Manila Standard - 2018 October 27 - Saturday

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Bora’s new regime a test case for PH sustainable tourism

By Ayee Macaraig THE county opened the doors Friday to a spruced up and newly regulated Boracay, the famous holiday island that was shuttered to mend decades of harm caused by unchecked Next page tourism.

VOL. XXXII • NO. 254 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

BORACAY REOPENED.

After a six-month cleanup intended to repair the damage inflicted by years of unchecked mass tourism, tourists start arriving Friday once more in Boracay. AFP

‘Cleansing’ set at Customs Guerrero vows to push real reform, Palace confirms drug rings at BoC

By Vito Barcelo and Nat Mariano

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EW Customs Commissioner Rey Guerrero on Friday vowed to go after corrupt officials in the Bureau of Customs, promising a cleansing of the ranks that his two predecessors also vowed but saw them getting booted out instead over billions of illegal drugs successfully smuggled into the country.

TOURIST ATTRACTION. College students and tourists visit the crypt at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila. Here the remains of members of the Augustinian community are kept, including the ashes of Juan Luna (1857-1899) from Badoc, Ilocos Norte. At the center is the monument in memory of those killed during the Battle of Manila in 1945 between American and Filipino forces against Japanese troops. Norman Cruz

‘Tokhang’ named word of the year THE term “Tokhang” has been chosen as Salita ng Taon at Friday’s Sawikaan 2018 at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

The winning word was announced after deliberation among a group of academics at the university.

“Tokhang” is the name of the Philippine National Police’s anti-drug campaign involving visits to alleged drug suspects at their homes as part of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, which has drawn

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WEATHER Wet All Saints’ Day seen as ‘Yutu’ looms TYPHOON ‘Yutu’ is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility today, the Philippine Atmospheric, threatening to thrash Cagayan and Isabela ahead of the celebration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Thursday and Friday, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said on Friday.

In an interview, Benison Espareja, weather forecaster, said once it enters the PAR, Yutu would be named ‘Rosita.’

As of Friday afternoon, Yutu was estimated at 1,995 kilometers east of Northern Luzon or still outside the PAR in the Pacific Next page Ocean.

‘He said, she said’ over drug link raps

By Rio N. Araja

SPECIAL Envoy to China Ramon Tulfo and Customs Deputy Collector Lourdes Mangaoang have accused each other of being on the payroll of drug lords.

This developed as Mangaoang, the former Bureau of Customs deputy collector at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, denied any hand in ousting her erstwhile boss Isidro Lapeña, who was

SAGAY MASSACRE:

Police claim eight witnesses identified THE Philippine National Police has identified eight witnesses to the killing of nine sugar farmers in Hacienda Nene in Barangay Bulanon in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on Oct. 20.

The witnesses also told the police what they witnessed before and after the crime.

“We are also looking at the before and after, so everything connnected to the case may be used,” said Insp. Robert Mansueto, head of the Sagay City Police.

Police also said the 14-year-old who survived the massacre in Sagay City has Next page

removed from the post by President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday owing to the billion-peso shabu smuggling controversy.

“Commissioner Lapeña has had a self-destruction. I am not an instrument or anybody,” Mangaoang said in a radio interview.

“My purpose is to convict people behind the illegal smuggling of drugs,” she Next page added in Filipino.

Nine die in Sulu clash between soldiers, Abus

By Francisco Tuyay SIX Abu Sayyaf bandits and three marine troops were killed while several others—terrorists and soldiers—were wounded as intense fighting erupted anew in the uncharted ridges of Patikul, Sulu early Friday, military officials said.

The firefight erupted after security forces encountered some 50 terrorists in Barangay Timpook as the military continued the relentless Next page

MARCHING ORDER. President Rodrigo Duterte greets newly appointed Bureau of Customs chief Rey Guerrero on the sidelines of the 117th anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard at the Port Area of Manila on Thursday. Also in picture is Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. Malacañang Photo If Guerrero succeeds, it would be third time lucky for President Rodrigo Duterte, who had previously appointed Nicanor Faeldon and Isidro Lapeña—both former military officials like the incoming BOC chief —only to dismiss them after billion-peso shipments of shabu got past Customs, undermining the Chief Executive’s war on drugs.

“Corrupt officials have no place in the government service. The marching order of the President is simple, to push for genuine reform at the bureau,” Guerrero said in his

first day at Customs, where all eyes are on the former Armed Forces chief of staff to effect reforms that skeptical BOC insiders say are “moonshots” at best.

“Officials tend to be swallowed by the system here, no matter how good their intentions are,” one longtime midlevel Customs official, who requested anonymity, told Manila Standard.

Guerrero, the outgoing Maritime Industry Authority administrator, said he will bring some of his trusted men to the Next page

Cabinet shuffle up; gov’t bets eye ‘indie’ run

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will announce his new Cabinet appointees next week following the resignation of five Cabinet officials to run in the 2019 midterm elections, Malacañang said Friday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President will reveal the new appointees’ exact assignments in the fol-

lowing days.

“Their appointments will be released later on. The President has said he will announce it next week,” Panelo said.

He made his statement even as the rift within President Duterte’s party may force the likes of Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, Christopher “Bong” Go, and Ronald dela Rosa to run as independent senatorial candidates, the leader of a PDP-Laban faction said Friday.

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

’Oplan Undas’ at airports starts today

By Joel E. Zurbano

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HE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will implement “Oplan Undas 2018” starting Saturday in anticipation of an increase in passenger traffic in commercial airports in major cities and provinces as the nation prepares to mark All Saints’ Day. CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said the agency has regularly prepared for increases in passenger traffic during holidays.

In November last year, airports recorded 5,405,889 domestic and international passengers with 3,397,328 of these passengers arriving and departing through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Chief Justice bets set at 5, says JBC

By Rey E. Requejo ONLY five associate justices of the Supreme Court—four senior and one junior —will vie for the most coveted post in the judiciary vacated by Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro, who was compulsorily retired last Oct. 8, as the deadline for the reception of application and nomination for the post ended at 4:30 pm on Friday.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, an ex-officio member of the Judicial and Bar Council, revealed that no other application or nomination for the top post has been received on Friday, the last day of filing of application and submission of the required documents.

“No additional constants for the CJ [chief justice] position. Still only five applicants as of this time. The deadline is at 4:30 pm,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.

The five senior justices—Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin and Estela Perlas-Bernabe—have accepted their automatic nominations for chief justice post, while Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo declined.

A junior magistrate, Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr., also accepted his nomination by retired Sandiganbayan Justice Raoul Victorino for the post. Victorino nominated all 13 incumbent justices of SC. Del Castillo, the only senior magistrate who declined his automatic nomination, will sit as acting chairman of JBC when it deliberates on the vacancy.

Cabinet shuffle...

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Lawyer Rogelio Garcia said Thursday he was confident the Commission on Elections would favor his faction over the group led

by Pimentel, who is seeking reelection under PDP-Laban.

Five of Duterte’s officials have already expressed their interest in seeking elective posts in the upcoming elections.

The five Cabinet officials who have sought elective posts are former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go, former Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr., former Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, and former Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. Under the rules of the Commission on Elections, sitting government officials will be deemed resigned from their respective posts the moment they file their certificates of candidacy.

Earlier this week, Duterte announced the appointment of several people to serve under his administration.

On Oct. 17, he appointed former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Teodoro Locsin Jr. to be the new Foreign Affairs chief.

On Wednesday, he also appointed Police Senior Inspector Sofia Loren Deliu as Presidential Aide, but she will not hold a Cabinet title.

Police claim...

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been placed under government custody as a witness to the killing of the nine farmers.

According to Chino Gaston’s report aired Wednesday night on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, the minor, who was only identified as “Ben,” was a friend of 17-yearold Marchstil Sumicad who was among the casualties.

Mansueto said they could not yet reveal the the identities of the witnesses for their safety.

The witnesses have given their respective affidavits that the police will use to file charges of multiple murder against the suspects.

Meanwhile, a 47-year-old witness went missing after giving his statement, according to the police.

And 14 minors who witnessed the incident are being given counseling at the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the trauma that they went through.

The Police Provincial Office has created a Special Investigation Task Force to focus on the Sagay massacre.

The remains of the nine farmers, meanwhile, are now at the city hall gym for public viewing.

Apolonio said under the program to be implemented from Oct. 27 to Nov. 5, security measures will be in place “to ensure safe, reliable, and convenient operations at all 44 commercial airports in the country.”

All four area cluster heads handling the 40 CAAPmanaged commercial airports nationwide were also advised that maximum deployment of service and security personnel, who will not be allowed to go on leave or take a day off during the days covered by the operation.

On Friday, Cebu Pacific and its sister airline CebGo advised air travelers to go early to the airport in anticipation of the All Saints’ and All Souls’ holiday exodus.

The Manila International Airport Authority is expecting an increase of the number of passengers this year. Some 687,892 passengers were recorded from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2 in 2017.

‘Cleansing’ set...

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bureau and will conduct a major reorganization at Customs.

His predecessor, Lapeña, was effectively sacked by the President but also promoted to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, a Cabinet-level agency unlike the BOC, which is under the Department of Finance.

Duterte also dismissed all top Customs officials along with Lapeña, a former police general and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief.

“What is important now is to trust the leader to be able to implement reforms,” Guerrero said.

Asked if Duterte gave him any marching orders, he said: “The President’s order is simple, Just do your job.”

Guerrero said he would solicit some pointers and instructions from the outgoing Customs chief to familiarize himself with the office and understand the ins and outs of the BOC. This developed as the Palace said Friday corrupt officials and employees at the BOC were in cahoots with drug syndicates to vilify outgoing chief Lapeña.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the corruptions was apparent, not only during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, but also past administrations.

“Notwithstanding the nefarious practices which besiege the bureau, Lapeña managed it untainted and instituted several reform initiatives resulting in a substantial increase in its revenue collection that even surpassed its given targets,” Panelo said in a statement Friday.

“The President continues to have the complete trust and confidence on the competence and integrity of incoming TESDA DirectorGeneral Lapeña,” he added.

Panelo’s statement was released after the sudden reassignment of Lapeña to TESDA as the bureau grappled with a multi-billion-peso shabu smuggling scandal.

In an interview, Panelo said the President transferred Lapeña to TESDA as a way of sparing him from further intrigues and criticisms.

“You know the President, he wants to spare him [Lapeña] from intrigue because he has been extremely defamed,” Panelo told radio dwFM. “That’s why it was sudden. The announcement was made in a hurry and his promotion was tackled. He’s now a Cabinet member,” he said.

Lapeña came under fire after a shipment of shabu worth between P6.8 billion and P11 billion was said to have slipped through Customs.

‘He said,...

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Meanwhile, with the appointment of Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero as the new Customs chief, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Aaron Aquino on Friday vowed to stamp out international drug syndicates.

He said the entire agency was “devastated” over the P11 billion worth of shabu that slipped through Customs and found its way into the streets, and the acquittal of Diana Yu Uy,

Ten die...

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hunt against the terrorist group in its forested haven in Patikul.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana said soldiers of the Joint Task Force Sulu under Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo were on combat patrol in a suspected ASG lair when gunfire ripped the environment.

Besana said troops of the 62nd, 61st and 64th Marine Companies engaged the ASG

Bora’s new..

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The white sand idyll was closed to visitors in April after President Rodrigo Duterte called it a “cesspool” tainted by raw sewage flowing from hotels and restaurants straight into the sea.

But the rechristened resort has a slew of new rules that restrict boozing and smoking on the beach, limit the number of tourists and hotels, all while a renovation spree is ongoing.

Among the first visitors to land just after dawn on Friday were first-timers attracted by the prospect of a cleaner, less crowded island.

“When I saw pictures of tourists in Boracay lying like sardines in a can, I didn’t want to come here,” German visitor Josef Fuchs, 61, said. “Now I expect to have a few good days here.”

Once a quiet hideaway favored by back-

The airport authority is also implementing maximum security measures at four Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals.

In its advisory, CEB said passengers should be at the airport at least two hours before departure for domestic flights, and three hours for international flights to allow ample time for check-in, security and immigration checks, and the processing of pre-departure requirements.

All check-in counters close 45 minutes before the scheduled time of flights, except those exiting Dubai (one hour) and Shanghai (50 minutes); while all boarding gates close 15 minutes before the scheduled time of flights, except flights exiting Dubai (20 minutes).

The Metro Manila Development Authority, meanwhile, said number coding in the National Capital Region will be suspended on Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day, and Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day.

DOJ asks Makati judge to review Trillanes decision THE Justice department has asked a Makati judge to partially reconsider his decision denying its request to have Senator Antonio Trillanes IV arrested for a previously dismissed coup d’etat case.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Friday state prosecutors had filed a motion for partial reconsideration before Judge Andres Soriano at 4:30 pm on Thursday.

Soriano, the presiding judge of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148, will hear the motion on Oct. 30, Guevarra told reporters.

Guevarra had earlier said the Justice department would only contest Soriano’s factual findings: That Trillanes applied for amnesty and admitted his guilt for his participation in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, among other things, contradicting the basis of the presidential proclamation that revoked his amnesty.

While Soriano refused to order Trillanes’ arrest on account of the “final” dismissal of the coup d’etat case in 2011, he recognized the legality of Proclamation 572, the Duterte directive that declared the administration critic’s amnesty void from the beginning.

Soriano’s ruling, seen as largely favorable to Trillanes, clashes with that of his fellow Makati judge, Elmo Alameda, who ordered the senator arrested last month for a similarly dismissed rebellion case.

Now out on bail, Trillanes is contesting Alameda’s ruling. Alameda has ordered the filing of necessary pleadings before he rules on the senator’s motion for reconsideration.

Lawyers say that Soriano and Alameda’s conflicting findings may eventually have to be resolved by the Supreme Court, which is already saddled with a petition assailing the constitutionality of Proclamation 572.

But Panelo blamed unnamed Customs employees who might be involved in “severe” cases of corruption.

“Anyone you put there will really have a hard time. The people who are under you toy with the job,” Panelo said.

He said the four empty magnetic lifters that were found in a Cavite warehouse were designed, not to lift anything but to conceal their cargo of drugs.

“That’s why there was lead around it. You will not see the inside,” he said.

In his speech Thursday, Duterte announced he would promote the former BOC chief to a Cabinet position, appointing Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero to take the helm of bureau.

Duterte, who had previously backed Lapeña’s view that the lifters contained no drugs, expressed frustration over corruption in the bureau.

No X-ray machine, he added, would find illegal drugs if corrupt officials did not want to find them.

He then ordered the removal of all Customs commissioners and department heads to give Guerrero a free hand in appointing his people.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, an ally of the President, acknowledged that Lapeña’s transfer to TESDA was a promotion in rank and position, but said the move was definitely a demotion in trust and confidence.

Lacson said that was a pity, because except for the latest shabu smuggling that was a result of collusion between drug syndicates and low-level customs officials, Lapeña was doing a good job.

His initiatives consistently led to an increase in the bureau’s collections, Lacson added.

“Having said that, the President has once again shown zero tolerance as far as his war on drugs is concerned,” he said.

Asked if there were concerns about Lapeña’s qualifications to run TESDA, Lacson said: “We had the same apprehension when he took over BOC but he delivered.”

But Senator Antonio Trillanes questioned Lapeña’s promotion to TESDA after he was booted out of the BOC. “If he was really good and he had the President’s trust, why remove im from Customs,” Trillanes said.

“If he failed or he connived with people to smuggle in drugs, why promote him?” he asked in Filipino.

Trillanes said the only possible explanation was that Duterte was rewarding Lapeña’s loyalty and guaranteeing his silence and continued cooperation, as he did with the previous Customs commissioner, Nicanor Faeldon.

He said both former Customs commissioners surely know the true masterminds behind those huge shabu shipments.

Another member of the opposition bloc, Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros said Lapeña’s transfer to TESDA despite his involvement in the shabu smuggling scandal demonstrates that Duterte’s administration is a recycling bin for the corrupt and incompetent.

“That President Duterte continues to express ‘trust’ in Lapeña despite his gross failings and the suspicion of corruption is a clear indication that this government is not interested in holding people to the standards of accountability,” she said.

“This is not an administration of the best and the brightest. This is not a government with the best interests of the country at heart.

This is a regime of questionable characters and even more questionable competence.”

Senator Joel Villanueva acknowledged that it was the prerogative of the President to select his Cabinet, but said Lapeña’s transfer was surprising—and reminiscent of Faeldon’s transfer, wich reflects a lack of accountability in the administration.

The chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs on Friday said he hopes the new leadership of the Bureau of Customs will cooperate with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

“We hope that the BOC and the PDEA can provide closure to the issue,” said Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the panel’s chairman.

Lapeña had been at odds with PDEA chief Aaron Aquino over the alleged smuggled shabu, denying at first that it existed. He later changed his tune, after evidence was presented at a Senate hearing on the smuggled drugs.

Barbers, meanwhile, said former Customs intelligence officer 1 Jimmy Guban who pointed to dismissed Police Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto as the person behind the entry of the drug shipment should tell the whole truth.

He said Guban, who had 56 foreign trips since 2006 despite his meager earnings as Intel Officer 1, admitted his close ties with his classmate and former PDEA Deputy Director Ismael Fajardo.

“Mr. Guban’s testimony raised more doubts and questions on the particular shipment of the four magnetic lifters found in GMA, Cavite. We know now that Mr. Guban was responsible for hiring SMYD Trading as consignee for the shipment. We also know that Mr. Guban met several times with Supt.

Acierto and PDEA Dep. Dir. [Ismael] Fajardo to discuss the shipment,” Barbers said.

“From this information, we can surmise that this shipment was special. However, despite our hunches, we are confronted with the BOC’s report that the four magnetic lifters contained no contraband, be it drugs or another illegal item,” Barbers added. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

daughter of convicted drug trader Yu Yuk Lai. On his Facebook page, Tulfo accused Mangaoang of having close ties with a former police official linked to the illegal drug trade.

He said Mangaoang ws facilitating the entry of illegal drugs supposedly smuggled into the country by the retired police official’s friends.

But in an interview with radio dzBB, Mangaoang denied Tulfo’s allegations and said he held a grudge against her for suing a certain Lee Peng Wee for drug smuggling.

Lee, Mangaoang said, was Tulfo’s benefactor and had bought him a condominium unit and spent for his children’s schooling.

In an interview on radio dzBB, Aquino said

he welcomed Guerrero’s appointment, saying he knew him from long before.

“He is not new to us,” he said, adding PDEA and BOC will have a better working relationship.

Aquino also expressed his disappointment over Uy’s acquittal.

“It saddens us. The judge ruled there was lack of probable cause and questioned the issuance of the search warrant, and that we did something irregular,” Aquino said in a separate interview with radio dzMM. “That pains us when the judge said we planted [the evidence],” he said.

On Nov. 6, 2017, PDEA agents raided Uy’s

home on General Solano Street, San Miguel in Manila, and seized at least two kilos of shabu worth P10 million.

Yu alleged one of the anti-narcotics operatives received a P500,000 bribe from her during the raid.

“PDEA strongly disagrees [with that]. We condemn the decision of the court,” Aquino said.

He said PDEA would challenge the decision of Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Daniel Villanueva.

“How can we plant shabu? Where would we get two kilos of shabu when we do not even have a gram of it?” he said.

bandits under sub-leader Alnijar Ekit and Aldi Alun and was continuing after sundown.

Heavy exchange of fire rang out between the terrorist and the government troops but the bandits were overwhelmed by the firepower unleashed by government forces, forcing the ASG members to withdraw and flee, according to the military.

The chase by soldiers sparked renewed skirmishes, the military added.

As the troops battled the bandits, soldiers found one dead body of a militant along with an M14 rifle with seven M14 magazines.

Besana said the firefight resulted in the death of six bandits on the basis of human intelligence accounts while the number of wounded terrorist has not been thus far determined.

He said three soldiers were killed while three others sustained minor injuries.

Twelve persons, apparently near the vicinity of the gunfight, were arrested and have since been subjected to proper identification.

Besana said government casualties were evacuated to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for treatment and post

mortem examination.

“We are sad to report that we lost three of our valiant marines,” said Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

“We ask for prayers from all peace-loving people of the country for their eternal repose and for the speedy recovery of the three others who were wounded during the encounter,” he added.

The ASG were held at bay and have laid low after the military launched massive operations against the terrorists in Mindanao.

packers, the tiny island was transformed by overdevelopment into a mass destination seeing some 2 million visitors per year.

Under the new regime, the beachfront is cleared of the masseuses, vendors, bonfires and even the builders of its famous photo-op sandcastles it was once crowded with.

Buildings were bulldozed and businesses pushed back to create a 30-meter buffer zone from the waterline.

Construction is everywhere with road repairs, hotels and resort renovations happening around the island.

All water sports save for swimming are also banned for the time being, while Boracay’s three casinos have been permanently shut down in line with Duterte’s wishes.

Boracay, which major tourist magazines consistently rate as among the world’s best beaches, measures a mere 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres).

Yet it was seeing up to 40,000 sun worship-

pers at peak times, with tourists spending $1 billion a year but also leaving mountains of garbage and an overflowing sewer system.

The new rules say 19,200 tourists will be allowed on the island at any one time, with the government aiming to enforce that by controlling the number of available hotel rooms.

Nearly 400 hotels and restaurants deemed to violate local environmental laws have already been ordered closed and airlines as well as ferries were told to restrict service to the area.

Drinking and smoking are banned and the huge multi-day beach parties dubbed “LaBoracay” that drew tens of thousands of tourists during the May 1 Labor Day weekend will be a thing of the past.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette RomuloPuyat said last week she hopes the new Boracay will be the start of a “culture of sustainable tourism” in the Philippines, adding other tourist destinations will be next.

‘Tokhang’...

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international criticism over the rising death toll. The word is a portmanteau of “katok” and “hangyo,” the Cebuano word to plead.

“Fake news” trailed behind at second place while “dengvaxia” placed third.

“Foodie” was the “online favorite” based on the vote on Friday afternoon.

This year’s conference was organized by the Filipinas Institute of Translation, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino and the UP Diliman Information Office.

The colorful terms that have spread through the internet are among the 11 final entries in consideration for Sawikaan 2018’s Word of the Year.

Language experts were allowed to defend their entries in a final joust before the vote on Friday at University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Among them were author and essayist Mark Angeles, who defended “tokhang,” and language researcher Roy Cagalingan who defended “troll” while wearing a mask.

The 2018 entries include Dengvaxia, DDS Dilawan, Fake news, Federalismo, Foodie, Quo warranto, Resibo, Tokhang, Train and Troll.

Wet...

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The typhoon is expected to hit Northern Luzon and Central Luzon to trigger rains in these two regions as well as in Metro Manila.

It is forecast to make landfall over Cagayan and Isabela two days before the All Saints Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2.

“The typhoon has weakened and will continue to weaken because of the northeast monsoon [hanging amihan]. The monsoon’s dry and cold air will suppress the typhoon,” Espareja told the Manila Standard.

Typhoon warning signals may be raised in Cagayan and Isabela on Monday.

Pagasa alerted Northern Luzon and Central Luzon to brace for moderate to heavy rains due to Rosita. Rio N. Araja

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Fox’s missionary visa downgraded; Nun should stay for only 59 days

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration has downgraded Australian missionary Patricia Fox’s visa status from missionary visa to temporary visitor, which allowing her to stay for only 59 days in the country.

The BI board of commissioners headed by BI commissioner Jaime Morente denied the 72-year-old nun’s appeal for an extension of her missionary visa, insisting that she violated immigration law by joining political protests.

BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said that Fox’s visa had to be downgraded after the bureau denied the extension of her missionary visa.

“Downgrading reverted her status to a temporary visitor, and she is given 59 days from the day her missionary visa expired, which was Sept. 5,” she said in a statement.

However, Fox is still appealing a BI-issued deportation order before the Department of Justice and the petition is currently pending before the office of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

“We have to wait for the decision of her appeal to the DOJ first,” Sandoval said.

The controversial nun have been working in the country as a missionary worker for almost 27 years and is accused of joining “political activities” prohibited among foreigners.

Ombudsman loses main witnesses in Vitangcol’s MRT extortion case THE two main witnesses to the extortion case against an Aquino administration’s Metro Rail Transit Line 3 official can no longer be presented by the Ombudsman to the Sandiganbayan.

Ombudsman prosecutors were supposed to present former Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar and Inekon chairman of the board of Husek Josef Husek through videoconferencing on Friday but they asked the court to postpone the trial to either December or January.

The Sandiganbayan earlier warned the Ombudsman that the Oct. 26 hearing is the last to be scheduled for the testimonies of Rychtar and Husek since their schedule has been moved several times.

The anti-graft court is hearing the case filed by the Ombudsman against former Metro Rail Transit Line 3 general manager Al Vitangcol III over the alleged extortion attempt on the Czec train supply and maintenance contractor Inekon.

In asking the court to reschedule of their appearance through teleconfeerencing in court, the Ombudsman said Rychtar is still completing his tour of duty as ambassador to Chile, while Husek cited legal impediments under Czech laws.

The Sandiganbayan denied the request of the prosecution, saying that it already granted its appeal to defer the testimonies of Rychtar and Husek twice and further deferments would only delay the proceedings.

The anti-graft court also noted that Rychtar and Husek seem to lack the commitment to testify against Vitangcol. Maricel V. Cruz

PCG’S NEW ARMS. President

Rodrigo Roa Duterte inspects the new arms procured by the Philippine Coast Guard during its 117th anniversary celebration at the Port Area in Manila on Oct. 25, 2018. Joining the President are Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and PCG Commandant Admiral Elson Hermogino.

Presidential Photo

Palace cites public trust in gov’t in latest survey T

By Nat Mariano

HE Palace on Friday hoped the results of the latest Social Weather Stations survey showing a majority of Filipinos believe the country is moving in the “right direction” would bolster public engagement towards the administration.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said they welcomed the survey result showing that three out of four adult Filipinos believe the country, under President Rodrigo Duterte, is in the right direction.

“We view this as a reflection of our people’s continued trust and confidence in the President and an affirmation that the policies and programs of the current administration are on the right track,” Panelo said in a statement Friday.

“We treat the results of this recent survey not as an accolade, but as an inspiration for our men and women in the government as they persist in carrying on with their roles in the service,” he added.

According to the SWS, more Filipinos

at 75 percent believe the country is in the right direction. This is five points higher than the 70 percent recorded in June this year.

Those who said it was going in the “wrong direction,” on the other hand, was at 22 percent, while the remaining three percent expressed ambivalence on the issue.

The “believers” rose in all areas of the country, led by those surveyed in Mindanao at 89 percent, followed by Balance Luzon (73 percent), Visayas (69 percent), and Metro Manila (65 percent).

The pollster also said the net satisfaction rating of Duterte and his administration was higher among those who believed the country is in the right

direction, and lower among those who believed the country is headed to the wrong direction.

Duterte registered a +72 “excellent” net satisfaction rating among those who say the country is in the right direction, while his administration registered a +66 “very good” net satisfaction rating.

In its statement, the Palace official underscored Duterte’s way of leadership as he has been reminding government officials to serve the people as public servants in several occasions.

“We hope this strong public appreciation would further engage our people in supporting this administration in building a nation where all Filipinos can experience comfortable and decent lives under a trustworthy government,” Panelo said.

“Together, let us work hand in hand to realize the President’s vision for the Philippines,” he added.

The survey, conducted from Sept. 15 to 23, used face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults nationwide.

It has a sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages, ±4 percent for Balance Luzon, and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Infected fowls from US now in PH, USDA exec says A FILIPINO veterinarian who works for the United States Department of Agriculture confirmed on Friday that fowls infected by Newcastle disease had been smuggled into the Philippines.

UNTV News reported that Dr. Brian Tan, a USDA accredited certifier, said that Northern California has been experiencing an outbreak of NCD in Southern California which has been affecting fowls since June this year.

“I think it started sometime in June or July this year and it was banned by the USDA, quarantined by USDA sometime in middle part of or early part of September. The quarantine area, chickens are not allowed to move in and out of that area but the people kept on doing that illegally,” Tan said.

The USDA official said that smugglers altered the shipments’ labels while

still in the US, changing the ‘Southern California’ original label into Northern California where there is no record of NCD outbreak.

“They ship out under the name of the northern California shipper. So it looks like from northern California not from the south but actually most of them are from the South,’’ Tan said.

He said that a certain Ted Cruz, reportedly an influential Customs broker, facilitates the entry of the diseased fowls from Southern California.

“Iyong Bureau of Animal Industry tumawag dito sa USDA. Iyong mga dokumento ipinadala. Sinabi ng USDA sa kanya (na) fake iyon. Kaya nagalit ang Bureau of Animal Industry.

Hinigpitan ngayon ang pangalawa kaya nilalakad ni Ted Cruz. Hindi umubra.

Wala na. Nandoon na. Iyong pangatlo pinigil niya na huwag na i-ship. Na-

withdraw. Kaya out of 78 grade, onethird is naipit, one-third na-release, onethird nandito pa. Malaking pera iyon,” Tan said.

Following the controversy, Tan urged the Philippine government be stricter when it comes to verifying import documents of products entering the country.

He also advised concerned government officials to check the authenticity of the documents or call or coordinate with USDA if necessary.

Tan, who has been working as an accredited veterinarian at the USDA for the past 30 years, also recommended that Customs officials identify and sanction Ted Cruz.

USDA’s counterpart in the country, the Department of Agriculture, already culled a total of 168 game fowls which were smuggled into the country discovered inside the compound of BAI.

SMC-operated tollways ready for ‘Undas’ THE SMC Tollways Group said on Friday that its tollroads—SLEX, Skyway, NAIAX, STAR and TPLEX—are all set for the expected surge of vehicles ahead of the long All Saints’ Day holiday as it rolls out Oplan Undas 2018 to ensure safe and convenient travel of motorists.

Additional traffic and security personnel and ambulant tellers will be deployed on the southbound direction of Skyway, NAIAX, SLEX and STAR Tollway, especially at identified areas and toll plazas where heavy traffic is expected from the afternoon of Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.

These include: Skyway C5 to Alabang Sucat interchange to Dr. Santos Avenue, NAIAX Main Toll Plaza A and B, SLEX Sta. Rosa to Calamba Toll Plaza A and B and Ayala Toll Plaza, STAR Tollway Sto. Tomas Entry, Lipa Exit, and Balagtas to roundabout.

As motorists are expected to return to Manila on Nov. 3-5, SMC Tollways will also deploy additional personnel in STAR Tollway Sto. Tomas Exit; SLEX

Ayala Toll Plaza, Calamba Entry and Filinvest-Alabang Exit; and Skyway Main On-ramp, Toll Plaza A and B to help ease the expected heavy traffic.

Oplan Undas will also include the setting up of ROADMAP stations at both northbound and southbound directions of the tollroads namely; Skyway-C5 SB, Merville SB and Sucat SB; SLEX’s Petron San Pedro SB and Petron km 44 NB; STAR Tollway’s Petron Malvar, Petron Lipa NB, Lapu-Lapu Lay-by NB and Petron San Jose NB; TPLEX’s Petron km 134 NB and SB. These stations will provide motorist assistance and travel information.

To further strengthen its traffic, safety and security management operations, SMC Tollways will also maintain close coordination with the Metro Manila Development Authority, Philippine National Police-National Capital Region Police Office, local police in the vicinities of the toll roads, Highway Patrol Group, Toll Regulatory Board, toll service facilities, and concerned local government units.

INCORRUPT HEART. The ‘incorrupt heart‘ relic of Saint Padre Pio who was venerated

by Filipinos during his stay in the country from Oct. 5 to 26 left for Pietrelcina, Italy on Friday on board Qatar Airways flight via Doha at the Naia Terminal 1. Hundreds of devotees who witnessed the sendoff at the Naia Gate 15 holding area lined up for hours to view and kiss the relic prior to its boarding at 6 pm. During its 20-day stay in the country, the relic was brought to the Manila Cathedral on Oct. 8-10; Cebu Cathedral Oct. 11-13; Davao Cathedral Oct.14-16; Lipa Cathedral Oct.17 and its last stop at the National Shrine of Saint Pio from Oct.18-26 where millions of devotees flocked to the National Shrine in Santo Tomas, Batangas before it was sent off to the airport on Friday. Eric Apolonio

Sandiganbayan okays Dimaporo bid to dismiss malversation rap

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan’s Second Division has allowed Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo’s plea to seek a quick acquittal in the graft and malversation cases filed against him in connection with the fertilizer fund scam in 2004.

In a resolution dated Oct. 17, the antigraft court granted Dimaporo’s motion to file a demurrer to evidence, a pleading that questions the prosecution evidence, after the Ombudsman finished the presentation of its evidence.

“After a careful review of the records of the case and the evidence of the prosecution, the court is inclined to grant the oral motion of accused Dimaporo in order to adequately provide the defense an opportunity to test the sufficiency of the evidence presented by the prosecution and to determine if the same is enough to warrant a conviction,” the anti-graft court said.

Should the court, however, find that Dimaporo’s demurrer to evidence is not meritorious, the lawmaker will no longer be allowed to submit evidence in his favor.

The court gave Dimaporo 10 days to file his demurrer to evidence.

Dimaporo was the governor of Lanao del Norte when the alleged crime was committed.

His co-accused, then Provincial Agriculturist Isabelo Luna VI and private individuals Felizardo Dragon, Evangeline Ontiveros, Rosalinda Bisenio and Elmer Sayre, were charged with malversation of public funds and graft for allegedly conspiring in the irregular use of P5 million from the Farm Input and Farm Implement Program of the Department of Agriculture for ghost fertilizer projects.

‘Diwata 2’ micro satellite launch slated Monday

A MICRO satellite developed by Filipino scientists with the help of experts from universities in Japan is set to be launched into space on Monday, Oct. 29.

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said he would go to Japan to personally witness the launch of the satellite dubbed as Diwata 2 The new micro satellite was the second to be launched after the country introduced Diwata 1 in May 2016.

The launch of Diwata 2 will be seen live simultaneously at the University of the Philippines.

The DOST chief said images from Diwata 2 will benefit government agencies, as the satellite can capture specifically those related to agriculture, natural resources, climate as well as navigational security, as it can also monitor illegal entry of shipping vessels into the country’s territory.

According to Dela Peña, the new micro satellite, is equipped with the latest technology that enables it to take images of the Philippines and across the globe as well as an amateur radio unit necessary for emergency or disaster response.

A4

Opinion

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Duterte’s best choice for Chief Justice

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

brilliance and political will he showed when he led the FVR administration’s effort to break the telecommunications monopoly of PLDT. In a commencement speech he delivered last year at the Ateneo School of Government, Justice Carpio reflected on that I SUPPORT the appointment of Sen- experience: ior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio “I remember clearly how it hapto head our judiciary. He is the best pened. One day the President called me choice for Chief Justice any president to his office and told me that the PLDT could have. He is President Duterte’s people were bad-mouthing me. Then best choice. the President asked me: “Where is that Justice Carpio should be appointed Executive Order on interconnection Chief Justice because of his experience, that you prepared. I will sign it now.” competence, wisdom, integrity and So, I rushed back to my office to send wisdom. He has shown these in many the President the Executive Order for cases and especially because of his his signature. And that is how we broke advocacy on the West Philippine Sea. the telecom monopoly. Soon, four new I say this without qualification—even telecom players entered the market, if I have disagreed with Justice Carpio and they were promptly interconnected on the citizenship rights of foundlings with PLDT. Some of these new telecom and on the rights of indigenous peo- players offered fixed landlines within ples. In my view respect for these fun- two weeks from application. Others ofdamental rights far outweigh any theofered on demand retical harm that mobile handsets might be caused for free in exto our nation by change for longthese vulnerable term subscripJustice Carpio and marginalized tions. The 15-year populations. Still, approaches his role waiting time to even with these get a landline was in government as a disagreements, I obliterated by the consider Justice problem solver. stroke of the PresCarpio a true paident’s pen.” triot, the strongJustice Carpio est defender of the emphasized the Constitution and lesson from that our national sovereignty at this time, a experience. According to him: “There legal giant, and a senior statesman. are critical bottlenecks in our economy Justice Carpio is a veteran of gov- that severely obstruct development. ernment, serving in both the executive Many of these bottlenecks can easily and judicial branches for more than 20 be removed by mere executive action if years. He served as Chief Presidential there is political will from the President.

Legal Counsel to President Fidel V. Ra- Yes, political will is absolutely needed mos (FVR) from 1992-1998 and I per- but unfortunately there is often a sonally knew him in that capacity as I scarcity of political will. The opening of was an environment undersecretary at the telecom industry in 1993 was timely the same time. because it prepared the economy for Familiar with both his legal and gov- the digital age—for the coming of the ernance work, I can affirm that Justice Internet, the call centers and the BPO Carpio approaches his role in govern- industry. The ease of access to land ment as a problem solver. Among oth- and mobile lines increased the velocity ers, he has been recognized for the Turn to A5

Lapeña’s luck

T

HE Bureau of Customs has never been an easy assignment. When Isidro Lapeña took on the job, people had been used to his predecessors’ failure not only to generate correct and much-needed revenue for the government, but to curb the corruption that had bedeviled the agency for decades.

It is intriguing, then, to see the Palace coming to the rescue of Lapeña in the latest controversy to hit the bureau. He is accused of “looking the other way” as an estimated P11 billion worth of shabu slipped under his watch and found its way to the streets.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo only had glowing words for the embattled former commissioner: “[He] managed it untainted and instituted sev-

eral reform initiatives resulting in a substantial increase in its revenue collection that even surpassed its given targets.”

Panelo added that the President continues to have, not trust and confidence, but complete trust and confidence, in Lapeña’s competence and integrity.

In fact Mr. Duterte trusted him so much that he has moved him to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority as its would-be directorgeneral—a promotion in rank, it turns out. Lapeña is now a member of the Cabinet.

But if Lapeña were doing so well at Customs, then why was he transferred to another agency?

Panelo added, in a radio interview, that Mr. Duterte wants to spare him from intrigue “because he has been extremely defamed.”

Who is Lapeña, really, and what makes him so special that he has to be protected from intrigue? Public service makes

everybody who chooses to embrace it fair game. Lapeña is a grown man who can pick his battles and fight them himself.

Then again, we cannot say we are surprised.

President Duterte once said he would remove officials with so much as a whiff of corruption about them. This pronouncement, however, has been mocked countless times by the Palace itself as controversial officials were merely transferred to other agencies where they would be less conspicuous.

With his reassignment, Lapeña’s troubles seem as though they would dissipate soon. He has the best weapon of all: The protection of the Palace that cares about his feelings and has nothing but contempt for his enemies who make his life difficult.

The rest of us, however, who are not as fortunate, must continue to deal with the failure of our leaders and our institutions, and who make our life difficult.

RH bill redux the CSOs that had been actively involved from the start to the enactment of the bill into law. The DSWP served as the secretariat of the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN, the leading RH network then) during some of the busiest and most conten(Part 1) tious years of the advocacy. As such, THE book “The RH Bill Story: Conten- my group served as the focal point tions and Compromises” by Dr. Marilen of activities and, therefore, has full Danguilan was recently launched. As knowledge of advocacy tactics and expected it became a reunion of sorts of strategies conducted within the period.

Moreover, the DSWP has always those who were involved in the morethan-a-decade-long relentless advocacy been in the RHAN Steering Committee, and a major group in the Purple for the passage of the bill.

Some authors of the bill were there, Ribbon for RH movement. Thus, the led by the father of the law himself, organization has consistently been in Rep. Edcel Lagman. Also present was the thick of things in relation with the former Health Secretary Esperanza RH bill advocacy, and knows parts of Cabral, the head of the Commission on the RH bill herstory that are also good Population Dr. Jeepy Perez, and a host to share with others.

The story is of leaders and long and commembers of proplex, and involved RH civil society many players. organizations.

Thus, it is hard for The book sucThe success of the one book to tell cessfully chroniall the exciting cles the protract- RH bill advocacy can stuff. I would like ed, complex, and also be claimed by the to add to the story difficult advocacy from the point of that significantly thousands of ordinary view of my organhelped in the pas- women who actively ization and as we sage of the RH took part in it. experienced the bill into law. It advocacy. captures the many It is a fact that years of negotiamany other ortions and coordiganizations outnation between and among stakeholders, particularly the authors of the bill side of Metro Manila were involved and the advocates. It also shows most in this struggle, particularly commuof the “pressure tactics” employed nity women’s organizations. It is not by both the anti-RH groups led by an overstatement when I say that they anti-choice legislators and the Roman played an important role in the success Catholic Church hierarchy, and the of the RH Bill advocacy because they pro-RH composed of the bill’s authors, made it a NATIONAL advocacy, and CSOs, and some government officials deserve to also be recognized. These from the Executive Department. The groups’ participation proved that supbook, undoubtedly, can serve as a rich port for the bill was truly nationwide.

As a national women’s agenda, there resource by future advocates and for were many activities conducted in difother advocacies.

In writing this piece, I wish to high- ferent parts of the country.

In the beginning of the advocacy, light some matters that I think are important, but missing in the book. My as part of the education campaign on organization, the Democratic Socialist the bill, a series of RH Bill forums Women of the Philippines, was one of Turn to A5

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

How World War I shaped the 20th century and beyond

By Pierre Glachant AS THE guns fell silent in 1918, World War I victors all agreed on one thing: Germany must pay.

How much was a matter of debate but there was never any doubt that the post-war settlement enshrined in the Treaty of Versailles was going to be punitive.

Germany did pay, but it was not alone.

A century on, the world lives with the consequences of a peace accord that, even at the time, was criticized as making another war inevitable in Europe, a continent which had dominated the

world for centuries.

Economist J.M. Keynes, then a British Treasury official, resigned rather than be associated with a treaty he denounced as “Carthaginian” in its harshness. French Marshal Ferdinand Foch judged it “not so much a peace as a 20year armistice.”

The “war to end all wars” turned out to be the opposite. By ensuring Germany’s economic ruin and political humiliation, the post-war settlement provided fertile ground for the rise of Nazism and its horrors.

Beyond Germany, the slew of peace treaties redrew the map of Europe,

carving up vanquished empires and creating as many future conflicts as new countries and borders from the Baltic States to Turkey, via Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.

Famine, terror and the Cold War Just as important, the war served as an incubator for the 1917 Russian Revolution.

Against a backdrop of desperate food shortages, military failure left the Tsarist state crippled and vulnerable to an assault by Lenin’s Bolsheviks, who then established the Soviet Union as an authoritarian Communist state.

Turn to A5

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Opinion

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018

A5

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On a collision course

Beyond the amnesty

by being chosen as Duterte’s running mate, and eventually, being appointed as Foreign Affairs secretary after he lost in the polls.

While Alan can still emerge victor in his tiff with Serafica, the question now is, without the support of PDP-Laban, can he still corner the Speakership post in the 18th Congress? Cayetano’s NP is only one of the minority parties in the Lower House.

His quest for the House’s top post is further hampered by the fact that most of the President’s allies in Congress have reportedly been reporting back to their old political party—Lakas.

himself for knowingly allowing one to run for an elected public office while facing serious charges of mutiny and/ or launching an attempted coup d etat against the Arroyo administration.

Many will be dragged into the case.

LEGAL circles are abuzz on what to As columnist Ricardo Saludo put it, do, with many speculating that the officials of the B.S. Aquino admindecision by the RTC Judge Andres istration can be held accountable for Soriano of Makati Branch 148 up- gross negligence and for serious case holding the validity of the amnesty of graft and corruption for failing to despite it having disappeared from do their duty of examining the qualithe custody of the Armed Forces, is fications of the candidates, whether legal. The presumption that then Lt. or not they are qualified for the ofSG Antonio Trillanes IV was granted fice.

The case of Trillanes and his cabal amnesty should favor the grantee. In the absence of amnesty papers, legal of renegade soldiers cannot be deprocedures should be construed in scribed as isolated because they were favor of the accused and his cohorts on the media limelight for some time. who were all accused of staging a mu- The commissioners of the Commistiny and for their brief occupation the sion on Elections can be charged for Oakwood Building and Manila Pen- negligence, just as the President of insula Hotel. The case should ipso the previous administration can be held for culpable violation of the confacto be dismissed.

In the cases filed against Trillanes stitution and for graft and corruption for attempted coup d’ etat before RTC because the issuance and processing Judge Elmo Alameda, Makati Branch of amnesty papers directly falls on 150, appears to be a last-ditch attempt his table.

But if he did not, as argued by the to salvage the case from inevitable dismissal. The case would equally not Secretary of Justice Menardo Guehold water much that the presumption varra, that could spell a trouble for of the validity of the amnesty refers to B.S. Aquino because the loquacious the case for which he was granted am- senator is insisting that he was given an amnesty, nesty. Even if said which reason why document appears he was allowed to to be missing, the run for senator. presumption that Holy cow, he was it exists should be Somebody should even allowed to interpreted in fa- have advised President run for the posivor of the grantee. tion of vice presiSad as it is to say, Duterte not to issue dent! For Noynoy the dismissal was Proclamation No. to say he never an awaited event.

572 declaring void granted amnesty Be that is it to Trillanes is may, somebody the amnesty given to sign his own should have ad- to Senator Antonio death warrant. vised President Without the Duterte not to is- Trillanes by his lackluster amnesty, there sue Proclamation predecessor. would be a chain No. 572 declaring of serious violavoid the amnesty tions beginning given to Senator with the fact of Antonio Trillanes by his lackluster predecessor. At its being allowed to run, receiving salary face value, the proclamation was void and his shares of the corrupted pork ab initio for the reason that the basis barrel, and even daydreaming to beupon which it was issued does not ex- come the vice president, funded and ist. When Solicitor General Jose Cal- brokered by the party in power even if ida and Secretary of Justice Menardo the purpose is to divide the expected Guevarra initiated their case against landslide votes of Bongbong Marcos.

This now logically explains why Trillanes on the bases of Proclamation No. 572 declaring void the al- Judge Soriano will never buy the leged amnesty given to Trillanes by argument that the amnesty given to his benefactor, President Noynoy Trillanes never existed. Even if one Aquino, both were acting on the pre- sets aside his political prejudice that sumption that an amnesty in favor of Soriano is an appointee of B.S Aquino, that is rather beside the point for Trillanes exists.

Simple logic and common sense even he is not, it will not spare him dictates that one cannot declare void the blame of rendering a wrong decior illegal an amnesty or law on the sion that would inferentially absolve basis of infirmity if it does not exist. Trillanes, not based on facts but based The word verification upon which on the presumption that there was no all complaints should comply cannot amnesty given him.

Only from there can one proceed be truthfully stated if what is being verified is nonexistent. It becomes a to examine the infirmities in the amcase of one presumption after another, nesty to warrant the issuance of Procand no case can prosper on the basis lamation 572. The issue then would of presumption. To be impartial in our be shifted to the legality of the procanalysis of the bungled case against lamation. It would now be up to the this rather loquacious renegade opposition led by Trillanes and his soldier, the decision of Judge Soriano grandstanding Liberal Party to quesfavoring the validity of the amnesty tion the validity and legality of the based on the video clips and the proclamation. In the meantime, he testimony of his co-accused-turned- cannot seek to enjoin the court from clappers was, in all honesty, also not issuing an arrest order while the validity of his amnesty is being debased on presumption.

I am saying this because the judge termined.

Neither can the government prohimself never saw the amnesty document but our legal procedures and ceed to separately hear the charges practice, doubts always favor the in- filed against Trillanes and his group nocence of the accused. The duty of for their brief occupation of Oakwood the judge is to decide according to the before Judge Elmo Alameda. The facts alleged and proved or in Latin, two cases are interconnected, not to ”judicis est judicare secondum alle- mention that the charges arose from almost one and the same incident. gata et probata.”

One reason why the judge could Paradoxically, if the case filed before not give in to the petition filed by Judge Alameda is given due course, Solicitor General Jose Calida is the effectively that will overturn the delikely possibility it could create cision rendered by Judge Soriano to precedents that could overturn all the effect that the amnesty given to established judicial decisions. A Trillanes existed was ipso facto insecond look at the missing amnesty valid. This will not only result in the paper allegedly extended to Trillanes government being embarrassed but

by B.S Aquino would surely not favor could give the opposition the opporthe administration. To prosecute tunity to make a hero out of this lohim based on the presumption that quacious senator. the amnesty given him was invalid rpkapunan@gmail.com is to revert back the issue to Aquino

IT SEEMS that two of the President’s staunchest allies are headed for a collision course. This was after the PDP-Laban, the political party which served as President Rodrigo Duterte’s vehicle for his presidential run, fielded candidates in Taguig to oppose Duterte’s running mate, former Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and his brother Lino’s respective bids.

According to reports, Cayetano, who is running under the banner of the Nacionalista Party, was disappointed with the leadership of PDP-Laban upon learning that the ruling party has endorsed Allan Cerafica as its official candidate for district of Taguig-Pateros in next year’s midterm elections, replacing his brother, Arnel, who is the lone district’s incumbent congressman.

Arnel will be slugging it out with Lino as PDP-Laban’s official candidate for the Taguig mayoralty post.

According to reports, Alan felt betrayed by the acts of PDP-Laban, with whose president, Senator Koko Pimentel he had maintained close relationship.

The two, together with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, embarked on a demolition job against former Vice President Jejomar Binay, frustrating the latter in his 2016 presidential bid.

Cayetano was of course rewarded

Duterte’s...

From A4

of business transactions and leveled the playing field.”

Justice Carpio was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Oct. 26, 2001. He is now the most senior member of the Court and has been in that eminent position for nearly a decade now.

As a constitutional law and international law professor myself, I have studied Carpio jurisprudence and his work on the South China Sea, and it is truly spectacular—brilliant, visionary, and committed to the highest aspirations of the constitution and people.

As I have written before, the appointment of a Chief Justice is one of the most important decisions a President can make. In 2012, I wrote that in making this historic decision, the President must avoid appointing a person for mainly political reasons. It would be a huge mistake if this appointment

RH...

From A4

was conducted by the DSWP. These happened in Metro Manila (participated in by community women from Quezon City, Manila, and Rizal); San Pablo City (attended by women leaders from Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon); Iloilo City (participated in by women leaders from Iloilo City, Iloilo Province, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, and Antique); Cagayan de Oro City (with participants from CDO, Misamis Oriental, Marawi City, and Bukidnon); and Davao City (participated by women from Davao City, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Agusan del Norte).

These activities helped lay the foundation for the sustained local community organizations’ support for the bill that manifested itself during the many years of advocacy.

Moreover, the Purple Ribbon for RH Movement, the bigger network of proRH groups and personalities convened by former Secretary Espie Cabral, was launched in various places The launching happened in Tondo, Manila; Payatas, Quezon City; San Pablo City; the fifth district of Pangasinan; Baguio City; and Iloilo City. All the launches were attended by hundreds of pro-RH advocates. The events in Manila, Quezon City, San Pablo City, and Iloilo City were coordinated and led by

How...

From A4

Disastrous agricultural policies resulted in more than three million people dying in the famine of the early 1930s, millions more under the Great Terror unleashed by Lenin’s successor, Joseph Stalin.

By the mid-1930s, conditions were in place for the post-World War II division of Europe.

That in turn produced the Cold War and its associated splitting of the rest of the planet into Western or Soviet spheres of influence, and an unstable global equilibrium that helped fuel

Without any strong party support to lean on, Alan’s only hope to get the Speakership then is for a presidential intercession, which political pundits say, won’t be coming.

It had happened before when former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez failed to get Duterte’s support to thwart off the ouster move against him. And that is considering that Alvarez was one of the President’s closest friends.

Alan should have known better than tinker with the idea of colliding with PDP-Laban. He should have instead

run for Taguig’s congressional district instead of his wife, Lani, thereby avoiding a confrontation with Koko’s party. *** Speaking of Koko, it seems lawyer Ferdie Topacio has a strong argument in his petition against the candidacy of the PDP-Laban top gun.

According to Topacio, Koko cannot use the case of Clavel Martinez and Benhur Salimbangon as that was a totally different case.

In the News and Nuances Forum at Nanka Restaurant in Quezon City, Topacio explained that in Salimbangon’s case, the HRET nullified his victory over Martinez, declaring the latter as the true winner, thereby serving the congressional term of the Fourth District of Cebu in the 14th Congress.

Salimbangon, according to Topacio, was allowed to run for three consecutive terms from 2010 up to the present, not because his term was interrupted, but because he was never considered a member of Congress prior to 2010.

In Pimentel’s case, he was declared winner in the 2007 senatorial elections after Senator Migz Zubiri, the 12thranked senator then, quit amidst Koko’s protest. Thus the senator cannot claim he can still run in the 2019 polls as his term was never interrupted.

What a way to go down. Losing the Senate presidency, and now, probably his chance to return to the Senate.

Ironically, while he is in collision course with his former partner, they might both be bound to suffer the same fate.

will be made for reasons other than national interest. At the same time, it is very clear to me, that politically, a Carpio appointment as Chief Justice would work very well for President Duterte.

Among others, such a move would be universally praised. As I wrote last Tuesday, even the International Criminal Court would take notice and will probably take such an appointment into account in its determination of complementarity—whether the Philippines has the domestic accountability mechanisms to address crimes against humanity that might have been committed here. Appointing Justice Carpio Chief Justice is a very loud signal that the Philippines has an independent judiciary and it can be trusted to hold people accountable.

The next chief justice must have integrity, exceptional intellectual capacity, imagination, independence, and political skills to lead the high court in a time of many challenges. He or she must be able to stand up to those who would block progress towards a transformed judiciary that would support

governance reforms, uphold the rule of law and be a bastion for social justice.

In my view, the obvious choice is no other than Justice Carpio. Aside from the imperative of restoring the seniority tradition, which I argued in favor of in my previous column, Justice Carpio’s record as public official and Supreme Court justice is there for us to examine and evaluate.

Justice Carpio’s decisions, whether in majority or dissent, are always solid, scholarly, and oriented to good outcomes for the country. He is usually on the right side of environmental, social justice and public accountability cases. He knows the court and the judiciary inside and out, and will be able to outmaneuver opponents to reform while winning to his side the many still on the fence.

As Justice Marvic Leonen observed in a Rappler interview, the Supreme Court only got better whenever Justice Carpio became Acting Chief Justice.

A Chief Justice Antonio Carpio would be very good for President Duterte. A Chief Justice Carpio would be wonderful for the country.

the DSWP and most of those who attended were members of local chapters.

The Pangasinan launch was led by former Representative of Pangasinan’s Fifth District Kimi Cojuangco, a coauthor of the RH bill. It was a big fiesta.

We did a Purple Ribbon for RH motorcade, and RH Forums in at least three towns of the district. I am not joking when I say that thousands attended the activities in Pangasinan.

The Baguio launch was spearheaded by the Philippine Legislators Committee for Population and Development.

Beyond the big events, community women were moving on their own.

They held discussions and dialogues with their district representatives. Using the political mapping of members of the House of Representatives done

by PLCPD, (this is a document that contains how each of the representatives stand on the bill), the DSWP sought the assistance of its local chapters in convincing their Representatives to support the RH bill which was then undergoing interpellation at the HOR. Community women leaders responded by visiting and holding dialogues with their Representatives. The women spoke of the RH situation in their communities, the problems they face, and explained their reasons for fully supporting the passage of the RH bill into law. They asked their reps to truly represent them when the bill is put to the vote.

These dialogues happened in Caloocan City, Quezon City, Quezon, Laguna, Bataan, Camarines Sur, Negros Occidental, Iloilo City, Iloilo Province, Bukidnon, and Cagayan de Oro City.

We also did a nationally coordinated Mothers’ Day celebrations. During the height of the congressional and public debates on the RH bill, the DSWP, Likhaan, and PLCPD led the initiative to do a nationally-coordinated Mothers’ Day celebrations highlighting the issue of maternal mortality which was the battlecry of RH advocates. The activity happened in Quezon City (led

by Likhaan), San Pablo City and Iloilo City (led by DSWP), Baguio City (led

by PLCPD), and Davao City.

Each of the events was attended by hundreds of women and other pro-RH allies. They all involved marches where participants carried pictures actual of women who died due to childbirthrelated complications. The events were highlighted by stories of these women and candle lighting of giant numbers representing the total number of women dying due to maternal complications on a yearly basis.

No doubt, the success of the RH bill advocacy can also be claimed by the thousands of ordinary women who actively took part in it.

More next week.

countless conflicts across the developing world.

While the political prestige of the main victors Britain and France was at a height in 1919, it did not hide the blossoming on the international stage of the United States, which would become the main economic, military and political power in the Western camp in the following decades.

Middle East overhaul World War I also left a lasting mark on the Middle East. By encouraging an Arab revolt, Britain helped precipitate the collapse of the Germany-allied Ottoman empire.

A secular Turkey emerged and Brit-

ain and France assumed post-war control of much of the Arab world.

By then Britain had also made clear, through the 1917 Balfour Declaration, its support for the principle of a Jewish state on land it had pledged to the Arabs.

Finally, the Ottoman empire’s collapse also resulted in the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians in what they steadfastly argue was a full-blown genocide.

A new social order Events in Russia cast a long shadow over the rest of Europe, generating a fear of upheaval that helped accelerate reforms while also inspiring other revolutionaries, including the nascent fascist movement that was soon to seize power

What a way to go down.

@bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

in Italy.

Worker uprisings in Germany and Hungary immediately after the war were crushed or collapsed internally.

But waves of militancy in other countries—in the Fiat factories of Turin, Italy or the shipyards of Scotland’s Red Clydeside—delivered major advances in terms of working conditions and the rights of trade unions to represent their members.

More broadly the aftermath of World War I was a period of rapid social progress in much of the industrialized world. This was most notable in terms of women’s right to vote, which, in the popular memory, is often seen as having

been “earned” through female participation in war-related activities.

Less obvious positive legacies of a war which left millions maimed or traumatized were greater social acceptance of the disabled and the destigmatization of mental illness.

The war also spurred new waves of creativity in the arts.

Poetry was revived as an art form across the world; Dadaism, the avantgarde art movement, was born and led in turn to Surrealism.

Jazz, brought to Europe by American soldiers, became the soundtrack for the escapism and innovation of the “roaring ‘20s.” AFP

News

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DOH: Regular self-breast examination important

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SUPPORTING VOICE. Members of the Environment Activists rally in front of the Department of Justice Friday to pressure the DOJ to have Sherwin de Vera, a coordinator of the Ilocos Network for Environment, removed from its proscription list of names the department accused as affiliated with the CPP-NPA. Norman Cruz

Speaker boosts move to name ‘Cooperative Capital’ SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has acknowledged the importance of cooperatives in uplifting the lives of Filipinos.

In commemoration of Cooperative Month, Arroyo attended as guest of honor of the Gawad Galing Kooperatiba Awards 2018 in Malolos, Bulacan Wednesday to show support for the efforts to recognize Bulacan as the Cooperative Capital of the Philippines.

Arroyo lauded the strength of the cooperative industry in the province, noting that Bulacan has several cooperatives and that a significant number of Bulaceños are members.

Arroyo was elated by the fact that Bulaceños have managed to build about 800 cooperatives, where majority of the locals are members.

In light of the booming industry, Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan expressed hope the leadership of the House of Representatives will support his House Bill 8285 declaring Bulacan as the “Cooperative Capital of the Philippines.”

Sy-Alvarado was with Arroyo during the event.

The bill, which Arroyo noted had received the endorsement of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), states that Bulacan has the greatest number of registered cooperatives and immense amount of combined assets of cooperatives in the country based on the records of the CDA. In addition, it has remained in the top five of all success indicators since cooperatives started in the country.

“The Bulacan provincial government has always been an advocate of strengthening the viability and growth of the cooperative as a valuable partner in economic development and nation building,” Alvarado said in the bill’s explanatory note.

HB 8285 comes on the heels of measures that have sought to recognize cooperatives and advocating for their rights.

In 2003, Arroyo signed Presidential Proclamation 493 during her presidency, declaring October as “Cooperative Month.” Maricel V. Cruz

Gov’t is helpless on issue of political dynasty—GMA

By Maricel V. Cruz

S

PEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday admitted that only a law banning political dynasty would prevent the socalled “family affairs” governance in various elective posts.

Arroyo said the absence of a law on this rendered government helpless from preventing close family members from running for different positions.

“Until such time that there would be a law defining what political dynasty is, we would not be able to check the practice,” Arroyo told reporters in an ambush interview Friday during an inspection of a retaining wall project in Sasmuan, Pampanga.

“Well, like any political activity, there are things positive, and there are things

negative about the issue. Nothing is totally good or totally bad,” Arroyo added, replying to a question if political dynasty is good for the country.

Earlier, lawmakers said criticisms that the family of President Rodrigo Duterte had been building a political dynasty should be best left to the sound discretion of the electorate.

Representatives Manny Lopez of Manila and Alfredo Garbin of Ako-Bicol Party-list defended President Duterte’s family from criticisms of having too

Manila-Davao shipping route reopens Oct. 28

BONSAI DECOR. Personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, led by Director Deogracias Tapayan, check out Friday one of the 58 entries to the 1st BJMP National Bonsai Decor-Making Competition at the BJMP Headquarters in Quezon City. They were made by inmates from 17 BJMP regional offices using recyclable materials. Manny Palmero

PNP to formally launch Global PCR office in Europe TO INFORM more Filipinos abroad about the government’s security policies and programs, the Philippine National Police will formally launch its first Global Police Community Relations in Europe next month.

Some 300 officers and leaders of Tapang at Malasakit DDS Europe from 11 countries are expected to attend the event, dubbed ‘Global PCR Launching, Meet & Greet’ at 6 pm on Nov. 2 at COo COo Bar and Restaurant, 395 Cascina Gobba in Milan, Italy.

Former PNP and Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald dela Rosa and other

many members running for public office in next year’s midterm poll.

They said the issue of so-called political dynasty would not mattet as long as their leaders were responsive to the needs of their people.

Past and present Congresses were composed of family members serving in the same Congress like husband and wife, uncle and nephews, parent and offspring like former Senators Loi Estrada and Jinggoy Estrada, and siblings.

During the 15th Congress, former Deputy Speaker and Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia and son, former Cebu Rep. Pablo John Garcia, served at the same time.

Also members of the 17th Congress are husband and wife: Sultan Kudarat Rep. Horacio Suansing and Nueva Ecija Rep. Rep. Estrellita Suansing.

PNP officials, led by Global PCR head PCSupt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, will grace the event.

DDS Global president Gemma Sotto Sotto, AKO OFW headed by founding chairman Dok Chie Umandap, and national president Marcia Sadicon, have organized Europe’s Global PCR launching.

Dela Rosa will deliver a speech and will be interviewed one-on-one by Sotto, also head of Global PCR International, during the “Meet & Greet” portion of the launching. Sermonia will give updates on the government’s plans and programs.

Global PCR aims to create a platform

of support and cooperation between the government and various organizations of Filipino communities abroad.

It serves as venue to explain the plans and programs of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration to the overseas Filipino workers, while assuring them of government protection for their relatives in the Philippines.

A 24/7 Global PCR Portal using the Internet and social media can be used by the OFWs to communicate with their relatives back home through OFW desks that will be set up in every barangay of the country. PNA

THE Department of Transportation, together with the Philippine Ports Authority and the Maritime Industry Authority, will reopen the Manila-Davao shipping route on Sunday.

The revival of the maritime route will provide interconnectivity between Luzon to Mindanao, provide passengers more travel options and ensure affordable prices of goods and commodities with the accessibility of freight containers from Manila to Davao and vice versa.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said: “The Manila-Davao shipping route has not operated for a long time. It is only under the administration of President Duterte that this will be reopened.

“Currently, the easiest way to reach Davao from Manila is through flying and some of our people cannot afford that.

“We want Luzon to be interconnected with Mindanao to likewise increase economic activity.”

Shipping firm 2GO Group Inc. will launch the operations of its vessel, St. Michael the Archangel, which has a capacity of 1,000 passengers and can take 100 20foot equivalent units of containers on the day of the inauguration in Davao City.

President Rodrigo Duterte will lead the launch, along with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Tugade, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and CEO Vince Dizon, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Datu Abdul Khayr Dangcan Alonto, and Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Z. Duterte. They will be joined by other key officials of the government and the private sector. PNA

THE Department of Health has emphasized the importance of regular self-breast exam and the critical role of screening in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer among women.

In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month with this year’s theme, “United We Fight,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III noted that early detection of any changes in the breast and seeking immediate consultation would increase one’s chances of successful treatment.

“We urge women to regularly do self-breast examination and immediately visit the nearest health center should she (sic) notice any cause for concern,” said Duque.

He said health care professionals had the confidence to perform breast screening.

“For those who are already diagnosed with the disease, we encourage you to get treated at the DOH hospitals and receive holistic care through advocacy groups,” said Duque.

A breast self-examination is a method to detect any noticeable changes in one’s breast.

Based on the 2015 Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates, breast cancer is the most common (20,267 cases) and the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related deaths (7,384 cases) among the Filipinos, next to lung and liver cancer.

As part of the response to this public health concern, the DOH established the Breast Cancer Medicines Access Program in 2011 in seven access sites, namely: Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center; (2) East Avenue Medical Center; (3) Rizal Medical Center; (4) Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center; (5) Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital; and (7) Philippine General Hospital. From 2011 to 2017, more than 4,000 patients with breast cancer were given free cancer drugs under the program.

Groups call for passage of Cancer Act

IN TIME for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, cancer patient groups are urging the House of Representatives to finally pass the National Integrated Cancer Control Act before the session ends this December.

They are hoping the passage would serve as an early Christmas gift to millions of Filipino patients and families dealing with the growing burden of cancer treatment and care.

The National Integrated Cancer Control Act—which aims to make cancer treatment and care more equitable and affordable for all cancers, all ages, all stages across all genders—was recently approved by the Senate on second reading, under Senate Bill 1850.

“Now, we hope that the House would do the same, to prioritze this Act, as its passage is long overdue. More and more Filipino families are going deep into poverty because of this disease,” Paul Perez, spokesperson of the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines, said in a statement Friday.

For her part, Philippine Cancer Society executive director Dr. Rachael Rosario said, “Neoplasms or cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the country.

This is according to the latest data published by the Philippines Statistics Authority. So delays in the passage of the Cancer Control Act would risk more lives.

Patients are suffering all the more not only due to the effects of the disease, but also due to financial constraints. We cannot deprive them of treatments and the opportunity to live.

The Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives amended and approved last Sept. 26 a still unnumbered substitute consolidated bill, which is now being prepared for committee report that has reached almost 200 co-authors.

“We are grateful for this development, hoping that this would swift the passage of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act. But we are still calling on our congressmen and senators to pass this Act soon, before it’s too late for some of our countrymen who are enduring theburden of this disease,” added Perez.

Sports

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Blu Boys take bronze medal in Makassar tilt THE Philippine Blu Boys failed to sustain their charge and bowed to the New Zealand and Lakidende of Malaysia sides to settle for the bronze in the Makassar Open international men’s and women’s softball tournament in Makassar, Indonesia.

The Blu Boys bowed to the Kiwis the second time around, 1-3, and succumbed to the Malaysians, 0-9, to finish with a 7-3 slate. Lakidende, which lost to the Blu Boys, 0-1, in their first faceoff, also had a 7-3 slate but moved to the finals against the Kiwis, who lorded it over the field with a 9-1 card.

Despite failing to match their silver medal effort in this year’s 10th Asian Men’s Softball Championship, also in Indonesia, the Blu Boys still put up a strong performance in the week-long event, edging Bedford (Australia), 10-9, then bouncing abck from a 1-5 defeat to New Zealand with victories over Piccadilly (New Zealand), 3-0, Lakidende (Malaysia), 1-0, Pirates (Indonesia), 10-0, Bedford, 6-3, Pirates, 7-0, and Piccadily, 6-2.

“The team’s strong performance in the competition is a testament to how Filipinos can excel in softball. With the Blu Boys as their role models, I hope more young Filipinos will take up the sport,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, president of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL).

PSC’s Sports for Peace hailed PRESIDENTIAL Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza lauded the Philippine Sports Commission for its efforts in promoting unity with its ‘Sports for Peace’ programs during the 2018 Mindanao Media Safety and Security Summit at Eden Natures Park and Resort, Toril, Davao City.

In front of around almost 100 journalists from the region, PSC Chairman William Ramirez shared the agency’s initiatives in using sports as a vital tool for peace-making among children around the country.

“I commend the PSC and Chairman Butch Ramirez for its revolutionary movement in ‘Sports for Peace’ program, which helps us in the same purpose of fostering peace to all Filipinos,” said Dureza in his speech.

“We in the PSC continuously believe that the children are our future. This initiative goes back to 2009, when we first started it in Midsayap, Cotabato. And now, we have reached more than almost 20,000 children,” said Ramirez.

“If we can teach our children about the importance of peace through sports, the Philippines will be a better country” added Ramirez.

Mindanao Independent Press Club President and veteran journalist Editha Caduayan thanked Ramirez for sharing “a new and effective way of building peace and camaraderie among Filipinos regardless of age, gender and religious belief.”

Pasig mauls Basilan; San Juan routs Bacoor

James Ryan Lam snaps a long title quest with a big CAT Open triumph

Lam scores breakthrough win, dominates CAT Open T

ARLAC—James Ryan Lam started out with a flourish and ended a nine-year quest for a championship with a resounding four-stroke victory over American Josh Salah on a closing 68 to claim the CAT (Central Azucarera de Tarlac) Open crown at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Lam outduelled erstwhile co-leaders Jobim Carlos and Aussie Jack Sullivan with two birdies in the first five holes then fended off the charge of a slew of rivals that kept rushing at the back with clutch pars on Luisita’s tricky surface, turning what was expected to be a tight finish into a runaway triumph in the sixth leg of the second season of Philippine Golf Tour Asia put up by ICTSI. “I tried to take control of my game and avoid getting into trouble. That was my game plan and it paid off,” said Lam, who missed the cut in the first three legs of this year’s PGT Asia but worked on his game and turned in a fifth place finish at Forest Hills last July then placed sixth at Aboitiz last month.

He stood at joint 10th after an opening 70, gained a share of sixth with a 69 Wednesday, then joined Carlos and Sullivan at the helm with a brilliant 67 Thursday for a 72-hole total of 14-under 274 worth $17,500.

“At last I won. This is great and I couldn’t ask for more,” said the 30-yearold shotmaker, who toiled for nine years on the local circuit marked by four runnerup finishes, including one to American Nicolas Paez at PGT Del Monte last June.

He anchored his final round romp on exceptional putting, saving pars 10 times, including four straight from No. 14 that secured his long-cherished victory, and finishing with tournament-best 21 putts.

Salah hit a late eagle to fire a 70 and

Arthritis-hit Wozniacki gets support

BVR’s El Nido leg opens today A SLEW of provincial teams will have their opportunity to strut their wares against the country’s best sand court players in the Beach Volleyball Republic On Tour, which opens today (Saturday) at Lio Beach in El Nido, Palawan.

Talents from Lio, El Nido and Puerto Princesa from Palawan, Cebu from Visayas and DAF-ARMM of Davao from Mindanao are among the eight women’s and men’s pairs competing in the twoday spikefest in the one of the country’s finest beaches.

Action-packed beach volleyball will start via pool play at 8 a.m.

The women’s cast is led by Perlas 1’s Charo Soriano and Bea Tan, Perlas 2’s Dzi Gervacio and Roma Doromal, Air Force 1’s Mariel Legaspi and Mae Crisostomo, and Air Force 2’s Coyah Abanto and Jen Acain.

Soriano and Tan, who ruled the Puerto Galera leg last January, are reunited for the El Nido leg - the eighth for the year.

The crack men’s field includes former UAAP champion KR Guzman and Ian Yee, Air Force’s Philip Nunez and Mike Abria, Army’s Joshua Barrica and Randy Flores, Manila Unicorns’ Neil Flores and Justin Santos, and Wildcard’s Mikhail Shavrak and James Buytrago.

The quarterfinals, semifinals and Finals are set Sunday. Champions in the women’s and men’s divisions will receive P50,000.

snatch runner-up honors at 278 worth $11,500 while Jhonnel Ababa and Ira Alido rallied with a pair of 68s to tie Carlos, who wobbled with a 73, at third with 279. Each received $5,666.

“I struggled early and failed to gather my thoughts,” said Carlos, this year’s PGT Order of Merit winner, who bogeyed two of the first five holes and never recovered.

“But it was really meant for him.”

Salvador, who led in the first round of the $100,000 event sponsored by ICTSI with a 65, blew it all at the back with three bogeys, finishing with a 74 for joint sixth at 281 with last year’s champion Justin Quiban, who rallied with a 67, Charles Hong, who shot a 68, and Seung Jae Mae of the US, who carded a 70. Each took home $2,925.

American Tarik Can scored a second straight 70 for 10th at 282 while Clyde Mondilla, like Salvador, stumbled at the back with a 39 for a 74, slipping to 11th place at 283 with Thai Wisut Artjanawat (72), Keanu Jahns (72) and Michael Bibat (73).

BACOOR—Pasig unveiled its new, promising form late Thursday night as it walloped Basilan, 102-77, in the MPBL Datu Cup at the Strike Gymnasium here.

Owner of the league’s worst record, the Pirates made some key acquisitions during the 10-day trading period and selection of free agents. Their new players quickly made their presence felt to give the squad a refreshing look.

Mark Bautista and Francis Camacho, two new additions in the squad, led six players in double figures as they each tallied 12 markers to lead the charge for the rejuvenated Pirates, who only picked up their second win, but got some measure of confidence heading to their next games.

Mainstays Marlon Monte and Boyet Bautista each scored 11, Ed Doroteo, another newcomer, added 10 and ex-PBA champion Jerwin Gaco, also a prized recruit from free agency, also tallied 10 in a display of balance production for the Pirates.

In notching their latest win, Pasig was able to reach milestones in its franchise. By the end of the third period, the squad reached 83 points, which surpassed its previous high of 81, then ended up with 102.

The Pirates also dished out a total of 33 assists, also a franchise record, and the third best overall in the history of the two-season league put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

In the main game, San Juan frustrated a retooled Bacoor side, 74-63, and kept its billing as the title favorite in the tournament.

The Caviteños, who packed the Strike Gymnasium, was mostly quiet when the Knights, supported by Go-For-Gold, made an early tear. The Randy Alcantaramentored squad held the Strikers to a league worst record of 0-of-18 shooting from the field in the first period.

Bacoor’s cold start was too much to bear and the team trailed by as many as 30 points, 70-40, before mounting a late rally and running out of time.

Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki hits a return against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina during their singles match at the WTA Finals tennis tournament in Singapore. AFP

SINGAPORE—World number three Caroline Wozniacki said she hopes to become an inspiration for fellow sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis as her shock diagnosis drew support and sympathy on Friday.

The 28-year-old Dane revealed she was suffering from the condition after crashing out of the WTA Finals against Elina Svitolina late on Thursday, ending her title defence.

The reigning Australian Open champion and former world number one has since received a flood of supportive messages and well wishes on social media.

Wozniacki was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease, which causes swelling of the joints and fatigue, before the US Open. She said she felt unwell after Wimbledon, before waking up during the Rogers Cup in August unable to lift her arms.

“I thought it was just the flu,” she told journalists in Singapore. “After the US Open, I just kind of had to figure out what really was going on.

“So that’s when I really figured it out. I went to see one of the best doctors there is and start treatment.

“In the beginning, it was a shock. You feel like you’re the fittest athlete out there... and all

of a sudden you have this to work with. It is what it is, and you just have to be positive.”

Wozniacki said the illness required daily management, and that there were some days when she struggles to get out of bed.

“It’s a lifetime thing. It’s not something that just goes away,” she said. “You learn how to just cope after matches.

“Some days you wake up and you can’t get out of bed and you just have to know that’s how it is, but other days you’re fine.”

Having wrapped up her season, which included a breakthrough Grand Slam title in Melbourne, Wozniacki said she would now learn more about rheumatoid arthritis and how to manage it.

“I caught it somewhat early, so that’s great,” she said. “You find a plan, figure out what to do, do your research, and thankfully there are great things now that you can do about it.”

Wozniacki hoped to become a role model for those with the condition. “I know there are a lot of people in the world that are fighting with this,” she said.

“Hopefully I can be someone they can look up to and say if I can do this, then they can too.

“And you just kind of have to get together and pull each other up.” AFP

LA Dodgers counting on home cooking in rally bid against Red Sox LOS ANGELES—Back to back defeats in Boston have chilled the Dodgers’s World Series hopes, but they’re hoping their big bats heat up under the California sun to get them back in baseball’s title chase.

Los Angeles arrived home for Friday’s game three in the best-of-seven series in an 0-2 hole.

“It’s going to be warmer and hopefully our bats will get hot too,” said Cody Bellinger, who was one of the Dodgers sluggers left out of the lineups for games one and two by manager Dave Roberts who opted to attack the Red Sox’s left-handed pitchers with right-handed hitters.

With the Red Sox sending right-hander Rick Porcello to the mound on Friday, Max Muncy, Bellinger and Joc Pederson will be back in the Dodgers’ starting lineup.

Muncy belted 35 regular-season home runs while Bellinger and Pederson had 25 apiece.

But the Dodgers, who give the ball to Walker Buehler, will still be up against it.

In World Series history, 43 of 54 teams

with a 2-0 lead have won the crown.

Overall in the playoffs, 13 teams have overcome 0-2 deficits in best-of-seven series, but only one, the 2004 Red Sox against the Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series, has erased an 0-3 deficit and won.

“It’s a game that we really need to win,” said Roberts, whose team will host game four on Saturday and, they hope, game five on Sunday.

The Red Sox won 108 regular-season games and their win in game two took their tally for the year to 117. That’s the fourth-most in history trailing only the 1998 Yankees (125), 2001 Mariners (120) and 1906 Cubs (118).

“This is why we play, so I guess good pressure,” Buehler said.

A strong outing by Boston starter David Price in game two was backed up by another dominant performance by the Red Sox relievers.

‘Get on the starter’ Roberts hopes that after repeated exposure his batters will fare better against the Boston bullpen, but a key will be get-

there and get a lead.”

In addition to strong pitching the Red Sox have shown an uncanny ability to score when down to their last out of an inning.

Thirty-six of Boston’s 68 post-season runs have been scored with two outs, they are batting .410 with runners in scoring position and two outs.

Buehler said he wouldn’t make major adjustments to try to combat that.

“I think it’s probably one of those stats that’s probably a little bit made out to be more than it is,” Buehler said.

“It’s the same game and it’s the same everything, there’s just two outs A fan selects Los Angeles Dodgers baseball and the guy is running a lot of times,” he said. caps from the store at Dodger Stadium in “It’s about limiting that and just trying Los Angeles, California. AFP to avoid the big hit with two outs I think is ting to Porcello. obvious.

“We’ve got to do our best to get on the “But you don’t want to give it up with no starter,” he said. “We expect Walker to go outs or one out, either. out there and pitch well and keep us in the “We’ve got to try to get 27 (outs) tomorgame, and offensively we’ve got to go out row, no matter what.” AFP

Sports

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

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets on October 25, 2018 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Pirates, Red Lions set 2nd straight title showdown

By Peter Atencio THE Lyceum Pirates and the San Beda Red Lions are back in the finals for the second straight season.

The Pirates took advantage of the absence of one of Letran’s main men at the start of the second half to launch a big assault that propelled them to a 109-85 win yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.

With Letran’s JP Calvo out most of the second half after injuring his ankle, Lyceum coasted to its second consecutive finals’ appearance in the 94th National Collegiate Association men’s basketball tournament.

Led by Mike Nzeusseu with 23 points and 17 rebounds, the Pirates went on to post the biggest winning margin this season at 24.

It was also the second biggest winning margin in the league’s Final Four history and after Letran won over the San Sebastian Stags by 33 points, 93-60, back in 2005.

“We just tried to make sure that we are prepared for whatever Letran gives us. We know that they’re really a great team. They’re a well-coached team. We have to find a way to make sure that we get them out of their comfort zone,” said Pirates’ coach Topex Robinson.

Meanwhile, the defending champion Red Lions, with Robert Bolick leading three other teammates in double figures, turned back the University of Perpetual Help Altas, 83-72, to forge another finals’ showdown with the Pirates.

Bolick banged in 23 points for the Red Lions, who are set to meet the Pirates in a best-of-three affair starting Nov. 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Javee Mocon shot 14, while Donald Tankoua and Ac Soberano added 13 and 12, respectively for the Red Lions.

In the junior division, the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers drew big plays from Marwin Dioniso in the endgame as they upset the defending champion La Salle Greenhills Greenies, 8178, to remain in contention for a Final Four berth.

“Sobrang tuwa ko sa mga bata. Hindi pa namin tinatalo ang LSGH. What a time para matalo namin sila,” said JRU coach Vic Lazaro.

The San Beda Red Cubs, behind Jade Talampas with 17 points, also remained in contention after they whipped the Mapua Red Robins, 84-71.

Talampas made 10 points in the first period as he and teammate Zach Estacio quickly put the Red Cubs ahead, 26-15, at the endo the first period.

“Talampas had a great game in first period, and it resulted in good start for us,” said San Beda coach JB Sison.

Road Warriors boost bid for quarterfinals N

LEX banked on the endgame heroics of Aaron Fuller and JR Quinahan to turn back Alaska, 116-110, in overtime and resuscitate its bid for a seat in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo Friday night.

Fuller put up monster numbers of 42 points and 22 rebounds as the Road Warriors claimed their fifth win in 10 games to boost their campaign for a quarterfinal berth.

If they win their last game against Rain or Shine, they will advance to the quarters.

“We knew it was a must-win. We focused on defense and getting rebounds.

We knew it was not going to be easy but we came together as a team. We were able to close out. I’m glad we came through,” said Fuller.

The import tied the score at 99-99 with two seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime, before extending his inspired play in the extra period, where his key shots and Quinahan’s

allowed the Road Warriors to snap out of a three-game losing skid and stay in the hunt for the playoffs.

“Aaron Fuller just carried us on our shoulders tonight,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao.

The Aces suffered their third loss against seven wins, but they could still claim the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals with a victory over NorthPort in their last game.

Alaska could have secured the win in regulation, but Vic Manuel only managed a split from the line for a 99-97 count.

This paved the way for Fuller taking it strong to the hoop against two defenders, forcing the tie at 99-all.

With the Aces not having a timeout

left, Chris Exciminiano was forced to take the final shot, which he bricked.

Ably backing Fuller was Quinahan, who was most effective in the extra period where he scored 10 of his 15 points.

With Mike Harris hobbled by cramps, Jvee Casio picked up the cudgels in the extra period, hitting a triple that gave Alaska a 108-107 lead.

Harris went back into the ball game for defense, blocked Fuller’s first attempt but could not stop the NLEX import from scoring on the put-back.

Another opportunity to give Alaska a safer lead went Chris Banchero’s way but he failed to complete a three-point play as the Aces led by 110-109 with with only 55 seconds left.

Quinahan then gave the Road Warriors the go-ahead basket—a triple for a 112-110 NLEX lead, which the team preserved with several key stops.

Quinahan iced the game from the free throw line.

Chef JP Anglo: Surfing for inspiration BACOLOD boy and celebrity chef JP Anglo has been a surfer for six years now. More than a way of keeping fit, he says, it was in the waves that he finds balance and inspiration.

Surfing enthusiasts say the sport is the art of gliding over the waves using the body as a planning surface. Likewise, it is a sport of riding waves in an upright or prone position, where the surfer’s goal is to glide across the surface of the water using a surfboard until the wave breaks and loses energy.

It was Cris Par, a local surfing instructor from La Union, who taught Chef JP how to surf. As he gets deeper into the sport, he also works out to prepare his body for the next best surfing experience.

“I try to be fit, because of surfing.

Everything in my workout routine is related to surfing. It may look cool for a sport, but it’s hard. I am thankful for it made me grounded,” said Chef JP. In fact, in a stroke of luck, what was seemed to be a hobby led him to a hosting gig for a travel show in CNN Philippines that features his love of surfing and his passion for local culinaria.

Just as a surfer glides freely along the waves, he explains, ideas flow overwhelmingly and naturally as he concocts new dishes for commissioned projects or his thriving restaurant businesses. It was, indeed, surfing that fuels his creative juices.

In all of his surfing adventures in dif-

ferent places in the country, he makes sure he brings his celebrity status to good use by uplifting home cooked Filipino flavors and the story of the local people enjoying them.

Such is the reason Tanduay Distillers took an interest on his work and eventually made Chef JP its newest brand ambassador. “I love cooking with alcohol.

When I started surfing, I used Tanduay in the dishes I make. When we opened our restaurant Sarsa, we put Tanduay in our garlic rice or when we sautéed onions,” he said.

He even shares how in one of his trips to Siargao he prepared lugaw and sardinas with left over Tanduay rhum from a drinking session the night before. Together with friends and the local community where they stayed, they all shared the humble meal made special with Tanduay rhum.

“What makes Tanduay gather a strong following like me as a lifestyle influencer?

First, we’re both local. Affordable, pero malakas ang dating. Flavor is complex, but it hits the spot. My cooking is rooted in familiarity and comfort, and at the same time, satisfaction. Lastly, when we drink Tanduay, it’s always a happy feeling,” sums up Chef JP. Watch Chef JP creates specialty dishes that perfectly match Tanduay rhum in a new series of online videos posted on the Tanduay Rhum official Celebrity chef JP Anglo finds balance in surfing.

Facebook page.

Woods-Mickelson made-for-TV match offers $9M to winner Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods are interviewed by the Golf Channel in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

AFP

LOS ANGELES—The Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson $9 million made-for-TV match set for November 23 will carry a pay-perview price tag of $19.99.

Turner Sports announced the suggested retail price on Thursday, along with a start time of 3 pm Eastern Time (2000 GMT).

The golf icons are set to tee it up at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas on the Friday after the US Thanksgiving holiday.

The event at the exclusive course owned by MGM Resorts International, is not expected to be open to the public.

It has been billed as a “winner-take-all showdown” with the winner making $9 million.

Either player will be able to boost the pot

with side bets along the way and that money will go to charity.

A head to head meeting between the two Americans—whose sometimes frosty relationship has mellowed in recent years—has long been mooted. Between them they own 19 major titles and both ended five-year victory droughts with titles this year.

However, both also endured Ryder Cup disappointment in September, combining to go 0-6 as captain’s picks on the US team that lost to Europe in France.

Woods has not played competitively since then. Mickelson tied for 17th at the US PGA Tour’s Safeway Open a week after the Ryder Cup. AFP

James’ triple-double keys LA’s home win LOS ANGELES—LeBron James had a triple-double in his first home win at Staples Center as the Los Angeles Lakers came from behind to defeat the Denver Nuggets 128111 on Thursday.

James had 28 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds while leading the Lakers’ late rally against the previously unbeaten Nuggets.

“We got stops. They are one of the best offensive teams we have in this league and when you do that you are able to get out and run,” said James, who posted his 74th career tripledouble.

It was the Lakers’ second win in two days after struggling to an 0-3 start to the season.

Lance Stephenson finished with 12 points but more importantly he hit back-to-back three pointers in the fourth to spark a 15-2 run for Los Angeles.

“Make ‘em dance Lance. He was unbelievable coming off what he did last night,” said James. “We picked up where we left off and got this win.”

Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points and JaVale McGee added 21 in support of James’ triple-double—his first with his new team.

With Kobe Bryant watching from the stands for the first time since James’s arrival in Los Angeles, the former Cleveland Cavalier James brought the Staples Center crowd to their feet with a go-ahead dunk with 3:31 to play.

Nikola Jokic scored 24 points for the Nuggets, who were off to their best start since the 2009-10 season.

The Lakers won despite playing without suspended starters Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo. Ingram will miss one more game for his part in the Lakers’ melee with the Houston Rockets last weekend, while Rondo returns Saturday in San Antonio.

“We have gotten better through all of our games and we want to try to continue that against San Antonio on Saturday,” said James.

Elsewhere, Damian Lillard scored 41 points as the Portland Trail Blazers stayed ahead wire-towire en route to a 128-114 win over the Orlando Magic.

Lillard scored 34 of his points in the second half as the Trail Blazers put up a rock solid defence and outhustled the Magic on the offensive end.

CJ McCollum had 22 for the Trail Blazers and Jusuf Nurkic added 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Nikola Vucevic led Orlando with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Terrence Ross had 21 points off the bench and Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier had 17 apiece. AFP

Eagles sans Nietos play NU Bulldogs Games Today (Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. Ateneo vs NU 4 p.m. FEU vs La Salle

THE defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles are expected to miss the Nieto twins for a fourth straight game.

But their absence won’t be an excuse for the Blue Eagles when they clash with the National University Bulldogs at 2 p.m. today in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines at the Araneta Coliseum.

They are expected to stretch their winning run after upending the University of the East Red Warriors, 9070, last Saturday for their eighth win of the season.

The Blue Eagles now have an 8-2 win-loss record in the standings for the solo lead.

The Nieto twins, Matt and Mike are out because of dengue. As a result, the Eagles will keep on counting on Tyler Tio to take over.

Against UE, Tio came up with a career-high 16 points, which was an improvement of the 14 points he scored when Ateneo came away with a 92-71 win over University of the Philippines.

“Good thing we had a good cushion. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but we are generally happy with the win,” said Blue Eagles’ coach Sandy Arespacochaga.

Later, the La Salle Green Archers seek to bounce back from their 50-57 loss to the Adamson Falcons in their 4 p.m. match with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, The Falcons are now in second at 7-2, while the Green Archers are in third (5-4), followed by FEU (5-5).

IN BRIEF MAP confers award to Fernando Zobel

THE Management Association of the Philippines announced Friday the selection of Ayala Corp. president and chief operating officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala as the recipient of the “MAP Management Man of the Year 2018” award.

The “MAP Management Man of the Year” is a prestigious award that the group bestows on individuals in the business community or government for attaining unquestioned distinction in the practice of management and for contributing to the country’s progress.

The conferment of the award follows a thorough, stringent selection process.

The distinction of “MAP Management Man of the Year” has only been conferred 42 times in the five-decade history of the award.

Among Zobel’s distinct contributions to the business community was helping steer the Ayala Group to being consistently ranked by the global investor community as among the best in the Philippines for management excellence, corporate governance, sustainability and people management.

He was also cited for nurturing the strategic transformation of Ayala Land Inc. by improving the commercial and residential landscape of several areas all over the country.

Business NATION BUILDER AWARD.

American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc. executive director David Ebb Hinchcliffe (right) and Quantity Solutions Inc. president President Rynor Jamandre (left) confer the Nation Builder Award to Astoria Hotels & Resorts president Jeffrey Ng (third from left) and chief operating officer Vivian Ng. The award is based on countryside investment, local talent development, championing local engineering and job creation.

PAL, Bangkok Airways okay codeshare pact

PHILIPPINE Airlines signed a codeshare agreement with Bangkok Airways to expand convenient connections for passengers traveling between Manila and Thailand.

The agreement, which will take effect on October 28 this year, will enable PAL passengers flying to Bangkok from Manila to connect seamlessly on Bangkok Airways’ flights to Chiang Mai via Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

At the same time, Bangkok Airways’ passengers will be able to travel on Philippine Airlines’ flights between Bangkok and Manila.

Bangkok Airways is PAL’s 15th codeshare partner and its fifth in South East Asia.

“As PAL expands its presence across the globe, we aim to build new partnerships because by working together, we build new connections that will give our passengers more choices to enjoy exciting new travel experiences,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said. Darwin G. Amojelar

SCG increases sales revenue to P5b in Q3

SCG Philippines, manufacturer and distributor of world class building supplies, reported Friday sales revenue of P5 billion, or roughly $95 million, in the third quarter of 2018, up 46 percent year-onyear mainly from cement-building materials business.

SCG recorded revenue of P14.3 billion or $273 million from sales in the Philippines in the first nine months of 2018.

The Philippines showed growth in building materials industry due to ongoing infrastructure constructions fostered by the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program, which has been accelerating development of the country’s economy.

It said operating results in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2018 showed an increase in revenue in all business units due to improved overall market conditions, higher demand of cement and building materials from Thailand and foreign investment projects by public and private sectors.

Othel V. Campos

PXP Energy to acquire 49% stake in LNG hub P

By Alena Mae S. Flores

XP ENERGY Corp., a unit of Philex Mining Corp., will acquire up to a 49-percent interest in the planned liquefied natural gas project of Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. as part of the subscription agreement with Dennison Holdings Corp.

Phoenix and Dennison are companies owned by Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy. Phoenix has teamed up with China National Offshore Oil Corp. to put up the country’s first LNG hub.

PXP Energy disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange the parties signed the subscription agreement Friday, with Dennison buying 340 million common

shares of PXP Energy at P11.85 per share, or for a total of P4.03 billion.

“In addition, as a substantial consideration... Dennison shall cause its affiliate or related party, Phoenix, subject to its board approval and consent of CNOOC, to grant certain preferential rights to the company... to acquire up to 49 percent of the equity... of Phoenix Petroleum and/or its affiliates... ,” PXP Energy said.

Tanglawan Philippines LNG Inc., joint venture company of Phoenix and CNOOC, has submitted a technical and financial proposal to develop the country’s LNG hub. Tanglawan is supposed to be the first company to submit a proposal to the Department of Energy for an LNG project but it was asked to resubmit due to some documentary concerns related to their Securities and Exchange Commission submission.

Phoenix signed an agreement in June with CNOOC Gas and Power Group Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of CNOOC, China’s largest LNG importer and terminal operator, to study, plan and develop a LNG receiving terminal project in the

Philippines.

PXP Energy said the subscription price represents a discount of 20 percent to the 90-day volume weighted average price of the company’s shares.

It said the subscription price would be payable in two tranches and following the subscription to the shares, Dennison would be entitled to at least one seat in the board and nominate the vice chairman of the board.

PXP Energy also disclosed that it signed and executed a subscription agreement in relation to the company’s subscription to 260 million common shares of PXP Energy at P11.85 per share or an aggregate amount of P3.081 billion.

Philex Mining said it would fund the said subscription from a combination of proceeds from PXP Energy’s repayment of Philex Mining’s advances and cash.

Dennison will now have a total ownership interest of 14.78 percent in PXP while Philex will increase its stake to 25.91 percent.

PXP is an upstream oil and gas com-

MB toughens reporting rules on cyber incidents THE Monetary Board tightened the reporting rules on cyber-related incidents and operational disruptions covering Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinassupervised financial institutions.

Prompt reporting of these incidents

by BSFIs will allow the Bangko Sentral to have an enhanced visibility on the changing IT risk landscape and to proactively ensure their impact and resulting risks are minimized and contained to avert potential systemic risks to the financial system.

From 10 calendar days prescribed under existing regulations, BSFIs are now required to report major cyber-related incidents and disruptions of financial services and operations within two hours from discovery of the incident.

This is necessary in view of the speed of exploitation, proliferation of attack tools and actors, and potentially massive extent of damage from cyberrelated incidents. Having quick access to information on these incidents will enable the central bank to alert other banks, industry associations and other relevant stakeholders that may be affected by a specific attack.

After the initial notification, the affected BSFIs were also asked to submit a follow-up report within 24 hours from the incident containing information such as the manner and time of initial detection, impact of the incident and initial remedial response.

The Bangko Sentral will closely monitor the situation, coordinate with the concerned BSFI, and undertake appropriate supervisory actions, until full resolution of the incident. The bank regulators may swiftly issue appropriate advisories to prevent the recurrence of the incident and promote enterprise and industry-wide operational resilience. Darwin G. Amojelar

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018

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Holcim, Cemex post weak earnings

By Jenniffer B. Austria HOLCIM Philippines Inc. and Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. reported weak earnings in the third quarter of the year as higher sales were offset by increased cost.

Holcim Philippines said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it registered a third-quarter profit of P176.8 million, down nearly 100 percent from P337.4 million year-on-year.

Third-quarter sales rose eight percent to P8.51 billion from P8.26 billion a year ago even as heavy rains dampened demand.

The cost of sales in the third quarter, however, increased 10.5 percent to P7.32 billion from P6.62 billion in 2017.

“Our top line continued to grow positively in the third quarter thanks to our ongoing successful commercial initiatives. Results though were partly impacted by inclement weather tempering demand and pricing pressures. However, our financial performance continued to be affected by the steady rise in the costs of fuel, power and distribution as well as imported production inputs caused by the peso’s depreciation,” Holcim Philippines president and chief executive John Stull said.

“Amid these challenges, we remain focused on sustaining the improvements in plant productivity and lowering our costs to better support the strong construction activity nationwide and deliver profitable growth to our shareholders,” he added.

Holcim Philippines booked a net income of P1.74 billion in the nine-month period, down 24 percent on year.

Meanwhile, Cemex Philippines reported a consolidated net loss of P70 million during third quarter, a reversal from a P202-million net income in the same period in 2017.

Third-quarter sales, however, rose eight percent to P6 billion from P5.5 billion in 2017 as volume rose five percent.

“Higher input-cost inflation continues to be a challenge for the company. We are implementing several initiatives to improve our profitability and deliver value for our customers and shareholders,” Cemex Holdings president and chief executive Ignacio Mijares said. He noted that cement demand in the country remained strong.

Nissan upbeat on cooperation with Mitsubishi

By Othel V. Campos

CONSUNJI FAMILY MEDAL. The Consunji family (above) is conferred the Esprit du Chevalier (“Spirit of the Knight”) Medal by Chevalier College of New South Wales, Australia. The award aims to recognize those with a connection to the school and who have lived their life much like the knights of old—with a “sense of mission.” Owned by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Chevalier College likewise also the Consunjis for exhibiting the Chevalier qualities of courage, compassion, energy and effort.

Chevalier College Foundation Council chair Dick Simpson and Chevalier College principal Chris McDermott flew from Australia to personally present the citation and medal to the family matriarch, Fredesvinda Consunji (seated).

MPTC bares key appointments in major business units

By Darwin G. Amojelar METRO Pacific Tollways Corp. on Friday announced key appointments in major business units to “strengthen and integrate the increasingly complex business of constructing and managing expressways” in the Philippines and other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“We are simultaneously working on several multi-billion-peso projects in various locations, and even extended our investments to three neighboring Asean countries. While we face numerous challenges, we look forward to the future with a healthy dose of optimism,” MPTC president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco.

MPTC said J. Luigi L. Bautista was appointed president and general manager of NLEX Corp. that currently

oversees three concessions toward the northern part of Luzon-North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the NLEX Connector Road.

Also appointed was Roberto Bontia as president and general manager of MPT South Corp. and its two main expressway companies toward the south— Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. and MPCala Holdings Corp.

Bontia will lead the company that oversees the two southern concessions—CAVITEX and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway.

Raul Ignacio was named chief operating officer of NLEX. Bautista, who earlier headed the concession companies south of Manila for six years was credited by Franco for the business unit’s growth in revenue and pipeline projects – citing Bautista’s “strong leadership.” Bautista was with

NLEX for 15 years holding several senior executive positions.

His last post at the NLEX was as senior vice president of program management until he was assigned as president of Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. in January 2013.

Bontia, who replaces Bautista in the southern concession companies, held several senior management roles in the tollways group.

He handled the group wide operations and technology team in the business units and concurrently is president and CEO of Tollways Management Corp.

Ignacio currently heads NLEX Corp.’s Tollway Development and Engineering division and is responsible for establishing and aligning the group’s standards on project management. In his capacity as NLEX COO, Ignacio will cover the operations and technology functions.

NISSAN Philippines Inc. is looking forward to increased cooperation with Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. for better market visibility and backend support.

Nissan regional senior vice president for Asia and Oceana Yutaka Sanada said Mitaubishi’s support as an ally and a partner in the Philippines was critical in expanding the company’s presence across the country.

“We continue to study opportunities in terms of alliance with Mitsubishi because of its significant footprint in the Philippines. It is within this light that we also want to expand our alliance for all our fleets. We already extended supply chain, logistics domain and some manufacturing domain,” he said.

Sanada witnessed the unveiling of the the NIssan 370Z Nismo and Nissan Juke Nismo during the Philippine International Motoring Show held at the World Trade Center.

Both companies were observing the so-called benchmarking of good practice that will help optimize cost reduction for both companies.

“Because of this we are now having the confidence to do more. We are extending our activities for more wider value chain scope and in all the fields we are looking for,” Sanada said.

One particular cooperation between the two automotive firms is the recent creation of Nissan Training Center 3 and the groundbreaking of a warehouse in which Mitsubishi was cited as instrumental to the endeavors.

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Business

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rebounds; Ayala advances T HE stock market rebounded Friday on bargain-hunting, led by select blue chips and some speculative issues.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 97.49 points, or 1.4 percent, to 7,064.33 on a value turnover of nearly P5 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 99 to 80, with 56 issues unchanged.

SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. gained 4.1 percent to P895, while conglomerate Ayala Corp. climbed 3.4 percent to P920.

ISM Communications Corp. of businessman Dennis Uy advanced 7.5 percent to P3.45. Uy is transforming ISM into a holding company to be called Udenna Holdings Corp. through a share

swap deal.

ISM earlier said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board approved the change in the company’s corporate name to Udenna Holdings Corp. and an increase in the capital stock to P75 billion from P2.8 billion.

IRC Properties Inc., which plans to build a subway project in Makati, rose 7.1 percent to P2.85.

But the rest Asian markets fell Friday as trade tensions and geopolitical worries kept investors from tracking a rebound on Wall Street, with observers warning of further volatility to come.

The losses came at the end of a punishing week that witnessed steep losses across the board, with several indexes wiping out their year’s gains as the tech and energy sectors took a beating.

New York’s three main indexes provided some solace by posting healthy

gains thanks to some upbeat earnings but they are still down from last Friday’s close with a feeling the bottom has not been found yet.

But analysts said there is a concern that even US markets have succumbed to the hefty selling pressure, having managed to ride out much of the volatility this year thanks to the strengthening domestic economy.

Dealers there are now feeling the pinch from the China-US trade row and rising interest rates.

“Unlike the previous sell-off in 2018 that tended to hit a sector or two at a time, the breadth of the latest rout (is) much more pronounced as it is heavyweight champions of the US markets that are leading the way,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. “Indeed, this sell-off is entirely different as on top of the mountains of geo-

political risk, US interest rates are rising quickly and mercilessly squeezing financial conditions.”

He added that “everyone expects 2019 to be a real stinker”.

And Con Michalakis, chief investment officer at Statewide Super, told Bloomberg TV: “You’re going to see a lot more volatility. It’s going to be a feature of this environment.”

Hong Kong fell 1.1 percent while Tokyo ended 0.4 percent lower and Shanghai 0.2 percent.

Singapore dived 1.4 percent and Seoul shed 1.8 percent, Taipei eased 0.3 percent and Bangkok skidded 0.5 percent.

However, Wellington was marginally higher.

Energy firms failed to hold early gains, ending mixed and remaining under pressure as oil prices continue to retreat from their four-year highs seen at the start of the month. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59 6,000 81 601,110 2.33 6,000 116 655,860 1.33 3,000 28 43,700 15.78 5,100 11.32 456,200 3.9 116,000 1.57 45,000 825 130 0.445 1,070,000 64.5 926,410 0.92 200,000 11.1 20,000 40.7 30,000 188 40 28.5 1,200 139.6 819,540 65.8 24,960

354,000 48,655,253 14,420 75,904,036 3,990 1,223,700 80,538 5,181,010 448,670 68,180 107,250 474,350 60,030,457 180,040 222,000 1,229,810 7,540 33,690 114,287,818 1,644,055

295,000 -34,334,414 -12,509,099 3,990 -1,959,972 -38,216,793 2,220 -131,315 -1,890 -20,449,781 -517,744.50

32.45 17.86 0.9 1.26 0.209 2.06 13.02 35.3 16.22 36.2 1.57 10.68 14.7 8.84 6.95 7.12 1.5 16 63.65 24.5 6.18 10.86 1.6 260 50 4.8 24.8 11.3 17.28 347 6.1 1.62 4.07 8.19 4.5 9 0.95 10.4 48.2 5.35 4.79 2.18 2.84 1.5 10.52 82.1 5.19 0.125 0.89 128.2 1.47 2.5

INDUSTRIAL 32.5 466,800 18 382,200 0.94 3,982,000 1.26 112,000 0.21 1,050,000 2.1 6,342,000 13.2 376,900 36 301,600 16.22 1,500 37 1,800 1.57 90,000 10.84 1,222,800 14.7 14,700 9.02 4,059,100 7 122,500 7.5 50,200 1.5 4,000 16.12 441,100 64 96,540 24.5 2,600 6.45 2,200 10.9 3,095,300 1.67 209,000 270 698,210 50 600 4.81 68,000 25 925,400 11.6 22,000 17.58 8,425,700 360.4 217,620 6.1 1,300 1.67 113,000 4.07 23,000 8.2 740,900 4.69 46,000 9 187,000 0.95 449,000 10.7 46,700 48.35 297,300 5.35 394,300 4.79 10,000 2.18 43,000 2.84 9,000 1.55 79,000 10.64 137,300 85.5 2,328,100 5.2 70,300 0.125 110,000 0.93 537,000 130 2,776,200 1.5 6,759,000 2.54 12,983,000

15,210,215 6,896,464 3,687,940 142,960 220,530 13,294,190 4,975,050 10,852,455 24,330 66,130 142,940 13,217,214 217,054 36,572,336 852,772 374,048 6,000 7,099,366 6,183,872 63,700 13,733 33,858,768 337,510 186,689,192 30,000 327,270 23,242,070 251,512 148,747,098 77,850,008 7,930 191,620 93,660 6,074,832 207,710 1,683,000 431,000 498,996 14,432,900 2,146,239 47,900 95,550 25,580 119,070 1,462,848 195,578,963.50 365,563 13,750 503,680 364,090,903 10,201,390 33,227,280

-7,047,035.00 3,442,796.00 -154,410 37,010 2,651,620 -764,188 -100 2,749,934 3,635,126 -606,240 197,582 -3,349,602 -131,793 21,033,354 80,500 24,555,478 -192,930 -45,686 -19,270,506 46,292,196 -174,960 -1,440,043.00 18,040 96,000 -13,267,610 -1,064,432 -47,900 -1,322,476 -111,578,764.50 -3,604,892 7,500 831,660.00

0.475 46 11.76 0.86 6.2 26 1.23 1.24 920 7.1 12.1 7.23 788 5.95 49 5.72 0.54 4.44 14.98 0.61 4.8 0.038 1.2 2.34 166 895 1.4 301 279.6 0.237 0.216

0.445 45.1 11.42 0.78 6.2 25 1.19 1.22 890 6.75 11.94 7.23 760 5.95 46.7 5.72 0.51 4.3 14.48 0.55 4.72 0.037 1.15 2.25 157 867 1.38 301 277 0.221 0.216

HOLDING FIRMS 0.46 22,440,000 45.15 442,500 11.5 2,805,700 0.79 12,000 6.2 175,300 25.3 27,200 1.21 4,406,000 1.23 1,417,000 920 155,610 7.1 6,241,800 11.98 2,335,000 7.23 6,800 785 61,660 5.95 100 47.5 1,998,300 5.72 8,500 0.52 204,000 4.44 260,000 14.64 1,417,400 0.57 2,685,000 4.77 17,944,000 0.037 5,500,000 1.15 211,000 2.27 314,000 164.5 603,780 895 176,080 1.4 53,000 301 40 277 3,710 0.221 1,820,000 0.216 10,000

10,339,700 20,029,220 32,263,760 9,530 1,086,860 685,640 5,336,630 1,731,060 141,934,975 43,790,955 28,074,380 49,164 48,359,030 595 94,977,595 48,620 104,160 1,152,660 20,766,920 1,535,270 85,261,790 204,400 243,340 719,790 97,717,338 156,734,520 74,000 12,040 1,027,860 409,610 2,160

88,100 -10,980,190 -17,930,328 1,037,260 -95,930 205,420 5,077,730 -16,726,156 -8,915,630 24,301,935 13,320,560 110,760 -1,921,648 48,720 -52,774,870 46,472,123 55,143,285 -7,000 -922,220 -

7.01 0.77 11.28 1.95 0.65 38.85 2.5 4.4 5.35 0.415 0.91 0.89 0.221 0.385 7.87 19.4 0.52 1.44 1.06 2.97 4.42 0.57 0.415 0.41 3.34 30.05 20.95 1.94

6.9 0.75 11.28 1.94 0.62 38.3 2.38 4.32 5 0.4 0.91 0.88 0.215 0.375 7.8 19.3 0.52 1.41 1.05 2.44 4.27 0.55 0.415 0.4 3.16 29.05 20.05 1.91

381,241 443,990 13,536 184,450 443,240 247,253,585 1,308,760 613,430 276,229 1,435,550 7,280 114,800 439,920 30,100 2,756,885 37,905,068 100,360 4,800,990 699,700 241,001,610 37,880,730 21,058,960 12,450 108,300 3,602,460 35,255 17,543,505 172,190

7,050 -46,948,680 -398,930 65,061 105,300 -1,840,968 307,570 1,625,270 -3,150 16,778,750 4,171,420 -6,720 -772,160 1,857,865 141,550

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59 81 2.44 115.1 1.33 27.95 15.8 11.44 3.91 1.55 825 0.465 65.3 0.87 11.1 40.7 189 28.2 138 65.9

59 81.9 2.44 116.8 1.33 28.1 15.8 11.58 4.08 1.57 825 0.465 65.3 0.92 11.1 41.5 189 28.5 140.6 66

59 80.1 2.33 114.8 1.33 27.95 15.78 11.3 3.8 1.47 825 0.43 64.5 0.87 11.1 40.7 188 28 137.9 65.8

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CROWN ASIA DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VULCAN INDL

33 17.98 0.91 1.26 0.209 2.16 13.24 35.3 16.22 36.2 1.58 10.88 14.9 8.88 7 7.12 1.5 16 64.2 24.5 6.18 11.22 1.61 262 50 4.82 25.1 11.36 17.38 352 6.1 1.62 4.09 8.2 4.55 9 0.96 10.48 50.5 5.51 4.79 2.21 2.85 1.5 11.16 83 5.2 0.125 0.89 132.5 1.56 2.57

33 18.1 0.95 1.3 0.22 2.16 13.3 36.1 16.22 38 1.6 10.88 14.9 9.13 7 8.09 1.5 16.14 64.35 24.5 6.45 11.48 1.69 270 50 4.82 25.4 11.6 18 361 6.1 1.7 4.09 8.25 4.69 9 0.97 10.8 50.5 5.51 4.79 2.26 2.85 1.58 11.16 85.5 5.21 0.125 0.98 133.7 1.58 2.62

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

0.465 46 11.5 0.78 6.2 25.9 1.19 1.22 897 6.83 12.08 7.23 785 5.95 47.4 5.72 0.54 4.3 14.64 0.61 4.74 0.037 1.15 2.26 159.8 868 1.4 301 279.6 0.236 0.216

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL

7 0.77 11.28 1.95 0.64 38.3 2.45 4.4 5 0.41 0.91 0.89 0.215 0.385 7.8 19.4 0.52 1.42 1.06 2.68 4.3 0.56 0.415 0.4 3.18 30.05 20.5 1.92

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

3.19 34 1.14 6.65 0.72 5.12

3.19 34.5 1.14 6.8 0.72 5.29

3.18 33.9 1.12 6.22 0.72 5.01

3.18 34.5 1.14 6.5 0.72 5.29

2,000 4,611,800 672,000 1,637,200 15,000 8,796,500

6,370 158,442,490 760,770 10,642,475 10,800 45,537,737

3,190 3,535,235 -47,880.00 168,945 -13,984,732

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS 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

10.32 21.3 1.31 0.43 0.039 1.68 8.06 65.8 8 6.15 7.65 2.15 10 2,050 5.13 310 2.8 87.4 7.7 0.109 3.4 3.23 14 3.4 0.85 17.12 0.41 5.4 7.02 2.23 1.33 1.3 15 4.21 10.98 8.3 3.1 105.1 3.25 1,382 0.77 0.34 41.85 77.95 6.76 2.51 0.77 0.51 5.17 0.57 11.3

10.92 21.5 1.31 0.445 0.039 1.68 8.22 66.4 8 6.15 7.65 2.15 11 2,050 5.13 319 2.8 90.8 7.7 0.11 3.87 3.23 14.68 3.5 0.85 17.44 0.41 5.45 7.06 2.23 1.33 1.51 15 4.8 10.98 8.49 3.1 106 3.5 1,385 0.79 0.355 42 81 7.2 2.57 0.77 0.53 5.19 0.58 11.4

10.1 21.3 1.31 0.425 0.039 1.59 7.99 65.3 8 5.98 7.64 2.12 9.78 2,020 5.08 305.2 2.71 87.3 7.7 0.106 3.3 2.93 13.52 3.35 0.8 17.12 0.41 5.4 7.02 2.22 1.22 1.2 15 4.15 10.62 8.3 3.09 105 3.21 1,379 0.75 0.34 40.25 77.95 6.75 2.48 0.7 0.5 5.16 0.56 11.3

SERVICES 10.7 21.5 1.31 0.43 0.039 1.63 8.11 66.4 8 6.06 7.65 2.12 10.76 2,050 5.1 317 2.79 90 7.7 0.106 3.45 3.16 13.7 3.46 0.81 17.22 0.41 5.4 7.06 2.23 1.31 1.51 15 4.69 10.62 8.49 3.09 106 3.42 1,381 0.75 0.345 42 78 7.2 2.52 0.75 0.51 5.19 0.57 11.38

14,400 8,800 1,000 2,220,000 500,000 1,299,000 12,502,300 19,060 2,500 1,890,300 2,500 16,000 189,000 38,305 75,500 1,360 1,021,000 2,656,230 5,000 940,000 77,026,000 11,000 2,000 442,000 613,000 192,900 20,000 22,000 10,228,500 263,000 41,000 93,000 2,700 6,383,000 10,300 14,300 4,000 3,180 838,000 51,005 8,489,000 370,000 451,100 808,040 8,800 7,576,000 7,253,000 13,940,000 472,300 1,762,000 1,788,600

148,118 188,360 1,310 953,000 19,500 2,117,310 101,066,252 1,253,958.50 20,000 11,469,254 19,120 34,370 1,977,620 78,447,810 385,392 424,824 2,817,640 239,315,461 38,500 100,570 277,401,320 33,630 27,654 1,494,140 494,110 3,320,970 8,200 118,810 72,043,262 586,320 52,940 116,730 40,500 28,568,850 112,986 118,823 12,380 335,282 2,820,460 70,475,165 6,458,220 127,300 18,922,485 63,399,120 61,505 19,043,430 5,257,740 7,149,420 2,444,547 1,003,610 20,266,284

-3,900 -57,523,168 -61,771.50 -23,634 -15,300 16,066 27,318,530 108,150 -94,321,375 -17,178,850 14,000 -95,140 16,000 -400,466 1,620 -40,955,565.00 -8,910 -112,500 1,092,140 9,511 9,020 -185,865 -161,650 6,900.00 -6,852,855 7,711,565 1,008,850 87,890 -45,460 -1,558,985 57,000.00 -5,403,512

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

0.0022 1.73 15 1.3 1.91 7.29 1.81 0.212 0.109 0.109 0.0072 0.0068 1.3 2.6 1.01 0.58 0.98 0.013 0.012 4.2 3.6 17.68 27.2 0.0061

0.0023 1.82 15.9 1.3 1.92 7.37 1.84 0.222 0.111 0.112 0.0072 0.0068 1.3 2.64 1.06 0.61 0.98 0.013 0.012 4.24 3.71 18.24 28.1 0.0065

0.0022 1.7 14.98 1.3 1.88 7.28 1.8 0.209 0.109 0.109 0.0069 0.0068 1.3 2.59 0.99 0.58 0.93 0.012 0.012 4.17 3.53 17.28 26.6 0.006

MINING & OIL 0.0022 58,000,000 1.78 18,617,000 15 79,500 1.3 5,000 1.9 2,037,000 7.28 500 1.83 1,120,000 0.21 600,000 0.111 1,030,000 0.112 110,000 0.007 87,000,000 0.0068 154,000,000 1.3 8,000 2.64 588,000 1 59,000 0.61 46,000 0.93 1,675,000 0.013 23,000,000 0.012 1,500,000 4.17 34,000 3.53 7,669,000 18.1 8,019,900 26.6 407,700 0.0064 33,000,000

131,900 32,995,810 1,195,326 6,500 3,865,530 3,652 2,030,650 128,970 112,310 12,200 612,200 1,047,200 10,400 1,532,330 58,950 27,460 1,565,880 298,900 18,000 142,330 27,577,950 143,490,846 10,973,745 201,900

-2,158,710 18,900 -258,210 -72,860 -9,110 10,340 -6,000 -5,141,670 51,722 -7,726,880 60,000

AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

465 490 97 102.5 481 5.1 895.5 96 1.01 1,020 976 75.1 76.95 74 74.95 74 73.5

465 490 97 102.5 481 5.19 895.5 96.8 1.01 1,020 1,000 75.1 76.95 74.4 74.95 74 74.45

460 489 95 102.5 470 5.1 895.5 96 1.01 1,020 976 75.05 76.95 72.55 73.7 74 73.5

PREFERRED 465 1,070 489 4,000 95 32,540 102.5 250 470 230 5.19 9,000 895.5 10 96.8 1,790 1.01 240,000 1,020 5 1,000 1,130 75.05 1,200 76.95 20 74.4 15,900 74.5 33,530 74 13,600 74.45 4,100

492,850 1,959,000 3,105,212.50 25,625 108,780 46,170 8,955 171,992 242,400 5,100 1,128,710 90,086.50 1,539 1,172,650 2,482,183 1,006,400 301,825

4,810 46,170 28,800 -

LR WARRANT

2.37

2.4

2.3

WARRANTS 2.37 224,000

521,130

-

1,973,610 3,000 22,319,390

261,280 -4,223,420

2,114,305

-

111,900

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7 0.76 11.28 1.94 0.65 38.75 2.39 4.39 5.34 0.415 0.91 0.89 0.215 0.375 7.8 19.3 0.52 1.43 1.05 2.85 4.41 0.56 0.415 0.41 3.32 29.05 20.95 1.92

54,700 590,000 1,200 95,000 699,000 6,384,500 541,000 140,000 51,700 3,560,000 8,000 130,000 2,040,000 80,000 352,800 1,960,100 193,000 3,369,000 662,000 85,940,000 8,609,000 37,593,000 30,000 270,000 1,100,000 1,200 839,800 89,000

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

4.61 3 1.51

4.68 3 1.57

4.5 3 1.36

FIRST METRO ETF

105.3

106.3

105.3

USD DMPL A2

10

10

10

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

5,030,761

INDUSTRIAL

64,256,380

HOLDING FIRMS

73,864,030

PROPERTY

171,191,934

SERVICES

163,893,033

MINING & OIL

398,630,394

GRAND TOTAL

892,965,806

4.51 3 1.4

SME

433,000 1,000 15,639,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 105.8 20,010 10

DDS

11,190

VALUE 1,563.56 (up) 1.48 310,172,789.77 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,522.41 (up) 90.36 1,652,276,744.97 HOLDING FIRMS 6,957.87 (up) 146.04 802,309,280.06 PROPERTY 3,494.49 (up) 70.81 1,461.59 (up) 3.62 839,354,757.13 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,411.22 (down) 14.96 1,109,726,927.23 PSEI 7,064.33 (up) 97.49 228,070,730.19 All Shares Index 4,332.59 (up) 51.35 4,968,338,420.68 Gainers: 80; Losers: 99; Unchanged: 56; Total: 235

Belle says recurring net income rose to P2.94b BELLE Corp. of retail tycoon henry Sy Sr. registered a recurring net income of P2.94 billion in the first nine months of 2018, up 19 percent from P2.47 billion year-on-year.

Consolidated net income stood at P2.68 billion, just up 1 percent from P2.65 billion on year, due mainly to one-time gains recorded in 2017 from sales of non-core investments and properties.

Belle through unit Premium Leisure Corp. said earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) from its income share in the gaming operations of City of Dreams Manila increased 30 percent to P1.84 billion from P1.42 billion on year.

PLC has an operating agreement with the Philippine affiliate of Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd. that accords PLC a share of gaming revenues or earnings at City of Dreams Manila.

Belle also realized increased EBITDA from its real estate businesses of P1.79 billion in the first nine months of 2018, an 8-percent increase from approximately P1.66 billion a year ago.

The company derived a significant portion of the real estate-related EBITDA (P1.54 billion) from the lease of the land and buildings comprising City of Dreams Manila to Melco, with the balance coming from sales of real estate products and property management activities at its Tagaytay Highlands and Midlands residential and leisure complexes south of Metro Manila.

Belle is a developer of tourism and leisure destinations in the Philippines. Its principal asset is the City of Dreams Manila in Pagcor Entertainment City by Manila Bay, which is being leased on a long-term basis to Melco.

In addition to lease income, Belle has a share in revenues or earnings from City of Dreams Manila’s gaming operations through the operating agreement between PLC and Melco.

Belle also owns approximately one hectare of presently undeveloped land across from the City of Dreams Manila site.

Belle owns significant real estate assets and develops premium residential resort projects around Tagaytay City. Among its exclusive destinations are the club and golf facilities and residential communities of Tagaytay Highlands and Tagaytay Midlands, as well as a further 800 hectares intended for future development.

DoubleDragon acquires 5.2-ha.

Cebu property DOUBLEDRAGON Properties Corp. acquired a 5.2-hectare property in Danao, Cebu province that will serve as the company’s second logistics hub in Visayas.

DoubleDragon said in a disclosure to the stock exchange CentralHub-Cebu would have a capacity of 27,212 square meters of industrial warehouse space.

DoubleDragon so far has bought 15.3 hectares of prime industrial land in three sites with a total capacity of 81,219 sqm. of industrial warehouse leasable space.

The first two logistics hubs are located in Tarlac, a 6.2-hectare lot with 32,000 sqm of leasable industrial space, and in Iloilo, 3.9-hectare property with a capacity of 22,000 sqm. of leasable space once fully developed.

DoubleDragon, through its industrial leasing subsidiary, CentralHub Industrial Centers Inc., aims to become the leading provider of industrial warehouses in the Philippines.

The first eight logistics hubs are projected to have a total capacity of up to 400,000 sqm. of warehouse leasable space.

Each hub will contain modern standardized multi-use warehouses suited for commissaries, cold storage, light manufacturing and logistic distribution centers.

“We are very enthusiastic over the distinct potential of CentralHub industrial complexes. Just on the pilot phase in CentralHub-Tarlac, it is already achieving double digit yields which we expect will further strengthen as CentralHub scales up in number of warehouses,” said DoubleDragon chief investment officer Hannah Yulo.

Jenniffer B. Austria

World

B3

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Villagers in Malawi search river silt in new gold rush

IN BRIEF Sinead O’Connor now a Muslim

LONDON―Outspoken Irish singer Sinead O’Connor has announced she has converted to Islam and changed her name to Shuhada.

Having adopted the name Magda Davitt last year, the 51-year-old is now called Shuhada Davitt.

She also changed her Twitter avatar to a black-and-white image of the Nike Swoosh logo and the slogan: “Wear a hijab. Just do it.”

“This is to announce that I am proud to have become a Muslim. This is the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian’s journey,” she tweeted.

“All scripture study leads to Islam.

Which makes all other scriptures redundant. I will be given [another] new name.

It will be Shuhada.”

Her Twitter account says the singer now lives in “Direland”.

O’Connor’s 1990 hit “Nothing Compares 2 U” became a global hit, with her haunting voice, shaved head and singletone outfits turning her into both an enigmatic and captivating figure.

But her career began to falter after she tore up a picture of the late Pope John Paul II while appearing as a musical guest on US television in 1992.AFP

Hostage arrives home to joy but also anger

TOKYO―A Japanese journalist freed from Syria this week arrived home to overjoyed relatives and supporters, but also to vitriol from some who accuse him and other hostages of reckless behavior.

Jumpei Yasuda was kidnapped in Syria in 2015, and spent more than three years in conditions he described as “hell.”

He arrived back in Japan on Thursday night, greeted by his delighted wife and parents, who had brought him homemade Japanese food to celebrate.

But even before Yasuda set foot on Japanese soil, he was the target of angry criticism―mostly online―ranging from accusations of recklessness to claims that he was not even Japanese.

“He is disturbing society,” wrote one Twitter user. “He’s an anti-citizen,” charged another.

Perhaps anticipating the criticism, Yasuda’s only statement upon arrival, read to reporters by his wife Myu, was dominated by an apology.

“I apologize for causing such trouble and worry, but thanks to all of you, I was able to come home safely,” he said.

The anger directed at Yasuda―author of books on the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, whose reporting has appeared on Japanese television―is a far cry from the reception that journalism held hostage have received in other countries upon their release.AFP

NATHENJE, Malawi―The gold rush is only four months old in Nathenje, Malawi, but already there are thousands of prospectors digging, shoveling and sifting soil in the age-old search for a nugget that will transform their lives.

“Iyi, iyi,” [“Here, Here!”] is the cry when an excited miner spots any speck of the precious metal and others eagerly gather round at the site, 20 kilometers south of the capital Lilongwe.

Traders from neighboring countries have been paying up to $34 a gram for the gold, according to one local official.

But first you have to find it. And much of the hard work done here, in scorching temperatures, brings only disappointment.

The miners―many of them women―head back down the deep holes dug on the riverbanks of Nathenje river.

They emerge with buckets on their heads and, after the silt has been trucked a short distance to drier ground, carefully pour the wet dirt onto a sieve to wash away sediment and examine the remains for signs of gold.

Tandizeni Natani barely knew what

TALKS. This handout photo taken on October 26, 2018 and provided by the South Korean Defense Ministry shows South Korea’s chief delegate Major General Kim Do-gyun (R) speaking with his North Korean counterpart An Ik San (L) during their general-level military talks at the North side of the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas. The two Koreas agreed to remove 11 guard posts along the heavily-fortified border next month with a goal to remove all guard posts. AFP

Troops to US-Mexico border

W

ASHINGTON― The Pentagon is expected to deploy about 800 troops to the US-Mexico border, two US officials told AFP on Thursday, after President Donald Trump said the military would help tackle a “national emergency” and called on a caravan of US-bound migrants to turn around.

The active-duty troops would augment the 2,000 or so National Guardsmen already deployed to support operations on the border, and could come from multiple military bases around the US. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was expected to sign orders either Thursday or Friday for the new deployment, one official said.

The troops would include doctors and engineers and would be used mainly to provide logistical support including

tents, vehicles and equipment.

The official said the troops would satisfy elements of a “wish list” for military assistance sent to the Pentagon by the Department of Homeland Security, the US agency with responsibility for the border.

Trump tweeted that “Democrat inspired” laws make it difficult to stop people at the border.

“I am bringing out the military for this National Emergency. They will be stopped!” he said.

In April, Trump said he would send thousands of National Guard troops to the southern border.

That initial authorization allowed for about 4,000 guardsmen to be sent to the frontier, but only about half that number have been deployed.

Those troops are mainly serving in a support role to help free up border patrol officers.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Bill Speaks said the Defense Department was currently working with the Department of Homeland Security “to determine the specifics of our support” to border authorities.

Thursday’s move comes as thousands of Central American migrants are crossing Mexico toward the United States in

a slow-moving caravan.

The issue has become a rallying cry for the US president, who has taken a hard line on illegal immigration and has repeatedly kept the story in the headlines in the run up to America’s midterm congressional elections that could see the Democrats regain some degree of power.

Many of the migrants are fleeing poverty and insecurity in Honduras, where powerful street gangs rule their turf with brutal violence.

The New York Times reported Thursday night that Trump is considering issuing an executive order to block Central American migrants from crossing the border. It would invoke the same section of immigration law that Trump cited to back up his Muslim travel ban, the Times said.

The order would also create new laws disqualifying migrants who cross the border in between ports of entry from claiming asylum, the Times said, quoting people familiar with the plan, although exceptions would be made for people facing torture at home.

Altogether the order would prevent hundreds in the caravan from entering the US and asking for asylum, the newspaper said.

“To those in the Caravan, turnaround, we are not letting people into the United States illegally,” Trump tweeted Thursday afternoon.

“Go back to your Country and if you want, apply for citizenship like millions of others are doing!”

Trump had signaled his intention to send more troops last week, tweeting that unless Mexico stopped the “onslaught” of people from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, he would “call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!” He has also announced the US would start cutting aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Guatemalan Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel dismissed the threat as a posture adopted for the media, telling reporters that the country had received no official notice of the move.

Early Thursday, the caravan set off from the town of Mapastepec in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, moving on to the next stop in their long march north.

Some rode on trucks but most made the trek to the town of Pijijiapan on foot.

“Little by little, we are going to arrive,” said Luis Alberto Adalberto, 21, one of the migrants. AFP REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 86 QUEZON CITY

SHEKINAH SOBREDO LUIS, Petitioner, -versusCivil Case No. R-QZN-18-11000-CV Declaration of Nullity of Marriage RAYMOND ANDREW ZEPP, Respondent. x------------------------------------------x

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION

(Declaration of Nullity of Marriage under Article 36 of the Family Code)

TO

Japan, China strike deals during Abe visit

BEIJING―Japan and China signed $2.6 billion in business deals and touted their warmer ties on Friday, during a rare visit to Beijing by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as both face trade challenges from US President Donald Trump.

Premier Li Keqiang greeted Abe as Japan’s flag flew outside the opulent Great Hall of the People across from Tiananmen Square, and they reviewed an honor guard before going inside for talks.

Relations between Asia’s two biggest economies have improved in recent years after they sunk to new lows in 2012 when Tokyo “nationalized” disputed islands claimed by Beijing.

Addressing a joint press conference, Abe said that the two leaders had agreed to “play a constructive role for the sake of this region’s peace and prosperity”.

“I believe active trade will deepen ties between Japanese and Chinese peoples further,” he said.

“Now, international conditions are unstable, and uncertainties have increased,” Li said, adding that the countries’ economic cooperation would “benefit the development of global free trade”.

The relationship has rapidly warmed up as Trump has slapped massive tariffs on China while also targeting Japanese exports in his effort to cut US trade deficits, despite touting his personal bonds with Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping. AFP

gold was when she and her fellow villagers left their fields to join in the sudden mining boom.

“All I knew was that it was a precious stone,” the mother of five children, the youngest of whom is three, told AFP. “On the first day, I made 25,000 kwacha ($34) and I have made about 100,000 kwacha so far, which has enabled me to buy school items for my children.”

Another villager, Fatima Chikalipo, said she bought a plot of land measuring about 5 by 10 meters for $7. So far, she had experienced mixed fortunes.

“The first days were good but now sometimes we dig on days and we don’t find anything. So, I have not seen any tangible benefits yet,” she said.

“And the price of the gold has gone down. We used to sell for 25,000 kwacha per gram. Now the buyers are offering 20,000 kwacha.”

Using rudimentary picks and shovels, villagers from the nearby settlements of Lumwira and Dzondi have been joined by other Malawians from across the country, more experienced in gold panning. AFP

FASHION WEEK. Models parade creations from the A Niu A Ga collection during China Fashion Week in Beijing.

AFP

China leads way as world’s billionaires get richer ZURICH―China produced two new billionaires a week last year as the fortunes of the world’s ultra-rich soared by a record amount, Swiss banking giant UBS and auditors PwC said Friday.

Billionaires’ wealth enjoyed its greatest-ever increase in 2017, rising 19 percent to $8.9 trillion ($7.8 billion euros) shared among 2,158 individuals, said the report.

But Chinese billionaires expanded their wealth at nearly double that pace, growing by 39 percent to $1.12 trillion.

“Over the last decade, Chinese billionaires have created some of the world’s largest and most successful

companies, raised living standards,” said Josef Stadler, head of Ultra High Net Worth at UBS Global Wealth Management.

“But this is just the beginning.

China’s vast population, technology innovation and productivity growth combined with government support, are providing unprecedented opportunities for individuals not only to build businesses but also to change people’s lives for the better.”

The report said China minted two new billionaires a week in 2017, while Asia as whole produced more than three billionaires a week.

In the Americas region, the wealth of billionaires increased at a slower

rate of 12 percent, to $3.6 trillion, with the United States creating 53 new billionaires in 2017 compared to 87 five years ago.

Currency appreciation saw European billionaires’ wealth grow by 19 percent, although the number of billionaires rose by just 4.0 percent to 414.

The study also warned of lower economic growth in the United States and China if the trade war between the two countries escalates.

But for China’s young billionaires “the country’s fundamentals of a huge population and rising technology will continue to offer fertile conditions for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses,” it said. AFP

: RAYMOND ANDREW ZEPP Angkor Comfort Hotel Street No. 1 Cambodia

GREETINGS: WHEREAS, on September 10, 2018, the petitioner filed a petition for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage under Article 36 of the Family Code; WHEREAS, on October 3, 2018, petitioner filed an Ex-Parte Motion to Serve Summons by Publication in a Newspaper of general circulation to the respondent; WHEREAS, on October 4, 2018, this Court issued an Order granting the said motion and directing the petitioner to effect service of summons by publication upon respondent RAYMOND ANDREW ZEPP in “The Standard”, a daily newspaper of general circulation in this city, once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks as required under Section 6 (1) of A.M. No. 02-11-10 of the Supreme Court; WHEREAS, a petition for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage under Article 36 of the Family Code has been commenced by petitioner against respondent praying as follows: “WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that, after due notice and hearing, a declaration of ABSOLUTE NULLITY OF MARRIAGE between the Petitioner and Respondent be ORDERED on the ground of PSYCHOLOGICAL INCAPACITY and ABANDONMENT and ordering further that: 1. The Civil Register of San Guillermo, Isabela and the Philippine Statistics Authority Office (PSA), shall cancel their Marriage Certificate from their respective Books of Marriage; 2. Paulyn Jasmine Nur Luis Zepp shall retain her legitimate status; Petitioner prays for other reliefs and remedies, just and equitable under the premises.

NOW THEREFORE, you respondent RAYMOND ANDREW ZEPP is hereby summoned and required to file with the Regional Trial Court, Branch 86, Quezon City, within thirty (30) days from the last date of publication of publication of this summons, your answer to the petition and for you to give a copy of the answer to the petitioner within the same period.

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 alleged the grounds thereof as defenses in the answer.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, October 23, 2018.

(Sgd.) ATTY. MARY RAQUEL BERNADINE D. SABAS Branch Clerk of Court (MStandard-Oct. 27 & Nov. 3, 2018)

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

MILLENNIALS FEEL THE PULL OF AVIDA TOWERS VERGE

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N A post trending in Facebook, motivational writer Simon Sinek observed that “millennials want to work, and live in a place with purpose, with impact, and with free food and bean bags.”

AVIDA Land Corp. isn’t promising free food and bean bags. But the midrange property developer of Ayala Land Inc. hopes to attract millennials and young professionals to its new project in Mandaluyong City, which it claims is designed for compact living, convenience and sustainability.

That’s about as close as one can get to purposeful and impactful living for those born approximately between

1984 and after, what with today’s bedlam traffic in Metro Manila.

EXCITING SEQUEL Located along Reliance Street, the first building of three planned for Avida Towers Verge will have 1,020 residential units.

A “sequel” to Avida Towers Centera, the 34-storey Avida Towers Verge offers two types of units — a 22.90-square meter (sq.m.) junior one-bedroom that separates the bedroom from the living

REDEFINING SPACE AND TIME. Interior design enthusiasts have this weekend, until October 31, to catch the graduation exhibit by the Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID) class of 2018 entitled “JUXTAPOSE: Espasyo at Panahon.”

Ongoing at the 11th floor, Santolan Town Plaza. ‘JUXTAPOSE’ showcases 17 studentmade booths that explore adaptive reuse as a solution to design problems by repurposing old buildings or sites for a function other than what it was originally built for. Co-presented

by Santolan Town Plaza, in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the exhibit is divided into three categories: T a h a n a n , Pangkalakal, and Pang-Industriya. “The Philippines has a lot of markable cultural heritage buildings so there’s a strong potential to conduct adaptive reuse on these structures,” explained Mary Ann Bulanadi, PSID instructor and volunteer curator at the Bahay NakpilBautista. “Since it’s a new thing locally, the PSID 2018 exhibits utilizing adaptive reuse concepts can serve as a laboratory of sorts to help teach young interior designers to be competent in working on old heritage sites as their real-life projects. We are preparing the stage for that future.”

TOWNSHIP GEM IN PASIG CITY. Property

developer Megaworld recently launched 18 Avenue de Triomphe, the first residential development inside its 12.4-hectare Arcovia City township in Pasig (Seen in photo). The 37-storey tower will have 576 residential units ranging from studio (up to 32.5 square meters); one-bedroom (up to 63 square meters); twobedroom (up to 110.5 square meters); and three-bedroom (up to 154 square meters). The 18 Avenue de Triomphe will be completed in 2023. Set against the bustling landscape along C-5 Road in Pasig City, Arcovia City is designed with the company’s pioneering live-work-play concept in mind, Arcovia City will offer high-end commercial spaces via the Arco Parade, LEED-designed office towers, residential condominiums (inset), and a transport hub. Among the first to be built within the emerging township are a Landers Superstore, 18 Avenue De Triomphe, and three office towers.

and kitchen areas ensuring privacy; and a 33.81 sq.m. one-bedroom unit. There is also an option to combine two units.

In an interview, Avida land manager for the project and strategic management group Melissa D. Corpuz said the junior one-bedroom unit is designed to have a private nook where one can read and study, and an area where you can dine.

“We observed that buyers in Avida Towers Centera preferred these layouts. These types of units were the first ones to become sold out. The units are just the right size to service the needs of young professionals, and at the same time, meet their budget,” Jojo Fabricante, Avida Land head of the innovation and design group, added.

“We are targeting millennials working in Mandaluyong and central busi-

ness districyts in Makati, Bonifacio Global City [BGC], Ortigas and Quezon City for Avida Towers Verge. They made up the bulk of our buyers in Avida Towers Centera,” Pol Tanco, Avida Land vice president for the project and strategic management group, told the Manila Standard.

“Most of them, about 64 percent are end-users. They are not only from Mandaluyong but from all over Metro Manila.

About 54 percent of Centera buyers were at 35 years old and below, young working millennials choosing to move closer to their places of work,” he added.

MIDDLE OF THE CITY BUSTLE The three-tower residential condominium is just a few minutes away from Edsa. Moreover, Tanco said Avida

Land is bullish the project will be able to replicate the success of Avida Towers Centera nearby—Avida’s first project in Mandaluyong launched in 2011 and now 97 percent sold with all four towers completed and ongoing turnover. Remaining inventory in Centera is currently being offered as ready-foroccupancy units.

Tanco noted Avida Towers Verge offers numerous attractions for the market.

He said the Mandaluyong itself is a busy city with several business establishments operating as well as also a shopping and entertainment locale. Access to the Verge is convenient as the Boni Avenue and Shaw Boulevard. Manila Metro Rail Transit stations and Edsa Avenue itself afford a fast track to different central business districts and beyond.

Meanwhile, the four-lane Santa Monica-Lawton Bridge, which will cross the Pasig River, will be completed by March 2020 and provide direct access to BGC. “Verge rises on an area specifically designated for residential developments. Even with the busyness of Edsa just beyond, Verge still lies in a quieter area,” said Fabricante.

MILLENNIALS, TAKE YOUR PICK As a three-tower development, Verge offers more open spaces. In terms of the design concept, Fabricante said Verge focuses on convenience, right-sizing and a response to market trends on practicality, time and life priorities.

Fabricante said Avida Towers Verge offers two unit layouts. The Junior one-bedroom unit is an offshoot of the Studio unit’s design. A partial partition separates the bedroom from the common areas for living and dining. A Junior one-bedroom unit in Avida Towers Verge is about 22.90 square meters (sq m) in size. The unit layout has also become available in other recent Avida developments, such as Avida Towers Cloverleaf.

The one-bedroom unit with balcony, meantime, comes in at 33.81 sq m. Buyers are also given the option to combine two units.

“We observed that buyers in Avida Towers Centera preferred these very layouts. These types of units, in fact, were the first ones to become sold out.

The units are just the right size to serve the needs of young professionals and at the same time, meet their budget.

Market trends in the area further support this,” he added.

The Junior one-bedroom units are priced at P4.2 million to P4.4 million, while the one-bedroom units are at P6.7 million to P7.7 million.

“Verge adopts the millennial trend of compact living, convenience, sustainability and managing one’s time and life. The design really focuses on what that market really needs at their life stage,” Fabricante said.

SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE. Improving the country’s regulatory framework in the housing sector would send a message to foreign players that measures are in place to protect their interest.

Joint ventures may solve housing shortage

CAGAYAN DE ORO—Despite jointventure agreements’ popularity in business, these arrangements have remain largely untapped and undermaximized in the affordable and socialized housing segments.

At the recent national convention of the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) held in Cagayan de Oro, Pinnacle Real Estate Consulting president and managing director Michael Mabutol laid out the ways to attract more foreign firms to venture into the country’s housing market.

Sustaining the country’s robust macro-economic fundamentals is the first way, Mabutol said. . “A strong economy indirectly fuels demand by putting much-needed money to households. A steady household cash flow can encourage stakeholders to put their capital to housing projects because of greater demand with lesser risk of defaults.”

A second strategy is to keep a robust real estate market to incentivize participation of joint-venture stakeholders, especially foreign players.

“Participants in joint-venture housing development would certainly enjoy the current uptrend of the market as it can mean a healthy investment,” said Mabutol.

Finally, improving the country’s regulatory framework that governs the housing sector would send a message to foreign players that measures are in place to protect their business interest, said Mabutol. “This is where the country can improve a lot.”

One such move is the passage of relevant pieces of legislation in housing, including the formation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the National Land Use Act, and the amended Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Finance Act. According to Mabutol, these bills aim to rationalize the use and allocation of land for housing and other needs, create a single program and policy-making arm of the government for housing and urban development, and provide access to financial assistance for individual home-loan borrowers without access to government

or private funding.

Current housing scenario Data from the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) shows that the country’s housing backlog is already at 2.0 million dwelling units, primarily affecting the socialized and economic housing segment. This number is estimated to balloon to about 6.8 million shelters by 2022; and about 80 percent of the increase is mainly attributed to future and recurring housing needs related to allowance for inventory losses and increase in household population.

Statistics from the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) show that the agency issued Licenses-To-Sell covering an approximately 238,000 housing units as a nationwide average for the last 5 years. However, only 101,000— equivalent to 42 percent of 238,000 yearly average—are dwellings (i.e., house and lot or condominium units) targeted for socialized and economic housing segments where the big housing shortages are traced.

Life young life

bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MstandardLIFe saturday, october 27, 2018

C1

Fun times at Halloween Town

VILLAINS NIGHT OUT. Jack Skellington, Maleficent, Ursula, and other Disney villains march along Main Street

H

USA to cause a merry mayhem.

alloween at Hong Kong Disneyland is spooky and wickedly fun as the theme park recreates Halloween Town where Jack Skellington and his mischievous friends from “Tim Burton’s The nightmare Before Christmas” wreaked havoc.

Halloween Town is recreated at the all-new “Journey to Halloween Town” immersive walkthrough experience, challenging brave souls to face down the “Pumpkin King” and his friends.

“Pumpkin King” Jack Skellington and oogie Boogie loom large at the Main Gate of the park to herald Disney Halloween Time 2018, happening until oct.

31. Themed decorations will point the way to the brand new walkthrough experience at The Pavilion.

For a truly unforgettable journey, guests may venture into Dr. Finklestein’s lab, where Jack Skellington’s

friend Sally is desperate for guests’ help. Beware of the evil oogie Boogie, out to trap guests in his lair. lots of Disney friends and villains are also ready for wicked encounters with guests at Mickey’s Halloween Time Street Party and Halloween Time Festival Gardens. every afternoon, Mickey, Minnie and Goofy appear atop three giant Jack-o’-lantern whirlies with other Disney friends and a host of parade performers to greet guests and share the joy.

Guests will experience the brighter side of Disney Halloween at Mickey’s Halloween Time Street Party.

Turn to C2

Scary suits and magical frocks IT’S that time of the year again when children play dress up to spread horror and magic.

Kids can creep it real as Toy Kingdom presents its latest collection of scary suits, magical dresses, pixie wings, and spooky hats that will bring a fresh new look to trick or treat, chills or thrills.

There are magical dresses that transform little girls into Goddesses, Shimmering Princesses, Mermaids, and Magical Rainbow unicorns. little girls who would like to channel their pixie persona can choose from Forest wings and Butterfly wings with Masks.

Toy Kingdom’s scary suits, such as organ Skeleton Jumpsuit, Devil Boy and Halloween Cape, are fun and frightening; while Dino Tails and Pterosaur Masks, and spooky hats

like the Rainbow unicorn nicorn wig and Chameleon Hat, complete kids’ Halloween haunting. a minimum single receipt purchase of P1,000 worth of any toy (inclusive of Halloween items) from participating Toy Kingdom stores and Toy Kingdom express xpress outlets entitle shoppers to two free tickets at nickelodeon ickelodeon “TakoTown” ct. 31. at SMX aura on oct.

Toy Kingdom likewise invites shoppers to turn scaring into caring this Halloween with “Trick or Treat for F.” Shoppers can donate in variunICeF.” ous Toy Kingdom stores and help chilICeF. dren in need from unICeF. Toy Kingdom stores are located in most SM Supermalls and Toy Kingdom Express outlets in The SM Stores.

Little boys and girls can transform into creepy and whimsical creatures with costumes available at Toy Kingdom.

Children celebrate ‘Pet-astic’ Halloween at Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo, Manila.

Lucky Chinatown celebrates Halloween luCKy Chinatown Mall in Binondo, Megabloks Builder Challenge, Face Manila will open its doors to kids and Painting, and Roving animal Rides kids-at-heart for its happening today unHalloween “Pet-astic til nov. 3.

Celebration.” on oct. 28, from Since the premier 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., kids lifestyle mall started can take part in the celebrating in 2012, cutest activities such its Halloween event as The Candy Hunt, has attracted over Meet and Greet with 600 children and parCody of Vtech and ents from Manila’s Hatchimals. It will be capped off with Filipino and Filipinothe wildest animal Chinese community gathering at the exto interact and play Zootic Kiddie Pawtogether in exciting ty Costume Contest, themed events. wherein kids are enThis year, lucky couraged to put on Chinatown invites Young girls ready for trick-or-treat dressed as their favorite characters. their favorite animal children of all ages costume. to celebrate the most To join the activities, purchase P500 fantastic Halloween with their favorite characters from enchantimals and worth of merchandise sold at the atriHatchimals. youngsters are also guaran- um. teed hours of fun playing at interactive Lucky Chinatown is located on Reina games and activities.

Regente Street in Binondo. For more There will be enchantimals Match- information, visit Lucky Chinatown on ing Game, DIy Face Mask Making, Facebook or call (02) 576-8139.

Life

C2

saturday, october 27, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

A FOR EFFORT. Blogger Jowas always go the extra mile to take the best photos for their girlfriends’ Instagram feeds.

How to be an ‘Instagram Boyfriend/Girlfriend’ i

N THE age of social media, maintaining a curated instagram feed is practically a requirement. But if your significant other’s skills behind the camera are just so-so, there are simple ways to help them become a better instagram partner. Take it from the popular group “Blogger Jowas,” who always go the extra mile for their girlfriends’ instagram feeds.

Location, location, location

A beautiful location makes for an excellent photo, so be sure to hunt down gorgeous spots. Sometimes, the mad search for fantastic places to shoot at is loads of fun in itself. if traveling to an exotic destination is not possible, tr y looking for brightly-colored or textured walls. interesting backdrops not only elevate an other wise #basic OOTD

but also make an iG feed look more exciting.

Work every angle

A good instagram boyfriend/girlfriend knows their partner’s best side. Don’t know what that is yet?

Keep these in mind: photos taken from a distance and at a low angle can give an extra height boost, while close-up shots from a high an-

gle can slim down the appearance dinner date or a romantic outdoor of a person’s face. stroll at night should be remembered forever. Galaxy J8’s Great Night Focus on me Camera ensures photos taken in lowPlay with the depth of field in pho- light conditions look stunning. Night tos as this adds that dramatic flair photos look best when there are lightand artsy vibe to any feed. Achieving ed elements in the frame because it depth of field is made easier with the creates an interesting contrast. Start Samsung Galaxy J8’s 16MP + 5MP snapping away while your SO is starDual Rear Camera, which is equipped gazing or admiring a city skyline. with Live Focus. This feature enables the adjustment of the background blur Self-we! on photos to place focus on what matWhen flooding a social media feed ters. Use the Live Focus feature around with selfies, it’s crucial to highlight bright lights to achieve a bokeh effect clearly captured and bright photos. or use it to blur photo backgrounds The Galaxy J8’s 16MP Front Camera and hide unwanted photobombers. provides just that, paired with LED flash making for awesome photos in Date night done right any lighting situation. Take lots of Special moments like a candle-lit selfies and show the world those ten-

Finding that ‘spooktacular’ costume toon character. Come as a Simpson by using yellow body paint. Dress your baby up as Nemo with this costume available on (www.olx.ph/allresults?q=f inding+nemo+costume) or other characters (www.olx.ph/allresults?q=baby+costume).

Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and classic Disney Princesses, like Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, and even Elsa, are all available online.

CLASSiFiEDS platform OLX captures the fun spirit of Halloween by helping trick-or-treaters find the right and most creative costumes.

Find out what’s available on OLX listings:

America, Batman, Superman, or whoever you want to be.

Fun times...

From C1

Mickey, Minnie and the whole gang are sporting their brand new Halloween costumes—with a touch of regal purple—to embrace the spirit of the occasion. Duffy’s new friend, Cookie, will appear in her first Halloween outfit, marking her Halloween debut together with Duffy, ShellieMay, Gelatoni, and StellaLou. At Halloween Time Festival Gardens, Winnie the Pooh and other Disney friends, in their Halloween costumes, greet guests for photos during the day. Young guests can also learn to make Jack Skellington-themed paper masks and then go trick-or-treating.

After dark, the gardens will be taken over by Disney’s infamous baddies for

der moments with your loved ones that are worth sharing.

A lot of practice goes into becoming a great instagram boyfriend/girlfriend.

This is why the Galaxy J8’s long-lasting 3,500 mAh battery becomes handy while in training. All that effort will be worth it when scrolling through bae’s iG feed on its premium 6.0’’ Super AMOLED infinity Display.

The Galaxy J8 also provides access to exclusive benefits via the Samsung Members app, anti-theft function through Find my Mobile, and quick emergency access via the Samsung 321 app.

The Galaxy J8 is available in black, purple, and gold variants at a suggested retail price of P15,990.

some wicked fun for everyone.

The park atmosphere turns ominous as the sun goes down, when fearsome Disney villains come out in force to join Villains Night Out! Chapter 3.

This year, Maleficent leads the malevolent Ursula, the Evil Queen, and Jafar in the procession. They will be joined

by Jack Skellington, Captain Hook, the Queen of Hearts, and Cruella de Vil to cause merry mayhem as they march along Main Street, U.S.A. Finally, in true Disney Halloween fashion, an extensive range of themed merchandise and food and beverage items will be available, along with spooky Halloween decor and fun-filled recreation activities across the resort’s three themed hotels, ensuring that all Pinoy guests can enjoy a “play, shop, dine, and stay” getaway at HKDL this autumn.

Masks

Get that sinister or menacing look by wearing the face of a scary character like Pennywise (www.olx.ph/allresults?q=pennywise) for only about P1,300. Options range from clowns and deep-sea monsters to Jeepers Creepers, Jason, Jack-o’-Lantern and many more.

Animal costumes for kids and adults

Take the cute route and be your favorite animal (www.olx.ph/allresults?q=animal+costume) for only Anime villains about P900. Be a brave lion, a leaping You can also find a variety of an- frog, a Dalmatian, or a stubby pig. ime cosplay costumes (www.olx.ph/ all-results?q=anime+costume).

Make your ensemble a little more interesting by going as the antagonist like Rurouni Kenshin’s Shishio. With some bandage around your head, a long purple robe, white belt, black gloves, black shoes, and a samurai sword, you’re good to go. Or be Death Note’s Light Yagami: wear a cream coat, red tie, brown pants and blonde wig.

Mickey leads the pack at the Halloween Time Street Party.

Villains and horror creatures

Dress up as Maleficent, the Joker, Darth Vader, or classic Halloween characters such as a witch, a vampire, a ghost, or a skeleton (www.olx.ph/clothing-accessories/costumes?q=darth+vader).

Superheroes for the kids

Children, or even adults, who want to be superheroes can dress up as their idols on this one day. Costumes are available on (www.olx.ph/allresults?q=superhero+costume), with prices ranging from P550 to P1,000.

Be Spiderman, ironman, Hulk, Captain

Costume accessories

Find the right accessories to complete the look, from headdress (www.olx.ph/clothing-accessories/ costumes?q=head+costume) to horned headbands. Shop for witch hats, wigs, and plastic pumpkin baskets for your candies.

Cartoon characters Go to www.olx.ph for more HallowBe your favorite television car- een costumes.

Halloween Town is recreated at the Journey to Halloween Town immersive walkthrough experience.

Entertainment

‘Inday Will Always Love You’ to air in China

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MA Worldwide, Inc. (GWI), GMA Network’s content distribution arm, inked an exclusive distribution agreement with Chinese multi-media company FZ (Feng Zhi) Entertainment Co., Ltd. (FZ), on Oct. 16 during MIPCOM 2018 in Palais des Festival, Cannes, France.

The partnership between GWI and FZ is for the distribution in China of GMA’s highest rating and most successful romantic comedy for 2018, Inday Will Always Love You (which carries an English title, Happy Together) headlined by actress Barbie Forteza.

The signing ceremony coincides with China being celebrated as the country of honor in MIPCOM, the world’s biggest entertainment content market.

China is a difficult market to penetrate for foreign content producers, but through GWI’s partnership with FZ, GMA-produced content will soon screen in China through pay TV and OTT-IPTV. This also expands GMA’s presence in the Asian region, enhancing its reputation as the premier source of quality Filipino content.

In a statement, GWI Vice President Roxanne Barcelona expressed her excitement about the partnership. “ For many years, GWI had hoped to be able to get its foot in the door in China.

We are very pleased that we made it happen this year through the partnership with FZ (Feng Zhi) Entertainment,

NI HAO INDAY. Derrick Monasterio and Barbie Forteza, lead stars of 'Inday Will Always Love You,' which will soon air in China via FZ (Feng Zhi) Entertainment Co. a multimedia company based in Naning City, GuangXi Province, China. FZ’s choice of Happy Together, as the first series to be promoted and distributed in China, will hopefully pave the way for more GMA series to be distributed and enjoyed by Chinese viewers,” said Barcelona.

Representing the two companies during the signing ceremony on Tuesday were GWI’s Barcelona and FZ Entertainment’s CEO and Founder Joshua Jiang. Standing as witnesses were Ling Li, Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Paul Barbaro, Senior Sales Manager of MIP Markets, the organiz-

ers of MIPCOM. In a separate statement, GWI announced plans of distributing more GMA series in China, the next in line being My Superstar (That’s My Amboy) which also stars Barbie Forteza.

MIPCOM is an annual trade show held in the French town of Cannes. It gathers representatives of television studios and broadcasters, producers, buyers and sellers of program and formats for international distribution.

GMA Worldwide, Inc. (GWI), a wholly owned subsidiary of GMA Network, is the group dedicated to the distribution of GMA’s drama and entertainment programs worldwide. For more updates, visit www.gmaworldwide.tv.

Theater of the millennials, by the millennials WATCHING plays, whether it is contemporary, classic, comedy or musical is a habit I acquired since my wonder years.

The very first play I have ever watched was Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Little Theater.

The play dubbed as a trivial comedy for serious people was a production of Teatro Pilipinio, then headed by Rolando Tinio (who became National Artist for Theater and Literature) and starred his wife and forever muse, the great Ella Luansing.

Imagine my awe and kilig, as I watched Luansing and the rest of the cast in their Victorian outfits, lines in Filipino delivered in peculiar accents and how Wilde’s writing poked on the eccentricities of the English upper class.

Fast forward to my days as PR Assistant to the now being rehabilitated Metropolitan Theater wherein I had hands on experience in theater production as I became part of Frank Rivera’s musical Oyayi, directed by Danny Mandia for the short lived actor’s company Teatro Metropolitano.

My character in Rivera’s play was Eleonor Roosevelt, with an aria to sing, “Pusong Tigang.” And I am proud to say that during our entire six-performance run, no one suspected that I was a man who played a role of a woman.

The first pink themed plays for the initial incarnation of the Virgin Labfest, I reviewed for another broadsheet and yes, I did work for a decade as publicist of Gantimpala Theater, headed by the much

ARIAS ALWIN IGNACIO missed and love, Tony Espejo.

My love affair with the theater continues to this very day and the efforts of the CBRC Dream Theater, headed by Dr. Carl Balita, mounted the first Mano-Mano Theater Festival registered well in my must watch activity.

When I went to the venue, the 250-seater theater was packed. Four one act, all original plays, written, acted and directed by students were shown.

The festival was the culmination of a workshop conducted by Angeli Bayani and JK Anicoche wherein 25 theater students from different college theater groups (PUP’s Sining-lahi Polyrepertory, UP Manila Dramatista, Ateneo Entablado, Ateneo Blue Repertory, Baon Collective and UP Los Baños’ Umalohokan, Inc.) were in attendance.

For three months, the workshop participants crafted their own productions - writing, performing, designing, and directing their own plays. The ones who made the cut were Takbo, Huwag, John!,Super Boy and Isang Gabi Sa Balete Drive.

The plays presented somehow mirrored the millennials’ causes that they champion, curiosities and concerns, dreams, hopes and realities.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

ACROSS 1 Cacklers 5 Lower jaw 9 Zen question 13 Far East nanny 14 — Khan 15 Leading 17 In — (as found) 18 Latch on to 19 Impudence 20 Mentor’s concern 22 Croatian’s neighbor 24 Galena and bauxite 25 By a whisker 26 Ridiculous 29 Dagwood’s pooch 31 The same as above 32 Drill into 33 Salt meas.

36 Place for panthers and giraffes 37 Art style 40 Charlotte of “Bananas” 41 Clairvoyance 42 Coat with gold 43 Watchdog breed 45 Bumps on a frog 47 — suzette 48 Take turns

51 Strong current of water 52 Finds a perch 54 First woman on the Supreme Court 58 Shop class tool 59 Jazz’s home 61 Roof part 62 Warning device 63 Bona — (genuine) 64 Went with rapidity 65 Sense organs 66 Part of MIT 67 Makes into leather DOWN 1 Latch 2 Omani title 3 Its HQ is Brussels 4 Pitcher’s feat 5 Like broken glass 6 Leers 7 You-know- — 8 Gentle person 9 Toto’s home 10 William S. Porter (2 wds.)

11 Condor’s abode 12 Maritime 16 Withhold 21 Bad move 23 Drama awards

26 Carpentry tool 27 Lives, in brief 28 Quit 29 Playthings 30 Like the Gobi 32 Worm, maybe 33 Journey 34 Jade 35 Potpie ingredients 38 Majestic wader 39 Explorer — Polo 44 Sharpest 45 “Ring” opera composer 46 European capi-

tal 47 Prestige 48 Talks to a beat 49 Dragon of puppetry 50 Princess topper 51 Interstates 53 Muslim mystic 55 Auto parts store 56 Roasting chamber 57 Tulip colors 60 Shiny metal

Awardees for this year: Best Performance: Rian Magtaan (Huwag, John!, Baon Collective); Best Script: Isyan Sandoval (Isang Gabi sa Balete Drive, Ateneo Blue Repertory); Best Direction: Johann Dale Reyes (Huwag, John!, Sining-Lahi Polyrepertory, PUP); Best Play: Huwag, John! (Johann Dale Reyes, Director/Playwright; Sining-Lahi Polyrepertory, PUP) Dr. Carl Balita said, “I hope that the Mano-Mano Theater Festival spark new fires within our millennial and Gen Z citizens to pursue the arts as an effective means for education. We want people to know that the CBP doors are always open to the opportunity for all artists and educators. In CBP, the art and the artist become one.”

With the arrival of these newfound actors, playwrights, directors and production team, the Mano-Mano Theater Festival has now become the platform, and the CBRC Dream Theater as a space for “The Theater of the Millennials, by the Millennials.”

The first Mano-Mano Theater Festival featured films crafted by participants who underwent a workshop for three months.

Very Wang...

From C4

YEC Handog promo Yupangco Electronics Corporation (YEC) announces its ongoing “YEC HANDOG PROMO 2018” until Oct. 30.

One the products to be featured during the Handog Sale is the Yamaha DBR Powered Speaker. Wherever your music may take you, DBR Series loudspeakers are up to the task of delivering powerful, high-quality sound with an un-matched economy of transport and setup time.

DBR loudspeaker is housed in a newly designed, durable, lightweight cabinet optimized for FOH sound, floor-monitoring and even rigged applications.

Whether you’re powering your band’s live performance, DJ-ing a party, or MC-ing an event, be prepared for DBR Series speakers to take your performance to the next level.

Aside from the up to 70 percent discount being offered on selected Yamaha products, you may also inquire about YEC’s FREE Preventive Maintenance (1st visit), audio system design, diagnosing on your existing audio system, product training / seminar and also special Mixer Trade-In program, and EasyPay installment program.

You may also choose from a huge selection of musical instruments and music courses (with free trial lessons). For more information about “THE HANDOG SALE PROMO 2018” and other YEC products, you may call at 899 9757 / 899 9759. You may also log on to www.yupangco.com or inquire on FB account, Instagram and Twitter: Yupangco Electronics Corporation or e-mail yupangcoelectronics@yupangco.com.

December...

From C4

Zel admits watching the first season of Coke Studio and thinking, with a little bit of envy, that he also wanted December Avenue to be a part of it.

“So when they told us that we would be a part of it, I was surprised and overwhelmed, even if it was something that I had secretly wished for. And with Khalil, we could sense the same deep level of commitment from him. If you have love for the craft, love for the science, and express yourself musically, a lot of people will get the message. You’ve just got to be hopeful.”

For his part, Khalil says, “I was giving everything. I’m not here to play around, but at the same time, I was also enjoying it all, keeping myself in line but exerting an effort. We were coming from the same perspective that it was a challenge but let’s keep if freeflowing. It was crazy but a super good experience, a reaffirmation of what I’ve been waiting for.”

In Khalil’s acting and December Avenue’s lyrics lies a core of emotional openness, a rare and real vulnerability.

Zel says, “Inside of everyone is that certain softness, we have those emotions inside of us. What we do is we tell that story.”

Taste the sounds of Pinoy music as Khalil Ramos and December Avenue collaborate for Coke Studio Season 2. Catch them tomorrow, Oct. 28, at 11:15 a.m. before ASAP on ABS-CBN or on www.youtube.com/ CokeStudioPH.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Simply...

From C4

As one of today’s top leaders in the beauty and wellness industry, BeauteDérm prioritizes safety and effectiveness above all with its FDA Notified products, which only uses natural ingredients that are perfectly synergized to deliver the fastest and most effective long-term and sustainable results. A consistent Superbrands awardee, some of the flagship brands of BeauteDérm are BeauteDérm Skin Set which includes its patented soap, day cream and toner; BeauteDérm Facial Wash; and BeauteDérm Origin Senses perfumes for men among many others —all top-selling products in the market today.

Currently, Beautederm has 41 physical stores throughout the country and has over a hundred resellers both locally and internationally.

For more information on Reverie

by Beautederm Home and exciting updates on Marian, follow @ beautedermcorporation on Instagram and like Beautederm on Facebook.

TOWNS Awards accepting 2019 Nominees The Asian Institute of Management Center’s Fuller Hall buzzed with the rarefied presence of past TOWNS awardees with the launch of the 2019 triennial search for The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service by the TOWNS Foundation announced by its chair, Dr. Esperenza A. Icasas-Cabral, a 1986 TOWNS awardee for medicine.

The event was ushered in by a wellattended, very animated event TOWNS TALK@AIM: “Weaponizing the Internet for Social Media Change and Progress,” with past winners Cecilia “Ces” Orena- Drilon (2004 awardee for journalism) as anchor and Maria P. Ressa (2007 awardee for broadcast journalism) as keynote speaker, and discussants Theresa “Gang” Badoy- Capati (2010 awardee for Education), with communication legal eagles Dean John Paolo Villasor and Microsoft’s Cyril Pama.

Nominations are now open to Filipino women, any person or organization may nominate one or more women who meet the following criteria: At least 21 years but not more than 50 years by Oct. 31, 2019. A Filipino citizen, she must be distinguished in her field of specialization or advocacy. Committed to the promotion of the wellbeing and upliftment of the people and community she serves; she must also posses a pioneering spirit and has achieved success despite challenges attendant to new endeavors. In short, a TOWNS award candidate must be dignified, respectable, articulate and self-confident.

For more details please call 0939 932 2395 or email to townsfoundationinc@ gmail.com, or visit https://www.facebook. com/townsfoundationinc. Contact Mandy Navasero at 09957918190 OR 8963208 OR EMAIL to luzamandolina@gmail. com or mandynavasero@yahoo.com. *** Spooky ‘I-Bilib’ It’s a spooky but science-filled Sunday on the I-Bilib Halloween episode.

Singer-comedienne Denise Barbacena returns to help out Chris Tiu, James and Roadfill transfer a photo onto a candle before you light it up for the “Undas” season.

On a lighter note, they make monster marionettes out of toilet paper cores.

A Pinay paper engineer who will fashion for us a special horror pop-up book is the featured scientist In “Bilibabols.”

Marvel at how long a block of ice can withstand the heat and fire of a flame thrower, and see how gas can destroy one of Earth’s hardest substance—pure diamond-- courtesy of the “Street Lastly, the barkada’s powers of observation will once more be put to the test as Chris shows them a near-silhouette photo of a chair, then makes them guess if the said chair is angled toward the camera or is facing behind.

All these on your favorite science show every Sunday morning on GMA.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

ANDI EIGENMANN

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

ISAH V. RED

Kapuso Primetime Queen now Reverie’s endorser NOW on her second trimester of her pregnancy, Marian Rivera-Dantes isn’t just lying down and wait for her baby bump to grow bigger. Indeed, she is able to find time to collaborate with a company known for manufacturing and selling beauty products for a line meant for the home.

It’s called Reverie by BeauteDérm Home.

At the same time BeauteDérm Corporation welcomes her to its growing family as the first ever celebrity endorser of that line of products, Reverie by Beautederm Home, it’s first.

Established in 2009 by Rhea AnicocheTan, the company’s president and CEO, it embodies her principle that beauty begins by taking care of one’s self, and by doing so a person becomes healthier and then exudes beauty not only in the outside but in the inside as well.

Reverie by Beautederm Home is an exquisite line of home scents—from soy candles to room and linen sprays— created by BeauteDérm in collaboration with Marian to exhilarate and rejuvenate everyone at the comfort of their homes.

Reverie is actually a play of words between Marian’s maiden name and the concept of the brand’s desired effect to its users—to drift away, dream, and relax while basking in the extraordinary, sweet, and beautiful scents of love of BeauteDérm Home. The Reverie line of BeauteDérm Home includes Into The Woods (Bamboo Scent), Smells Like Candy (Cherry Scent), Time To Bloom (Fresh Rose Scent), Something Minty (Eucalyptus Scent), and Rest & Relaxation (Lavender Scent)—all created from formulation to individual packaging in very close collaboration with Marian.

An icon of beauty with a timeless charm and a keen sense of style coupled with the soothing aura of motherly warmth —these are just some of the many outstanding qualities that make Marian one of the most respected, enduring, and credible band endorsers in the Philippines today.

Marian has an unblemished track record when it comes to her career choices and personal life. As one of the industry’s finest actresses, she has starred in numerous critically acclaimed films and a consistent string top-rating primetime series on GMA-7, the most recent of which was the drama-action-fantasy top-rater Super Ma’am. She is also one of the main hosts of GMA-7’s Sunday afternoon variety show Sunday Pinasaya.

However, Marian’s top priority these days is her ultimate role as a wife, mother, and homemaker as she seeks only the best for her family.

For Marian, to have a happy home is to have a warm, safe, and pleasant environment where love, care, and comfort are overflowing and abundant.

“Finally, I can reveal one of my best kept secrets—Reverie by BeauteDérm Home,” says Marian. “This is really my personal choice for me and my family. I am very grateful to BeauteDérm and to Rhea for trusting me to represent this amazing line of products. Talagang ginamamit ko po ito sa bahay because I want only the best for my family. Sobrang fresh at nakaka-relax ang amoy ng bahay namin at gusto ko itong i-share sa lahat.”

Rhea Tan adds, “This is the reason why we partnered with Marian—to make her simple, practical yet very stylish lifestyle accessible t o everyone.”

Continued on C3 Kapuso primetime queen Marian Rivera

in theatrical terrifier

‘All Souls Night’

After living a simple beach life in the province, Andi Eigenmann returns on the big screen with a horror movie from Viva Films.

December Avenue x Khalil Ramos Unveiling stories behind the songs

DOMESTIC HELL. Andi Eigenmann in scenes from the horror movie 'All Souls Night' directed by Yam Laranas.

H

ORROR movies are everywhere, and it’s just normal as Halloween nears. Who doesn’t love a good scare anyway?

Joining the hollow fest on Oct. 31 is Andi Eigenmann’s All Soul Night, a movie crafted in Yam Laranas’s imagination.

The movie follows the story of Shirley (Andi), an all-around house helper who answered an ad for a quick three-day job to take care of a sick man. Ellen, the inhospitable wife, readily tells her the three important house rules: First, keep the doors and windows shut; second, stay locked inside the house; and third, don’t get inside their room without permission.

Shirley shares a room with the couple’s young daughter, and observes that the child is a terrified mess. She tells Ellen about it, only to be forbidden to interfere in whatever she sees going on around the house. After the child tells Shirley that the man is not her father, nerve-racking incidents one after another are revealed to her. And she will not be spared from it.

“I liked the story when they presented it to me and I really had fun doing it. Members of the cast are great artists and good people. Hindi basta senseless horror ‘yung movie namin na nananadyang manggulat at manakot. This one is creepy all throughout,” Andi guaranteed.

This film perfect for Halloween is co-directed by Aloy Adlawan and Jules Katanyag. Both had written the screenplays

of some of the biggest horror movies in Philippine cinema.

Adlawan is known for his work in Ouija which was awarded PinakaPasadong Dulang Pampelikula at the 10th Pasado Gawad Sining Sine by the Pampelikulang Samahan ng mga Dalubguro, and the highly-acclaimed Signus, which won numerous awards, such as Best Foreign Film at the 2007 Lone Star International Film Festival in Texas and won Best International Thriller at the 2008 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival.

He also wrote Sundo, T2, Tumbok, Third Eye, and segments in Shake, Rattle and Roll movies.

On the other hand, Katanyag’s body of work as a writer includes Shake, Rattle and Roll (12 and 13), Bampirella (TV series, 2011), Darna (TV series, 2009), and Victor Magtanggol (TV series, 2018).

As a director, he won the Special Jury Prize in Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival for the movie Si Magdalola at ang mga Gago (2016).

Yam Laranas, who gave us the movie The Echo (also known as Sigaw, which won for him a Special Award at the Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film), serves as the Creative Head.

Presented by VIVA Films and ALIUD Entertainment, All Souls Night also stars Yayo Aguila, Allan Paule and new child star, Lhian Gimeno. Continued on C3

HOLLYWOOD

‘Halloween’ scares up big box office numbers NORTH American moviegoers really like to be scared, and Universal gleefully accommodated them this weekend as its new release Halloween registered an impressive $76.2 million in ticket sales, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations reported Monday.

That strong three-day number gave the film the second-best opening ever for an October, trailing only Venom, which earlier this month booked an $80 million debut.

Universal executives could be excused for a bit of gloating—they produced Halloween for a microscopic $10 million.

The movie recounts the return of homicidal masked figure Michael Myers (Nick Castle) 40 years after he set off on a bloody Halloween night killing spree.

Jamie Lee Curtis again stars as Laurie Strode, sole survivor of that spree.

Holding tight in second spot was Warner Bros musical drama A Star Is Born, with ticket sales of $19.1 million. Sony’s Venom was not far behind, taking in $18 million as it approaches $500 million globally. Tom Hardy stars as a journalist who becomes the superpowerful host for an alien creature.

In fourth was another seasonal offering, Sony’s Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, at $9.7 million. And fifth spot went to Universal’s astronaut drama First Man, with $8.3 million. The film, directed by Oscar winner Damien Chazelle and starring Ryan Gosling, recounts Neil Armstrong’s historic journey to the moon in 1969. AFP

Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode in 'Halloween.'

Hair-raising experience in ‘Wish Ko Lang’ Halloween episode WISH Ko Lang’s Halloween Special today gave actress Glenda Garcia quite a scare. To portray her character in the said special, Glenda had to lay down inside a real coffin. Her costar, actor Edgar Allan Guzman, meanwhile, showcased another facet of his acting skills as a spiritually-possessed son.

The story centers on the unnerving experience of a family following the death of their matriarch. Leonora’s (Glenda) family mourned her demise. But it was her favorite son, Jojo (Edgar Allan), who was the one most affected by her passing. He would have wanted to further give back to his mom all the sacrifice she endured for their family.

Yet it seems Leonora is not ready to leave her family

Today's Halloween episode of 'Wish Ko Lang' stars Edgar Allan Guzman and Glenda Garcia

as well. Guests are disturbed when Leonora allegedly possesses some of those present in her wake. Her family is further worried when Leonora takes over Jojo’s body. Leonora insists it is not yet time for her to leave and points to her husband who according to Leonora did her grave sin.

What lies behind this alleged spiritual disturbance in Leonora’s family? Will she continue to possess Jojo for her to communicate all her grudge? Does Jojo has to suffer her mother’s wrath when he did not do anything bad against her in the first place?

Joining Glenda and Edgar Allan in this heartwarming episode as well are Nats Sitoy and Dan Alvaro.

Catch Wish Ko Lang with host Vicky Morales, today after Tadhana on GMA-7.

BEHIND any great song is a great story, and the mad skills to be able to express that story powerfully and differently.

December Avenue is a band that has become known for strong melodies with lyrics that really hit you in the heart; it has taken them a decade to break from the under the radar musical scene to breaking to the more established roster of OPM bands. Meanwhile, Khalil Ramos first burst onto the scene when he won second place in the ABS CBN reality show Pilipinas Got Talent.

From being a recording

Khalil Ramos collaborates with indie band December Avenue in tomorrow's episode of Coke Studio.

talent, he crossed over to teleseryes, mainstream and indie movies, but in his heart, he never really let go of music. As an artist, music was his first passion, his first love, his first home.

It may seem like an unlikely pairing, the gritty indie band slogging it out at gig after gig and the reality star who was able to build on overnight success, but from the minute they met, the collaboration was seamless.

“Good vibes lang talaga, parang tropa,” says Zel Bautista, December Avenue’s vocalist and acoustic guitarist.

His bandmates Jem Manuel (on lead guitar), Don Gregorio (on bass) and Jet Danao (on drums) nod in agreement, “Khalil told us that the music he really loves is more of the rock, and grunge-y, and so he was just going back to what he really loved.

And even if this was the first time we had ever collaborated with a male performer, which might sound strange at first because we like our songs to have a story, there was a deep level of commitment on both sides.”

On Khalil’s part, he admits, “Even if I know about their band and their songs, I had no idea that they have already been on the scene for about 10 years. I could relate to that feeling because when I decided to start acting after my start as a singer, it also took a few years for me to be accepted as an actor. So we bonded on that, because it’s really not fast or easy.”

He then adds, “I’ve always been a big fan of OPM and the local band scene. In fact, I was at a magazine party and the entertainment was really good young bands and it made me decide that I would really return to music and live performing. It was always inside of me even if I’ve been doing more acting but I even met with my management to brainstorm that now, I wanted to do more in music.”

Continued on C3