Manila Standard - 2018 March 02 - Friday

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Erotic images whet Russian elections MOSCOW—A topless model lies in front of a Russian flag, apparently studying a campaign brochure, as a second young woman prepares to cast a vote in her lingerie.

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 19 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Picasso portrait fetches $69 million LONDON—A Pablo Picasso portrait of his muse Marie-Therese Walter with future lover Dora Maar emerging from the shadows fetched £50 million (57 million euros, $69 Next page

LIGTAS PILIPINAS. Firefighters as well as rescue personnel in Metro Manila conduct demonstrations Thursday during the ‘Ligtas Pilipinas’ rally of the Bureau of Fire Protection at

the bayside Quirino Grandstand in Manila. March is observed as the Fire Prevention Month in the archipelagic country, with a flash mob production number by 600 trainees from the National Fire Training Institute and simulation exercise of the bureau’s capability in responding to the ‘Big One.’ Norman Cruz

13 justices gang up on Sereno Carpio-led en banc resolves confusing statements from her camp

By Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo

PDP-Laban swearing-in marred by party row

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HE Supreme Court on Thursday rebuked Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and her lawyers for causing confusion on the nature of the leave she had taken starting March 1.

In a rare en banc press statement signed by 13 associate justices led by acting Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio, the Court categorically declared that Sereno has taken an indefinite leave of absence, repudiating the statement made by her lawyers that she was merely taking a “wellness leave.”

The Court also lamented that the confusion arising from the various statements made by Sereno’s spokespersons on the nature of her leave has caused serious damage to the judiciary, prompting them to issue an en banc statement.

The statement read by Court spokesperson Theodore Te during a media briefing clarified that after extended deliberation during last Tuesday’s en banc session, 13 justices arrived at a consensus that Sereno should take an indefinite leave.

“Several reasons were mentioned by the various justices. After consulting with the two most senior justices, the chief justice herself announced that she was taking an indefinite leave, with the amendment that she start the leave on Thursday, March 1, 2018,” the Court statement said.

“The chief justice did not request the rescheduling of her wellness leave,” the Court added, again belying a statement from Sereno’s spokespersons.

“The Court en banc regrets the confusion that the announcements and media releases of the spokespersons of the

‘‘

‘‘I did not kill Joanna... I am an OFW too. Nobody wanted what happened to her.’’

—Agnes Tuballes, alleged recruiter of slain OFW Joanna Demafelis

By Rio N. Araja, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon RamosAraneta

Acting Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio

chief justice have caused, which seriously damaged the integrity of the judiciary in general and the Supreme Court in particular,” the Court said.

“In the ordinary course of events, the Court expected the chief justice to cause the announcement only of what was really agreed upon without any modification or embellishment. This matter shall be dealt with in a separate proceeding,” it said.

To clear the air, “the Court en banc considers Next page

APOLOGETIC AGNES. A self-

confessed distant relative of slain OFW Joanna Demafelis addresses a news conference at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Crame Thursday to clear her name and, in the same breath, apologize to the victim’s family, saying she, a domestic helper herself, never wanted the 29-year-old to die in the hands of her employers.

Manny Palmero

SOME members of the ruling PDPLaban who gathered at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City lashed out at House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez Wednesday and questioned the mass oathtaking ceremonies that he has been leading.

“Members are complaining about the mass oathtakings,” said Rogelio Garcia, PDP-Laban national council chairman.

“Why are they doing these without the approval of the party?”

At the same even to mark the 36th founding anniversary of the party, Cesar Ledesma, one of the party’s founders, said the thousands of new members sworn into the party did not undergo the

basic membership seminar required by the party’s charter and by-laws.

He said only those who commit to the party’s philosophy and principles may apply for membership and must be approved by the local councils.

Garcia also complained that he and other members from Mindanao were not invited to the PDP-Laban’s anniversary celebration at the Peninsula Manila in Makati Tuesday.

“When I called them, they said you people from Mindanao really will not be invited because you’ll just cause trouble in the party,” he said in Filipino.

He later said some council members wanted Alvarez to be declared persona non grata in Mindanao.

But the national chairman of the PDPLaban information committee, Ronwald Munsayac, later said the event at the

Quezon Memorial Circle was not sanctioned by party leaders, and that some of those in the event had already been expelled.

Alvarez was quoted as saying those who spoke out against him were crazy and had long been expelled from the PDP-Laban.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, the party’s president, praised Alvarez.

In a speech delivered during the party’s 36th anniversary at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City on Tuesday, Pimentel recognized Alvarez for building the party in Congress.

Pimentel noted that the party founded by his father and namesake who also served as Senate president, had 122 members now. Before, it only had three members in the House of RepresentaNext page tives.

PH, China firm hold talks on joint oil hunt in SC Sea

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Philippines said Thursday it is in talks with a Chinese state firm for joint South China Sea energy resource exploration and extraction, in a proposed deal described by President Rodrigo Duterte as akin to “co-ownership” of contested areas.

The two countries have long been embroiled in a bitter dispute over their competing claims to the region—with China claiming nearly the entire sea—but Duterte has in recent years softened his predecessors’ policy of opposing Beijing’s claims.

Duterte said Wednesday an arrangement to turn two of the rival claimants virtual joint owners of the strategic and supposedly oil and gas-rich sea was preferable to the “massacre” of Filipino troops in a war with China.

“Now their [Beijing’s] offer is joint exploration, which is like co-ownership. It’s like the two of us would be the owners. I think that’s better than fighting,” he said Next page

ROTC graduates to get into action vs terror—DND DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday supported President Rodrigo Duterte’s suggestion to mobilize and arm graduates of the Reserve Officers Training Course, saying this was what they have envisioned for the country.

“That is very possible,” Lorenzana said, replying to a question if it was possible to arm ROTC graduates if the country’s problem with terrorism worsened.

“Other countries like Switzerland and Israel do it,” he added. “They have a small standing armed force backed by a huge reserve force that continually train with the active force.”

“What we envision in our country is the same.”

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Recruiter apologizes to slain OFW kin THE alleged recruiter of slain overseas Filipino worker Joanna Demafelis on Thursday apologized to the latter’s family, saying she, a domestic helper herself, never wanted the 29-year-old to die in the hands of her employers.

Agnes Tuballes, a distant relative— how distant she did not say—of Demafelis, surfaced before the Criminal

Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police to clear her name regarding the killing of Demafelis in Kuwait.

Tuballes told a news conference in Camp Crame she assumed that Demafelis was doing well in her job since she never heard of any complaint from her employers.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

US spurs travel ties with Taiwan

‘Dengvaxia conspiracy’ focus of Gordon's plaint

WASHINGTON―The United States Senate on Wednesday [Thursday in Manila] passed a bill promoting US-Taiwan relations, a piece of legislation likely to infuriate China.

The Taiwan Travel Act, intended to encourage visits between the United States and Taiwan “at all levels,” was passed by unanimous consent, having passed the House of Representatives in January.

The bill adds that it should be US policy for high-level Taiwanese officials to enter the United States, meet with US officials and conduct business in the country.

President Donald Trump’s signature is now all that is needed for the bill to become law―something that is not likely to be an obstacle, given that the bill was passed unanimously.

Washington cut formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979, recognizing the Communist mainland rulers in Beijing as the sole government of “One China.”

But, under the terms of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, Washington maintains an ambiguous approach to the island, maintains trade relations and sells Taipei weapons.

Trump sparked protest from China shortly after his election in 2016 by accepting a phone call from Taiwan’s leader Tsai Ing-wen, an action seen as breaking the protocol of the One-China policy.

He made amends by vowing to uphold the One-China policy shortly before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort―but infuriated Beijing again last summer by approving a $1.3-billion arms sale to Taiwan. AFP

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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“What happens in the polling booth stays in the polling booth,” says one page of sponsored content in the Russian edition of men’s magazine Maxim.

Another image shows a woman in black underwear seductively dropping her ballot paper into the box under the slogan, “Welcome to the world of adults.”

In the midst of a limp election campaign, a series of sexually charged videos and images have appeared online with the apparent aim of arousing Russians’ interest in next month’s predictable presidential election.

While it is not clear who is financing the “Elections: Adults Only” content that has also appeared on social networks and YouTube, the appeal to younger voters is unlikely to displease the Kremlin.

With Vladimir Putin all but guaranteed to win another six-year term on March 18, despite not putting forward any concrete policy proposals, turnout has become a key focus for authorities.

The Kremlin is reportedly seeking 70-percent participation to provide Putin with a strong mandate, while opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been barred from running, calls for a boycott of polls he denounces as a sham.

Maxim editor Alexander Malenkov told AFP he was not at liberty to say who had funded the erotic photo spreads, which were produced last year for the magazine’s autumn edition.

A behind-the-scenes video of the shoot has since racked up more than one million hits online. AFP

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million) at a London sale Wednesday, a European auction record for a painting.

The 1937 “Femme au Beret et a la Robe Quadrillee (Marie-Therese Walter)” beat expectations it would sell for £36 million (41 million euros, $50 million) at the sale of impressionist, surrealist and modern art at auction house Sotheby’s.

It was the first time the oil on canvas had emerged on the international art market and headlined the auctioneer’s first major sale of the year, it said.

The identity of the seller, and its new owner, were not released.

“It’s an incredibly important museum quality picture,” James Mackie, director of the impressionist and modern art department at Sotheby’s, told AFP last week.

“It comes from a key era in Picasso’s career, 1937, when he makes the great painting ‘Guernica’,” he added, referring to the masterpiece which portrayed the horrors of the Nazi bombardment of a Basque city during the Spanish civil war.

The painting also has a strong autobiographical appeal, according to Mackie.

The main subject, Marie-Therese Walter, was the Spanish painter’s “long time lover and muse.” AFP

He said the Dengvaxia controversy had turned doctor against doctor and government agency against government agency.

He said the public should focus on how some officials in the highest echelons of government worked with Sanofi to manipulate the very agency mandated to regulate the industry.

“We should focus on the conspiracy that transpired between officials, including those from the highest office in the country, and Sanofi to railroad the implementation of a vaccination program using a vaccine which, at the time, late 2015 and even early 2016,

was still an experimental vaccine,” Gordon said.

The Blue Ribbon committee chairman said the time line of events showed that high-ranking officials in 2014 hastened the issuance of a certificate of product registration to Sanofi, even when the requirements it submitted were lacking.

“The former President [Benigno Aquino III] met with Sanofi officials in Beijing in December 2014. Two months later, Sanofi submitted its application for registration with the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] and paid the fees even if their application docu-

ments were incomplete,” Gordon said.

After that, he said, key officials in the Health Department moved to enable then Health secretary Janette Garin to be in a position of authority to influence the speedy approval of Sanofi’s application for registration.

“Former President Aquino’s first meeting with Sanofi officials was suspicious because it seemed to trigger the speed in connection with the FDA registration; his Paris meeting with Sanofi officials in early December 2015 appeared to have further accelerated the procurement process, that a Special Allotment Release Order signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa was already released on Dec. 29 of the same year,” Gordon said.

He expressed optimism that when the Blue Ribbon investigation was concluded, there would be sufficient information to exact accountability from the public officials and personalities involved and for the concerned agencies such as the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman to build up possible charges against them for violation of several sections for graft.

13 justices...

ments made by her lawyers regarding her leave of absence.

In a statement, Sereno also said that her decision to take an indefinite leave does not indicate that she will resign as chief justice, but showed her resolve to clear her name of the allegations in the impeachment complaint when it is finally transmitted to the Senate for trial.

“I have not resigned and I will not resign. This indefinite leave is not a resignation. I will devote my time to the preparation of my Senate defense and work on the cases in my docket,” Sereno said, in a statement.

“It is unfortunate that my plan of making use of an already approved wellness leave in relation to an indefinite leave was inaccurately conveyed for which I apologized,” the embattled chief justice added.

Nonetheless, Sereno said her indefinite leave is bound by the appropriate administrative rules, which do not contain any provision on such a kind of leave.

Sereno had initially scheduled her annual wellness leave, as approved by the Court en banc, from March 12 to 23, but opted to advance it to March 1 to 15 to give her sufficient time to prepare for her legal defense in the looming impeachment trial.

Sereno’s spokesman, Jojo Lacanilao, apologized to the Supreme Court and the House committee on justice for the confusion created by his previous announcement that Sereno was merely advancing her approved wellness leave instead of taking an indefinite leave.

“We were working on information available to us at the time we were engaged and asked questions by the press.

The developments and discussions on what transpired during the en banc on Tuesday were not privy to us,” Lacanilao

said.

“Therefore, there was no malice on anyone of us to confuse, mislead or obfuscate what were fast developing events in the Supreme Court,” he said.

Lacanilao also presented Sereno’s latest official statement to the media.

“The chief justice understands the sense of the 13 justices that they expected me, in the normal course of events, to cause the announcement of my indefinite leave. I had agreed to go on an indefinite leave, but I am also bound by the appropriate administrative rules,” her statement read.

She reiterated she would qualify her leave pursuant to the Court’s internal rules.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Thursday if Sereno does not resign and a quo warranto proceeding against her prospers, the Palace will have to implement the law and remove her from office.

In a press briefing, Roque said the Office of the Solicitor General was studying the filing of a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court, questioning the validity of Sereno’s appointment, given her failure to comply with the requirements of her position.

Earlier, lawyer Manny Luna and suspended lawyer Eligio Mallari filed a petition for quo warranto proceedings against Sereno before the Office of the Solicitor General, Roque said.

“If the quo warranto proceeding to be initiated against her before the Supreme Court succeeds, Malacañang will have no choice but to implement her removal,” he said.

Sereno’s camp said a quo warranto proceeding had no basis, as the chief justice may be removed from office only through impeachment.

MID the uproar over the Dengvaxia scandal, Senator Richard Gordon on Thursday called on the public to focus on the alleged conspiracy between some government officials and the French drug firm Sanofi Pasteur to administer the anti-dengue vaccine to more than 800,000 children.

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Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno to be on an indefinite leave starting March 1, 2018,” the statement said, adding that Carpio would be acting chief justice.

“The Clerk of Court and the Office of the Administrator will be informed and ordered to inform all courts and offices accordingly,” the Court said.

Carpio will also serve as acting chairman of the Judicial and Bar Council and the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

Te explained that the statement signed by the 13 associate justices was intended “to address the confusion arising from the various statements of the spokesperson of the chief justice with respect to the characterization of the nature of the leave that she had declared.”

Besides Carpio, the other associate justices who signed the statement were Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlas Bernabe, Marvic Leonen, Francis Jardeleza, Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes and Alexander Segismundo.

Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa did not take part as he was on leave.

Sereno had earlier sent a letter to the deputy clerk of court on Wednesday stating that she was taking an “indefinite leave,” a part of which will be charged against her “wellness leave.”

Sereno, who turned down calls for her resignation, said that she will use the time to prepare her legal defense for her looming impeachment trial before the Senate.

Sereno on Thursday apologized for the confusion created by conflicting state-

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during a visit to the war-torn southern city of Marawi.

Negotiations between the Philippines and China over South China Sea exploration were raised last month by Filipino Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque provided more detail Thursday, specifying that talks were underway between the Philippines’ Energy Department and an unnamed Chinese state firm, and that extraction of energy resources was now on the table.

He did not specify which specific area of the sea was under discussion.

Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim all or part of the sea. Proposed cooperation between Manila and Beijing has caused alarm among neighboring Southeast Asian countries in the past.

“We might enter into an agreement with a Chinese-owned

PDP-Laban...

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He also lauded Alvarez for recruiting members from the grassroots.

The Senate leader had earlier acknowledged Alvarez’s strengthening the party with quality members.

He also said Alvarez, the party’s secretary general, was crucial in the passage of laws that forward the reforms the party has been advocating.

Pimentel said the group at the Quezon City Memorial Circle did not represent the party, and urged them to “immediately cease” from taking actions that were “inimical” to the PDP-Laban’s image and morale.

In the House, opposition lawmaker Rep. Tom Villarin of the Akbayan partylist slammed Alvarez for acting like a bully instead of a statesman.

He cited Alvarez’s threat to give provinces that opposed PDP-Laban’s advocacy of federalism would get “zero budget.”

“His use and abuse of power is disconcerting to say the least,” Villarin said.

corporation, not the Chinese state itself,” Roque said in an interview aired on ABS-CBN television, adding the company he declined to name was state-owned.

“I know that they’re discussing, they’re moving forward and it’s likely to happen,” he added without giving a timetable or the exact terms of the proposed deal.

“This will now actually entail joint exploration and possible exploitation of natural resources.”

Duterte’s willingness to cooperate with China marks a turnaround from predecessor Benigno Aquino III’s stance accusing Beijing of encroaching, occupying, and building structures on reefs and rocks that Manila claims as part of its exclusive economic zone.

The Philippines won an international arbitration tribunal ruling in 2016 invalidating Beijing’s claims, but Duterte set aside the ruling while courting investments and trade from the Philippines’ giant neighbor, the world’s second-largest economy.

Cayetano said last month that Manila would consult legal experts to make sure any accord would not infringe on Philippine sovereign rights. With AFP

Villarin also said the PDP-Laban’s legacy would be damaged by Alvarez’s “bullying ways.”

In the Palace, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte, chairman of the party, would not get involved in the bickering among PDPLaban members.

He said the differences would be “threshed out in due course.”

Alvarez on Thursday said the PDP-Laban wants more candidates from Mindanao in the party’s senatorial ticket for the 2019 mid-term elections.

Speaking before some 6,000 local officials from 20 municipalities, one city and 335 barangays of Surigao City who took their oath as new members of PDP, Alvarez said that so far there are only three in the current crop of senators who are from Mindanao, namely Pimentel and Senators Miguel Zubiri and Manny Pacquiao.

“Let’s add some more [from Mindanao], “Alvarez said in the local dialect.

For this purpose, Alvarez endorsed the candidacy of Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, and Maguindanao 2nd District Rep.

Sajid Mangudadatu.

“These are our guys—these two are from Mindanao,” Alvarez said.

He also said he would try to convince Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go to run for the Senate.

Alvarez urged new PDP members in the province to start listing the names of senators who have voiced their opposition to the administration’s push for federalism.

“And when the election comes in 2019, don’t vote for them,” Alvarez said.

At the same time, Alvarez said Pimentel, who is up for reelection, would lead the PDP senatorial slate.

Alvarez said other possible members of the administration’s senatorial ticket in 2019 from the House of Representatives include Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Rep. Reynaldo Umali, Negros Occidental 3dr District Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, and Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman.

From the Executive department, Alvarez said Communications Undersecretary Mocha Uson and presidential spokespman Harry Roque are also being considered for inclusion in the PDP senatorial slate.

Du30 wants more rebels to surrender

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday vowed to crush the communist rebels, saying he was not yet satisfied with the number of communist rebels who had surrendered.

In his speech during the time capsulelaying ceremony for the construction of villas for select soldiers in Mindanao, Duterte said he had no choice but to order the killing of more rebels since the communists were still killing soldiers and policemen.

He also said he was not inclined to resume the peace talks with the rebels any time soon.

“Not at this time. Alongside with the mass surrenders is also the ferocity of those fighting,” he said in an ambush interview following his speech.

Duterte made his statement even as the military on Thursday condemned the torching of a tractor by four suspected communist rebels in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Feb. 27.

“These communist-terrorists keep bragging that they are fighting for the people’s welfare, yet their actions contradict their words,” said Brig. Gen. Dinoh Dolina, commander of the Army’s Third Infantry Division.

He described the torching as “a barbaric act and a clear indication of economic sabotage,” and that the reason for it was probably extortion.

Authorities said the communists also torched a 10-wheeler truck used by farmers to haul sugarcane in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, on Feb. 22.

Duterte told the military to reconfigure its tactics since communist snipers were still able to find ways to target government forces.

He again lashed out at the communist leaders, saying they no longer had the same traction as due to their old age.

“I know most of them are getting old and sick. Their brains no longer work,” Duterte said.

He also said government forces would deal with the remaining Maute terrorists “harshly.”

Recruiter...

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Tuballes said they already lost contact with Demafelis ever since the latter got hired.

At the same time, the CIDG said Tuballes was not yet a suspect.

For now, Tuballes, who has voluntarily turned herself in, is considered a material witness in the investigation against the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Global E-Human Resources Inc., the agency that deployed Demafelis to Kuwait in 2016, Director Roel Obusan said, according to a Radyo Pilipinas report.

Tuballes vehemently denied being Demafelis’ recruiter, saying she merely referred the victim to the agency and received a referral fee as a result.

At the time of Tuballes’ referral, Demafelis was already working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte directed the National Bureau of Investigation to look for the local recruiters of the slain housemaid following the arrest of her employers, Lebanese national Nader Essam Assaf and his Syrian wife, Mona Hassoun, last week.

The two are the principal suspects in the death of Demafelis, whose body was found inside a freezer in an abandoned building in Kuwait City early this year.

Demafelis’ remains, which were brought to her hometown of Sara, Iloilo, will be laid to rest at the Sara Public Cemetery on March 3. PNA

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Lorenzana said there was nothing new in Duterte’s announcement.

Lorenzana said they were looking at the possibility of each region having a reserve unit, consisting of retired military officers and ROTC graduates with a core group of active duty officers and enlisted personnel.

“Their cadres [officers and enlisted personnel] will be active military. They will have their Regional HQ with armories where they will keep their individual firearms. They can use these firearms during training,” he said.

And should these formations be used in combat, peacekeeping and disaster response missions “will have official orders calling them for limited active duty, like we did with the Lanao del Norte Reserve Battalion during the Marawi Siege,” Lorenzana said.

Duterte also announced the Philippines would get 5,000 firearms from an unidentified “friendly country” as he vowed to build a strong police and military before he leaves office. PNA

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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Iceland’s top envoy welcome to visit PH, but not Callamard’

SEC to study Omidyar move to donate its PDRs to Rappler

By Jenniffer B. Austria

By Rey E. Requejo FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday expressed confidence that Iceland Foreign Minister Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson would change his perspective on the human rights situation in the country once he comes to the Philippines.

“After explaining why the Philippines has to undertake the campaign against illegal drugs, I told Foreign Minister Thórdarson not to take my word for it and that it would be best if he could come and visit so he could see the situation for himself,” Cayetano said in a statement.

Thordarson earlier urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to take further actions into investigations of alleged human rights violations in the country arising from the anti-drug war of the Duterte administration.

The Iceland foreign minister also called on the Philippines to allow UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard to visit without any precondition or limitation so she could conduct an objective assessment of the human rights situation in the country.

However, Cayetano said he is confident Thordarson will change his initial views on the human rights situation in the country, citing his assessment on what he told Iceland’s top diplomat at the sidelines of the 37th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva on Tuesday.

Besides, Cayetano said he also conveyed his serious disappointment to Thordarson over the remarks he made on Monday that Iceland takes pride in leading 40 countries in calling out the Philippines over alleged human rights violations committed in the course of its campaign against illegal drugs.

Stop issuing IDs to delinquent hangar lessees —Alvarez

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez said on Thursday that the Manila International Airport Authority should stop issuing identification cards to those companies that are delinquent in the payment of their rentals of hangars.

Alvarez made the call during a congressional probe conducted by the House committee on transportation on House Resolution 1649 on the government’s rationalization program of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals.

Alvarez inquired from MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal about the payment of rental fees of hangars.

Monreal revealed that rental fees that had to be collected from companies renting the hangars amount to about P100 million.

Despite this non-payment, Monreal said the delinquent companies are still there and that MIAA has started taking action against them.

Alvarez said MIAA should stop issuing IDs so that these delinquent rental leases would not be allowed to enter the hangar areas anymore.

“You must stop issuing IDs. Subsequently, you should file a case against companies that are delinquent in the payment of their rentals of hangars,” Alvarez said.

MOBILE COMMAND. Makati Mayor Abby Binay led the ceremonial blessing and launching of the new fleet of state-of-the-art mobile command and emergency response vehicle DRRM as the city kicks off the Fire Prevention Month with a display and demo of its fire equipment held at the Makati City Hall on Thursday. Lino Santos

DFA conducting inventory of OFW helpers in KSA T

By Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo

HE Department of Foreign Affairs is conducting an inventory of the Filipina household helpers in Saudi Arabia amid reports of maid trade in that country.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and Research Ernesto Abella said that they decided to conduct the audit after receiving reports of such illegal activity, saying it is also being done to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipina household helpers.

“We received reports that certain families and employees are in the habit of trading their household helper among families,” Abella said.

Abella explained that the move was pursuant to the guidance of President Duterte to prioritize the safety and welfare of overseas Filipino workers to ensure that they would not become victims of abuses by their employers.

It also came following controversy generated by the death of Filipina household helper Joanna Demafelis whose body was found stuffed in a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait City.

Demafelis’ death prompted Duterte to issue a deployment ban on OFWs to

Kuwait.

On Wednesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the government is also considering a similar ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Saudi Arabia amid persistent reports of them being traded illegally within the oil-rich kingdom.

Of the more than 2.4-million Filipinos living and working in the Middle East, 1.2 million are found in Saudi Arabia working in the oil fields, medicine, service industries and as household helpers.

Bello III said that “trading or switching” of foreign household workers known as “kafala” is a common practice in Saudi Arabia, where more than 1.2-million Filipinos are working.

He said the country would impose the same deployment restrictions it applied to Kuwait if Saudi Arabia does not strengthen its protection of Filipino workers there.

Saudi Arabia is the biggest employer of Filipino workers, who make up the

fourth largest group of foreigners there, and who are the second largest source of remittances to the Philippines.

“Under the kafala or sponsorship system, the Arab sponsor-employer has [complete] control over the mobility of the migrant worker,” Bello said.

A foreign worker, for instance, cannot quit work or transfer jobs without first obtaining the consent of his employer, which practically places the worker at the mercy of his employer, he said.

As part of the government move to improve protection for Filipino workers, the department sent a team to the Middle East, headed by Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad, to assess conditions there and provide immediate assistance and recommend actions to deal with the situation.

Bello said that the report of the team will be a reliable basis for the amendment or enhancement of existing bilateral labor agreements with Arab countries to provide better protection for Filipino workers.

“If there is an existing bilateral labor agreement but there are still rampant cases of maltreatment, then maybe we need to amend the agreement. The minimum demand of our President is that we will only deploy in countries where our workers are properly and effectively protected,” Bello said.

Bill on the welfare of reservists up for plenary

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo A MEASURE promoting the welfare of military reservists is now up for plenary deliberations in the Senate after it passed the committee level.

In his co-sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1698 or the Reservist Employment Rights Act, Senator Bam Aquino underscored the importance of reservists in today’s society, such as disaster preparedness and the anti-terrorism drive.

“Now, more than ever, the AFP needs a dedicated, experienced and sophisticated reserve force - comparable to the Reserve Forces of other great nations,” said Aquino, co-sponsor and co-author of

Senate Bill No. 1698.

The measure resulted from Aquino’s dialogues with members and officials of the Army Reserve Command and other government officials in the hearing he spearheaded as sub-committee chairman of the Committee on Labor.

During the course of his dialogue with reservists, Aquino discovered that some of the reservists are entrepreneurs, I.T. professionals, teachers, doctors, lawyers, nurses, sales agents, security guards and employees of different government agencies.

He said some of the reservists are in danger of losing their jobs while doing great service to the country.

“While they risk their lives for the country, they are at risk of losing their livelihood, which should not be the case,”

said Aquino.

The Reservist Employment Rights Act will ensure proper training and compensation for reservists, on top of protection from discrimination in job hiring, reintegration, promotion, or any benefit of employment.

“We must pass this measure to guarantee that at the end of their required military service, reservists will be reinstated to their civilian careers, and to an equivalent position without loss of seniority or decreased pay,” said Aquino.

The measure also protects reservists who suffer any injury or disability during their service, ensuring their reintegration to the civilian work force, so long as they can perform the essential function of their original employment.

Women take over reins of House in March

By Francisco Tuyay A POWER shift at the House of Representatives is expected on March 5, as women legislators temporarily take full control of the plenary in observance of the International Women’s Month.

An All-Women Session at the Plenary will be led by Bulacan 4th District Representative Deputy Speaker Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica acting as the Speaker. She is the President of the 86-strong Association of Women Legislators Foundation Inc. a non-profit, non-partisan organization composed of all lady solons at the House of Representatives.

The other presiding officers in the All-Women Session are Representatives Bernadette Herrera-Dy (Bagong Henerasyon Partylist); Corazon NunezMalanyaon (1st District, Davao Oriental); Jocelyn Sy-Limkaichong (1st District, Negros Oriental); and Imelda CalixtoRubiano (Lone District, Pasay).

Rep. Maria Carmen S. Zamora (1st District, Compostela Valley) will be the Majority Leader with Reps. Lucille L.

Nava (Lone District, Guimaras), Cristal L. Bagatsing (5th District, Manila) and Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba (1st District, Bukidnon) as Deputy Majority Leaders.

Reps. Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez (Alona Partylist) and Abigail FerriolPascual will serve as Minority Leader and Deputy Minority Leader, respectively.

One of the measures that will be discussed on the floor is House Bill No. 4113, otherwise known as the 100-Day Maternity Leave Bill, which seeks to grant 100-day maternity leave with 30-day unpaid extension for working pregnant women in public and private sectors.

Scheduled to deliver privilege speeches on various issues and concerns relating to women are Representatives Elisa Olga T. Kho (2nd District, Masbate); Ruby M. Sahali (Lone District, Tawi-Tawi); Trisha Nicole Q. Velasco-Catera (Mata Partylist); Anna Katrina M. Enverga (1st District, Quezon); Vini Nola A. Ortega (Abono Partylist); Jennifer Austria Barzaga (4th District, Cavite); Marlyn B. Alonte-Naguiat (Lone District, Binan); and Emmi A. de Jesus (Gabriela Partylist).

AIRPORT MATTERS. Senator Grace Poe, chairman of Senate Committee on Public Services together with the Committee on Finance and Science and Technology and Senator Panfilo Lacson throw questions to Mr. Eddie Monreal general manager Manila International Airport Authority during the Senate pubic hearing on Decongesting the Ninoy Aquino International Airport held at the Senate Hall in Pasay City. Lino Santos

THE Securities and Exchange Commission said it is studying the recent move of Delaware-based Omidyar Network to donate its Philippine Depository Receipts to managers of controversial online media portal Rappler.

Omidyar on Wednesday said it has decided to donate its PDRs to the 14 managers of Rappler, which was earlier ruled by the SEC as unconstitutional because of “repugnant” provisions.

“The Commission is internally studying this development to determine its next action before the Court of Appeals and to ensure the fulfilment of its duty of enforcing the Constitutional restrictions of nationalized activities such as Mass Media,” SEC said.

SEC however also pointed out that any new developments pertaining to the case should now be coursed through the Court of Appeals, through an appropriate pleading or manifestation.

“To date, we are unaware of any such pleadings or manifestation officially conveying this information to the Court of Appeals and for what specific relief,” SEC said.

SEC also cautioned all relevant parties to abide by the sub judice rule and refrain from making unnecessary pronouncements through media when recourse to judicial processes is readily available.

In an interview, Rappler legal counsel Francisco Ed Lim said that the recent move of Omidyar to donate its PDRs to Rappler, should put the case moot and academic.

Equip fishermen with better boats to fish in WPS—Alejano AN OPPOSITION lawmaker on Thursday called on the government to develop the fishing industry and at the same time assert its ownership of the seas on its exclusive economic zone by providing fishermen with bigger boats that are capable of operating on the high seas.

“Fishing groups in Zambales have approached me, saying that the boats they received from the government are not sturdy enough to withstand heavier waves on the high seas. This affects the amount and quality of the fish they are able to harvest—leading to a crippling of their livelihood,” Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, a former Navy officer, said.

Citing Philippine Statistics Authority data, Alejano said the fishing industry has registered among the sectors with the highest poverty incidence. The sector was poorest in 2006, 2009, and 2012, and secondpoorest in 2015.

Alejano pointed out the irony of the situation, saying, “because of the limitations in the quality of equipment, our own people can only fish near municipal waters, while they watch bigger Chinese ships illegally harvest fish in farther parts of the Philippine’s Exclusive Economic Zone.”

To address the problem, Alejano appealed to the government to provide small-scale fishermen with boats that are capable of sailing on deeper waters, where there is an abundance of marine resources.

Alejano added that presence of Filipino fishermen in high seas could be considered as a “force multiplier.”

“Seeing [Filipino] civilian boats freely fishing in these waters will reinforce the image of control the Philippines has. Their presence would help bolster our claims in disputed areas,” he said.

Alejano also said: “We have a responsibility to these people. Part of safeguarding our waters entails ensuring the continuing livelihood of our fisherfolk in conflicted areas.” Maricel V. Cruz

US attack submarine makes final port call in Subic AFTER eight visits to the Philippines, the United States’ Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Bremerton on Thursday made its last and final port of call at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as part of its routine port visit during its deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.

In a statement released by the US Embassy in Manila, Cmdr. Travis Zettel, commanding officer of USS Bremerton, said that the visit highlights the strong partnership between the US and the Philippines and gives the crew an opportunity to

meet the local community living in the Subic area.

Zettel added that it also demonstrates the US Navy’s commitment to regional stability and maritime security in the US 7th Fleet area of operations.

Rey E. Requejo

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL EVERYMAN

Christian persecution and genocide

By Eric Jurado ROME’S most famous landmark, the Colosseum, was lit up in red last Saturday in solidarity with persecuted Christians. In terms of sheer numbers and sheer horror, Christians, specifically Christians living in Muslimmajority countries, countries where Christians often preceded Muslims by centuries, are the most persecuted religious group in the world today. I’m not talking about “War on Christmas” type harassment; I’m talking about “know your place or we’re going to kill you” persecution. Astonishingly, the Western mainstream media barely acknowledge what is happening.

Let’s look closer at this issue. It tells us a lot about the world we’re living in.

One hundred years ago, 20 percent of North Africa and the Middle East, the birthplace of Christianity, was Christian.

Today, Christians make up 4 percent of the population. Much of that decline has occurred in the last decade. In essence, Muslims are rendering North Africa and the Middle East free of Christians.

Take Egypt, for example. In just the past three years, tens of thousands of Christian Copts have left Egypt. And many others want to leave, but they simply cannot afford to. Why they want to leave is no mystery.

On New Year’s Day 2011, the Two Saints Church in Alexandria was bombed, leaving 23 Copts dead and 97 injured. In recent years dozens of other Coptic churches have been attacked, many burned to the ground. In August 2013 alone, the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters attacked and destroyed some 80 churches. On Palm Sunday 2017, twin suicide bombings took place at St. George’s Church in the northern Egyptian city of Tanta on the Nile delta, and Saint Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, the principal church in Alexandria, seat of the Coptic papacy. At least 45 people were reported killed and 126 injured.

Unfortunately, Egypt is more the rule than the exception.

Hundreds of Nigerian churches have been destroyed in recent years, with especially deadly attacks reserved for Christmas and Easter church services, leaving dozens dead or mutilated. Churches have been bombed or burned in Iraq, Syria, and just about every place in the Middle East where churches still exist, except Israel. Christian businesses have been torched, Christian girls have been kidnapped, sold as child brides or slaves, and had acid thrown in their faces for not being veiled. Anyone born a Muslim who converts to Christianity faces jail and possibly execution. The list of fresh atrocities by Muslims against Christians grows longer almost every day. Even in Muslim countries often portrayed as “moderate”—Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan—Christian minorities are under legal pressure not to build churches or evangelize.

The Christians in these Muslim countries are often identical to their co-citizens in race, ethnicity, national identity, culture, and language; there is no political dispute between the Christians and Muslims, no land dispute. Vastly outnumbered and politically marginalized, these Christians simply wish to worship in peace. Instead they are hounded and attacked.

So, then, why is this happening? And why is the media making so little mention of it?

The first question is easy to answer.

Christians are being persecuted in Muslim countries because they’re Christians, or as the Quran puts it, “infidels,” that is, non-Muslims, who are regarded by many fundamentalist Muslims as inferior. As a fundamentalist interpretation of the holy books of Islam has grown in the last fifty or so years, Christians have suffered. And in recent years, they have suffered terribly.

If this were happening to any other group besides Christians, it would be the human rights tragedy of our time. There would be loud worldwide calls for action. But the silence in the mainstream Turn to A5

M

Negligence at the NFA

ANAGING the country’s rice inventory is a serious job. Consumed by all Filipinos, rice is a precious commodity and price-sensitive, and its supply should be handled with utmost care.

The state-owned National Food Authority is vested with the responsibility to assure that the rice stock is ample to stabilize prices. If the inventory drops below comfortable levels, the NFA must address the situation right away. It must import the commodity quickly to avert panic among the consumers. It should see to to it that rice supply is always sufficient by building a comfortable inventory to ward off speculators.

But the NFA did the opposite,

telling the public in a press statement that the Philippines had a rice shortage. The statement, actually an admission of inefficiency, caused commercial rice prices to spike and the public to panic.

Senators the other day called for the resignation of administrator Jason Laureano Aquino to quit his post for failing to do his job in securing the buffer stock of NFA rice.

Senators Grace Poe and Senator Bam Aquino IV both want Aquino to resign for his inefficiency that they claimed has prejudiced the consumers, especially the poor buyers. The statement attributed to the NFA in February did the damage. The NFA admitted that its buffer stocks of cheap rice were running low, or just 1.7 days against the mandated 15-day inventory at any given time and 30 days at the onset

PENSEES

of the lean months of July to September. The price of rice sold by the NFA as a result jumped from P27 a kilo to P42 to P45 last month.

The NFA clearly is not doing its job of securing rice supply and stabilizing the commodity’s price. Its admission of thinning reserves is downright irresponsible and created a confusion in the market. Unscrupulous traders naturally took advantage of the situation by hiking their prices.

A responsible NFA administrator must plan and see in advance in managing the country’s rice inventory.

There is little room for error in handling the rice stock.

A judgment error will immediately send the consuming public in panic and force them to vent their ire on the government.

FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

Why I voted the way I did IN THE sub-committee that was tasked with reviewing the structure of government, Justice Antonio Nachura, our chair, asked me to report on the parliamentary system of the Westminster type, an assignment I readily accepted because I have taught the subject “Comparative Constitutions” for some time now both at the Graduate School of Law of San Beda and the Graduate School of the Cagayan State University.

I presented it to the sub-committee that also listened to the presentations of Ka Nene Pimentel for the presidentialfederal system and of Dean Julio Teehankee on the dual executive system: president and prime minister. At the plenary meeting, I got an unexpected “promotion” by our chair, retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno. He anointed me “advocate” of the parliamentary system—with the task of winning over members of the Consultative Committee (ConCom) to the parliamentary side. I failed—mine was the sole vote for a Westminster parliament—but not miserably, I hope. I like to think almost half of the members present who voted for a “hybrid” government did so in part because they saw the point in having a parliament!

What I have long been enamored about with the parliamentary system is the ready accountability of the government— and the ease with which ministers lackadaisical in the performance of their duties can be called to task. It is true, of course, that the traditional “separation of powers” associated with a presidential system is lacking in a parliamentary configuration.

In the end, the Committee opted for the familiar.

All not quite quiet in Kuwait BACK CHANNEL

Webb.)

Cacdac, who appeared to know about the abuses suffered by our OFWS at the hands of employers in

ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO DURING a question-and-answer session on CNN’s The Source, news anchor Pinky Webb asked Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Administrator Hans Cacdac: Apart from the case of Joanna Demafelis who was “killed to death,”what are the other cases of abuses against our workers in Kuwait? (I purposely put “killed to death” in quotes to make clear it was not I who said it but Ms.

We must serve notice to Middle East employers that we will not allow our people to be treated like animals.

Kuwait, replied: “There were 196 cases since 2016 of OFW deaths ranging from suicide, cardiac arrests, and physical torture.” Cacdac said he found the number of suicide cases troubling and strange since “suicide is not in the culture of our people.” He added that if indeed they committed suicide, the victims without doubt were driven to it because of maltreatment as shown by the bruises in other parts of the victims’ body.

Because of the high number of physical abuses against our workers, Cacdac said the total ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait will not be lifted until Kuwaiti authorities sign the agreement guaranteeing their safety Turn to A5

But if the purpose of separating powers is to avoid their concentration, the aisle of parliament that separates the majority from the opinion is the inbuilt check against the tyranny of the majority. The opposition will not allow the failings of the majority to pass unnoticed, and the majority cannot be cavalier about its unpopularity—a mistake that could spell its demise at the next general elections. While it is true that the continuance of government in power depends on the support it has from the majority, it is likewise true that the government (the prime minister and his ministers) set the pace for the rest of parliament: forming the legislative agenda, spelling out the program of government and holding members in check through the efficiency of a system of Party Whips.

The confidence motions are the most effective check on government. “That this House has lost confidence in this government.” (Of course, in Westminster, they would say “Her Majesty’s government”), and if this has the majority of votes, the government comes crashing down. When a confidence motion is introduced by the government itself—either as a stand-alone motion, or attached to a bill of major importance —then there is the implied threat that a recalcitrant assembly could face dissolution, and the nation, forced to general elections again. When introduced by the opposition, however, it is a threat to the government and may cause the government to resign.

While, indeed, the Westminster Parliament originated as the Parliament of England, a unitary state, because it used to be a monarchy, the merit of the parliamentary system is that it is perfectly compatible with a federal system. And while the UK is not traditionally classed as a “federal” state, the fact is that the Acts of Union that have resulted in Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland coming together and holding on Turn to A5

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Opinion From A4

Noose tightens on CJ Sereno The noose it appears is tightening around the neck of Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Majority of the high court’s associate justices have come out publicly denouncing her arbitrary decision on policies which need en banc approval.

In what appears to be a weakening of her position, the beleaguered Sereno has taken an indefinite leave of absence allowing Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to take over as Chief Justice.

The camp of CJ Sereno, however, made clear to House of Representatives members she will not give in to their calls for her to resign. Sereno spokesman Jojo Lacanilao said CJ Sereno is preparing to defend herself at the impeachment trial in the Senate.

Yes indeed, why does the House judiciary committee of Rep. Reynaldo Umali want her to resign instead of forwarding the articles of impeachment to the Senate so the trial can start? But the House it seems want to get maximum mileage through trial by publicity. The issues raised against Sereno by complainant lawyer Larry Gadon and the House justice committee so far included the false statement in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth, non-filing of income tax return (ITR) and her alleged failure of a psychiatric test. When you think of it, these are is-

sues that can be raised also against half of the nearly 300 members of Congress.

Perhaps members of the House panel are not sure of the number of senators they can get to convict Sereno.

The House prosecution panel would need at least 17 of the 21 senators .It would be an embarrassing defeat for the House if they cannot convict the chief magistrate.

Will Sereno opt for resignation wherein she can still avail of all the emoluments such as retirement pay and other benefits? If convicted in the Senate impeachment trial, Sereno will be removed from her post, barred from holding public office in the future and stripped of all monetary benefits accorded to a retiring or resigned official.

A mami-Siopao mentality Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has a gift for gab. Reacting to reports of China naming some of the undersea features in the Philippine (Benham) Rise, Roque said Filipinos eat mami and siopao but never claimed it to be a native delicacy.

Someone should tell Mr. Roque that there is a world of difference between eating mami and siopao to the Chinese eating up our sovereign territory. There is global implication in China’s covetous design in the Philippine Rise. If the Chinese are allowed to build the same military installation on artificial islands they reclaimed in the South China Sea, then we are in deep kimchi.

Deep kimchi is an American slang using the fermented Korean cabbage instead of the more vulgar bovine manure or the equine droppings to denote a messy situation.

Why...

From A4

together as the “United” Kingdom justifies its association with federal democracies—and its parliamentary structure has allowed that union to happen.

In the end, the Committee voted for the familiar. I was asked why, despite an unwritten constitution, British parliamentary government ran like a very well-oiled machine. I answered: Largely in part to their respect for tradition—because much of the British constitution consists in conventions and customs that have taken the force

of law. The traditional is the safer course: it forestalls conjecture, tempers the element of surprise, takes the sting from out of the unknown and makes things more predictable. That, to me, is why, in the end, my best arguments notwithstanding, the Committee voted to retain the presidential system—in a federal setting! rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

Christian...

From A4

Western media is, as they say, almost deafening.

Why? Because Muslim persecution of Christians throws a wrench in the media’s narrative that “Muslim violence is a product of Muslim grievance.” That grievance is, first and foremost, portrayed as the sin of European colonialism and alleged American imperialism. In the Muslim world’s mind, those two sins are personified by the Jewish State of Israel, a nation the Muslim world believes was forced upon it by the colonial powers of Europe following World War II and is currently supported by the United States.

Much of the Western world and the Western media have largely bought at least some of this narrative. Here’s how it works: Because Israel, with the backing of the United States, is stronger than its Muslim neighbors, the media, while not defending Islamic terrorism, often portray terror against Israel, America, and even Europe as the actions of understandably angry “underdogs” fighting for what they deem “justice.” But what happens to

this media narrative when Islamic terror is directed against a minority weaker than them—in this case, the millions of indigenous Christians throughout the Islamic world?

The answer is that, rather than abandon this narrative, the media just don’t report Muslim persecution of Christians except for the most sensational cases. That’s why you probably don’t know that there are barely any Christians living in Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, nations where Christianity once thrived. Or, that this is happening in Egypt, Iraq, Iran, and even Lebanon.

Two thousand years ago, Christians were tortured and killed in the Colosseum for refusing to renounce their faith. That practice continues today, with over 3,000 Christian martyrs killed in 2017 alone.

So, yes, Christians are indeed the most persecuted religious group in the world today. But reporting it would violate the media’s narrative of Christians as persecutors and Muslims as victims.

Eric Jurado covers economic and political issues with liberty as his guiding star.

World’s first hand-painted film vies for an Oscar

By Maja Czarnecka VYING for an Oscar, "Loving Vincent" is the world's first animated feature film painted by hand —all 65,000 frames—in the distinct style of Vincent van Gogh.

Centred on a probe into his untimely death, the film was shot on a shoestring budget of $5.5 million (4.5 million euros). That is 30 times less than Disney's "Coco," one of the film's four Oscar rivals.

For director Dorota Kobiela, "Loving Vincent" has been a seven-year labor of love combining her twin passions of cinema and painting.

"Van Gogh's style was perfect for the project; his paintings show all the details of his life, his day-to-day habits, his house, his room, his friends," Kobiela told AFP ahead of Sunday's Oscar ceremonies in Los Angeles. .25 secs per day After five years of pre-production, it took another two years for 125 artists from around the globe to bring the opus to life under Kobiela's watchful eye.

Working in a massive studio in Poland's Baltic port city of Gdansk, they based their oil paintings on scenes initially shot on film with actors.

The film includes representations of van Gogh's most famous paintings such as "The Starry Night."

Van Gogh, known for his bold colours and rough, vibrant painting style, is considered one of

A5

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Speaking our mind

All... and protection.

It is as it should be—not only in Kuwait but also in other Middle East countries which have recorded cases of abuses against Filipinos. We must serve notice to Middle East employers that we will not allow our people to be treated like animals.

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

the most revolutionary painters of the 19th century.

Painting the 93-minute-long movie was a painstaking task.

"The pace of work was very slow, averaging a quarter of a second of the film a day," said Kobiela, who spent seven years on the project.

A single second of the film represents an average of 12 hand-painted frames.

Each artist completed an average of six paintings a day, amounting to a half-second of the film for simple scenes.

But according to Kobiela, the quality of the hand-painted frames surpasses digital animation, making them well worth the extra effort.

Doubts about suicide "Loving Vincent" explores both van Gogh's works and his death, widely regarded as a suicide, from a gunshot wound.

Based on an original script by Pole Jacek Dehnel, the film follows Armand Roulin, the son of the postman from Arles who was the subject of several of van Gogh's paintings.

Doubting van Gogh committed suicide, Armand travels to Paris to find out more about his death.

The artist was only 37 when he died after suffering frequent bouts of mental illness including the infamous episode in which he sliced off part of his left ear. AFP

FORMATION GARY OLIVAR STAKING out your country’s position on a given issue is never an easy task, as President Duterte is finding out again and again.

It may explain why he’s assured critics he has no intentions to become a dictator, because he’s “too old for that.” Speaking as a fellow senior, I can attest that at our age, we’d much rather just speak our mind and take our stand, plain and clear, instead of having to dance endlessly around diplomatic niceties. *** Unfortunately, Duterte’s present job won’t let him do that. For example, in our relationship with China, he’s opted to walk a tightwire between the world’s two big powers, instead of taking the easy way out and continuing to cozy up to the United States despite the unreliability of its security promises.

Speaking before soldiers in Marawi the other day, the President warned that he would wage war against any country that conducted fishing or research in the Philippine (Benham) Rise without authorization. This followed his earlier order to the Philippine Navy to fire upon any foreign poachers inside our exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Then, at presumably another event in the same city—the inauguration of a new housing project—Duterte waved an olive branch by claiming that the Chinese recognized Philippine “co-ownership” of the South China Sea when they offered to conduct joint exploration and other collaborative activities with us in those waters.

It’s quite likely that China’s maritime security stakes are much higher in the South China Sea than the Pacific waters around the Philippine Rise. If so, they may well agree to go along with the somewhat nebulous concept of “co-ownership” in the latter region, adding another feather to the President’s diplomatic cap. *** Some support in this regard may be found in an unlikely source, the latest SWS quarterly survey last December.

The SWS survey found that the three countries most trusted by Filipinos are (still?) the United States, Canada and Japan. They received “very good” net trust ratings of +68, +55 and +54, respectively.

Hopefully this will ease American concerns about Duterte’s stinging anti-American rhetoric, which his Fil-Am critics keep trying to exploit for destabilization purposes. What

it should not do is embolden the US to move further against him, because—even purely in terms of survey results—his net trust ratings hovering in the mid-eighties easily overwhelm whatever the US can come up with.

At the same time, SWS found that net trust in China had improved by a whopping 20 points, from a “poor” -13 in September to a “neutral” +7 in December. This, from a country that has scored positive net ratings in only nine out of the 45 quarterly surveys that SWS has conducted since 1994.

We think that the reason for this is again Duterte-related: people trust in him so much that they’re also willing to give the Chinese

We would much rather take our stand, plain and clear, instead of having to dance endlessly around diplomatic niceties.

the benefit of the doubt purely on the President’s say-so.

It’s another feather in his diplomatic cap. But it should also be taken as an encouragement to China to keep trying harder to woo us, because—as with the proverbial dalagang Filipina—persistence and sincerity pay off in the end. *** Farther away, numerous complaints have been reaching the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration about employers in Saudi Arabia trading their maids with each other.

These young women are not covered by new contracts and are thus more vulnerable to abuse and sexual advances by their new employers.

We won’t discount the possibility that some of these maids themselves are consenting to, and even initiating, these informal trades in their search for better employment terms.

But that is neither here nor there when what we want is to avoid the killing of yet another Joanna Demafelis.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has responded, properly, that he is willing to extend the current suspension on OFW deployment to Kuwait, to other host countries in the Middle East who can’t assure us about the rights and welfare of our OFWs there, especially household helpers who are the most vulnerable.

Secretary Bello must know that he should

be more careful in talking up a deployment ban to Saudi Arabia, which hosts over a million of our overseas workers. We also offer the following suggestions to put more teeth into his threat: DFA should produce a centralized and widely publicized database of local resources in every host country that our OFWs can tap whenever their rights are violated or their lives are in danger. How cooperative a host country will be with this initiative should be closely monitored.

DFA and DoLE should go ahead to finalize OFW protection agreements with every country that hosts substantial numbers of our workers, especially in the Middle East. The pending agreement with Kuwait shouldn’t be a sole example.

Under these agreements, let’s try to secure the authority for our embassy or consulate staff to take custody of OFW passports and visas for the duration of their employment.

It’s time to seriously consider suggestions to create through legislation a new Department of Overseas Filipino Affairs, considering that a full 10 percent of our population resides overseas, whether temporarily or permanently. *** Well, it seems to be final, at least for the moment: The new form of government we’re likely to have in place by middle of next year will remain presidential in form (not parliamentary) but transitioning to a Federal system (no longer unitary).

This is what was recommended by the President’s consultative commission (concom) on charter change, after a close vote that included a run-off to achieve simple majority.

It is also among the key new provisions that the House has accepted as it begins a regular consultation process with the Con-com and (hopefully) the Senate as well.

The sense of the senior Con-com members, led by former Senate President Nene Pimentel and former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, was that a combination of parliamentary AND federal change at the same time might be too much, too soon for our people.

In an ideal world, we would have preferred to go for broke. But as we’ve been finding out from speaking to groups all over the country over the past year and a half, the inertia of the status quo—not to mention the political grip enjoyed by entrenched interests—remain to be formidable obstacles to change.

So we’re quite happy to defer to the wisdom of our elder statesmen. There will be time enough later—obviously beyond our lifetime—for our people to reconsider a parliamentary changeover, once our political culture and institutions have sufficiently matured.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@ yahoo.com.

The harm of Edsa People Power (2) VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ NOT many people know it but Edsa 1 was triggered by greed and won by a lie.

The crowds that massed on Edsa on Feb. 24, 1986, Monday, and Feb. 25, Tuesday, were there not to stage a revolt but to hold a picnic. June Keithley had announced on radio at 7 a.m. of Feb. 24 that the Marcoses had left. It was a lie.

In their glee and feeling that finally it was all over, people trooped to Edsa to celebrate.

The greed arose from a Chinese forex trader who violated the peso-dollar trading band imposed by the then unofficial central bank, the Binondo Central Bank managed and headed by then Trade and Industry Secretary Roberto V. Ongpin.

Ongpin had the erring trader arrested and loaded into a van. Unfortunately, the forex trader died. Unfortunately again, the trader happened to be a man of then-Armed Forces chief Fabian C. Ver. Angered, the dreaded military chief had 22 of Ongpin’s security men arrested. They were marching in full battle gear and dressed in SWAT uniform at about 4 a.m. inside Fort Bonifacio when arrested on Feb. 22, 1986, a Saturday.

At 11 a.m., Feb. 22, 1986, at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ongpin went looking for his security men. He called up then-Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile who was with the Club 365 at the Atrium in Makati. Enrile thought the arrest of the 22 Ongpin security men, who turned out to be RAM Boys of Col. Gringo Honasan, was part of the crackdown against the plot to oust Marcos.

The putsch was being planned by Enrile and his RAM Boys. The defense chief had grown disenchanted with Marcos, who was very ill following a botched kidney transplant three years earlier. JPE had become wary of the palace cabal led by Ver and the first lady, Mrs. Imelda Romualdez Marcos.

Enrile summoned his boys to his house on Morado Street, Dasmariñas Village. There they plotted their next moves. They decided to make a last stand at the armed forces headquarters,

Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

At 2 p.m., Enrile called then Vice Chief of Staff Lieut. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos. “Are you with us?” JPE asked Eddie. “I am with you all the way,” the latter assured him.

It was not until late in the evening that Saturday (Feb. 22, 1986) that Ramos actually joined the rebellion at Camp Aguinaldo. He had contacted his loyal PC-INP commanders, like Rene de Villa in Bicol, and Rodrigo Gutang in Ca-

Only raw courage and the power of prayer saved Cory and her administration from ignominy.

gayan de Oro and found to his dismay no troops could be readily airlifted to Manila to reinforce Enrile’s men, who were undermanned and under-armed.

Cory learned about the brewing rebellion at 4 p.m. the same Saturday in Cebu. She had led a destabilization and boycott rally there, which I covered.

After hearing about rumors of the Enrile defection, I went to the Mactan airport to book a flight to Manila. I landed in Manila shortly after 9 p.m.

With Boy del Mundo of then UPI, I took a taxi to Camp Aguinaldo.

I was surprised to find the camp commander welcoming us with open arms.

Enrile and Gringo had no troops at that time. Enrile had made a deal with Marcos—No shooting on the first night.

Also, foreign correspondents were to be allowed inside Camp Aguinaldo.

In the Comelec-sanctioned official count, the legal and official winner was Marcos, by a margin of 1.7-million votes.

It was thought Marcos had cheated because his Solid North votes were transmitted very late to the tabulation center at the PICC. Two Namfrel volunteers were hanged in Ilocos. The Ilocano votes were enough to overwhelm Cory’s lead in Metro Manila and other places. The canvassers claimed Marcos was cheating and so led by the wife of a RAM major, walked out, as if on cue.

The day before the celebrated incident, we, foreign correspondents, had been alerted about the planned walkout and to be there to cover it.

Cory Aquino didn’t have any participation in the four-day People Power revolt of Feb. 22 to 25, 1986 or Edsa I. Inside the Defense Ministry headquarters, Enrile and Ramos were giving an extended press conference. I asked if Cory Aquino called them up. Enrile said yes. “What can I do for you?” she asked. “Nothing, just pray,” Enrile replied.

After Cory got the presidency, Namfrel made recount of the votes cast in the February snap election. The tally still showed Marcos was the real winner, not by two million votes, as canvassed by the Batasan, but by 800,000 votes as recounted by Namfrel.

Cory disregarded the 1973 Constitution and proclaimed a Freedom Constitution to sidetrack critics from questioning her legitimacy.

Cory had a tumultuous reign. Her cabinet was riven by discord between right and left wingers. She battled a nasty communist insurgency whose guerillas swelled to their highest number ever. She tried to placate Muslim separatists with an aborted autonomy deal, ala Tripoli Agreement of Imelda Marcos.

The century’s worst earthquake, the century’s worst volcano eruption, and among the most massive f loods happened during her time.

Twelve to 18-hour blackouts scared the daylights out of investors. An unruly military mounted nine coup attempts against her.

Only raw courage and the power of prayer saved her and her administration from ignominy.

When Cory Aquino left office, the economy was in the throes of a recession. Daily blackouts paralyzed business. She mothballed the Bataan nuclear plant which would have been the principal power source for the main island of Luzon, which produced half of the total economic output.

Still after Cory died on Aug. 1, 2009, the people were so grief-stricken they elected on May 10, 2010, her ghost in the person of Noynoy Aquino, a man who never held a stable job before and who probably himself was not a stable person, to run the 12th largest nation on earth in population. biznewsasia@gmail.com

News

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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Zamboanga fishermen get green light to cast nets

SKYWAY BARGES. Officials

of the Amaya Dockyard and Marine Services Inc. launch 16 pontoon barges to be used for the Metro Manila Skyway stage 3 project, led by president and CEO Vangie Rodriguez (right) in Tanza, Cavite. MMSS 3 is an elevated 15-kilometer expressway that will connect Makati City, Manila, and Balintawak in Quezon City. With Rodriguez are Amaya project engineer Manuel Lanoy, Philippe Gouvary president and Manager of Matiere SAS, Capt.

Eduardo Rodriguez, president and CEO; Full Speed Chartering and Shipping Agency Inc., and engineer Abdulla Mambuay of Design Science Inc. Norman Cruz

By Othel V. Campos FISHERMEN in the Zamboanga Peninsula can start fishing for sardines this March, as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources officially lifted the off-season period at midnight of Thursday.

The three-month fishing ban restricted fishermen in the East Sulu Sea, Basilan Strait and Sibuguey Bay from gathering sardines off the peninsula’s coasts.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol reiterated the significance of fishing closures to the population of sardines in Zamboanga.

“There was an increase from 2015 in the catch of Sardinella lemuru [tamban]. The catch was 137,142.55 metric tons [MT]. It increased to 143,060 MT in 2016 and in 2017, rose to 152,283 MT,” Piñol said.

The department noted that not only did the fishing closure season increase the sardine population, it also made possible the sighting of big and high value fish species that feed on smaller fish like sardines.

“It is beneficial to the country because since they started the closed fishing season, the once rare big fish— tuna, salay-salay ginto [scad]—are gradually coming back to the point that even the people in Gen San [General Santos City]are getting their tuna supply from Zamboanga Peninsula,” Piñol said.

With the temporary lack of livelihood over the closed seasons, the department said fish workers may seek assistance through the Production Loan Easy Access, a special credit facility that grants non- collateralized loans for agri-fishery production.

The DA also vowed to provide P50 million worth of livelihood support to the affected fish workers and fisherfolk during closed seasons.

The sardine closed season was started in 2011 by both stakeholders and concerned government agencies.

DoH: Measles outbreak hits 7 in Taguig village

T

HE Department of Health confirmed on Thursday an outbreak of measles or "tigdas" with at least seven confirmed cases in a barangay in Taguig City.

a spike in cases of measles, an infectious disease that can cause death among infants as young as 3 months.

Symptoms of the illness include skin rashes and fever.

Davao City also had a confirmed measles outbreak last month.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in February Davao saw a decrease in the number of children vaccinated against measles after a public health scare brought about by the controversial dengue vaccine and the government’s suspended dengue immunization program.

PDEA warns against more posers as 2 nabbed in Pasay

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Thursday warned the public against unscrupulous individuals who introduce thAemselves as PDEA agents involved in criminal activities.

PDEA Director General Aaron N. Health Undersecretary Eric Domin- health education programs and active Aquino reiterated the warning congo, who made the announcement, de- surveillance,” the CHO added. sidering the recent arrest of a suspect clined to identify the affected village for Mayor Lani Cayetano said in the posing as a PDEA agent and his fenow. same statement: “Rest assured that male companion during a shootout in Medical officers went door-to- the city government is doing all that it Parañaque City last Feb. 24. door in Taguig’s barangays to im- can for its constituents. I am also apInvestigation showed that Jhay-R munize children from 6 months to 5 pealing to the residents to have their Repana, 31, the alleged PDEA agent years old, the city health office said children immunized for a measles-free and a resident of Masville Compound, in a statement.

Taguig.”

Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City; “Local officials have also intensified Colder temperatures typically cause and Rosemimi Facal, 30, of Lizardo Compound, Bayanan, Taguig City, were involved in a shooting incident along Dr. A. Santos Avenue, Gate 2 of Loyola Memorial Park, Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City.

According to a witness, the pair, who was onboard a Mitsubishi Lancer with plate number XHU-835, figured in a shootout with another vehicle that wounded Repana’s left leg. record of an existing memorandum of

By Rio N. Araja During a follow-up operation, agreement between the province and elements of Parañaque City Police THE Office of the Ombudsman on Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp.”

Station discovered Repana and Fa“None of the conditions justified the Thursday indicted a former Southern cal’s vehicle parked near the Sta. Leyte governor and five other officials for direct contracting of fertilizers. What Rosa Hospital, Laguna that led to the acquisition of P5 million worth of was used to justify the resort to direct their arrest. fertilizers for the rehabilitation of the contracting as stated in the provincial When inspected by the Scene of government bids and awards committee municipality’s rice program. the Crime Operatives Team of Police Former governor Rosette Lerias and five Resolution No. 55 [Series] of 2006, was Regional Office 4A, the vehicle yieldformer provincial officials of the bids and the supposed MOA between the province ed one caliber .38 revolver with pieces awards committee—Virginia Cruz, Catalino and Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp. of ammunition, and one plastic sachet Olayvar, Teopisto Rojas Jr., Fernando for the latter to supply the former with containing suspected methamphetMoralde and Joseph Duarte—were charged fertilizers,” the Ombudsman noted. amine hydrochloride or shabu, with The execution of a MoA, however, is not for acquiring the fertilizers in June 2006. one improvised tooter and lighter.

Two months later, the bids and awards one of the conditions enumerated in Section Repana identified himself as a committee agreed to engage in direct con- 50 of Republic Act No. 9184 (Government PDEA operative and showed his tracting with the Philippine Phosphate Procurement Reform Act), it added. identification card to the arresting “Hence, by signing the PGBAC ResoFertilizer Corp. for the deal. authorities.

A case of falsification of public docu- lution, respondents PGBAC members toRepana and Facal will face charges ments will also be filed against Cruz, gether with respondent Governor Lerias of violation of Section 11 (Possession who approved the same, violated Section Olayvar, Rojas, Moralde and Duarte. of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 Lerias and company claimed the province 3(e) of RA No. 3019,” the resolution read.

(Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), The Ombudsman also junked Lerias’ entered into a memorandum of agreement Article II of Republic Act 9165, or The with the Philippine Phosphate as the supplier. appeal to dismiss the case due to alleged Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act Subsequently, a check worth inordinate delay. of 2002.

“The Office does not subscribe to the P2,313,545 was issued and received by Additional charges for illegal posDuarte, the provincial budget officer, as plea of dismissal based on inordinate session of firearms and ammunition, cash advance for 2,514 bags of fertilizers delay. Unless preventive suspension is usurpation of authority, alarm and to be distributed in Libagon, St. Bernard, ordered, the investigation or fact-finding scandal, will also be filed against FISHER PROTEST. Fisherfolk of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Mangingisda San Juan, Arahawan, Hinundayan, Hi- does not disturb, interrupt or vex the them. would-be respondent, such that he may gather at the Manila Bay to protest a reclamation in Cavite where a planned nunangan, San Francisco and Pintuyan.

“It comes as no surprise that there International seaport is to be built. They also called attention to the illegal fishers using Upon scrutiny, the Office of the Pro- cry foul and claim inordinate delay in the are people who misrepresent themdynamite fishing during summer. Norman Cruz vincial Accountant certified “there is no case build-up,” it said. selves as PDEA agents or as members CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK of other law enforcement units to perManila form their illegal activities,” Aquino Standard ANNOUNCEMENT said in a statement.

TODAY “Our agents have undergone rigEffective March 07, 2018 ABS-CBNmobile Prepaid Promo Offer KAPAMILYA orous training for months, imbibing UNLI CHAT 10 (KUC10) which enables customer to enjoy all-day chat and in them the core values of the PDEA calls to Viber, We Chat, Line and WhasttsApp and 30 text to all networks will matching graduates with the right organization. We will not tolerate unBy Macon Ramos-Araneta no longer be offered in the market. employers by institutionalizing job scrupulous people who pretend to be our agents and tarnish the Agency’s SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on placement mechanisms that are responMeanwhile, existing and new subscribers will have the option to subscribe to integrity just like that,” he added.

Thursday called on the Department sive to the prevailing realities of the IWANTVSUPER10 to continue to enjoy access to socials and iWant TV: Last Feb. 4, closed-circuit televiof Education to work with the De- job market,” the senator said.

As vice chairman of the Senate sion cameras in Barangay Ususan, partment of Labor and Employment IWANTVSUPER10 Taguig City captured persons wearing to strengthen job placement mecha- Committee on Education, Arts and Price PhP10 PDEA uniforms while dragging along nisms for senior high school graduates Culture, he stressed that it will be Promo Inclusion • 200MB for all-day iWant TV access alleged drug personalities and riding who wish to enter the workforce im- critical for the government to devote • 150MB for Facebook, Facebook significant resources to marketing the aboard two vehicles. mediately upon graduation.

Messenger, Viber Chat and Twitter However, the same group managed This month, Gatchalian said that employability of K-12 graduates.

• 1GB for internet access “One of the main selling points of to elude arrest after authorities puran estimated 1.4 million students Validity 1 day sued them in the same barangay two will become the first set of Grade 12 the K-12 program was its ability to weeks later. graduates under the K-12 program produce better graduates who would To subscribe Dial *128# or text IWANTVSUPER10 to 2135 “PDEA is continuously intensiestablished by the Enhanced Basic be ready to enter the workforce from fying its internal cleansing program Education Act of 2013 (RA 10533). day one. DepEd and DoLE need to Service subscriptions available for ABS-CBNmobile Prepaid subscriber only. as part of its commitment to weed “Since this is the first batch of hit this point home with the business ABS-CBNmobile Prepaid subscribers may also opt to subscribe to other out erring agents and personnel inK-12 graduates, prospective em- community by disseminating inforavailable promo offers by dialing *128#. volved in the illegal drug trade and ployers aren’t exactly sure about mation on the competencies of K-12 grads, and by facilitating nationwide other anomalous activities,” Aquino what to expect regarding their Purchase an ABS-CBNmobile SIM via sari-sari store and telco tiangge added. skills and competencies. DepEd job fairs to showcase these compenationwide. Please see flyers for details. and DoLE need to be proactive in tencies,” Gatchalian said.

Ex-Southern Leyte gov, 5 others indicted for flawed fertilizer deal

‘Match sr. high grads with jobs’

(MS-MAR. 2, 2018)

Sports

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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Eaglets, Bullpups dispute UAAP basketball crown

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR. Sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan and newly elected Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas congratulate Philippine Sailing Association president and Standard Insurance Chairman Judes Echauz (center), who was named Executive of the Year during the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association Awards Night at the Manila Hotel. Three world champions in boxer Jerwin Ancajas, bowler Krizziah Lyn Tabora and billiards player Carlo Biado were co-recipients of the PSA-Tapa King Athlete of the Year award handed out by the country’s oldest media organization in the yearly affair presented by Milo and Cignal TV.

Top bets seek Dipolog titles CLOSE to 200 entries from various cities and provinces gear up for a fierce duel as action in the Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala age-group tennis circuit resumes in Dipolog City today (Friday, March 2) at the RGS Tennis Club in Zamboanga del Norte.

Faye Lim and Anne Ramillete hope to live up their top billing in both the 16- and 18-and-under play in the girls’ side with Kristine Bandolis and Jedidiah Gupit (16-U) and Rica Ligason and Audrey Quimbo (18-U) out to spoil their title bids in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.

Keen competition is also seen in the boys division, particularly in the 12-, 14- and 16-U classes which all feature 32-player draws. Kurt Bandolis, Mari Erquita, Andrei Esick and Matthew Sanchez banner the field in the 12-U side while Oroquieta’s Nash Agustines seeks to make it two-in-row in the 14-U section after a victory at home last week in the five-day event backed

by Asiatraders Corp. and Dunlop as the official ball.

“Drawing a huge number of players from nearby towns, cities and provinces should inspire the locals and boost the development of the sport in Dipolog,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/ CEO Bobby Castro, who has tapped new venues in their 40-plus leg circuit as part of their commitment to expand their talent-search.

Out to foil Agustines are Ashton Villanueva, Russell Daarol and Kurt Bandolis with Villanueva and Daarol also vying in the 16-U side topbilled by Nilo Ledama, who also gains the No. 2 seeding behind fancied Jose Maria Paguia in the premier 18-U category of the event sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg, are the players to beat in the girls’ 14-U division.

Kristine Bandolis and Judy Padilla, a two-leg winner in Ozamiz, are the players to beat in the girls’ 14-U division. Padilla also leads the cast in the 12-U section with Lianne Lanipa while a four-way battle looms in the 10-unisex division among Matthew Sanchez, Kyne Solis, Mark Barrios and Steven Cajes.

23 teams join Capati golfest THE Dominga Capati Memorial golf gets going on March 9 with 23 teams gearing up for another fierce but fun duel at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club’s South course in Laguna.

Team Orchard assembled 64 points to nip Villamor I in last year’s golden staging of the annual event hosted by Cangolf and held in honor of the first Filipina to compete against the Americans and Europeans in the Philippine Women’s Open Championship in 1938.

The 18-hole tournament is also staged to foster camaraderie among the teams competing in the annual Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Play is a six-player Modified Team Scramble with the squad with best gross score winning the championship.

Aside from Orchard and Villamor, other teams seeing action are Sta. Elena, Alabang, Tagaytay Highlands, Manila Golf Club, Valley Golf, Eagle Ridge, Forest Hills, Camp Aguinaldo and host Cangolf.

ATENEO and National University go for broke in the UAAP Season 80 juniors basketball finals’ decider today at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Bullpups forced the winnertake-all following Game 2’s 70-67 victory, foiling the Blue Eaglets’ quest for perfection.

Coach Joe Silva remains positive despite the loss that ended his team’s 14-game winning run, as Ateneo still has one more shot of capturing a record 19th title -- and the first title in three years.

“That’s why we won Game 1, we still have a chance. Although it’s got to h urt (Game 2 d efeat),” said S ilva.

The Eaglets are eyeing to have prized center Kai Sotto rediscover his form in the Finals opener, where the 7’1” sophomore tallied a tripledouble highlighted by 11 blocks.

“I can’t speak about Kai. Maybe it’s a distraction because of the media attention after Game 1. Hindi naman lumabas ang pagkabata niya.

Game today:

(Filoil Flying V Centre) 4 p.m. Ateneo vs NU (Jrs Finals) (Series tied at 1-1)

Maybe he wasn’t in his self,” said Silva.

NU guard Cyril Gonzales is suspended for the 4 p.m. match for kicking Allan Tañedo, while going for the ball in front of Ateneo bench at the 7:54 mark of the third period.

Coach Goldwin Monteverde will be hoping that someone steps up in lieu of suspended Gonzales, who was solid in the entire playoffs for the Bullpups.

“We have to take it for what it is and find a way kung paano maglaro without him,” said Monteverde.

NU is in a good position to win the championship on an even-numbered season once more. Under then coach Jeff Napa, the Bullpups emerged victorious in Seasons 78, 76 and 74.

Meesawat clings to 1-shot lead

S

TA. ROSA, Laguna—Prom Meesawat carded a gutsy 73 in morning play to stay in control then watched three rivals grab a piece of the lead and a horde of others pull within and fall later in wicked conditions halfway through the 100th Solaire Philippine Open here yesterday.

Such is the drama and thrill on a day when the winds picked up and blew from different directions in the afternoon and a slew of names crowded Meesawat on top until the stocky Thai found himself all alone at 143 after another punishing round at The Country Club.

“I’m very happy with my round because this course is long and windy and tough for everybody. So I just have to be patient and try not to get into trouble. That’s the key for me,” said Meesawat, who actually holed out with a bogey on No. 9 for a 3736 card but spared of the nature’s wrath that bedeviled the games of the other contenders in the record $600,000 event sponsored by Solaire Resort and Casino.

In what’s fast turning out to be a survival of the fittest at the long, treacherous Tom Weiskoph-designed layout – with only two breaking par with 71s, Dutch Guido Van der Valk, Aussie David Gleeson and local ace Miguel Tabuena joined Meewat at oneunder overall in one stretch but tumbled with shaky finishes. Tony Lascuña and Jay Bayron also moved to within one midway through but also wobbled at the finish.

But American Nicolas Paez, a regu-

lar on the Philippine Golf Tour and PGT Asia, proved steadier than the rest of the afternoon pack, rebounding from a 38 start with a birdie on the 10th and an eagle on the par-5 14th, jumping from the middle to second at 144, just one off Meesawat, with a one-under 71.

“I’m very pleased with my round today (yesterday). To go under-par in the afternoon is quite a feat out here. I’m really happy to stick it out, grind it out,” said Paez, who split the No. 14 fairway with a monster 320-yard drive then hacked a 2-iron from 278 yards around 20 feet off the cup and knocked it down.

“I hit two perfect shots and perfect putt —that was clutch,” said Paez.

Tabuena, who shot a 73 in the first round, also came through in the end, birdying No. 8 for the second straight day to salvage a 72 for joint third with Van der Valk, who blew an early two-under card and finished with a 72, at 145. The 2015 champion at Luisita birdied the two par-5s at the back where he teed off to go oneunder overall but fell behind again with three straight bogeys to start his frontside bid. But unlike Van der Valk and Gleeson,

Battle of past, present in Ronda PH

Prom Meesawat watches his drive on No. 15

he bounced back with that late birdie to stay in the title hunt in Asia’s oldest National Open co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Patrimonio, Pingris grace STI Las Piñas sportsfest FOUR-TIME PBA Most Valuable Player and league Hall of Famer Alvin Patrimonio and many-time All-Defensive team member Marc Pingris rocked STI Las Pinas’ Sportsfest just recently in Alabang, Zapote, Las Pinas.

Both key members of the Magnolia Hotshots were given rock star treatment by students, faculty members and staff, who were celebrating the annual sportsfest. They were mobbed by fans seeking autographs and photo opportunities.

Patrimonio and Pingris were welcomed by STI Las Pinas officials, headed by senior school administrator Donna Ancheta, academic head Grace Gutierrez, student affairs head Bernadette Rejano and the other program chiefs of the institution. Also gracing the event was well-known courtside reporter Mara Aquino, who was sent by her mother network, ESPN5, to cover the event as part of a segment in the PBA games.

Recognized as two of the best power forwards ever to play in the old Purefoods’ franchise, Patrimonio and Pingris also took time out to join AB Communications in their segment “Breakfast Forum @STI LP” where they answered relevant questions.

PBA legend Alvin Patrimonio and many-time All-Defensive team member Marc Pingris receive the Hand of Excellence Award from STI Las Pinas officials, headed by senior school administrator Donna Ancheta, academic head Grace Gutierrez, student affairs chief Bernadette Rejano, program heads of the different colleges and representatives from B & G Lifecasting, which crafted the actual hands of the two players.

They judged the cheer dance competition right before STI Las Pinas feted them with the Hand of Excellence award.

The most touching gesture, however, came in between merienda when a sen-

ior high school student, Paul Dailan, approached Pingris, bringing with him a replica of his Gilas Pilipinas and San Mig Coffee jerseys, sending the fan to tears in a surreal moment of meeting his idol.

UNTV Cup to donate P9.6m to teams’ beneficiaries

THE NHA Builders have experienced consistent tough defense from the Malacañang-PSC Kamao during the semifinal round. On Sunday, the Builders will face another defensive team in the AFP Cavaliers in the battle for third place.

A CLASSIC series between the Senate Defenders and the Malacañang-PSC Kamao is expected in this season’s championship round of the UNTV Cup at the Pasig City Sports Center.

Game time is 4:30 p.m.

The champion gets P4.5 million, with P4,000,000 going to its chosen charity, while the runner-up receives P2.3 million, P2 million of which goes to its beneficiary.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Cavaliers and the National Housing Authority Builders clash at 3 p.m. in the knockout battle for third place, with the winner receiving P1.2m, P1,000,000 of which will be donated to its chosen charity plus.

The fourth placer gets P600,000, with P500,000 to be given to its beneficiary.

The former two-time champion AFP Cavaliers has again chosen as their beneficiary the AFP Educational Benefit

Games on Sunday

(Pasig City Sports Center) 3 p.m. – NHA vs AFP (Battle For Third) 4:30 p.m. – Senate vs Malacañang-PSC (Game 1)

System Off ice or the scholarship program for the children of the men in uniform.

On the other hand, the NHA Builders has named as its beneficiary the NHA Provident Fund Association, Inc., which aids the dependents of the deceased employees of the bureau.

The basketball tournament for charity and camaraderie, which was conceptualized by public service advocate Dr. Daniel Razon and supported

by Bro. Eli Soriano of MCGI, will give a total of P9.6 M, tax free to the teams.

The 10 non-winning teams will also receive P100,000 each for donation to their beneficiaries.

VIGAN, Ilocos Sur―Santy Barnachea of Team Franzia and Irish Valenzuela of CCN Superteam will challenge Jan Paul Morales of Navy-Standard Insurance in a battle of past and present champions of the Ronda Pilipinas 2018 presented by LBC, which unfurls tomorrow in this beautiful city.

Barnachea, 41, won the inaugural race in 2011 and repeated in 2015, while Valenzuela, 30, topped it in 2013 and the two should pose a big threat to the bid of Morales, winner of the last two editions, of a historic third title.

“I’m not yet done, I still have something left in me,” said Barnachea, who is back after missing the last two stagings due to personal reasons.

“When I race, my goal is always to win,” said Valenzuela, who was also missing in action the last years after figuring in a road accident a couple of years ago.

Morales, for his part, said he is ready and has accepted the challenge in this race presented by LBC and supported

by MVP Sports Foundation, CCN, Petron, Versa.ph, 3Q Sports Event Management, Inc., Boy Kanin, Franzia, Standard Insurance, Bike Xtreme, SH+, Guerciotti, Prolite, Green Planet, Maynilad, NLEX Cycling, Lightwater, LBC Foundation and PhilCycling.

“I know it will not be easy, but with the proper support from my team and good strategy, I have a strong chance of winning again this year,” said Morales.

Morales will be backstopped by Ronald Oranza, who is back after he skipped last year due to his national team commitment, last year’s runnerup Rudy Roque, El Joshua Carino, Jhon Mark Camingao, Ronald Lomotos, Archie Cardana and many-time Ronda King of the Mountain winner Junrey Navarra.

Also expected to contend for the title are 2015 second placer George Oconer of Go for Gold, last year’s third placer Cris Joven of Army-Bicycology, Bike Xtreme’s Jaybop Pagnanawon and Go for Gold Developmental team’s Ronnel Hualda.

Interestingly, grizzled veteran Warren Davadilla, a two-time winner of the fabled Marlboro Tour, has teamed up with Valenzuela and Julius Mark Bonzo at CCN hoping to make a run for it in what could be his final race.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Sports

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

A8

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Yuri Fukuda of Petron celerbates a winning point by the Blaze Spikers. Roman Prospero

Petron makes short work of Smart Games Tomorrow

(Filoil Flying V Center) 4 p.m. – Foton vs Cocolife 6 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Petron

A VERY strong Petron team showed up and made short work of rookie team Smart, 25-12, 25-14, 25-17, yesterday to remain immaculate in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The tandem of Hillary Hurley and Lindsay Stalzer fueled the Blaze Spikers’ offense in tabbing its third consecutive win in this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu and UCPB Gen with ESPN5 as official broadcast partner.

Hurley nailed 12 kills and two aces for 15 points, while Stalzer chipped in 11 kills and two blocks for 14 points for the Blaze Spikers, who maintained the lead with their third consecutive victory in this battle that also has Senoh, Mueller, Mikasa, Asics, Grand Sport and LGR as technical partners.

Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos lauded his wards’ effort, saying that it will serve as morale-booster for their blockbuster battle against reigning champion F2 Logistics tomorrow.

“This win is a good morale-booster for our match against F2 Logistics this Saturday,” said Delos Santos, who is looking to avenge their sorry setback to the Cargo Movers in their best-ofthree finals showdown last year.

“While we’re hopeful that we can maintain our good form, we also want to level up our game and work on our weaknesses because we’re facing a champion team in F2 Logistics. We’ll treat the match as if it is a championship game.”

Against the Giga Hitters, the Blaze Spikers were simply at their best.

Their brightest moment came in the second set when Mika Reyes, Frances Molina and Stalzer erected a defensive fortress at the net, leaving Smart’s high-flying import Gyselle Silva of Cuba bleeding at the attack zone.

Silva, who erupted for 33 points in their previous match against Cocolife, was held to only 23 points as she failed to draw enough support from the locals.

4 PBA squads play critical games today

By Jeric Lopez

C

RITICAL games will be on display as teams fight for the remaining quarterfinal berths in the homestretch and final day of the elimination round of the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.

All four teams playing face must-win situations as their fate banks on how they will do tonight.

GlobalPort (5-5) and Phoenix (4-6) will figure in a heated battle at 4:30 p.m., even as Rain or Shine (6-4) and Barangay Ginebra (5-5) tango in a pivotal encounter at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Of these four teams, the Elasto Painters are the safest as they’ve already secured a spot in the top eight, but want to get better placing while the other three squads are in dire need of wins to help their chances of making it in the next round.

Rain or Shine is looking to finish in the middle and avoid a disadvantageous position entering the quarters.

The Batang Pier and the Gin Kings both need a win to secure spots in the quarters, while the Fuel Masters will be fighting for survival as a defeat will send them packing.

It’s simple for GlobalPort and Ginebra.

A win for them against their respective foes will give them slots in the quarters, while a setback will put them in a

dangerous situation.

“Hawak pa naman namin ‘yung kapalaran namin so we have to work hard to win,” said GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio.

Phoenix can still earn a playoff for a seat in the quarterfinals if it wins.

As of now, five teams have already punched tickets in the quarters namely San Miguel Beer, Magnolia, Alaska, NLEX and Rain or Shine.

For the three remaining berths, five teams are vying for spots as Ginebra, GlobalPort, TNT KaTropa, Phoenix and Blackwater all want to make it through and avoid an early vacation.

Obviously, the results of the games today will have huge implications on how the quarterfinal cast will be completed.

The dust will eventually settle following these scheduled final games.

Should there be any playoff game, it will be played on Sunday.

Otherwise, if GlobalPort and Ginebra both win, the post-season will start right away on Sunday as the quarterfinal cast would be complete in that case.

Lady Warriors stay in hunt

UNIVERSITY of the East kept its Final Four hopes alive with a 5-1 win over University of Santo Tomas yesterday in the UAAP Season 80 softball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Lady Warriors played with a sense of urgency to post their sixth win in 11 contests, while putting a blow to the Tigresses’ bid to achieve the other semifinals bonus.

University of the Philippines kept in toes of UE following a 8-1 romp of also-ran Ateneo.

The Lady Maroons rose to 5-6, a game behind the Lady Warriors in the chase for the remaining semis slot.

A playoff for No. 4 will ensue if UP beats UST and National University prevails over UE in the final day of eliminations on Saturday.

The Lady Bulldogs boosted their bid for the twice-to-beat incentive with a 9-6 victory over defending champion Adamson University, tying the Tigresses at No. 2 with a 7-4 slate.

Despite the loss—only the second in 11 games—the Lady Falcons have already locked the first twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four.

Canlubang opens PAL golf with 4-point lead BACOLOD CITY—Damasus Wong played the second nine in regulation to lead Canlubang to a slim four-point lead over Luisita at the start of the 32nd Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub golf team championships Thursday.

Three-over at the turn, the 55-year-old businessman made one birdie against a lone bogey and parred the rest of the closing holes to finish with the day’s best 51 points at the demanding Marapara course.

With brothers Abe and Pem Rosal adding 50 and 49 points, respectively, Canlubang totalled 150 points, 26 points better than its opening round at Mt. Apo in Davao last year.

Zaldy Villa did not count with 48.

“Last year was a fluke,” said Canlubang non-playing captain Tony Olives, referring to its worst ever score of 124. “We made sure it won’t happen again.”

Wong atoned for his mediocre debut at Apo last year by doing a good job around the greens.

“I didn’t hit too many fairways, but managed to save a lot of pars,” said Wong.

That 51 was eight points better than what Wong scored last year in the first round.

Abe Rosal, last year’s individual champion, was his usual reliable self, edging younger brother Pem by a point.

“He (Abe) always beats me like a drum,” said Pem, a physician based in Delaware State. “Abe called me last year and asked me if I can play for Canlubang. Of course, I replied.”

Away from the country for nearly 30 years, Pem said he was shocked the first time he played Marapara.

“The wind was nothing like in the States. The course is also too tight and narrow. In fact, I didn’t break 90 during practice,” he said.

Pem paid tribute to Canlubang pro Jun Bernis who carried his bag. “He was a big help,” he said.

Luisita opened with 146 points – a good score as far as non-playing skipper Jeric Hechanova is concerned.

“We’re happy with the score. My hat off to Canlubang for that very good score,” said Hechanova.

Edmund Yee shot 50 points and Rodel Mangulabnan added 49. The 47 of either Jingy Tuason or Chino Raymundo counted.

Both squads are expected to field in fresh legs on Saturday at Binitin.

“We expected Canlubang to field both Rosals because of what happened last year,” said Hechanova. “I feel we’re going to get stronger as the tournament wears on.”

Lost in what is shaping up as another Canlubang-Luisita showdown was Del Monte Golf Club which sits 18 points off the pace with 132.

Angara wants world-class facility for athletes

By Peter Atencio

Angara

NEW legislation is being crafted so that athletes will be able to train in the soon-to-rise New Clark City in Tarlac.

That’s because Senator Sonny Angara is set to sponsor a bill authorizing the construction of the state-of-the-art Philippine Amateur Sports Training Center.

Having such facilities will provide more support for Filipino athletes and boost the country’s performance in the Olympics and other international sports events.

“Wala po tayong duda sa puso at galing ng atletang Pilipino, ngunit paano po sila magtatagumpay kung ang kanilang kagamitan sa pagsasanay ay kulang o kaya naluluma na?

Imagine if the government is more supportive of athletes? How many more Hidilyn Diaz’s or Philippine dragon boat teams will be there?” said Angara in a statement.

Angara said that training centers “ref lect the state of spor ts in a given countr y, and particularly, the support being given.”

These facilities, coupled with top-level coaching and access to international competition, are key drivers of an effective sports system as these directly affect athletes, he explained.

Angara said the PASTC would be a milestone in the effort to uplift the state of Philippine sports and “a commitment of support to our athletes on and off-season.”

Damasus Wong’s score of 51 brought Canlubang to an early four-point lead at the start of the 32nd PAL Seniors Interclub at Bacolod City.

Rockets down Clippers for 14th straight victory

James Harden of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the LA Clippers on at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP

LOS ANGELES—The NBA-leading Houston Rockets capped a perfect February with a 105-92 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday to stretch their winning streak to 14 games.

The Rockets, led by 25 points from James Harden, finished February 12-0 and with their second 14-game win streak of the season became just the sixth team in league history to post multiple streaks of at least 14 wins in the same campaign.

“Extremely important,” Harden said of the victory over the Clippers, potential early playoff opponents who had beaten the Rockets twice this season.

The victory kept the Rockets atop the Western Conference, leading the reigning

NBA champion Golden State Warriors who beat the Wizards 109-101 in Washington.

The Rockets led by as many as 27 points.

Harden delivered the game’s signature moment in the opening quarter when he wrongfooted Wesley Johnson with a quick crossover dribble, Johnson falling backwards to the court and receiving a long stare from Harden before the Rockets star drained a three-pointer over him.

Harden wasn’t on the floor for the Rockets’ January 15 loss to the Clippers, when on-court clashes spilled over and a couple of Houston players tried to confront the Clippers in their locker room.

This time there was no such drama as the Rockets seized control early, taking a

34-12 lead after one quarter.

The Clippers trailed just 83-72 going into the final period, but Houston pulled away inexorably in the fourth.

“We just kept our composure and finished the game off the right way,” Harden said.

In Washington, Warriors star and DCarea native Kevin Durant celebrated his homecoming by scoring 32 points.

Stephen Curry added 25 points and the Warriors limited Washington guard Bradley Beal to eight to notch their seventh win in eight games.

Eastern Conference leaders Toronto pulled away late to beat the lowly Magic 117-104 in Orlando. AFP

IN BRIEF PUVs set to get P1 fuel discount

THE Energy Department signed a memorandum of agreement with three oil companies to provide fuel discounts to public utility vehicles to shield consumers from the impact of higher excise taxes on petroleum products.

“These corporate social responsibility programs of the oil companies are aimed to mitigate the impact of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law’s impact on transportation fares,” said Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

The department signed the agreement with Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. The CSR programs will expand the oil companies’ existing discount programs for PUJs, which include the increase in the number of participating retail stations, higher discounts and the coverage of other PUVs. Under the agreement, the oil firms will provide at least P1 discounts per liter of liquid fuels to PUVs, which may include jeepneys and taxis, provide a designated lane for PUVs and offer additional privileges and other promotional offers to drivers of PUVs. “With these fuel discount and other CSR programs, we are hopeful that operators of jeepneys and buses will also help lessen the impact of Train to consumers by not increasing the transport fares,” Cusi said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

Smart beats Globe in download speed

SMART Communications Inc. beat rival Globe Telecom in terms of mobile download speed in the latest mobile network benchmarking of the National Telecommunications Commission.

The January benchmarking results by NTC showed that the average application throughput of Smart was 11.97 megabits per second, faster than Globe’s 10.64 Mbps.

Application throughout is the measurement of how many units of information a system can process in a given amount of time based on the application running. In this case, a PTP server is being accessed and a certain volume of data is being downloaded.

NTC deputy commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said the download speed of Smart was faster than Globe at the time of the measurement done by the agency.

He said that the NTC’s result was consistent with the speed test result of OpenSignal in the fourth quarter of 2017. The openSignal survey showed that Smart’s LTE download speed across the Philippines was at 12.7 Mbps, ahead of its rival Globe’s 7.5 Mbps. Darwin G. Amojelar

Phinma Energy’s profit falls to P347m

LISTED Phinma Energy Corp. said consolidated net income fell 75 percent in 2017 to P347 million from P1.383 billion in 2016 amid the lack of nonrecurring income.

“Margins in the electricity supply business were challenged by continued low market prices due to the competitive supply environment,” Phinma Energy said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday.

Phinma Energy said its 2016 net income comprised of non-recurring income of P472 million representing gains on the sale of the company’s 5-percent share in South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp. to Axia Power Holdings Philippines Corp., the sale of transmission lines in Guimaras and La Union to the National Grid Corp., about P830 million in recurring income from electricity supply and income generated from independent power producers and P81 million in financial and other income.

“Despite this, Phinma Energy ended the year as the second largest single electricity supplier with a market share of 12.2 percent,” the company said.

Phinma Energy also declared regular dividends of P0.04 per share for shareholders as of record date of March 14, 2018 and payment on April 5, 2018.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Jenniffer B. Austria

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

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By Julito G. Rada

HYUNDAI’S EDUCATION HUB. Hyundai Asia Resources Inc., the official Philippine distributor of Hyundai passenger and commercial vehicles, in partnership with Plan International, is set to inaugurate in April 2018 the Hyundai Dream CenterPhilippines, a world-class training and education hub for developing skills in the automotive industry. Shown are (from left) Hari chairman emeritus Richard Lee, Hari president and chief executive Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, Plan International Philippines country director Dennis Guy O’Brien and Plan International Korea external relations team manager Choi Yun Sung.

Megawide-GMR submits $3b-offer to rebuild Naia M

By Darwin G. Amojelar

egawide-GMR Consortium, a joint venture of Megawide Construction Corp. and GMR Infrastructure of India, said Thursday it submitted a $3-billion unsolicited proposal to rehabilitate and double the capacity of the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“As an experienced private operator, we have a deep understanding of the problem experienced by Naia and we would like to offer our take on the solution,” Louie Ferrer, one of the consortium’s authorized representatives, said.

“It is vital to immediately decongest Naia and maximize its potential in order to sustainably support the air traffic needs

of the greater capital region,” he said.

“A solution is urgently needed, which we in the private sector are willing to support and provide,” Ferrer said.

Ferrer said Naia’s most critical constraint was the limited airfield capacity, which reduced its capability to accommodate more flights. The airport also has a reduced ability to control delays related to aircraft movement, thereby worsening terminal congestion, he said.

The consortium’s $3-billion investment proposal would include all airside, terminal and landside improvements, which would be done in three phases.

The amount is lower than the P350-billion offer of Naia Consortium whose members include Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., AEDC, Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

“This is a technically responsive proposal. We have evaluated multiple options to enhance Naia’s capacity and efficiency while reducing airside and landside congestion,” Ferrer said.

Andrew Harrison, another authorized consortium representative, said the detailed masterplan considered all possible constraints in transforming a fully operational brownfield airport.

“It aims to maintain the high service levels expected of a world-class airport for the next 18 years,” he said.

The consortium said the solutions would increase airfield capacity to 950 to 1,000 aircraft movements per day, representing a 30-percent to 35-percent increase from the current 730 aircraft movements a day.

For peak hours, the consortium will increase Naia’s peak hour aircraft handling capacity by 50 percent from 40 to 60. Within 24 months of taking over operations, the consortium will also rehabilitate and expand the existing terminals, which will roughly double the space and result in over 700,000 square meters of terminal area.

Once completed, both the airside facilities and the terminals will be able to handle a total annual throughput of 72 million passengers.

McDonalds to open 40 stores in PH GOLDEN Arches Development Corp., the local master franchise holder of fast giant McDonalds, plans to invest P2 billion in 2018 in rolling out 40 new stores this year as it aims to maintain a doubledigit growth.

GADC said in a statement systemwide sales, a measure of all sales by both company-owned and franchised stores, grew 14 percent in 2017 to P42.6 billion, on aggressive store expansion.

“This represents consistent doubledigit sales growth for the company. Mirroring this is the growth of net profit after tax,” GADC said.

GADC opened 52 stores last year to end 2017 with 570 stores. It also expanded its footprint in new areas such as Antique, Sorsogon, Masbate and Agusan del Sur. “We are confident that our expanded presence will also spur employment in our new areas of operations. By opening more new restaurants, we will be able to generate jobs and provide world-class training for thousands of young Filipinos. We also enhance economic activity in areas where we will be present,” McDonald’s Philippines president and chief executive Kenneth Yang said.

Yang cited GACD’s focus on customer experience, strong and sustained demand for its products and convenient services across the country like McDelivery. This allowed McDonald’s to expand its market share and post the fastest growth in the quick service restaurant industry.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

Inflation rate seen topping 4% in February

Udenna completes acquisition of H20

UDENNA Development Corp., the property unit of businessman Dennis Uy, completed the acquisition of a 62-percent stake in listed Philippine H2O. Philippine H2O said in a disclosure to the stock exchange majority shareholder Jolliville Holdings Corp. and its affiliates signed a share purchase agreement for the sale of their combined 62.006-percent stake in H2O to Udevco for P327.7 million.

Udevco will then launch a mandatory tender offer to acquire the remaining shares held by the public as required under the Securities Regulation Code.

The acquisition of Philippine H2O could pave the way for possible backdoor listing of one of Uy’s unlisted businesses. Uy’s assets under Udevco include a $300-million casino project in Cebu called Lapu-Lapu Leisure Mactan and a hotels business in joint venture with Robinsons Land Corp.

Uy currently has three firms listed at the Philippine Stock Exchange, including Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., 2GO Group Inc. and Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. Jenniffer B. Austria

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

RUSSIAN VEHICLES IN PH. Gaz Group of Russia and Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies launch Gazelle Motors Corp. as the exclusive distributor of light- to heavy-duty commercial vehicles under the Gaz brand in the Philippines. Gaz Group head of sales for Asia Kristina Dubinina (left) and Eastern Petroleum and Gazelle Motors chairman Fernando Martinez pose prior to a news conference at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City. Sonny Espiritu

Pagbilao gets court reprieve to proceed with power plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores PAGBILAO Energy Corp. said Thursday it obtained a court injunction to allow the operation of a new 420-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Quezon province.

Pagbilao Energy, a joint venture of the Aboitiz Group’s Therma Power Inc. and Japan’s Team Energy Corp., said the Regional Trial Court of Lucena City, Branch 57 issued a temporary restraining order against the implementation of a cease-and-desist order issued by Pagbilao’s local government unit on the power plant.

Aboitiz Power Corp. said Pagbilao Energy filed an application for injunction and for the issuance of the TRO to

restrain the local government unit of Pagbilao from enforcing the CDO issued against the operations of the company’s power plant.

The company invested close to $1 billion to put up the power plant called Pagbilao 3, adjacent to the existing units 1 and 2 of the Pagbilao power station in Quezon province.

“During the course of PEC’s application for a business permit for calendar year 2018 from the municipality of Pagbilao, the municipality required PEC to execute a memorandum of agreement implementing its corporate social responsibility [CSR] programs for an amount above the company’s approved budget for CSR,” Aboitiz Power said in a disclosure to the stock exchange

Thursday.

Aboitiz Power said the municipality refused to issue the business permit without the executed memorandum of agreement and instead issued the CDO. Pagbilao Energy then filed the application for injunction and obtained the TRO to prevent the municipality from implementing what the company was was an unwarranted CDO. The court, in an order issued Feb. 28, 2018, ordered the mayor of Pagbilao to cease and desist from implementing the assailed CDO. “PEC maintains that the execution of the MOA is not part of the published and legal requirements for the issuance by the municipality of a local business permit,” Aboitiz Power said.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Thursday inflation in February likely accelerated to as high as 4.8 percent from 4 percent in January, led by higher power rates and the impact of higher excise taxes on petroleum and sugarsweetened beverage.

The Bangko Sentral’s Department of Economic Research said the February 2018 inflation could settle between 4 percent and 4.8 percent.

“Higher electricity rates and food prices, along with the full pass-through of higher excise taxes on petroleum products and sugar-sweetened beverages, could lead to upward price pressures for the month of February,” the agency said.

The Department of Finance said the implementation of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law could potentially increase inflation by up to 0.7 percentage point in 2018, on higher oil prices.

It said food prices might increase by up to 0.3 percentage point and transportation by up to 0.1 percentage point.

It said the increase could be “very minimal and manageable, compared to the savings from lower income taxes.”

President Rodrigo Duterte in December 2017 signed into law Republic Act No. 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion, the first phase of the administration’s comprehensive tax reform package, which expected to yield about P92 billion in revenues in its first year.

The new law―one of the five tax packages envisioned to increase state revenues and make the tax system fairer and simpler―lowered income taxes, expanded the value-added tax base, raised taxes on petroleum products, automobiles and slapped taxes on some sugar-sweetened beverages, among others.

Metro Pacific’s income climbs 17% to P14.1b

By Jenniffer B. Austria INFRASTRUCTURE conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. said net income climbed 17 percent in 2017 to P14.1 billion from a year ago.

The results, which were lifted by strong performance from power, tollroads and hospitals businesses, exceeded Metro Pacific’s P13.8-billion core net income target for 2017.

Power, including distribution and generation, accounted for P9.4 billion or 52 percent of the company’s net operating income, followed by tollroads which contributed P3.9 billion or 22 percent of the total.

Water, including distribution, production and sewerage treatment, added P3.7 billion, while hospital group provided P685 million and rail, logistics and systems group delivered P150 million.

“Our earnings growth reflects significant volume increases for all our businesses, supported by years of high investment together with our continuing emphasis on operational efficiencies,” Metro Pacific president and chief executive Jose Ma. Lim said.

The company’s board of directors declared a final dividend for 2017 of 7.6 centavos per share or 12 percent higher than the year-earlier figure and marking a payout ratio of 25 percent of core income per share.

Metro Pacific chairman Manuel Pangilinan said despite struggles with tariff issues on water and tollroad businesses, the conglomerate would continue to focus on building much needed infrastructure in the country.

“We are doing our best to support the ‘Build, Build, Build’ agenda of the government. However, our investors [many of whom are hard working Filipino savers and pensioners by the way] and our creditors need confidence that our various concession and franchise agreements will be observed,” he said.

“We are working hard to resolve these matters. It is our hope that our partners in government could come along with us in the spirit of partnership in which our various projects were conceived,” Pangilinan said.

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Business

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks slip; Meralco, Jollibee dip

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HE stock market fell slightly Thursday, joining the rest of Asia in extending a global sell-off on US interest rate hike fears.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 9.52 points, or 0.1 percent, to 8,465.77 on a value turnover of P7.6 billion. Losers beat gainers, 110 to 84, with 49 issues unchanged.

Conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei dropped 5.4 percent to P68.10, while Manila Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, declined 2.3 percent to P329.

PXP Energy Corp., a unit of Philex Mining Corp., slumped 13.8 percent to P15.80, while MRC Allied Inc., which is into property development and power generation, sank 9,9 percent to P0.73.

Meanwhile, the volatility that kicked off February after a couple of weeks

of calm has returned on worries that the strong US economy and Donald Trump’s tax cuts will lead the Federal Reserve to tighten borrowing costs more than previously thought.

The latest bout of selling came after new Fed boss Jerome Powell gave an upbeat assessment for the economic outlook as he appeared before lawmakers Tuesday. Similarly, markets went into spasms at the start of last month in reaction to a strong report on US jobs and wages growth.

Powell is due to speak on Capitol Hill again Thursday.

Adding to the unease are the relatively high valuations of stocks after a stellar 2017 and January, which saw some indexes hit record or multi-year highs.

“February finally cracked the volatility genie out of the bottle, and now the big question is: will he stay out for good?”

Ryan Detrick, senior market strategist at

LPL Financial, said in a note.

“The good news is that March kicks off two of the strongest months historically for equities, before we hit a period of seasonal weakness from May through October.”

On Wall Street, the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all ended sharply lower for a second successive day, and Asia again followed suit.

Tokyo finished 1.6 percent lower, with a stronger yen hitting exporters, while Sydney and Singapore each shed 0.7 percent.

Wellington, Taipei, and Kuala Lumpur were also well down.

However, Hong Kong recovered initial losses to edge up 0.1 percent having lost around two percent in the previous two sessions. Shanghai also rose, adding 0.4 percent.

Among the biggest losers were petroleum-linked firms, tracking their counterparts in New York, which were hit

by data showing a bigger-than-expected rise in US stockpiles. Hong Kong-listed CNOOC, PetroChina and Sinopec were down between one and two percent, while Inpex in Tokyo sank nearly three percent.

Both main crude contracts have been taking a hit recently as a ramp-up in US shale production offsets the effects of a key Opec-Russia cap, while gains in the dollar against higher-yielding currencies make the commodity more expensive. Brent lost more than one percent and WTI more than two percent Wednesday but were mixed in Asia.

Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trading at OANDA, said: “Traders are hypersensitive to crucial inventories data, especially top-side builds, given the market’s refocusing on shale production output as the US remains on course to be the world’s largest oil producer.”

With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.35 39,860 118.5 2,050,380 3.5 20,000 153.2 644,620 1.62 225,000 35.2 166,400 8.2 4,100 15.52 51,800 28 1,915,000 3.57 46,000 1.68 13,000 0.55 658,000 97 1,180,840 1.65 4,254,000 23.9 5,300 56.9 9,510 245 219,950 104 280 46.7 174,300 245.2 345,770 91 101,260 1.2 2,000

2,355,505 243,383,492 67,560 99,060,370 361,190 5,858,525 32,930 802,710 54,186,730 164,160 21,850 356,530 114,711,788.50 6,987,250 121,410 543,526 53,152,078 29,064 8,115,240 84,757,222 9,219,921 2,400

1,652,885 -72,935,289 -38,682,513 239,420 619,925 30,659,215 24,415,489 105,130 353,736 47,969,550 2,469,380 21,414,050 7,643,972.50 -

38.45 12.82 0.55 1.26 18.78 0.215 3.67 16.1 245 52 22.5 63.5 53 1.9 5.25 10.12 11.42 14.4 11.3 7.75 5.52 1.79 14.4 62 28.5 9.97 18.4 2.18 295.8 4.54 26.5 16.5 20.85 326 0.191 8 2.71 4.78 9.12 6.2 1.53 12.5 56.8 6 617 4.85 3.1 3.34 2.32 15.5 5.19 0.133 1.01 148.5 1.82 1.57

INDUSTRIAL 38.7 975,300 12.94 1,397,300 0.58 519,000 1.27 95,000 19.12 30,700 0.217 3,010,000 3.72 3,052,000 16.22 70,200 354 1,700 53 388,020 23 138,500 63.9 152,270 53.75 2,240 1.9 99,000 5.25 60,000 10.5 3,100 11.7 604,000 14.4 485,800 11.4 89,600 7.89 424,500 5.58 483,500 1.8 21,000 14.56 4,037,800 62.3 580,310 29 26,800 10.04 125,400 19.2 2,906,200 2.23 3,867,000 297.6 663,930 4.78 4,369,000 26.75 1,736,600 16.86 108,400 21.3 1,302,300 329 426,320 0.192 260,000 8 14,100 2.85 2,332,000 5.01 519,000 9.25 916,400 6.25 345,600 1.53 3,077,000 12.88 57,100 56.85 116,000 6.01 12,500 620 19,550 4.86 189,000 3.1 412,000 3.52 11,000 2.39 5,231,000 15.96 480,100 5.19 180,000 0.137 1,540,000 1.02 71,000 149.2 820,220 1.95 10,373,000 1.67 38,437,000

37,810,355 18,048,152 290,010 120,150 585,692 650,680 11,393,350 1,134,070 553,290 20,717,857.50 3,369,550 9,732,817 120,297 188,460 315,000 32,322 7,052,670 7,016,166 1,022,284 3,341,814 2,686,939 37,780 58,564,684 35,988,079.50 772,150 1,254,244 54,481,212 8,645,630 2 197,877,030 21,343,860 46,495,495 1,823,338 27,603,235 140,307,126 49,800 112,800 6,562,880 2,590,000 8,422,913 2,181,333 4,747,340 725,070 6,603,525 75,080 12,152,140 918,300 1,289,330 38,340 12,590,650(1, 7,620,664 939,456 206,940 72,600 122,539,946 19,653,870 64,132,230

-26,176,090 6,243,388 2,200 12,700 19,300 -4,892,310 800,560 -764,993.50 -390,600 41,481.50 1,733,124 4,924,816 139,586 2,185,478 409,055 5,649,598 -2,371,314 25,905 700,244 -23,589,560 ,730,380.0001 113,710,188 486,670 -38,515,425 264,402 5,477,430 -21,443,578 1,123,520 74,720 468,983 52,960 940,330 -348,924 -4,055,707 2,892,085 884,310 390,399.9997) -1,650,728 2,600 -2,272,852 -4,968,690 -1,785,460

0.315 76.5 15.26 0.98 7.64 0.67 0.67 1,065 1,447 7.32 13.98 7.5 5.02 5.75 1,342 70.1 5.13 0.69 5.32 22.9 0.315 5.69 3.54 0.048 1.16 3.56 2.61 141.1 2.86 968.5 0.8 1.6 284 0.285 0.18

0.31 74.75 14.86 0.94 7.32 0.62 0.65 1,051 1,400 7.28 13.7 7.4 5 5.74 1,310 67.1 5.13 0.65 5.24 22.3 0.315 5.56 3.31 0.045 1.1 3.4 2.59 140 2.68 940.5 0.8 1.58 280 0.25 0.18

HOLDING FIRMS 0.315 880,000 75.5 802,600 15 9,187,500 0.95 61,000 7.35 26,600 0.63 23,468,000 0.65 4,388,000 1,051 219,000 1,446 30 7.3 927,200 13.72 2,433,600 7.5 29,700 5.01 16,900 5.74 15,000 1,338 61,455 68.1 5,509,740 5.13 300 0.68 630,000 5.3 281,700 22.4 2,287,200 0.315 50,000 5.63 16,887,500 3.31 20,000 0.046 59,000,000 1.1 135,000 3.41 6,154,000 2.61 23,000 140.8 153,390 2.82 24,000 966 279,190 0.8 110,000 1.58 165,000 284 2,210 0.26 5,040,000 0.18 500,000

273,000 60,528,451.50 137,827,462 59,080 196,196 15,007,180 2,874,830 231,336,380 42,935 6,764,527 33,643,662 222,630 84,629 86,200 81,855,095 377,549,317.5 ( 1,539 420,900 1,490,606 51,507,100 15,750 95,154,564 66,430 2,723,900 151,830 21,305,680 59,870 21,594,043 67,530 268,194,360 88,000 261,140 624,840 1,336,850 90,000

24,800 -36,000,139 1,384,118 1,164,450 -112,808,245 690,404 -10,747,616 -20,105,885 73,401,955.5) 867,510 -20,050,720 -68,371,016 3,540 239,400 156,670 6,217,674 -104,722,140 -159,848 -

6.9 1.12 17.44 2.07 0.88 42.85 3.79 4.79 6.4 7.4 7.5 0.43 1.07 0.32 0.47 32.95 0.64 1.79 1.31 0.76 4.88 0.9 0.315 0.52

6.76 1.06 17.12 2.02 0.85 41.4 3.68 4.66 5.81 6.6 6 0.42 1.07 0.29 0.455 31.9 0.62 1.75 1.29 0.68 4.77 0.72 0.305 0.5

1,865,735 14,313,740 1,527,094 571,280 2,011,250 755,233,440 1,272,540 2,656,790 2,803,161 100,165 38,050 913,050 6,420 73,349,450 228,250 11,840,220 ( 5,100 25,899,570 2,900,010 744,760 108,788,180 826,431,340 581,950 1,848,770

-693,407 83,260 -5,166 -3,464,510 207,950 23,590 5,120 8,400 -6,900 630,425.0002) -121,650 16,900 76,937,050 2,753,650 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

58.25 120 3.37 155.5 1.6 35.25 8.01 15.3 28.2 3.58 1.69 0.54 97.8 1.62 22.8 56.8 244.8 103.3 46.5 245 91 1.2

59.35 120 3.5 155.5 1.65 35.25 8.5 15.52 29.3 3.58 1.69 0.56 97.8 1.68 23.9 57.3 248.8 104 46.7 246 92 1.2

58.1 118.4 3.37 152.3 1.58 35.2 8 15.3 27.7 3.56 1.68 0.53 96.95 1.6 22.8 56.8 240 103.3 46.5 244.2 90.95 1.2

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

38.9 12.94 0.56 1.27 19.36 0.216 3.72 16.1 245 54.5 23 63.5 54.35 1.92 5.25 10.12 11.72 14.4 11.68 7.8 5.57 1.8 14.6 62.2 29.1 10 19.2 2.24 297.6 4.54 26.9 16.5 21.25 336.6 0.191 8 3 4.78 9.19 6.35 1.58 12.5 57.25 6 617 4.85 3.22 3.34 2.6 15.5 5.35 0.134 1.05 148.5 1.84 1.63

38.9 12.98 0.58 1.27 19.46 0.219 3.8 16.22 357 56.9 25 63.95 54.35 1.92 5.25 10.5 11.74 14.5 11.68 7.91 5.6 1.8 14.68 62.4 29.1 10.04 19.2 2.32 300 5.2 26.9 16.88 21.35 336.6 0.192 8 3.03 5.01 9.25 6.5 1.6 12.9 57.25 6.01 625 4.87 3.34 3.52 2.6 16 5.35 0.137 1.05 154.5 1.95 1.77

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP BHI HLDG COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A FJ PRINCE B GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV MJC INVESTMENTS PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION REPUBLIC GLASS SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS

0.31 76.5 14.9 0.95 7.37 0.66 0.66 1,057 1,400 7.3 13.92 7.5 5.02 5.75 1,342 70 5.13 0.68 5.3 22.9 0.315 5.6 3.54 0.047 1.1 3.44 2.59 141 2.68 942.5 0.8 1.58 281.4 0.285 0.18

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CEBU PROP A CEBU PROP B CENTURY PROP CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY

6.9 1.11 17.3 2.06 0.86 41.4 3.69 4.75 6.4 6.75 7.5 0.425 1.07 0.3 0.47 32.55 0.64 1.79 1.3 0.68 4.84 0.84 0.305 0.52

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

4.18 32.6 19.54 1.91 3.23 35.6 1 24.75 0.8 6.5

4.18 36 19.54 1.96 3.23 36.35 1 26.8 0.81 6.5

4.09 32.6 19.34 1.86 3.23 35.3 1 23.6 0.8 6.36

4.15 36 19.44 1.91 3.23 35.75 1 24.6 0.81 6.48

3,185,000 2,800 1,195,300 1,834,000 7,000 7,397,600 2,528,000 1,262,000 11,000 4,593,100

13,195,440 98,390 23,222,900 3,463,610 22,610 264,473,030 2,528,000 32,434,250 8,880 29,649,404

461,720.00 -7,295,120 1,177,950 -88,397,090 5,190 -665,775

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP 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

18 31.65 1.35 0.65 0.065 14.28 0.067 100.5 7.76 8.09 2.74 59 1,715 6.24 320 5.2 2.62 110.3 13.16 8.31 1.54 3.15 14.5 4.27 1.01 29 0.485 5.94 7.65 3.44 16.52 13 11 2.84 115 7.03 1,521 1.26 0.335 51.5 94.1 6 3.09 1.4 0.62 3.4 0.91 10.68

18.4 31.7 1.35 0.67 0.067 14.28 0.074 100.5 7.76 9.47 2.74 64.5 1,760 6.25 355 5.32 2.77 110.3 13.16 8.31 1.63 3.2 15.38 4.43 1.05 29.1 0.485 6 7.95 3.47 18.14 13.48 11.3 2.84 116 7.03 1,560 1.26 0.36 52.7 94.1 6.05 3.09 1.41 0.64 3.42 0.95 11.3

18 31.55 1.35 0.54 0.061 13.96 0.067 99.8 7.3 8.09 2.55 48 1,710 6.21 311 5 2.62 108.3 13.02 8.31 1.53 3.13 14.5 4.21 1 27.9 0.485 5.48 7.65 3.32 16.52 12.12 11 2.83 106 6.77 1,521 1.23 0.335 51.5 92 6 2.9 1.39 0.51 3.4 0.9 10.58

SERVICES 18 31.6 1.35 0.56 0.061 14.24 0.069 100 7.31 9.39 2.55 52 1,729 6.24 323 5.15 2.77 109 13.02 8.31 1.59 3.15 15.36 4.26 1.01 28.9 0.485 5.48 7.8 3.32 17.98 13.4 11.2 2.83 110 6.82 1,541 1.24 0.36 52.2 93.4 6.05 3 1.4 0.53 3.4 0.91 10.96

78,500 264,800 20,000 96,178,000 310,650,000 6,713,700 162,890,000 190,270 2,680,600 2,163,700 208,000 1,696,600 11,305 396,900 201,710 9,795,800 40,000 580,950 22,300 1,000 1,183,000 212,000 900 2,465,000 497,000 4,605,300 1,000 1,704,200 1,040,200 988,000 52,500 20,178,100 700 9,000 40,880 1,563,300 49,045 5,744,000 1,140,000 1,515,300 686,220 16,500 480,000 6,243,000 186,896,000 237,000 8,044,000 3,045,700

1,417,590 8,366,605 27,000 57,696,370 19,761,450 95,296,436 11,530,350 19,025,996.50 20,197,631 19,778,220 545,350 95,218,635 19,480,550 2,472,579 67,708,642 50,116,354 108,360 63,423,800 291,610 8,310 1,882,140 666,840 13,730 10,549,050 502,700 130,574,455 485 9,695,239 8,137,305 3,327,050 907,734 261,493,902 7,800 25,500 4,441,920 10,713,485 75,602,700 7,143,310 407,300 79,347,201.50 63,719,718.50 99,040 1,430,230 8,739,920 108,289,130 807,810 7,360,170 33,458,432

1,800 -13,462,710 183,000 28,424,266 9,000 7,720,644 -3,942,241 20,225 -925,705 804,285 405,528 -22,585,059 14,024,881 -13,550.00 -23,522,515 -57,902 2,133,463 -1,710,900 -369,948 -2,830 -1,732,615 -1,085,098 -293,080 -3,207,280 42,198,214.50 -40,259,259 273,040 666,380 1,506,120 10,200 -67,950 1,556,676

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET B CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B 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

0.003 1.69 5 17.96 1.64 1.73 0.305 7.38 2.34 0.23 0.146 0.153 0.0097 1.44 6.29 1.38 0.435 0.87 0.012 0.012 2.3 6.3 17.8 37.05 0.0068

0.0031 1.72 5.06 17.96 1.72 1.73 0.315 7.51 2.34 0.255 0.148 0.153 0.0097 1.44 6.29 1.38 0.445 0.88 0.013 0.012 2.7 6.3 18.5 37.4 0.0068

0.0027 1.61 5 17 1.64 1.67 0.3 7.21 2.3 0.227 0.145 0.152 0.0097 1.39 6.16 1.31 0.435 0.87 0.012 0.011 2.25 6.11 15.8 36.6 0.0068

MINING & OIL 0.0028 4,323,000,000 1.64 18,654,000 5 281,100 17.84 11,900 1.72 17,000 1.71 1,716,000 0.315 1,250,000 7.21 3,400 2.3 3,159,000 0.237 3,790,000 0.146 1,200,000 0.153 4,660,000 0.0097 1,000,000 1.44 448,000 6.16 1,087,900 1.37 551,000 0.445 20,000 0.88 48,000 0.013 6,200,000 0.012 33,800,000 2.3 376,000 6.29 87,800 15.8 32,853,800 36.8 1,366,500 0.0068 18,000,000

12,241,000 31,307,550 1,405,704 209,488 28,760 2,904,210 377,450 25,128 7,296,600 912,260 174,970 712,830 9,700 626,040 6,764,537 1 727,290 8,800 42,080 76,200 391,600 873,970 552,332 562,258,258 50,447,065(21 122,400

151,600 17,960 -3,725 253,100.00 ,914,648.9997 34,500.00 187,490 -27,279,106 ,715,045.0003) -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

30.05 518 103.6 505 6 101.3 1.05 1,150 990 77.5 80.25 76.25 78.1 77.9

31.3 518 103.6 505 6 101.3 1.07 1,150 1,000 77.5 80.25 76.25 78.1 77.9

30.05 514 103.1 505 6 101.3 1.05 1,150 990 77.5 80 76.25 78 77.75

PREFERRED 30.8 63,200 514 300 103.3 40,560 505 45,090 6 19,300 101.3 6,500 1.06 704,000 1,150 500 1,000 1,780 77.5 240 80 43,510 76.25 4,300 78.05 20,960 77.9 51,390

1,950,580 154,980 4,188,120 22,770,450 115,800 658,450 746,250 575,000 1,776,200 18,600 3,485,390 327,875 1,635,286 4,001,518.50

-978,830 -2,012,000 -

LR WARRANT

3.35

3.35

2.93

WARRANTS 2.98 4,667,000

14,394,050

2,940

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

6.12 3 3.6 3.48

6.3 3.1 3.69 3.48

5.97 3 3.4 3.35

6.01 3 3.5 3.4

23,889,242 93,460 2,908,240 5,762,550

-9,913,636 -2,010,870

FIRST METRO ETF

129.6

129.8

128.5

978,477

2,570

146,440 72,100 119,401.20

-

MS

PROPERTY 6.84 1.07 17.12 2.07 0.87 42.2 3.79 4.67 6 7.4 6 0.425 1.07 0.305 0.465 32.35 0.64 1.75 1.3 0.75 4.85 0.73 0.31 0.51

274,100 13,130,000 88,800 280,000 2,328,000 17,922,000 340,000 563,000 465,700 15,100 5,700 2,150,000 6,000 237,720,000 490,000 366,700 8,000 14,759,000 2,231,000 1,056,000 22,457,000 994,609,000 1,880,000 3,621,000

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.46 10.3 1.02

TRADING SUMMARY

10.46 10.3 1.02

SHARES

FINANCIAL

12,127,994

INDUSTRIAL

97,836,131

HOLDING FIRMS

140,093,343

PROPERTY

1,339,598,329

SERVICES

848,929,926

MINING & OIL

4,453,762,471

GRAND TOTAL

6,898,868,937

10.46 10.3 1.02

SME

3,940,000 31,000 835,000 1,701,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 129.8 7,570 DDS 10.46 10.3 1.02

14,000 7,000 117,060

VALUE 2,202.40 (down) 23.25 684,329,526.65 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,437.47 (down) 3.44 1,015,668,053.448 HOLDING FIRMS 8,546.40 (down) 38.66 1,493,815,846.13 PROPERTY 3,779.35 (up) 57.65 1,747.57 (up) 1.68 2,233,664,444.79 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,030.06 (down) 223.76 1,421,972,346.69 PSEI 8,465.77 (down) 9.52 680,535,258.338 All Shares Index 5,077.63 (down) 5.31 7,563,639,753.25 Gainers: 84; Losers: 110; Unchanged: 49; Total: 243

EastWest’s income jumps 48% to P5.1b

By Julito G. Rada EAST West Banking Corp., a unit of the Filinvest Group, booked a net income of P5.1 billion in 2017, up 48 percent from P3.4 billion in 2016, on sustained growth across all business segments.

“We are pleased to see the 48-percent increase in net income after 2016’s 70-percent increase. We appreciate the efforts of EWBankers that made this possible,” chief executive officer Antonio Moncupa Jr. said in a statement Thursday.

“I am sure these results will only motivate our colleagues to continue to exert efforts to serve our customers better and show their deep appreciation for our customers’ continued trust and confidence in EastWest,” Moncupa said.

The bank’s 2017 performance translated into a return on equity of 13.8 percent, the highest reported among listed universal banks. Total assets grew 8.8 percent year-on-year.

The bank’s net interest margin stood at 7.8 percent, the highest in the banking industry mainly because of its consumer lending businesses.

Net interest margin, net of provisions for loan losses, a metric that makes comparison among banks more meaningful, was at an industry leading 5.9 percent.

Return on assets was at 1.7 percent. The bank’s net revenues reached P25.6 billion, 17 percent higher on year.

Core earnings that exclude trading and non-recurring revenues, reached P24.2 billion, up 21 percent, as net interest income and fee-based income rose 19.8 percent and 29.2 percent, respectively.

Trading income, however,dropped 16.6 percent to P760 million.

“We thank our customers for our best year so far. Their continued patronage allowed us to make progress in improving productivity,” bank president Bobby Reyes said.

Operating expenses reached P13.9 billion, 19.1 percent higher than the previous year as the bank invested in broadening and deepening the senior management bench to prime the bank for further growth moving forward.

Total loans increased 10.7 percent to P220.1 billion as consumer loans grew 17 percent to P160.3 billion.

EDC says net profit reached P8.8b in 2017

By Alena Mae S. Flores ENERGY Development Corp., the country’s largest geothermal and wind energy company, posted a recurring net income attributable to equity holders of the parent of P8.8 billion in 2017, 4 percent lower than P9.2 billion in 2016.

EDC disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange that revenues dropped to P33.3 billion last year, down 3 percent from P34.2 billion in 2016.

The company said revenues and recurring net income attributable to equity holders of the parent declined last year due to the strong 6.5 magnitude earthquake that hit Leyte island on July and Typhoon Urduja that struck in late December last year.

“Our Leyte unit, which generated almost 45 percent of our revenues in 2016, was on track for a record year last year until it got struck by two major calamities”, EDC chief financial officer Nestor Vasay said in a statement.

EDC said although the company restored 40 percent of the pre-earthquake Leyte capacity within 10 days in July, and the rest in the succeeding months, it still saw revenues from its largest business unit fall by P800 million.

“Despite the initial shock from the earthquake last July and from Urduja last December, our team worked hard to successfully restore much-needed electricity to our countrymen in the Visayas region,” Vasay said.

The Bacon-Manito geothermal business unit delivered an additional P900 million in revenues on higher contracted volume to negate the lower generation volume of its Palinpinon geothermal power plants.

Its 150-MW Burgos wind farm in Ilocos Norte, the largest in the country, also built on its strong 2016 performance to post its highest volume (16 percent higher in 2017) since its commissioning in 2014.

“We have been able to fully contract our Bacman and Nasulo power plants, thus reducing our exposure to the spot market. We also bought back close to US$90 million of our dollar bonds last year to help reduce our foreign exchange exposure,” Vasay said.

World

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

B3

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

Legendary Joan Baez muses on Hitler, Trump PARIS―Joan Baez is musing about Donald Trump and even Hitler and what she believes is their shared lack of empathy.

“Most of the weird ones have their pets,” she told AFP, referring to Hitler’s German Shepherd, Blondi.

“But I don’t think Trump could even have a dog. I don’t think there is any feeling for anybody but himself and his money.”

“I mean Hitler wanted to rule the world. Trump wants to make money.”

The legendary 1960s protest singer may be on what she insists is her final tour, “Fare Thee Well”, but she has no intention of going quietly.

Although she spends more time these days painting than on music, her “retirement” may be more theoretical than real.

“If somebody calls me to do 20 minutes at a folk festival... or to do something that supports the resistance to evil because of the political climate we’re in, then I’ll do it,” said the 77-year-old.

Baez said that standing up to Trump is far more difficult than the more straightforward battles her generation had to face.

“For us it was easy... There was Vietnam and civil rights. Now there are 50 Vietnams going on in the world and there is this insane narcissistic crazy person creating a situation we could not have invented,” she said.

But the singer was cheered by the courage of teenage survivors of the Florida high school shooting taking on the US president and the gun lobby. AFP

CHANEL PARTY. Kenya Kinski-Jones, wearing Chanel, attends a Chanel Party to celebrate the Chanel Beauty House and @WELOVECOCO at Chanel Beauty House on February 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. AFP

PERFORMANCE. This photo taken on February 28, 2018, shows childern performing Taige, a folk performance, to celebrate the coming Chinese lantern festival in Pujiang county in China’s eastern Zhejiang province. Taige performance, which is performed by 3 to 5-year-old children, is listed as one of the national intangible cultural heritages in China. AFP

Quick climate changes revealed in Antarctica A

NTARCTICA―A decade ago, a thick layer of ice covered the Collins Glacier on Antarctica’s King George Island.

Now, the rocky landscape is visible to the naked eye, in a region that is both a victim of and a laboratory for climate change.

“I had the opportunity to come here over a 15-year period, and even within a human’s lifetime, you can already see the changes brought about by climate change,” the director of the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), Marcelo Leppe, told AFP. Observers can now see “rocks that we weren’t seeing five or 10 years ago, and that is direct evidence of the shrinking of these glaciers and loss of mass,” he said.

But even as these melting glaciers worry the scientific world, the presence in Antarctica of plants proving resistant to extreme conditions has also sparked hope for a warming planet.

Europe braces for fresh blizzards PARIS―Fresh heavy snowfalls and icy blizzards were expected to lash Europe Thursday as the region shivers in a deadly deepfreeze that has gripped countries from the far north to the Mediterranean south.

Schools are shut and weather agencies predict the brutal cold will continue as the death toll from the freezing snap rose to around 48 since last Friday, with icy conditions causing accidents and endangering vulnerable rough sleepers.

In the latest deaths, a 60-yearold man perished after falling into a lake in London, while an elderly Dutch skater plunged through cracked ice in the western village of Hank.

The victims also include 18 people killed in Poland, six in the Czech Republic, five in Lithuania, four each in France and Slo-

vakia, two each in Italy, Serbia, Romania and Slovenia and one in Spain.

The Siberian cold front― dubbed the “Beast from the East” in Britain, “Siberian bear” by the Dutch and the “snow cannon” by Swedes―has blanketed huge swathes of the region in snow and played havoc with transport networks.

In Scotland, which saw Glasgow airport closed until Thursday morning and most flights canceled from Edinburgh, emergency services struggled to help drivers stranded for hours on a major motorway, with images showing scores of vehicles trapped in the snow late Wednesday.

“This is a very difficult situation but everything possible is being done,” Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon said on Twitter. AFP

Civilians staying put in Ghouta WAFIDEEN CHECKPOINT― Civilians in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta have continued to shun Russia’s offer to quit the besieged enclave, as rebels and Moscow blamed each other for the humanitarian deadlock.

The air strikes and clashes that killed 600 civilians in 10 days have reduced since the Kremlin announced five-hour halts in the bombardment.

But not one of the battered region’s 400,000 residents had left to board buses provided by the regime by late Wednesday.

AFP reporters saw no movement at the Wafideen checkpoint through which would-be evacuees were told to exit the Eastern Ghouta enclave that the

government lost in 2012 and has besieged almost ever since.

“The humanitarian corridor is open to all those who wish to return to the fold of the homeland, but so far nobody came and this is the second day,” said a military officer at the checkpoint.

Regime-backer Russia on Monday ordered a daily “humanitarian pause” of the enclave and said it was guaranteeing civilians safe passage to flee.

The move fell far short of a full ceasefire voted for by the United Nations Security Council―but was still welcomed inside the enclave as some respite from one of the bloodiest assaults in Syria’s seven-year-old war. AFP

Chile is one of some 20 countries with scientific bases on the cold continent.

Its Professor Julio Escudero complex on King George Island is where dozens of researchers are measuring the effects of climate change on native flora and fauna.

“We need to quantify the change to predict what could happen in the near future,” Leppe said.

Measurements taken last year by Chilean scientists on Doumer Island in Antarctica’s Palmer Archipelago showed water temperature had risen to 2.5 degrees Celsius (36.5 degrees Fahrenheit), up from its normal range of between 0 and 1.5 degrees. And at a depth of 40 meters (130 feet), it was still at 2.0 degrees.

The warming waters have attracted species previously unseen in the Antarctic, such as a spider crab normally found south of Chile.

There is also a blooming of green algae which is vital for the local ecosystem, especially for crustaceans.

“Even though they’re really small, the algae and the micro-algae are really important for balance in the food chain,”

said Nelson Valdivia, a professor at Austral University of Chile.

“They supply nutrients to the rest of the ecosystem, and we know that the number of species in the same ecosystem is a very important factor in terms of it remaining in good health.”

But over a longer term, this flourishing of algae could unsettle the ecological balance.

The worry is “losing species that we don’t even yet know exist,” Valdivia said.

Scientists also fear the effect of warmer temperatures on the rest of the world.

According to NASA monitoring, between 2002 and 2016, Antarctica lost 125 gigatons of ice per year, causing sea levels worldwide to rise by 0.35 millimeters annually.

Antarctica holds 62 percent of the planet’s freshwater reserves, so the melting there could have far-reaching consequences, not least by diminishing the salinity of the seas, which could prove fatal for many marine species.

However, the white continent also may hold the key to plant and animal life adapting to changing temperatures. AFP

Papers reveal 1981bid to kill Queen Elizabeth WELLINGTON―A mentally disturbed teenager tried to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II during a 1981 visit to New Zealand and police covered up the botched attempt, according to official documents released Thursday.

Christopher Lewis fired a single shot towards the Queen’s car as she toured the South Island city of Dunedin, the documents from New Zealand’s Security Intelligence Service (SIS) spy agency revealed.

No one was hurt and police reportedly assured members of the royal party who asked about a gunshot that they had simply heard a firework exploding.

Lewis, 17 at the time, was picked up soon after on an unrelated armed robbery charge and made a rambling confession about his attempt on the monarch’s life.

While police said he was delusional and “lives in a dream world,” they found a .22 rifle and spent cartridge in the building where he said the attempt took place.

He claimed to be a member of a rightwing organization called the National Imperial Guerrilla Army, which police concluded had only three members. AFP

LGUs

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

B4

LocaL government units

friday, march 2, 2018

By Vito Barcelo

Makati demos new DRRM equipment MAKATi Mayor Abby Binay on Thursday led the ceremonial blessing and launching of the new fleet of state-of-the-art mobile command and emergency response vehicles and gear recently acquired by the city government as part of its continuing commitment to resilience and sustainability.

Selected vehicles from the fleet were earlier showcased in a motorcade around the city as part of day-long activities organized by the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, dubbed “Fire Prevention Month 2018: Kick-Off Parade and Skills Fair.”

These include four mobile command vehicles, one advanced mobile emergency communication vehicle, one aerial fire ladder truck, one super tanker, two chemical fire trucks, two rescue trucks, two USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) trailers, 10 rescue boats, two mobile kitchens, 13 basic life support ambulances, three motorcycles and two mobile clinics.

The city has also acquired 27 fire suppression backpacks to be placed on motorcycles which will be mobilized during fires to access narrow streets in densely populated areas in the city. The MDRRMO expects two Advanced Cardiac Life Support Ambulances and 24 additional motorcycles for fire suppression to be delivered within the month.

The Skills Fair included the actual demonstration of the following: Aerial Fire Ladder, Super Tanker, Advanced Command Vehicle, Mobile Command Vehicle, and Motorcycle Backpack Fire Extinguisher. in her welcome remarks, the mayor noted the significance of unveiling the city’s latest acquisitions for DRRM at the start of the nationwide observance of Fire Prevention Month this March.

Joy bats for ‘accessible’ annulment

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday urged lawmakers to pass a law that makes marriage annulment “universally accessible” to the poor.

Belmonte called on the legislators to craft laws simplifying the process of annulment and make the costs of court litigation more affordable, especially to the poor.

Under Article 45 of the Family Code, an annulment application has become “the pleasure of the rich” who have the financial capability to pay for expensive court and lawyers’ fees, she noted.

“Maybe, in my view, it would better if annulment or legal separation is universally accessible,” Belmonte said.

Because of the high costs of annulment, the vice mayor said married persons who have long wanted to get their marriage annulled or be granted legal separation are unable to do so and are trapped in their bad marriage.

“Rich or poor, many married couples tend to part ways. So, i think it is important that annulment is accessible to all, for as long as there are proper grounds for annulment,” she cited.

ART AND ARTISTS.

As the National Arts Month of February ended, the Rizal Provincial Tourism Board and SM City Masinag commemorated Rizaleno artistry with a ‘Yes! Sikat ng Rizal ARTbanico Making Contest’ with students of Antipolo National High School showing their decorated native fans. Second photo shows artists holding up their entries to the 10th Rizal Arts Festival digital art exhibit at SM City Taytay. Heading the ribboncutting are SM City Taytay assistant mall manager Raymond Bonifacio, Rizal Artist Federation chairman and Antipolo City First Lady Andrea Ynares, Barangay Dolores chairman Allan de Leon, SM Supermalls Group Marketing Manager Ma-ann Hipol, Rizal Artist Federation Chairman Nemi Miranda, and Taytay Tourism officer Roderick Santos, representing Taytay Mayor Joric Gacula.

The exhibit runs until March 11.

Manny Palmero and Norman Cruz

Estrada vows to stamp out old jeeps from Manila streets

CALOOCAN QUEEN. Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan (right) and his wife Edna pose with Miss Caloocan 2018 Pamela Blanca Villacorte of Barangay 53, who bested 26 other candidates during the recent pageant at the City’s Sports Complex in Bagumbong. With them are last year’s title holder Christine Rada (left) and Caloocan City Cultural and Tourism Foundation chairman Marianne Kathleen Mendoza. Jun David

Davao City govt to apply flexi-time work schedule

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

D

AVAO CiTY—The city government of Davao will be implementing a flexible work schedule or “flexi-time” for all its employees due to the heavy traffic situation in the city.

A flexi-time scheme refers to an alternative work agreement other than the employees’ prescribed work schedule but will still follow the eight-hour mandatory working period per day for five days a week. in a memorandum, City Administrator Lawyer Zuleika Lopez said the city’s traffic congestion has affected several employees, particularly their stress level, which compromises their productivity at work.

“The flexi-time scheme will grant government employees the opportunity to render service at their most conducive time with respect to the traffic situation at present,” Lopez said.

The adoption of the flexi-time schedule is in accordance with the Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 14 issued in 1989. it says that flexible working hours may be allowed “subject to the discretion of the head of agency, provided that the 40-hour work

week shall not be reduced.”

Lopez said under the scheme, government offices will be open beyond the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. working hours, and clients can still be entertained.

Under the proposed flexi-time schedule guidelines, an employee may choose his or her reporting time from the following: from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Based on the memorandum, the scheme will initially be implemented from Tuesday to Friday. Those who want to avail of any of the time schemes, especially those assigned to areas far from their homes, should get a recommendation from their heads of offices.

HOUSES OF HOPE. President

Rodrigo Duterte and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (right) applaud as the marker for the Bahay Pag-Asa Phase 2 in Barangay Mipaga, Marawi City is unveiled Thursday.

Also present at the inauguration is Philippine Army commanding general Major Gen. Rolando Bautista (left) and Tarlac Heritage Foundation co-founder Isa Cojuangco Suntay.

The 60-house project was built by the Army’s 54th Engineering Brigade, 547 ECB, the First Infantry (Tabak) Division, the Mechanized Infantry Division, and 2MECH BDE, with donations from the Tarlac Heritage Foundation, the Chinese-Filipino Business Club Inc. and tycoon Carlos Chan.

MANiLA Mayor Joseph Estrada on Thursday said he will ban all old and dilapidated jeepneys plying the city’s streets and replaced them with electric jeepneys to reduce traffic and air pollution.

The mayor said traffic in Manila is getting worse because of old and smoke-belching public utility vehicles that run through the city’s major and inner roads.

Estrada said he wants to improve the quality of life of the riding public by putting up electric jeepneys on the streets of Manila.

“Our riding public is already suffering from these old and dilapidated jeepneys that emit heavy smoke, while scores of these old vehicles break down, causing traffic jams,” Estrada said.

He noted that several jeepney drivers always resort to “trip cutting” to the detriment of the riding public.

“That’s why i am pushing the modernization of public transport in Manila, despite the resistance of the jeepney drivers and operators,” the mayor said.

“These old vehicles are causing a lot of inconveniences to the public, but also a threat to their health and the environment,” Estrada said. “i think this is the right time to push through with the plan of the city government to avail of the financial assistance of the [national] government for those who want to own and drive E-jeepneys,” he added.

The government initiative to put in newer, safer jeepneys on the street was introduced by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in 2015.

“Aside from being comfortable, [the new jeeps are] also environmentfriendly,” he said.

The e-jeepneys will have low smoke emission, closed-circuit television cameras, dash board cameras, GPS and are person with disability (PWD) friendly.

Under the national plan, the driver can own an e-jeepney in four to five years just by paying P150 a day instead of the P800 to P1,000 daily “boundary system” used by jeepney operators.

In BrIef 19 Nueva Vizcaya villages tagged drug-free BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— The Philippine National Police in Cagayan Valley recently declared 19 barangays in this province as drugcleared and free.

The declaration was made during the visit of the new PNP regional director for Cagayan Valley, Chief Supt.

Jose Mario Espino, in the province.

The drug-cleared barangays are Balzain, Kimbutan, Caralotan, Palabotan and Canabay in Dupax del Sur town; Poblacion and Cabuluan in Villaverde town; Ammueg and Salingsingan in Ambaguio town and Baan in Kayapa town.

The drug-free barangays are barangays Talbek, Abaca, Banila, Sanguit, Lukidnon and Biruk in Dupax Del Sur town; Ocapon in Villaverde town; and Pampang and Castillo Tidang Village in Kayapa town.

The public declaration was made

by Espino and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency regional director Laurefel Gabales.

Espino said the declaration shows the government’s gains in the war on drugs in Nueva Vizcaya and Cagayan Valley region. Ben Moses Ebreo

Clark Freeport touted as next tourism center

Tanza celebrates 104th anniversary THE local government of Tanza, Cavite, led by Mayor Yuri Pacumio, recently celebrated its 104th Araw ng Tanza with numerous activities surrounding its founding anniversary from Feb. 16 to 28.

The “Lohitor” parade—a portmanteau for “lobo” (balloon), “Higante” (giant), and “toro” (bull)—underscored the street dancing competition on Feb. 28 at the town proper, and the Gabi ng Parangal-Yap Gawad Awards was the nightcap at the Sports Center.

The Yap Gawad Awards is a recognition of the exceptional talents and intelligence of professional board passers of the locality. This is a manifesto of support of the local government of Tanza to the people who brought honor and

pride to the locality, said Pacumio.

Tanza is where Emilio Aguinaldo took his oath as the first President of the Revolutionary Government of the Philippines. it is also the hometown of Felipe G. Calderon, who drafted the first Philippine Constitution.

The festivities included the “Dugong Alay, Sagip Buhay” bloodletting project last Feb. 23 at the MDRRMO building in the municipal hall grounds.

The “Local, Vocal, Loud and Proud” Music Festival was held last Feb. 25, and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Caravan was staged the day after at the Sports Complex.

The local government also issued free Civil Registrar documents (local copy) last Feb. 26 and 27.

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga— The Bases Conversion and Development Authority said Clark Freeport is being developed not only as mecca of growth but also as a center of tourism in Pampanga and Central Luzon.

Vince Dizon, president and CEO of BCDA, revealed the plan during the exhibition of 30 classic Porsche cars at the parade ground of the former American air force base on Wednesday.

Dizon announced that Clark will be the future of more exhibitions, trade, sport, and car expos, as BCDA and the Clark Development Corp. are inviting more local and international groups to hold their annual activities in the Freeport.

At present, the Freeport is now undergoing massive infrastructure development as the next growth center of the country owing to the worsening traffic and decaying of Metro Manila, Dizon said. Romeo Dizon

Life culture and media

@manilastandardlife @mStandardLifE friday, march 2, 2018

A showcase of Great Britain

Spinning from here

text and photos by mae Gianina c. Pascual

to infinity

By cid reyes

I

N THe year 2008, at the Beijing olympics, the judges in the International olympic Committee Sport and Art Contest (Sculpture Category) sifted and waded through hundreds of entries from every part of the globe.

When at last a decision had to be made, the deserving entry came from a country not too far away…the Philippines!

British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce welcoming everyone to the Great British Festival 2018 other activities during the Great British festival include great trivia challenge, British film screenings, storytelling for children, a whisky pavilion, and the much-awaited rockaoke Contest, where the winner will win two tickets to London via etihad Airways.

“What’s great about the British festival is not only the breadth and depth of our activities but also the wide range of partners that are joining us in this great celebration of the UK, with supporters from wide range of sectors all doing their bit to promote the great in Great Britain,” enthused Pruce.

To see the complete schedule of activities, visit www.gov.uk/world/philippines.

The name of the filipino artist? Jose “Joe” Datuin, a fine Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas. from the classic five-ring symbol of the olympics has sprung the latest of Datuin’s inspiration: its evolution into the Infinity Symbol. Also called the leminscate, it assumes the figure 8—an intertwined twin rings that suggest boundlessness, endlessness, limitlessness. The very qualities which Datuin ascribes to the artistic and creative imagination.

Galerie roberto presented Datuin’s “Infinity +” at the Solaire resort and Casino in the whole month of february. The onemonth show was also a recognition that over 2,300 years ago, a Greek mathematician named Archimedes first conceived and wrote about the concept of infinity, while in 1655, english mathematician John Wallis designed the leminscate.

Into the second decade of the 21st century, Datuin merges the dynamic energies of the olympian Spirit with the art of contemporary times. Graven against a field of brilliant pop colors and clean minimalist lines, the Infinity Symbol, in the hands of Datuin, delivers the imperative of an artist’s boundless and endless exploration of art.

“Infinity +” also featured the artist’s fusion technique, wherein the iconic images of immortal artists such as Matisse, Miro, and Mondrian—whose styles are strikingly recognizable at first glance—are all the more astonishing for their familiarity, when, in their verisimilitude execution by Datuin—as a brush with history!—they are nestled comfortably within the Infinity Symbol.

Gleam. Shine. Dazzle. radiance. Sparkle. In “Infinity +”, these are the facets that struck the eye delightfully when one viewed the layered and intertwined stainless rings of Joe Datuin, Filipino visual artist Jose 'Joe' Datuin recently showcased his latest works who endlessly, boundlessly, spun them into limitless existence. inspired by the classic five-ring symbol of the Olympics

Martha Atienza presents her single channel HD video 'Our Islands' at the fountain area of Tower One & Exchange Plaza.

'Our Islands' is a single channel HD video by Martha Atienza

Art Fair PH 2018 highlights

photography

ArT fair PH 2018 highlights photography This year’s staging of Art fair Philippines, ongoing until March 4, opens a new section dedicated for contemporary photography.

The new section, called ArtfairPH/Photo aims to increase awareness for photography as a form of contemporary art. one of the highlights is Neal oshima’s “Kin,” an exhibit of new works that pays visual tribute to Philippine tribes and indigenous traditions. Another exhibit, “Provocations,” curated by oshima with Angel Velasco Shaw, shines the spotlight on a range of emerging and established documentary photographers such as Paco Guerrero.

ArtfairPH/Photo also features works of filipino-Catalan photographer eduardo Masferre, who, from 1934 to 1956, recorded in images the way of life of indigenous people of the Cordillera Mountains such as the Bontok, Kankana-ey, Kalinga, Gaddang,

c1

Joe Datuin:

The festival showcases the best of Britain's music, fashion, food, and arts.

Before Peppa Pig became famous in the Philippines, we’ve already been accustomed to many British brands. over 200 British companies are currently operating in the Philippines—with many more eager to come.

Aside from consumer brands and firms, Brits themselves are also coming here to the country to live and work. Similarly, a growing number of students from the Philippines, according to British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce, are preferring to study in Great Britain, in addition to the thriving community of over 200,000 filipino nationals living and working in GB. In a bid to promote the “great” in Great Britain, the Great British festival is currently happening across the Philippines.

The two-week affair showcases the best of Britain’s music, fashion, food, and arts.

The event, which kicked off on feb. 23 and will run until March 10, has rolled out a variety of activities in Metro Manila, Baguio, Iloilo, Cebu, and Dumaguete Some of the activities are Artkitektura, a forum on global architecture and urban developments on feb. 24 and British Bakeoff, a competition hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce, which also happened on the 24th. A series of lectures led

by British experts took place at UP Diliman on feb. 27 and at De La Salle University on feb. 28.

A talk by the British Ambassador on British excellence, transnational education, and UK business excellence was held at Saint Louis University on March 1, which will then talk place at Siliman University in Dumaguete on March 5-6. A trade mission in Iloilo City is scheduled on March 7-9.

There is also a showcase of the best of British food and drink in Cebu City in association with Chef Jason Atherton.

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com

and Ifugao.

Anticipating a much larger crowd this year, the Makati art fair converted the entire The Link Car Park into a multilevel exhibition venue with a total floor area of more than 13,000 square meters. A total of 51 galleries, 36 of which local, are participating in Art fair Philippines 2018, the largest to date.

To bring art closer to more people, public art installations will be displayed in various locations at Ayala Triangle Gardens and Ayala Center. The notable pieces include our Islands, a single channel HD video

by Martha Atienza at the fountain area of Tower one & exchange Plaza; “Barikada,” a bamboo and rattan installation by Leeroy New at Ayala Center Walkway; and Conditions of Space, a sculpture of mild steel with rust patina by reg Yuson at Greenbelt 5.

Go to www.makeitmakati.com for more information on the art fair.

Datuin's 'Infinity +' exhibition features the infinity symbol set against vibrant pop colors and clean minimalist lines.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018 Nickie Wang, Issue Editor

nickie.standard@gmail.com

#FBois are the new

BAGETS

VIVA Films’ #Fbois is obviously the new version of Bagets, the entertainment outfit’s classic movie on young lives, juvenile fun and escapades.

Headed by Julian Trono who had already done starring roles, the batch is composed of Vitto Marquez (son of Joey Marquez and Alma Moreno), Dan Huschka, Andrew Muhlach and Jack Reid, all with showbiz lineages.

In their upcoming movie Squad Goals #Fbois, they will try to give more meaning to the #Fbois (the millennials call it “fuckboys”), as it already has a negative and sexual meaning.

According to direk Mark Meily, “There are other meanings to the word. In the movie, it has encountered a lot of things that led to its having new connotations and more positive definitions.”

“We try to connect and reconnect with the old ones and the so-called millennials. We should not be too entitled to things and people. We should not be too judgmental as well. Balanse lang.”

This new batch of youngsters is bent on proving what direk Meily is trying to say.

“It’s just like an old stuff. The style and fashion just come back, with new people using and wearing them. The meaning of the word changes according to use,” said Vitto, who described himself to be both new and old person because of what his parents taught him.

“I believe it’s all a matter of perception. We may come from an entirely different generation, but who are we without the people before us? My brother (James Reid) is only a few years older than me, and he himself is a millennial, but when he teaches me things and stuff on showbiz, he speaks like my parent or even my grandparent,” added Jack.

We are telling you, these goodlooking young guys who definitely inherited the good genes of their folks, have more to offer than what they have between their ears and

legs.

*** Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati are expecting their second baby, whom they would call “Kai” soon.

But prior to the baby’s coming, they are also planning for their wedding. The only problem according to Chard is that both their parents wish for a grand one.

“As much as possible, we want a very intimate one, with only our dearest friends and relatives with us. We want to do it in Switzerland or on a beach or on a mountain,” shared Chard over at Kuya Abunda’s show.

Their parents wanted a bigger ceremony and with everybody there witnessing. “They also want to hold it in Cebu City,” added Chard.

It is a problem that the couple will try to resolve before everything blows out of proportion. But at the end of the day, they’re the ones getting married, di ba? It should be their call. *** How true that this very young actor, who had witnessed a not so fine incident involving his “role models,” is now seeing a psychologist?

According to our sources, this very handsome newbie is feared to have been traumatized after personally witnessing the infamous ‘faceslapping’ off cam incident between a leading man and a lead actress.

“He sometimes cries without any reason, He sometimes stops talking when something catches his attention. We are worried,” said one of our sources.

Other source claimed that they have invited a resource person, an expert in the field, to talk to those who had played witnesses to the unbecoming ways of supposedly professional artists.

And this same resource person advised the newbie actor to continue seeing him by reporting to him for further “deepening sessions” so they could finally get rid of those nasty feelings he experienced after witnessing such incident.

What a good way to recover di ba?

MILLENNIAL BOYS. The cast of Viva Film’s ‘Squad Goals #Fbois’ (from left) Jack Reid, Vitto Marquez, Julian Trono, Andrew Muhlach and Dan Huschka.

The mother and daughter tandem at the launch of GradMaker, an app that offers flexible and convenient way to invest in a child’s education.

DIGITAL MEDIA

Mobile app helps parents invest in their children’s education M

ANULIFE Philippines is partnering with celebrity mom Bianca Gonzalez-Intal to educate parents about saving for their children’s college education with GradMaker, a mobile application that offers flexible and convenient way to invest with just a few clicks.

Even though her daughter is only two years old, the TV host, author and social media personality knows she needs to start saving now to give her child a good education.

“My husband and I were looking at tuition fees and it’s sort of crazy how high they will be by the time our daughter enters university,” Gonzalez-Intal said. “It made us want to start saving and investing for that right away, so I’m happy Manulife launched GradMaker. It gives parents like us a convenient way to prepare for our children’s college education.”

GradMaker, launched in January 2018, is designed for parents who may be too busy to meet with investment counselors or financial advisors. They can get started with just P10,000. Customers can buy policies anytime, subject to terms and conditions, and are not bound to a monthly payment schedule because they decide when to invest.

“Investing for your child’s college education does not need to be expensive or difficult,” said Ryan Charland, President and CEO of Manulife Philippines. “With GradMaker, Manulife wants to help parents like Bianca as they make plans to send their children to the schools of their choice.”

GradMaker invests in professionally managed funds of stocks and bonds to help customers achieve long-term growth. It also gives life insurance coverage of at least 125 percent of the customer’s single premium.

“It took me less than 15 minutes to sign up and make my first investment on GradMaker – all on my phone! It’s su-

Bianca Gonzales-Intal with Baby Lucia

per simple and fast,” Gonzalez-Intal said. “So whether I’m at work or in traffic or at home, I can check on my investment, manage and pay with just a few clicks on my phone. It’s really something worth checking out.”

Customers can pay for policies online using their credit or debit card. GradMaker is a free download on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for select Android and iOS devices.

For more information about GradMaker, visit www.manulife.com.ph/GradMaker.

Jessa Zaragoza makes a comeback OPM diva Jessa Zaragoza finally made the much-awaited remake of her hit song, the heartbreaking “Ikakasal Ka Na,” which was recently launched digitally in a worldwide release as her first major offering under Star Music this year.

“When I first sang ‘Ikakasal Ka Na,’ I just sang it because it was beautiful. But now, when I sang this new version, I gave it my heart and soul,” revealed Jessa.

With fresh, new arrangement, the OPM hitmaker’s “Ikakasal Ka Na” was also launched on air through MOR 101.9. Its original version was included in Jessa’s 2000 album entitled Ibigay Mo Na, with words and music by Alex Catedrilla.

Star Music’s audio content head, Jonathan Manalo, led the song’s main vocal arrangement and overall music production. He shared that since Jessa is celebrating her 20th anniversary in the industry simultaneous with the 30th showbiz anniversary of her husband Dingdong Avanzado, now is the perfect time to revisit some of her biggest OPM hits.

“What a great time to celebrate Jessa’s (and Dingdong’s) legacy. We wanted to revisit their hits that made them OPM legends,” he said.

Jonathan also revealed that Jessa’s experience and feelings will be more felt in the remake single. “You will hear in the latest version what Jessa is today, with more depth, art-

istry on her song interpretation,” he added.

The revival version of “Ikakasal Ka Na” is arranged by Paulo Zarate, mixed and mastered by Boggie Manipon, and with violins by Jerome Nuñez.

This latest single is now available for download in leading digital stores. It is also part of Jessa’s 20/30 Commemorative Anniversary Album with Dingdong, launched recently.

For more details on Jessa’s “Ikakasal Ka Na” single and her upcoming shows, visit Starmusic.ph or follow Star Music’s official social media accounts at Facebook.com/ starrecordsphil, Twitter.com/starrecordsph and Instagram.com/Starmusicph.

The cover of Jessa Zaragoza’s ‘Ikakasal Ka Na’ single

Motoring

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

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FASTLANE ‘Ceramic-coat’ it with Sonax WITH summer just around the corner, its time to protect your car from the damaging UV rays of the sun. Sonax, Germany’s most trusted brand in car care systems and technology, offers the protection you need from the harsh elements.

SONAX CC36 Ceramic Coating is the most advanced surface care enhancement product to ever come from Germany. Here’s what SONAX CC36 provides: incredible gloss, sheeting that is out of this world, superior longevity to any wax or sealant, and ease of application. SONAX CC36 Ceramic Coating will redefine how you detail your vehicle.

SONAX CC36 Ceramic Coating is not a wax or paint sealant. In fact, it’s much different. This two-stage coating blankets your vehicle’s paintwork in a flexible shell of extremely glossy protection that lasts years, not months. Compared to a conventional wax or paint sealant, SONAX CC36 Ceramic Coating provides superior gloss and better resistance to environmental impacts such as

bird droppings, water spots, car wash scratches, and more. SONAX CC36 Ceramic Coating is for the person that wants the best protection for their vehicle!

SONAX CC36 does more than sit on your paint. A special bond is created between product and surface, protecting against hostile environmental hazards and providing a lasting, glass-like finish. SONAX CC36 Ceramic Coating is an all inclusive kit that requires no special training or equipment needed to apply. Even if you are not a professional detailer, you can certainly achieve professional results with SONAX CC36 Ceramic Coating.

With protection that lasts up to one year, SONAX CC36 Ceramic Coating gives you peace of mind. Rather than having wax your car every 2-3 months, simply take care of the existing coating and you’re surface is glossy and protected!

Don’t leave your vehicle unprotected simply because you think you’re not ready for a coating. SONAX CC36 provides durable protection, and insanely gloss finish, and can be applied without special equipment. Extend the life of both your paint AND its shine with SONAX CC36 Ceramic Coating.

SONAX is available in Blade stores in SM, Robinsons and Ayala Malls, LG2 Stations and car wash/ dealer partners nationwide.

Prestone launches new line of motor oils in PH PRESTONE, innovator of cuttingedge coolants and brake fluids, recently announced the launch of its new range of motor oils in the country that were formulated in line with its drive to provide better protection for cars and their passengers.

According to Prestone, the new range of motor oils are made to meet the specific requirements of various vehicles in tropical countries like the Philippines.

“As a brand that advocates and values road safety, Prestone introduces a new range of motor oils for Filipinos’ engine needs,” said Monique Gonzales, brand manager of Prestone.

“This new product line is our way of helping customers ensure that their engine’s small parts work harmoniously, making them more confident and safe, whenever and wherever they are.”

Motor oils have the closest contact with the small parts of the engine.

Aside from minimizing friction, these oils also carry heat and corrosive contaminants away from the moving parts, including the warmest pieces like the piston rings, as well as the intake and exhaust valves.

When the lubricating oil breaks down due to high heat conditions, it also means that it stops protecting the moving parts from sludge, carbon buildup, and corrosion. As these circumstances happen, they lead to engine failures, particularly if the engine is not taken cared of properly.

Thus, it is necessary to consider using motor oils, which can stand up against the toughest conditions.

Prestone’s range of Motor Oils uses the latest technologies and solutions to offer the best characteristics of lubricant for car engines. It utilizes very

high VI Base Oils that meet the standards of both the latest gasoline and diesel engines and older vehicles.

These motor oils are also made in an ISO-certified plant in Singapore and conferred with a donut symbol of a certified quality mark by the American Petroleum Institute (API).

PRESTONE Motor Oils are now available in leading auto supply shops nationwide.

Since 1927, Prestone has been promoting safety and protection for Filipino motorists through its highquality products. From its coolants and brake fluids, the brand now expands its product lineups as it honors its 90-year history to keep its groundbreaking formulas ahead of the competition.

To know more about Prestone and its range of products, visit its website at www.prestone.com.ph.

F1: Reasons to look forward to in 2018

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HERE is a new logo, the Halo is here and grid girls have gone but, despite common complaints, it is not all gloom and doom ahead of the 2018 season.

Hamilton v Vettel We are still very lucky to have two of the most-decorated Formula 1 champions of all-time on the grid. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see these two legendary drivers from two dominant teams trade blows for the entire season?

We only got a taste of it in 2017, but we are hungry, salivating for more. Lewis Hamilton will no doubt bring his ‘A’ game and hopefully, hopefully, Sebastian Vettel has taken some anger management classes over the course of the winter.

Although Ferrari hit a brick wall last season after such a promising start, there is still no denying they made a big leap forward and became a genuine rival to Mercedes again. More of the same, please.

There have been some encouraging noises coming from their Maranello base as they put the finishing touches to their car ahead of winter testing, so fingers crossed they are in a position to launch a more sustained attack on the Silver Arrows.

A third rival for the title?

There is every possibility that more invites will be handed out to the 2018 title party. The rampaging Red Bulls began work earlier than usual in a bid to break the mould of starting the season slow and finishing it strong. If they can finally pick up where they left off then they will be a force to be reckoned with.

After retirements in seven of his first 14 races in 2017, Verstappen boosted his credentials of being a future World Champion in the making by winning two of the last six races: Malaysia and Mexico.

Given his young age, the buzz surrounding him and the fact that he has committed his future to Red Bull, he will no doubt be the main driver to lead a potential title challenge despite Christian Horner’s insistence that the team won’t pick favourites.

But, you simply cannot rule out the smiling assassin: Daniel Ricciardo. The

Nissan gearing up for electric future

awesome Aussie, another 2017 race winner, is driving with his future on the line.

His contract is up at the end of the season, couple that with a strong determination to win the World Championship and we shall hopefully see some more magic Ricciardo performances over the year to come.

If Red Bull don’t materialise as a title threat, he could well earn himself a move to Mercedes or Ferrari, who both have seats available for the 2019 season.

Big 2019 seats up for grabs Two Finns, two 12-month contract extensions. It could be the beginning of the end for Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes and Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari and that could provide a huge opportunity for a vast array of potential candidates.

As mentioned above, Ricciardo has been linked with both drives, while Mercedes-backed Esteban Ocon will be preparing to get the better of his Force India team-mate Sergio Perez in another fierce battle to strengthen his potential claim for the Silver Arrows seat.

And away from the Formula 1 spotlight is Pascal Wehrlein, who still has his admirers at Mercedes. He may have been ditched by Sauber at the end of the 2017 season, but that is no reflection on his talent. A good year with Mercedes in DTM could see him re-enter the frame for 2019.

At Ferrari, rising star Charles Leclerc (more on him later) would be an obvious contender if he can give a good account of himself in his first year at Sauber.

Then, lurking in the shadows, is surprise reserve driver Daniil Kvyat who will feel he has unfinished business in Formula 1; and there is Perez and Haas’ Romain Grosjean who have made no secret of the fact that they would love to represent the Scuderia.

Then there will be the usual buzz and speculation surround Fernando Alonso’s future with McLaren. He already has his hands full competing in two race series

THE ASEAN electric vehicle world was abuzz last week when Nissan presented its Nissan Futures event at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Center in Singapore.

The latest version of the Nissan Leaf electric car model was presented to the public as Nissan officials from around the globe were there to present the latest trends in the electric vehicle industry such as autonomous driving and state of the art design and accessories.

Electric vehicle experts and government representatives from different parts of the ASEAN region were also there to join panel discussions and exchange ideas on the status of the EV industry in their respective areas. The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines was there to witness the event with Rommel Juan, president

in 2018 after signing up for the World Endurance Championship with Toyota, but could he be tempted to quit Formula 1 altogether if he cannot compete at the front?

A competitive McLaren?

But let’s not dismiss McLaren just yet.

After three dark and dingy years with Honda, they could emerge into the light again with their new engine suppliers Renault.

McLaren were adamant that they had one of the best chassis on the grid last season and are confident Renault can help propel them back to where they belong.

Race wins may be out of the question in 2018, but how great would it be to see Alonso, or Stoffel Vandoorne for that matter, in the hunt for podium finishes?

Certainly beats seeing the McLaren car on the back of a recovery truck.

They scraped together a measly 30 points in the World Constructors’ Championship last season and were only proped up by Sauber in the standings, so surely this campaign will see some vast improvement from the Woking team.

Can’t wait to find out how good they can be and whether they can live up to the self-imposed hype.

The rise of a new superstar?

Talking of hype, there is lots of it surrounding Ferrari academy product Charles Leclerc. He took the F2 world by storm last season and has been rightly rewarded with his first taste of Formula 1 race action with Sauber, who will be excited themselves to finally get their hands on a current-spec engine.

At 19 years old, Leclerc became the youngest-ever F2 World Champion and was the first driver since Nico Hulkenberg in 2009 to win the series in his rookie season – something that World Champions Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton also accomplished. Not bad company, eh?

There will be no dominant victories coming his way in 2018 but, with a huge carrot being dangled in front of him in the form a potential seat at Ferrari next year, he will be straining every sinew to show he is ready to jump straight in at the top if the opportunity does arise.

It will be great to see him in action on the biggest stage, as we could well have another Esteban Ocon or Max Verstappen on our hands. Planet F1

of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines as one of the panelists.

“It was very good to learn about Nissan’s cutting edge technology in electric vehicles and autonomous driving. And we look forward to the day when Nissan will introduce the Nissan Leaf in the Philippines”, he says.

Juan explains that the time is right for the Philippines for EVs because of the exemption from excise tax of EVs in the new tax law, thus considerably lowering its selling price. “And also because EV charging infrastructures are now being set up by the private sector in strategic locations. And of course, the PUV Modernization Program aimed at replacing some 200,000 jeepneys is also a big potential for the electric jeepneys”.

During the event, a survey from Frost and Sullivan was presented that showed that the Philippines is at the top of the list in the ASEAN region in terms of willingness to consider an EV on their next vehicle purchase.

“Frost and Sullivan’s study just proves that our association is on the right track, that we are doing something right in our efforts to promote EVs and EV technology nationwide. Our efforts are now bearing fruit”, says Juan.

The Nissan Futures event also took the delegates and the members of the media for a test drive of the new Nissan Leaf and Nissan Note at the Autonomous Vehicle Test Centre at the Nanyang Technical University Singapore to get a feel of how it is to drive these futuristic electric cars.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

Motoring

President Duterte’s visit to Russia last year has created opportunities for Moscow and Manila businessmen to enter into joint ventures like that between Eastern Petro-

Testing the waters: Eastern nd GAZ take the wraps off of a pair of Gazelles.

RUSSIAN INVASION

U

NDER the brand name Gazelle, the first batch of light commercial vehicles from Russian GAZ Group Light Commercial Vehicles Llc. rolled out Monday straight to the warehouse of Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies .

“We have received the Gazelle Next Van and Gazelle Next Cityline and are warehoused in our facility in Pasig City,” Dr. Fernando L. Martinez, Eastern Petroleum Group Chairman and Chief Executive, said.

“The first of many shipments,” Martinez said, “This is a milestone for our Group as this confirms our Russian partner’s commitment to market its vehicles in the Philippines and reaffirms their support to the Government’s transport modernization program.”

Succeeding shipments are coming in the next few weeks in time for the upcoming Manila International Auto Show 2018 (MIAS).

Gazelle Motors Corp., the automotive business unit of Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies, would take delivery GAZ succeeding units Martinez said the Group would use the initial units for its initial display, mar-

Gazelle vehicles

stride into PH market keting and market study and research, among others. “These units come at opportune time, as these would also help us in our plans to localize some of these units’ components,” he added.

The partnership between Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies and Gaz

Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies was has the exclusive right to distribute and conduct after-sales services of GAZ Group Light Commercial Vehicles Llc.’s light commercial, medium commercial and heavy-duty vehicles in the Philippines.

Gazelle variants are parked in Eastern Petroleum’s warehouse prior to formal launching.

Group of Russia was initiated during President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s visit to Moscow, Russia in May last year. The partnership was firmed up in a signing ceremony at the sidelights of the Comtrans 2017 in Moscow.

Based on the cooperation agreement,

HARI dealers strive for GREEN

HYUNDAI Asia Resources, Inc., in pursuit of a climate change-resilient Philippines, has propelled itself to the forefront of sustainable development and environmental stewardship. Thus, it has implemented several projects and programs aimed at promoting sustainability in the

the GREEEN designation will cement Hyundai’s place as a champion of Philippine sustainability.” Hyundai Cainta, GenSan, Naga, Cebu South, and Alabang count among the pioneer GREEEN dealerships in HARI’s extensive network.

The concept of sustainability is fur-

“With more than 200,000 units in the country due for replacement in the next five years, the product line our Russian partners brings fully comply with the environmental standards and also meet all comfort and safety requirements of the Philippines,” Martinez said.

HARI president Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo and Chairman Emeritus Richard Lee pose fora souvenir shot with Icons of diodiversity.

Rugged handsome: Terra 4x4 SUV YOKOHAMA—The all-new Nissan Terra frame-based SUV will be the first vehicle from Nissan’s frame and LCV division to launch under the company’s midterm plan, Nissan M.O.V.E to 2022, when the vehicle premieres in China this spring.

Nissan’s frame and LCV business unit, made up of frame SUVs, pickups, vans, light-duty trucks, is seen as critical to achieving the company’s midterm plan objectives.

One in every six Nissan vehicles sold globally is a frame-based vehicle or an LCV, and the company is focused on capturing this division’s full potential.

The business unit’s objectives under the midterm plan include increasing sales by more than 40% by 2022 and becoming a global leader in pickups and framebased SUVs. “I’m very pleased to announce that the all-new Nissan Terra will soon arrive in China. This rugged SUV is practical, authentic, and designed to go anywhere,” said Ashwani Gupta, senior vice president for Nissan’s frame and LCV busi-

ness. “The Nissan Terra goes on sale this spring, first in China, with other Asian markets soon to follow.”

He added: “Nissan’s frame and LCV business is seeing steady growth, and with our ambitious midterm plan and growing product lineup, we’re confident that this growth will continue. It is an exciting time for Nissan. We have the Nissan Terra arriving soon, the award-winning Nissan Navara is now i n

133 markets worldwide, and more drivers are purchasing our LCVs around the world.”

In 2017, Nissan’s global frame and LCV sales reached 907,929 vehicles – about a 7% increase from the prior year.

Terra goes on sale in China in spring.

Philippines, with more in the pipeline set to positively impact the lives and futures of Filipinos.

Between 2018 and 2019, HARI’s 42 dealerships in the Philippines will gun for top GREEEN ratings from the Philippine Green Building Initiative (PGBI). Buildings designated GREEEN are those recognized as “geared for resilience and energy efficiency for the environment.” Said ratings represent the strictest standards for energy and water efficiency, as well as occupant wellbeing, for buildings in the Philippines.

HARI’s flagship 10-hectare facility, the Hyundai Logistics Center (HLC) in Calamba, Laguna has already received PGBI’s highest distinction for sustainability and environmental efficiency, that of Kamagong.

HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo outlined HARI’s plans for HLC, which was designed by architect and historic site conservations Dominic Galicia and inaugurated in 2015. “HLC was envisioned to go beyond housing Hyundai passenger and commercial vehicles and upgrades are in the pipeline. These upgrades include the Hyundai Academy training center, the HARI Center for Climate Change, and the Hyundai Car Museum.”

The HARI chief furthered that Hyundai’s future initiatives will be built on a foundation of solid progress in sustainability and conservation efforts over the years. Which is why HARI’s nationwide dealership network is also fast-tracking their “GREEEN” revolution.

Said Agudo, “Seeing our dealerships nationwide also receive

ther advanced through HARI’s corporate social investments through its HARI Foundation, Inc. In March 2017, HFI, with partners Better World and NGO Institute for Global Education Exchange and Internship, Inc. (IGEEI), implemented the pilot Rain Water Harvesting System in Tanay, Rizal. The Rain Water Harvesting System is a filtration method that also stores potable water gathered from roof gutters. The system, developed by the Seoul National University Engineering College professor Han Moo Young, can deliver potable water to the community of Tanay, including the students of the local elementary school.

In the same month, HFI inked an agreement with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity to form a three-year partnership and make Hyundai the first and only champion for ASEAN biodiversity in the Philippine automotive Industry.

The Hyundai New Thinkers Circuit program, HFI’s continuing collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), has yielded a batch of scholars who can take the lead in building a climate change resilient Philippines in the years to come. HNTC throws a ray of hope on a country that remains among the 10 most vulnerable to recurring catastrophes due to climate change (Global Climate Risk Index 2018).

On HARI’s over a decade of proactively engaging in public-private partnerships for sustainability, Agudo holds a bullish outlook for 2018 and beyond. “Our goal here is to strengthen our lifelong partnership with the Filipino while also continuing to be effective stewards of the environment,” she said.