Manila Standard - 2019 June 11 - Tuesday

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PASSING THE BATON

WEATHER MOST parts of the archipelago will experience isolated rain showers on Monday, the weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Next page

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 117 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FORMER Palace economic spokesman and Manila Standard columnist Gary Olivar writes about why Rep. Martin Romualdez is the ideal successor to outgoing House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

In his column “Formations,” Olivar says Romualdez has impeccable education, professional achievement, legislative experience and political principle.

His piece headlined “Passing the baton” is on page A5.

Du30 sacks PhilHealth execs Revamp set; 2k health providers face probe for bogus dialysis care

BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2019.

Fil-Palestinian Gazini Christiana Ganados, 23, from Talisay Cebu, is crowned by predecessor Catriona Gray during the Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Grand Coronation Night on Sunday. The 5’9” beauty edged out 39 other candidates and earned the right to represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe Pageant to be held in South Korea later in the year.

Photo courtesy GMA

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday asked the acting chief and board of directors of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to submit their courtesy resignations after reports showed the state-run health insurance company paid out billions of pesos for bogus dialysis treatments performed on non-existent or dead patients.

The announcement was made by former Duterte aide Christopher Go, who has won election as a senator. He said he would ask the President to start a revamp of the PhilHealth.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President was set to meet Philhealth officials in Malacañang later.

Earlier, President Duterte ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a probe on PhilHealth and file criminal complaints against any officials involved in corruption.

“All persons involved in the alleged fraud will be prosecuted and face accountability. They shall reap the harshest penalty imposed by law. Nothing can shield them from prosecution and punishment,” he said.

Allegations of corruption in PhilHealth surfaced after a former employee of WellMed Dialysis Center, a dialysis center in Quezon City came forward to reveal a “ghost dialysis” scheme used to make fraudulent claims to the government health insurance firm.

“We will put a stop to this corruption and we will make sure that the law on universal health care is strictly enforced,” Panelo said.

PhilHealth said it was investigating 2,000 health providers on possible fraudulent claims.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III yesterday said he wants the PhilHealth to release to the public the names of health care providers facing investigation.

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Lightning alert snags flight skeds, draws presidential visit at airport

GAZINI GANADOS’ VICTORY

By Vito Barcelo, Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz

ENTERTAINMENT C4

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday conducted a surprise inspection at the Ninoy Aquino International AirportTerminal 2 in Pasay City after hearing reports about flight delays and cancellations, Malacañang said.

The President was accompanied by Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Ed Monreal, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Capt. Jim Sydiongco, incoming Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, and Davao businessman Sammy Uy. More than 60 domestic a n d

international flights were affected by a lightning alert Sunday night. Seven of those flights were diverted to Clark International Airport in Pampanga while more than 50 scheduled to depart from Manila were delayed.

Duterte discussed the causes of the cancellations and delays with airline and NAIA officials, and asked them if affected passengers were given anything to offset their inconvenience. He also discussed how the problem could be minimized and what actions the government, particularly the Department of Transportation, could take to address such situations in the long term.

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‘Rally behind truth EDSA travel in just 5 minutes eyed drive over sea row’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Rey E. Requejo SENIOR Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has asked Filipino communicators to rally behind the so-called “truth movement” to rectify what he called propaganda in Philippine media pushing for China’s fake historical claims over the disputed South China Sea. Carpio, who has been in the forefront of the campaign against China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea, exhorted Filipino communicators to use their freedom of expression and the power of social media “to expose to the world, and to the Chinese people themselves, the falsity of the historical claim of the Chinese government to the South China Sea. “We can call this present-day information campaign the South China Sea Truth Movement, a people’s movement using freedom of expression to explain the historical truth about the South China Sea. “We can invite the peoples of Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, Next page

IF PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte delivers on his two most recent promises—cut travel time from Makati to Cubao to only five minutes and eliminate flight delays at Manila’s international airport—he would be “superhuman” and deserve to be president for life, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Monday.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, on the other hand, said he had no idea how the President would make good on his promise.

“Sounds good but I have no idea how yet,”Sotto said in a separate text message.

President Duterte, during a TV interview in Davao City on June 7, promised to ease traffic between Cubao and Makati.

His spokesman, Salvador Panelo, said he would ask the President to elaborate on his pronouncement during the Cabinet meeting Monday night.

Asked if Duterte’s confidence was tied to an emergency powers bill that the next Congress might pass now that his allies have grown in the Senate, Panelo said he Next page would ask him that, too.

Cult in trouble for invest schemes

By Vito Barcelo and Rio N. Araja PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the closure of Kapa Community Ministry International due to numerous complaints of illegal collections in the guise of religion, the Palace said Monday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokes-

man Salvador Panelo said the President ordered the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to shut down firms allegedly engaged in fraudulent investment schemes.

“If the crime is being committed now, they can stop it. They can padlock that company,” Panelo, who is also Presidential chief legal counsel, said. Next page

SURPRISE INSPECTION. President Rodrigo Duterte talks to some airport personnel at NAIA Terminal 2 during his unscheduled inspection following complaints by passengers who experienced congestion, flight delays and cancellation. With him is Leyte Rep.-elect Martin Romualdez who appealed for multi-partisan congressional support in securing additional funding for all vital airports. Presidential Photo

Aviation history: Atlantic crossing

By Olivier Thibault WHEN two British pilots steered a biplane across the vast Atlantic 100 years ago, battling frozen sleet and thick fog for more than 16 hours, they were making aviation history.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

’Aussie trash to be shipped back’

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE garbage from Australia will have to be shipped back even if the Environment department has categorized it as engineered fuel used by cement factories, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Monday.

“By the way, the garbage from Australia [is] going back, too. I don’t give a flying f**k that it is used in making cement,” Locsin said in his Twitter account.

“If that is so, cement makers should formally import the ingredient so it goes nowhere but to their plants.”

The Bureau of Customs last month intercepted seven container vans with shredded municipal waste from Australia at the Mindanao Container Terminal in Misamis Oriental.

The shipment was declared as processed engineered fuel or PEF and

Cult...

investing in the pyramid scam.

Non-government organizations linked to the Kapa Community Ministry International Inc. on Monday came forward to deny they were part of a pyramid scam.

At a news conference in Quezon City, Ahon sa Kahirapan (ASK) leader, Core Pastor Joewie Argate of the Christ the Lifeshaper Church, appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his decision to shut down investment schemes, including Kapa Community.”No one has ever filed a complaint against Kapa,” he said, adding in Taytay, Rizal alone, there are over 50,000 individuals who have improved their lives when they joined Kapa Community.

“We would like to clarify that we are one with the President in getting rid of investment scams. We are just a religious organization wanting to help the poor,” Argate said.

“This is not a pyramiding scam,” ASK convenor Danilo Mangahas said.

On Feb. 25, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a ceaseand-desist order on Kapa Community for alleged unauthorized solicitation of funds from the public.

The General Santos City Regional Trial Court Branch 34 challenged SEC’s issuance of a cease-and-desist order against Kapa Community, saying it had no jurisdiction over issues involving religious freedom.

According to Argate, they would stage a prayer rally for unity tomorrow (Wednesday) in front of the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City.

The Philippine National Police warned against investment scams, saying the public should be wary about the high returns being promised.

With PNA

From A1

Panelo said the President has received many complaints about the alleged bogus investment scheme by Kapa.

“There have been numerous complaints with the President. Me too, I have been receiving complaints from certain people. That may have prompted the President to order the closure,” he said.

Duterte said the activities of these investment schemes, including the Kapa Community Ministry International, are clearly a form of estafa.

“The operation of Kapa was a clear pyramiding scheme, which collected money from its members to give to the pioneering operators of the group.

When it is too good to be true, it is fraud,” Duterte said.

Kapa, a Surigao del Sur-based religious corporation, was allegedly soliciting investments from the public by encouraging them to “donate” any amount in exchange for a 30 percent monthly return.

Duterte said it was impossible for a group to give a 30 percent monthly interest on investments because banks here and abroad could only give a maximum of 3 percent interest per year.

Investment scams have sprouted in Southern Mindanao and have reportedly branched out to as far as Luzon.

Kapa, headed by Joel Apolinario, promises a 30 percent “love gift” each month.

Some schemes, such as the Tagum City-based Rigen Marketing, Jogle, and Ever Arm, even promise a return of up to 500 percent.

He said the interest received by members was drawn from the money of new recruits, who were drawn into

EDSA...

Weather...

Panelo, however, expressed hope that the 18th Congress will consider Duterte’s request for emergency powers to ease Metro Manila’s traffic woes.

On Friday, Duterte said traffic from Cubao to Makati will improve before the end of the year.

“You just wait. I don’t want to preempt but things will improve maybe God willing, by December it will be smooth sailing. You don’t have to worry about traffic. Cubao and Makati is just about five minutes away,” Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Duterte has been requesting the Congress to grant him emergency powers to solve Metro Manila’s traffic woes. However, the Senate has been hesitant to pass the measure amid corruption concerns.

Former Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs and Senatorelect Francis Tolentino earlier said he is going to push for the passage of emergency powers in the Senate to solve Metro Manila traff ic woes.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has created an inter-agency task force to implement measures to ease traffic from Cubao, Quezon City to Makati City.

MMDA EDSA traffic chief Edison Nebrija said Task Force Cubao-Makati was created to tackle the President’s promise to cut travel time between Makati and Cubao to only five minutes before the end of the year.

“All the pronouncements of the President become a directive and a mandate not only to MMDA but to all government agencies,” Nebrija said in a radio interview on Monday.

“We recently created Task Force CubMa ahead of the President’s pronouncement,” he added.

The Department of Public Works and Highways will introduce “engineering interventions” to improve traffic wherein weekend road repairs on EDSA will be sped up.

The MMDA official said various stakeholders such as the government, motorists, and passengers must work together to ease the traffic situation in Metro Manila. With PNA

Administration added that the Intertropical Convergence Zone affecting southern Luzon and the Visayas will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Bicol, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), and Visayas.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of the country due to localized thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, light to moderate winds will blow over the whole country with slight to moderate seas, PAGASA said.

In a related development, normal operations resumed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday after authorities issued a red lightning alert on Sunday night.

A number of domestic and international flights were delayed and were diverted to Clark due to bad weather in Manila.

According to the Manila International Airport Authority, the red lightning alert is a safety measure to prevent any untoward incident from happening when lightning is prevalent in the immediate area and may endanger passenger, personnel and flight operations.

From 6 p.m. to 9:14 p.m., the ramp movement for both the aircraft and ramp personnel was halted.

Operations resumed at 9:15 p.m. as the red lightning alert was lowered to yellow lightning alert and was subsequently lifted at 9:45 p.m. PNA

From A1

From A1

‘Rally...

From A1

countries whose Exclusive Economic Zones are also encroached by China’s ninedash line, to join us in this Movement,” Carpio said in his speech before this year’s graduates of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication on Friday.

Carpio cited the need to counter Chinese propagandists and trolls who “spread with impunity fake history and fake news within our country” as they “operate freely in Philippine social media, comment freely in Philippine online newspapers and even take out political advertisements in Philippine print newspapers.”

In particular, Carpio pointed to the belief of the Chinese since 1949 when the

municipal waste, and its consignee was Holcim Philippines Inc. Holcim said the PEF was made from processed trash and was being used as an alternative fuel in producing cement.

“For us, this is really not garbage.

This is low-grade fuel, this is processed engineered fuel,” Alan Cuyno, technical manager of Holcim Philippines Inc., said.

Reports indicated that the intercepted shipment was formally imported by Holcim.

Information received by the House of Representatives in its recent hearings

showed that the trash was imported by Holcim. However, Customs contested the declaration it was Processed Engineered Fuel, saying it was domestic waste based on its smell. The Environment department said it could test to confirm.

Locsin said the Department of Foreign Affairs will not “sign off” on the matter.

“DFA won’t sign off on it. Not our business,” he said.

“It becomes our business when those whose business it is f*ck up again; then we pick the sh*t and send it back. But I certainly won’t sign off on sh*t.”

Du30...

policy for sponsored program members admitted in ward or ward-type accommodations in government health care institutions.

The state agency is currently paying its health care providers using case rates, a fixed amount that covers both hospital and professional charges.

The report has alleged that PhilHealth’s increasing payments for pneumonia from 2010 to 2018 have reached “epidemic proportions” when there was no outbreak of pneumonia declared by the Department of Health.

PhilHealth pointed out that data reports of DOH are figures based on public health units and facilities, while PhilHealth’s claims statistics are based on actual payments of claims made to its health care providers. So both figures cannot be compared.

In the particular case of pneumonia, figures are based on those that have actually sought treatment for the ailment in both private and government hospitals nationwide.

Meanwhile, the owner of Wellmed, Brian Sy, told the NBI that former employees of the clinic were the ones supposedly involved in fraudulent claims.

Under the scheme, the clinic receives payments from PhilHealth for dialysis treatments even though some of the patients have long been dead.

From A1

Duque said PhilHealth may release the names “without rendering any judgment.” He said this is a factual narrative or a factual listing of health care providers with pending cases.

Amid reports of alleged irregularities involving bogus kidney treatments allegedly paid for by PhilHealth, the state insurance company bared last week that it is probing over 8,000 cases of fraudulent acts, among these 78 hospitals and at least 18 doctors.

The health chief said the Department of Health is aiming to emulate the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which publicizes corporations facing tax cases before the Department of Justice..”

PhilHealth earlier disclosed that they were able to monitor fraudulent acts involving WellMed. Their findings showed that 28 of the medical cases that have been filed involved dead patients while 12 others are under investigation.

At the same time, Dr. Roy B. Ferrer, PhilHealth acting president and CEO, denied the P154 billion overpayments allegedly made in its claims in the past six years, stressing that they are “efficiency gains,” a feature in the case rates payment system that the agency is implementing.

It also allows PhilHealth to effectively impose the No Balance Billing (NBB)

Grab to protest deactivation of 8,000 accounts

By Rio N. Araja DRIVERS and operators of transport network vehicle services said Monday they will protest in front of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board tomorrow over the deactivation of 8,000 Grab Philippines accounts.

Leonardo de Leon, Hatchback Community chairman, said the caravan will start from the Quezon Memorial Circle on Elliptical Road at 5 a.m. and stop the LTFRB central office on East Avenue in Quezon City.

He urged LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III and Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade to understand the plight of those to be deprived of the Grab accounts.

He called for a dialogue with the LTFRB, saying “many TNVS operators and drivers are having difficulties with the requirements set by the board chaired by Attorney Delgra.”

The agency opened 20,000 slots in December 2018 and to those who applied until June 7 to complete the requirements.

Grab was expected to deactivate the TNVS units that failed to submit evidence that they had a provisional authority on June 10.

Hatchback Community is a group of TNVS drivers and operators.

Aviation...

From A1

The President apologized to the passengers and vowed to come up with a remedy within a month.

Airport officials said flights were delayed by almost two hours Sunday evening because of a lightning alert.

The alerts are issued when bad weather might affect the safety of the passengers, airport officials added.

“The Manila International Airport Authority jointly with the airlines are exerting every effort to address the situation so that normal flight operations can resume as soon as possible,” the MIAA said.

Philippine Airlines said that several flights on June 9 experienced delays in departure as well as in the deplaning of passengers solely as a result of a lightning “red alert” issued by the airport authorities, which suspended all ground movement and operations from 6:40 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. affecting ramp personnel, and other operational movements at all the NAIA terminals.

The situation was difficult for arriving passengers who could not get out of their plane.

“We didn’t know what to do at the time. Imagine [being] stranded inside the aircraft for more than three hours,” said Maricar Yango, one of the affected travelers. “Some passengers were panicking.”

Acting on President Duterte’s instruction to ease congestion at the NAIA, Romualdez on Monday appealed for multi-partisan congressional support in securing additional funding for the rehabilitation and upgrade of all vital airports.

“The President saw the chaos at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 this (Monday) morning and he was not pleased that passengers had to endure congestion due to flight delays and cancellations. He said this is an urgent problem that need to be solved ASAP,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez, who accompanied

Duterte on his inspection, said passengers clapped when the President apologized, appreciating his humility.

“President Duterte took it upon himsef to apologize personally to passengers who were affected by the flight delay and the cancellations. The President’s gesture was warmly received by the passengers,” Romualdez said.

“Having seen the disruption myself, I appeal to my fellow legislators to cross partylines and help government address the problem at the NAIA. Congress must act fast to seek funding for the rehabilitation and upgrades of our airports. The President cited Sangley, which he said must be upgraded the soonest time possible,” he added.

To help decongest NAIA, Romualdez said the government must upgrade all vital airports across the country particularly those departing from and arriving in Manila.

The airport upgrades, he said, must include the widening of the breath of the runway and the upgrade of terminal facilities for night-flight capabilities.

Airport authorities noted that domestic flight departing Manila are crammed during daytime due to inability of provincial airports to receive flights at night. This contribute to heavy traffic at the NAIA, which has only two runways handling both international and domestic flights.

PAL, in a statement, said red alerts in the middle of a thunderstorm with lighting strikes are mandatory for the safety of airport personnel and passengers.

“President Duterte appeared to be generally satisfied on the actions taken by PAL management to address the concerns of affected travelers.

Passengers of canceled flights were rebooked on next available flights and several transit and elderly and PWD passengers were provided hotel accommodations,” PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.

The MIAA said the red lighting alert was lowered at 9:15 p.m. Sunday.

With their harrowing 3,000-kilometer (1,860-mile) crossing, Captain John Alcock and navigator Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown completed the world’s first non-stop transatlantic flight.

Here is a look back at their groundbreaking journey between Newfoundland in Canada and Ireland on June 14-15, 1919.

Daily Mail cash prize The North Atlantic had already been conquered by air when Alcock and Brown climbed into their modified World War I bomber on June 14–but never in one go.

Just weeks earlier three US Navy Curtiss flying boats had set out from New York state to make the trip with stopovers in Newfoundland, the Azores, Portugal and England.

Only one completed the journey, covering 6,000 kilometers in three weeks.

Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper had laid down the challenge for a non-stop crossing by offering 10,000 pounds for a single flight from North America to the British Isles in under three days.

Just weeks ahead of the AlcockBrown bid, two other teams had made an attempt: the first plane ditched into the ocean and was rescued; the second crashed on takeoff.

Barely clears the trees Alcock, aged 26, and Brown, 32, took off in the early afternoon from St John’s, one of the easternmost points of North America.

Their Vickers Vimy biplane was weighed down by 4,000 liters (1,056 gallons) of fuel and only just able to clear the trees, lurching in gusts of wind.

“Several times I held my breath, from fear that our undercarriage would hit a roof or a tree-top,” Brown recalled in “Flying the Atlantic in Sixteen Hours” (1920).

Once airborne, the Royal Air Force aviators turned eastwards for Ireland, heading into the night.

Flying blind Heavy fog meant they flew blind for much of the trip, unable to get their bearings.

The plane was tossed about by the wind, rising and plunging, at times just meters (feet) above the water, Alcock recounted afterwards.

“I believe we looped the loop and by accident we did a deep spiral. It was very alarming. We had no sense of the horizon,” Alcock told the Daily Mail.

Ice and hail jammed some of the instruments and threatened to freeze the motors. Brown had to chip off ice with a knife. AFP

communists took over their government that China owned the South China Sea since 2,000 years ago, which was already debunked by historical records.

He said this false history was being taught to the Chinese in their schools and believed by every Chinese general, admiral, Politburo member, diplomat, government bureaucrat and every ordinary Chinese citizen.

Carpio said he believed that this was also one of the reasons the Chinese government had refused to recognize the 2016 decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that rejected its nine-dash line claim.

“This true history is clear, obvious and simple: China never owned the South China Sea in the past, and there are high seas in the South China Sea that belong to all mankind, as there are exclusive

economic zones in the South China Sea that belong solely to the adjacent coastal states,” Carpio said.

He lamented that while Philippine democracy allowed such Chinese propaganda in the country, Filipinos could not do the same in China to correct such false historical claims due to the “Great Firewall of China” preventing the Chinese people from accessing foreign social media websites.

Because of this disparity, Carpio said, the proposed information campaign should target over 100-million Chinese people who travel outside China every year.

“Like all the other peoples of the world, the Chinese people are inherently good people. They have, however, been taught by their government only one historical narrative that happens to be totally false.

“I am sure that once informed of the true history of the South China Sea, and confronted with their own historical maps and official records, the Chinese people will accept the truth about the South China Sea. “These Chinese tourists will eventually spread the truth about the South China Sea to their compatriots at home. And the truth will set the Chinese people on a reconciliation path with the peoples of the Asean coastal state and with the peoples of the rest of the world.”

Carpio said it was important for Filipino communicators to start the campaign now even if the Duterte administration “refuses to assert the arbitral ruling,” adding that “the truth will secure forever our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea to be enjoyed by generations of Filipinos to come.”

Lightning alert...

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TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Broadcast journalist Tulfo faces bigamy case in QC court

By Rio N. Araja IN A 14-page complaint-affidavit, Julieta Licup of Barangay Tinang, Concepcion, Tarlac said she and Rafael Teshiba Tulfo or more popularly known as Raffy Tulfo got married at the office of the mayor of Capaz, Tarlac on Oct. 26, 1982.

She claimed Tulfo married Jocelyn Pua twice in a civil wedding at a municipal court in Luna, Isabela on June 24, 1993 and at the Little Quiapo restaurant in Diliman, Quezon City on Jan. 20, 1995.

Pua is second nominee of the AntiCrime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) that topped the party-list race in the recent May 13 elections.

She will sit as the party-list’s representative in the 18th Congress.

Licup complained Tulfo, who was then a radio announcer, abandoned her during her fifth month of pregnancy after a “huge” fight in Isabela.

She said she gave birth to their daughter, Grendy Licup Tulfo, in Tarlac on March 6, 1984.

“I went to great lengths and efforts to locate Raffy Tulfo through family, friends and acquaintances but to no avail,” the complaint read.

When asked why the complaint was filed late, Julieta’s lawyer, Lifrendo Gonzales, said “there are some things that have made her decide to file only now.”

He said Julieta is planning to file violence against women and children complaint against Tulfo.

The complainant said she was surprised to know that “my husband is still alive and is now a well-known television personality,” adding “and yet, I was shocked to learn that he already has a wife and a family.”

Palace rejects call for probe of drug killings

By Vito Barcelo MALACAÑANG on Monday rejected the call to allow the United Nations special rapporteurs to conduct an independent investigation on alleged summary killings of drug suspects in the country, as it accused UN human rights body of making a conclusion although they have not been in the Philippines.

“How can you be asking for an investigation when you’ve already concluded that this country has violated certain human rights and has killed many people? So what’s the use of investigating if you already have a conclusion?” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

Panelo, also the President’s chief legal counsel, issued the statement after Vice President Leni Robredo, along with other groups, said that the Duterte government should welcome the inquiry if it is not hiding something.

Robredo herself said the UN experts should be allowed to do their jobs.

But Panelo dismissed the call for international probe as an “intellectually challenged” move and an “outrageous interference” in Philippine policies.

The Palace spokesman said the statement of 11 UN special rapporteurs and other UN human rights investigators were just a repeat of “the same false narratives against this government,” and described them as “foreign propagandists masquerading as human rights protectors,” who based their accusations on false and adulterated information.

“Their basis on the war on drugs, on violation of human rights, all came from the opposition and the detractors of the President, which have not been proven,” Panelo said.

SOUTH LINK. Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar (inset photo) inspects the C5

South Link Expressway that will link C5 Road and CP Garcia Avenue to Merville, Parañaque City by going over the South Luzon Expressway. A segment will be opened next month and the entire project is expected to be completed in 2021. Norman Cruz

GMA bats for protection of PH workers in Russia S

By Maricel V. Cruz

PEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has pushed for a labor agreement between the Philippine and Russian governments for the better protection of Filipino workers in the federative state.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum over the weekend, Arroyo noted that a big majority of the estimated 10,000 Filipinos working in Russia are undocumented, which makes them prone to arrest and detention.

“The vast majority of Filipino workers in Russia are household workers and nannies but except for around 200, all of them—from 5,000 to 10,000— are undocumented. They pay as much as US$3,800 for improper or manufactured visas,” Arroyo said.

Because of this, she said that “they are always on the radar of the police, under constant threat of arrest and deportation. Crimes against them go unre-

House probes looming Luzon-wide blackouts A LAWMAKER on Monday urged the House of Representatives’ committee on energy under the 18th Congress to investigate the alleged regulatory delays in the installation of new power plants that could soon trigger Luzon-wide rotating blackouts.

“The House resolution enabling the energy committee to conduct the inquiry is ready for filing. We will file it on July 1—the first day of the new Congress,” said Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr., outgoing deputy minority leader.

“We have to avert the approaching shortage if we want the economy to grow at the optimal annual rate of 6.5 percent or higher and create enough new jobs in the years ahead,” Campos said.

“The incoming Congress has to look

NCRPO nabs 3 drug dealers in Manila

By Joel E. Zurbano THE National Capital Region Police Office arrested three suspected drug dealers and seized more than P6.8 million worth of prohibited drugs during an anti-narcotic operation in Manila early Monday morning.

NCRPO chief Guillemo Eleazar identified the suspects as Rudy Kidlat, 20; Mark Anthony Alcantara, 32, and Rona Valenzuella, 37, all residents of Pasay City.

Eleazar’s men, in coordination with the Manila Police-Station 6 and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agen-

ported for fear of deportation. They fall victim to illegal recruiters and human traffickers.”

Arroyo said the presence of labor agreement between the two counties will serve the interests of the two nations.

“What is the solution to maximize the potential of our Filipino workers to contribute to Russian development and investment attractiveness? The solution is a labor agreement between our two countries. I understand we have vast experience in this area and have found that the interests of both sending and receiving states are served by the agreement. I understand we have had several discussions on this, and that in

May last year the Philippines formally submitted a draft labor agreement to Russia,” Arroyo said.

She added, “(a) labor agreement one that allows Fiiipinos to legally stay and work in Russia, to make meaningful contributions to Russian families and society, to bring our people closer, to foster greater understanding, will greatly benefit both countries and reinforce the historic step our leaders have taken,” she said.

Arroyo was invited to speak at the SPIEF which is one of the leading global platforms for members of the business community to meet and discuss the key economic issues facing Russia, emerging markets, and the world as a whole.

It has been held since 1997, and since 2006, has been held under the auspices of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.

This year, the event was held from June 6 to 8. Also in attendance were other world leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping.

cy, conducted the buy-bust operation along Osmeña Road in Vito Cruz resulting in the arrest of the suspects around 1:30 a.m.

Recovered from the suspects were 10 pieces of plastic packs containing one kilo of shabu worth P6.8 million, a boodle money worth P1 million, a weighing scale, and a red Suzuki car used by the suspects in the drug trade.

Eleazar said the suspects were members of a criminal gang connected to a group of Chinese nationals engaged in the illegal drug trade operatiing in Metro Manila and Cavite province.

into the supposed regulatory issues that have set back the construction of additional power plants,” he said.

Campos was responding to the warning issued by San Miguel Corp. that Luzon could face “rotating blackouts” starting next year until 2022 due to holdups in the setting up of new power plants amid rising demand.

“We are going to face rotating blackouts in 2020, 2021 and 2022,” warned SMC president Ramon Ang. “There is already a looming shortage that is why [electricity] prices in the spot market are high,” Ang said.

Ang said the construction of extra power plants in the pipeline since 2016 has been stalled by regulatory risks, including delays in the issuance of the required envi-

ronmental compliance certificates.

SMC, through SMC Global Power Corp., is one of the country’s the largest power producers with at least 4,200 megawatts of capacity.

SMC Global Power alone has pending projects with an aggregate capacity of at least 1,500 MW that have been mired by regulatory issues.

Since January, the Luzon grid has been on red alert 11 times and on yellow alert 27 times due to scheduled maintenance and unplanned power supply disruptions, among other reasons.

A red alert indicates that the grid has a severe power deficiency, while a yellow alert means that the grid lacks reserves to cover possible sudden supply deficits.

Maricel V. Cruz

NBI to probe attack against Or. Mindoro’s lady fiscal

By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday directed the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a thorough investigation into yesterday’s attack against a lady prosecutor in Oriental Mindoro.

Guevarra issued the order after Provincial Prosecutor Josephine Caranto-Olivar was shot Monday morning while entering her house. She sustained five gunshot wounds—two in the head and three in the body.

“She’s still in the hospital fighting for her life. We don’t have enough info yet regarding the possible motive,” Guevarra said, in a text message to reporters.

“I have instructed the NBI, through Director [Dante] Gierran and the regional director, to immediately gather the evidence and conduct a thorough investigation,” Guevarra added.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said the prosecutor will undergo a CT scan for the wounds she sustained and will have to undergo surgery.

This incident prompted Guevarra to make an urgent call for the incoming 18th Congress to immediately pass the bill providing benefits to the prosecution service.

“Our prosecutors’ lives are always at risk due to the nature of their job. We’re hoping that the new Congress will be more sympathetic to the bill providing survivorship benefits to the prosecution service,” Guevarra said.

AGAINST DEACTIVATION.

Transportation Network Vehicle Service operators and drivers hold a press conference in Quezon City to lament the impending deactivation of some 8,000 units within the Grab Service. They said that difficulties in the requirements set by Chairman Marin Delgra of the LTFRB leads to financial losses to the operators and drivers and deactivation from the service as they seek assistance and intervention from President Rodrigo Duterte in the hope that the government will support small entrepreneurs involved in the TNVS. Manny Palmero

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Opinion

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Romualdez, the next Speaker I BELIEVE in karma.

When Senator Nene Pimentel became Senate President, I used to call him “the senator with the double-breasted eyebags.”

Now when I look at the mirror, I see double-breasted eyebags on my face as well!

I sincerely apologize to Nene. I hope he still counts me among his friends. *** The case of sexual harassment filed by an ABS-CBN news host against two female superiors has been raffled off to the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court.

This reminds me of the case of Doris Bigornia, daughter of my late good friend, Amante Bigornia.

I think he has it all sewn up.

At that time, it was Maria Ressa—who is now CEO of Rappler—who was in charge of the network’s news and public affairs. Under her were female executives.

Doris came to me for assistance because of alleged harassment and discrimination. She said her case culminated with her assignment to Batangas to cover an impending tsunami caused by an earthquake.

This did not sit well with her superiors, and led to her dismissal.

I wrote several columns on her behalf, which also resulted in her dismissal. She was accused of seeking help from a columnist on an internal problem.

I advised Doris to speak with a lawyer and have her dismissal by Ressa investigated. She heeded my advice and her case was handled by the Labor Department’s conciliatory office. This unit looks into cases of unjust dismissal.

After several months, Doris came to me

to say that she had won her case and had been reinstated as an ABS-CBN reporter.

She was even compensated with back pay.

She and her father thanked me profusely. *** The Commission on Audit found that some P5 million of the grand total of the Marawi rehabilitation fund was diverted to finance a trip to Mecca.

This is considered technical malversation. The fund is supposed to be only for rehabilitation, nothing more.

Alas, President Duterte simply told the Commission on Audit to be silent and do nothing. Why did he practically say it was all right to disregard the law?

The most telling issue raised is that the 1987 Constitution mandates the separation of Church and State. Government should not fund any religious activities.

I can understand why the President’s heart bleeds for the Muslims. But at no time in our history did we fund anybody’s pilgrimage—not the Hajj, not a trip to the Holy Land.

The only role of government is to pro provide the Moros assistance to get their visas to Saudi Arabia. *** My wife and I are avid churchgoers and a devout Catholics. Somebody once asked whether President Duterte’s rants against the Catholic church bothers me at all.

My usual answer—I leave everything to God. My wife and I have had our faith all our lives, even before Duterte got elected as president. We will die with this faith, whatever anybody says. *** Since Congress is now on sine die or extended adjournment until the next session, it might be good to point out what exactly the current Speaker, Gloria Arroyo, achieved in her short stint.

She accomplished many things that other Speakers who held the job for much longer hardly did. She got all of President Duterte’s priority legislation enacted.

Gloria has a reputation for being diligent, and during her time as president, she was known to attend several events on any given day. I asked her once how she does

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Mixed signals and dangerous precedents

T

HE Commission on Audit is not one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s favorite government bodies. In September, he uttered something about wanting to push government auditors down the stairs. In January, he said he wanted to kidnap and torture them. He has always complained about how audit rules made it difficult for local executives to act with urgency and immediacy especially in emergency situations.

True to its mandate, the COA has brought to the public’s attention some of the most glaring irregularities in the administration—for instance the excessive spending of the Presidential Communications Operations Office during the Asean summit, and the multi-billion peso advertisement deal between the thensecretary of the Department of Tourism, Wanda Tulfo Teo, and a communications entity owned by her brothers.

More recently, the commission found that the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council supposedly diverted P5 million of funds for the rehabilitation of Marawi City to send 27 survivors of the siege to the Hajj—the annual Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The COA issued a Notice of Disallowance to the HUDCC on February

18, instructing it to return the amount.

But speaking before the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos during the celebration of the end of Ramadan last week, Mr. Duterte said he saw nothing wrong with the fund diversion.

“I’m asking COA to reconsider. (What is) P5 million in terms of your kind generosity to finance the Muslim people?” the President said. “I would like to tell (COA) not to meddle with it.”

He warned that Mindanaoans would revolt if the COA insists on recovering the P5 million, adding that when he was mayor, he also funded Hajj activities of his constituents.

Nobody questions that such a religious pilgrimage is a crucial part of healing for those displaced by the Marawi siege. It’s an act that Filipino Muslims observe and

the rest of the population respects and appreciates. But it is a stretch for the President to equate funding a trip to Mecca from funds earmarked for an equally important task, to “investing in peace.”

Mr. Duterte remains popular and credible because he has embraced peace and order and law enforcement as a hallmark of his administration.

Part of ensuring order is abiding by laws that govern how government must be run. In appealing to the COA to disregard its findings—at the very least we can say he has toned down the vitriol perhaps realizing that the COA is a constitutional commission and thus independent of any branch of government—the President is sending mixed signals. Laws exist, but sometimes it is all right to break them? Rules are there for a purpose, and encouraging leniency in the application of some sets a dangerous precedent. Who is to say what a worthy exception would be?

What would stop succeeding leaders from saying that the auditors should look the other way for a similar act of “kind generosity?”

Appeals for flexibility merely weaken the administration’s message on upholding the rule of law.

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Rod Severino and Philippine independence WHEN former ASEAN secretary-general, foreign affairs undersecretary, and Ambassador Rodolfo Severino Jr. passed to eternal life on April 19, I knew when I would write and publish my tribute to him. There is no other day than Philippine Independence Day to celebrate the life, accomplishments of a diplomat who was described, by Ambassador Tommy Koh, the great statesman and diplomat from Singapore, “as a gentleman, a peace-maker and a man of goodwill.” Tomorrow, June 12, we celebrate the 121st anniversary of the Philippine declaration of independence in Kawit, Cavite. That day is also the anniversary of our Department of Foreign Affairs, with Apolinario Mabini as its first head.

Without a foreign policy and a vigorous diplomatic service, the Philippines does not deserve to be called an independent nation. Rod Severino and his fellow diplomats from all generations worked very hard and continue to work hard to ensure this.

We have had great diplomats in this country. Carlos P. Romulo, who became President of the General Assembly, for sure is a legend. Narciso Ramos, father of President Fidel V. Ramos, was a founding of father of the ASEAN. His daughter the late Leticia Shahani, who later become senator of the Republic, was as visionary as the father. And in more recent times, I have worked with excellent career diplomats like Foreign Affairs Domingo Siazon, Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, and several younger but just as brilliant ambassadors and foreign service officers. But I think that all of them would acknowledge that Rod Severino had qualities that made him unique and deserving the accolade given to him by several colleagues— “the quintessential diplomat.’

University of the Philippines professor and international relations scholar Aileen San Pedro Baviera, who worked on Philippine-China relations with Ambassador Severino in the 1990s, described very well these qualities: “He may not have been perfect, just as no human being is. But he was to me an

inspiration and a source of learning for what Philippine diplomacy should be like, now and in the future. Always be prepared. Know what results you need to get. Be ready to think out of the box.

Deepen your understanding of and with those closest to you. Not only the governments, but the peoples, need to connect to each other. Think before you speak. Say no more than is needed. Then think some more before you act.”

Above all, his writings reflected this thinking and reflective diplomat, who had a strategic and visionary mind: In 2010, in his Where in the world is the Philippines?, he asked the right questions:

DOF on the warpath

He is the quintessential diplomat.

“Where in the world is the Philippines?, In other words, where does the Philippines have jurisdiction? Of what kind? Where does that jurisdiction end?

Because the Philippines is an archipelago, that is, a nation of many islands, these questions apply importantly to the country's maritime regime. In contemporary terms, what is the extent of the Philippines’ territorial sea? Its exclusive economic zone (EEZ)? Its contiguous zone? Its continental shelf? From where does or should the Philippines measure its territorial sea, contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone? What is the character of the large expanses of sea between some islands of the Philippines? What is the nature of the Philippine claim to the Kalayaan Island Group? What about the Philippine claim to Sabah?

For most countries, questions similar to these and the answers to them are fairly straightforward. They have long been settled, and other countries have accepted, or at least acknowledged, those answers. However, in the Philippine case, many of the questions remain unanswered. Fierce, often arcane debates go on within the government, in the academic community, and, of course, with other, especially neighboring, countries.

Once in a while, the controversies erupt Turn to A5

THE country’s top economic manager, Finance Secretary Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez III, has expressed dismay that independent power producers administrators (IPPAs) owe the state-owned Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) close to P60 billion in unpaid obligations.

PSALM is the government corporation that manages the sale and privatization of the country’s power generation and transmission assets.

As chairman of its Board of Directors, Dominguez laments that PSALM has been forced to borrow more than P20 billion and pay almost P3 billion for interest and other financial charges just so it could service maturing obligations in 2018. The state-owned firm is also borrowing $1 billion to service similar maturing obligations at the end of May 2019.

Dominguez does not hide his displeasure over the failure of South Premiere Power Corp. (SPPC), which administers the Ilijan gas-fired power plant in Batangas City, to settle its highest unpaid obligation due to PSALM amounting to P19.775 billion.

Secretary Dominguez has instructed PSALM to relentlessly pursue collection efforts against these IPPAs and use all remedies available to protect the public interest.

SPPC accounts for 70 percent of the P28.46 billion owed PSALM by IPPAs, or a third of PSALM’s collectibles from IPPAs, electric coops and other private corporate entities to PSALM totaling P59.23 billion.

PSALM, created by law to manage the sale and privatization of the country’s power generation and transmission assets, had issued in 2015 termination orders for SPPC’s appointment as IPPA for the Ilijan gas-fired power plant in Batangas City. But the power firm managed to secure an injunction from the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court so it continues, to this day, as administrator of the Ilijan power generation plant.

PSALM president-CEO Irene Joy Garcia reported to Dominguez that because of the huge obligations owed PSALM by the SPPC and the other IPPAs and electric coops, “the Government through PSALM is constrained to resort to borrowings that the National Government guarantees, in order for PSALM to fulfill its mandate of liquidating the financial obligations of the National Power Corporation on time.”

“In fact, in 2018, PSALM borrowed about P23 billion to cover its maturing obligations, and PSALM is set to borrow USD 1.1 billion for obligations maturing this end of May 2019,” she emphasized.

As a result, PSALM had to pay interest, guarantee fees and other finance charges of about P2.62 billion per year.

Had the IPPAs and electric cooperatives paid their obligations, PSALM would not incur the additional costs, she pointed out.

Apparently unable to hide his dismay over the fact that IPPAs and electric coops had yet to settle their outstanding obligations with PSALM, Dominguez said these “could have otherwise been utilized by the Government for the construction of public school classrooms or to build roads and bridges.”

The SPPC has strongly denied PSALM’s claim and insisted PSALM miscalculated the obligations it owed the state-owned power asset management firm.

Dominguez has instructed PSALM Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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Opinion Passing the baton the members of Congress towards the achievement of the priority legislative measures of this administration.”

On TV, one congresswoman praised her to the point of what I thought were actual tears. I daresay that that’s got to have been a first for any outgoing SpeakWITH the departure of former President er—not to mention someone who’s been Arroyo from the House leadership, the as maligned and mistreated as she was. gossip has naturally turned to who will replace her at the Speaker’s gavel. Since the President has professed his hands off on the issue, it’s become a wide-open Romualdez has field for a handful of his allies.

This early—and without meaning to impeccable education, disrespect any of the other candidates— professional achievement, I’m declaring for returning Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez. A dark legislative experience and horse at the beginning, the young scion political principle. of the fabled Romualdez clan has reportedly already secured the support of over 150 congressmen, placing him at the head of the field today. And this isn’t dif*** ficult to understand, considering what he During just one year at the Speaker’s has going for him: • Impeccable education: UP, Cornell, gavel, Mrs. Arroyo accomplished a feat that I daresay was also unprecedented: Harvard • Professional achievement: IBP pres- passing 100 percent of the legislative agenda she set for herself. That agenda, ident before, Philconsa president today • Legislative experience: Three-term- of course, was in fact the President’s er during the 14th, 15th and 16th Con- agenda, comprising 28 bills that he had certified as priority to Congress. gresses Unfortunately, the Senate proved to • Political principle: Held the opposition Lakas-NUCD party together as its be a lot less cooperative. Ten of the 28 secretary-general and did not abandon priority bills to date have not yet made it the party’s titular head, Mrs. Arroyo, in out of the Senate: on revising the Charter, national land use, creating a new her hour of need With the election of so many young Department of Disaster Resilience, the new political leaders last May, the time second tax reform package, mining taxhas truly come for an intergenerational es, real property assessment, Presidential passing of the baton of House leader- emergency powers to address the Metro ship. It’s Martin’s time—his, and his Manila traffic crisis, capital income taxes, lowering the age of criminal liability, generation’s too.

Last week saw what I thought was an and mandatory ROTC. Should we call this so-called perforunusually effusive outpouring of emotion among the congressmen towards mance the honorable senators’ version of their outgoing Speaker, as the 17th Con- “checks and balances?” On top of their recent stonewalling on this year’s budgress officially closed its third session.

Majority leader Fred Castro hailed Mrs. get—which may have caused us to miss Arroyo as “one of the most brilliant politi- our 6-percent GDP growth target for the cal and academic minds in recent Philip- year—this adds up to an impressively pine history,” saying that “she pushes ev- underwhelming record indeed. *** eryone to their limits, often realizing in a So what was the secret of Mrs. Arself-realization that one can actually do larger than life tasks that the person never royo’s legislative slam-dunk in the thought he was capable of accomplish- House?

According to her erstwhile ally, Coning.” From personal experience, this writer gressman Joey Salceda, she simply sat can only say amen to that.

For his part, Minority leader Danny on almost every request she received Suarez thanked the Speaker for “her to conduct “inquiries in aid of legisladedication and competence in leading tion.” Out of a whopping 744 requests

Rod...

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into public view...”

In 2006, he argued for the importance of the ASEAN Regional Forum: “The ASEAN Regional Forum was founded as a venue and mechanism for ministerial-level consultation and dialogue among states in East Asia and others with interests in it on political and security issues in the Asia-Pacific. The only region-wide security forum for the Asia-Pacific, the ARF was established in the early 1990s in the light of and in response to the new regional security environment that had developed at the time.

This new environment had emerged from the end of the Cold War, the breakup of the Soviet Union, the removal of United States forces from their bases in the Philippines, the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Cam Ranh Bay, the opening up of China and the accompanying surge in China's economy, military power and political influence, and Japan's policy foray into regional security multilateralism from an almost total dependence on the Japan-United States security treaty...

The ARF is neither a military alliance nor a defense pact. It has no adversary, actual or potential, against which to devise military plans, conduct military exercises, or direct weapon systems.

Indeed, all possible adversaries in the Asia-Pacific are inside the ARF fold; that is the whole point of the forum.”

Later in 2009, in his book Southeast

Romualdez,...

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it. Her response: “Time management.”

Her work ethic is just admirable. When she was president, she required her Cabinet members to keep their phones on so she could call them any time she needed answers to questions. How indefatigable! *** Among the members of the House I have spoken to, it is a foregone conclusion that the next Speaker will be Rep. Martin Romualdez. Nobody among the other candidates can approximate his credentials. He took up law at University of the Philippines and took graduate studies at Harvard and Cornell. He was president of the Philippine Constitution Association and, likewise, Lakas. He is approachable, a true consensus-builder.

He also has a secret weapon—his wife Yedda, party-list representative of Tingog for Eastern Visayas.

Recall that Joe de Venecia during his time as Speaker also had a secreat weapon in his wife Gina.

I think Martin has it all sewn up. www.emiljurado.weebly.com

Asia in Search of an ASEAN Community, he defended and elaborated on the principle of non-interference in the ASEAN: “Perhaps, the most prominent issue raised by the media, some politicians and other public commentators against the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has been its policy and practice of not interfering in its members’ internal affairs.

Some have even called it a ‘doctrine,’ something ideological and, therefore, to be adhered to at all cost and under all circumstances. The frequent implication is that the “doctrine,” policy or practice is peculiar to ASEAN, as if the association had invented it. Sometimes, the criticism amounts to heckling or jeering..

The ‘doctrine’ of non-interference or, more precisely, the policy and practice of states committing themselves to refrain from interfering in one another's internal affairs has been around for a long time, long before ASEAN was born—or conceived. It has, in fact, been the underpinning of the entire system of inter-state relations since the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia. After four years of negotiations, that voluminous treaty put an end to the Eighty Years’ War between the Dutch and the Spanish.”

In the same book, Ambassador Severino assert that ASEAN's supreme achievement is that it has provided a setting for the peaceful management of disputes among its members: “The constant interaction and sense of common purpose among the ASEAN members have built mutual confidence

DOF...

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to relentlessly pursue collection efforts against these IPPAs and use all remedies available to protect the public interest.

from the congressmen, she allowed only 14. This forced them to do their job of crafting laws, even during weekends and recesses. According to many congressional staffers, they never had to work so hard before in their life.

A notorious micro-manager, the Speaker also sat in on all the legislative committees to make sure their work got done. I can only imagine how it must have felt for her colleagues to experiexperi ence the biting lash of her tongue. And in between sessions, she also revived the oversight role of Congress by visiting many projects in progress, especially those started during her Presidency in areas like RoRo and housing for the poor.

This lesson of doing your job by writing laws instead of grandstanding for the TV cameras shouldn’t be lost on the senators, especially the incoming newbies. On the other hand, if they prefer instead to orate before the pubpub lic, it may be time for their chamber— as recommended in some versions of a new Charter—to give up its lawmaking powers and relegate the senators (elected by region under a federal system) to an advise-and-consent role. *** This week as we resume Ordinary time after the Easter season, today’s reading (Acts 11: 21-26, 13: 1-3) brings us to the city of Antioch. There, the more open-minded among the Jewish followers of Christ had started recruiting Gentiles into the fold, a development that so alarmed the Jerusalem community that they sent one Barnabas to investigate.

But much like Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, Barnabas instead was so impressed by what he saw that he fetched Paul from his home in Tarsus to join him in Antioch. It was there that the disciples first started calling themselves “Christians”, marking—under Paul and Barnabas—the formal start of evangelization to the Gentiles.

In this manner did those two great evangelizers carry out Jesus’ instructions to His disciples after the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5: 13-16): “You are the light of the world…Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” So too are we called—by even our simplest acts of human charity—also to glorify God. Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@ yahoo.com.

and dissipated some of the mutual suspicion that is a legacy of past differences and an outgrowth of current disagreements. A growing sense of community and networks of personal contacts have not only prevented conflict as a solution for disputes but have also fostered cooperation for certain common goals.”

I first saw Ambassador Severino when he visited his son Howie in Cervini Hall, the dorm of Ateneo de Manila, in the 1970s. I was awed already then, as he was power personified. Twenty years later, we worked together as fellow Undersecretaries but obviously I never saw myself as his peer. He was a statesman already then and he guided me in my first exposure to international negotiations. He clearly understood what we we were facing in climate change and the biodiversity crisis and was consistently supportive of radical approaches to deal with our challenges. He certainly would encourage us today to continue to engage in the multilateral forums where these issues are being decided today with such high stakes for the country.

Ambassador Severino was a patriot in the strongest way and a global citizen also in the fullest sense. For sure, he lived up to the ideals of Apolinario Mabini and his own family legacy in the Philippine revolution. One wished for more Rod Severinos in this country and world. We need him for our continuing and more complete independence.

Facebook Page: Professor Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs for its efforts to preserve part of our heritage. But local governments should do their part as well.

Farther north, in San Fernando, Pampanga, the defunct railway station of the Northrail line has been preserved by the city government and transformed into a museum.

The old train station is steeped in history. It was inaugurated by GovernorGeneral Eulogio Despujiol and Bernardino Nozaleda, the Archbishop of Manila, on Feb. 23, 1892. In April 1942, during the Bataan Death March, it served as the end-point for the 102-kilometer march from Bataan from which Filipino and American prisoners-of-war were carted to Capas in Tarlac en route to their final destination, Camp O’Donnell.

On June 27, 1892, Jose Rizal disembarked from this station to meet some recruits of La Liga Filipina and again the next day en route to Bacolor. A marker in the station which we were fortunate to visit in August last year showed that it was at this station that Rizal also met his Kapampangan girlfriend, Rosario Joven, whenever he went to the province. Visitors can take selfies with a life-size statue of a seated Rizal seemingly waiting for someone in the train station. Could it be Rosario? We’ll probably never know.

Preserving our heritage We’re glad that it’s not just the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) that’s involved in preserving our unique cultural heritage.

We welcome the move of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) to retain what’s left of 10 old train stations in Bulacan province built in the late 19th century and preserve them in the process of building the 17 stations of the P777million Manila-Clark Railway System or North-South Commuter Railway. The future railway will use the old PNR right of way and will connect Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

The structures in the towns of Balagtas, Guiguinto, Malolos and Calumpit, among others, would be renovated to complement the design of the new railway stations. According to news report, the ruins are being guarded 24 hours daily to prevent informal settlers from destroying them.

The PNR should really be commended ernhil@yahoo.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Budget delay: Scapegoat for economy’s 1Q performance mance in the year’s first quarter.

It all seems a “case closed” situation: the economy performed less robustly because the budget’s delayed approval caused the government to operate without the planned spendingauthority increases. But is it really a THE recent PSA (Philippine Statis- “case closed” situation? Was the use tics Authority) announcement of the of a re-enacted budget the one and first-quarter 2019 performance of the only cause of the economy’s decline Philippine economy is bound to have to below-6-percent growth in the first come as a big disappointment to all the quarter? people, within and outside the governI don’t think so. I have difficulty ment, who had become accustomed to accepting the premise that the delay in seeing the economy post above-6-per- the approval of the 2019 GAA—and cent annual growth rate on a regular the consequent resort to re-enactment basis. The PSA announcement stated of the preceding year’s budget—inthat the economy grew at a 5.6-percent evitably led to reduced GDP growth in rate in the March quarter. The GDP this year’s first months. The premise is (gross domestic product) grew by 6.3 too simplistic to be acceptable; it is so percent in the fourth quarter of 2018, easy to place the blame at the door of bringing the full-year GDP growth to the delay in the 2019 GAA’s approval.

6.2 percent. PSA noted that 5.6 percent The fact of the matter is that other was the lowest quarterly growth rate factors of a growth-restraining nature posted by the were at work in economy since the Philippine the first quarter economy during of 2015, when it this year’s first It was not the only grew by 5.1 perquarter. Take, cent. negative factor at work; for instance, the The firstperformances of there were others. quarter 2019 two of the econGDP growth omy’s largest rate is below the com productive comgovernment’s agri ponents, agrivaunted 6 to 8 percent annual-growth culture and manufacturing. The dismal target. Just when the economic 2018 performance of agriculture—the managers and private-sector analysts sector accounts for approximately 20 thought that above-6-percent growth percent of the GDP—apparently carhad become the norm, the first-quarried over into the first quarter of 2019. ter 2019 dip happened.

And only recently did the DirectorWhen the two chambers of Con- General of NEDA (National Economic gress were debating, during the last and Development Authority) publicly months of 2018, the GAA (General air his concern about what he called the Appropriations Act) of 2019, the stage continuing decline of the manufacturwas already being set for pointing to ing sector. the GAA’s delayed approval—and Additionally, the growth of consumpthe probable re-enactment of the 2018 tion was tempered by the anxiety and GAA—as the cause of any deteriora- feeling of insecurity left behind by last tion that might take place in the econ- year’s TRAIN-generated inflationary omy’s 2019 performance. Congress’ surge. Consumption accounts for around failure to produce a GAA before year- two-thirds of this country’s GDP. end would lead to the use of a re-enactFinally, the continued decline of the ed budget, the economic managers be- export sector—the source of the largest gan saying, and the resulting reduction merchandise trade deficit in this counin the government’s spending authority try’s history—will have given rise to was bound to cause an economic slow- significant decreases in production and down for as long as the 2019 GAA re- income across the economy. mained unapproved.

Summing up, the delay in the apAnd so it came to pass. It was not proval of the 2019 budget was a facuntil the beginning of the second quar- tor in the below-expectations perforter—toward the end of April—that mance of the Philippine economy in Congress sent the P3.7 trillion GAA the first quarter of this year. It was not to Malacañang for President Duterte’s the only negative factor at work; there signature, and shortly thereafter PSA were others. But it was the convenient announced the economy’s perfor- scapegoat.

Living and working dangerously, as always

BEFORE it’s too late, I would like to thank those who have expressed unwavering support to yours truly amid the controversy over my misdemeanor on the airwaves and having offended Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista.

I have apologized and offer no excuses for overreacting to Sec. Bautista’s unavailability for a phone interview, ranting and using inappropriate language on the air.

For the nth time, “I am really sorry.”

This unfortunate situation that I had caused myself, my brothers and my whole family drags on with this issue now being manipulated and fueled by unseen hands motivated by vindictiveness and political vendetta.

Former-Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre was quoted as saying it succinctly, “They (Tulfos) never expected the gravity of the backlash, coming as it did from the Military and the Police, the sector that the Tulfos cannot afford to fight at this time.”

Indeed, it looks like this time I ran into some untouchable personalities in and out of the Duterte administration, purportedly gravitating toward Sec. Bautista, a former Philippine Army and Presidential Security general, and a revered Mindanao war hero.

I have, along with my entire family, received just as much badmouthing from Sec. Bautista’s friends and supporters as I had verbally offended the honorable Secretary for which I readily apologized.

I am truly sorry but whether or not I’m forgiven is beyond me.

The ex-honorable Justice secretary Aguirre went on to warn “If the Tulfos would be off the hook without learning their lessons, they would be back to their entitled and arrogant ways in no time.”

We find no malice on the part of PNP Chief Director-General Oscar Albayalde in his decision to strip us of our security detail and confiscation of my licensed firearms.

In the course of my work as a crusading broadcast journalist, I have earned the ire of criminal elements including scalawag cops and soldiers, as well as unscrupulous powerful personalities, and I’m just thankful to have been a privileged recipient, along with my brothers, of the PNP’s kindness providing security detail, true to its slogan to serve and protect.

I have received death threats, which I have learned to live with in my line of work, especially with the Tulfos’ public service work and brand of journalism, my bread and butter. With or without the PNP detail, we’re always a sitting target to big-time criminal syndicates in illegal gambling, illegal drugs, human trafficking, smuggling and gunrunning, etc.

Behind the bravado, verbosity, foul language and cursing, truth is I AM A NOBODY but a voice of the little man yearning and crying out for a better deal, hoping for a place in an even playing field in times of promised change.

The Tulfo brothers are no bigshots by any stretch of imagination. Boses lang po kami ng mga inapi at ng mga nakakaligtaan ng lipunan.

WE ARE NO HEROES. However, we can’t just simply turn our back to those who ask for our help because, were taught by our parents to stand up and fight for those who are weak and helpless. And for decades we have committed to rendering that kind of public service in our own small way, though it will not earn an epitaph at Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Indeed, it’s a dangerous country for hard-hitting journalists, as it is for cops and soldiers but we’ve got a lot of work to do to make this country a better place to live for everyone.

May God bless us all.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

A6

News

TODAY JUNE 11, 2019 TUESDAY,

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Tanggol Wika holds protest rally at SC

Convicted American arrested

MEMBERS of Alyansa ng mga Tagapagtanggol ng Wikang Filipino (Tanggol Wika), an organization of Filipino language advocates, on Monday held a protest rally at the Supreme Court to dramatize their indignation over the Court’s decision excluding Filipino and Panitikan from the general college curriculum.

Contrary to its earlier pronouncement, the Tanggol Wika did not file a second motion for reconsideration seeking to reverse the March 20 SC’s ruling, but instead the group filed a “letter of protest” asking Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin to reverse the ruling that they described as an “imminent cultural genocide.”

In its ruling, the SC denied with finality the motions for reconsideration against its October 2018 decision upholding a memorandum issued by the Commission on Higher Education excluding Filipino and Panitikan from the general college curriculum.

The tribunal said the petitioner failed to offer any substantial arguments to warrant a reversal of its previous decision.

However, Tanggol Wika argued that the decision WAS “patently unjust” as the group expressed concern on the number of Filipino teachers who might be displaced.

IMMIGRATION agents arrested a convicted American wanted by Federal authorities in California for violating his parole by fleeing to the Philippines.

The captured fugitive, Ricky Masanque Sanchez, was arrested at his residence along Romulo Road, Barangay San Vicente, Tarlac City, according to BI Fugitive Search Unit head Bobby Raquepo.

Raquepo said arrest was made at the request of the US Embassy in Manila.

A court in Santa Clara, California ordered Sanchez’s rearrest on September 2017 after it was confirmed that he had fled to the Philippines a month earlier in violation of the terms of his parole.

Reports said that Sanchez had been convicted of attempted murder but was later released on supervised parole.

Prisoners freed on parole supervision in the US are normally required to regularly report to their parole officer and prohibited from leaving their State without permission.

Investigation revealed that Sanchez had been hiding in the country since Aug. 18, 2017. Vito Barcelo

By Rey Requejo

LEGAL NOTICE

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.

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)

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

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch 99, Quezon City, Metro Manila PETRONELIO A. EGAR, Petitioner, CIVIL CASE No. R-QZN-17-09309-CV For: Declaration of Nullity of Marriage -versusJANET FELISILDA EGAR, THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY AND THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, PHILIPPINES STATISTICS AUTHORITY Respondents. x----------------------------------------------------------x

SUMMONS (by Publication)

TO: JANET FELISILDA EGAR, Lower Lobogon, Duero, Bohol GREETINGS: WHEREAS, a petition for Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Marriage, which was solemnized on December 28, 2005 in Quezon City as stated in the Certificate of Marriage, has been commenced by petitioner Petronelio A. Egar against respondent Janet Felisilda Egar; WHEREAS, on December 8, 2017 this Court granted the issuance of Summons against respondent Janet Felisilda Egar in her last known address in Lower Lobogon, Duero, Bohol; WHEREAS, on March 5, 2018, petitioner, through counsel, Filed a Motion to Appoint the Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Loay Bohol as Special Sheriff, which was granted on March 19, 2018; WHEREAS, on May 23, 2018, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Loay, Bohol, filed a Sheriff’s Return of Summons stating that on April 24, 2018 he tried to serve the summons upon respondent Janet Felisilda Egar at Lower Lobogon, Duero, Bohol but failed and unavailing on the ground that said respondent is working in Bahrain under a two-year contract, which started last July, 2017 per information supplied by her mother Erlinda Felisilda who is residing in the same address; WHEREAS, on June 29, 2018, petitioner, through counsel, filed a Motion for Leave to Serve Summons by Publication, which was granted on March 19, 2018; WHEREAS, on July 24, 2018, the case was transferred to Hon. Judge Lily Ann M. Padaen pursuant to Administrative Order 92-2018; WHEREAS, on August 3, 2018, the Motion for Leave to Serve Summons by Publication was denied for not being compliant with the Rules; WHEREAS, on September 12, 2018 petitioner filed a Motion for Reconsideration, which was granted by this Court on February 15, 2019 directing the issuance of summons by publication in the given address of the respondent Janet Felisilda Egar at Lower Lobogon, Duero, Bohol. In addition, a copy of the summons shall be served on the respondent at his last known address by registered mail, at the expense of the petitioner.

WHEREAS, in the petition, the relief prayed for is hereby quoted as follows: “WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed that: 1.The marriage of Petronelio A. Egar and Janet Felisilda Egar of 28 December 2005 be declared void from the very beginning; and 2.The Civil Registrar of Quezon City and the Registrar General, Philippine Statistics Office, Manila, be ordered to annotate the declaration of nullity of subject marriage in the Certificate of Marriage of herein private parties.

Relief and remedies just and equitable under the premises are also prayed for,” NOW THEREFORE, YOU, respondent JANET FELISILDA EGAR, ARE HEREBY SUMMONED AND REQUIRED within THIRTY (30) DAYS from the last issue of publication to ANSWER the petition and to copy furnish the petitioner with a copy of your Answer at Block 1, Unit 4, Romarosa Townhouse, Luzon Avenue, Old Balara, Quezon City. You are reminded of IBP-OCA Memorandum on Policy Guidelines dated March 12, 2002 to observe restraint in filing a motion to dismiss and instead allege the grounds thereof as defenses in the Answer. If you fail to Answer within the time fixed, the Court shall order the Public Prosecutor to investigate whether collusion exists, in accordance with Section 8(3) of A.M. No. 02-11-10-SC [Rule on Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Marriages and Annulment of Voidable Marriages].

The Respondent in an action for Annulment of Marriage, Declaration of Nullity and Legal Separation must strictly observe the above-prescribed period to file Answer.

WHEREFORE, let this summons be published once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks, in a newspaper of general circulation to be selected by raffle pursuant to P.D. 1079 at the expense of the petitioner. Likewise, let a copy of the summons be sent by registered mail to the respondent at his last known address, also at the expense of petitioner and to submit to this Court proof of compliance therewith.

WITNESS THE HON. LILY ANN M. PADAEN, Acting Presiding Judge of this Court, this 10th day of April, 2019.

Copy furnished:

(Sgd.) ATTY. ANNA PAULA A. BORGOÑOS Branch Clerk of Court

Office of the Solicitor General 134 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Ma. Christina Osoteo Public Prosecutor Department of Justice Building Quezon City Hall Complex, Diliman, Quezon City Atty. Amado B. Deloria Counsel for Petitioner Room 2004, Capitol Masonic Building II, #37 Matalino Street, Diliman, Quezon City Petronelio A. Egar Petitioner Block 1, Unit 4, Romarosa Townhouse Luzon Avenue, Old Balara, Quezon City Janet Felisilda Egar, Lower Lobogon, Duero, Bohol (MStandard-June 11 & 18, 2019)

MASSIVE LANDSLIDE. Townsfolk began clearing landslide debris along the Kiangan Tinoc Highway, a main road artery connecting Ifugao and Benguet while appealing to DPWH crew to clear the road to make the blocked portion passable to motorists. Tinoc LGU

PH jails overpopulated by 111,046, CoA reports T

HE Commission on Audit has claimed the total jail population of the Philippines had exceeded its ideal capacity by 439 percent, or an over occupancy of 111,046, in 2018 due to the increase in drug cases and slow action in courts.

DU30 appoints Pimentel

By Vito Barcelo

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Gregorio Pimentel, former head of the Directorate for Intelligence of the Philippine National Police, as Deputy Director General of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

President Duterte signed Pimentel’s appointment paper last Tuesday, June 4, but the Palace only released the appointment on Monday.

Pimentel takes the place of Jesus Fajardo, who left the PDEA to join the Bureau of Customs as the bureau’s deputy commissioner.

Duterte served as a sponsor at the wedding of Pimentel and Department of Social Welfare and Development Assistant Secretary Michelle Ortega in Baguio City last year.

The new PDEA deputy chief also served in the Davao Region as head of the PNP Highway Patrol Group.

In its annual audit report on the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the COA said the ideal capacity of Philippine jails was only around 25,268 inmates, but the population had ballooned to 136,314 as of December 31, 2018.

Government auditors said this violated the BJMP Manual on Habitat, Water, Sanitation, and Kitchen in Jails and the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

The CoA attributed these rates to the increased number of drugrelated cases, slow or no action on pending cases in court, non-release on bail of detainees due to poverty, or scarce land where jail buildings could be built.

Nonetheless, the CoA lauded the BJMP for placing measures on inmate development.

This includes the Recognizance Act of 2012 and the Good Conduct

Time Allowance where detainees can enjoy livelihood training programs, religious activities, sports and other programs.

The UN rules state that jails should maintain “climatic conditions” with proper sleeping accommodation and ventilation, while the BJMP manual allows only 10 inmates per cell for every 4.7 square meters of floor area.

Some studies have suggested that temperatures inside jails and prisons could be very hot, with heat index—a measure of how hot it really feels when humidity is factored in with the temperature— could reach even higher than the already hot temperature.

The consequences of these heat waves can be severe.

The COA had warned the condition of jails posed a risk on the health of the inmates, who might also resort to joining gangs inside the prisons for their safety.

DepEd twits ACT for grabbing credit THE Department of Education said on Monday it had requested funding from the Department of Budget and Management for the construction of administration buildings based on the need for such infrastructures.

The DepEd was reacting to the claim of Raymond Basilio, secretary general of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, in his social media posts on Saturday that their group’s actions prompted the department to include the construction of administration buildings in its 2020 budget proposal.

“Last May 21, before the faculty room incident in Bacoor went viral and before the resulting protest of ACT, the department already presented and defended its 2020 Tier 2 proposal to the DBM,” the DepEd said, adding that it has requested PHP24.98 billion for the initial batch of administration buildings.

“These [administration buildings] will house the principal’s office, faculty room, guidance room, library, and school supplies and equipment storage during calamities. The preparation for the proposal came much earlier,” the DepEd added.

The DepED said its Basic Education Facilities Fund “historically prioritized the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms” but it is prepared to construct faculty rooms and other ancillary facilities upon the authorization of the national budget. PNA CYAN

Manila

Republic of the Phil ippines Standard METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT OF METRO MANILA

TODAY

NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 43, QUEZON CITY

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plantiff, -versusERIC A. ACEJO)

CRIM. CASE NO. 15-1050 I TO 04 For: Violation of BP 22

Accused, x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x NOTICE OF SALE ON EXECUTION OF REAL PROPERTY WHEREAS, by v irtue of a Writ of Execution issued by the Honorable DON ACE MARIANO V. ALAGAR, Presiding Judge of the Metropolitan Trial Court, Branch 43, Quezon City, in Criminal Case No. 15-10501 to 04 wherein ERIC A. ACELO is the accused and Dra. MARIA CRISTINA S. BUENSUCESO is the private complainant for the recovery of the civil aspect of the case amounting to EIGHT HUNDRED NINETY THREE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHT PESOS (P893,808.00) covering the amount of checks excluding costs of suit and other inc idental expenses. Attachment/Levy was made by Mr. WILFREDO S. MARINO assisting sheriff of this court on February 27, 2019 thru the Registry of Deeds of Marikina City, on the rights, interests and participations of said accused, Mr. ERIC A . ACEJO in the real propery more particularly described as follows:

PHOTO 2

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 425641 “A parcel of land (lot 23 , Blk. 38 of the cons-subd. Plan (LRC) Pcs-5683, being a portion of the cons. Of Lots 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 & 9 all of (LRC) Psd61617; Lot 53-B , Psd-18247 & Psu-178927, LRC (GLRC) Rec . Nos. 7671 & N-21658, situated in the Municipality of Marikina, Prov. Of Rizal, Is. Of Luzon Bounded on the N., points 4 to 5 by Road Lot 13; on the E., points 5 to 1 by Lot 24, Blk. 38; on the S., points 1 to 2 by Blk. 45, all of the cons.subd. Plan; points 2 to 3 by Lot 49-C-3-A-3-C-3-4-, Psd-18247, Beginning at a point marked “1“ as plan, being S. 74 de. 11. W., 173.09 Ill. from BLLM I , Mp. Of Marikina, Rizal; thence N. 85 deg. 30’ W., 13.88 m to point 2; thence N. 76 deg. 48” W.. 132 to point 3; thence N. 7 deg. 50’ E., 22.82 m. to point 4; thcnce S. 85 deg. 30’ E., 15.20 m to point 5; thence S. 7 deg.

45, W., 23.04 m. to the point beginning; containing an area of THREE HUNDRED FIFTY (350) SQUARE METERS, more or less. All points referred to are indicated on the plan and are marked on the ground by PS cyl. Cons. Mons. 15X60 cm.; bearing true; date of the original survey, Dec. 1910-June 1911 and Oct. 26-27, 1959 and that of the cons-subd. Survey, September 10-30. Oct. 1- Nov. 3. 1966/././.

NOW THEREFORE, by virtue of the said Writ of Execution and in accordance with Rule 39, Sec. 19 of the Rules of Court, Deputy assisting Sheriff Wilfredo S. Marino with sell at public a uction to the highest bidder, for CASH, and in Philippine currency, on July 05, 2019 at 10:00 o ‘ clock in the morning, at the lobby of the Hall of Justice, Quezon City, the rights, interests and participation of the accused ERIC A . ACEJO on the abovedescribed real property in order to satisfy said Writ of Execution, as well as the costs, Sheriffs fees and expenses of sale.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on July 12, 2019 at the same time and place without the need for further notice, publication and/or reposting. Interested parties are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title of the said property and the encumbrance if there be any.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, May 28, 2019.

WILFREDO S. MARINO Sheriff III (MS-JUNE 11 & 18, 2019)

NO FARMS YET. Women farmers and peasant support groups stage a protest rally at the Department of Agrarian Reform headquarters in Quezon City on the 31st anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Project signed into law by then President Corazon Aquino in 1988. Thirty one years after, farmers still do not own the land they till as loopholes on the CARP Law have seen farm lands lost to conversions and land reclassification. Manny Palmero

OWWA, Facebook expand digital literacy THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, together with Facebook, announced the expansion of its digital literacy program to reach overseas Filipino workers on-site.

The program, which covers topics on digital discourse, online privacy, safety, and information literacy, aims to reach OFWs in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Middle East.

The launching was led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, and Facebook’s Head of Community Affairs for Asia-Pacific, Beth Ann Lim during the Migrant Workers’ Day Celebration held at Palacio de Maynila.

In his message, Administrator Cacdac underscored how OWWA keeps up with technology to deliver its services and programs to OFWs. “We are glad to be expanding our digital

literacy program with Facebook for OFWs based in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Middle East. Our shared vision is an empowered OFW community that would have the critical skills to vet information they find online, and consistently use privacy and safety tools available to them,” said Administrator Cacdac.

The digital literacy program for OFWs was launched during the Migrant Workers’ Day Celebration in 2018, and was initially intended for departing and returning OFWs. On its first year of implementation, the program has trained over 140,000 OFWs on digital skills for discerning credible content online, and respectful digital discourse.

Over 600 returning OFWs were also provided online business skills training to help them find alternative sources of income.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports Chan sizzles with 66, pulls away by 8 AIDRIC Chan went on a birdie-binge at the finish and came away with a superb six-under 66 to zero in on one of the coveted berths in the national men’s team vying in the Southeast Asian Games the country is hosting on Nov. 30-Dec. 10.

Chan birdied four of the last five holes, sparked by three-straight feat from No. 14, in a scorching finish that highlighted the start of the last of the two-stage 2019 SEA Games men’s team qualifier at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac yesterday.

After topping Stage I with a two-under 286 last week for a three-stroke lead over three rivals, the Ateneo student now has a 352 aggregate and padded his lead to a whopping eight-stroke margin over Carl Corpus, who carded a 71 for 360.

Gab Manotoc also fired a one-under card to move from fifth to third at 361 with three rounds left in the grueling elims that will select the three players who will banner the Phl team’s campaign in the biennial games, also to be played at the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.designed layout.

Luis Castro and Sean Ramos, tied with Corpus at second after the first phase, floundered with 73 and 75 and slipped to fourth and fifth at 362 and 364, respectively, with the rest of the 13 survivors still lagged behind to pose a threat for the leading contenders in the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines, sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, the PLDT Group, Cignal and Metro Pacific and hosted by Luisita.

Edward Dy matched par 72 for a 368, Paolo Wong hobbled with a 73 for a 370 and Kristoffer Arevalo fumbled with a 75 for a 371 followed by Ivan Monsalve (75-372), Lanz Uy (75-374), Alexander Bisera (77-374), Ryan Monsalve (73376) and Rolando Bregente (78-381).

A7

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Durant may return in Game 5

T

ORONTO—Golden State Warriors star forward Kevin Durant, sidelined for a month by a right calf injury, practiced with the defending champions Sunday and could return for the must-win fifth game of the NBA Finals.

Improving enough for workouts means Durant might play Monday against Toronto, which owns a 3-1 lead in the bestof-seven series and needs only one win to become the first team from outside the United States to win the NBA title.

“We’ll know more after that,” Kerr said without giving a timetable for a decision.

“The mood is good. We’ve still got plenty to play for. We have an amazing opportunity and challenge. We’re going to do everything we can to meet that challenge.

We’re excited about it.”

The Raptors, seeking the first title in their 24-season history, are ready if Durant -- the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player -- rejoins Golden State.

“If he plays, he’s an MVP. He’s really, really talented,” Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said. “But we can’t focus on that.

We have to focus on ourselves. Play how

we need to play, grind it out.”

To have a hope of winning a third consecutive NBA crown and fourth in five seasons, the Warriors must win Monday to force a sixth game Thursday in Oakland, then win that to force a winner-takeall showdown next Sunday in Toronto.

“You’re going to see a resilient Warrior team,” Golden State guard Klay Thompson said. “We’ve had our backs against the wall before. It’s a little more daunting being down 3-1, but usually when our backs are against the wall, we respond the best.”

A ‘powerful weapon’ Durant, out since being hurt in a second-round game against Houston, leads the Warriors with 34.2 points a game.

The Warriors won their first five games without him but have since struggled to contain Toronto.

“It’s just having another powerful

weapon out there that can do some very dynamic things,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry said.

“We’ll be able to adjust in transition pretty smoothly. He has been in plenty of finals and has played well. No matter what percentage he’s at, I’m sure he’ll be impactful and effective out there.

“We just have to be aggressive and smart and competitive, especially on the defensive end, and the rest should take care of itself.”

Golden State has examined what went wrong after dropping two home games to the Raptors.

“I wouldn’t say we’re down at all,” Curry said. “It’s mostly just we’re anxious to get out there and play a great game. We know we can do it. It’s just a matter of proving it.”

What Durant can contribute and how well the team blends him back into the lineup will be critical factors for Golden State.

“The game plan changes so you adapt accordingly,” Kerr said. “We have a little better sense of what we can do and where we can go as guys get healthier.

Iriga routs Pasig, gains share of 2nd

Kevin Durant, out since being hurt in a second-round game against Houston, leads the Warriors with 34.2 points a game. Durant might play Monday against Toronto, which owns a 3-1 lead in the series. AFP

PH Under-22 booters 4th in Merlion Cup Juvic, Clyde boost Bacolod PH Golf Tour cast

By Peter Atencio THE Philippine national under-22 football team settled for a fourth-place finish in Merlion Cup 2019 after a 0-5 loss to Indonesia last Sunday at Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.

Indonesia took a 1-0 lead with six minutes into the match.

The Filipino squad tried to score when midfielder Dylan De Bruycker made an equalizing attempt in the 35th minute.

But De Bruycker’s effort was saved.

Indonesia then went on to score four more goals in the second half to complete the rout.

The Singapore side claimed the Merlion Cup with a 1-0 win over Thailand.

The Merlion Cup served as the team’s third tournament in preparation for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

PSA Forum...

From A8

Rodriguez will come in behalf of 7-Eleven Air21 Cliqq Roadbike Philippines, Go For Gold will have Ednalyn Hualda, Daniel Ven Carino, and Ismael Gorospe, while veterans Eusebio Quinones and Marc Galedo lead the Celeste Cycle.

Members of Cignal-Ateneo which bagged the first finals berth in the PBA D-League have also been invited in the 10 a.m. public sports program presented

by San Miguel Corp, Braska Restaurant, Amelie Hotel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

“As we get healthier and have some time to heal and rest, I like our chances.

So we’ll see what happens.”

- ‘Pretty storybook’ Curry sees the task as simple.

“Just win one basketball game and then we’ll worry about the rest,” Curry said.

“Can you go out tomorrow, play an amazing 48 minutes, quiet this crowd that’s going to be probably unbelievable and slow down a team that’s been playing amazing?

“The confidence that we can flip that switch, and no matter what has happened the last two games be world-beaters tomorrow from the jump, that’s definitely something that we can do and execute.”

Having Durant in uniform would boost that belief even more.

“We’ll come in the arena with the right mindset,” Thompson said. “I feel for Kevin. We just have to do everything in our willpower to help him get back.

“He will be very welcome. We miss him out there. He has propelled us to two championships in the last two years. So it would be pretty storybook if he could come back and help us do the same.” AFP

JUVIC Pagunsan and Clyde Mondilla set out for no less than a victory in their keenly awaited return to the Philippine Golf Tour, boosting the already formidable cast clashing in the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge starting tomorrow (Wednesday) in Murcia, Negros Occidental.

The Japan PGA Tour-based Pagunsan hopes to make the most of his rare stint on the circuit, eager to mark his comeback with at least a strong showing as he tries to build confidence in time for his title-retention drive in Negros Occidental next week.

The former Asia’s No. 1 made an emotional return last year on a course where he nurtured his game and won the Philippine Amateur crown in 2006, edging Jobim Carlos in sudden death to win the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic.

Though he had struggled in the first half of the two other regional tours, the smooth-swinging shotmaker is expected to figure in the title hunt in this week’s P2.5 million event put up by ICTSI owing to his talent and skills, particularly his solid iron game that suits best at the short par-70 layout.

Like Pagunsan, Mondilla is also out to make an impact following a two-month long absence due to injury but the reigning Solaire Philippine Open champion will be in for a tough outing against a fired-up field led by last week’s Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational winner and Maniila-based Guido Van der Valk of the Netherlands.

Mondilla and Pagunsan actually finished tied at 22nd in the kickoff leg of

Raptors’ plan...

From A8

Juvic Pagunsan and Clyde Mondilla make Bacolod title race worth watching

PGT Asia at Luisita last April before the former took a break and the latter resumed his campaign in Japan.

Legend Frankie Miñoza is also making his return to the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., coming in as one of the invitees, along with Mateo Gomez and Sebastian Lopez of Colombia, Englishman George Twyman and Aussie Jack Sullivan and Gleeson.

Justin Quiban, meanwhile, is seeking to recall the form that upstaged the cream of the local pro crop and a number of foreign aces here last year, where he put up three solid rounds and went on to beat Jay Bay-

ron by five.

But like the other fancied bets, Quiban expects to encounter stiff opposition from the rest of the bidders, including Michael Bibat, Elmer Salvador, Albin Engino, Jhonnel Ababa, Rufino Bayron, Richard Abaring, Joenard Rates, Mars Pucay, Elmer Saban, Richard Sinfuego and Jay Bayron along with Americans Lexus Keoninh and Charles Lee, Japanese Kei Matsuoka and Taisei Mochita, Koreans Kim Young Hyun and Park Jun Sung, Spain’s Marcos Pastor, Thai Pachaera Sakulyong, Emilio Parodi of Argentina and Rafael Parra of Venezuela.

MPBL to crack down on game fixing

SPARRING. Sen. Manny Pacquiao continued his first sparring at the Elorde Gym Five E-Com Building in Pasay City for his fight against American WBA welterweight super champion Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 20.

His sparmate is Australian light middleweight Tim Tszyu, son of Kostya Tszyu. Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions

IRIGA City beat Pasig, 88-63, last Saturday to gain a share of second place in the National Basketball League Season 2 at the Philippine Christian UniversityDasmariñas gym in Cavite.

Mark Raton had 12 points, six rebounds, and two steals for the Oragons, who now hold a 5-1 record to tie with the CamSur Express for second place in the team standings.

In other results, the Paranaque Aces nipped the Imus Bandila, 84-83, to improve their card to 5-2. Noy Bermudes tallied 26 points for the Aces.

Raymart Amil had 19 points and seven assists to lead the Laguna Pistons to a 103-96 victory over the Dasmariñas Ballers to win their fourth game in seven outings.

In games held Sunday at the Hagonoy Sports Complex in Taguig City, Primo Manaloto scored a three-point play with five seconds left in the game as the Pampanga Delta stunned the Taguig Generals, 102-99.

Jerome Juanico scored 29 points as the Nueva Ecija Rice Makers trounced the Bulacan Starks, 87-41, to pick up their third win in six games.

THE Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League is partnering with certain expert groups on its crack down on alleged game fixing happening inside the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league.

No less than the founder and chief executive officer Senator Manny Pacquiao is leading the fight against these anomalous acts.

“Gusto kong pangalagaan ang MPBL. Gusto kong ang tao hindi niloloko. Gusto ko ang game laging competitive. Hindi ‘yung maraming hokus-pokus. Ayaw kong niloloko natin ‘yung sambayanang Pilipino. Wina-warningan ko lang baka pagdating ng pa-

nahon mawala na kayo na parang bula,” said Pacquiao.

There were unconfirmed reports that reached the MPBL Commissioner’s Office on allegations of game fixing.

Senator Pacquiao said he’ll give a reward to people who can show proof of game fixing.

“May mga grupo na tayo na expert diyan para magsubaybay sa mga players na kahinahinala, mga taong pumapasok outside the league. Bantayan natin sila. Magtulungan na lang tayo.

Kapag may nalaman tayo na information, sumbong niyo agad sa akin, ako na bahala doon,” added Senator Pacquiao.

isn’t given to you. You should be happy you wake up every day. I’m great. I’m alive.

“That’s the staying-in-the-moment thing I’ve always lived by. So it wasn’t hard to do. We just kind of made that the forefront of our team.

“We just have a bunch of guys that are in the moment, understanding we’re just going to keep playing and keep working.”

Leonard was inspired by being forced to sit out with an injury.

“You never know when those times will come when you’re not going to be able to play,” he said. “That’s what my mindset really comes from and what made me grow as a player. Those are the worst times in basketball.

“It’s not losing games or missing shots. It’s about you being able to play.

I grew up my whole life wanting to play in the NBA. And when that’s taken away, it’s terrible.”

True adversity For Lowry, it’s appreciating that real adversity isn’t found playing basketball for millions of dollars no matter what the final score.

“What my mom had to go through and my grandmom, feeding myself, my brother and my other little cousins, going to work, getting up at five in the morning, making me cereal and being able to provide for me and my brother and my family, that’s pressure,” Lowry said.

“Just being willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that your kid will see better than what you’ve ever seen, getting up and taking public transportation an hour and a half away -- people like that are heroes to me, just going to work, grinding and doing whatever it takes to provide for your family and protect who you have to protect.”

Lowry admits the team does draw energy from the emotional support the Raptors get from screaming supporters watching outside in “Jurassic Park.”

“We want them to be excited,” he said. “But we’ve still got work to do.

We haven’t done anything. We’ve still got to get one more win.” AFP

Sports

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

A8

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019

PH Blu Boys back in world softball meet AFTER 15 years of absence, the PH Blu Boys are back in the World Men’s Softball Championships set from June 13 to 24 in Prague in Czech Republic.

They will face 24th-ranked Cuba on June 14 in its first game in Group A, where defending champion New Zealand and Asian champion and world no. 3 Japan are bracketed.

“We have been working hard for this. For the Blu Boys, playing against the world’s best teams will certainly provide us with the needed international experience. At the same time, we will determine our improvement areas for the team,” said ASAPHIL President Jean Henri Lhuillier who remains confident that the team will give a good account of itself in the tournament that features only the world’s top 24 men’s softball teams, including the Philippines, ranked 17th.

Blu Boys head coach Eufracio dela Cruz echoed Lhuillier’s optimism: “I believe we have a big chance of making it to the Top 10 as we have been preparing hard for this since we qualified.”

The top 4 teams from each group will advance to the playoffs.

Outside of Cuba, the Philippines will be facing higher-ranked teams in the group as they play no. 13 Botswana in its second game on June 15, No .5 Argentina on June 16, followed by a showdown with Japan the following day, before taking on host Czech Republic on June 18 .

The Blu Boys square off against the defending champions New Zealand on June 19 and will wind up its qualifying round schedule with a game against no. 20 ranked Mexico on June 20.

Group B is headed by world’s no.

2 team Canada, no. 4 Australia, no. 6 United States, no. 8 Venezuela, no. 11 Denmark, no. 12 South Africa, no. 19 Netherlands and no. 22 Singapore.

Opening game in the tournament will see the hosts Czechs playing the Kiwis from New Zealand. The event is organized and supervised by the World Baseball Softball Confederation.

Rafael Nadal lies on the clay court after sweeping his way to a historic 12th Roland Garros title with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Austria’s Dominic Thiem on Sunday. AFP

KaTropa sends Cruz to NLEX in 3-team trade

By Jeric Lopez

TNT KaTropa finally shipped away guard Jericho Cruz in a completed and approved three-team transaction yesterday in the Philippine Basketball Association.

The league gave its go-signal to the trade that will send the shifty guard to NLEX. Placed on the freezer for quite a stretch already, Cruz was finally dealt away by the Tropang Texters to the Road Warriors with NorthPort serving as a third party.

The KaTropa will receive two second-round picks (2021 and 2022), with NLEX reserve big man Marion Magat, while the Batang Pier took Michael Miranda in return and two more future draft picks from the Road Warriors.

Aside from Cruz, NLEX also took NorthPort’s 2020 second-round pick to round out the deal.

This came months after TNT placed Cruz in the reserve list.

Cruz last played in February for the Tropang Texters.

He will now be reunited with coach Yeng Guiao in NLEX, where he is expected to play heavy minutes as the Road Warriors are in dire need of some firepower.

Cruz started his career with Rain or Shine and was actually one of Guiao’s go-to players during his time there before getting traded to TNT.

Nadal won’t target Federer’s slam record P

ARIS—Rafael Nadal insists he is not obsessed with beating Roger Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slams, claiming “you can’t be frustrated all the time because your neighbour has a bigger house than you or a bigger TV or better garden.”

Nadal swept to an historic 12th Roland Garros title with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Austria’s Dominic Thiem on Sunday.

That took him to 18 majors, just two behind Federer.

At 33, Nadal is the best part of five years younger than the Swiss veteran but with a career blighted by injuries, he refuses to target the all-time record.

“That’s not the way that I see the life,” said the Spaniard.

“It’s a motivation, yes, but it’s not my obsession.

“It’s not what makes me get up every morning or go and train and play.”

Nadal’s caution is well-founded.

By his own estimates, his career-long battles against knee and wrist injuries have cost him “around 15 or even more Grand Slams”.

In the aftermath of his latest Roland Garros triumph, he admitted that after an injury-hit start to 2019, he felt “down

mentally and physically” and questioned his love for the sport.

‘Not enjoying it’ “I was not enjoying it too much, I was worried about my health. I was down mentally and physically after Indian Wells,” said Nadal.

“I was too negative. After Madrid and Barcelona, I was thinking about what I needed to do. I could stop for a while and recover or change my attitude and recover.”

After a loss in the Australian Open final to Novak Djokovic, where he won just eight games, a second round exit in Acapulco was followed by a withdrawal from the semi-finals in Indian Wells, when a knee injury meant that an eagerlyawaited clash with Federer was shelved.

His return in the clay court season saw semi-finals losses in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid before a much needed title triumph in Rome.

“In 2018, I played nine events and fin-

PSA Forum tackles Le Tour THE 10th-year celebration of the Le Tour de Filipinas will be the center of discussion in Tuesday’s session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Amelie Hotel-Manila.

Le Tour de Filipinas Chairman Donna Lina spearheads the loaded guests’ list that includes coaches, captains, and some of the best riders of the participating teams.

Defending champion El Joshua Carino and Reinhardt Gorantes represent the national team, Marcelo Felipe and Ric Turn to A7

Caidic recalls shooting form, lifts SMB past Alaska in UNTV Faceoff

National coaches to meet PSC chief

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

By Peter Atencio THE national coaches are set to meet with with Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William ‘‘Butch’’ Ramirez to discuss the ongoing preparations for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Ramirez, as chef de mission of the national delegation, will ask the coaches how ready Filipino athletes are when they gather today at the Philsports Complex in Pasig.

There will be 529 golds at Ramirez stake in 56 sports in the Games.

And the Philippine Olympic Committee is setting its eyes at 120 gold medals.

“How your athletes will do it is up to you,” said Ramirez during last week’s meeting with the national sports associations.

The number of participants in Philippine delegation is expected to be around 2,000, including 1,600 athletes.

Metro Manila will host popular events like basketball, boxing and volleyball.

On the other hand, mandatory events like swimming and athletics will be held in the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

There will also be events in the Subic Bay area, in Tagaytay, Batangas and La Union.

Ramirez and the board members of the PSC will meet to talk about their logistical needs and expenses that will be needed to prepare the many athletes who are competing.

ished just seven of them,” Nadal added.

“I had issues with my knee and surgery on my foot, so many issues in the last 18 months that have made the last few weeks very special.”

Nadal revealed that in Barcelona, he had even locked himself away, questioning where his season was heading.

“Mentally, I lost a little bit of energy, because I had too many issues in a row.

It is tough when you receive one after another, and then sometimes you are groggy,” he explained.

“In Barcelona, I was able to stay alone for a couple of hours in the room and think about what’s going on, what I need to do.

“One possibility was to stop for a while and recover my body. And the other was change drastically my attitude and my mentality to play the next couple of weeks.

“Thinking a lot, finally I think I was able to change and was able to fight back for every small improvement.”

On Sunday, Nadal took his Roland Garros record to an astonishing 93 wins and just two losses having previously won the title in 2005-2008, 2010-2014, 2017 and 2018.

It also gave him an 82nd career title and 950th match win. AFP

Two-time MVP winner Danny Ildefonso of San Miguel Beer drives against Alaska’s Eddie Laure during their UNTV Cup PBA Legends Faceoff on Sunday which the Beermen won, 76-61.

FORMER MVP winner Allan Caidic recalled the form that made him the deadliest shooter of his era, burying five triples in leading San Miguel Beer to a 76-61 drubbing of Alaska in the UNTV Cup PBA Legends Faceoff on Sunday at the Pasig City Sports Center.

The 1994 MVP winner who is known as “The Triggerman” during his playing days in the pro league, scored all his 15 points from the trifecta region as the Beermen rolled to their second straight win in the event that will benefit the PBA Legends Foundation after the monthlong tournament.

While Caidic sizzled from afar – he finished with an impressive 5-of-9 shooting from the 3-point zone – two-time

MVP Danny Ildefonso dominated the paint to lead all scorers with 18 points aside from posting six rebounds, two assists and a steal.

MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes shook off the cobwebs of a long layoff and finished with 12 points, while Willie Miller and Johnny Abarrientos were held to combined 17 points as the Milkmen slipped into a 1-1 record.

Ginebra San Miguel, meantime, brought enormous joy to a sizable Sunday crowd by downing fierce rival Purefoods, 100-83, with former MVP Jayjay Helterbrand exploding for 28 points.

Vince Hizon also shone offensively, knocking down five triples on the way to 25 points for the Gin Kings who tied the Milkmen for second to third places.

Four-time MVP winner Alvin Patrimonio tallied 16 points but it was not enough as the Hotdogs absorbed their second straight loss in the event organized by UNTV President and CEO Dr. Daniel Razon.

Raptors’ plan: Stay calm and capture historic 1st NBA title TORONTO—With an uncanny calm, the Toronto Raptors have advanced within one victory of a historic NBA title, bringing joyful delight to supporters even as they maintain a stoic manner.

Winning twice on the road to seize a 3-1 edge over defending champion Golden State in the best-of-seven NBA Finals brought only stone-faced looks from players, taking the cliche of getting neither too high or too low to epic levels.

“The focus part has been impressive (and) necessary,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “They know we can’t get some place before it gets here. You got to

“Just stay in the same put in the work to do it. There’s routine and just focus on still a lot of work to do.” what’s in front of me. HuA dramatic victory to reach man beings, we do think in the brink of the NBA crown the future. You just got to they’ve chased since last Octostay current, stay in your ber produced all the enthusiasm routine, be patient and not of a corporate report at a busirush anything.” ness meeting from the Raptors.

Leonard, who missed “We’re focused. We know most of last season with an that it doesn’t mean anything injury, has made his meluntil someone has four wins,” Kawhi Leonard low monotone a trademark.

Raptors star Kawhi Leonard said. “You never know what could hap- Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol and Danny pen and you got to take advantage of it Green have helped pass it to teammates.

“Kawhi certainly sets that tone, but so and don’t get overly hyped and excited.

does Kyle, Marc, Danny. The younger guys take the cue from them. They just know there’s not a whole lot of energy to spend on celebrating before time,” Nurse said.

“Our collective IQ, our experience and our demeanour has been good. They have gone in after games and talked about continuing to work and improve. There’s still a lot of room for improvement.”

Staying in the moment For Lowry, there’s a sense of gratitude that sustains his composed manner.

“I’m here playing basketball for a living.

Life’s pretty good,” he said. “Everyday Turn to A7

IN BRIEF GCash backs data privacy protection SUPPORTING the government’s drive to promote understanding of the Data Privacy Act, GCash, the Philippines’ leading mobile wallet operated by Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations Inc.), joined the National Privacy Commission in celebrating Privacy Awareness Week on May 25 to 31.

Gcash, in a forum with its employees, stressed the need to protect the data privacy not just of GCash customers but also of its data handlers and processors.

Mel Megrino, chief security and privacy officer of Mynt, said the systems and processes used by GCash were aligned with the requirements of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

“GCash looks at security and privacy as key pillars that will enable and grow the business. If that is how we see security and privacy, then we want to make sure that we uphold the rights of data subjects,” she said, adding the data privacy team at GCash was constantly examining new regulations on data protection that could affect GCash users.

Business

ABS-CBN goes into theater production ABS-CBN Corp. has ventured into theater production as it teamed up with Ten Bridges Media Corp/Atlantis for three co-productions of award-winning musicals from Broadway.

“ABS-CBN’s venture into theater production, a first for a media and entertainment company, is among the company’s efforts in expanding its experience business,” said Bobby Barreiro, ABS-CBN head of integrated events.

“It is another step forward in creating new possibilities for local theater, which has grown tremendously over the past few years, with its abundance of talent and opportunities locally,” he added.

The partnership kicked-off in March with the staging of the critically acclaimed “Angels In America: Millennium Approaches,” which featured Art Acuña, Pinky Amador, Angeli Bayani, Topper Fabregas, Cherie Gil, Nelsito Gomez, Andoy Ranay and Markki Stroem.

This will be followed by “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” which will open on June 14. The original Broadway production has been nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Darwin G. Amojelar

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019

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By Julito G. Rada

INAEC CERTIFICATION. INAEC Aviation Corp. receives the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Stage 1 level certification from Montreal-based International Business Aviation Council. This marks the first time that a holder of an air operator certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has been accorded such distinction. Shown (from left) are Mark Jayson Hojilla, avionics technician; Carlo Conti, aircraft mechanic; Deecap Pocopio, aircraft mechanic supervisor-fixed wing; Jerome Mendoza, aircraft mechanic supervisor-rotary wing; Donald Hammer, IS-BAO auditor; Reymark Villafuerte, aircraft mechanic; Ghandie Martinez, aircraft mechanic; and Glenn Perez, head, corporate services.

Alsons to spend P21b on two power projects

By Alena Mae S. Flores

A

LSONS Consolidated Resources Inc., the publicly-listed company of the Alcantara Group, may invest up to P21 billion until 2022 on two new power projects with a combined power output of 120 megawatts.

Alsons is putting up the P4-billion, 15-MW Siguil hydro project in Maasim, Sarangani province and 105-MW coal-fired power plant of San Ramon Power Inc. in Zamboanga City costing P17 billion, “This year, were implementing Siguil, that’s going to be the biggest capex,” Alsons executive vice president Tirso Santillan said Monday.

He said Alsons was spending about P1 billion in equity for the Siguil project and raising the balance through borrowings.

“Our first renewable venture—the Siguil Hydro project—is on-track and we expect to go full blast with civil works later this year as we target the start of commercial operations in 2022,” he said.

Santillan said the bulk of the spending for the San Ramon coal project would come next year.

“We’ve spent about P400 million already on San Ramon. We will spend more in December, when we give our NTP (notice to proceed). Then we’re planning to borrow money by March 2020,” he said.

Santillan said the San Ramon project was expected to finally start construction in the fourth quarter of this year after the selection of the engineering, procurement and construction contractor.

He said the San Ramon project “has nearly all of their capacity fully contracted,” adding the company had the

foresight to enter into power sales agreements early on when Mindanao was still in the midst of a power shortage.

Santillan earlier said he expected better financial prospects for Alsons this year after posting a net income of P563 million in 2018.

He said the commissioning of the 105-megawatt portion of Sarangani Energy Corp. power plant this year in Maasim, Sarangani would provide additional revenues to the company.

The second unit will start operating later this year and benefit some three million consumers in South Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental and North Cotabato.

“Actually, good prospects for this year, mainly because of, we have completion of a new project, the SEC 2 which will add 105 MW to our capacity... There will be some additional revenues and income arising from that,” Santillan said.

NET inflows of foreign direct investments in March declined 14 percent to $586 million from $681 million a year ago, due mainly to lower net equity capital investments, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Monday.

“This developed on account of the decline in net equity capital investments, as placements dropped to $126 million from $351 million in March 2018,” the central bank said in a statement.

Equity capital placements during the month came mostly from Japan, the United States, Singapore and The Netherlands. The placements were largely invested in manufacturing, real estate, accommodation and food service, wholesale and retail trade and arts, entertainments and recreation industries.

Meanwhile, non-residents’ investments in debt instruments (consisting mainly of loans extended by parent companies abroad to their local affiliates) rose 36 percent to $399 million from $294 million last year.

Reinvestment of earnings increased 14.4 percent to $80 million from $70 million in March 2018.

Net inflows of FDI in the first quarter fell 15 percent to $1.9 billion from $2.3 billion a year ago, resulting from the lower net inflows of net equity capital amounting to $295 million from $887 million last year.

Equity capital placements declined to $568 million from $996 million, while withdrawals increased to $273 million from $109 million.

Equity capital infusions during the period came mainly from Japan, China, the United States, Singapore, and South Korea. These were channeled largely to financial and insurance, real estate, transportation and storage, manufacturing, and administrative and support service industries.

Johnsonville bringing hotdog products to PH

Duterte acted fast in bringing inflation rate under control THE Duterte government is the fastest to act on reining in the inflation rate, taking only 11 months to tame the elevated consumer prices to below 4 percent, the Department of Finance said Monday.

Finance Undersecretary Gil Betran said it was the fastest in almost two decades, compared to previous government efforts to check upward price pressures when the rate breached the 4-percent mark.

Inflation rate rose to 4.3 percent in March last year and hovered above the 4-percent level until January this year. It dropped after 11 months to 3.8 percent in February and continued its downward trend in March at 3.3 percent, 3.0 percent in April 2019 and 3.2 percent in May, well within this year’s inflation target of between 2 percent and 4 percent.

Beltran said in his report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III during a recent DoF Executive Committee meeting that the first the four episodes of inflation pushing past the 4 percent level from 2004 to 2019 took former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo 31 months to pull it down from 4.1 percent in June 2004 to 3.8 percent in January 2007.

Over the 2008-2009 period—still on the Arroyo watch—the inflation rate rose to 4.6 percent in January 2008 and dropped to 3.2 percent in June 2009, which meant it took her administration 17 months to pull it down to the below-4 percent mark, Beltran said.

The third episode in 2011 took the Aquino administration 13 months to bring it down to below 4 percent, Beltran said, from 4.0 percent in January 2011 to 3.0 percent in February 2012.

Julito G. Rada

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

BSP: Foreign investments decreased by 14% in March

Cebu Pacific flying to Shenzen July 1 CEBU Pacific on Monday announced the expansion of its operations in China with the launching of the Manila to Shenzhen flight starting July 1.

Shenzhen is the fifth Cebu Pacific destination in mainland China, and is the airline’s 27th international destination.

The carrier earlier said it was looking to expand in North Asia, including opening significant new routes and possible new destinations in China.

The new route is in line with the carrier’s plans to expand its route network in China to cater to increasing demand for leisure and business travel.

“We want to provide our travelers a viable option to reach some of the most crucial commercial centers in the world.

Our new direct service between Manila and Shenzhen will enable faster movement of people and products providing increased mobility and access in some of the fastest-growing economies in the world,” said Candice Iyog, vice president for marketing and distribution of Cebu Pacific. Darwin G. Amojelar

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

By Othel V. Campos

PUERTO GALERA PROTECTION. Shore It Up, Metro Pacific Investments Foundation Inc.’s flagship program, is celebrating another year of elevating environmental awareness and conserving aquatic life in coastal municipalities through this year’s Shore It Up Weekend. Shore It Up has chosen to revisit and deepen its commitment to Puerto Galera, the center of marine biodiversity. MPIFI president Melody del Rosario (second from left) and Puerto Galera Mayor Rocky Ilagan shake hands after signing an agreement that memorializes the beginning of the Marine Protection, Inspection and Conservation Guardians Program in the area.

MPIFI committed P1.5 million over three years to provide local Bantay Dagats with the technical knowhow and equipment to better protect and conserve the aquatic natural resources of Puerto Galera.

Meralco, Marubeni on track to distribute power to SEA Games THE joint venture of Manila Electric Co., Marubeni Corp., The Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. and Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc. is on track to complete a substation that will deliver temporary power in time for the 30th Southeast Asian Games late this year.

“Our commitment is on schedule to make available temporary power for SEA Games... Our obligation is to complete the substation which is scheduled for end of June,” Meralco senior vice president Rogelio Singson said Monday.

Singson said the company had an agreement with Tarlac Electric Cooperative and Bases Conversion Development authority to sell power.

“Our JVC is for distribution only and

we can’t contract yet because the franchise has not been granted to the JVC [joint venture company]. It was only passed by Congress last week,” Singson said.

The joint venture is investing P6.3 billion for 25 years to operate and maintain the electric power distribution system in New Clark City.

The Meralco-Marubeni consortium and BCDA in April 3 signed the joint venture agreement for the financing, design and engineering, establishment, construction, development and operation and maintenance of the electric power distribution system in New Clark City project.

“The transaction is an opportunity for Meralco to participate in the develop-

ment of New Clark City and generate additional revenues in the operation of its electric distribution system there,” Meralco said earlier.

Meralco will 60 percent of the company that the Meralco-Marubeni consortium will will form. Marubeni will hold 20 percent, while Kansai Electric and Chubu will own a combined 10 percent. BCDA will take anotherv10 percent.

BCDA has already issued the notice of award to Meralco as the power distributor of New Clark City after offering the lowest power supply rate. Meralco and Marubeni submitted the lowest power distribution rate of P0.6188 per kilowatt hour for New Clark City.

Alena Mae S. Flores

JOHNSONVILLE LLC of the US plans to bring the production of superpremium sausages to the Philippines through the joint venture company it created with Frabelle Fishing Corp.

Joint venture and Frabelle Corp. chief executive Nick Meriggioli said the economics of producing in the Philippines was better than bringing in the product at high tariff.

“This is just one of the options we are considering to make Johnsonville products more visible and affordable in the local setting,” he said in a briefing Monday.

Johnsonville exports about four sausage lines in the Philippines, with plans to deliver more stock keeping units in the immediate term. The Philippines is one of biggest hot dogconsuming markets in the world.

Johnsonville plans to maximize the capacity of the Frabelle facilities in Caloocan City with a rated capacity of 70 metric tons per day and two toll manufacturing plants in Cavite and Pampanga with a combined capacity of almost 200 metric tons per day.

The joint venture will sell Johnsonville products and Frabelle products separately under one supply chain.

The joint venture was recently approved by the Philippine Competitions Commission after an assessment showed it would not result to market dominance in the domestic sausage and hotdog industry.

The joint venture will ensure the efficient production, distribution and sale of chilled and frozen meats, primarily hotdogs and sausages to the Philippines from the Johnsonville production house in the US. Johnsonville has 75 years in sausage manufacturing in different geographies. It has a 51 percent-equity in the Frabelle joint venture.

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Business

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market climbs; URC, MPIC rise

T

HE stock market rose for the third straight day Monday, with the benchmark index back into the 8,000-point territory after trade tensions between the US and Mexico eased.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 61.41 points, or 0.8 percent, to 8,045.39 on a value turnover of P7.4 billion. Losers, however, edged gainers, 91 to 84, with 63 issues unchanged.

Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, climbed 2.4 percent to P173, while conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. increased 2.5 percent to P4.56.

International Container Terminal Services Inc., the largest port op-

erator, rose 1.8 percent to P139.90, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fast-food chain, added 1.7 percent to P280.

The rest of Asian markets rose Monday and the Mexican peso rallied more than two percent after Donald Trump dropped threatened tariffs against Mexico, while weak US jobs data fanned expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next month.

Speculation about a cut in borrowing costs saw the dollar retreat against most high-yielding currencies, although the pound remains subdued owing to Brexit uncertainty.

Regional markets were well up Monday with Hong Kong jumping more than two percent and Shanghai 0.9 percent higher, with investors cheered by betterthan-forecast Chinese exports data.

Tokyo ended 2.2 percent higher, Singapore climbed 0.9 percent, Seoul added

1.3 percent and Taipei rallied 1.5 percent with Jakarta 1.4 percent higher. Wellington was slightly down and Sydney was closed for a public holiday.

Traders breathed a sigh of relief the North American neighbors reached a last-minute deal Friday that averted the imposition of five percent levies on Mexican imports and opening up of another front in Trump’s global trade battle. Trump had warned of the levies if Mexico did not meet his demands regarding immigration from Central America.

However, Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, said: “While this is positive for risk assets, one should be cautious that this may only embolden Mr. Trump to use tariffs as a policy tool for the pursuit of non-economic interests.

“As previously suggested, the EU could be next—maybe to get the 2 per-

cent defense spending target.”

Observers also pointed out that while the agreement was good news, the stand-off between China and the United States remains unresolved, with eyes on a possible meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Japan this month.

“The focus will now shift back to the G20 and China,” strategists at TD Securities including Richard Kelly wrote in a note. “Despite the positive result with Mexico, the US-China trade dispute is a different creature, and tensions remain high.”

At the weekend finance ministers of the G20 issued a post-meeting communique saying “growth remains low and risks remain tilted to the downside.”

It added that “trade and geopolitical tensions have intensified” but they “stood ready to take further action” if it is needed. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.4 4,210 81.85 6,862,870 2.32 42,000 139.5 4,646,900 26.9 36,900 18.82 13,600 11.5 492,900 4.49 4,000 0.59 2,000 0.53 1,284,000 71.25 1,178,760 1 237,000 13.8 100 56.75 242,030 184.9 590 28.4 386,800 170.9 585,210 59.8 13,090

249,306 561,975,412.50 94,510 649,208,391 990,835 255,402 5,676,310 17,570 1,180 655,605 84,390,210.50 233,730 1,380 13,824,211.50 109,055 10,978,005 100,061,320 784,615.50

231,490 -17,656,917 273,274,474 -158,565 1,882 -1,252,354 -39,854,934 -20,000 1,782,622.50 -968,960 -2,737,841 -224,844.50

35 14.4 0.72 1.37 0.275 2.36 14.5 109 24.15 16.9 44.75 1.97 5.31 5.5 10.2 15.96 10.12 7.52 1.6 23.6 76.9 42.3 2.48 13.62 10.2 1.66 275 3.4 9.4 23.3 12.44 19.28 384.4 0.186 5.71 1.22 4.52 6.05 9.05 2.54 12 41 4.85 2.53 1.44 1.17 13.86 105.5 6.5 0.126 1.29 168 2.48 1.27 17 1.35

INDUSTRIAL 35 545,300 14.48 2,462,800 0.73 1,166,000 1.38 257,000 0.275 5,650,000 2.38 9,399,000 14.68 605,500 116.8 250 24.65 217,100 16.9 900 44.75 100 2.02 16,000 5.31 10,200 5.6 58,600 10.26 10,996,500 15.96 710,900 10.6 1,081,000 7.6 5,310,500 1.6 1,000 24.1 2,992,200 76.9 80,530 46.35 714,800 2.5 6,523,000 14 1,907,800 10.24 66,800 1.68 144,000 280 468,090 3.4 6,000 9.75 5,800 23.5 3,287,400 12.5 547,700 19.28 833,600 387.6 156,760 0.186 410,000 5.71 1,000 1.23 402,000 4.52 128,000 6.1 964,900 9.05 4,900 2.62 34,858,000 12.24 33,200 41.15 123,200 4.9 219,000 5 16,900 1.48 1,466,000 1.18 304,000 14.28 535,000 105.6 270,090 6.51 71,500 0.126 50,000 1.33 2,462,000 173 1,696,410 2.5 936,000 1.33 7,195,000 17 2,700 1.35 11,644,000

19,216,960 35,673,622 855,230 353,200 1,581,650 22,567,880 8,913,628 28,899 5,338,145 15,210 4,475 31,600 54,162 328,055 112,670,454 11,373,412 11,341,110 2 40,106,132 1,600 72,024,720 6,199,896 32,267,980 16,471,690 26,515,536 683,674 240,680 129,898,572 20,430 55,244 77,170,685 6,845,794 16,194,266 60,711,174 79,860 5,710 495,540 582,400 5,868,548 44,345 91,243,640 405,878 5,093,600 1,074,050 83,032 2,164,270 360,010 7,593,234 28,528,556 469,929 6,300 3,256,190 292,886,123 2,339,780 9,456,210 45,900 16,111,650

-6,443,910 -58,682 88,800 134,750 -296,110 -238,688 4,020 -18,148,238 1,052,924 ,138,525.9997 -39,500,204 18,837,850 -5,369,539.50 3,828,795 -163,780 903,374 -324,646 -30,527,354 66,225,500 -2,661,420 -11,921,634 -24,356,450 -142,940 -968,298 -701,150 -1,335,440 490,960 44,800 1,491,620 -774,274 -1,612,063 2,297,500 700,530 -44,200 -

0.67 54.45 15.4 0.76 6.7 13.74 1.2 1.24 920 3.44 6.75 10.4 13.8 870 6.21 62.4 0.46 4.64 15.4 0.57 4.47 0.038 1.1 181.3 953 0.92 1.34 434 264 0.231 0.3

HOLDING FIRMS 0.67 76,138,000 55.7 724,650 15.98 2,719,800 0.77 499,000 6.7 800 13.88 86,200 1.22 2,684,000 1.24 261,000 927 256,280 3.44 7,145,000 6.77 2,258,300 10.44 2,503,000 13.9 99,100 893 43,680 6.21 1,700 63.4 1,597,730 0.495 420,000 4.66 1,087,000 15.52 381,500 0.57 71,000 4.56 31,184,000 0.038 12,200,000 1.1 263,000 182 351,120 971 170,980 0.94 373,000 1.34 86,000 434 30 270 2,490 0.232 410,000 0.31 6,620,000

52,388,140 40,463,131.50 43,141,326 381,490 5,360 1,193,058 3,298,800 329,660 237,237,010 25,009,420 15,295,262 26,271,604 1,376,428 38,859,745 10,557 101,181,751.5 ( 196,880 5,055,170 5,915,780 40,470 140,911,030 463,600 296,730 63,989,238 165,920,765 347,290 116,230 13,020 670,714 94,900 2,028,150

1,855,220 2,340,069 13,996,308 -1,390 38,200 1,590,915 811,720 -498,435 -10,231,602 -41,150 9,792,130 61,569,588.5) -69,020 999,258 -17,108,840 -1,090,981 51,174,260 -28,980.00 -43,040 -553,550

14,320,256 339,950 115,500 771,460 701,441,545 1,007,620 2,463,070 27,858 11,504,120 121,180 596,400 296,180 2,668,506 29,866,750 160,050 48,419,480 2,484,420 42,756,519 6,288,950 607,750 15,984,520 164,050 5,366,350 73,996,245 1,778,980 544,680 217,323,310 2,698,090

350,944 27,800 -56,980 94,946,950 -77,930 -6,787 1,828,980 88,000 1,940 980,481 6,310,600 9,099,820 100,110 16,013,820 9,450 -30,870 0 23,680,820 -85,900 -15,030,455 7,800

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG FIRST ABACUS MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK

59 82 2.26 139.8 26.9 18.74 11.52 4.36 0.59 0.5 70.95 1 13.8 57.2 184.9 27.5 171.9 60

59.4 82.25 2.32 140.6 26.9 18.82 11.66 4.49 0.59 0.53 72.5 1.01 13.8 57.6 184.9 29 171.9 60.2

59 81.7 2.23 139 26.8 18.74 11.48 4.36 0.59 0.46 70.95 0.96 13.8 56.7 184 27.5 170.4 59.8

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION 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 MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

35.15 14.7 0.74 1.38 0.29 2.36 14.76 109 24.9 16.9 44.75 1.97 5.31 5.6 10.2 16 10.3 7.59 1.6 24 76.9 42.4 2.6 13.64 10.2 1.66 275.2 3.41 9.41 23.5 12.46 19.8 388 0.198 5.71 1.23 4.55 6.07 9.05 2.54 12.24 41.9 4.9 2.53 1.52 1.17 13.94 106 6.62 0.126 1.33 169 2.48 1.29 17 1.35

35.95 14.7 0.75 1.38 0.29 2.44 14.76 117.9 25 16.9 44.75 2.02 5.31 5.75 10.3 16.08 10.62 7.6 1.6 24.15 77 46.85 2.6 14.02 10.3 1.68 280 3.41 9.75 23.65 12.6 19.9 388 0.198 5.71 1.25 4.6 6.1 9.05 2.67 12.24 42 4.93 5 1.52 1.22 14.28 107 6.63 0.126 1.37 173.3 2.51 1.34 17 1.41

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 GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.67 55.3 15.52 0.78 6.7 14.08 1.27 1.3 923 3.63 6.82 10.44 13.98 878 6.21 63.4 0.51 4.67 15.4 0.57 4.49 0.038 1.15 183.1 960 0.92 1.35 434 266 0.231 0.3

0.71 56.7 15.98 0.78 6.7 14.08 1.28 1.3 929 3.65 6.82 10.6 13.98 894 6.21 63.5 0.51 4.7 15.58 0.57 4.56 0.038 1.18 184 975 0.95 1.38 434 270 0.234 0.31

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND

16 0.79 2.1 0.77 49.85 2.32 4.79 6.3 0.59 0.87 0.97 0.227 10 25.85 0.47 1.82 1.4 6.07 0.32 0.475 1.99 0.41 2.2 26.25 2.14 3 39.35 1.95

16 0.8 2.1 0.78 50.7 2.32 4.79 6.35 0.59 0.88 1 0.229 10.1 26.2 0.475 1.85 1.45 6.13 0.33 0.48 2.02 0.415 2.2 27 2.17 3 39.7 1.98

15.5 0.79 2.1 0.76 49.7 2.28 4.75 6.13 0.58 0.87 0.95 0.225 9.96 25.85 0.47 1.81 1.4 5.95 0.315 0.465 1.9 0.41 2.1 26 2.11 2.99 39.35 1.93

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

6.31 0.72 7.15

6.37 0.72 7.15

6.3 0.72 7.08

6.34 0.72 7.1

77,700 11,000 3,117,700

490,323 7,920 22,137,563

257,499 -14,825,459

SERVICES 2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD 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 METROALLIANCE B NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS 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

11.32 18.46 1.35 0.44 0.044 21 2.96 11.92 0.058 89 7.01 6.55 5.7 2.17 10.5 2,234 5.31 401.2 2.2 1.86 137.5 10.1 0.12 6.1 14.9 4.31 0.83 20.15 0.55 3.67 2.63 1.51 1.53 2.4 3.19 9.55 3.04 4.95 8.11 125.9 3.43 1,232 0.78 0.87 46.35 72.45 9.2 3.52 0.71 0.385 5.19 0.72 17

11.32 18.58 1.41 0.44 0.044 21.5 2.96 11.94 0.059 89 7.01 6.74 5.88 2.17 10.76 2,244 5.31 415 2.24 1.86 139.9 10.3 0.123 6.34 14.9 4.39 0.92 20.15 0.55 3.67 2.63 1.53 1.66 2.54 3.19 9.55 3.04 4.95 8.99 125.9 3.61 1,244 0.8 0.88 46.35 76 9.26 3.6 0.73 0.39 5.25 0.72 17.04

11.3 18.46 1.3 0.44 0.044 21 2.9 11.82 0.056 86 7 6.55 5.7 2.17 10.38 2,226 5.25 401.2 2.2 1.82 136 10.08 0.12 6.1 14.9 4.28 0.83 19.9 0.53 3.63 2.56 1.51 1.52 2.36 3.17 9.35 3.04 4.8 8.11 125.8 3.41 1,227 0.77 0.84 45.5 72.45 9.19 3.48 0.71 0.375 5.17 0.7 17

11.32 18.52 1.3 0.44 0.044 21.5 2.9 11.9 0.056 88.3 7 6.73 5.88 2.17 10.66 2,226 5.28 414 2.23 1.82 139.9 10.12 0.123 6.29 14.9 4.28 0.89 19.94 0.54 3.67 2.61 1.53 1.66 2.52 3.17 9.38 3.04 4.95 8.99 125.8 3.54 1,230 0.78 0.84 45.5 75.9 9.24 3.51 0.71 0.385 5.18 0.71 17

14,900 89,900 268,000 830,000 200,000 2,200 731,000 497,800 58,350,000 357,300 8,500 1,409,000 4,000 11,000 83,300 11,005 133,700 1,010 808,000 44,000 2,921,390 8,600 550,000 7,521,700 700 1,024,000 71,000 401,200 575,000 61,000 2,886,000 16,000 10,000 4,105,000 74,000 45,000 6,000 62,000 200 1,740 3,743,000 109,600 5,127,000 17,771,000 212,700 186,050 12,900 10,311,000 1,770,000 5,170,000 624,200 1,943,000 606,600

168,614 1,662,824 357,790 365,200 8,800 47,200 2,136,540 5,913,772 3,302,210 31,429,650.50 59,510 9,433,945 23,268 23,870 876,294 24,583,270 705,525 412,552 1,799,640 81,290 404,895,176 86,942 67,090 47,059,132 10,430 4,440,010 61,190 8,014,690 310,180 222,600 7,472,130 24,370 15,530 10,145,180 235,700 422,562 18,240 306,720 1,710 218,904 13,202,760 135,156,390 4,000,270 15,275,580 9,735,740 13,889,574 118,918 36,500,510 1,261,230 1,985,150 3,242,506 1,370,720 10,313,928

3,396 -43,000 11,640 -853,974 61,600 7,698,147.50 52,500 -17,347 -15,288 -5,939,490 23,022,440 -362,511 888,570.00 -2,945,169 30 395,920 205,060 -1,787,770 -49,340,130 -16,250 529,390 -1,736,725 -4,081,702.50 8,063,020 -15,910 -161,200 -2,455,656 3,085,098

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

0.0019 0.0066 0.01 0.012 0.012 0.109 0.11 0.238 0.295 0.58 0.87 1 1.03 1.15 1.28 1.49 2.25 2.8 2.82 3.23 4 7.9 12.38 21.9

0.0019 0.0068 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.117 0.115 0.238 0.295 0.58 0.89 1 1.03 1.17 1.28 1.49 2.32 2.8 2.85 3.27 4.05 7.99 12.38 21.9

0.0018 0.0066 0.01 0.012 0.012 0.108 0.11 0.228 0.29 0.58 0.87 0.98 1.03 1.12 1.28 1.46 2.23 2.8 2.82 3.23 3.89 7.7 12.38 21.7

0.0018 0.0068 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.117 0.115 0.233 0.29 0.58 0.89 1 1.03 1.15 1.28 1.49 2.28 2.8 2.84 3.26 4 7.73 12.38 21.85

47,000,000 15,000,000 74,700,000 48,100,000 10,100,000 280,000 960,000 370,000 40,000 2,000 117,000 3,000 140,000 887,000 4,000 275,000 684,000 97,000 231,000 635,000 197,000 2,950,200 300 726,600

86,700 100,500 821,200 577,200 121,200 30,530 110,150 85,320 11,700 1,160 101,810 2,980 144,200 1,020,660 5,120 406,450 1,558,740 271,600 657,740 2,061,000 786,260 23,018,166 3,714 15,792,015

54,300 -52,800 -1,170 11,600 -17,880 -397,330 -2,800 133,630 -76,000 244,472 464,130

PREFERRED ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A PCOR PREF 2A PNX PREF 3B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

18 487 98 97.5 104 487 5.15 917 959 96.9 985 105.1 75.4 77.8 72.1 74 73.2 73 73.7

18 495 98 98.4 104 487 5.2 917 959 96.9 990 105.1 75.4 77.8 72.6 74 73.2 73 73.7

17.96 483 98 97 104 487 5.05 917 959 96.9 985 105 75.4 77 72.1 74 73.1 70 73.7

18 495 98 97.15 104 487 5.05 917 959 96.9 985 105 75.4 77 72.6 74 73.1 72.6 73.7

41,200 1,950 15,500 10,770 1,170 10 113,400 410 40 130 160 2,170 100 1,630 3,140 6,700 14,150 19,800 500

741,540 953,430 1,519,000 1,045,398 121,680 4,870 578,270 375,970 38,360 12,597 157,650 227,852 7,540 125,559 227,394 495,800 1,034,665 1,436,050 36,850

-739,744 -340,445 2,102 -

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

2

2.06

1.97

2

73,000

146,040

-

SME ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.03 1.04

5.19 1.04

5 1.01

5.08 1.03

781,000 2,903,000

3,965,870 2,948,290

155,810

FIRST METRO ETF

119.5

120.3

119.4

1,739,797

358,200

17,473 15,385

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 15.8 0.79 2.1 0.78 50.65 2.28 4.77 6.35 0.59 0.88 0.98 0.229 9.99 26 0.475 1.82 1.43 6.13 0.33 0.465 1.92 0.41 2.12 26.95 2.13 2.99 39.7 1.96

917,300 430,000 55,000 1,009,000 13,988,300 439,000 517,000 4,500 19,646,000 138,000 606,000 1,300,000 267,200 1,147,500 340,000 26,442,000 1,740,000 7,020,200 19,360,000 1,290,000 8,188,000 400,000 2,504,000 2,753,300 827,000 182,000 5,488,400 1,383,000

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.1 10

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

10.1 10

SHARES

16,033,972

INDUSTRIAL

120,607,904

HOLDING FIRMS

160,858,478

PROPERTY

131,546,236

SERVICES

973,999,135

MINING & OIL

204,524,947

GRAND TOTAL

1,611,272,198

10.1 9.9

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120.3 14,530 10.1 9.9

DDS

1,730 1,550

VALUE 1,736.48 (DOWN) 0.35 1,429,521,508.52 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,669.00 (UP) 114.97 1,354,155,784.193 HOLDING FIRMS 7,696.65 (UP) 51.50 1,171,485,180.25 PROPERTY 4,384.39 (UP) 50.73 SERVICES 1,675.33 (UP) 4.65 1,303,411,757.08 MINING & OIL 7,310.18 (UP) 13.73 2,035,848,712.28 PSEI 8,045.39 (UP) 61.41 47,808,997.8319 All Shares Index 4,912.31 (UP) 21.52 7,350,899,971.33 Gainers: 84; Losers: 91; Unchanged: 63; Total: 238

Cebu property firm gets nod to redevelop heritage asset

By Jenniffer B. Austria CEBU Landmasters Inc. and the Archdiocese of Cebu have secured the approval of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to push through with the planned redevelopment of the Patria de Cebu property.

CLI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange NHCP gave its approval to the project after both parties agreed to preserve the historic edifice of Patria de Cebu to keep its rich heritage intact.

“The final design of Patria de Cebu is a collaboration between the Archdiocese of Cebu, CLI and key stakeholders. It was agreed that it is crucial in the redevelopment to keep the main Patria building while integrating it with a new practical structure to preserve the heritage of the Patria for the people of Cebu,” CLI president and chief Jose Soberano III said.

CLI and and the Archdiocese of Cebu in Cebu finalized a joint venture partnership to develop and operate a mixed-use development in the 6,670-square meter Patria de Cebu property for a period of 40 years.

The P900-million development is expected to serve as a centerpiece of the 500th year celebration of Christianity in Cebu in 2021.

With the NHCP approval, CLI said construction was expected to start in October. Commercial operations are set to begin in July 2022.

The Patria de Cebu project will include renovation of the main building to accommodate retail and office spaces in the ground and second floors.

It will have about 21,000 sq. m. of gross floor area, including 4,320 sq. m. of retail spaces featuring a mix of food, dining and entertainment establishments; 4,400 sq. m. of office space; and 11,700 sq. m. of hotel space for approximately 167 guest rooms with provision for events, meetings and other functions.

CA freezes bank accounts, assets of religious firm THE Court of Appeals issued a freeze order on several bank accounts and other assets owned by Kapa-Community Ministry International Inc., an independent religious company that is allegedly operating a fraudulent investments scam.

The CA issued the order on June 4 in response to the petition filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

Securities and Exchange Commission chairperson Emilio Aquino said the court order would finally stop Kapa from operating its fraudulent scheme that had been going for the past three years.

Aquino said in a press briefing Monday the corporate regulator in April revoked the certificate of registration of Kapa after it was found to be soliciting investments from the public without the necessary license.

The company, however, defied the SEC order and continued to operate, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an order against Kapa and other investment scams.

Aquino said Kapa could have pooled about P50 billion in investments based on the company’s pronouncements of having 5 million members with a minimum investment of P10,000.

Based on the investigation conducted the SEC, Kapa which led by president and chairman of the board of directors Pastor Joel Apolinario had been luring investors to place their hard-earned money with a promise return of 30 percent a month for life.

Aquino said Kapa’s promise of a 30-percent return a month for life was mathematically unsustainable and unachievable.

“The assets of Kapa is way too short compared to what is being promised.

They are just relying on new investors to come in,” he said.

Aquino said he expected Kapa to eventually collapse, just like other investment scams, without any chance of sustaining its business.

Kapa, according to its postings in the social media, has 5 million members with investments of P10,000 to a high as P2 million.Jenniffer B. Austria

World

B3

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Hundreds protest in Vancouver over HK plan

IN BRIEF Tree symbolizing friendship is dead

WASHINGTON—The photo of Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron planting an oak tree in the garden of the White House symbolized the friendship shown by the two leaders.

But relations between them have since frayed―over issues ranging from Iran to trade―and the tree, a diplomatic source said this week, did not survive.

The French president offered the young oak to Trump on the occasion of a state visit to Washington in 2018, and the two shoveled dirt around it under the watchful eyes of their wives—and cameras from around the world.

It was a symbolic gesture: the tree came from a northern French forest where 2,000 US Marines died during the First World War. But a few days later, the tree was nowhere to be seen, having disappeared into quarantine.

“It is a quarantine which is mandatory for any living organism imported into the US,” Gerard Araud, then the French ambassador to America, wrote on Twitter, adding that it would be replanted later.

But it was never replanted: the tree died during its quarantine, the diplomatic source said. AFP

Six convicted over gang rape

PATHANKOT, India―Six men were convicted on Monday over the notorious 2018 gang rape and murder in India of a young girl from a Muslim nomadic tribe that provoked horror and stoked inter-religious tensions.

Sexual violence, including against children, is rife in India and outrage over the so-called Kathua case contributed to the government imposing the death penalty for child rapists.

According to the charge sheet, the eight-year-old girl was abducted and taken to a village in the Kathua district of the northern Indian region of Jammu on January 10 last year.

In an ordeal lasting five days, she was sedated and held in a Hindu temple, repeatedly raped over five days and then strangled and beaten to death.

The six Hindu men were due to be sentenced later, prosecution lawyer Mubeen Farooqui told reporters outside the court in Pathankot, in Punjab state.

They face the death penalty with a minimum of life imprisonment. A seventh man was acquitted while an eighth person, who was underage, faces a separate trial.

The case sparked two days of violent protests in Jammu and demonstrations in several other places across India, including in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

Jammu and Kashmir is India’s only Muslim-majority state, but the southern Jammu region―where the rape and murder took place―is Hindu-dominated.

On Monday hundreds of police were on duty in Pathankot for the trial. Wary of new protests, security was also heavy in Kathua town and surrounding Muslim areas. AFP

PROTEST. Police gather at a rally against a controversial extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on early June 10, 2019. Hong Kong witnessed its largest street protest in at least 15 years on June 9 as crowds massed against plans to allow extraditions to China, a proposal that has sparked a major backlash against the city’s pro-Beijing leadership. AFP

HK leader stands by plan on extraditions

H

ONG KONG― Hong Kong’s proBeijing leader on Monday refused to scrap a controversial plan to allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland, a day after record crowds came out to oppose the proposal.

Striking a defiant tone after the city’s largest protest since the 1997 handover, chief executive Carrie Lam said the legislature would debate the bill on Wednesday as planned, rejecting the calls to delay or withdraw the law.

The decision sets her administration on a collision course with opponents who decried her stance and called on supporters to rally outside parliament on Wednesday or hold strikes.

“She’s really pushing Hong Kong towards the brink of a precipice,” pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo told reporters.

Sunday saw huge crowds march in blazing summer heat through the streets

of the financial hub’s main island in a noisy, colorful demonstration calling on the government to scrap its planned extradition law.

Organizers said as many as a million people turned out―the largest protest in three decades and the biggest by far since the city’s return to Chinese rule.

Lam’s government is pushing a bill through the legislature that would allow extraditions to any jurisdiction with which it does not already have a treaty―including mainland China.

Authorities say it is needed to plug loopholes and to stop the city being a bolt hole for fugitives.

But the proposals have birthed an opposition that unites a wide cross-section of the city with critics fearing the law will entangle people in China’s opaque and politicized courts.

In her first comments since the mass rallies, Lam pushed back against calls to delay the law and said the huge rallies were proof Hong Kong’s freedom of speech was still protected She said her administration had already made major concessions to ensure political cases would not be considered

and that human rights safeguards met international standards.

“We have been listening and listening very attentively,” she said.

But her words drew an incredulous response from opponents who accused her of ignoring massive public opposition.

“Yesterday 1.03 million of us marched and the government is still indifferent, turning a deaf ear to the people. This government has become a dictatorship,” lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen told reporters Political analyst Dixon Sing warned Lam could be facing “political suicide” if she pushed for a showdown after such huge demonstrations.

“In the short run, the Hong Kong government led by Carrie Lam will suffer a worsening legitimacy crisis,” he told AFP. “Fewer and fewer people will trust her and the entire cabinet.”

But he said much would rest on whether the public comes out to back further protests or strikes.

Sunday’s huge rally passed without incident until shortly after midnight when small pockets of protesters fought running battles with police in chaotic and violent scenes. AFP

CROSSING.

People queue to cross the Simon Bolivar international bridge from San Antonio del Tachira in Venezuela, to Cucuta, in Colombia on June 9, 2019.

Venezuelans alleviated their hardships a little with the partial reopening of the border bridges with Colombia.

Thousands managed to cross on foot to stock up or receive medical attention, despite the blockade with containers that remains on the Venezuelan side.

AFP

Race to replace UK’s May as prime minister gets underway LONDON―Around a dozen British Conservative MPs will formally throw their hats into the ring on Monday in the fight to replace Theresa May as party leader and Prime Minister, with her former foreign secretary Boris Johnson seen as the runaway favorite.

Nominations to succeed May―who resigned on Friday as head of the ruling Tory party following her failure to deliver Brexit―open at 10:00 am (0900 GMT) and close at 5:00 pm (1600 GMT).

Britain’s departure from the European Union, twice delayed and now set for October 31, will dominate a contest scheduled to run until late July and which, in the past, has been characterized by shocks and surprises.

The new leader of the center-right party -- which won the most seats at the last general election in 2017 -- will almost certainly become prime minister,

with May remaining in Downing Street in the meantime.

Unofficial campaigning already started weeks ago and Johnson has emerged as the undisputed front runner―although in previous leadership races the early pacesetter has never been victorious.

Current foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, interior minister Sajid Javid and Environment Secretary Michael Gove are perhaps the best-known names of 10 other MPs also in the running.

Each candidate must be nominated by at least eight Conservative MPs. In a series of ballots over the coming weeks, party lawmakers will then whittle down the list of names to just two.

The final choice will then be made by more than 160,000 paying party members.

“The obvious big issue is Brexit― there is very little else that preoccu-

pies the Conservative Party at the moment,” Tim Bale, politics professor at Queen Mary, University of London, told AFP. “Boris Johnson is likely to win this election because he is offering the Conservative party members what they want... a no-deal Brexit,” he added, referring to Britain leaving the EU without a formal agreement.

But “whether he can actually achieve that is another matter,” the expert said.

Johnson, 54, a former mayor of London and key figure in the divisive 2016 EU referendum campaign, served as May’s foreign secretary until he resigned last summer over her Brexit strategy.

Charismatic and popular among grassroots Conservatives, he is less liked by Conservative MPs skeptical of his bombastic style and checkered track record. AFP

VANCOUVER―Hundreds of people protested outside the Chinese consulate in Vancouver on Sunday against the controversial plans to allow extraditions from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland.

“This amendment will affect millions of people, not just Hong Kong people―people around the world,” Mabel Tung, the protest organizer and head of the Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement, told AFP. Tung, who immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong 40 years ago and has advocated against human rights violations in China, is concerned that activists like her would face the risk of extradition when transiting through Hong Kong if the bill passes.

The demonstrators carried signs against the extradition law and yellow umbrellas as a nod to the series of 2014 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong that are known as the “Umbrella Movement.”

Several protesters also held signs calling for the release of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were detained in China after the December arrest in Vancouver of Meng Wanzhou, a top executive with Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.

Thousands of immigrants from Hong Kong settled in the Vancouver area in the 1980s and 1990s because of uncertainties related to the handover of Hong Kong’s governance from the Britain to China in 1997. AFP

China media blame demo on ‘collusion’ BEIJING―Chinese media on Monday blamed foreign interference over the huge protest that brought central Hong Kong to a standstill at the weekend, accusing the opponents of the city’s pro-Beijing government of “collusion with the West”.

Organizers say more than a million people marched through the streets of the territory against a proposed new law that would allow extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China.

Opponents of the legislation say it would erode the precious freedoms in the city and leave dissidents at the mercy of Beijing’s opaque justice system.

The Chinese-language edition of the nationalistic Global Times dismissed Sunday’s mass demonstration, one of the biggest shows of public anger since Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

“It is very noteworthy that some international forces have significantly strengthened their interaction with the Hong Kong opposition in recent months,” the paper said, describing the exchanges as “collusion”.

The editorial pointed to meetings between Hong Kong opposition figures and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The English-language China Daily also played down the protest and focused on support for the proposed law.

An editorial in the paper said more than 700,000 people had backed the legislation through an online petition, “countering a protest by about 240,000 people”―the more conservative attendance figure given by police. AFP

Musical inspired by Greek mythology wins at the Tony Awards NEW YORK―A musical inspired by Greek mythology and a play about the conflict in Northern Ireland were the big winners Sunday at the Tony Awards, the highest honors in American theater.

“Hadestown” was the big favorite of the 73rd annual awards with 14 nominations and in the end it took home eight gongs, including best musical.

The show, a modern take on the underworld myth of Orpheus and Euridyce with jazz and folk, arrived on Broadway in April after an unusual 13-year journey.

From its 2006 origins in Vermont as a musical show without choreography, it has become a hit album and an off-Broadway show in London and Canada.

“If Hadestown stands for anything,

it is that change is possible. That in dark times, spring will come again,” producer Mara Isaacs said as she received her Tony.

“The Ferryman”, written by Jez Butterworth, was also among the favorites this year with nine nominations and ultimately won four Tonys, including best play.

Directed by Sam Mendes, who won as best director of a play, it depicts a day in the life of a rural family in Northern Ireland in 1981 at the height of “The Troubles”.

Its large and colorful cast of characters includes a baby and a goose.

British actor James Corden, master of ceremonies at the event broadcast from Radio City Music Hall, opened the awards by extolling the virtues of live theater against streaming. AFP

Manila Mayor-elect Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso (back to camera, in blue shirt) is hunched over a pit where various food items were buried at the Manila Boystown Complex grounds despite still being good for consumption.

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

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TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

P5k stipend for P’que HS pupils Stay in climate change talks, solon asks Du30 ALBAY Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has urged the government not to disengage but instead step up participation in climate change negotiations, both for human survival and for “urgent pragmatic considerations”―primarily economic—and access to funds, technology and capacity building concessions in the process.

Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Climate Change, aired his appeal after Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin said the Philippines will reject attendance in climate change talks abroad and will pursue discussions only in the internet, and that it “will simply vote ‘yes’ to all progressive suggestions to address climate change.”

Earlier, Salceda wrote President Rodrigo Duterte, pleading for the Chief Executive to reconsider an imminent policy of non-participation in climate change negotiations.

In his letter, the lawmaker said he believes it is very important for the country to continue to engage in the deliberations, even if its pace is slow…” because the deliberations are now at ‘a critical pace of rule making’ on the methods of implementing the Paris Agreement.”

Presently, climate change negotiations now center on emission peaking allocations and developed countries are pushing to account for the carbon footprint of OFWs, tourism and exports which are driving forces of the Philippine economy, Salceda said.

He noted that talks now focus on the “application of potential standards such as ‘environmental integrity’ and human rights compliance which can translate to impositions on export commodities and even human resources such as our OFWs, using climate change parameters.”

Section 9 (k) of Republic Act 9729 stipulates that the Climate Change Commission shall “in coordination with DFA, represent the Philippines in climate change negotiations.”

J

UNIOR and senior public high school students in Parañaque will receive a yearly allowance of P5,000 or P500 monthly starting this month from the city government, Mayor Edwin Olivarez announced Monday.

Olivarez said they have allocated P300 million this year for the monthly allowance of 48,000 deserving high school students after the city council approved an ordinance last year for this purpose.

Covered under the special allowance are students from Grades 7 to 12 of public schools within the territorial jurisdiction of Parañaque and those who were listed from the Department of Education roster.

Under the city’s implementing rules and regulations, qualified students will received their monthly allowance through automated teller machine cards

from semi-government banks.

The ATM card will be distributed personally by Olivarez, city councilors and school officials to students in their respective school campuses during a simple program this week, public information chief Mar Jimenez said.

“Aside from free tuition fee in the city’s public high schools, all high school students will be receiving cash allowance starting this school year 2019-2020. Students will now have no reasons to miss school,” said Olivarez.

The mayor said the city’s objective of giving the allowance is to remove finan-

cial constraints that may be discouraging students from attending school.

At the same time, it helps students to augment their expenses as they explore and excel in their education and advance their knowledge, Olivarez said.

He also explained that giving allowance is not just for financial assistance but can also help high schoolers learn money management.

Under the ordinance, the P500 allowance will be given to the qualified students monthly starting this month, provided they attend their classes 80 percent of the time. The teachers will be in charge of monitoring the students’ attendance.

Jimenez cautioned parents and students who want to avail of the program not to release any information to any parties, as it might be used elsewhere.

BAGS FOR PLASTIC.

Police Brig. Gen. Gilberto DC Cruz, Director of Police Regional Office 13, gives a young schoolgirl a bag made from election tarpaulins and filled with various school items in a ceremony at Babag Elementary School in Barangay Babag, Butuan City. It was part of PNP Caraga’s ‘Bag Palit Plastic’ program, in which the regional police gave students in chosen schools recycled bags with school items in exchange for used plastic bottles.

Roy Tomandao

‘Sabotage’seen in Boystown over buried food items

MANILA City Mayor-elect ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso will launch an investigation into the alleged sabotage at Manila Boystown, where piles of foodstuffs were found discarded and buried in a 10-foot hole.

The announcement came after Domagoso conducted a surprise inspection on Monday morning at Manila Boystown following a report from a concerned citizen that food supplies were buried in a hole dug inside the complex.

“According to the report we received on social media, the food was thrown so it won’t be used by the incoming [city] administration,” Domagoso said in a statement.

During the inspection, heaps of rice, sugar, coffee, noodles, oatmeal and chocolate were found buried inside the hole. The food supplies were already removed from their respective packaging when they were discarded.

Upon examination of the discarded packaging, Domagoso found that the food products were not yet expired.

“The food wasn’t spoiled at all.

They could have been used by the residents of Boystown who have nothing to eat. Clearly this is sabotage on the city government,” Domagoso said.

The food was government property, he added, and if they were set to be disposed, someone should have told the head of the complex, which is located in Marikina City but owned by the City of Manila.

Upon assumption of office in July, the Mayor-elect said an investigation will be immediately launched to hold officials and other personalities involved in the matter accountable.

“We will punish the shameless people behind this waste of good food.

Don’t they have pity on the people who have nothing to eat?” he said.

QC councilors okay regulatory gaming measure THE Quezon City Council has approved the Quezon City Gambling Regulatory Ordinance to protect the mental health of the people against gambling addiction and maintain peace and order.

City Ordinance 2773-201 was introduced by Ivy Xenia Lagman, Franz Pumaren, Alexis Herrera, Raquel Malañgen, Marvin Rillo, and Godofredo Liban II. It introduces broader strategies and policy interventions to regulate gaming, which includes establishing the Gambling Regulatory Advisory Council, adopting of gambling operations regulation policies, imposing gambling fees, and setting up a 24hour gaming problem helpline.

The Gambling Regulatory Advisory Council will also evaluate gambling operations, manage the implementation of the QC Gambling Regulatory Ordinance with the assistance of Quezon City Police District, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., and conduct random inspections for monitoring and evaluation.

To strengthen the campaign for the prevention of gambling problems, the QC Gambling Regulatory Ordinance requires the residents who wants to play in gambling establishments within the city to pay P1,500 for casinos, P500 for e-games, P100 for e-bingos for every consecutive period of 24 hours, and a P30,000 fee if the gambling establishment offers an annual membership.

Rio N. Araja

Imus to hold cremation rites for worn out PH flags before June 12 IMUS CITY, Cavite—This city, tagged as the Flag Capital of the Philippines, will conduct cremation rites for the first time for worn-out national flags on June 11, a day before the country observes its 121st Independence Day. Thousands of old, damaged or faded

national flags stored by the locality for over a decade will be burned during “Huling Parangal sa Watawat ng Pilipinas” (Final Honor for the Philippine Flag) at the city’s Heritage Park in Barangay Alapan 2-B. City Information Officer Jay Saqui-

layan said worn-out flags should not be thrown away but should be formally burned to avoid misuse, as well as to give importance to the national flag.

The ashes of the burned flags will be placed in an urn and buried in a flag grave in the area while a patriotic song

will be sung.

“The city government, tagged as Flag Capital of the Philippines, is planning to hold the rites yearly starting this year in accordance with the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines,” Saquilayan said. PNA

MassKara dancers make history in Korea BACOLOD CITY—The world-renowned MassKara Festival dancers made history as the first-ever foreign performing group to have graced the Maduhee Festival in Ulsan City, South Korea.

The delegation from Bacolod City, led by Councilor Em Ang, was featured in the three-day Maduhee Festival held from June 7 to 9.

Ang, who posted photos of the event in her Facebook account, said the MassKara dance team was the only foreign performer in the 2019 edition of the festival.

“It is the first time in the festival’s 320-year history that a foreign group was invited to perform,” said the councilor, the chairperson of the Bacolod City Council committee on tourism and action officer of the MassKara Festival.

The Ulsan Maduhee Festival in the old downtown of Ulsan City is considered the largest tug-

of-war game that has been played long before the Joseon Dynasty. The game, translated in English as “playing with a horse head”, is evaluated as a dynamic local culture incorporating the military and regional culture and traditions of Ulsan.

This year, more than 2,000 participants joined the tugging of a giant rope during the re-enactment of the “Maduhee”.

The MassKara dancers landed the front page of the Ulsan Metropolitan Daily on Monday as shown in the photo of the newspaper taken by Ang. Ulsan Maduhee is the second Korean festival graced by the MassKara dancers this year, after the Daegu Colorful Festival last month.

In Daegu City, the MassKara Dance Team was declared Best Foreign Group after besting 21 other groups in the foreign category, which was one of the festival’s five categories during the two-day event. PNA

CSR EXPO. Officials of the League of Corporate Foundations present the color sign for the 18th LCF-CSR Expo 2019

during the event’s press launch at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City. In photo (from left) are Reginald Andal, executive director of Manila Water Foundation; Cecile Alcantara, president of Coca Cola Philippines Foundation; Lilibeth Aristorenas, executive director of Unilab Foundation; Maribeth Marasigan, first vice president and COO of Aboitiz Foundation; Ronnie Tapnio, executive director of ICCP Group Foundation; and Mario Deriquito, president of BDO Foundation. The expo will be held July 4 and 5 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. Manny Palmero

M

OST or 83 percent of Filipino kids are not drinking enough water to keep them hydrated and healthy. This is the alarming finding of a study on hydration by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology.

Experts reveal dehydration starts as soon as a person feels parched or thirsty.

“Misconceptions are the major barriers to proper hydration, especially in countries like the Philippines,” says Dr. Rodolfo F. Florentino, one of the preeminent nutrition experts in the country.

He adds, “While under normal conditions, adults can satisfy their water needs with the sensation of thirst, this is not the case in young children and the elderly when thirst comes late, and they are dependent upon others for their hydration needs. This is also not the case in conditions where fluid requirement is greatly increased, as in heavy physical activity or in very hot environments.”

This means when the weather is hot or kids are being active they are more in danger of being dehydrated.

Effects of dehydration

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019

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DRINK UP.

Experts reveal dehydration by at least 2 percent of body weight has tangible effects on children.

Life

Dehydration of as little as 2 percent of body weight already has tangible negative effects on kids, including their alertness and concentration. It may show itself through dry lips and mouth and dark-colored urine, but its deeper effects are a cause for concern.

In the long term, dehydration may even slow down their physical and mental performance. This might cause a drop in kids’ performance in school, their strength during playtime and sports, and even their willingness to interact with other children.

If not solved immediately, dehydration may lead to chronic dehydration, which increases the risk of the development of kidney stones, UTI, hyperten- dition including weather and amount of sion, and even eventually a stroke. physical activity.

The taste of water and the habit of It takes more than drinking it is not always appetizing to 8 glasses of water kids, making it a difficult task for them The eight glasses of water a day rule to drink water. But according to Dr. does not actually apply to everyone. In- Florentino parents may opt to suppledividuals may need more depending on ment it with other water sources. age or physical activity levels.

“Water is not the only source of hySchoolchildren 6-9 years old dration. The food and different bevershould drink five to six glasses of ages that we take every day are also water a day, while children 10-12 important sources of water in addition years old should drink at least seven to plain drinking water to help the body glasses of water daily. Male teenag- rehydrate,” he explains. ers 13-15 years old should drink nine “Milk and dairy-based beverages, glasses a day, while girls should con- fruit juice, fruit-flavored drinks—espesume seven glasses daily. Finally, cially when fortified with vitamins and males aged 16-18 should drink 10 minerals; soups; fruits like watermelon, glasses of water a day, while females melon, and strawberries; and vegetables should consume eight glasses daily. like lettuce, cabbage, and spinach conThese figures are subject to other con- tain 90-99 percent water.

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

Dire dehydration 8 out of 10 kids are not drinking enough “Fruits like apple, grapes, oranges, and pineapple contain 80-89 percent water. All of these could be used to rehydrate. In fact, on the average about 20 percent of our total water intake comes from food, and 80 percent comes from drinking water and beverages.”

and how it can be solved. #UhawAreYou encourages parents to check on their kids’ state o f

Raising awareness of kid dehydration

In cooperation with FNRI, powdered juice brand Tang has recently launched the #UhawAreYou campaign to increase awareness of the hydration gap in the Philippi nes

will encourage them to keep their kids (and themselves) hydrated through different ways,” shares Tang Philippines brand manager Princess Landicho.

To make the campaign more relatable to mothers and parents, Tang has also partnered with celebrity mom Bianca Gonzalez-Intal who is known for not shying away from relevant issues.”

As a mom, she has also experienced having a hard time making her toddler drink enough fluids. When asked about how she works around the problem, she said, “I literally have to chase my daughter to drink! I have to find the perfect glass that she would drink most with, which was this colorful straw tumbler. As a mom, you just have to find out what works for your kids and stay patient!”

Adding fruits into plain water makes it more appetizing.

A study by the Food Nutrition Research Institute found that 8 out 10 kids are not drinking enough water to keep them hydrated and healthy.

The infographics likewise show the effects of dehydration on children and other sources of water, aside from plain water.

hydration and take measures to make sure their child takes the right amount of fluids possible through various ways.

Often, Tang says, kids enter into a state of “voluntary dehydration,” where they give up drinking water while they are busy playing or being active. Other times, kids are simply uninterested in water, and would rather drink something that tastes more interesting.

“The first step is raising awareness that we are not drinking enough—that we have a hydration gap problem especially among Filipino kids. Imagine eight out of 10 kids are not drinking the required number of glasses! Also, we have to let parents know the serious effects of dehydration to children. This

Conglomerate on track to plant 9 million trees by 2020 AFTER planting a total of 6.6 million trees, or 73 percent of the target, as of 2018, the Aboitiz Group announced that it is on track to reach its 9 million trees goal by 2020.

The target is part of the group’s Simultaneous Tree Planting initiative. STP is under A-Park, its largest environmental program that supports the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Expanded National Greening Program.

The planting of nine million trees by the end of 2020 would mean the conversion of an estimated 189,000 tons of carbon dioxide (tCO2) into oxygen or the equivalent of about 9,000 hectares of lush reforested areas, or more than 37 times the size of Bonifacio Global City.

In time for the celebration of World Environment Day on June 5, Aboitiz and DENR signed a Memorandum of Agreement to renew their partnership to sustain

AEV president and chief executive Erramon I. Aboitiz led the 2018 Aboitiz groupwide simultaneous tree planting activity at the Makiling-Banahaw Geothermal Facility in Laguna.

ecological balance.

“I express my heartfelt thanks to Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. for teaming up with the DENR once again for the attainment of nine million trees under the A-Park Project by 2020,” said DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu.

“It is heartening to know that working towards your corporate objective would also mean addressing poverty alleviation by engaging the services of the local people in forest activities like seedling production, plantation establishment, and maintenance and protection, among others,” he added.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. executive vice president and chief operating officer Sabin M. Aboitiz reiterated the group’s commitment to DENR’s programs.

“We strongly believe and adhere to the DENR’s mandate to protect the environment and we anchor our initiatives to the ENGP to sustain ecological balance. Our enduring partnership with the DENR for community-based forest management is a testament to our shared responsibility and highlights our contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on Climate Action,” said Aboitiz.

Since 2010, Aboitiz team member volunteers have gathered in chosen planting sites in various parts of the country to plant indigenous trees.

In July, an estimated 95,000 seedlings will be planted by Aboitiz team members and stakeholders nationwide.

Aboitiz team members and stakeholders plant indigenous trees in chosen planting sites in the country.

Life

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TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Taiwan unveils

‘smart’ healthcare technology

The Virtual Dissection Table from Taiwan Main Orthopaedic Biotechnology Co. Ltd. collects any form of X-ray image and transforms it into a 3D model.

I

MAGINE hospital beds so intuitive that they can track both a patient’s vital signs and sleeping patterns? What about robotassisted surgery when the doctor and patient are miles apart?

These may soon be reality as the automation technology is gradually revolutionizing healthcare to the era of “smart healthcare.”

The Wearable Hand Exoskeleton by Rehabotics Medical Technology Corporation helps patients with neuromuscular disorders.

The concept of smart healthcare diverges from traditional approaches to healthcare; instituting intelligent and intuitive systems that improve the quality of patient care. This approach has influenced the gamut of pharmaceutical products, medical equipment, and health and wellness products, as they integrate with each other to create a holistic system that is predictive, preventative, personalized, and participatory.

Taiwan is leading the world toward this new frontier.

Its biomedical sector has been identified as one of the industry pillars for national development. In recent years, the value of Taiwan’s biomedical industry significantly has increased to a booming US$16.2 billion.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen considers the country as a forerunner in

medical innovation due to three factors: top-tier medical technology, robust supply chains, and a burgeoning biotechnology industry.

Taiwan effectively fosters a supportive and collaborative ecosystem where academic, private, and public institutions work together to create products that contribute to smart healthcare.

One example of the smart healthcare innovation is the range of products offered by Asus Life, a subsidiary of the Taiwan Excellence Award winner Asustek Computer. The company recently worked with hospitals to offer smart medical care solutions for patients.

OmniCare is a medical Internetof-Things (IoT) platform that collects biometric data from various instruments and smart wearable devices. PhenoFinder is a platform that integrates

patient medical records at all hospitals and big data analysis. Zenbo is a smart robot equipped with facial recognition functionality, and AiNurse is a virtual care-giving robot that can communicate with patients via voice or text.

Meanwhile, 2019 Taiwan Excellence awardee Onyx Healthcare Inc. also created medical products that optimize and seamlessly automate hospital processes that are usually done on paper.

The company’s medical tablet MD101 aids nurses as they gather the data of a patient’s vital signs, thus reducing the time spent on each patient, which is usually up to 12 minutes.

Altogether, their products help improve the accuracy and efficiency of overall patient care in hospitals.

To catch more of Taiwan and its amazing innovations, go to Taiwan Excellence 3 on 3 Hoop Challenge on June 29-30 at SM Megamall; the IoT Business Platform on July 24-25 at Manila Marriott; the Taiwan Excellence ESports Cup on Oct. 4-6 in Metro Manila; and the Taiwan Expo scheduled sometime in November in Davao City.

Waking the Good Samaritan in everyone

REV. Fr. Anton Pascual, executive director of church-run foundation Caritas Manila urges the public to help those in need, both spiritual and material.

Radio Veritas 846’s public service program called Good Samaritan helps

the Catholic Church and its foundations to gather information and connections from different organizations, individuals, and institutions, that altogether help those in need, particularly those in poverty.

Church-run foundation Caritas Manila urges the public to lend a helping hand to those in need.

iPhoto SLMC acquires anesthesia workstation GE Healthcare clinical specialist Dr. Richmond Chang (right) demonstrates the use of the GE Carestation 650 to a member of the Department of Anesthesiology at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City.

The Carestation 650 is specifically suited to the practice of low-flow anesthesia delivery, which enhances workflow, optimizes OR time, and helps in cost-efficiency by saving anesthesiologists time by automating the monitoring of the patient’s condition.

It is expected to improve the current procedures of rendering sedation and anesthesia in hospitals.

Good Samaritan also serves as a haven for the people asking for help from the charitable public to overcome their illnesses and other needs through interviews, phone patches, and text messaging.

In the past year, the program has reached out to 6,071 areas nationwide.

GSP, through the help of good-hearted individuals, institutions, and organizations, was able to provide medical assistance such as medicine and equipment, laboratory services, food/crisis prevention and preparation equipment, burial/ wake assistance, clothing, institution referrals regarding concerns, medical and dental checkups and missions, and livelihood assistance.

Good Samaritan was able to collect donations around P5,896,551 in both cash and in-kind from various individuals, institutions, and organizations.

Those who wish to reach out to those in need of help may contact the Good Samaritan Program through Veritas 846 hotline (02) 925-7931 to 40.

Lamoiyan Corp. marketing director Bing Cavestany and assistant brand nanager for Licealiz Cristina Martinez (second and third from left) receive the Certificate of Recognition from DepEd for their participation in Brigada Eskwela 2019 National Kick-Off.

Lamoiyan joins Brigada Eskwela ‘19 PERSONAL hygiene and home care products manufacturer Lamoiyan Corporation donated over half a million worth of its products to schools nationwide as they joined the recent Brigada Eskwela national kick-off at Alfonso Central Elementary School in Cavite.

In partnership with the Department of Education, Lamoiyan Corp. distributed packs of Licealiz Anti-Head Lice Shampoo, Hapee Toothpaste, and James Styling Gel to the students of the aforementioned school.

“Pediculosis or head lice infestation is one of the top causes of absenteeism in public schools and Lamoiyan has been committed to promote health and personal hygiene among Filipinos, especially the youth as we want them learn about it at an early age,” said Lamoiyan Corporation marketing director Bing Cavestany.

Cavestany continued, “We hope that through this partnership with DepEd, Lamoiyan will be able to impose the importance of proper hygiene to our children.

With this year’s Brigada Eskwela theme “Matatag na Bayan para sa Maunlad na Paaralan,” DepEd high-

lights their “Brigada Eskwela Plus Program” conducted in public schools nationwide. This program focuses on school maintenance throughout the year, improve learners’ participation rate and reduce dropouts, and enroll in the alternative delivery mode.

DepEd also stressed the importance of their partnerships with the private sector to help the department in generating more resources for Brigada Eskwela.

Through this partnership, Lamoiyan Corp. aims to promote personal hygiene among the students. Aside from encouraging good oral hygiene, the company is also advocating the correct way of treating head lice infestation, which is considered one of the common health problems in schools.

Licealiz Head Lice Treatment Shampoo effectively kills lice and nits after two weeks of use and prevents lice infestation from recurring. Its active ingredient, pyrethrin, a natural extract from chrysanthemum flowers, is clinically tested and proven safe and successful in killing lice and nits, while its conditioning formula keeps children’s hair soft, smooth, and fragrant.

Entertainment

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Is it already bye-bye for MarNigo?

Y

OUNG Kapamilya actor Iñigo Pascual sheds light on the speculation that his love team with Maris Rascal (more popularly known as MarNigo) is gradually being disbanded.

STATUS UPDATE. According to Iñigo Pascual, he and Maris Racal are just taking a different route for their growth as solo artists.

What do...

From C4

“Before any show or performance, I make sure I get enough sleep.

Sometimes, I do cardio exercises before a show. I also don’t speak a lot to preserve my voice, and I stay away from sweets,” says Noel who is best known for the timeless hit “Kanlungan,” a song released by his former band Buklod.

Words from the expert According to Dr. Teresa GloriaCruz, UP-PGH consultant of Surgery in Otorhinolaryngology, “Sore throat can be described by a wide variety of conditions like irritation or pain in the throat. Or sometimes, itchy as is the vernacular among patients.”

The cause of sore throat depends on the duration of symptoms and its progress. “A viral infection usually improves on its own between three to five days. If the sore throat does not improve in seven days, it’s most probably a bacterial infection which will already need an antibiotic.”

But whether it’s viral or bacterial,

3rd Eddys...

From C4

Up for the Best Actress plum are Angelica Panganiban (Exes Baggage), Glaiza de Castro (Liway), Gloria Romero (Rainbow’s Sunset), Judy Ann Santos (Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes), Kathryn Bernardo (The Hows of Us), Nadine Lustre (Never Not Love You) and Sarah Geronimo (Miss Granny).

Piolo Pascual (Ang Panahon ng Halimaw), Carlo Aquino (Exes Baggage), Christian Bables (Signal Rock), Daniel Padilla (The Hows of Us), Dingdong Dantes (Sid & Aya: Not a Love Story), Paolo Contis (Through Night & Day) and Eddie Garcia (Rainbow’s Sunset) are competing for the Best Actor trophy.

Apart from the major acting and technical awards, six special awards will be given out during the big night: The Joe Quirino Award will be handed to TV-radio host-columnist Cristy Fermin; Manny Pichel Award will be given to entertainment columnist and talent manager Ethel Ramos; Rising Producers’ Circle will be awarded to Spring Films and T-Rex Entertainment; Producer of the Year will go to Star

Dr. Gloria-Cruz suggests gargling of a solution to address it. “We want the mechanical action of gargling as it will kill more bacteria and will be more preventive in the progression and the duration of the disease.”

Pharex Healthcare president Tomas Luke Marcelo “Beau” Agana, III, on the other hand, offers Sorexidine, a gargle solution to relieve a sore throat.

“Chlorhexidine gluconate solution is found in Sorexidine. Considered as the gold standard in antimicrobial oral hygiene, Sorexidine is proven safe and effective to fight off bacteria, virus, and fungi and reduces plaque-causing bacteria up to 60 percent. Gargling 15ml for 30 seconds twice a day is the recommended usage,” he tells.

Vocal partnership Incidentally, Sorexidine is supporting PETA in the 7th season of Rak of Aegis which goes back onstage from July 5 to Sept. 29. Gold and Noel are both parts of the musical this season.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fu, Gold and Noel acknowledge that their voices are their “puhunan” and that it should receive utmost care to avoid or relieve it from sore throat.

Cinema; Lifetime Achievement Award will be received by Elwood Perez; and a recognition will be given posthumously to the late Comedy King, Dolphy.

Carrying on the tradition of paying tribute to movie stars who have made an indelible mark in the industry through their significant bodies of work, this year’s Icon Awards will be conferred upon Amalia Fuentes, Tirso Cruz III, Christopher de Leon, Joseph Estrada, Eddie Gutierrez, Anita Linda, Dante Rivero, Celia Rodriguez, Vilma Santos, and Lorna Tolentino.

As SPEEd joins in the celebration of the 100 years of Philippine Cinema, the group will also honor some of the industry’s “unsung heroes” who work behind the camera. This segment of the awards night will be anchored by TV host-journalist Lourd de Veyra.

The EDDYS aims to encourage local filmmakers, producers, writers, and actors to continue pursuing their passion for creating films that mirror the realities of our society.

The SPEEd is made up of entertainment editors of newspapers and tabloids circulated daily nationwide.

The non-profit organization, established in 2015, is led by Ian F. Farinas as president and Isah V. Red as chairman emeritus.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, June 11, 2019

ACROSS 1 Stereo (hyph.)

5 Wedding walkway 10 Halftime marchers 14 Make — — for it 15 Gets nosy 16 Square footage 17 Farm worker 18 Foot doctor 20 Beyond banal 22 Expound at length 23 Almost 25 Stadium roof 27 Prepare to turn 28 Tasty legume 29 RN assistants 33 Zeus’ wife 34 Mr. Spock’s father 36 Ice floe dweller 37 — in the hole 38 Washout 39 Auditor 40 Strokes gently 42 The thick of things 44 “What’s My Line?” host 45 Latin I verb 46 Finger opposite 47 Hazards a guess 49 Catches some rays 51 Affectionate

gesture 52 Comb projections 55 Reflects on 56 Financial district (2 wds.)

59 This, in Madrid 63 Ocean sighting 64 Craggy abode 65 Novelist — Uris 66 Shortfall 67 Capsize 68 Laird

28 Straitlaced person 30 Oval nuts 31 Mediterranean port 32 Vanquishes a dragon 35 Zorro’s farewell 41 Sank to the bottom 42 Atlas abbr.

43 Said “Cheers!”

44 Semi engines 48 Game or season DOWN opener 1 Disdainful snort 50 Happy sighs 2 Nest-egg letters 3 Enjoyable 4 Hoosier’s home 5 Dismays 6 Socrates’ forte 7 Faction 8 Flower adornment 9 That, in Spanish 10 Kegs 11 Moffo solo 12 Bird habitat 13 Calendar info 19 Arnold or Selleck 21 Gun lobby org.

23 Brother’s girls 24 Wading birds 25 Hero’s acts 26 Acorn dropper 27 Figure

51 Make aware (2 wds.)

52 Exact duplicate 53 Alleviate 54 She, in Cherbourg 55 Insignificant 57 Upsilon preceder 58 Workout unit 60 Dry, as wine 61 As well as 62 Crawling insect

Talks were rife after Maris appeared in a recent episode of the top-rating drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya opposite McCoy de Leon.

“You know, if we get paired with other stars, it’s our job to deliver,” he says. “In this particular case, I’m so proud of Maris. She and McCoy were able to handle things on a professional level. They were a love team before, right? We’re friends in the industry and we’re just working.

I’m friends with McCoy. I hope the public will respect if there are developments such as this.”

In the past, he described the status of his relation with Maris as “exclusive to each other.” Many are curious to know as to what level they’re into now.

“The two of us have gone through a lot together. We grew together and I guess, that’s important. Growth is needed. Now, we’re growing at our own pace. We may be doing separate projects at this point but for sure, our support for each other will always be there,” he states.

The 21-year-old actor is vocal in saying that he will always be one of Maris’ biggest fans.

“I’ve learned a lot from her and the lessons I gained will always remain in me. To be honest, we don’t get to see each other as much anymore, but our friendship is not affected. It remains solid,” he shares.

“We remain to be good friends.

Nothing changed especially that we just came back from a tour. We were able to spend some time together and worked together again. But I guess, we’re really focusing on our own separate things,” he adds.

Meanwhile, many are curious about their launching movie entitled I’m Ellenya L.

“I’m so proud of this movie and the amount of work we’ve put into it. It’s a comedy with a heart. Fortunately, we had an extra day to further polish some scenes and it turned out fine.

We’re just waiting for the time when it gets shown. The film is great and I can say that Maris is good in this one.”

The young actor also talks about his solo endeavors.

“I’m preparing for a lot of things that’s coming ahead. For one, there’s my new music videos. One already came out called Mr. Nice Guy. This is my collaboration with Wengi. I’m happy to inform that we already have two million views for the English version. There’s also the Taglish version. People can check it out in Star Music’s You Tube channel and in Spotify. I’ll be filming my second one for an international album.”

With the many opportunities being given to him at present, the appealing lad is spending lots of time in enhancing himself.

“It’s a must to practice. So of late, I’ve been training hard in various departments to widen my horizon like singing, dancing and composing songs,” ends Iñigo. *** Asia’s Pop S w e e t heart Julie Anne S a n Jose takes on her biggest challenge yet as she ventures into the diva universe paying homage to timeless classics through the decades in her first major con-

MEDIA giant ABS-CBN bagged three for its innovative digital campaigns, honors at the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards making it the only Philippine TV

ABS-CBN digital media division's accounts management head Darrel Villanueva, ABSCBN channel 2-entertainment sales head and client investment advisor for Unilever Sheila Balcueva, and Mindshare Philippines exchange partner Richard Montealegre at the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards 2019.

cert titled, Julie Sings the Divas.

Viewers will surely get delighted as the pretty lass is expected to breathe life to timeless classics originally performed by music icons like Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Adele, Beyonce and many more.

For this one night event, the GMA7 gem will be accompanied by the UP Arco String Orchestra with the country’s top session musicians under the baton of renowned musical director Maestro Danny Tan. Produced by Sunny Side Up Productions and GMA Network, Inc. and directed by Louie Ignacio, this two-hour musical extravaganza will also feature internationallyacclaimed singerArnel Pineda and the world renowned and multiawarded UP Concert Chorus.

Julie Sings the Divas is projected to elevate Julie Anne’s calibre as a top notch songstress. The concert is set on July 20 at the Theatre at the Solaire Resort and Casino.

Julie Anne San Jose

network to win at this year’s prestigious awards program.

The annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards is the only awards program to recognize innovation in business throughout the entire Asia-Pacific region. The Stevie Awards are considered to be the world’s premier business awards, conferring recognition for achievement in the workplace over the past 17 years.

The award-giving body honored ABS-CBN with a Gold Stevie Award for Innovation in Entertainment Websites for the television-integrated microsite Moonchasers, which immersed TV and online audiences in the fantasy world of vampires and werewolves of the hit series La Luna Sangre.

A Silver Stevie Award for Innovation in Social Media Marketing was also given to the McDo BonFries campaign, which ABS-CBN implemented with partner McDonald’s Philippines. It maximized Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube as platforms where UAAP students and fans could virtually participate in the live arena experience and cheer for their favorite teams in the highly anticipated UAAP Cheerdance Competition.

ABS-CBN also won a Silver Stevie Award for Innovation in Content Marketing/Branded Editorial for Unilever Story Studio, which provided data-based, creative business solutions and content that amplified the affinity of Unilever brands to their target markets.

These award-winning campaigns are part of the digital initiatives of ABSCBN, the country’s leading media and entertainment company, as it continues to invest in content production for digital platforms for different audiences.

It is rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among all media companies, and a growing list of digital properties.

The 2019 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards have recognized organizations in 17 markets including Australia, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the USA, and Vietnam.

More than 900 nominations about innovative achievements in the 29-nation Asia-Pacific region were considered by close to 200 executives around the world, who participated in the judging to determine the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019

Gazini Christiana Ganados is the new Miss Universe Philippines queen edging out 39 other candidates during the glittering pageant night held on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The winners of this year's Binibining Pilipinas with Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados (4th from right) and (from left) Maria Andrea Abesamis (1st runner-up), Leren Bautista (Bb Pilipinas Globe 2019), Samantha Lo ( Bb Pilipinas Grand International 2019), Patch Magtanong (Bb Pilipinas International 2019), Resham Saeed (Bb Supranational 2019), Emma Mary Tiglao (Bb Pilipinas Intercontinental 2019), and Samantha Bernardo (2nd runner-up).

By Nickie Wang and Eton Concepcion Images by Teddy Pelaez

I

T WAS a grand outing for pageants fans on Sunday night when the country’s biggest beauty tilt crowned its new queens—modern Filipino women who would wear the Philippine sash on the international pageant stage —in a glittering event that highlighted Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s influence among today’s crop of beauty queen wannabees.

Every candidate had an army of loud rabid fans who trooped to the Araneta Coliseum to cheer for their bets. They were so loud that one of the front runners, the most decorated Binibini that night, got distracted during the Q and A round and it caused her a crown.

During the first part of the competition, Bataan’s Bea Patricia Magtanong was one of the candidates who drew deafening cheers from the crowd along with Pampanga’s Emma Tiglao, Masbate’s Hannah Arnold, and Negros Occidental’s Vickie Rushton.

The same kind of reception from the audience continued during the swimsuit competition when the same set of girls were wildly applauded.

It was only during the evening gown competition when one candidate stood out.

While each candidate had group of supporters trying to subdue each other with banners and whistles, she received everyone’s approval present at the venue.

She sashayed across the stage in a red Cary Santiago gown with overflowing confidence.

She slightly flipped her hair using her right hand after managing the stairs and as the camera was capturing her moment. She paused in the middle of the stage, gave the audience on her left a fierce yet charming look then faced the judges with a big smile.

No wonder she won best in long gown with her “enthralling performance,” and took home another award, the Miss Photogenic.

Her name was Gazini Christiana Ganados.

The 23-year-old Filipino-Palestinian model from Cebu advocates for women empowerment and elderly care. She snagged the coveted Miss Universe-Philippines 2019 title and was crowned, no less, by last year’s winner, Catriona Gray.

During the crucial Q&A round, the 5-foot-9 Tourism graduate of University of San JoseRecoletos was asked by judge Bobby Barreiro,

ABS-CBN events head, what she will do to get more women in the workplace, if she wins a crown.

Ganados answered, “If I win a crown tonight, what I will do is to promote my advocacy. My advocacy is for us women to fight for our rights and for the elderly women, for us to know that someone is loving us, someone is pushing us to whatever ambitions that we have. We will be able to rise from our decisions, to whatever dreams and goals that we have, and we will achieve it because of those values, those wisdoms [sic] that they gave us.”

Bea Patricia Magtanong, a 24-year-old Lawyer from Bataan, was named Bb. PilipinasInternational 2019 succeeding Miss International 2018 first runner up Athisa Manalo. She also bagged the Best in Swimsuit award.

The crucial Q&A portion proved nervewracking to one of the Top 15 finalists. Vickie Rushton, who earlier bagged various sponsorsspecial awards, buckled with her answer, pausing a couple of times and ran out of time. A top favorite, Rushton, who was first runner up last year, came out empty handed. Samantha Bernardo, last year’s 2nd runner up, ended up with the same placement, a first in the history of the pageant.

Other winners were Bb. PilipinasSupranational 2019 Resham Saeed, a 25-yearold Fil-Pakistani host and modelfrom Buluan, Maguindanao; Bb. Pilipinas-Grand International 2019 Samantha Ashley Lo, a 26-year-old model and former Miss Cebu Tourism 2017; Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental 2019 Emma Mary Tiglao, a 24-year-old Tourism Graduate from Pampanga, who won Best in National Costume; and Bb. Pilipinas-Globe 2019 Leren Mae Bautista, a 26-year-old graduate of Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba and former 2015 Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International.

The four new queens were crowned by

their outgoing predecessors, Jehza Huelar, Eva Psychee Patalinjug, Karen Gallman, and Michelle Gumabao.

Gray gave an impassioned farewell speech, expressing gratefulness to the love and support of the 104 million Filipinos she said she felt throughout her journey in Miss Universe, along with her BPCI family headed by Stella MarquezAraneta, and proclaiming she will be forever a Binibini. She also talked about the hardships she went through, including overcoming her own fears, and conquering doubts and challenges for a purpose.

“There were so many times that people told me that I would fail. I was told that it was too soon for another Miss Universe from the Philippines. I was body shamed and I was outdone. But I conquered others,” she said in her emotional speech.

“My heart is overflowing with gratitude because here, on this exact stage, I was given the chance to pursue this dream. This journey has been made even more meaningful because every single step of the way, I felt each and everyone of you right there with me,” she added.

Maria Andrea Abesamis, 27-year-old Fine Arts graduate of University of Santo Tomas and daughter of 1984 Miss Universe 3rd runnerup Desiree Verdadero, was named first runner up. Marie Sherry Ann Tormes, and Cassandra Colleen Chan won Miss Friendship and Best in Talent, respectively.

Making the Top 15 were April Short, Joahnna Carla Saad, Jessica Marasigan, Marianne Marquez, Maria Isabela Galeriaand Hannah Arnold. Rounding out the Top 25 were Jessarie Dumaguing, Kimberle Mae Penchon, Malka Shaver, Martina Turner Diaz, Joanna Rose Tolledo, Marie Sherry Ann Tormes, Jane Darren Genobisa, Denise Omorog, Honey Grace Cartasano, and Larah Grace Lacap.

The board of judges, led by newly elected Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte as chairman, included Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, actors James Reid, Daniel Padilla, and Nadine Lustre, PBA player Christian Standhardinger, Grab Philippines president Brian Cu, Italian Ambassador Giorgio Guglielmino, Spanish Ambassador Jorge Moragas.

Kapamilya stars Anne Curtis and Richard Gutierrez hosted the event.

Gazini Ganados, an early pageant favorite for her strong "universal features," flaunts her sensational curves during the swimsuit round. (Inset) Catriona Gray crowning her successor.

3rd EDDYS holds nominees night THE Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd) is hosting its annual Nominees Night on June 15, 6:30 p.m., at Annabel’s Restaurant, Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City to give out certificates to all nominees in 14 categories in this year’s edition of the EDDYS. The Nominees Night—a run-up to the much-anticipated event celebrating the creatives, talented artists, and film workers who were nominated in the EDDYS—is in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) led by its chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

Meanwhile, the big night will happen on July 14 at New Frontier Theater (formerly KIA Theater) and will be telecast on Cignal TV’s Colours Channel on July 21.

Cignal TV is one of the major sponsors/presenters of the 3rd EDDYS while Echo Jham Entertainment, led by director Calvin Neria, is in charge of the production.

Among the nominees in the Best Picture category are Citizen Jake, Goyo:

THEY may seem like an odd bunch but believe it or not, Win Radio’s Mr. Fu, Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (PETA) thespian Gold Villar-Lim, and renowned singer and songwriter Noel Cabangon do share one similarity that binds them together.

They all bank on their voices as their main tool in their respective fields.

At the recent Sorexidine press conference reinstating its campaign efforts dubbed “Kapag boses ang puhunan,” the three were able to talk about their individual experiences of having their voices as their “main capital” and how they take care of it.

“Being a DJ and a host, it is very important The members and officers of the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors handed Aga Muhlach's Best Actor nominee certificate during the inaugural Nominees Night of the prestigious EDDYS Awards.

Ang Batang Heneral, Liway, Rainbow’s Sunset, and Signal Rock.

In the Best Director race, Chito Roño (Signal Rock), Jerrold Tarog (Goyo), Joel Laman-

gan (Rainbow’s Sunset), Kip Oebanda (Liway), at Mike de Leon (Citizen Jake) are vying for the coveted award.

Continued on C3

From left: Dr. Teresa Gloria-Cruz, UP-PGH consultant of Surgery in Otorhinolaryngology, stage actress Gold VillarLim, songwriter and folk singer Noel Cabangon, Pharex Healthcare president Tomas Luke Marcelo “Beau” Agana, III, and host Mr. Fu.

that I take care of my voice given the demands of my job,” relates Mr. Fu. “In our everyday engagements, mahirap ng walang boses, ‘di ba? Paano tayo makakabwelo sa tsismisan kapag wala tayong boses—lalong lalo na kung may mainit na issues.”

“I used to experience a loss of voice before, especially when I had multiple runs for seven straight days. I learned to use my diaphragm, and after every scene, I make sure to take at least a sip of water. Sa teatro kasi ay malamig dahil airconditioned kaya dapat may diskarte din para alagaan ang boses,” shares Gold who has been part of Rak of Aegis since its first season. Continued on C3