations. But this one takes the cake!

To think that the President has fired many officials for “excessive trips abroad.”

I wonder how much the people had to pay for that Japan trip, considering that Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world. ***

No wonder Puno was removed.

Former Food and Drug AdministraAdministra tion chief Nela Charade Puno was first appointed in 2016, there were praises all throughout the private sector. After all, Puno was the first licensed pharmacist to head the FDA. She is an industry veteran—indeed a qualified professional.

Given this, Puno should have known what reforms the agency needed, its priorities and concerns, and how it could act for the collective benefit of the industry, consumers, and the public in general.

But those praises, I heard, soon turned into jeers. This culminated with her unexpected dismissal from the FDA. It was met with a unanimous sigh of relief, my gulay!

How exactly did Puno fall from grace in the eyes of pharmaceutical players?

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

The FDA is naturally one of the more unassuming government agencies. Its responsibility is to ensure the well-being of the Filipino people by guaranteeing the safety, quality and efficacy of products. In order to do so, businesses coordinate with the agency to acquire various accreditations such as Certificate of Product Registration, Good Manufacturing Practices certificates for their industrial procedures.

Part of ensuring the safety of the public is to make sure that potentially lifesaving and cost-efficient products are made available as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, under the recent leadership of former Chief Puno, thousands of CPRs and GMP certificates have waited as many as six years to be approved.

Don’t forget that the development of a single product can cause millions of pesos. The absence of even just one accreditation can paralyze the establishment.

Small wonder business leaders are thankful for her removal.

It would be easy to say that private institutions are just making excuses for their own shortcomings. Supporters can even say that it’s the FDA’s job to be strict. However, there is a difference between being meticulous and simply dragging one’s feet.

The FDA must not only weed out the bad but ensure that the good goes through.

The thing is, companies have been willing to comply and are capable of complying with normal FDA requirements, Recently, they have been struggling to confirm to the absurd guidelines and demands of the agency’s inept employees and private institutions.

A blatant manifestation of this incompetence was when the agency upgraded its computer system. Somewhere along the way, it lost volumes of crucial documents that they themselves required from the private institutions.

For many companies,this meant going back to square one after years of painstaking red tape. Some pharma

GMRC for adults

S

OME lawmakers have proposed that Good Manners and Right Conduct be reinstated in the K to 12 program. When K to 12 was introduced seven years ago, GMRC was removed and integrated instead in other subjects in the curriculum.

1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list Rep. Salvador Belaro feels it is high time to remind the youth about core values. A similar bill was filed by Senator JV Ejercito.

There is no quarrel that children need to be taught the basics of human decency, especially at a time when so many communication channels vie for their attention.

These distractions compete with the lessons preached or lived by their parents, teachers, and the immediate community.

The belief is that children need to be oriented, or re-oriented, to fundamental ways of behaving toward others and in the context of the larger society. These values, once ingrained in children at a young age, would stay with them and guide them as they progress in their lives.

Parents and teachers without needing to be told no doubt do all they can to prepare their children for life outside the home and school. These places are conservatories where elders are able to watch the words and actions of children, and correct them when they cross the line.

There are some who say that GMRC training should start even before children learn to read and write—and we agree, if such training can be sustained well into adulthood.

We wonder, though, if there is such a thing as GMRC for adults who are now in charge of their own homes and organizations, who earn their own keep, and who recognize no higher authority.

We believe that when young people get out of school, they

carry with them only idealism and good intentions. They do not necessarily go out into the world planning to be loudmouthed, arrogant, entitled, bigoted, or unfair to their fellowmen. They do not declare that they want to be plunderers or liars or killers when asked about their ambition.

It is when they are exposed to the realities—and the perks—of privilege that they usually forget the things taught to them as children, no matter how well-meaning and assiduous their parents and teachers were.

They allow these entitlements to addle their judgment and they become heady with the notion that they can do no wrong, and that they are above any norms.

Unfortunately, there is no grading system that can evaluate this, and no corrective measures can apply except the eventual consequences of their folly.

Turn to A5

Challenging overseas Filipinos

LAST weekend, I attended the graduation ceremonies in The Hague, Netherlands and Paris, France of the Ateneo Overseas Filipinos Leadership, Innovation, Financial Literacy, and Social Entrepreneurship program or ALSE OF LIFE. This is the new name of what was previously the Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (LSE) program of the Ateneo School of Government. Apparently, some people confused LSE with the more famous London School of Economics. Whatever we call it, this program which celebrated its 10th year anniversary last December has made and is making a lot of difference in the lives of our students and alumni as well as their families and communities.

ALSE OF LIFE is a unique opportunity the Ateneo School of Government offers to overseas Filipinos—not just temporary or permanent migrants but also Filipinos who have become citizens of foreign countries. ASoG implements the program via the ALSE OF LIFE Consortium which includes the Overseas Filipinos Society for the Promotion of Economic Security, the Social Enterprises Development Partnerships Inc. (SEPDI), Ugat Foundation, and National Confederation of Cooperatives Inc. (NATCCO). We work with agencies of the Philippine government, from the Department of Foreign Affairs (through our embassies and consulates), the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

In the ceremonies in The Hague, Ambassador Jet Ledda was represented by Consul General Lolita Capco while in Paris, Ambassador Tess Lazaro was represented by Philippine Embassy First Secretary Hans Siriban. Both Ambassadors Ledda and Lazaro have been strong supporters of ALSE OF LIFE when we launched it in The Netherlands and France. In both countries, we have trained four to five batches already and have more than 100 alumni in each country, including the 12 that graduated in the Hague last Saturday and the 48 that completed the program in Paris on Sunday.

In implementing the program, we also work with local organizations such as church, civic, and migrant rights organizations that provide us venues for the training as well as support us with our

logistic needs.

The anchors of LSE, however, are Filipino teachers and professionals, both in the Philippines and abroad, who volunteer their services to deliver this training program wherever needed. The business model of the Ateneo Leadership and Entrepreneurship program is that it is volunteer and alumni driven. And so in the Netherlands, Florisa Almodiel coordinates our volunteers while in France, Mimi Agbay-Duhamel leads the implementation of the program.

After 10 years, we are now reaching 90 cohorts (with programs in Bangkok and Tokyo just launched in May 2019) and now have programs in more than 20 cities in more than a dozen countries, with 2000 plus alumni all over the world.

All of them have moving and inspiring stories.

The program is quite rigorous, requir requiring students to nine months. Students also have to develop a business plan for an enterprise and defend it before a panel. In Paris, the project names speak for themselves: Forefront Perceptive Solutions; Mabuhay Services, Inc.; Maison du Bonheur; TULAY (Trusted Unique Line And You); JAB’s Organic Chili-Pepper Farm and Other Herbs & Spices; Les Adventurers Bilingues School; LAGA: The Authentic Weaving; Les Parisiens House of Scholars; GABAY (Go And Be At Your Best); Novannie Trading; and Foreign Investments in the Philippines.

In my keynote speeches in both The Hague and Paris, I emphasized the four targets of change that we had in mind when we conceived and established this program—(1) we wanted to help overseas Filipinos become better in everything they do, help them recall their original courage and passion that made them leave the country, and give them leadership, financial, and enterprise skills to achieve their dreams; (2) to assist overseas Filipino families to become better in supporting each other, including in managing their money and assets; (3) to change the Philippines for the better by helping overseas Filipinos to become better citizens; (4) and finally to change the world, Turn to A5

Drowning in waste, Russians fume over lack of recycling

By Romain Colas ROMAN Yudakov points in the distance to a stinking mountain of trash looming over the Russian capital and sighs: “Take a look at our pyramid!”

The rubbish towers above the Timokhovo dump outside Moscow, one of the biggest in Europe. Authorities plan to build an incinerator to burn some of the trash, but Yudakov and other activists are fighting for it to be recycled instead.

“The priority of the authorities is to burn, rather than sort (waste for recycling). Nobody is ready to do that,” says the 36-yearold electrician as he flicks his cigarette butt in the direction of the 157-metre (515-feet) high dump east of Moscow.

Open since the late 1970s, Timokhovo receives dozens of lorries every day from the capital some 80 kilometers (50 miles away).

Since 2013, residents have complained of foul sulphurous smells and worry that effluents are polluting ground water. The authorities acknowledged the smell comes from the dump, but say it is now safe because of a filtration system. Activists, however, dispute this claim.

Just seven percent of rubbish is recycled in Russia, according to official data. This

falls far below France’s 43 percent or Germany’s 68 percent achieved in 2017, according to Eurostat.

The majority of household waste in Russia ends up in locations like Timokhovo, whose trash pile can be seen from many kilometres away.

In recent years, waste management has emerged as a subject of heated debate as residents of towns surrounding Moscow have protested against dumps filled to over capacity or catching on fire.

Authorities came up with the idea of unloading some of the local landfills and taking the waste from Moscow, which produces 15 percent of Russia’s garbage, to the Arkhangelsk region in the north.

The new landfill project launched in the region 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) from the capital caused unprecedented demonstrations and led to clashes between local protesters and construction workers and security guards.

Need change in mentality With the issue emerging as a major cause of public discontent, President Vladimir Putin in December announced that the recycling rate will increase to 60 percent by 2024 with the help of 200 new waste sorting centres.

But campaigners for recycling have re-

acted with scepticism, saying all centralized attempts at` recycling have failed in the past, and only private initiatives can be effective.

“They pretend to talk about recycling. I’ve seen an ad on the subway and opinion polls on the subject, but for the moment the government is not rushing to support us,” says Alyona Rudyuk, who runs a small recycling center in Moscow.

The center opened in November and is part of a network launched by an environmental association Sobirator. Every day, dozens of Muscovites come here to drop off their sorted packaging.

Sobirator also has a truck that collects rubbish in various Moscow neighborhoods, advertising pickup points via social media or even coming straight to a person’s home for a fee.

Natalia Umnova chose that option after collecting and sorting recyclables on the balcony of her flat for several months.

“We checked the [recycling] centers nearby, but they were either closed or only accepted one type of waste,” she says.

To take recycling to a wider scale, there are a lot of challenges to overcome, mostly stemming from a lack of enthusiasm at the government level, says Sobirator founder Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Jimbo Gulle City Editor Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019

Pay your debts WHEN billionaire businessmen with ambitious plans for growth as well as carefully cultivated reputations for philanthropy run afoul of government, the ripples they create can feel like tidal waves.

Consider the case of San Miguel’s chief honcho, Ramon S. Ang (RSA). His company owns South Premiere Power Corporation (SPPC), which, among other things, administers the huge Ilijan gas-fired power generation plant in Batangas City. Like many other power plants, Ilijan was acquired from government in a privatization conducted by the government-owned Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM).

Various monies are still due and payable to PSALM from that transaction, and the total ain’t small. To be exact, according to Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez, who serves as PSALM chairman, the total is P19.8 billion. That’s the highest owed to PSALM by any single debtor. It’s equivalent to one-third of the total amount of P59.2 billion owed to this GOCC by all independent power producer administrators (IPPAs), electrical cooperatives, and other private sector entities combined.

Sec Sonny is incensed because PSALM has been borrowing heavily to repay its own indebtedness. Last year it borrowed about P23 billion at a cost of nearly P3 billion in interest and charges. This year it expects to borrow another USD 1.1 billion by the end of May. Without the P19.8 billion hole left in its pocket by San Miguel and Ilijan, PSALM could have substantially reduced last year’s borrowings and interest expense—all of which by the way is guaranteed by the national government itself.

There’s two sides to every story, of course.

In this case, Mr. Ang insists that government has miscalculated the size of his company’s obligations to PSALM. And when PSALM issued termination orders against Ilijan in 2015, San Miguel was able to secure an injunction from the Mandaluyong RTC. But Sec Sonny remains adamant. “All these borrowing costs could have otherwise been utilized by the Government for the construction of public school classrooms or to build roads and bridges,” he says. Indeed, P3

billion of interest savings could have built a whole heck of a lot of new infra for the country.

This whole situation needs to be cleared up immediately—for the benefit of government, which can use the fiscal savings, as well as the benefit of Mr. Ang, who’s in the thick of launching so many ambitious new projects that depend on the goodwill of government as his partner, regulator, and/or counterparty.

It’s the people who need to come out on top of all of this.

Some ripples can feel like tidal waves.

*** Maria Ressa’s Rappler reports that income inequality among the country’s regions has widened from 2009 to 2018, according to NEDA. In the National Capital Region (NCR), regional GDP per capita reached P253,893 in 2018, a 40-percent jump from 2009. By contrast, the poorest region, ARMM, registered only P14,657 in 2018, hardly unchanged from its 2009 level of P14,052.

NEDA Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro disclosed that the regions with very low GDP are also those with large agricultural bases. This only highlights the importance of improving agricultural productivity, which ironically has even suffered from the inefficiencies of land reform Philippine-style.

USec Navarro added that low-GDP regions like ARMM and Caraga also had the highest population growth rates, prompting her to call for greater LGU support for family planning and RH programs. This of course is the old “population growth is bad” argument, which I thought had already been trashed by our country’s recent record of demographically-driven economic growth and competitiveness.

In order to address this problem of regional inequality, the USec said that government is now pouring cash into infrastructure and social services. But hasn’t government in fact already been doing that for decades, albeit to various degrees depending on who was sitting in Malacañang?

NEDA’s prescriptions are textbook, but

beg the obvious question: Who is in a better position to decide what is best for a region, and then implement it—the region itself, or some panjundrum based in Manila?

Who is in a better position to—as NEDA prescribes—“improve connectivity between regions, improve productivity of small farmers, promote agricultural diversification, enhance the competitiveness of local SMSEs, improve access to social services, strengthen disaster resiliency”?

Ask any governor or mayor who has had to make the pilgrimage to NEDA, as well as other Manila-based national government agencies, with his hat in hand, begging for support for whata new hospital, or more classrooms, or what provever new project he deems urgent for his prov ince or town. And even if he’s lucky enough to get an OK, how long did he have to wait for the project to break ground.

If asked about the alternative solution of federalism, NEDA bureaucrats will answer that there’s no proof it would work. Which again begs the obvious question: Well, how Rapdoes your own record look so far? The Rap pler story isn’t encouraging at all. *** In today’s Gospel (John 17: 1-11), Jesus closes His discourses over the Last Supper by bidding farewell to His disciples: “…The hour has come…And now I will no longer be in the world.” Then He commends them to the care of His Father above: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.”

Decades later, as recounted in the reading from Acts 20: 17-27, Paul also bids farewell to his Christian converts in Ephesus: “I know that none of you to whom I preached the kingdom during my travels will ever see my face again.” But he too, like Jesus, also bids them a fare thee well: “Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you overseers.”

This final week of the Easter season is bracketed by two halves of the Divine message. Last Ascension Sunday, God as Jesus left us. But this coming Pentecost Sunday, God as the Paraclete rejoins us.

Every parting from Jesus can only be temporary. By our love for Him and for His flock, He continues to abide in us. And by the example of our own faith, we continue to win converts to the Kingdom whose work on earth is still unfinished, until He returns.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

Miscommunication, my bad I WOULD offer no excuses to justify the excessive language that I used during my radio broadcast, admittedly overreacting rather emotionally and forcibly to Social Services Secretary Rolando “Rolly” Bautista’s unavailability for an interview last Tuesday morning, May 28.

It would not have happened at all had I known that the Secretary was actually anticipating a courtesy call by the Ambassador of Singapore within minutes when my staff requested the phone-patch interview with the Secretary on the subject of Magna Carta for the Poor.

Unfortunately, we were not apprised of that piece of information, which was actually a newsworthy public event as far as we at Radyo Pilipinas are concerned.

I did not realize soon enough that it was not the usual runaround given to the media, the bureaucratic red tape imposed by self-important public officials who avoid

Drowning...

From A4

Leonid Sinitsyn.

“We can show people how to do (recycling) but we can’t solve the problem, so we need a change in mentality and in the law,” he says.

Garbage reform So far, government efforts appear to have had the opposite effect.

A so-called “garbage reform” kicked into action in January was supposed to make waste management more transparent, but in effect hiked waste disposal fees for already

Challenging...

From A4

including the Netherlands and France, by helping our students become responsible citizens and residents in their host county.

Before the Paris graduation ceremony started, I overheard one of the graduates saying—“Kasama namin si Dean Tony sa Otso Diretso.” That gave me the opportunity to share my political perspective, correcting the student. I said I actually voted for a mixed slate in the senate and six of my candidates won. I am a believer in a united front and national unity government—that our divisive politics from Erap to GMA to PNoy and now Duterte is bad for our country and our future. I really believe that only a Team Philippines approach, as advocated by former President Fidel V. Ramos, is the way forward for us so we can defeat poverty, inequal-

questions, especially when my staff was told to send a formal request for an interview with the Secretary.

Unlike in the military, public officials in civilian agencies in the frontline of providing government services are accountable to the people and must be transparent at all times without exception.

Still, the Secretary did not deserve any such verbosity and profanity that I directed to him. I am, therefore, reaching out to Sec. Bautista, his family and friends, DSWD staff and, of course, his band of brothers in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Let me assure everyone that I share the Secretary’s burning passion and commitment for public service that earned him the trust and confidence of President Duterte.

Again, my wholehearted apology and salute to a true officer and a gentleman, who kept his composure amidst all the noise and anger by the public created by that excessive on air ranting of mine.

Hope for the poor Meanwhile, we pin our hopes on some 18,000 newly elected officials to boost the quality of living throughout the country for the millions of our impoverished fel-

low Filipinos, particularly war-ravaged and natural calamity-hit areas.

The public eye will be focused on the freshly-constituted Senate that will assume office on July 1st. Hopefully, the 18th Congress and the Executive Branch will be in sync to advance President Duterte’s economic agenda and social justice programs.

Too many people still live in subhuman conditions, particularly in Muslim Mindanao, despite the gains three years into this administration.

Next month, the President will submit to the joint session of the 18th Congress for his State of the Nation Address (SONA) the National Expenditure Plan, which will be taken up by Congress as the General Appropriations Bill or national budget bill for 2020.

With a stronger bicameral support, we are counting on a less arduous approval of the national budget sans the scandalous, shameless bickering over P95 billion in pork barrel funds in this year’s delayed appropriations.

And, with the enactment of the Magna Carta for the Poor, the many, many poorest of the poor are guaranteed access to government assistance for their basic necessities such as food, housing, medical, and employment.

struggling Russians, fuelling more public ire.

“It’s the price of (consumer) packaging that should increase, not the fees,” says former MP Maxim Shingarkin, who was one of the reform’s authors. “And as long as people are angry, they will not be motivated to recycle.”

Moscow regional government said in a comment to AFP that increased fees go toward new sorting bins and rising transport costs following the closure of overflowed waste landfills.

In addition, three recycling centers opened last year and nine more are under construction, and more than 700,000 school children have attended special classes on the benefits of recycling, it said.

Despite these efforts, Shingarkin suspects

that Moscow’s main regional waste disposal operator may simply lack the motivation to develop recycling.

The company RT-Invest, partly owned by the state corporation Rostec, is also involved in building four waste incinerators around the capital, which Shingarkin believes is a conflict of interest.

“Sorting and recycling rubbish would mean there is less rubbish to burn,” he said.

RT-Invest denied any lack of enthusiasm for recycling, saying the eight sorting centres it is constructing are “in its interests.”

“It’s only after sorting the waste that the non-reusable items will be sent to the incinerator,” spokeswoman Yevgenia Sokolova said. AFP

ity, and social injustice. I encouraged our students to have that perspective, abandon DDS and Dilawan labels as Vico Sotto has said and to build a country that liberates the poor as Isko Moreno consistently says.

I also talked about the challenges migrants all over the world are facing. Its not easy what we are up against but we will overcome as generations of migrants everywhere have always done so. I told the graduates that we hope we have given them skills to respond to these global challenges.

In this context, I was so inspired listening to the sharing by our graduates in The Hague and Paris about their life stories and what ALSE OF LIFE meant to them. In The Hague, the graduates were represented by Maitet Ledesma, the most senior of our Ateneo LSE graduates, and Chayenne Garcia, the youngest of the cohort. Maitet is a well-known activist, thirty years already in Europe, truly to be emulated by everyone in her commitment

to social change and national liberation.

Chayenne is only 21 years old and has been in the Netherlands for five years.

In Paris, Maria Christina Sunglao, Teresita Lucero, Marissa Alviz, Danica Manangigit and Alfred Sheenon Fontanar, Brenda Candelario, and Vian Bioc (through a pre-taped video) shared their moving and inspiring stories.

In both The Hague and Paris graduation ceremonies, we ended with reading the message of current Ateneo School of Government Dean Ronald Mendoza. In his message, Dean Ron emphasized the challenges facing our country and people, and the rest of the world: “I would like to call upon each one of you to become change agents to actively bring about a Philippines (and world) where social justice, truth, equal opportunity for all, and respect for basic human rights prevail.”

Facebook Page: Professor Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Disaggregating the incoming Senate his participation in the recent rebuke to three critical visiting US Senators who expressed support for Sen. Leila de Lima and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa—but by and large he has been an independent-minded Senator. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. can be adjudged LAST WEEK the President of the to have passed the ‘Has he conducted Senate made a declaration that no himself independently?’ test with fairSenate head had ever felt a need to ly-high-flying colors. make in the history of that chamber.

Lastly, there are the senators who are Senator Vicente Sotto III declared likely to be ‘Flexible.’ Senators who that the Senate of the incoming Con- are not ‘Subservient to Malacañang’ gress—the Eighteenth—would not be and have not shown themselves to a rubber-stamp of Malacañang. be generally ‘Independent’ fall under Senator Sotto made that declaration this classification. They comprise the in the face of widespread belief that biggest group; there are 12 ‘Flexible’ the Senate “supermajority” resulting Senators, of whom five have just been from the recent election—eleven win- reelected or elected. ning Senators endorsed by Hugpong The twelve Senators who are likeng Pagbabago ng Pilipinas (HNP) ly to be flexible in matters involvand its parent, PDP-Laban, added to ing Malacañang are Cynthia Villar, the nine senators Pia Cayetano, serving out their Sonny Angara, term—would be Francis To Toeither subservilentino, Imee Which senators ent, or highly Marcos, Nansympathetic, to are independent, cy Binay, Vithe administration cente Sotto III, of President Du- subservient and Ralph Recto, terte. “The Senate flexible?

Richard Gorof the Eighteenth don, Miguel Congress will be Zubiri, Sherindependent from win Gatchal GatchalMalacañang,” ian and Joel Mr. Sotto said with utmost seriousserious Villanueva. The newly reelected/ ness. elected Senators are Villar, Cayetano, Can the 20 ladies and gentlemen be Angara, Tolentino, Marcos and Biexpected to be un-independent in the nay. As previously stated, President performance of the duties of senators of Duterte cannot count on the on-evethe Republic? Or are they likely to func- ry-occasion support of the ‘Flexible’ tion like lackeys, giving their assent to senators and senators-elect; they will all of President Duterte’s wishes? support Malacañang when it will be in The way to approach these ques- their interest to do so. The factors that tions is to disaggregate the incom- will figure in their decision-making ing Senate, i.e., to take a close look regarding Malacañang initiatives and at the senators—their backgrounds, requests will include fear of reprisal their philosophies and their personali- (especially for senators with business ties—and assign each of them to one affiliations), the need to protect reeof three categories. The categories lection prospects (for those who will are ‘Independent-minded,’ ‘Subservi- be seeking reelection in 2022), a quest ent to Malacañang’ and ‘Flexible.’ As for in-return political or economic the adjective connotes, senators who benefits from the Duterte administraare ‘Independent’ vote on the basis tion and a desire to stay on generally of conscience and principle, support- good terms with Mr. Duterte. ing Duterte administration proposals Given the foregoing disaggregation and initiatives that are meritorious of the Senate and classification of the and disdaining those that are not. senators, can it be said that independThe classification ‘Subservient to ence in the Eighteenth Congress SenMalacañang’ needs no explanation. ate is a lost cause and that the Filipino ‘Flexible’ senators are those who people can expect only subservience are neither ‘Independent’ nor ‘Sub- to Malacañang from that body? And servient to Malacañang’. They do does President Duterte have the sonot always cast their votes on the called Senate supermajority in his basis of principle or conscience. Es- pocket. The answer to these and simisentially ‘Flexible’ senators are op- lar questions is No. portunists: they will support a DuTwo numbers are decisive in the terte administration proposal when work of the Senate. One is the numit suits their interests, and they will ber 13; that’s the number of votes oppose a Duterte administration pro- that a bill needs for approval by the posal when their interests stand to be Senate. The other number is 16; that’s prejudiced. As President Duterte’s the number of votes required for faterm winds down, and as the present vorable Senate action on matters that occupant of Malacañang edges closer require a two-thirds majority, such as to lame-duck status, the ‘Flexible’ the amendment of the Constitution or senators will less and less be hesi- the ratification of a treaty. Since it can tant about withholding support from only be sure of the votes of the ‘SubMalacañang. servient to Malacañang’ senators, Judging from their track records the Duterte administration will have in and outside the government, who to seek the support of at least eight among the Eighteenth Congress sena- ‘Independent’ and ‘Flexible’ senators are likely to be ‘Independent’, tors; that support will not always be ‘Subservient to Malacañang’ and forthcoming, especially where con‘Flexible’? troversial issues like the restoration Let’s begin with the senators who of the death penalty are concerned. It are likely to be subservient to Presi- goes without saying that getting the dent Duterte. Two of the candidates votes needed for the approval of twowho Mr. Duterte personally endorsed thirds-majority matters, the Duterte in the election, Christopher Go and administration will have to successGen. Rolando ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, are fully woo at least 11 other senators. diehard Duterte men. So is Manny Where the matter needing the SenPacquiao. During his previous term ate’s approval is very weighty—an as senator, Lito Lapid made no effort amendment to the Constitution, for to become, or claim to be regarded as, instance—the wooing may not be a good senator; things are unlikely to successful. have changed. Ramon Revilla Jr. has It may be called a supermajority, shown that he has no strong ethical but the incoming Senate cannot be moorings. dismissed as Malacañang’s rubberThe senators who are likely to live stamp. The chamber’s president, up to the ‘Independent’ classification. Senator Sotto, can be believed when Having waged her two Senatorial he says that the Eighteenth Congress campaigns as a no-party candidate, Senate will not be a rubber-stamp. A Grace Poe can afford to function inde- senator has a national mandate. More pendently. Panfilo Lacson Jr. has on a important, Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s few occasions sided with the Duterte term is slowly but surely drawing to administration—the most recent was a close.

Incompetence...

From A4

And if you are shocked at what is happening in city jails, try going to the provinces. The food allocation for each inmate is P50 a day.

If people are not outraged at such a sight, I don’t know what will outrage them.

I am appalled at what seems to be apathy among those in government. The Justice department, through Secretary Menardo Guevarra should do something!

If city and municipal jails are congested, the New Bilibid Prison is another story altogether. It was built for just 4,000 inmates but now houses 24,000.

I wonder what happened to the plan to relocate it to Nueva Ecija.

Mr. President, I implore you. Please look at the sorry state of our jail system—and do something about it.

companies were actually forced into bankruptcy because of this blunder.

Ultimately, of course, there is much more than money at risk. It is ironic to think that the FDA’s incompetence had aversely affected the health of Filipinos.

Puno’s replacement will, I hope, be a much better appointee. The President must name somebody familiar with the industry and the legalities surrounding it. *** When I saw that photo last Sunday of the half-naked convicts at the Quezon City jail, I was no longer shocked.

Had President Duterte seen such photos? This is not unique to Quezon City.

Almost all jails are like this for lack of space. www.emiljurado.weebly.com

the ghty the Data ss of

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A6

News

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Marcos slams Robredo for supporting Smartmatic THE camp of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday lashed at Vice President Leni Robredo for opposing the call of President Rodrigo Duterte for the Commission on Elections to dump technology provider Smartmatic and instead look for a new one not tainted with involvement in electoral fraud.

Marcos’ lawyer and spokesperson Vic Rodriguez also criticized Robredo and COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez for defending Smartmatic, despite CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK numerous complaints against the Venezuelan technology provider, particularly the efficiency of its vote counting machines where several hundreds of its VCMs malfunctioned during the canvassing of votes for the May 13 midterm elections.

“Why is the COMELEC and Mrs. Robredo so in love with Smartmatic?

How much do they love Smartmatic?”

Rodriguez said.

On Sunday, the vice president urged the COMELEC to exercise caution on the proposal of President Duterte to terminate its partnership with Smartmatic.

According to her, the COMELEC should be allowed to explain before politicians make sweeping allegation of election fraud in the May 13 national elections.

“We should not say just because our candidates lost, they were cheated. Let them explain the matter to us first. If the explanation is acceptable, that would be it.

If it is not acceptable to us, that’s the time we complain. But we should be calm,” Robredo said.

The Marcos camp lamented that Robredo’s opposition to the dismantling of the COMELEC-Smartmatic partnership was clearly an open disrespect to the sentiments of Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo and San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza who both supported President Duterte’s call for the Comelec to dump Smartmatic in favor of what they described as “hybrid election” where manual count will be conducted at precinct level to address the issue of “lack of transparency” arising from the use of Smartmatic’s VCMs. Last week, the President urged the COMELEC to end its partnership with Smartmatic following widespread complaints about its efficiency and capability to maintain the integrity of the elections in the country.

The President said the numerous complaints and allegations of electoral fraud in midterm elections created a ‘hostile attitude’ towards Smartmatic.

“I would like to advise the COMELEC, now, I wouldn’t wait anymore, dispose of Smartmatic and look for a new one that is free of fraud,” Duterte said. Rey E. Requejo

IN BRIEF House okays rights bill on 3rd reading

FREEDOM DAY PREPS. A worker

replaces Monday an old Philippine Flag with a new one in Bacoor, Cavite, in preparation for the Independence Day celebration on June 12.

This year, the Philippines is celebrating 121 years of independence. PNA

23cops in murder case summoned by DOJ

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Department of Justice has subpoenaed to a preliminary investigation hearing the 23 police officers implicated in the killing of the aide of former Biliran Rep. Glenn Chong and a female companion.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Alexander Suarez, assigned to handle the case, confirmed on Monday that “subpoenas have been issued to the respondents.”

Suarez said the respondents had been ordered to appear at the start of the preliminary investigation this Thursday and submit counter-affidavits in response to the murder complaint filed against them.

“Those who failed to file counter-affidavits will be given another chance,” he admitted.

Last May 17, the National Bureau of Investigation filed before the DOJ criminal complaints concerning the December killing of Santillan and his female companion Gessamyn Casing in Barangay San Andres in Cainta, Rizal.

In its complaint, the NBI named as respondents for obstruction of justice Calabarzon police regional director Brig.

ures 2016 (RA)

s, or pital ions eges

ders from ding the

or ng, d,

orms

ilure ward reby

er

Gen. Edward Carranza; Rizal provincial director Col. Lou Evangelista; and Cainta police chief Lt. Col. Pablito Naganag.

While two counts of murder and one count of planting of evidence were filed against seven officers from Cainta police station led by Lt. Sandro Ortega, four officers from the provincial office of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group led by Capt. John Russel Barnacha and 10 operatives of Regional Special Operations Unit led by M/Sgt. Rene Eufracio.

Following the investigation and forensic examination, the NBI concluded that the incident was a rubout and not a shootout as claimed by the police officers.

“The concerted acts of the above police officers, before, during and after the death of [Santillan and Casing], indubitably show causal relation, thus pointing to a joint purpose, a unity of action and a

community of interest—to kill Santillan and Casing,” the complaint stated.

The NBI stressed that “Santillan and Casing were continuously fired upon by surrounding heavily armed police officers resulting in multiple gunshot wounds to the different parts of their bodies, which caused their deaths.”

“Needless to say, Santillan and Casing were like sitting ducks overwhelmingly vulnerable to attack and clearly unable to protect their lives,” the complaint stated.

Earlier, Carranza and his men had claimed that the incident last December was part of their legitimate police operations against the so-called “Highway Boys” involved in drug trade, carnapping, robbery and killings in Floodway in Cainta.

They claimed that the police operatives spotted the unregistered Toyota Fortuner that was supposedly being used by the syndicate in its operations, which at that time was being driven by Santillan.

They alleged they tried to flag down the vehicle but Santillan sped off resulting in a chase. When Santillan fired at the operatives, police said they were forced to retaliate.

Police in counter-terrorism training

nter CU), tem pon have pt of er is ns to

pine eps. e at r the

THE House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill which prevents human rights violations and abuses perpetrated against HRDs. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman welcomed the bill’s passage, noting that Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of Human Rights has recorded the killing of 697 human rights defenders in the country for the period 2001 to 2018, while Task Force Detainees of the Philippines documented 76 human rights violations affecting 333 HRDs from September 2013 to September 2016 alone.

House Bill 9199 consolidated HB 8128 authored by Lagman; and HB 1617 introduced by Representatives Carlos Isagani Zarate, Antonio Tinio, Emmi de Jesus, France Castro, Arlene Brosas, and of Makabayan Bloc.

The bill guarantees HRD rights and freedoms; mandates the State and public authorities to respect, protect, and fulfill these rights and freedoms; and imposes appropriate sanctions to counter impunity.

Once enacted, the bill will also create a Human Rights Defenders Protection Committee chaired by a Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and six members who will be jointly nominated by concerned civil society organizations. Maricel V. Cruz

FIRST DAY STRESS. Students look for their names for room assignments and their sections on Monday on the first day of classes, at Manila city’s public schools, for academic year 2019-2020. Ey Acasio LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given to the public that an ExtraJudicial Settlement has been executed by the heirs of the late Alfredo G. Fernando, namely: Maxima H. Fernando, Adriano H. Fernando, Felix H. Fernando, Maria F. Disto, Sergio H. Fernando, Marina F. Marcelo, and Reynaldo H. Fernando, all of legal age, over personal and real properties, per deed executed on 24 May 2019 before Notary Public Atty.

Efren G. Gumatay, Jr., per Doc. No. 495; Page No. 90; Book No. I; Series of 2019.

(MS-MAY 28, JUNE 4 & 11, 2019)

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given to the public that an ExtraJudicial Settlement has been executed by the heirs of the late Reynaldo Disto, namely: Maria F. Disto, Ma. Elaine F. Disto and Mary Joyce F. Disto, all of legal age, over personal and real properties, per deed executed on 17 May 2019 before Notary Public Atty.

Efren G. Gumatay, Jr., per Doc. No. 439; Page No. 89; Book No. I; Series of 2019.

(MS-MAY 28, JUNE 4 & 11, 2019)

THE Philippine National Police personnel will undergo counter-terrorism training to be conducted by the Israeli police, PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, said on Monday.

Albayalde said he requested the training from the Israel police during a week-long seminar he and other PNP officials attended in Israel from May 27 to June 1.

“What we asked from them is training because we know that they are always very alert and they have very high level of training because of level of threat in their country,” Albayalde said in a press conference at Camp Crame.

“So I asked if probably we could have training to be conducted here at the PNP and they are very willing to share their skills and knowledge,” he added.

He said last week’s seminar focused on many challenges the PNP has been facing like the campaign

Proposed ‘Consumer Act’ hurdles final reading

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has pushed for the enactment of the bill ensuring that appropriate mechanisms are in place to protect the interest of financial consumers.

This would be under conditions of transparency, fair, and sound market conduct and just, reasonable, and effective handling of financial consumer disputes that are aligned with global best practices.

The Arroyo-led House approved on third and final reading House Bill 9054 or the proposed “Financial Consumer Protection Act.” The bill, authored by Rep. Henry Ong of Leyte, got the support of all 164 House Members during the

plenary voting late last week.

The bill declares that the mechanisms reinforce confidence in the financial market and foster stability in the Philippine financial system.

House Bill 9054 got the support of all 164 House Members during the plenary voting.

The bill mandates the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Insurance Commission to enforce the provisions of the measure on all financial entities they supervise or regulate.

The Cooperative Development Authority shall oversee the implementation of the measure through cooperative offering services such as savings and credit, provided that the implementation by insurance cooperatives shall

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

be overseen by the IC. The bill empowers financial regulators to 1) formulate their own standards and rules applicable to a specific financial product within their jurisdiction, 2) issue their respective rules of procedure, and 3) conduct off-site surveillance and on-site examination on their respective supervised financial entities to ascertain compliance with the measure.

They shall also be empowered to require supervised financial entities and their third-party agents or service providers to submit reports or documents as needed.

They may access relevant data about financial products, services, and markets from other government agencies in connection with market monitoring.

against terrorism.

“Our discussion with the Israeli counterparts focused on the challenges being faced by the PNP, our campaign against terrorism, specifically, the ISIS, and our continuing efforts to fight this menace,” Albayalde said.

He said the PNP continued to closely coordinate and cooperate with their international counterparts in the light of previous terror attacks worldwide.

“The PNP continues to be aggressive in intelligence and information gathering to address threats and violence,” he said.

Albayalde said there was no threat of terrorism being monitored in the country.

But he said the PNP remained on alert against any terror attack throughout the country.

“By this effort, we greatly recognize the contribution of the international community as far as terrorism is concerned,” said Albayalde. PNA

‘Marcos heirs can take part in auction’ THE Duterte administration will oppose any attempt of the Marcos family to block the looming public auction of the multi-million-peso jewelry collections, Malacañang said on Monday, but hinted at a possibility that they could participate in the auction.

Speaking to Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Palace would object once the Marcoses would try to impede the public auction of the three jewelry collections of Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda Marcos.

“If they do, then we will oppose it because that’s the right [thing] to do,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.

“We feel that, as the President [feels], the proceeds have to go to the Filipino people who are in urgent need of government aid,” he added, noting that Duterte already gave his nod to sell all three sets of jewelry to benefit the needy public.

“As far as we’re concerned, these properties have been declared to be ill-gotten, that’s why precisely it is to be sold. If that was the court decision then we will abide by it,” he said.

Asked if the Marcoses would be banned from participating in the public bidding, the Palace official said: “Only the court can stop the sale. If it’s an auction, then everybody is free to bid.”

According to Panelo, there are no known prohibitions barring certain people from partaking in a public auction.

“I don’t think so [they can be banned from the auction]. I do not know any laws prohibiting any person from bidding if you’re qualified,” he said. Nat Mariano

Solon condemns labor leader’s death AKBAYAN Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday condemned the murder of labor leader and fifth nominee of Partido Mangaggawa Dennis Sequena, shot dead in Barangay Bunga, Tanza, Cavite on Sunday.

Proposed Senate Resolution No. 1062 authored by Hontiveros urges the Senate to investigate the killing of Sequena and other labor leaders and organizers.

“I am deeply saddened by the murder of our fellow advocate Dennis Sequena, who lived his life advocating for Filipino workers and their families,” she said.

“We hope that the authorities are doing their best to bring peace and justice to the Sequena family,” Hontiveros said.

“We have seen a pattern of intentional attacks on our laborers and farmers. We have been unable to protect our workers from the onset of this culture of violence and impunity enabled by the administration,” she added.

Hontiveros recalled the 2016 shooting of a PM trade union leader, 35-year-old Orlando Abangan and the 2018 strafing incident in Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City in Negros Occidental where nine workers affiliated with the National Federation of Sugar Workers engaging in a “bungkalan” activity or land cultivation in a hacienda were killed. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Solon seeks Sandigan permit for 21-day vacation in Europe A LAWMAKER has asked permission from the Sandiganbayan for a 21-day vacation in Europe pending the resolution of his graft case over an alleged anomalous lease of land proceeds.

Iligan City Rep. Frederick Siao, in his urgent motion for leave to travel at the court’s Third Division on May 28, said he wished to travel to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Austria from June 18 to July 9 with his family.

“Accused Cong. Siao has already made prior arrangements and commitments to travel to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Austria to attend to business matters and for leisure with his family,” Siao said in his motion.

Siao said should the court allow him to travel, he would comply with requirements

that the Sandiganbayan might impose.

“Furthermore, there is no reason to fear that Cong. Siao will be a fugitive from justice and law considering that he has, in the past, faithfully complied with all the directives of this honorable court,” Siao said.

Siao attached a travel authority issued by the office of Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on April 8.

In 2013, Siao, who was then a city councilor, and the rest of the city council allegedly passed a resolution authorizing then-Mayor Lawrence Cruz to sign an agreement with Salvatori Development Corp. for the lease of 20,000 square meters of land in Barangay Tubod for the operation of the Iligan Bus and Jeepney Terminal. Maricel V. Cruz

Sports Emanas, Lims shine in PPS tennis at Southwoods MICA Ella Emana hacked out a pair of victories in contrasting fashions while sister Kaye Ann pulled off a shock win in the premier side as they grabbed the spotlight in the PPS-PEPP Manila Southwoods age-group tennis tournament in Carmona, Cavite recently.

The second seeded Mica Ella took the girls’ 14-and-under singles crown with a 6-3, 6-1 rout of giant-killer Chelsea Roque then out-steadied Kaye Ann to complete a come-frombehind 4-6, 7-5, 10-7, triumph in the 16-U finals of the Group 1 tournament presented by Dunlop.

But the unranked Kaye Ann bounced back strong in 18-U play, upending No. 3 Julia Ignacio, 5-3, 4-2, then trouncing second seed Gaby Zoleta, 6-3, 6-3, before crushing No. 1 Francesca Cruz, 6-1, 6-0, in the finals to complete the big day for the Quezon City siblings at the Manila Southwood Golf and Country Club tennis courts.

Kriz Roque Lim, meanwhile, picked up another win in 10-unisex division the hard way, turning back Gavin Kraut, 4-1, 2-4, 10-6. Though the Urdaneta bet failed to add the boys’ 12-U crown with a 1-6, 1-6 setback to brother John Prince Lim, he still shared the MVP honors with Mica Ella in the tournament that featured a number of three-setters.

“This string of reversals and matches decided via the distance underscored the level playing field in the circuit.

Through their regular stints, the Emanas and the Lims continue to improve and their recent feats should inspire other young players,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Other singles winners were Los Baños JT Bernardo (boys’ 14-U), Manila Polo Club’s Miguel Castillo (16-U), Red Ante (18-U) and Czarina Ilano (girls’ 12-U) from Imus, Cavite while bagging the doubles titles were Kaye Ann-Dominique Lhuillier and the Lim siblings (14-U); Zoleta-Ignacio and Ante-Angelo Lozares (18-U); and Kriz Roque-Noah Llira (10-unisex).

Bernardo held off Andre Coladilla, 7-6(3), 6-0; Castillo repulsed Stephen Catipon, 6-2, 6-7(4), 10-3; Ante survived Castillo, 7-6(3), 7-6(5); and Ilano rallied past Margarita Labio, 4-6, 6-3, 10-1, in the tournament sanctioned by Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. Meanwhile, action resumes with the Mindanao and Luzon tournaments with Kidapawan City hosting the next stop on June 6-9 for the Dir. Alfredo Aton Cup with Alamada, Cotabato staging the next tournament on June 13-16.

PSA Forum tackles PSL THE Philippine Super Liga ushers its All-Filipino tournament with a formal press conference during a special session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum today (June 4) at the Amelie Hotel-Manila.

PSL Chairman Philip Ella Juico and other league officials, along with representatives of all participating teams are gracing the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Braska Restaurant, Amelie Hotel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Ara Galang and Aby Marano of F2 Logistics, Rachel Ann Daquis and Jheck Dionela of Cignal, Foton’s Jaja Santiago and Mina Aganon, Marinerang Pilipina’s Chiara Permentilla and Kaithlyn Viray, and Petron’s Mika Reyes and Ces Molina are some of the players expected to appear in the weekly session.

PSA members are enjoin to attend the public sports program that start at 10 a.m.

A7

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Wawrinka meets Federer next P

ARIS—Stan Wawrinka knocked Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas out of the French Open with a thrilling victory in the longest match of this year’s tournament on Sunday, setting up a quarter-final against Roger Federer, while Rafael Nadal claimed his 90th Roland Garros win.

A stunning winner from yards behind the baseline secured a 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 8-6 fourth-round triumph for 2015 champion Wawrinka after five hours and nine minutes in sweltering heat on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

The 34-year-old has a 23-3 losing headto-head record against close friend and fellow Swiss Federer, who saw off Argentinian world number 68 Leonardo Mayer 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 earlier in the day.

“It’s incredible, lots of emotions.

Thanks to all the fans for staying and (the) support,” said Wawrinka after the third longest match in the last 20 years at the French Open.

“It’s for these kind of emotions that I live for after coming back from injury.”

It is the first time Wawrinka has reached a Grand Slam quarter-final since losing to Rafael Nadal in the 2017 Roland Gar-

ros final, and completes an amazing turnaround from 12 months ago.

Last year, the three-time Grand Slam champion, following injury struggles, lost in the first round to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and dropped out of the world’s top 250.

The 20-year-old Tsitsipas missed out on the chance for a rematch with Federer, having beaten the 20-time major title winner in the Australian Open fourth round earlier this year.

Wawrinka, seeded 24th, saved 22 of the 27 break points he faced, including all eight in the final set as sixth seed Tsitsipas pushed for victory to no avail.

“Worse thing in tennis. It’s the worst feeling ever. Especially when you lose.

You don’t want to be in my place,” Tsitsipas said.

Evergreen Federer marches on Federer, the 2009 champion in Paris, is

the oldest man to make the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament since Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open.

“It’s fabulous that I can spend this time in Paris,” said Federer who last played the tournament in 2015 when he lost in the quarter-finals to Wawrinka.

“I was prepared for the worst scenario, losing in the first round in three sets. But I am super happy with my performance.”

Federer will be playing in his 54th quarter-final at a Slam, cementing his place on top of the all-time men’s list.

Federer, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament, said he still remembers his last-eight loss to Wawrinka in Paris four years ago.

“I have a bad memory of it. Stan beat me in three sets with his terrible shorts!”

Reigning champion Nadal continued his bid for a record-extending 12th Roland Garros title by beating Grand Slam debutant Juan Ignacio Londero 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.

World number 78 Londero had his moments, breaking Nadal when 4-1 down in the third set, but the 17-time major champion always looked too strong, powering 40 winners past the Argentinian.

Nadal will face either Japanese seventh seed Kei Nishikori or home favourite Benoit Paire in his 38th Grand Slam quarter-final, after their match was suspended due to darkness with Nishikori leading 6-2, 6-7 (8/10), 6-2.

“It’s an incredible feeling to be in another quarter-final at this tournament which has been the most special of my career,” said Nadal. AFP

Alaska, SMB win UNTV Cup cage openers Games Sunday

(Pasig City Sports Center) 12noon – San Miguel vs Alaska 1:30 p.m. – Ginebra vs Purefoods

UNTV Cup Founder Kuya Daniel Razon makes the ceremonial toss kicking off the San Miguel Beer-Purefoods encounter in the UNTV Cup PBA Legends Faceoff on Sunday at the Pasig City Sports Center. This pocket tournament is for the benefit of the PBA Legends Foundation’s charity.

Aces brace for iron duel in PH Golf Tour Cebu PREMIUM will be on accuracy and putting as the men of the tour tackle a short but tricky Club Filipino De Cebu course when the rich ICTSI CFdC Invitational is fired off tomorrow (Wednesday, June 5) in Danao City.

Short by the pros’ standards, the par71, 6692-yard course is still expected to challenge the field’s skills, particularly in iron play and course management with its unpredictable surface also tipped to add up to the challenges that abound around the layout carved from steep hills.

It also features dog-leg holes that could lure the long hitters to take the risk and use their drivers in a bid to gain ground against the rest of the bidders in the P3 milion event kicking off a fourleg Visayas swing of the Philippine Golf Tour’s milestone 10th season.

Jhonnel Ababa reigned here when CFdC first hosted a PGT leg last September although the multi-titled Davaoeño shotmaker did it via the short route, winning it in 54 holes after heavy rain cancelled third round play.

But with forecast of an overall good weather for the week, the 79-player cast headed by the country’s top guns, a host of foreign aces and six invitees brace for four days of battle and a wild finish in the event sponsored by ICTSI. “No one holds a distinct advantage here. It’s a tricky course which requires good course management skills,” said Tony Lascuña, seeking to come out strong in a bid to snap a long title spell marred by sorry finishes and injuries.

While Ababa is upbeat of scoring a repeat, the rest of the pack also exude confidence of putting up a solid showing,

Jhonnel Ababa reigned in the same tournament when CFdC first hosted a PGT leg last September.

including veteran Jay Bayron, former Phl Masters champion Jerson Balasabas and PGT Asia leg winners James Ryan Lam, Justin Quiban, Joenard Rates and Rene Menor.

The list also includes PGT winners, led

by Dutch Guido Van der Valk, Zanieboy Gialon, Charles Hong and Mars Pucay with the long-hitting Rey Pagunsan also coming into the event brimming with confidence coming off a victory in the National pro-am at Splendido.

Former national champion Lloyd Go is also out to make an impact in his maiden stint on the circuit organized

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. as spearhead of the six invitees, including PGT Asia leg winner David Gleeson of Australia, Mateo Gomez and Sebastian Lopez of Colombia, Englishman

AROUND 1,500 taekwondo newcomers get a chance to show their progress when they compete in the 2019 MERALCO/ MVP Sports Foundation National New Face of the Year Taekwondo Championships on June 8-9 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

Participants will come from all Philippine Taekwondo Association chapters and branches nationwide, particularly Metro Manila and the military service.

Competition will be conducted in eight categories, namely, senior men and women, junior men and women, Cadet men and women and gradeschool boys and girls.

The New Face of the Year competition is one of the events that help make the

TWO-TIME Most Valuable Player Willie Miller and Kiko Adriano shone brightest as Alaska Milk and San Miguel Beer triumphed at the start of the UNTV Cup PBA Legends Faceoff on Sunday at the Pasig City Sports Center.

Miller erupted for 29 points to help the Alaska Milkmen score a 90-83 win over the Ginebra Kings, while Adriano came through a solid all-around performance as the San Miguel Beermen dominated the Purefoods Hotdogs, 88-68.

Five players scored in double figures for the Beermen, but it was Adriano who stood out by posting 15 points, five assists, three rebounds and a steal in the event with UNTV, led by its CEO and president Dr. Daniel Razon, allocating P2 million more for the Samahan ng mga Dating Propesyonal na Basketbolista ng Pilipinas Foundation Inc., (formerly PBA Legends Foundation) at the end of the monthlong tournament.

Razon, along with foundation chairman and one of the stars of the fabled Crispa squad, made the ceremonial toss during a brief opening ceremony, where former PBA players were in attendance.

Chris Calaguio paced the Beermen with 16 points, while former MVPs Danny Ildefonso and Allan Caidic chipped 14 and 13 points, respectively, and Nic Belasco contributing 10 points.

Paul Alvarez also showed up and delivered six points, while Olsen Racela added five for the Beermen who will face the Milkmen on Sunday.

Marlou Aquino, who saw action in the just-concluded 2nd MPBL season, led Ginebra with 24 points followed by Vince Hizon with 23.

Dwight Lago and Roger Yap were the only double-digit scorers for the Hotdogs with 14 and 11 points.

Four-time MVP winner Alvin Patrimonio was held to just 9 points.

George Twyman and Jack Sullivan, also from Australia.

Also vying for the top P550,000 purse in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc. are Americans Lexus Keoninh, Charles Lee, Pete Vilairatana and Sean Talmadge, Aussies Fidel Concepcion and Calum Junifer, Koreans Hyang Myung Chal, Kim Young Hyun, Park Jun Sung, and Japanese Ryui Hashimoto, Makoto Iwasaki, Yudai Suzuki, Kei REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Matsuoka, Kanata Nakagawa, Ryo COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS Nishimura, Raiki Okamoto, Emilio Parodi of Argentina, PGT Q-School ANNOUNCEMENT topnotcher Marcos Pastor of Spain, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted Thai Pachara Sakulyong and Peter to the Commission on Appointments (C.A.) for confirmation the ad interim appointments of the Stojanovski of Macedonia.

1,500 jins vie in New Face taekwondo Ashley Uy of Oriental Mindoro, one of the New Face entries, executes a 45 kick against Jiezelle Campos.

Stan Wawrinka

Philippines one of the tough contenders in important international tournaments, like the World Championships, the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Championships among others. It also helps support the government’s grass root program.

The Filipinos’ skills in the popular martial art were clearly seen in the recent ASEAN championships here which the Philippines dominated.

This weekend’s event is supported by SMART Communications Inc., Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and PLDT. Parents interested to enroll their children in taekwondo and other sports enthusiasts are cordially invited to watch the tournament, which starts at 9 a.m.

following officers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines: Dante M. Hidalgo, Reynaldo M. Aquino, Andres C. Centino, Divino Rey C. Pabayo, Jr., and Joselito B. Ramos – Major General; Rommel Jason L. Galang - Rear Admiral; Bienvenido Y. Regondola, Jr., PA (GSC), Laurence E. Mina, PA (GSC), Edgardo Y. De Leon, PA (GSC), Marceliano V. Teofilo, PA (GSC), Manuel V. Sequitin, PA (MNSA), Glenn E. Cruz, PA (GSC), Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., PA (GSC) and Henry M. Doyaoen, PA (GSC) – Brigadier General

The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions in thirty - two (32) copies on the above appointments to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, D. Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila.

For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 834-2713, 831-1824, 831-0527, 832-9830, 834-2706 and 551-1989.

03 June 2019.

HECTOR A. VILLACORTA Secretary (MS-JUNE 4, 2019)

Riera U. Mallari, Editor Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@manilastandard.net sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019

Sports

Chooks-to-Go unveils 3x3 hoop tourney TO continue its mission of garnering more FIBA 3X3 points for the Philippines in the race to the 2020 Olympics, organizers of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 basketball tournament are unveiling the Patriots’ Cup. The Patriots’ Cup will see 12 teams seeing action, and they will be beefed up by foreign guest players who will compete in the five-leg series.

The conference begins on Sunday, June 16 at SM Seaside City Cebu, and they will have a partner this time around.

Beverage giant Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (Coca-Cola) has teamed up with Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. (BAVI) in presenting what will be known as the 2019 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 Patriots’ Cup. “Coca-Cola and Chooks-to-Go share the mission which is to do whatever we can to help the country reach the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in whatever way we can,” said Coca-Cola Philippines modern trade manager Ken Marvin Lumbao, following talks with Ronald Mascariñas, the founder of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3.

Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 is the only level seven-ranked FIBA 3x3accredited tournament in the country.

“This is indeed a great development not only for us but also for our local 3x3 basketball scene,” said Mascariñas.

Coca Colas has also recently backed Mongolia’s 3x3 program, and they are now a third-ranked 3x3 basketball country in the world with 9,405,105 points.

In the first conference of Chooksto-Go Pilipinas 3x3, there were 12 teams which joined in the five- leg event.

And it offered, a cash prize of P1million and a ticket to the 2019 FIBA 3X3 Doha Masters.

To cap the conference, the league hosted the world’s first-ever Super Quest that had a prize pool of $50,000, two tickets for the Doha Masters, a ticket to the FIBA 3x3 Challengers Penang, and two tickets to the FIBA 3X3 Challengers Kunshan as the pot.

With this tournament, the country rose from 59th in the world to a peak of 30th last April.

The Patriots’ Cup will see 12 teams beefed up by foreign guest players compete in five legs.

The second leg takes place on June 22 in SM Fairview followed by the third stop in SM Muntinlupa on July 6.

SM Megamall will host the fourth leg (July 13) and the Grand Finals (July 27).

All games will be shown live on ESPN5. Peter Atencio

‘Disrespected’ Iggy lifts Dubs to win Golden State Warriors veteran Andre Iguodala collects the rebound against the Toronto Raptors. Iguodala converted the decisive triple which propelled the Warriors past the Raptors in Game 2 of their NBA Championship series. AFP

T

ORONTO, Canada— Stephen Curry saw it as an insult that the Toronto left Andre Iguodala open for what became the decisive 3-point basket in Golden State’s victory Sunday in the NBA Finals.

That made it all the sweeter when Iguodala, who was 1-of-14 from beyond the arc before his crucial shot, sank the bucket to clinch a 109-104 victory that pulled the defending champions level 1-1 in the best-of-seven series.

“It’s kind of disrespectful to leave Andre Iguodala open like that,” Curry said. “He has made big shots like that before.”

Raptors reserve Fred VanVleet, who struck for 17 points in the loss, said Toronto was not insulting Iguodala, but he simply was the option they were most willing to have take a long-range shot in the late-game situation.

“They found Iggy on the way back out and he got a wideopen look,” said VanVleet. “He knocked it down. So that was a really big shot for him. We would like to have contested that a little bit more.

“We don’t disrespect those guys.

We know Iggy’s made big shots in his whole career. We’ve seen that movie before.”

When the alternative is leaving the ball in the hands of 30-point sharpshooter Stephen Curry, who struck for 23 points, Iguodala didn’t seem so bad a choice.

“I’m going to probably live with that,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “It wasn’t like we were disrespecting him and not trying to guard him.

“He misses that we call timeout, we go down with a chance to win the ball game unbelievably, somehow.”

The Raptors led by 12 in the second quarter, surrendered the first 18 points of the third quarter to fall behind by 13 and nearly battled back to win by silencing Golden State more more than 5:30 until Iguodala’s shot.

“He’s just got a lot of experience,” Kerr said. “He has done everything in his career, been in the Olympics, won three rings, one of the smartest players I’ve ever been around.

“I think he sensed that we needed his production in that second half and he came alive.

Warriors teammate Draymond Green said Iguodala’s shot was simply what the team knows he can do.

“As big as Andre’s shot was, we have come to expect Andre to hit big shots,” Green said. “Since he’s been here I’ve seen him hit several game winners. I’ve seen him put the icing on the cake at several wins.” AFP

Obiena rules pole vault meet in Italy

By Peter Atencio ERNEST JOHN OBIENA ruled the Piazza International Pole Vault Meeting last Saturday in Prato dela Valle, Italy.

The 23-year-old Obiena cleared 5.5 meters on one of his attempts to claim his second gold medal since winning the Asian Championship last April.

Last April, Obiena cleared 5.71 meters to win the gold medal to beat two Chinese foes on Easter Sunday in the 23rd Asian Athletics Championship in Doha, Qatar at the Khalifa stadium.

In doing so Obiena set a new course record and a new Philippine record as well, in getting past the last attempts of Chinese bets Zhang Wei and Huang Bokai.

This time, there was an opportunity to set another Philippine record.

But, Obiena was not able to clear 5.75 meters on all his three attempts.

In taking the gold medal, Obiena beat a six-man field, which included Alione Sene of France and Meditteranean under-23 Championship bronze medalist Allesandro Sinno of Italy.

Sena and Sinno settled for the silver and bronze medals with identical performances of 5.30 meters.

For now, Obiena is preparing to join IAAF-certified Diamond League events and earn an Olympic berth.

At the moment, observers also noted that Obiena’s efforts are now way beyond the gold medal finish of Thailand’s Porranot Purahong, who set a new Southeast Games record of 5.35 meters back in 2017.

Obiena was sidelined from the 2017 SEA Games due to injury, a day before the games, he was nursed back to good health right before the Ernest John Obiena 2018 Asian Games.

Ruiz turns heavyweight division upside down with shock victory

Andy Ruiz Jr. (right) punches Anthony Joshua’s head during after their IBF/WBA/ WBO heavyweight title fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City. AFP

NEW YORK, United States—Andy Ruiz upended Anthony Joshua in an historic heavyweight title upset—and turned boxing’s glamour division upside down.

The bout at fabled Madison Square Garden was supposed to be a Stateside coming out party for Britain’s Joshua, previously unbeaten in 22 bouts with 21 of those victories coming inside the distance.

It was supposed to pave the way for a lucrative unification bout with World Boxing Council champion Deontay Wilder.

But Joshua’s first fight in America had already hit a snag when scheduled opponent Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller failed three drugs tests.

Enter Ruiz, a Mexican-American from Imperial City on the California border with Mexico who took the fight at short notice and delivered an upset that immediately sparked comparisons to James “Buster” Douglas’s 1990 knockout of Mike Tyson in Japan.

“Everyone’s been doubting me since the

beginning,” Ruiz said. “Especially for this fight – nobody knew I was going to win.

“I’m here now, the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world.”

Ruiz officially arrived at 1:26 of the seventh round, when he knocked Joshua down for the fourth time and referee Mike Griffin called a halt.

Knocked down himself in the third round, Ruiz climbed off the canvas to send Joshua down twice in that round, then put him down twice in the seventh.

“It made me stronger. It made me want to do more,” Ruiz said of the knockdown, after which he proceeded to pummel Joshua with fierce flurries—making good on his vow that despite his chubby 268-pound physique he’d bring explosiveness and speed that would prove Joshua’s undoing.

Now he’ll have to show he has the kind of fortitude displayed by compatriot Lennox Lewis in coming back from disaster to become an even bigger star. AFP

DLSU booter gets scholarship to US school ONE of the La Salle Green Booters’ top players have accepted an athletics scholarship in the United States.

Because of this, striker Shanden Vergara’s plans in life are slowly changing.

Not set to play and study for a college in the US, the 19-year-old Vergara now has bigger dreams.

“My plan was to graduate at de La Salle University. It was my dream school.

But, then I realized that God has different plans for me. Something greater,” said Shanden some four months after he received an email from athletes recruiting agency in the United Kingdom.

The 5’8” Vergara is one of 50 athletes around the world given an opportunity to study in a top notch school in the US. Vergara talked about his coming trip to the US in the presence of Football for Humanity Foundation officials led by founder Chris Thomas and co-founder Belle Tiongco during a courtesy visit at their Makati office last Friday.

The invitation to study and play for Snow College in Utah so fired up Vergara, who became the season 81 Rookie of the Year in the recent men’s football tournament of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

His contributions helped the La Salle Green Booters win the championship this year.

Because of the scholarship, Vergara feels that he may soon be able to have chances to play as a professional in international meets abroad.

“Sa labas ng bansa, puede akong makalaro sa mataas na level na competition,” added Vergara who played for de La Salle Zobel in his high school years, and one year for the Green Booters in college under coach Hans Smit.

Vergara hails from San Carlos City in Negros Occidental. He learned football

from his father, John Jason, a coach and physical therapist. His elder brother Mason Trent, was a football scholar at the University of the East.

He has seen action for the national team in the under-14, under-18 and under 19 levels.

It was Sports Recruiting USA which got him to play for Snow College.

“The selection is due to the coaches as well, the caliber of the coach and the type of connections that it (scholarship) offers. From there, he can go to the next level, and that’s where it will start to get serious,” said Thomas. Peter Atencio

PhilWeb sells 6.8% interest to operator of bingo outlets B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019

Romero hikes AirAsia stake to 44.4% The company acquired the 13-percent and 15.7-percent holdings of AAI from Ambassador Alfredo Yao and Marianne Hontiveros, respectively. &S Holdings Inc. of the Hontiveros remained the chairperson of AAI as Romero family became Air she holds a 3-percent stake in F&S Holdings. Bsuinessman Antonio Cojuanco’s TNR Holdings still Asia Inc.’s single largest own 15.7 percent while AirAsia Bread founders shareholder after acquiring more Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Menardum control shares in the Philippine unit of the remaining 40 percent.

Sheila Romero said “it’s the right time” for the Southeast Asia’s largest budget company to increase its shares in AAI as the budget carrier. airline already turned around.

F&S Holdings, owned by Rep. Michael Romero “I think the other former owners would like to and his wife Sheila Romero, bought 28.7 percent expand their other businesses, so on our end, his of shares in AirAsia, raising its total stake to 44.4 [Mikee] vision is to support AirAsia, since we are percent from 15.7 percent. one of the founding owners of AirAsia,” she said.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

F

PH, South Korea start bilateral free trade negotiations

By Othel V. Campos TRADE Talks between the Philippines and South Korea started Monday discussing the future of a bilateral free trade agreement in Seoul.

Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez agreed to officially launch the negotiations toward a bilateral free trade accord that would cover the removal of impediments to trade and creation of more business and investment opportunities.

Aside from Philippine agricultural products, the Philippines is expected to push for concessions on electric vehicles. The Philippines proposed to help Korea build a battery production hub in the Philippines where local companies can supply nickel for the electric batteries and copper for cars and vehicles.

The Trade Department said if talks on EV progressed, the Philippines could also ask Korea to reduce the tariff on other imported parts used in making EV batteries.

Other items on the agenda are issues on government processes such as procurement, intellectual property, public utilities and services.

Korea earlier confirmed its interest to advance the discussions on an Asean-Korea FTA on top of a bilateral free trade with the Philippines.

The Philippines wants a further reduction in the most favored nation or MFN rates potentially to zero.

The Philippines and Korea are putting their best effort to complete the FTA by November 2019 to coincide with the 2019 ROK-Asean Commemorative Summit.

Both ministers committed to conclude a

LGUs lose P30.5b due to outdated real estate values

By Julito G. Rada LOCAL government units of provinces and cities are losing P30.5 billion in revenues each year as a result of outdated real estate values, the Finance Department said Monday.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said in a statement there was a need for valuation reforms in the real property sector. Such reforms in the real property tax system constitute Package 3 of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program.

Dominguez said the reforms would invigorate the real estate market, bring in more investments and generate additional revenues for local government units.

“Essentially, real estate is the most valuable asset and biggest financial resource.

But its contribution to government revenues, particularly for local governments, has remained dismal due to the outdated schedule of market values, poor collection efficiency and tax administration and lack of uniformity in the valuation of real property,” Dominguez said.

Acting deputy executive director Jose Arnold Tan of the Bureau of Local Government Finance said cities could have collected as much as P23.077 billion in incremental revenues from real property taxes, while provinces could have raised as much as P7.379 billion more if their schedule of market values were updated and in sync with international standards.

Tan said for provinces alone, the P7.4 billion in foregone real property taxes could have built either of the following: 551 public markets, 771 kilometers of roads, 7,542 classrooms or 2,155 daycare centers.

He said the P23 billion in real property taxes that cities failed to collect could have built either 513 transport terminals, 339 landfills, 1,154 satellite health centers or 3,330 low-cost resettlement projects.

Mikee Romero said AAI was turning around and becoming a profitable company.

“We plan to make revenues from P30 billion this year to P50 billion in three years’ time,” he said, adding the company was aiming for a “short of P2 billion” in net income this year. AAI posted a net income of P440 million and revenues of P6.8 billion in the first quarter.

The company incurred a net loss of P2.17 billion in 2018 because of costlier jet fuel prices and volatile foreign exchange rate out of P20.90 billion in revenues.

Romero said the company planned to conduct an initial public offering by November or December this year.

“We are planning to raise an initial of about

B1

$200 million mostly for aircraft acquisitions and working capital. Our partners want to list the company within the year,” he said.

AAI tapped Citibank and BDO Capital and Investment Corp. as financial advisors.

The company plans to expand its fleet from 23 to 50 aircraft with the next three years.

The airline operates several flights to and from Manila, Davao, Cebu, Kalibo, Caticlan (Boracay), Tacloban, Tagbilaran (Bohol), Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Clark and Iloilo in the Philippines.

It operates international flights to and from Shanghai, Taipei, Incheon (Seoul), Hong Kong, Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Guangzhou, Vietnam, Shenzhen, Kaohshing, Bali, Shenzhen, Indonesia, Singapore and soon Japan.

B2

Business

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks climb above 8,000 points T HE stock market advanced for the fifth straight day Monday led by select blue chip issues, ignoring global losses and rising trade tensions between the US and China.

The benchmark index rose above the 8,000-point mark as falling crude prices in the world market point to lower inflation ahead, which, in turn, will spur higher consumer spending The Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 114.86 points, or 1.4 percent, to 8,084.88 on a value turnover of P10 billion. Gainers beat losers, 120 to 72, with 48 issues unchanged.

Major property developer Ayala Land Inc. climbed 6 percent to P52.45, while Robinsons Land Corp. of the Gokongwei

Group gained 4.2 percent to P27.10.

Globe Telecom Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, rose 4.2 percent to P2,260, while Megaworld Corp., the largest lessor of office spaces, advanced 3 percent to P6.08.

The rest of Asian markets largely tumbled on Monday, tracking global losses as Wall Street clocked its worst month this year, with investors opting for safe-haven assets in the wake of intensifying trade tensions.

US President Donald Trump’s abrupt threat last week to hit Mexico with tariffs over immigration concerns did little to reassure investors, who were already anxious about the increasingly fractious US-China trade war.

The tariffs, which are set to kick in on June 10, will begin at five percent and rise up to 25 percent, unless Mexico substantially reduces the flow of illegal immigrants to the United States, Trump warned.

“People have been saying for years that we should talk to Mexico. The problem is that Mexico is an ‘abuser’ of the United States, taking but never giving,” the US leader tweeted Sunday.

He followed up the threats against Mexico with an announcement that Washington would no longer offer preferential trade treatment to India, starting Wednesday, in a bid to pressure New Delhi to increase market access for US goods.

Coming on the back of a months-long trade spat with China, Trump’s latest salvos rattled markets, prompting a flight from equities to safe-haven investments.

That saw the yen strengthen which in turn weighed on Japanese shares, with Tokyo’s main index falling 0.9 percent.

Hong Kong edged down 0.1 percent, while Shanghai dropped 0.3 percent and Sydney lost 1.2 percent. But Seoul rose 1.3 percent.

Beijing’s imposition of duties on $60

billion worth of US goods came into effect Saturday.

The move, which came in retaliation for Washington raising its tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods, is the latest round in a bruising battle between the two superpowers.

Referring to “the never-ending game of tariff tag,” OANDA senior market analyst Edward Moya said there were fears “we could see a global recession by the middle of next year if the US imposes additional tariffs on China and Mexico.”

“The threats to global growth seem to be here to stay as markets appear convinced the new normal will be constant trade negotiations around the world.”

“Instead of focusing on one trade deal at a time, the US has overplayed its dominant hand and appears vulnerable to only finalizing temporary solutions,” he said. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.7 1,000 81.85 3,171,690 2.24 4,000 137.5 2,958,780 1.2 10,000 26.65 115,400 18.76 26,000 11.7 785,100 4.49 52,000 0.52 1,000 1.36 116,000 780 230 0.49 100,000 72.95 3,748,160 0.99 370,000 13.5 12,700 20.05 11,500 58.2 191,000 183 1,480 110 200 57.65 870 26.7 26,100 174 342,220 1,750 370 60 2,360

59,698 260,763,444.50 8,960 408,673,019 12,000 3,081,320 487,776 9,123,174 231,380 520 157,750 173,860 49,250 272,701,184.50 358,420 168,740 253,900 11,088,495 271,087 22,000 50,024.50 695,410 59,808,116 648,450 141,747.50

6,565 65,063,302 32,946,977 345,615 -1,632,170 -15,600 -23,327,369 -24,000 -2,205 1,465,972.50 -80,674 53,450 -10,572,320 -350,250 -90,654.50

36.2 14.06 0.69 1.37 0.285 2.51 14.3 110 25 16.2 44 65.5 2 5.3 5.65 10.18 15.96 10.12 7.61 1.6 23 77.25 42.5 2.31 13.54 10.22 1.68 284.4 50 3.5 9.5 22.9 12.6 20.2 375 5.32 1.21 4.75 6.06 9.4 2.3 12.18 42 4.98 5 1.53 1.91 1.18 13.5 107.1 6.55 1.38 165.7 2.5 1.26 1.2

INDUSTRIAL 36.3 1,631,900 14.06 781,100 0.7 907,000 1.42 345,000 0.295 8,720,000 2.54 12,166,000 14.5 153,200 115 350 25.5 206,100 16.2 200 44 200 65.5 20 2.02 147,000 5.45 35,000 5.7 23,800 10.24 5,930,200 16 371,700 10.32 1,581,700 7.68 1,463,600 1.6 2,000 23 2,326,900 77.5 85,020 43.4 57,000 2.42 12,239,000 13.74 522,000 10.52 435,900 1.69 282,000 287 910,270 50 10 3.5 1,000 9.79 24,100 23.15 1,119,300 12.68 1,300,400 20.25 1,442,100 389.2 247,180 5.69 2,600 1.24 4,540,000 4.76 338,000 6.12 1,666,000 9.4 100 2.38 19,020,000 12.3 45,300 42 199,000 4.98 15,000 5 26,000 1.55 387,000 1.91 96,000 1.21 203,000 13.98 919,900 108 122,080 6.6 97,500 1.42 11,858,000 171.5 1,965,210 2.5 902,000 1.3 3,170,000 1.31 14,949,000

59,556,600 11,053,680 642,150 477,070 2,544,100 30,994,800 2,218,616 39,929 5,235,270 3,240 8,800 1,310 296,860 187,750 135,474 60,589,620 5,968,766 16,276,966 11,223,004 3,200 53,902,405 6,618,631.50 2,445,385 28,966,130 7,168,718 4,542,198 475,200 261,469,388 500 3,500 231,469 25,877,370 16,490,680 29,883,670 95,790,146 14,113 5,599,630 1,608,970 10,150,887 940 45,342,900 555,736 8,463,135 74,800 130,000 595,750 184,450 242,430 12,718,662 13,139,828 640,598 16,915,510 336,968,869 2,255,000 4,070,290 19,353,960

38,551,380 -3,388,246 25,200 42,300 580,000.00 -6,186,330 -232,446 -40,200.00 -16,215,098.00 1,309,734 1,156,562 5,809,078 -3,200 34,513,620 -2,230,733 357,000 -785,660 1,332,548 2,331,330 -16,029,990 22,746,290 -1,849,332 -6,757,690 63,432,834 -4,157,410 4,234,479 -363,800 -1,602,070 12,000 2,731,914 1,030,817 133,100 47,344,037 2,220,000 427,360 -255,050

0.6 57.8 16.08 0.78 6.79 14.18 1.25 1.26 932.5 3.75 6.94 10.72 14.16 0.27 882.5 6.21 63.8 6.23 0.51 4.7 15.3 0.57 4.58 0.04 187.5 974 0.93 1.39 435 270 0.238 0.3

0.58 55.2 15.32 0.74 6.7 12.9 1.23 1.26 910 3.6 6.85 10.58 13.8 0.25 864 6.17 61.05 6.21 0.47 4.62 15 0.53 4.4 0.039 185 942 0.89 1.36 422 264 0.232 0.29

HOLDING FIRMS 0.6 4,799,000 55.4 1,472,300 16 9,213,900 0.78 486,000 6.7 12,800 13.78 328,900 1.25 1,652,000 1.26 28,000 931 591,000 3.72 10,625,000 6.94 2,083,500 10.62 3,993,700 13.8 382,900 0.27 100,000 865 90,830 6.2 65,000 63.4 2,738,620 6.23 9,000 0.5 147,000 4.64 4,188,000 15.2 2,744,500 0.53 346,000 4.55 42,095,000 0.04 3,400,000 185 234,160 960.5 372,660 0.92 1,329,000 1.39 85,000 434 130 264 3,120 0.233 320,000 0.295 36,600,000

2,829,470 83,004,299.50 146,887,498 365,260 86,532 4,458,592 2,061,870 35,280 548,674,520 39,309,680 14,360,784 42,566,412 5,329,124 25,400 78,876,535 402,420 173,334,795 55,924 69,325 19,356,380 41,712,022 195,120 190,199,860 132,900 43,439,470 358,309,310 1,200,730 116,790 55,638 830,128 74,730 10,792,850

44,840 34,958,179.50 68,318,992 26,130 -91,266 140,377,005 -3,466,180 -203,072 -8,426,326 48,300 -8,013,390 61,700 28,483,807.50 -426,680 10,886,224 54,690,140 -7,214,426.00 121,037,315 -75,612 -266,050

16 0.82 11.88 2.09 0.8 52.5 2.33 4.98 0.61 0.84 1.01 0.231 0.39 10.1 26.2 0.485 0.132 1.77 1.47 6.15

15.62 0.79 11 2.03 0.77 49.65 2.26 4.75 0.59 0.81 0.94 0.227 0.38 9.84 25.4 0.48 0.132 1.71 1.41 5.86

7,103,786 747,830 90,376 313,170 205,430 1,354,922,435 1,110,750 22,476,290 16,384,970 122,060 1,580,690 253,560 161,000 3,656,918 28,987,810 998,900 13,200 123,951,160 9,278,440 208,602,317

-165,052 50,600 510,231,520 -64,610.00 5,479,130 22,750 41,350 77,370 -145,502 10,092,750 -667,300 -14,767,090 794,840 82,461,382

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.5 81 2.24 137 1.2 26.7 18.76 11.46 4.47 0.52 1.35 760 0.495 72.1 1 13.7 22 57.5 183.5 110 57.1 26.45 175 1,755 60

59.7 82.95 2.24 139 1.2 26.8 18.78 11.8 4.49 0.52 1.4 780 0.495 73.8 1 13.7 22.1 58.5 183.5 110 57.75 26.75 176 1,820 60.6

59.5 80.95 2.24 135.1 1.2 26.65 18.76 11.46 4.42 0.52 1.35 750 0.49 72 0.96 13.2 20.05 57.05 183 110 57.05 26.45 174 1,750 59.9

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA GREENERGY HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

36.7 14.1 0.71 1.38 0.29 2.51 14.8 110 25.6 16.2 44 65.5 2.03 5.3 5.65 10.2 15.96 10.12 7.67 1.6 23.1 78 43 2.35 13.7 10.3 1.71 288 50 3.5 9.51 22.9 12.76 20.2 384 5.69 1.24 4.79 6.12 9.4 2.34 12.18 42.25 4.99 5 1.53 1.95 1.2 13.5 107.5 6.6 1.48 167 2.5 1.28 1.22

36.95 14.3 0.72 1.42 0.3 2.57 14.9 117.9 25.6 16.2 44 65.5 2.03 5.45 5.75 10.28 16.12 10.32 7.68 1.6 23.5 78.5 43.4 2.42 13.82 10.56 1.71 290 50 3.5 9.79 23.3 12.78 20.95 389.6 5.69 1.25 4.79 6.16 9.4 2.42 12.3 42.75 4.99 5 1.55 1.95 1.22 13.98 108.9 6.64 1.5 173.7 2.5 1.3 1.32

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP AYALA LAND LOG COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.59 55.9 15.56 0.77 6.7 13.02 1.24 1.26 915 3.61 6.85 10.58 14.16 0.25 867.5 6.17 62.6 6.21 0.51 4.62 15.26 0.56 4.48 0.039 185 942 0.91 1.36 435 266 0.232 0.295

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD

15.96 0.82 11.88 2.04 0.77 49.75 2.28 4.98 0.6 0.81 0.94 0.23 0.39 9.89 25.5 0.485 0.132 1.71 1.41 5.89

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

0.31 0.465 1.85 0.41 25.95 2.06 2.99 39.6 1.87 6.3 0.78 7.17

0.315 0.475 1.87 0.415 27.4 2.09 3 40.7 1.95 6.48 0.78 7.17

0.305 0.465 1.8 0.41 25.7 2.06 2.95 39.3 1.87 6.28 0.75 7.1

0.315 0.47 1.81 0.415 27.1 2.07 3 40.25 1.9 6.41 0.75 7.17

11,600,000 160,000 2,673,000 270,000 5,422,500 621,000 267,000 12,859,500 2,479,000 89,100 52,000 7,000,200

3,592,500 74,900 4,881,760 111,500 146,319,850 1,289,800 797,610 515,340,055 4,738,450 564,359 39,030 50,038,486

12,400 -3,620 109,044,610 -31,350.00 8,970 21,618,715 13,300 7,841,697

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PH RESORTS GRP PHIL RACING PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

11.44 18.2 1.32 0.43 21.25 2.85 11.84 0.058 90.2 6.64 5.9 10.46 2,170 5.37 405 2.28 1.75 136.9 10.16 0.124 6.06 15.5 4.46 0.81 21 0.56 3.69 2.69 1.53 2.44 3.26 9.88 4.82 8.46 122.8 3.5 1,340 0.79 0.81 44.2 73.15 9.5 3.16 0.67 0.365 5.3 0.72 17

11.44 18.38 1.33 0.43 21.5 2.98 11.84 0.06 93.65 6.68 5.9 10.64 2,260 5.4 415 2.3 1.75 136.9 10.16 0.125 6.17 15.5 4.46 0.85 21.2 0.58 3.69 2.74 1.6 2.65 3.26 9.88 4.98 8.5 122.8 3.55 1,373 0.81 0.82 46 73.65 9.63 3.28 0.68 0.37 5.35 0.72 17.38

11.24 18.2 1.31 0.43 21.25 2.85 11.72 0.058 90.2 6.59 5.9 10.4 2,166 5.37 405 2.23 1.75 134 10.14 0.122 6.02 14 4.16 0.8 20.7 0.55 3.69 2.66 1.52 2.4 3.2 9.7 4.73 8.11 122.8 3.37 1,331 0.78 0.81 44.2 72.2 9.4 3.16 0.66 0.35 5.29 0.69 16.92

SERVICES 11.44 18.34 1.31 0.43 21.5 2.9 11.82 0.06 92 6.66 5.9 10.58 2,260 5.38 414 2.29 1.75 134.5 10.16 0.122 6.14 14 4.26 0.81 21.2 0.56 3.69 2.72 1.6 2.65 3.24 9.85 4.83 8.11 122.8 3.42 1,358 0.8 0.82 44.55 72.2 9.4 3.26 0.67 0.365 5.33 0.7 16.96

20,000 48,600 95,000 740,000 5,300 504,000 5,983,600 21,240,000 412,510 807,400 13,600 29,900 72,535 153,000 3,430 1,170,000 2,000 3,243,470 3,100 1,890,000 2,992,900 1,500 6,715,000 153,000 933,600 1,047,000 3,000 4,088,000 101,000 6,118,000 29,000 18,500 78,000 13,300 200 5,162,000 185,595 9,810,000 7,023,000 1,002,000 604,080 15,200 17,530,000 5,132,000 6,610,000 750,100 2,057,000 3,530,600

227,552 888,902 125,350 318,200 113,700 1,469,000 70,645,764 1,259,150 38,099,307 5,356,582 80,240 312,194 162,360,400 823,593 1,417,828 2,663,800 3,500 438,199,690 31,456 233,990 18,257,487 21,150 28,812,200 124,040 19,680,400 588,480 11,070 11,022,400 154,660 15,469,300 93,070 182,112 383,440 112,813 24,560 17,889,190 251,217,990 7,809,180 5,717,490 44,912,800 44,048,059.50 144,295 56,912,450 3,438,350 2,397,150 4,008,166 1,430,180 60,265,942

6,788 -88,150 -26,170 -38,083,394 -1,029,323 537,806 -61,360 100,160,750 -182,600 103,332,993 2,490,127 -4,595,980 12,074,955 -1,313,950 570,080 9,760 24,560 -2,447,870 40,659,370 -174,330 -345,370 2,865,265 -18,212,224 -8,126,980 823,580 -659,700 -7,100 15,818,984

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON

0.0019 1.22 2.84 12.38 1.19 2.79 0.28 7.85 1.51 0.249 0.105 0.106 0.0074 0.0075 1.05 2.27 0.99 0.56 0.88 0.012 0.011 0.011 3.57 3 9.27 22 0.0066

0.002 1.25 2.84 12.38 1.19 2.92 0.29 7.91 1.55 0.249 0.112 0.11 0.0074 0.0075 1.05 2.31 1.02 0.56 0.9 0.012 0.012 0.011 3.62 3.25 9.27 22.05 0.0068

0.0018 1.2 2.66 12 1.19 2.78 0.28 7.76 1.5 0.239 0.105 0.106 0.0073 0.0073 1.03 2.26 0.99 0.56 0.88 0.012 0.011 0.01 3.55 3 8.74 21.85 0.0066

MINING & OIL 0.0019 148,000,000 1.21 3,338,000 2.66 62,000 12.38 1,100 1.19 1,000 2.86 1,105,000 0.285 480,000 7.85 4,800 1.53 18,476,000 0.243 40,000 0.11 2,220,000 0.106 170,000 0.0073 7,000,000 0.0074 17,000,000 1.05 84,000 2.26 1,049,000 1.02 2,000 0.56 51,000 0.89 58,000 0.012 400,000 0.012 1,100,000 0.011 12,500,000 3.6 140,000 3.25 2,669,000 9.06 1,690,900 21.95 1,030,800 0.0068 12,000,000

281,000 4,088,660 165,240 13,428 1,190 3,152,470 137,400 37,858 28,200,070 9,760 244,060 18,270 51,300 126,900 87,200 2,384,280 2,010 28,560 51,210 4,800 12,200 130,500 500,700 8,397,240 15,278,380 22,628,585 80,400

-183,330 -99,800 15,000 -5,500 -247,660 -990 -1,200 -280,020 1,148,333.00 -3,548,195 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

17.96 490 98 104.3 490 5.49 920 0.99 996 970.5 75.45 77 72.95 74 73.5 72.25

18 490 98 104.3 490 5.49 920 1 996 970.5 75.45 78 72.95 74 73.5 73.7

17.94 483 98 104 490 5.35 920 0.99 996 962 75 77 72.95 73.85 73.5 72.25

PREFERRED 17.94 6,500 490 3,760 98 2,400 104 18,500 490 100 5.35 41,600 920 10 1 965,000 996 10 962 1,000 75.35 2,760 77.1 2,900 72.95 400 73.85 26,090 73.5 3,940 73 19,720

116,770 1,828,770 235,200 1,925,050 49,000 222,726 9,200 961,770 9,960 966,765 207,769 223,440 29,180 1,928,955 289,590 1,436,065

-18,000 4,860 -47,978 -216,166 -

LR WARRANT

2.1

2.1

2.01

WARRANTS 2.04 854,000

1,741,170

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.82 1.03

4.87 1.05

4.76 1

4.79 1.01

997,690 6,323,990

-48,200 248,440

FIRST METRO ETF

119.5

121

118.5

6,904,820

-32,130

MS

PROPERTY 16 0.8 11 2.05 0.79 52.45 2.33 4.78 0.6 0.82 0.97 0.231 0.38 10.04 26 0.48 0.132 1.75 1.46 6.08

446,600 938,000 8,200 153,000 264,000 26,167,400 483,000 4,676,000 27,355,000 148,000 1,616,000 1,110,000 420,000 366,000 1,118,600 2,080,000 100,000 70,946,000 6,386,000 34,228,800

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

14,149,867

INDUSTRIAL

116,008,800

HOLDING FIRMS

477,333,933

PROPERTY

223,072,127

SERVICES

263,501,883

MINING & OIL

232,257,256

GRAND TOTAL

1,332,782,472

SME

208,000 6,190,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 121 57,550

VALUE 1,736.71 (UP) 8.12 1,249,816,125.45 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,738.97 (UP) 104.53 1,223,314,026.04 HOLDING FIRMS 7,664.80 (UP) 87.49 2,754,491,954.07 PROPERTY 4,468.05 (UP) 142.23 1,687.30 (UP) 4.18 2,533,436,508.29 SERVICES MINING & OIL 7,446.62 (UP) 58.22 2,161,106,491.88 PSEI 8,084.88 (UP) 114.86 86,1414,097.7083 All Shares Index 4,939.01 (UP) 48.64 10,022,543,759.96 Gainers: 120; Losers: 72; Unchanged: 48; Total: 240

PhilWeb sells 6.8% interest to operator of bingo outlets

By Jenniffer B. Austria GAMING firm PhilWeb Corp. signed a share purchase and cooperation agreement with Palmary Corp. in a bid to strengthen the company’s electronic bingo business.

PhilWeb said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Palmary agreed to purchase 97,333,333 shares of PhilWeb, representing 6.78 percent of the company’s stocks, at P3 apiece. The deal is worth P292 million.

The P3-per-share acquisition price represents a 10.4-percent discount to the stock’s closing price of P3.35 Friday.

“I welcome the Palmary Group’s investment in our company, a great sign of faith in the positive developments we have attained in the past year. I believe this investment will result in positive gains for both over the next few years,” PhilWeb chairman Ma. Gregorio Araneta III said.

Palmary is an operator of electronic bingo outlets and an accredited e-bingo machine supplier to state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. for its network of electronic bingo outlets.

Meanwhile, the two parties also signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop their electronic bingo or e-bingo businesses starting this month.

PhilWeb currently operates six e-bingo outlets, while the Palmary group of companies runs 16 branches.

Palmary is also an accredited supplier of e-bingo machines in Pagcor’s network of over 300 e-bingo outlets with over 30,000 terminals.

IN BRIEF

Petron raising output of Malaysian refinery

PETRON Corp. plans to complete the $100-million diesel hydro treater project of its Port Dickson Refinery in Malaysia next year.

Petron is upgrading Port Dickson, with an output of 88,000 barrels a day, to boost capacity.

Petron president Ramon Ang said the project would be completed next year to also comply with the government regulations in Malaysia.

“Our DHT modification costing $100 million is to comply to the environmental rules in Malaysia. The project started last year,” Ang said.

Petron also enhanced the supply chain and increased logistics capacities to ensure operational excellence in the Malaysian refinery at all times.

Petron earlier announced plans to invest over $1 billion to optimize refinery operations and expand the retail networks in the Philippines and Malaysia.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Wan Chiong Steel gets DTI clearance

THE Department of Trade and Industry lifted the suspension of Pampangabased Wan Chiong Steel Corp. after tests showing the company complied with product standards.

Bureau of Product Standards director James Empeno lifted the suspension in an order he signed on May 2, 2019.

“We would like the public to know that our suspension has been lifted.

We cry foul over news reports that the public is being warned against buying our products. This is due to business competition. But it is time that our side is heard,” said Wan Chiong Steel spokesperson Joela Cabunillas.

“We have complied with DTI’s requirements, and again, our suspension order has been lifted last May 2, 2019.

We urge the public to be mindful about the truthfulness, and the veracity of the news reports peddled about our company,” she added.

DMCI Mining hikes nickel ore shipments

DMCI Mining Corp., a unit of conglomerate DMCI Holdings Inc., shipped 338,000 wet metric tons of nickel ore in the first quarter of 2019, up 118 percent from 156,000 tons year-onyear.

DMCI Mining said in a statement all shipments came from Berong Nickel Corp. Its other nickel asset, Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., remains suspended by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The average nickel grade declined from 1.70 percent to 1.59 percent in the first quarter of the year as BNC shifted shipments to include middlegrade ore.

“We had a good first quarter but we do not see this holding up for the rest of the year due to a number of factors, such as weak market prices, peso appreciation versus the US dollar and our dwindling nickel reserves in Berong’s active mine sites,” said DMCI Mining president Cesar Simbulan Jr. Jenniffer B. Austria

World

B3

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cardinal Pell appeals his conviction for child sex

IN BRIEF Tiananmen ‘immunized China’

BEIJING—A Chinese state-run daily defended the government’s handling of the Tiananmen protests on Monday, saying it “immunized” China against turmoil in a rare editorial about the crackdown on the eve of its 30th anniversary.

Hundreds, or by some estimates more than a 1,000, unarmed civilians were killed when troops and tanks were deployed to extinguish the pro-democracy demonstrations in Beijing on June 4, 1989.

The Global Times’ English-language edition hailed the Chinese government’s handling of what it called the “incident” in an editorial titled: “June 4 immunized China against turmoil”.

“As a vaccination for the Chinese society, the Tiananmen incident will greatly increase China’s immunity against any major political turmoil in the future,” wrote the nationalist tabloid, which is affiliated with the Communist Party’s mouthpiece, the People’s Daily.

The paper echoed comments by China’s defense minister, General Wei Fenghe, who defended the bloody crackdown as the “correct” policy at a regional security forum in Singapore on Sunday.

It is rare for Chinese officials or media to publicly discuss the strictly taboo topic. Authorities have detained activists and tightened online censorship ahead of the anniversary.

The party’s “control of the incident” in 1989 had been a “watershed” that marked the difference between China’s rapid economic progress and the fate of other communist countries such as the former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia that disintegrated, the Global Times said.

The editorial—which only appeared in the English-language print and online edition of the paper—also rebuked dissidents, Western politicians and media, saying their criticism of the event would have “no real impact” on Chinese society.

The Communist Party has tightened its grip on civil society since President Xi Jinping took office in 2012, detaining activists and rights lawyers, intensifying online censorship, and using high-tech policing to keep the population in check.

The Global Times said today’s China, with its growing wealth, has “no political conditions” that could reignite “the riot” seen three decades ago.

“Chinese society, including its political elite, is now far more mature than in 1989.”

AFP

Chinese warships cause surprise

SYDNEY―Australians enjoying a sunny winter morning were surprised by the sight of three Chinese warships steaming into Sydney Harbor Monday, forcing the prime minister to reassure jittery residents.

Amid heightened concern about Beijing’s growing clout and military muscle flexing, the appearance of a Chineseflagged task group and around 700 sailors came as a surprise.

“It may have been a surprise to others, but it certainly wasn’t a surprise to the government,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison, trying to dampen concerns.

“We have known about that for some time,” he said of the visit during a trip to the Solomon Islands.

Morrison described it as a “reciprocal visit because Australian naval vessels have visited China.”

“They were returning after a counter drug trafficking operation in the Middle East.”

The vessels appeared to be the Kunlun Shan, a Yuzhao class landing ship; the Luoma Lake replenishment ship and Xuchang, a modern frigate that is believed to be fitted with surface-to-air and antisubmarine missile systems.

The timing of their visit has also been questioned.

It comes on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the violent suppression of Tiananmen protests.

Then, the regime gunned down hundreds of its own citizens and jailed thousands for demanding political change and an end to state corruption.

The sailing also comes just days after it was revealed that a Chinese warship had recently confronted an Australian vessel in the South China Sea and Aussie helicopter pilots had been targeted with lasers.

“I think any reading into timing could be subject to a bit of over-analysis,” said Morrison.

Since coming to power, President Xi Jinping has invested heavily in the People’s Liberation Army Navy—in a bid to project Chinese influence across the Pacific and beyond.

“Chinese naval visits to Australia have more typically been a lone frigate, not a task group with an amphibious assault ship and 700 personnel,” Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security College at Australian National University, tweeted. AFP

DEFENSE MEETING. US Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Michael Shanahan talks with South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo during their meeting at the ministry of National Defense in Seoul on June 3, 2019. AFP

Trump brings Brexit advice on visit to UK

L

ONDON―Britain is rolling out the red carpet for US President Donald Trump on Monday as he arrives in Britain for a state visit already overshadowed by his outspoken remarks on Brexit.

Queen Elizabeth II will welcome Trump and his wife Melania to Buckingham Palace, where they will be treated to a guard of honor, a private lunch and a glittering state banquet.

But beneath the pomp and ceremony, Britain is in turmoil with Prime Minister Theresa May due to step down within weeks over her handling of her country’s exit from the European Union.

True to form, Trump ripped up the diplomatic rule book before he even touched down by saying former foreign minister Boris Johnson would make an

“excellent” choice to succeed May. He also recommended May’s successor walk away from talks with Brussels, refuse to pay Britain’s agreed divorce bill and leave the EU with no deal.

The much vaunted UK-US “special relationship” was already under strain over different approaches to Iran, China and the Paris climate change accord.

Opposition politicians are boycotting the banquet over what London’s mayor Sadiq Khan called Trump’s “divisive behavior” and large protests are expected across the capital.

But May and Trump are expected to emphasize the wider benefits of the old alliance when they hold talks at Downing Street on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, they will join other world leaders in the English port of Portsmouth to commemorate 75 years since the D-Day landings, which changed the course of World War II. “Our relationship has underpinned our countries’ security and prosperity for many years, and will continue to do so for generations to come,” May said

END OF RAMADAN. Syrians shop at the Hamidiya market ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, celebrating the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in the capital Damascus on June 2, 2019. AFP

Muslim family in Thailand keeps silk-weaving heritage alive BANGKOK―Over the click-clack of the teak loom, Niphon’s family laments the lack of apprentice weavers at his Bangkok silk shop, as modernity lures young Muslims away from a trade their community has dominated for generations.

They say they are the last of the Muslim weavers of Baan Krua, a storied neighborhood of dilapidated wooden houses and a mosque in downtown Bangkok, nearly engulfed by the city creep of condos and skyscrapers.

“This is Muslim heritage... Baan Krua silk is very famous,” Niphon Manutha, 71, told AFP. A typed letter from Robert Kennedy on the wall of his canal-side shop house attests to that lineage—a gift to Niphon’s parents after the then-US attorney general visited in 1962.

The craft was passed down through generations of ethnic Cham Muslim

ahead of the visit.

May announced her resignation last month after failing to get her Brexit deal through parliament and twice delaying Britain’s EU departure.

She will formally quit as her Conservative party’s leader on Friday, but will stay on while they find someone to replace her.

Three years after the referendum vote for Brexit, Britain remains divided and anxious about its place in the world.

Trump recommended the new government “walk away” from talks with the EU if it cannot get a good deal, and refuse to pay the 45 billion euros, $50 billion divorce bill May agreed.

In an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper, he emphasized that there was “tremendous potential” for Britain to trade with his country after Brexit.

Trump also said he might meet with Johnson, one of 13 candidates vying to replace May, as well as pro-Brexit populist leader Nigel Farage during his UK visit. AFP

women who migrated from Cambodia centuries ago and perfected the art of turning the cocoons made by Thai silkworms into meters of soft cloth with a unique sheen coveted across the world.

Silk weaving boomed after World War II thanks to American “Silk King” Jim Thompson, who is credited with taking Thai silk global.

Thompson’s house is one of the most visited tourist sites in Bangkok today, but it was across the canal in Baan Krua where he first found his suppliers among the Muslim weavers.

“He came here every morning,” Niphon said, showing a photo of Thompson standing next to his mother at a loom.

At its peak Niphon’s family employed 50 people, producing thousands of meters of silk a month.

But Thompson’s mysterious disap-

pearance in 1976 in Malaysia led partnerships to shrivel, while production gradually moved to the north of the country from Bangkok.

Niphon survived by switching to a custom-order model, relying on his daughter to run a website advertising bright-colored scarves, bags and elegant napkins.

But with just a handful of older working weavers left in Baan Krua the expertise from his corner of Bangkok is fading.

“It’s a shame the young generation is not interested,” said Niphon’s sister Natcha Swanaphoom, fixing her hijab in the mirror before going outside.

Though Thailand is overwhelmingly Buddhist, about seven million Muslims make up the country’s largest religious minority, and like the faithful everywhere they are observing Ramadan this month. AFP

MELBOURNE―The Vatican’s former number-three, Cardinal George Pell, will on Wednesday begin his appeal against convictions for “brazen” sex attacks on two choirboys in the 1990s.

Pell, who managed church finances and helped elect two popes, argues the verdict was “unreasonable”, that jurors were not shown vital evidence, and that he was not asked to enter a plea in front of the panel.

The most senior figure in the Catholic church to be convicted of historical child sexual offenses, Pell was sentenced in March to six years in prison.

He was found guilty on five counts, including oral rape and molesting the two 13-year-olds in the sacristy of St Paul’s Cathedral when he was the Archbishop of Melbourne.

One of his victims died of a drug overdose in 2014 and never disclosed the abuse.

Trial Judge Peter Kidd described Pell’s crimes as “brazen”, “nasty” and a “breathtakingly arrogant” abuse of power.

A second set of charges against the 77-year-old―stemming from alleged abuse in a swimming pool in Ballarat, Victoria, in the 1970s―was dropped earlier this year.

Pell’s appeal at Melbourne’s Supreme Court―which will be live streamed to the public―has been greatly anticipated by his supporters and high-profile commentators who say he was made a scapegoat for the broader sins of the Catholic church and did not receive a fair trial.

The case will be presided over by three judges―Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria Justice Anne Ferguson, President of the Court of Appeal Justice Chris Maxwell and Justice Mark Weinberg.

The judges could determine Pell’s fate this week or could defer their decision until a later date. The verdict does not have to be unanimous but must have the support of two of the justices.

Pell is not required to appear at the appeal hearings on June 5 and 6, and it is unclear if he will show up or possibly appear via video link from jail.

His legal team for the appeal, headed by Bret Walker, will argue his case on three grounds.

The first and most significant is that the jury’s verdict was “unreasonable and cannot be supported having regard to the evidence”.

Pell’s team argues the jury could not be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt on the word of a single complainant and that there was “unchallenged exculpatory evidence from more than 20 Crown witnesses”.

The second ground is that Kidd erred in not allowing defence lawyer Robert Richter to show the jury a video that purportedly shows Pell’s attack would have been impossible based on the movement of people in the church.

The third ground is that there was “a fundamental irregularity in the trial process” because Pell was not asked if he pleaded guilty or not guilty in front of the jury.

Walker, who declined to speak to the media about Pell’s case, has in the past represented tobacco companies in their fight against plain packaging laws.

Jeremy Gans, a criminal justice expert at the University of Melbourne, said “there is a good chance that Pell will succeed” in his appeal on the first ground –- that the verdict reached was “unsafe and unsatisfactory”. AFP

Drowning in waste, Russians fume over lack of recycling

MOSCOW―Roman Yudakov points in the distance to a stinking mountain of trash looming over the Russian capital and sighs: “Take a look at our pyramid!”

The rubbish towers above the Timokhovo dump outside Moscow, one of the biggest in Europe. Authorities plan to build an incinerator to burn some of the trash, but Yudakov and other activists are fighting for it to be recycled instead.

“The priority of the authorities is to burn, rather than sort [waste for recycling]. Nobody is ready to do that,” says the 36-year-old electrician as he flicks his cigarette butt in the direction of the 515-feet high dump east of Moscow.

Open since the late 1970s, Timok-

hovo receives dozens of lorries every day from the capital some 80 kilometers.

Since 2013, residents have complained of foul sulphurous smells and worry that effluents are polluting ground water. The authorities acknowledged the smell comes from the dump, but say it is now safe because of a filtration system. Activists, however, dispute this claim.

Just seven percent of rubbish is recycled in Russia, according to official data.

This falls far below France’s 43 percent or Germany’s 68 percent achieved in 2017, according to Eurostat.

The majority of household waste in Russia ends up in locations like Timokhovo, whose trash pile can be seen from many kilometers away. AFP

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

B4

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019

LGUs

Navotas adds 3 new public school buildings

By Jun David

Overpasses near schools a must, says Albay solon TO BETTER ensure the safety of students and teachers from unnecessary harm from vehicles, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has filed a bill in Congress mandating the construction of overpasses near public and private schools along national roads, especially along the main route of the Pan-Philippine Highway.

Salceda said schoolchildren, most specially, are exposed to the risk of accidents, and tend to complicate traffic when rushing to and from their classes, particularly during times when main routes near their schools become busier.

The lawmaker said his House Bill 9167, titled “Mandatory Overpass Act of 2019,” aims to promote safety to pedestrians, especially the most vulnerable road users— the children—and at the same time ease traffic in strategic and major roads.

Citing reports from the World Health Organization, Salceda noted that more than 270,000 pedestrians die on roads each year, which account for 22 percent of the 1.24-million road traffic deaths.

“This indicates that pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users,” he added. Statistics also show that children make up a high proportion of pedestrian deaths and injuries, Salceda said.

He pointed out that because children are smaller, less visible and are often unpredictable, they are more vulnerable than other road users, to vehicular accidents.

Salceda said drivers must therefore exercise “an extraordinary degree of care” in school zones, which are doubly dangerous to children when these schools are located along national highways.

“Constructing overpasses along national roads near schools where students cross when going to and coming from their classes is an engineering intervention that would enhance their safety,” he emphasized.

HB 9167 “will not only save lives, but also create the conditions needed to make walking safe. When roads are safe, people will walk more, and this in turn will improve health and protect the environment,” he said.

The proposal assigns the Department of Public Works and Highways as the lead agency with the cooperation and assistance from the Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Commission on Higher Education, to formulate the guidelines, identify the areas, and provide the timetable in implementing the program.

MAYFLOWER QUEEN. Beauty queen Kylie Verzosa (center),

the Mayflower 2019 Queen and Miss International 2016, is flanked

by Makati Mayor Abigail Binay and escort Marco Gumabao as Makati 2nd District Rep. Luis Campos (right) and Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo ahead of the city’s Santacruzan parade over the weekend.

Crucial issues cited in BARMM portal

By Nash B. Maulana (Second of three parts, continued from yesterday)

A

CCESS Bangsamoro initially focuses on three policy issues. These are intergovernmental relations, parliamentary and electoral system, and public finance management and block grant.

The establishment of intergovernmental relations mechanisms is an innovative feature of the BOL but one that will be extremely challenging. The BOL mandates the creation of various IGR bodies such as the National Government-Bangsamoro Government Intergovernmental Relations Body, the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum, Fiscal Policy Board, and Joint Body for Zones of Joint Cooperation, Infrastructure Development Board, Energy Board and Sustainable Development Board.

The most challenging item in the BTA’s to-do-list is the familiarization of the entire Bangsamoro community to the new parliamentary structure of the regional government as mandated by the BOL. “While we continue to face critical issues and challenges during this transition period, we in the Bangsamoro Government will remain steadfast in pursuing good governance in the region. It is then our hope that the Access Bangsamoro would also be instrumental in pursuit of

such noble cause,” added BARMM chief minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, who assumed the leadership of the expanded autonomous region only last February.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana lauded Access Bangsamoro, calling it a “masterfully designed” concept that can “bring stakeholders together to openly exchange views on how to realize prospects and address gaps and challenges in a policy-based approach.”

“The challenge is now upon us to maximize this platform to achieve its objectives in assisting in the successful transition. It took us decades to be where we are now, in a state where we can finally provide our Moro brothers and sisters the real fighting chance to a peaceful and progressive life, and the democratic space to exercise their right to self-determination. We can neither fail nor falter,” he added.

The defense secretary was recently named by President Rodrigo Duterte as Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for BARMM.

NEW SCHOOL BUILDING. Quezon City

Mayor Herbert Bautista leads the inauguration of the 4-story, 32-classroom school building at Emilio Jacinto Senior High School in Barangay Pasong Tamo ahead of the opening of classes. It highlights the city government’s continuing effort to improve the city’s student-to-classroom ratio and address the problem of classroom congestion in the city. To date, Mayor Bautista inaugurated seven additional school buildings in preparation for the opening of classes for school year 2019-2020.

Manny Palmero

Fuel Your School launched in Cagayan Valley, CAR

SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela—Chevron Philippines Inc., marketer of Caltex fuels and lubricants, in partnership with the Department of Education and Northern Star Energy Corp. have launched Caltex Fuel Your School in the Northeast Luzon at 3K Hotel in this city on Thursday.

“Education is everyone’s concern, not just the Department of Education, nor the students’ or the teachers.’

Most of us here already have careers but that doesn’t mean it’s not our concern anymore,” said CPI Manager for Corporate Affairs lawyer Raissa Bautista. Caltex Fuel Your School aims to give high-need schools in the area the tools and equipment to boost the Science, Technology, En-

Secretary Lorenzana also thanked the Australian Government for funding the project, saying the “shared endeavor is another leaf to our countries’ years of friendship.”

Australia has allocated about A$85 million for development assistance to the Philippines this year with 50 percent focused on Mindanao specifically for education, infrastructure, governance and planning budget.

The IAG-ASOG Access Bangsamoro collaboration is part of the Australian Government support to peace and stability in the Bangsamoro region.

“During the transition period, the structures and processes to implement the Bangsamoro Organic Law and rebuild democratic institutions will be put in place. Access Bangsamoro will serve as a platform for education and discussion, help create sound and effective evidence-based public policy, and engage as wide a part of society as possible,” Australian Ambassador Steven Robinson said.

BTA-BARMM Parliament Speaker Ali Pangalian Balindong hailed Access Bangsamoro as a third-party initiative that “will definitely help push the peace envelope further forward.”

“It will help inform the whole country of the Bangsamoro, especially that many up to now may still just think that the issues in the region are only of the region, including a host of prejudices and assumptions about the people in the region,” Balindong said. (to be continued)

gineering and Math stream, Bautista stressed.

Caltex has committed to match every liter of fuel sale in participating Caltex stations with a one-peso donation to raise P3 million.

The total amount will be divided among the 30 public high schools selected based on criteria set by the DepEd. A total of 40,662 public high school students and 1,638 of their teachers in Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva, Vizcaya, Quirino, Kalinga and Ifugao stand to benefit from Caltex Fuel Your School 2019.

The program “is intended to support and advance education by providing teachers with needed teaching supplies and equipment,” Northern

Star COO Juan Miguel Delgado said.

“We are one with CPI in encouraging teachers to conduct classroom projects for STEM subjects to help prepare students who may be interested in these types of advanced technical jobs,” he added.

The high schools will receive P100,000 in modern learning tools and equipment to boost the STEM study stream, Delgado reiterated.

Starting June 1 until July 31, all motorists who fuel up in Caltex stations that belong to the Northern Star network in Cagayan Valley and portions of CAR will automatically help the regions’ 30 highestneed public high schools purchase much needed 21st century teaching tools, he added.

NAVOTAS Rep. Toby Tiangco and Mayor John Rey Tiangco recently led the blessing and inauguration of school buildings in three public schools in the city.

San Rafael Technological and Vocational High School, and Tangos National High School now have additional four-story buildings with 12 and eight classrooms, respectively, while Bagumbayan Elementary School now has an additional three-story building with three classrooms.

“The completion of the buildings was suitably timed for the upcoming school year. The schools can now accommodate more students and hopefully, we will be able to put an end to shifting classes soon,” said Rep. Tiangco.

He noted that the construction of additional public school buildings in Navotas began in 2010 and intensified in 2015 in preparation for the full implementation of the K-12 program.

“Our youth needs to have a school environment conducive for learning.

We want them to be comfortable while in school and to enjoy learning,” the lawmaker said.

Also present during the inaugurations were Vice Mayor Clint Geronimo and the city council; OIC Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Meliton Zurbano and other SDO officials; barangay officials; and the principals of the respective schools.

Earlier, the Tiangco brothers led the inauguration of the four-storey building in Tangos Elementary School-Mother.

Since 2010, the elder Tiangco has pushed for the construction of 455 classrooms.

Shabu dealer shot dead in Solana buy-bust SOLANA, Cagayan—A 57-yearold man suspected of dealing illegal drugs died when he shot back at police during a buy-bust operation at Barangay Centro Southwest here on Sunday night.

Police identified the fatality as Reynaldo “Rene” Yacat, married and a resident of Maddarulog Norte, Enrile, Cagayan.

The police report said operatives led by Police Capt. Jhun Jhun Balisi, the deputy chief of police of Solana Police Station, and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 2 posed as buyers and bought P2,000 worth of “shabu” from Yacat at 11:35 p.m.

Sensing he had sold the drugs to an undercover officer, Yacat shot Balisi with a caliber .38 revolver. The policeman shot the suspect’s right hand in an effort to neutralize him, but Yacat continued to fire at him.

The officer fired back twice, hitting the suspect’s chest using his service 9mm revolver, the report added.

An unidentified companion of Yacat immediately sped away to the south onboard an XRM black motorcycle without a plate number.

The suspect was immediately brought to the St. Paul Hospital by police on mobile patrol, but doctors proclaimed him dead on arrival.

Recovered at the scene was the marked money used by the agents and two pieces of heatsealed transparent plastic sachets containing alleged shabu, and the weapon used by Yacat.

Brenda Jocson

At the Caltex Fuel Your School launch in Northern Luzon are (from left) Joel Gaviola, assistant manager, Corporate Affairs, Chevron Philippines Inc; Juan Miguel Delgado, chief operating officer, Northern Star Energy Corp.; Ferdinand Narciso, Project development officer IV, Department of Education, Region 2; Cresencio Gamay, Regional Partnership Focal Person, DepEd CAR; lawyer Raissa Bautista, Manager, Corporate Affairs, Chevron Philippines Inc., Daisy Palor, project manager, AmCham Foundation Phils. Inc.; and Mardie Torres, OIC AmCham Foundation Phil.

Inc. Jessica Bacud

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019

C1

Columbia’s Watertight II Jacket

Deuter Trail 30 Pacsafe’s Dry-lite Anti-Theft Water Resistant Backpack

Fjallraven’s Kanken Art

Adventure starts Outdoors

By Bernadette Lunas

B

LAME it on the influence of social media and our beautiful planet, as more people are going outside, venturing, exploring, or at least considering a lifestyle of outdoor adventure.

The North Face’s Corvara running shoes

“We saw a growth of this category (adventure and travel gear) in the local retail—it’s been quite a while,” Martin De Leon, assistant vice president for Outdoors by SM told Manila Standard.

The growth of the traveling market combined with the uptick in demand for outdoor gear encouraged the leading department store to launch a one-stop shop that carries a variety of premium outdoor apparel and accessories brands.

Outdoors by SM recently opened its flagship branch on the second level of SM Makati (where Sfera was previously located). The 900-square-meter lifestyle store is a haven for outdoor and travel enthusiasts, as well as the health-conscious lot, what with its 31 brands—mostly international—curated in one place.

“This is actually the perfect time [to launch this brand] because in the department store, this category is doing well. We

The North Face sports gear

wanted to take a step further by making them available in one place. We wanted to build a brand so you don’t have to go from one department to another looking for what you need,” explained De Leon.

Some of the items available at Outdoors include all-weather apparel and accessories from The North Face and Columbia; iconic Kanken bags from Swedish brand Fjallraven; insulated bottles from Klean Kanteen, Stanley, and

Stanley water bottles and food jars

Palladium’s Pampa Hi Organic Boots

Lifestyle store Outdoors by SM offers over 30 outdoor apparel and gear brands.

Contigo; all-terrain footwear from Salomon and Merrell; multi-functional bags from Deuter, Thule, and Osprey; and camping essentials from Sea to Summit and Mountain Hardwear.

In addition, there are top choices from lifestyle brands Birkenstock as well as boots from Palladium and Timberland for urban explorers. Also present is local footwear label Sandugo.

While a few of the brands at Outdoors are also available at The SM Stores, De Leon said majority of the labels offered are new.

De Leon also disclosed plans to bring in more brands and open more Outdoors stores in the future.

“This is just the beginning,” he said, “we have more plans in the coming months, but right now we just want to build the brand.”

He added, “Eventually there’s going to be more offerings; we want to make sure all our outdoor needs are available here.

We’re focusing on this branch but expansion is in the pipeline.”

Go to @Outdoors on Facebook or Instagram for updates.

Medical practitioners discuss overall wellness ASIA’S leading health and beauty retailer Watsons brought expert doctors to talk about diseases and health management in its second health symposium exclusive to Watsons Card members.

Dubbed “World of Wellness,” the symposium at SM City Trade Hall in Cebu provided the audience valuable insights

to help improve their overall well-being.

“By gaining more knowledge on health and wellness, Filipinos become more empowered,” said Watsons health trading director Rafael Lim. The speakers included Dr. Kevin Bautista, Dr. Celine Aquino, Dr. Marivic Vestal, and Dr. Marissa Bravo-Garcia.

Watsons Card holders listening to wellness discussion at the World of Wellness symposium.

Dr. Bautista talked about being a flu fighter across generations and the basic of asthma. According to him influenza is the most common VPD (vaccines preventable disease), and that prevention and treatment are as simple as practicing good health habits and getting vaccinated.

About 10.7 million Filipinos suffer from asthma, according to Dr. Bautista, adding that seeking doctor’s assessment is the best way to address the condition.

Doctors Aquino and Vestal, on the other hand, discussed inane things that can kill a person, or the not-so-well-known risk factors for a heart attack.

The lecture focused on these risks and disparate factors, such as holidays (the incidence of heart attack is highest on Christmas day and New Year’s day), too much alcohol, “thirdhand” smoke, gum disease, and even traffic. The association of these factors to heart attack have been the subject of much research.

Finally, Dr. Bravo-Garcia’s talk focused on diabetes management. According to her, weight loss, healthy diet, and physical activity (e.g.

150min/week of brisk walking) help prevent the disease.

Aside from the enlightening talks, Watsons Card members also enjoyed booth activities from various sponsors. Lucky attendees also got raffle prizes and giveaways.

Go to www.watsons.com.ph for more information.

From left: Dr. Kevin Lee Bautista, Dr. Marissa Garcia, Dr. Celine Aquino, and Dr. Marivic Vestal

Life

C2

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Fail first, succeed later

T

HE road to a successful life is paved with obstacles.

Life throws challenges to test a person’s strength and resilience and mold them to become the best version of themselves.

However, there are times when problems or mistakes knock people down on the ground. Individuals pursuing important goals may see big failures as unpassable roadblocks.

For Joey Marcelo, chief executive officer of Santé International Incorporated, hardships will always be a part of the journey, especially if one is walking towards their life’s purpose.

“Instead of giving up and settling for simpler objectives, we must realize that failures are a natural process in achieving goals. If they should stumble again, people must strive to always pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and continue onwards with new lessons learned,” he said.

Based on his experience as a young entrepreneur, and now a successful businessman and a triathlete, Marcelo believes that failure is an important aspect of success.

Failures come with lessons Marcelo believes that failures bring critical lessons in a person’s life and are often specific to the unique journey they are on. Additionally, mistakes force people to be smarter about situations and make them more resilient.

“Take that step and expect that challenges are always around to target you.

The days will be difficult, and there will be moments when moving forward is tiresome but, if you believe in yourself and your dreams, you will invent better methods to achieve your goals,” he advised.

Failures are essential for growth According to Marcelo, mistakes bring out the traits needed to become an expert, such as perseverance and endurance. Failed attempts build resilience for anyone serious enough to become a master or professional in their chosen field.

A seamless flow of positive expe-

the knocks of life. To counter these negative conditions, Marcelo said people must adopt a growth mindset to find the necessary solutions to fix the problem. People should think back on

in 2007. The company is passionate about helping people to live healthy through the proven benefits of barleybased products. Due to the success of the brand, the company experienced breakthrough sales that tripled its branches within a year.

Today, Santé International continues to provide its Santé Barley brand in the health and wellness field to help people lead better lives.

Healthy Options

opens at Uptown Mall ALL-NATURAL products store Healthy Options recently opened a big branch at Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Spanning close to 800 square meters, the store features bright and clean interior. Scuff-free floors, regular and floating shelves, a high ceiling, modern lighting fixtures, and innovative signage that point to the available merchandise add up to an enticing shopping experience for shoppers.

It carries premium quality brands, including organic, locally sourced farmfresh produce and other sustainably sourced food items such as all-natural, international foods, and the Healthy Options private label, among others. Toiletries and health supplements are also available.

Further enhancing customers’ shopping experience, a café will soon open at Uptown Mall branch; it will host baking and cooking demonstrations, too.

The in-store café, Baking Therapy will serve nutrient-laden artisanal breads and

Whenever he joins triathlon, Joey Marcelo brings his company and the lessons he learned with him.

pastries baked using Healthy Options ingredients. These tasty treats will be served with local coffee and herbal teas.

A gluten-free selection of pastries and bread will be prepared fresh at the company’s gluten-free commissary.

“As excited as I am to share with you the list of amazingly sumptuous, decadent but healthy breads, cakes, and pastries, it’s best that you come and taste them when Baking Therapy opens,” enthused Healthy Options managing director Romy Sia. Following the opening of its Uptown Mall store, Healthy Options opened a new store in a key provincial city—at Level 1, Ayala Capitol Central, Bacolod City.

During the past few months, two other stores were opened in strategic points in Metro Manila. These included Healthy Options at Ayala Malls Feliz and Healthy Options at Ayala Vertis North.

Go to www.healthyoptions.com.ph for more information.

Within the bright interior of the 800-sqm store are quality brands such as organic food items, among others.

iPhoto

Pia Wurtzbach graces Smile Train gala

Marcelo believes failures are necessary to achieve success.

riences, he believes, is a warning that a person is on the wrong track.

Meanwhile, a path of purpose carries problems that consistently enhance a person’s potential.

Failures lead to success Nothing worthwhile comes easy in life. The higher the dreams are, the more effort is required to reach them.

People prepare strategies to claim their goals but are often blindsided by

the “big reason why,” a powerful motive that releases a surge of willpower to push through obstacles.

The stories of famous, successful people tell the numerous attempts they have made in the pursuit of their own goals, as well as the multiple mistakes along the way.

Marcelo is among these people who found success after hurdling many challenges. He founded Santé International

Marcelo founded Sante International in 2007.

MISS Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach attended Smile Train’s 20th anniversary gala held last month at Capitale in New York City. She was introduced to the organization after winning the Miss Universe crown.

The evening featured remarks from honorees including Graham Elliot, owner and chef of Coast at MGM Cotai; Dr. Larry Hollier, chairman of Smile Train’s medical advisory board; and Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization.

Art exhibit to raise mental health awareness

‘Sinking Deeper’ by Cheepee Buenaventura

A UNIQUE art exhibition featuring 27 works of art created by artists who face mental health challenges aims to shine a light on the issue of mental well-being.

Hosted by InTouch Community Services, in partnership with Boxless Society, “Mental Tapestries” showcases how the artists have used their experience and creativity to manage their condition.

“At InTouch we hope that all people will value mental health ‘One Red and emotional well-being and Monday’ be able to access high quality

by Monica mental health services. For this Macalinao to happen, there needs to be less stigma and more meaningful deliberations around mental

health at the community level,” says Camilla Brooks, chairperson of InTouch.

Channeling the sentiments of her team of artists, Lucylle Bianca Cawaling, event organizer and volunteer at Boxless Society, said, “Art can be therapeutic and can help one speak louder than words, because thoughts are often hard to verbalize. This art exhibit is intended to raise awareness on mental wellbeing, to feel free to express and spread acceptance,” The exhibit is ongoing until July 11. The artwork are for sale, with the proceeds going to support both organizations, the artists, and their cause.

Escape’ by Tisa de Art

Entertainment

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

ABS-CBN

launches first digital broadcast mobile receiver T

HE daily commute is going to be more enjoyable now that Filipinos can watch their favorite Kapamilya shows on their smartphones as ABSCBN, the country’s leading media and entertainment company, rolls out the new ABS-CBN TVplus Go. The mobile version of its best-selling digital television product, ABS-CBN TVplus, was launched on Saturday in 28 Cellboy and Celltime branches located in SM Malls in Metro Manila.

The new ABS-CBN TVplus Go brings the experience of watching television with clear picture and crisp sound through a special dongle and mobile app.

TVplus Go is the first product that

lets Android smartphone users watch free-to-air TV and exclusive ABSCBN channels. Free TV channels that broadcast in digital such as ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN S+A, as well as ABSCBN TVplus exclusive channels that include DZMM TeleRadyo, CineMo, YeY, Knowledge Channel, MYX, Asianovela Channel, Movie Central, Jeepney TV, and O Shopping are just some of the channels you can watch in

A first look at ABS-CBN TVplus Go, the country's first digital broadcast mobile receiver.

the new ABS-CBN TVplus Go. “Millions of Filipinos use mobile devices as part of their everyday lives.

We aim to serve every Filipino by providing easy and affordable access to entertainment and information from their favorite Kapamilya channels right at their fingertips with ABS-CBN TVplus Go,” Charles Lim, ABS-CBN Access head said.

ABS-CBN TVplus Go follows the success of ABS-CBN’s innovations—

ABS-CBN TVplus, which made the company the country’s pioneer in digital terrestrial television when it was launched in 2015, has already sold over seven million boxes as of end 2018; and iWant, a streaming app for Filipino movies and TV shows launched last year, has already been downloaded 11.3 million times.

With it, ABS-CBN brings the TVplus experience to Filipinos from the home to wherever there is a digital TV signal.

“This product will transform our customers’ daily inconveniences into moments of comfort and entertainment, and it will help change their outlook, as commute struggles will now become lighter and more bearable” Lim added.

ABS-CBN TVplus Go, which is priced at P799, is the newest part of the network’s growing portfolio of digital properties that accelerates ABS-CBN’s mission to lead the country’s shift from analog to digital before 2023.

Why Barbie declines project with JM AFTER working with JM de Guzman in the hit afternoon soap Araw-Gabi, Barbie Imperial says she doesn’t want to work with him again anytime soon because of their personal problem. In fact, she turned down an offer which will pair her again with the actor.

In a recent interview, the 23-yearold actress said that she feels it’s not yet time for her to work opposite her former leading man.

“I believe it’s better to wait for the right time. I don’t want to hurry on things. We are not okay to begin with,” she states.

Prior to the interview, Barbie posted a cryptic message on her social media account which read, “Once a liar, always a liar!”

This came out after JM appeared in the top-rating showbiz-oriented talk show Tonight with Boy Abunda in which he revealed that he tried to pursue Barbie after they

did Araw-Gabi.

“I got hurt when he said that we dated for just one month. As far as I’m concerned, it’s more than that.

But for him, it was just one month,” Barbie points out and further says that she and JM had lots of problems in the past and these do not only concern their career.

“It has something to do with our past relationships which still needed to be fixed. Actually, it’s not simple. It’s possible that he pursued you seriously.

It’s also possible that he pursued you while he still has involvement with another person. Then it’s possible too that he pursued you as if he wants to hurt you again. What’s definite is that he pursued me,” she carries on.

“So from there, you can see that both of us are like two shattered or broken individuals who are trying to make each other whole again. But I realized it’s not that easy. It’s hard. Ideally, one should be whole to fix another person who is shattered. How can you fix the other individual when you yourself isn’t fixed in the first place? How can you restore order in yourself given that scenario, right?”

This is the reason why Barbie maintains that at this point, she can’t be

Local film project picked for Switzerland film co-production program

A Scene from Petersen Vargas’ 'Some Nights Feel Like Walking'

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, June 4, 2019

ACROSS 1 In the — of time 5 Hive occupants 9 Do jack-o’lanterns 14 Spoken 15 A law — itself 16 Homeric epic 17 Divided into sections 19 Coagulates 20 Hydrocarbon suffix 21 Embroider, maybe 22 Is in store for 24 Staffer’s chore (2 wds.)

27 Poem by Keats 28 Leia’s rescuer 29 On the move 33 Piece of prose 36 Lugs along 37 London’s Old — 39 Two fives for —— 40 Lustrous material 41 Make one’s way 42 Sugarcane product 43 Does a horoscope 44 Fails to win 45 Not care for 47 Family member 48 One, in Munich

49 Slight decline in prices 54 Factories 57 Purse 58 Cozy room 59 Fake bullet 60 Coif 63 Pound division 64 “Excuse me!”

65 Earthen pot 66 Requested 67 M, to Einstein 68 Go slow DOWN 1 Sniffed at 2 Dancer — Castle 3 Parakeet homes 4 SAS competitor 5 Trouble afoot?

6 Key in data 7 Summer in Quebec 8 Malt-shop order 9 Shrill insects 10 In the pact 11 Wild disorder 12 Large tanks 13 McMahon and Sullivan 18 Former Broncos QB 23 Many spouses 25 Genghis — 26 Put on a tie 30 Bluesman — Redding

31 “Blue Tail Fly” singer 32 Motion picture 33 Auricle 34 Cuff link 35 Turnpike rumbler 36 Small job 38 Savings accts.

40 New Orleans pro 41 Is obstinate 43 Jingled 44 Hankers 46 Ghostly meet 47 Great numbers

friends with JM. In another development, the search for the next “Darna” is heating up. It was learned that she’s one of those who were advised to audition for the plum role.

“It’s simply flattering to be considered for the part. If it will be given to me, then I’ll grab it. Although personally, I prefer to play Darna’s main nemesis, Valentina.

I think it’s equally challenging,” Barbie avers. *** From ABS-CBN, Aiko Melendez moves to rival network GMA via the upcoming series Prima Donnas.

“I consider it a new blessing. Being a single mother, this is really a very encouraging development. I thank the Kapuso management for their trust,” she says.

Although she’s now a Kapuso, the actress still expresses her gratitude to the Kapamilya.

“I’ve been with ABS-CBN for nine years and I will forever be thankful to my big bosses there who believed in my talent and casted me in many of their soaps. I grew as an actress with all the opportunities they’ve given me.

I wouldn’t reach my present stature without their help. Anyway, this is a small world and I I’m certain that in the

50 Theater awards 51 Romantic interlude 52 Violin kin 53 Work dough 54 Extra 55 Tall and thin 56 Fraud 59 Jungle snake 61 “I got it!”

62 Go one better

Barbie Imperial and JM de Guzman

future, there’s still the possibility that I’ll work with them again.”

As of now, Aiko is excited with this new phase in her career.

“I’m really looking forward to be playing a big part in GMA’s latest afternoon soap,” she exclaims.

The soap is directed by Gina FILM director Petersen Vargas’ second feature project Some Nights I Feel Like Walking has been selected for this year’s Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors Hub program in Switzerland.

Established 17 years ago, the Open Doors Hub Program is Locarno Film Festival’s industry sidebar. Directors and producers with projects chosen for the program will be mentored and will have the opportunity to network with potential international distributors and partners. This year, the coproduction platform will present eight (8) promising projects from Southeast

Alajar and will also reunite the seasoned actress with Wendell Ramos.

“There’s also Ms. Chanda Romero and of course, Kapuso tween stars Jillian Ward, Althea Ablan, and Sofia Pablo. By the way, the name of my character is Kendra so watch out for me!” ends Aiko.

Asia for international collaborations.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the country’s film agency, takes pride in the honor brought to the country by Vargas and his team.

“We are focused on encouraging our Philippine filmmakers and talents to go international now more than ever, and Locarno’s Open Doors Hub gives our filmmakers and their projects the platform to make this goal happen.

We are very proud of Petersen, and we wish them all the best in looking for potential international collaborators during the program to realize his project into film,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza Diño.

Vargas’ coming-of-age debut feature 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten won best picture at Cinema One Originals Film Festival 2016. Some Nights I Feel Like Walking is part of the five projects that are selected for the third edition of the Southeast Asia Fiction (SEAFIC) Film Lab, an intensive script development lab for Southeast Asian filmmakers, making him the Lab’s first Filipino participant.

Some Nights I Feel Like Walking is co-produced by Jade Castro and Alemberg Ang. At present, the film project is in the preproduction stage.

In the Director’s Note, Vargas said, “My second film aims at being a portrait of a nation (and of a city, homeland, people) as seen through its outskirts and shadows. To walk Manila by night is a revelatory peek into Filipino youth on the fringes of society.”

The Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors Hub runs from Aug. 7 to 13, while the 72nd Locarno Film Festival takes place from Aug. 7 to 17. It is one of the longest running and most prestigious film festivals in the world that showcases arthouse films.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

Entertainment

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019

VERY WANG

E

NICKIE WANG

VERYBODY now talks about sustainable tourism, but for the ‘90s teen star Antoinette Taus, talking about it isn’t just enough.

In an exclusive interview with the singer-actress, she shared what makes her feel driven and why, after her showbiz hiatus, she decided to take a different route, which is far from what she’s used to, and perhaps comfortable with.

According to Antoinette, it’s not enough for you to just talk about environmental concerns, you really have to take part in initiatives that promote environmental protection or join in community driven conservation projects that will allow you to make solid efforts since it will enable you to get closer to people and help them be more informed about the ills of our environment and what they can do to help.

“You can also learn new things from that. It’s amazing to see the world in a different perspective. You don’t have to be an expert or a scientist. Everyone has the capacity to make a change,” she pointed out.

Antoinette, along with actors Rocco Nacino, Victor Basa, and some digital personalities, took part in a weeklong event in Boracay. Called Smart Love Boracay, it’s the telco’s effort to support sustainable tourism in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, the Provincial Government of Aklan and the local government of Malay.

“The last time I was here, that’s before the closure, we did coastal cleanup that’s why seeing Boracay this beautiful and clean after the rehabilitation, it feels really inspiring especially to those people who really care about the environment,” she shared.

LaBoracay is out, Love Boracay is in The Smart Love Boracay event ran from April 26 to May 1. Instead of the usual Labor Day parties that the island was known for, “Love Boracay” aims to celebrate the tourist destination’s reopening and to promote environmental awareness among visitors.

The week-long celebration featured a beach clean-up activity, as well as talks and activities on sustainable tourism.

Street parties, parades, and the weeklong Boracay Food Fest also aimed to highlight the artistry and creativity of Boracay’s local artists and businesses.

“I’m glad that I was invited to be part of this meaningful event. Our group was launched here two years ago. And we’re here again celebrating our second year so everything seems so serendipitous,” she beamed.

Antoinette founded Cora and Planet Cora, two foundations she named after her mom.

“Cora is for our humanitarian efforts and Planet Cora is for our environmental activities. We work with the UN, the DENR, and local government units.

We’re the partner of NatGeo Earth Day Run. And hopefully we could do more things like that,” Antoinette said.

Spearheading environmental activities was never her plan. In fact, Antoinette thought she would be singing, dancing, and acting all her life.

“I’m trying to focus on work close to my advocacy, things I really care about.

After my mom died, I realized I can still do a lot. When you are doing something for so long, you’d think that it’s what you’re supposed to do for the rest of your life. But I’m in this phase in

BEAUTIFUL PLANETEER. '90S teen star Antoinette Taus thought she'd be doing entertainment—dancing, singing, and acting—for the rest of her life until she started getting involved in well-meaning causes that concern the environment.

Smart way to

‘Love Boracay’ Antoinette (center) with Victor Basa (rightmost) and other digital personalities who participated in a beach clean-up activity during the week-long Smart Love Boracay event.

The singer-actress participated in “Love Boracay,” which aims to celebrate the tourist destination’s reopening and to promote environmental awareness among tourists.

my life that I do things because it wasn’t forced. It’s like I found a new happiness and passion.”

Her foundation was inspired by social media posts. It started out with her friends.

In the beginning, they would just post something on social media to get people’s attention on the efforts that they do and the activities they support.

“That’s why we also advocate good use

Apart from a beach clean-up activity, street parties, parades, and food fest also aimed to highlight the artistry and creativity of Boracay’s local artists and businesses.

of social media. I know it can be toxic but it really depends on the way you use it,” she said.

LTE network coverage in Boracay Smart Love Boracay event also saw the use of social media in spreading the good news about the island. And it was high time for the tourists and residents of the newly rehabilitated tourist spot experience the improved connectivity on

the island as PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) boosts and expands its network to support sustainable tourism.

The wireless connectivity expansion was launch during Smart Love Boracay festival. To date, Smart has already deployed Long Term Evolution technology to 83 percent of its Boracay sites. Of these LTE sites, 80 percent have been further

upgraded to LTE-Advanced, which gives customers an even faster mobile data experience for better video viewing and mobile gaming, for example.

Smart is also set to expand its LTE coverage and capacity across the island to better serve beachfront hotels and restaurants in the Philippines’ premier tourist destination.

“Through our continuing network upgrade efforts across the country, we are empowering tourists, residents and local businesses alike by providing them with quality connectivity wherever they may be,” said Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT and Smart senior vice president for Network Planning and Engineering.

“With our expanded networks, tourists can share the beauty of Boracay to the world, enjoy a better video streaming and mobile gaming experience, as well as access key online services like banking and e-commerce while on the island,” said Tamayo.

“Local entrepreneurs can also leverage social media to boost their respective businesses now that Boracay has been reopened to tourists,” Tamayo said, adding that with better connectivity, searching and booking restaurants, hotels and other activities online are just a tap away.

First in LTE Boracay was the site of several technological firsts for Smart as well as the Philippines, including the firing up of LTE in 2012 and the deployment of LTE-A in 2016, in anticipation of the rise of bandwidth-heavy services such as video streaming and gaming.

Today, about 70 percent of Smart’s LTE sites across the country are already on LTE-A, including major towns and cities like Paoay in Ilocos Norte, Baguio in Benguet, San Fernando in Pampanga, Calamba in Laguna, Antipolo in Rizal, Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Naga in Camarines Sur, San Jose in Antique, Bacolod in Negros Occidental, Tagbilaran in Bohol, Lapu-Lapu in Cebu, Ormoc in Leyte, Dipolog in Zamboanga del Norte, Koronadal in South Cotabato and Davao City, to name a few.

As of end-2018, Smart has increased the number of LTE base stations nationwide by over 86 percent year-onyear to about 16,200, while the number of 3G base stations also increased by 17 percent to about 11,500. This massive deployment has enabled Smart to provide mobile broadband in at least 90 percent of the country’s cities and municipalities.

PLDT’s expansive fiber network, now at over 244,000 kilometers, also supports Smart’s mobile network by providing high-capacity links to cellular base stations.

PLDT and Smart are undertaking another massive capital expenditures program for 2019 by allocating up to P78.4 billion budget this year, P20 billion higher than the previous year, to push further the companies’ already significant network advantage.

Carole King’s beautiful musical legacy to inspire new generation 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical' runs from June 14 to July 7 at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City.

THE Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Awardwinning musical Beautiful: The Carole King Musical will make its Manila premiere on June 14 at the Meralco Theater with the country’s most acclaimed theater stars, Kayla Rivera, winner of the David Foster Star Search and Nick Varricchio, who previously appeared in Saturday Night Fever and A Chorus Line.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical was nominated for seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. The musical will excite audiences with the inspiring story of a woman ahead of her time and her remarkable journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Carole King has firmly established

herself as one of pop music’s most gifted and successful composers. She has won four Grammy awards and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Carole King’s life-changing success and her music stirs joyous memories for those who grew up in the glorious era of the ‘70s.

This musical features the classics “You’ve Got a Friend,” ”One Fine Day,” ”It’s Too Late,” ”You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.” These timeless hits are the classics we never knew Carole King wrote but will surely capture people by surprise.

Many of today’s musical artists claim that they were influenced by Carole King’s music. Covers and samples of her songs

can be heard across genres, spreading her sound throughout the music scene.

Directed by Bobby Garcia, who won three Aliw awards and was recently inducted into their Hall of Fame, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical promises to offer real-life sentiment behind the music while uncovering the story of the exceptional Carole King.

Carole King’s music shaped a generation and will continue to shape next generations too. After seeing this musical, you will only be listening to Carole King for days.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical will run until July 7 at the Meralco Theater, Pasig City. Get your tickets at TicketWorld. com.phor call 891-999.