Manila Standard - 2018 Tuesday 3 - Tuesday

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 47 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

THE RECOUNT BEGINS. Former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) is greeted by supporters after attending the recount of votes in the contested 2016 vice presidential race at the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal while Vice President Leni Robredo speaks before supporters during a multi-sectoral Mass Monday at the St. Scholastica’s College in Manila. Norman Cruz, Lino Santos

Napoles loses bid to void Sandigan no-bail decision

VP vote recount: Marcos bares missing audit logs

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Supreme Court, sitting as a Presidential Electoral Tribunal, discovered irregularities such as wet ballots and missing audit logs during the start of its manual recount of votes for the vice presidential race in 2016 on Monday.

Former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made this disclosure claim even as he cited the missing audit logs and wet ballots from clustered precincts in Bato town in Camarines Sur after revisors opened the ballot boxes.

Marcos said 39 out of 40 ballot boxes from Bato town did not have audit logs.

“At the outset of the recount, we already discovered these missing audit logs. They couldn’t tell where those audit logs went.

This means somebody opened the ballot boxes and took the audit logs before closing them

again,” Marcos said in an interview.

Marcos, who disputed the proclamation of Vice President Leni Robredo, said audit logs are very important in the case as they recorded transactions made in specific clustered precincts.

“An audit log is a record of when the VCM [vote-counting machine] was opened, when the ballot was inserted, when the votes were transmitted to the server and when the VCM was again closed. But almost all the logs there

THE Supreme Court has rejected the bid of alleged pork barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles to overturn the Sandiganbayan’s decision to deny her bail in her plunder and other cases.

In a resolution dated Feb. 6, 2018, written by Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr., the Court affirmed its earlier decision to uphold the anti-graft court’s October 2015 and March 2016 rulings. Ten other justices concurred with the decision.

In turning down Napoles’ motion for reconsideration, the Court said the petitioner did not present new arguments to warrant a reversal of its earlier ruling.

Next page

Kim meets K-pop stars: Deeply moved NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong Un smiled, clapped and said he was “deeply moved” by a rare performance by South Korean K-pop stars in Pyongyang, state Next page media reported Monday.

Next page

High court takes up Sereno case in Baguio sessions Deployment ban

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court will deliberate on the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida seeking the removal of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno during its summer sessions in Baguio City that start today, Tuesday.

A highly placed source said the high court justices will determine whether or not to give due course and to acquire jurisdiction on the petition, one of the issues raised

by Sereno in seeking the dismissal of the case.

“The Court has to resolve the issue on jurisdiction first before it can proceed to the resolution of the merits of the petition,” the source said.

He made his statement even as the Coalition for Justice on Monday urged the Supreme Court to uphold judicial independence and due process by throwing out the quo warranto petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General against Sereno.

In a statement, the CFJ said the high court should stand up against oppression and injustice as manifested in the case of the Chief Justice who, it said, was fighting all kinds of attempts to remove her from office--including extra-constitutional means.

In her answer to the quo warranto petition, Sereno sought to dismiss the petition on technical grounds, particularly for its alleged lack of jurisdiction and violation of the one-year prescription period for filing Next page such case.

stays pending PH-Kuwait deal

By Vito Barcelo

THE ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait will remain despite the death sentence handed down by a Kuwaiti court to the Lebanese employers convicted of murdering Filipino domestic Joanna Demafelis, a Malacañang official said Monday.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the President was happy with the decision of the Kuwaiti court, since this would give justice to Demafelis, whose body was discovered in a freezer in Kuwait.

But the Palace official said the ban on deployment of Filipinos to Kuwait would remain until both countries sign a new memorandum of understanding that would provide better protection for Filipinos working in Kuwait.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, meanwhile, said the death sentence on the principal suspects in Demafelis’ Next page

Palace tosses Boracay issue to 3 agencies

By Vito Barcelo COMPLAINT RAISED. Students from the Akbayan Youth group file an administrative complaint against Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson before the Office of the Ombudsman for spreading what they say is disinformation through social media.

Manny Palmero

Palace tells Akbayan: Mocha no purveyor of ‘fake news’

By Rio N. Araja and Vito Barcelo STUDENT leaders belonging to the Akbayan Youth group on Monday filed an administrative complaint of gross misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the service against Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Mocha

Uson before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly spreading fake news on her Facebook page.

In a 10-page complaint, Shamah Bulangis of Youth Resist, along with Basilio Claudio of Akbayan Youth-University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, accused Uson of being “one of the biggest purveyors of disinformation in this government.”

“We are drawing the line versus Mocha and all other government officials who lie to the public,” Bulangis said.

“The Filipino people are not that stupid to believe her, and she must be removed from her post.”

Malacañang again defended Uson.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the former dancer Next page

THE Department of Trade and Industry has proposed a phased rehabilitation of Boracay Island, even as Malacañang has asked the DTI and two more agencies to detail and justify their recommendation to close the top tourist destination starting April 26 to give way to environmental rehabilitation works.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the Palace received a letter with “very short content” from the DTI, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of the Interior and Local Government recommending Boracay’s closure for six months.

Next page

Pump prices hiked for 2nd straight week

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE country’s oil firms raised oil prices anew by as much as P1 per liter, the second consecutive weekly oil price hike effective 6 a.m. today. Next page

‘‘

If you want to become a policeman, go home and remove your tattoo.

—PNP Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa

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News

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Seven killed, 800 arrested in Holy Week drug raids

By Francisco Tuyay AT LEAST seven suspected drug pushers were killed and more than 800 others were arrested in three days of police anti-drugs operations during the Holy Week.

In a press briefing Monday, PNP Chief Ronaldo dela Rosa revealed that four of the slain suspects were from Central Luzon; and one each in Southern Tagalog, Central Mindanao, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The killing of the seven drug suspects and the arrest of 811 individuals were part of the 505 police anti-illegal drugs operations during the same period, Dela Rosa said.

To keep the observance of the Holy Week, Dela Rosa said the PNP decided not to conduct Tokhang operations since such activity was only allowed during regular working days and during office hours.

“This proves there is no let up in our anti-illegal drugs operations,” he said.

Dela Rosa also noted a generally peaceful observance of the Holy Week despite 16 violent incidents tallied between security forces and New People’s Army rebels and other criminals in Luzon and Mindanao that erupted Thursday and Saturday last week.

Records showed the series of fighting sparked in Misamis Oriental, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Compostella Valley, Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur and in Sulu.

During the Holy Week, the PNP operations center recorded 10 vehicular accidents, 43 drowning incidents, two theft incidents, three physical injuries cases, three sea mishaps and one each of acts of lasciviousness, electrocution, and arson.

Palace...

From A1

The Office of the President, through the Executive Secretary’s office, has asked the three agencies to submit a more detailed memo on their reasons to close Boracay, considering thousands of lives—including the island’s residents and workers—and businesses are at stake.

“We have requested the three agencies to submit a more detailed memo on the justification, or there is any qualification at all to their recommendation, and I think later we’ll be receiving those memoranda expanding, explaining and justifying their recommendation,” Guevarra said.

The DTI proposal, he added, considers the fate of almost 19,000 workers on the island. Of the figure, 17,735 are registered workers, and the remaining work in the informal sector like transportation and micro-scale enterprises.

Boracay is one of the country’s top eight tourist destinations, according to the Department of Tourism. In 2017, about 3.72 million people flew to the island, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

“It’s the economic impact on the island and the people residing and working there that has to be considered by the President,” Guevarra said. “It’s not only the environment, but the people, their livelihood and businesses. All of these will have to be taken into account.”

The Palace official said some foreign workers on Boracay may also be affected, “but we have to think much longer than six months.”

“We have to think of the years to come, of the next generation to enjoy the island. So, it’s too bad that there are certain short-term effects, some sacrifice that has to be made. But we must not lose sight of the fact that this is for the long term,” he added.

Guevarra said President Rodrigo Duterte, who has called the island a “cesspool” for its recent water and sewerage problems, is considering many options, and “it is his prerogative to close the entire island or in phases on that particular date [April 26] or move it on another date.”

Kim...

From A1

The high profile appearance of Kim and his wife, former singer Ri Sol Ju, at the concert was unusual as his authoritarian regime typically struggles to prevent any infiltration of the South’s pop culture among his isolated people.

Kim, the first North Korean leader ever to attend a show by entertainers from the South, shook hands with the performers and “expressed his deep thanks to them,” the North’s official KCNA news agency reported.

State lawyers take up cudgels for 3 colleagues

By Rey E. Requejo

In a statement read by group president and State Prosecutor Jolly de ClaroMendoza during the flag ceremony at the Department of Justice, the organization branded as “reckless and malicious” the call of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission for President Duterte to file administrative charges against Assistant State Prosecutor Michael John Humarang, OIC-Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Rassendel Rex Gingoyon, Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan and the conduct of a lifestyle check on former Assistant State Prosecutor and now Lucena Regional Trial Court Judge Aristotle Reyes.

“As Prosecutors, we are bound to decide each case based on the evidence presented before us. We can neither take popular opinion nor public outcry as ground for filing a case or dismissing a complaint,” the SPPAAI said.

“Evidence submitted is the essential consideration that all prosecutors weigh in every case that we resolve. Thus, the classic image of Lady Justice with a blindfold, a balance, and a sword: the evidence tilts the scales as she remains unbiased in rendering a decision, regardless of public opinion.”

The fiscals threw their support behind the action of their beleaguered colleagues

in resolving the controversial drug case.

“We espouse their resolve and stand by them as a testament to upholding the rule of law and in truly prosecuting crimes without fear or favor,” the prosecutors said.

Humarang and Aristotle Reyes earlier said the PACC’s recommendation was premature considering that their resolution was still subject to review by the Office of the Justice Secretary.

“We’re just doing our sworn duty and we are ready to face the allegations against us,” Humarang and Reyes said.

According to the two prosecutors, they followed the law and the rules when they conducted the preliminary investigation.

“We conducted the preliminary investigation in accordance with the applicable rules, and our resolution was based only on the evidence presented to us,” they said.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre has also apologized for ordering the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate them.

However, Aguirre said an investigation was necessary in order to clear their names.

VP...

Marcos said it may take more than three months to finish the revision of his three pilot provinces, Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

“The pace of the recount seems to be slow. But this has just started and we expect it to speed up once the process is streamlined,” he said.

Marcos inspected the venue for the recount at the gym of the SC-Court of Appeals Building before greeting hundreds of his supporters who gathered in front of the SC compound.

Marcos’ wife, Liza Araneta-Marcos and sister, Imee, accompanied him to the SC for the start of recount of votes starting on Monday.

Robredo, on the other hand, did not appear at the venue on the first day of the recount. She only heard Mass with supporters earlier in the day.

The recount would be conducted daily from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by 40 revision teams each composed of three members—a head from the PET and one representative each from the camps of Marcos and Robredo.

Under the PET rules, revision of votes would cover verify the physical count of ballots, recount votes of parties, recording objections and claims, and marking of the contested ballots.

Earlier, both camps agreed to withdraw all the motions they had filed before PET to be able to proceed with the recount.

Marcos filed the protest on June 29, 2016, claiming that the camp of Robredo cheated in the automated polls in the May 2016 national polls.

In his protest, Marcos contested the results in a total of 132,446 precincts in 39,221 clustered precincts covering 27

provinces and cities. He sought a recount in Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental covering a total of 5,418 clustered precincts.

Robredo filed her answer in August 2016 and filed a counter-protest, questioning the results in more than 30,000 polling precincts in several provinces where Marcos won.

She also sought the dismissal of the protest for lack of merit and jurisdiction of PET. Robredo won the vice presidential race in the May 2016 polls with 14,418,817 votes or 263,473 more than Marcos’ 14,155,344 votes.

Robredo urged her supporters to stay steadfast amid adversity and assured them that the recount would affirm her victory.

Robredo supporters flocked to the Comelec main office after the Mass, which Robredo said was to seek “strength, guidance and wisdom.”

“Now we see, this is the time of fear— fear of what is going to happen next— [but] just have faith. Let us just do what must be done,” she said.

Macalintal said the recount would only validate the Vice President’s victory over Marcos and dismiss Marcos’ allegations that he was cheated.

“This is a sure win, and in two months’ time, we will know the result,” he said.

The Palace welcomed the start of the recount, saying it would settle the longstanding issue between Marcos and Robredo.

“Malacañang welcomes the recount so that the long-festering dispute will be settled,” Guevarra said in a mix of Filipino and English. Rio N. Araja and Vito Barcelo

mon employment contract, the guaranteed payment of minimum monthly net pay of $400 paid through the bank, and the nonconfiscation of mobile phones and other communication gadgets.

Bello said agreements with other Middle East countries with a large population of Filipino workers are also undergoing review.

A party-list lawmaker on Monday sought the creation of a joint task force that will monitor the progress of the case involving the foreign employers of Demafelis.

Rep. Aniceto Bertiz of ACTS OFW party-list said the joint task force by Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice is necessary in light of the fact that the case involves three countries.

“Based on news reports, it appears that Syrian authorities handed the husband, Nader Essam Assaf to Lebanese authorities while keeping his Syrian wife under detention, and the sentencing to death in absentia took place in Kuwait,” Bertiz said.

“The creation of the task force signals the commitment of the Philippine government to obtain justice for Joanna at all costs by monitoring and following up on the different aspects of the case in all three locations,” he added.

Bertiz said the role of the DoJ is crucial because the owner of the murdered OFW’s recruitment agency has yet to surface.

“We are calling on the owner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Global Solutions

to surrender himself and disclose the manner by which Joanna had been recruited,” Bertiz added.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the government appreciated the swift action by the Kuwaitis.

“This is a very important development in our quest for justice for Joanna. We continue to look forward to the cooperation of our friends not only in Kuwait but also in Lebanon and Syria in our efforts to bring this case to a close,” he added.

Cayetano said Kuwaiti authorities informed Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola of the court decision during a meeting in Kuwait on Sunday, but did not provide additional details.

But the Philippine Embassy was able to obtain a copy of the court order.

A court in Kuwait said principal suspect Lebanese Nader Essam Assaf and his Syrian wife Mouna Hassoun were tried in absentia on Sunday and sentenced to death for killing Demafelis.

The couple fled Kuwait immediately after the murder last year but were identified after Demafelis’s body was discovered by authorities inside their abandoned apartment last month. Both were later reported arrested in Lebanon and Syria respectively.

With Maricel V. Cruz, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Pump...

price of gasoline by P1.15 per liter, diesel by P1.10 per liter and kerosene by P1 per liter.

PTT Philippines, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines and Flying V issued advisories of the oil price hike while other oil firms are expected to follow.

Eastern Petroleum, for its part, said it will not adjust the price of its EC Gas LPG, its own brand of liquefied petroleum gas or cooking gas this month.

“This is the second time Eastern Petroleum has decided to reflect a higher reduction and/or to absorb the adjustment in the international contract price of LPG,” the company said.

M

EMBERS of the State Prosecutors and Prosecution Attorneys Association Inc. on Monday defended their colleagues who came under fire for dismissing the drug charges against businessman Peter Lim, self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and several others.

From A1

in that town are missing. The question is, why?” the former senator said.

Marcos said this discovery only reinforced their suspicion over the conduct of the elections, especially following the recent revelations of Senator Vicente Sotto III that there were early transmissions of votes before Election Day based on some audit logs given to him.

“We’re going to have to find a way to recover those audit logs somehow. Since we are using computers, maybe it’s possible that those audit logs are in the database,” Marcos said.

Revisors also found four ballot boxes with wet ballots inside.

“If these ballots had been wet since the election two years ago, these should have dried up by now. But this means the ballots were dampened only when they were transferred here,” Marcos said.

The wet ballots, which were already illegible, were set aside, he added.

Under PET rules, wet ballots may be revised or recounted if they are still readable. Otherwise the tribunal will refer to the ballot images for the revision of votes.

Robredo’s lawyer Romulo Macalintal dismissed Marcos’ insinuation that the wet ballots and missing audit logs indicate irregularities in the 2016 vice presidential race.

Macalintal said the ballots got wet during a typhoon sometime in December.

Macalintal also said Marcos should not make a big deal out of the missing audit logs since he can request a copy of the same from the Supreme Court or the Comelec.

Deployment...

From A1

murder indicates the sincerity and good faith of the Kuwaiti government in giving justice to the slain Filipina.

Bello said he is not ready to recommend to the President the lifting of the total ban on the deployment of workers to the Gulf state, however.

“We appreciate the efforts of the Kuwaiti government in bringing justice to the family of Joana Demafelis and it is a clear manifestation of their sincerity in complying with the conditions set by the President,” Bello said.

He said the final draft of the proposed agreement and his recommendations on the protection of Filipino workers had already been sent to the President for his approval ahed of the formal signing of the memorandum of agreement with Kuwait.

“We already have a final draft of the agreement and I sent my recommendations to the President for his approval. The moment the President approves it, then it will be ready for signing. The President has the last and the final call on this agreement,” Bello said.

Among the major provisions of the agreement is the prohibition on the surrender of Filipino passports to Kuwaiti employers, the binding effect of a com“He said that he was deeply moved to see our people sincerely acclaiming the performance, deepening the understanding of the popular art of the South’s side,” KCNA said.

The visit by the South’s entertainers, seen as part of a cultural charm offensive by Seoul, comes as a diplomatic thaw gathers pace on the peninsula ahead of a landmark inter-Korean summit later this month.

Kim said he was likely to be busy “because of his complicated political program early in April,” so he was glad to make it to the concert which he credited with bringing the “spring of peace”. AFP

From A1

The oil firms increased the price of diesel and kerosene by P1 per liter, respectively, and gasoline by P0.90 per liter.

“This is to reflect movements in the international petroleum market,” Seaoil Philippines said.

Higher world oil prices have continued on the back of increased global demand and geopolitical concerns in the Middle East that could impact supply, among others.

On March 27, oil firms also raised the

Napoles...

From A1

The magistrates reiterated that Napoles’ petition for bail did not “involve an inquiry as to whether there was proof beyond reasonable doubt that Napoles was the main plunderer for whose benefit the ill-gotten wealth was amassed or accumulated.”

“These are matters of defense are best left to the discretion of the Sandiganbayan in the resolution of the criminal case.

It was sufficient that the denial of her bail application was based on evidence establishing a great presumption of guilt on the part of Napoles,” the Court said.

The Court also said the Sandiganbayan was only required to ascertain “evident proof” that Napoles committed the allegations against her.

Napoles had been taken back to a detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City after a legal intervention

by Solicitor General Jose Calida paved the way for her acquittal on illegal detention charges by the Court of Appeals in May last year.

She spent only two years at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City following a guilty verdict meted out on her by a Makati City judge for the serious illegal detention of her cousin Benhur Luy, the primary whistleblower in the pork barrel scam.

Napoles has previously filed several petitions before the Supreme Court seeking to stop her indictment in the pork barrel cases, but these were all dismissed. PNA

High...

From A1

Sereno says the high court has no jurisdiction and authority to remove her from office because the 1987 Constitution says she can only be ousted by impeachment in Congress as an impeachable official.

She says impeachable officials including herself and all high court justices may only be removed from office upon impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.

However, Calida maintains that Sereno could be covered by a quo warranto case, which is different and independent from the ongoing impeachment proceedings in Congress.

“The Constitution does not include ineligibility to public position as a ground for impeachment. No one can be convicted for ineligibility,” Calida said.

“The sole purpose of impeachment proceedings is to hold a public officer accountable for wrongdoings committed in office. On the other hand, the quo warranto proceedings instituted by the Solicitor General seeks to oust Respondent because she is ineligible to be the Chief Justice.

“In other words, the Solicitor General is not asking the Court to remove Respondent for impeachable offenses: it is not the concern of the petition. Instead, the Solicitor General has good reason to believe that Respondent has no authority to occupy the esteemed office of the Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines.”

In the petition filed on March 5, Calida asked the high court to nullify Sereno’s appointment over her ineligibility for the top judicial post and order her removal from office as a de facto official whose authority was allegedly hinged on an appointment that was void from the start.

He said Sereno did not meet the specific qualification of proven integrity for the chief justice post with her failure to comply with the required submission of 10-year Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.

Palace...

From A1

and singer was not a purveyor of fake news as claimed by Akbayan Youth and that she could defend herself.

“I’m sure Asec. Mocha will be able to defend herself. There are processes to follow to observe, and she will be given a fair chance to be able to explain her side,” Guevarra said.

Placard-bearing Akbayan members flocked to the Ombudsman’s central office in Quezon City to filed their complaint and ask for Uson’s ouster.

Claudio said the taxes collected from the Filipino people were just going to waste on public officials such as Uson whose only job was to lie to the people.

He said Uson did not have the right to stay in government for fooling the public through her Facebook page blogs.

Akbayan slammed Uson for allegedly posting false allegations against St. Scholastica’s College and accusing the school of forcing its students to take part in a protest rally against the Duterte administration in November 2016.

“This unreasonable and unfair act of Uson―of posting false accusations against the school without verifying the accuracy of the information―led to cyberbullying attacks directed against students of St. Scholastica’s College,” Akbayan Youth said in its complaint read.

“Following this, there is no doubt that Uson is a threat to the security of people that voice their criticism against the government.”

News

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TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Malacañang: Only Congress can amend labor law

GLOBAL DRIVE.

Members from different so-called civil society groups gather Monday at the launch of the Stop Golden Rice International campaign, aimed at strengthening a global drive to oppose corporate control of agriculture, GMO commercialization, and golden rice release in Asia during a news conference in Quezon City.

Manny Palmero

PNP chief opposes lifting of ‘no tattoo’

By Francisco Tuyay PHILIPPINE National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa on Monday opposed the lifting of the “no tattoo” rule among police recruits and strictly maintained not to accept any prospect with tattoo.

Instead, Dela Rosa called on wouldbe police recruits with tattoo to remove them before finally deciding to enter into the police institution.

“We have a standing policy relating to that prohibiting to recruit people with tattoo, but we are not rejecting them outrightly. If they want to become a policeman, go home and remove your tattoo,” said Dela Rosa in a Monday press briefing in Camp Crame.

Aside from the PNP’s strict policy on tattoo, the defense department also opposed the of lifting the “no tattoo” rule among police recruits.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said having a “tattoo are (sic) ugly and connotes gangster image.”

“The Army is an old-fashioned organization in some ways. We have standards of behavior that goes back to medieval times and they are still relevant today: Following orders, wearing approved uniform and badges, fitting into an organization, having a regulation haircut, regulated daily activities, be physically fit,” Lorenzana said.

Dela Rosa and Lorenzana’s response surfaced after Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles called on the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to lift some of their “archaic” requirement for recruits, to include the “no tattoo” rule.

2017 Bar results out by end-April, SC insiders say

By Vito Barcelo

PNP impounds 210 colorum vehicles with Kamao force

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group has impounded 210 colorum vehicles as it shifted to higher gear its operations against PUVs— public utility vehicles—that have no franchises on orders of President Rodrigo Duterte.

HPG director Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal said the unit had impounded 119 colorum buses and 91 colorum passenger vans.

Most of the impounded vehicles came from the Mimaropa region B from where 51 buses and 21 vans were apprehended.

The seizure coincided with the announcement by Inter-agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) chief Thomas Orbos of the launching of Task Force Kamao and reminding the public of the nature of its legitimate operations to ensure that no enterprising personnel would take advantage of the campaign versus colorum vehicles.

Orbos said there would be no anticolorum operations, whether Task Force Kamao-initiated or not, without the presence of a duly-authorized personnel from the Land Transportation Franchising

and Regulatory Board.

“Since Task Force Kamao is interagency, there must be a representative from LTFRB every time there is an operation. Nobody from the partner agencies can apprehend a colorum vehicle if there’s no one from LTFRB, them being the lead agency on public utility vehicles,” he explained.

Among the partner agencies of Kamao are the Land Transportation Office, Metro Manila Development Authority, Philippine National Police- Highway Patrol Group, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“The LTFRB has the complete and updated database of legal franchises and their accredited number of units. Through that, the I-ACT can easily pinpoint and apprehend personalities behind colorum activities,” said Orbos.

According to Orbos, the campaign

against colorum vehicles would be relentless not only in Metro Manila but in the entire country.

“The nationwide crackdown against colorum vehicles is to ensure the safety of riding public and to identify those opportunist individuals who are using colorum PUVs only for their own good,” he added.

A motor vehicle is considered operating as “colorum” under any of the following circumstances: a. A private motor vehicle operating as a PUV but without proper authority from the LTFRB; b. A PUV operating outside of its approved route or area without a prior permit from the Board or outside the exceptions provided under existing memorandum circulars; c. A PUV operating differently from its authorized denomination (ex. Those approved as school service but operating as UV express, or those approved as tourist bus transport but operating as city or provincial bus); and d. A PUV with suspended or cancelled CPC and the Decision/Order of suspension or cancellation is executor; and e. A PUV with expired CPC and without a pending application for extension of validity timely filed before the Board.

CoA junks petition of 2 Zambo del Norte officials

By Rio N. Araja THE Commission on Audit has junked the petition of two government officials from Zamboanga del Norte for the illegal transfer of a P4.713-million Priority Development Assistance Fund of former senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada.

In a March resolution, the Commission dismissed the plea of then president Salvador Salacup and former treasurer Eduardo Nolasco of the Zamboanga del Norte Agricultural College Rubber Estate Corp. to clear them from any liability in the transaction.

They defended themselves, saying they just acted in good faith for allowing the project implementation since they were not in the position to control the fund utilization, and that the board of directors authorized the implementation.

Despite the respondents’ assertion that they just relied on Estrada’s endorsement and the scrutiny of their subordinates, CoA still blamed them for failure to assess the P4.713-million project for the farmers in Lamitan, Basilan through Pangkabuhayan Foundation Inc. The pork barrel-funded Lamitan project did not have supporting documents to prove

the project implementation, and had no other vital documents, such as a memorandum of agreement between the governmentrun firm and foundation, disclosure by the foundation of related business and structure of ownership, work and financial plan, disbursement vouchers and other related financial paper, and liquidation report on how Estrada’s PDAF was used.

In 2013, CoA called the attention of Salacup, Nolasco and the foundation’s representative for lack of dossiers, and disallowed the project and required the refund of the PDAF over the respondents’ failure to submit the required documents.

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court is expected to release the results of the 2017 Bar examinations before the end of this month.

SC insiders revealed to Manila Standard that the justices have set a special session in the last week of April for the Bar results.

A total of 6,750 law graduates took the grueling exams last November at the University of Sto. Tomas, facilitated by the high court’s committee on the 2017 Bar exams chaired by Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin.

The Bar examinations, considered the most grueling government test, cover eight law subjects: Civil Law, Criminal Law, Labor Law, Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises, Mercantile Law, Political Law, Taxation and Remedial Law. In the 2016 Bar exams, a total of 3,747 law graduates passed, or just 59.06 percent of the total of 6,344 takers who completed the exams. It was the second highest passing rate in the history of Bar exams since 1954, when the passing rate was 75.17 percent.

Additional security measures were put in place since the grenade explosion that marred the Sept. 2010 Bar exams in De La Salle University in Manila.

PILILLA SOUVENIRS. Different souvenir products offered at the Pililla Wind Farm in Barangay Halayhayin, Pililla, Rizal are shown here. The farm, which has a capacity of 54 megawatts, also gives a view of the Laguna Lake. PNA

A MALACAÑANG official on Monday admitted the Palace could not implement a total ban on contractualization because it would need a legislative law and only Congress could do it by amending the labor law.

However, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the executive branch could grant certain exemptions and make compliance with the existing regulations very strict.

“If you want something like a total ban on contractualization, you need a law to repeal or amend that particular provision of the labor code. An executive order is meant only to supplement or give implementing details of what the law provides, but it cannot add or subtract or substantially alter what the law provides,” he said. “...there are few rules on inspection and so forth and so on, labor standards,” he said.

Various labor groups have urged President Rodrigo Duterte to sign an executive order that would ban contractualization.

The labor groups admitted they were frustrated the President was taking too long to fulfill his two-year-old campaign promise to end contractualization.

But the Palace official said the executive branch could not meet the labor groups’ demand that contractualization be totally banned in the country as this needed legislation.

He explained the country’s labor code still allowed for the practice of contractualization in certain industries.

“The main problem there is the things that they want to happen is something the executive department is not empowered to do. Legislative action is needed,” he said.

Earlier, Duterte said he could not force businessmen into ending contractualization, a promise he made during the presidential campaign.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III last year issued Department Order No. 174, which bans labor-only contracting, outsourcing work due to a strike, and the so-called “555” or “endo.”

“Endo” is the practice of repeated hiring of workers on five-month contracts so employers don’t need to regularize them on the sixth month.

Comelec tells brgy poll bets: Be familiar with COCs

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Commission on Elections on Monday advised individuals planning to run for the village and youth council next month to familiarize themselves with the Certificate of Candidacy forms early to prevent errors in filing them up.

“Downloading the COCs early will give them a chance to familiarize themselves with it,” said Comelec spokesperson James Arthur Jimenez.

The documents will be filled up by the candidates in three copies.

Jimenez said getting COCs would also help the candidates to make strategies, particularly with regard to the use of nicknames or aliases.

He added the COCs might be obtained either at the local Offices of Election Officers or be downloaded at the Comelec official website: Official COMELEC Website :: Commission on Elections The commission already set a calendar of activities and periods of prohibited acts in connection with the May 14 synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 10246, the filing of certificates of candidacy commences on April 14 and ends on April 20, giving those interested to run in the upcoming elections seven days to submit their COC. “During the nine-day campaign period which is fixed from May 4 to May 12, making any donation or gift in cash or in kind is prohibited, as well as appointing or using special policemen or confidential agents; construction or maintenance of barangay funded roads and bridges; appointment or hiring of new employees, creation of new position, promotion, giving of salary increases, remuneration or privileges, etc.,” the resolution stated.

A4

Opinion

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018

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Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Twenty years on, Kazakhs struggle to warm to chilly new capital

By Dana Rysmukhamedova FOR Dina, a hairless Sphynx living in a newly opened cat café in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, this winter was a difficult one to bear.

Temperatures in the steppe city of more than one million people reached minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit) as Central Asia experienced its coldest winter in a decade, testing heating systems across the region.

During this time Dina took to sitting near the radiators of the Miki Piki cafe, which opened in 2017 and houses cats of more than a dozen different breeds.

“You have to be ever so careful with them,” said cafe owner Aigul Kurmanaliyeva of the hairless Canadian Sphynx breed.

“They often need to wear clothes outside. They are very prone to illness,” she told AFP. Human residents of Astana, the world’s second-coldest capital city behind Mongolia’s Ulan Bator, can empathise.

Astana, the government’s showpiece project on the Ishim river in northern Kazakhstan, took over as the country’s capital 20 years ago.

But many of its residents compare Astana unfavourably with the former capital Almaty, a city of 1.5-million people that lies 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) further south and where temperatures are notably warmer.

“The beginning of the long-awaited spring is felt!” joked a popular local blogger, Rinat Balgabayev.

“In Almaty, the apricot trees blossomed. In Astana, citizens put on their festive coloured leg warmers!” he said on Facebook recently.

Living ‘in isolation’ Despite a pantheon of lavish, futuristic architecture, many people who were forced to move to Astana for work or family reasons find the city an uncomfortable fit.

Adil Nurmakov, a former resident of Almaty who moved to Astana for his wife’s job last year, said life in the city can be a “shock”, especially for foreigners and ex-residents of the cosmopolitan former capital.

“The way the city is planned means that citizens principally live in isolation, travelling by car from home to work and back again,” he told AFP. “There are few public spaces for people to congregate.”

Such criticism has been levelled against other planned capitals, notably Brazil’s Brasilia, but Astana’s harsh climate during the winter months presents an additional challenge.

“For a large part of the year, public life in the city practically freezes over,” complained Nurmakov.

Authorities generally cite Almaty’s location in a seismologically active region as the reason for moving the capital north, as well as the opportunity to break with Soviet history.

Many observers however argued the decision was made to strengthen control over a part of the country with strong cultural and political affiliations to Kazakhstan’s former master Russia.

Kazakhstan’s government is sensitive to any criticism of the capital and will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the switch from Almaty on July 6, which is a national holiday called Astana Day. The city now called Astana officially became the capital in December 1997 but the summer holiday was designed to coincide with the birthday of Kazakhstan’s long-ruling 77-year-old President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

At the beginning of the year the country’s ambassador to Britain, Erlan Idrissov, wrote a prickly letter to the Financial Times newspaper, denouncing an article that had referred to Astana as a “bizarre” and “hastily built” vanity project.

Kazakh nationals were “immensely proud of this extraordinary achievement, led by President Nursultan NazTurn to A5

It’s not over

A

KUWAITI court has handed out the death penalty to the employers of Joanna Demafelis, the overseas worker whose body was found stuffed in a freezer in February. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the sentence shows the sincerity and good faith of the Kuwaiti government.

It appears justice has been served.

Demafelis’ death and its ignominy shocked a nation that was no stranger to the risks that workers face in foreign lands. Demafelis’ story was common indeed—she made the trip to act as breadwinner for her family. The manner in which she was killed, however, was revolting.

The operative word is “appears.”

Beneath the surface, many issues remain unresolved.

Foremost, the employers—Lebanese Nader Essam Assaf and his Syrian wife Mouna Hassoun— were tried in absentia. The two fled Kuwait City and were arrested in Damascus. The husband has been turned over to Lebanese authorities where he reportedly confessed to the killing. The wife

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

good faith. The ban occasioned mixed reactions from the public: Some said it was an impractical, sweeping solution to a particular case —Kuwait is a destination to more than a quarter of a million workers—while others agreed it was a proportionate reaction to a grievous crime.

Finally, whatever the fate of the suspects, the case just goes to show the extent of the dangers faced by Filipinos who venture into other countries because of lack of opportunities in their home country.

The sooner we stop regarding our workers as “prime exports” and work instead to provide them with sustainable jobs they can keep while living with their families, the better. The choice to live abroad should be made out of one’s free will, not out of necessity.

Demafelis’ case is not the first heartbreaking OFW story. If authorities focus on this case but fail to consider the bigger picture and long-term situation, it will not be the last, either.

remains in Syria.

It is not known whether, when or how they would be made to face the consequences of their action— in Kuwait or anywhere else.

Here at home, Demafelis’ recruiter, the owner of the our Lady of Mount Carmel Global Solutions, remains in hiding. Again the story is common—unscrupulous recruiters only concern themselves with making the fees without ascertaining the actual risks they put the workers in. Sometimes, the effects are economic. In other cases, like Demafelis’, lives are lost.

Administration officials are also still weighing whether the total ban on the deployment of workers to Kuwait should be lifted after the Kuwaiti court’s show of

Winning or losing?

I REFER to the war that President Rodrigo Duterte has waged on illegal drugs and corruption. And my answer is neither.

The President waged these wars as soon as he assumed office nearly two years.

I consider how we view the war on drugs a mistake. He considers it a lawand-order issue that can be solved by having the police undertake a killing spree.

But this is a health issue, which must be addressed through community-based rehabilitation centers nationwide. Drug abuse is primarily a family problem. Young boys and girls get into drugs because of multiple reasons. There is also peer pressure when one gets into the wrong barkada.

I also know that when one gets into drugs, he or she develops psychological and physiological problems that can only be cured through months or years of rehabilitation. I have firsthand information on this because I was vice president at the DARE Foundation from the 70s to the 90s. This was a time when drugs—marijuana for the poor and heroin and cocaine for the rich—became prevalent.

I also had the opportunity to visit Daytop Foundation to see how it rehabilitated drug addicts.

The problem with illegal drugs in the Philippines is one of supply and demand. With some three million to four million addicts nationwide, the demand is high, It’s a multi-billion dollar industry dominated by the big cartels.

President Duterte waged wars on drugs and corruption on his first day in office.

No valid reason for intervention in quo warranto case HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

BY NOW, everyone is probably aware that Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a petition for quo warranto in the Supreme Court against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Calida posits that Sereno’s appointment as chief justice in 2012 is void from the start because Sereno failed to comply with a documentary requirement imposed by the Judicial and Bar Council on all applicants for the post of chief justice.

Calida’s petition marks the second

time Chief Justice Sereno was sued in her own court. The first time was when she was sued for manipulating the rules of the JBC to prejudice the rights of an

It’s not warranted.

applicant for appointment as associate justice of the Supreme Court. In time, the Supreme Court reprimanded Sereno.

Personalities opposed to Calida’s petition, which include a number of

politicians and opinion leaders who do not understand Constitutional Law, condemned the petition as a shortcut to the impending impeachment proceedings against Sereno. To them, the only proceedings that can be pursued against Sereno is impeachment, because a justice of the Supreme Court is removable from office only by impeachment.

They are obviously unaware that impeachment presupposes that the appointment of Sereno as chief justice is valid. If Sereno’s appointment is, as contended by Calida, void from the start, then quo warranto, not impeachment, is the proper recourse against Sereno.

This is why the brutal war continues here. Even President Duterte admits that he will still be fighting illegal drugs up to the last day of his six-year term.

If shabu worth P6.4 billion can be smuggled through the main port of Manila, we can only imagine how it can get through other sub-ports of the BoC. It was also discovered that sometimes shabu is dropped off in waterproof boxes and cans by passing vessels, ready to be picked up by distributors and dealers.

With the President’s determination to end his drug war at the earliest possible time, the problem of extra-judicial killings becomes prevalent. These killings have caused local and international human rights organizations to accuse the President of committing crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court. While state-sanctioned killing has not been a policy of the Duterte administration, one cannot help asking: When will all these end?

Another problem is that some politicians have been identified as drug lords. In fact, President Duterte has a list of them. Will he also have them killed by the police?

And then, given the large number of drug users who have surrendered, jails are packed and inmates suffer in sub-human conditions. They will emerge worse criminals than they ever were.

I believe it’s too late for President Duterte to change gears in his war against drugs. He should realize by now that the United States government does not go about killing addicts. They run after suppliers and distributors instead.

The drug problem is a vicious cycle.

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Opinion From A4

*** Another war which President Duterte is neither winning or losing is corruption.

I praised Mr. Duterte’s move to sack even close friends and appointees who goes on junkets. He says he does not hesitate to fire any of them if there is so much as a “whiff of corruption” to their name.

But while he has done much on this front, the problem does not look like it will end soon. The Customs bureau, for instance, continues to be a hotbed of smuggling.

I am told, for instance, that the no-

torious “tara” system continues where corrupt Customs officials and even employees meet continues. Bribe money is distributed during these meetings.

I covered Customs for many years when I was still business editor of Philippines Herald. I know how it goes at Customs. So long as there are corrupt officials and employees, there will be brokers and importers who will try their luck. It is said that out of 10 smuggled containers, one or two get inspected and seized. The other eight become part of the modus.

This is why I believe the only way to solve corruption at Customs is to privatize it. All other things must be given to private businesses that will guarantee that they would attain collection targets. Other progressive countries have done it—why not us?

Actually, corruption cannot be stopped. It can only be reduced.

20 years...

From A4

arbayev”, he wrote in a letter pub- Hop”, admitted he “took a risk” lished by the newspaper. opening up.

The fashion for experimental Shoots of cultural life ales arrived in Kazakhstan only One long-standing criticism of very recently by way of Russia, Astana that has faded over time is he said, with Almaty taking to that there is nothing interesting to the trend more quickly than the do in the city. capital.

Recent times have seen a subtle “Craft beer is a new experishift in the cultural balance of ence for the residents of Astana, power between the current and but little by little these kinds of former capitals, mainly at the in- scenes are developing,” Karstigation of the state, which has intayev told AFP. invested heavily in the arts and Back at the Miki Piki cat cafe moved the national ballet troupe —whose opening added diversity up north. to the leisure scene in a city that Astana has even acquired is already home to malls and gascraft beer bars—in another sign tro-pubs—the owner said the idea that the nightlife is growing came from a trip to South Korea more diverse. known for its animal cafes.

Symbat Karintayev, the co“We knew there wasn’t anyowner of a bar in the city’s un- thing like that here,” said Kurpretentious old town called “The manaliyeva. AFP

No valid...

From A4

Last week, these oppositors reiterated their lack of understanding of Constitutional Law when they attempted to intervene in Calida’s quo warranto petition in the Supreme Court.

More specifically, several anti-establishment party-list representatives in Congress, together with a group of alleged “concerned citizens” have asked the Supreme Court to allow them to intervene in the quo warranto case. The politicians are led by Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate, while the socalled “concerned citizens” are headed

by Robert Reyes, a Catholic priest who styles himself as “the running priest” because runs marathons in support of certain causes.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines also wants to intervene in the case.

Like the party-list representatives and the “concerned citizens” mentioned above, the IBP wants the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition for quo warranto against Sereno.

Their arguments against Calida’s petition remain the same -- Sereno can only be removed from office by impeachment, and that quo warranto is an illegal shortcut in lieu of impeachment. They hinted that the petition was designed to intimidate justices who go against the wishes of the administration.

Father Reyes, “the running priest,” alleged that Sereno’s appointment is valid simply because President Benigno Aquino III had already appointed her chief justice. Good grief!

For her part, Chief Justice Sereno told the news media that she was very happy about the planned intervention.

At a women’s rights forum held last week at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, Sereno said that the allegations against her were “imagined” by sectors “funded by a formidable machinery.” She did not say, however, if the justices of the Supreme Court who testified against her before the justice committee of the House of Representatives are part of that “formidable machinery.”

Sereno’s camp insists that she was not given her day in the justice committee. House leaders contend otherwise, saying that Sereno was repeatedly invited to the hearings, but she refused to attend in person, and sent her lawyers instead. Observers suspect that Sereno found it demeaning to appear personally before a congressional committee, she being the chief justice.

It will be recalled that although Sereno’s camp said that the chief justice went on leave from the Supreme Court

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Christ is truly risen!

Winning...

It creates users and addicts. The more there are, the higher the demand goes.

International suppliers provide them the drugs.

I think the only way the Duterte administration can address the drug problem is for it to mount a nationwide community-based rehabilitation.

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018

for a two-week “wellness” recess, the news media later revealed that Sereno’s colleagues practically compelled her to go on an indefinite leave to prepare for her impeachment trial in the Senate, which is expected this coming August.

Critics also say that her “wellness” recess turned out to be a series of almost daily speaking engagements all over the metropolis.

As of this writing, the Supreme Court has not yet ruled on whether or not the oppositors can legally intervene in thequo warranto case. Intervention is not a matter of right. One who wishes to intervene in a court case must have valid reasons to do so.

From all indications, however, the intervention sought in the quo warranto case is not warranted.

First, Sereno has already filed her comment on the petition for quo warranto, and it contains the same arguments raised by the would-be intervenors. Simply stated, the intervention is unnecessary and will only waste the time of the court.

Second, the would-be intervenors have not shown any right or interest on their part which needs to be protected by their intervention. They did not appoint Sereno, and they do not stand to suffer any damage if Sereno’s appointment as chief justice is declared void ab initio by the Supreme Court.

As a justice of the Supreme Court, Sereno can very well take care of her own defense, without help from any intervenors—unless the intervenors are tacitly declaring that Sereno is incapable of defending herself in court.

“The running priest” who is part of the planned intervention is a church official. Has he forgotten the constitutionally mandated separation of Church and State? So far, the Church is exempted from paying taxes despite the large revenues it makes from church services like weddings, baptisms, and wakes. If the Church wants to interfere in the political affairs of the State, the Church should pay taxes first. The unjustly convicted who are languishing in prison need this priest’s intervention more than Sereno does.

A large number of the would-be intervenors are not even genuine Sereno supporters. They are rabid foes of President Rodrigo Duterte. Since they sense Duterte is behind the current woes of the chief justice, they have opted to make Sereno their strategic ally in the meantime. After all, the enemy of one’s enemy is, even for the moment, one’s friend.

CHRIST is risen! Hallelujah! These words reverberated as Christians around the world joyfully celebrated last Sunday Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

Christian faith teaches that Christ suffered, was crucified, died and on the third day he rose again from the dead.

The resurrection of Christ is an intrinsic tenet and the foundation of the Catholic faith. However His conquest of sin and death may be seen in different ways.

By his resurrection, Christ conquered death and forever established his kingship over all creation. He has proven that he is an all-powerful God that even death itself has no power over him, a God who has no beginning and no end, the alpha and omega. Christ’s resurrection also means that the Christian God is a living God; one who was, is and will be part of human history from the beginning until the end. An ever-faithful God, Christ by his resurrection shows that he abides by his church for all time. Jesus himself promised this when he said to his disciples before he ascended into heaven: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

This means that God is and will be forever present in the life of every Christian and his church.

Although God no longer manifests himself as in the days of Abraham, Moses and the Patriarchs of the Old Testament, still his hand is seen and will be present in all events of our history, showing himself in all creation, from the greatest to the minutest. The true follower of Christ therefore sees that every event in his life does not happen by chance but is willed by Him; hence, he (follower) will not be overcome by despair and hopelessness for to him God is always present, ready to come to his succor. This was the point of the nine readings during the Easter Vigil mass, when we recalled salvation history from the story of creation to the resurrection of Jesus.

It is unfortunate that sometimes people, even those who profess to be Christians, act without taking into account the will of God and his presence in their

lives. It is in these instances of sin that we consciously and deliberately separate ourselves from Him resulting in all sorts of trouble for mankind. Concededly, modern society is suffused with hatred, violence, greed, selfishness and lack of charity. Our beloved country has not spared from all of these.

The faithful must accomplish the power of the Resurrection in every age, in our concrete existence, in our everyday lives. How many deserts, even

Even death itself has no power over him.

conditions. He said: “So this is the invitation which I address to everyone: Let us accept the grace of Christ’s Resurrection! Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish.” Indeed, belief in the message of the resurrection can change lives for the better.

Christ’s rising from the dead may be an ancient mystery but its religious and societal significance remains strong even to this day. Given the state of present-day society, there is every reason for us to acknowledge and practice the message of Christ’s resurrection to transform despair and meaninglessness of existence into one that is peaceful, loving and just knowing that there is a loving, merciful and faithful God who never abandons.

According to Pope Francis, “God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.”

Cardinal Chito Tagle, whose homilies last week I listened to with interest and spiritual desire, echoed this during the Easter vigil mass when he pointed to God as rolling away those “big stones” in our life which prevent us from seeing God and to be truly happy. “If a person finds it hard to “roll away” these big stones, or if he or she wonders who can roll it down,” Tagle said God “will roll the stone not to hurt us, but to let the life of Christ come out and be our life.” “Jesus is coming out of the tomb.

Do not block his way. Go, meet him,” added Tagle. “He is our life, He is our light. Do not be afraid. He is the rock of our salvation, and we do not need other rocks to block His coming.” (Quotations above are from the Rappler story on Tagle’s Easter homily.)

In the next six weeks, the Sunday gospels will be all about resurrection stories. The walk to Emmaus, the doubt of Thomas, the miracle of the fishes in the lake of Galilee, the confirmation of Peter as rock of the Church, and the ascension. All of them tell one story: Christ is risen; He is truly risen. Thanks be to God. Happy Easter everyone!

today, do human beings need to cross!

Above all, Pope Francis once said, “the desert within, when we have no love for God or neighbor, when we fail to realize that we are guardians of all that the Creator has given us and continues to give us.” But in the end, God’s mercy can make even the driest land become a garden, can restore life to dry bones.

The great apostle, Peter, “praises God for he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” He links Christ’s resurrection gives hope for it opened the doors to heaven. By Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection we have become heirs of God’s kingdom. It is an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and most of all everlasting. A Christian therefore sees hope where there is none. Even in the midst of suffering and difficulties such as persecution, hunger, nakedness— tthere is still reason to rejoice because God’s love has already conquered death; that in the end of this earthly life the Christian will be allowed to reclaim his just reward, that is, everlasting life.

In this sense, Christianity is a joyful religion, full of hope and expectation.

For a Christian adversity is not a useless experience contrived by God to punish him; instead it is God’s way of leading him towards salvation.

Christ’s resurrection is transformative. Pope Francis, in one of his Easter homilies, explained how belief and acceptance in Christ’s resurrection can Facebook: Antonio La Vina or tonychange the life of a person, events and lavs2 Twitter: tonylavs

The addicts

By Olivier Morin UNSTAD, Norway—It’s an addiction.

It’s not even that you want to come back.

You need to come back. Cold is like that.

You become hooked, like a junkie. And this is the only reasonable place to get your high (it takes too long to get to the others). So this year, I decided to take portraits of other addicts like me. Because for once, it got really cold.

Every sport has its hook and I guess for surfing, it’s the simplicity and the water. You don’t need a lot of equipment—just your board and a bathing suit. And the water just washes away everything that’s in your head. When you’re in the water, you just forget about everything else.

I started surfing and windsurfing when I was a teenager, in the southwest of France where I grew up. I discovered cold 20 years ago, when I met my wife.

She is Finnish and comes from the ‘big north.’ So I discovered the ‘big cold.’ And just how addictive it can be. I would go walking on the frozen sea in the winter.

The temperature would be around minus 15 Celsius and I would just get into a zone and before I knew it, I’d be 10 kilometers from shore.

Cold is really therapeutic. You forget about absolutely everything. You just evacuate everything.

So I guess it was inevitable that eventually those two loves—the surfing and the cold—would come together. And Unstad, at Lofoten Islands above the Arctic Circle, was the perfect place to marry the two.

I first heard about it when I read in a surf magazine that Tom Curren, the former Californian world champion in the 1980s, went surfing there. Intrigued, I made a mental note to check it out.

If you want to surf in cold weather, Unstad, high above the Arctic Circle in Norway, is basically the only spot in the world that’s easily accessible. It takes me about six-seven hours to get there from Paris, where I am based -- a flight from Paris to Oslo, then a flight to Bado, then a flight in a smaller propeller plane to Leknes, which is 20 kilometers from Unstad.

There are other cold spots where you can surf of course—Alaska, Kamchatka —but they are very remote. It would take days to reach them.

It’s my fourth year coming here. Usually, it’s not that cold. The temperature

outside is usually -5 Celsius—chilly but certainly bearable. Because the Gulf Stream passes right by here, the temperature of the water is usually about 5 Celsius—chilly, but with a good wetsuit on, tolerable.

This year, however, was different. That cold blast that gripped much of Europe in late February and early March? It reached all the way up here, too, so the temperatures dropped to minus 15C. Plus there was the wind. With the windchill, it felt like minus 25C. Now that’s extreme surfing.

Just how extreme? The car was about 50 meters away. By the time you walked from the water to the car, you could feel your wetsuit start to stiffen up and freeze.

Then you had to take it off outside (because it’s impossible to take a thick, stiff wetsuit off inside a car), put some dry clothes on, jump into the vehicle and crank up the heat. And then wait for your body to come back to life.

Because of the cold, your body uses more energy, so at the end of the day, you’re spent. Much more tired than if you had been surfing in warm waters like Hawaii. You’re exhausted, you’re fed up, you just feel soft on the inside, you collapse into your bed. And yet in the morning, you’re just ready to go again.

Why do it? Because once you’re there, you just forget about absolutely everything. One hour in Unstad and I feel like I’ve been on holidays for two weeks.

Make no mistake—compared to warm-water surfing, it’s more suffering, it’s more difficult, it’s more preparation (instead of just a bathing suit, you have a thick wetsuit, booties, and, in my case when I shoot, fins to move fast in what is often a strong current). Your body suffers.

You struggle against the cold. You get so tired. And yet there is so much pleasure in it. It’s not masochism, not at all. It’s just that it’s really like a drug.

It’s just such a huge pleasure. And of course the surroundings only add to the magic. Unstad is surrounded by mountains. So in addition to the physical challenge, you’re surfing in just a mindblowing beautiful place. It’s not that busy —this year, the busiest day was my last one there, with just 20-25 people in the water.

Then of course, there are the Northern Lights. I mean, what can top that as part of the scenery? And there are the moments that you can only get in a remote place like this.

For example, one night, I was trying to take some night photos in the water. We were waiting for the Northern Lights and there was a fierce wind. Before putting on our wetsuits and going into the water, we made a fire on the beach, put some salmon with paprika and onions into foil and cooked it on the flames. It tasted soooo good. It wasn’t just the quality of the fish, but the surroundings. The whole package.

It’s just one of those memories that’ll stay with you.

The idea for the portraits came because I wanted to tell the story of surfing as a lifestyle. It’s not just me who thinks this way, there are others as addicted to this place as I am. You don’t have to live in Hawaii or California for surfing to be your life. It can be your life here, too.

The portraits turned out really nicely. It was probably one of the most natural assignments that I have shot. Everyone was enthusiastic and nice and very natural.

And, like me, they all have their reasons for loving to surf in this special place.

Ellen Holgersen, 32, veterinarian: “I prefer the cold water surf, that’s why I moved here. I tried living in places where you can surf just outside your doorstep but it was like going to the gym for me, a lot of people and too simple. Here it’s more of an expedition because of the cold.”

Lisa Blom, 38, hotel manager: “Lofoten is like a big playground for grownups….

Surfing is life. It’s a must. It’s the same for me as breathing, eating, sleeping, being with my family. There are quality waves here, they’re consistent. When you’re not surfing there are heaps of other things you can do—hike, ski, kayak, stand-up paddle, fish... ” Ole Kristian Fjelltun-Larsen, 34, coffee shop and B&B owner: “Winter is more challenging, it’s like an extreme form of meditation, with an extreme contact with nature.”

Nils Nilsen, 26, an employee at a fishing factory: “Surfing to me is peace of mind, quiet inside my head. One focus, that’s it.”

Unstad is another planet, another world.

It’s just completely zen here. I think this very northern atmosphere makes it like that. You get the same vibe in Lapland.

When you’re out here, you’re not the same anymore. You know you’re way up north and there is less of everything— people, tourists, hikers. But more of that special feeling that you get with the cold. I guess you can call it the Arctic spirit. AFP

News

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TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

No Maranaos were left out in Marawi rehab—govt AMID the exodus of Marawi City residents from its 24 most affected barangays who were allowed to visit what was left of their homes in the city, a conflict has brewed between a government task force in charge of rebuilding the city and an organization of Marawi City residents.

Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima, spokesman of Task Force Bangon Marawi, denied the statement made by Sultan Abdul Atar, spokesperson of the Ranaw Multi-Sectoral Movement, who had slammed the task force for saying that they were not from Marawi.

Purisima had claimed on Monday that residents of the war-torn city were not consulted on the government’s planned reconstruction of their hometown, and that those who oppose the government’s plan to construct an “eco-zone” and military camp in the city are not its residents.

“Most of those na umo-oppose are not residents. In fact if you talk to the residents, they are in favor of the military camp kasi they want security,” he told a television interview. “It’s like opposition for opposition's sake.”

Purisima added that consultations with local government officials, traditional and religious leaders, and even the “bakwits” or the internally displaced Maranaos are ongoing.

Purisima also said that the task force is only consulting the local government and not thePu residents themselves.

But Sultan Atar rejected Purisima’s claims.

“These people—Task Force Bangon Marawi—should study the genealogy of the Maranaos. All of the Maranaos are connected to one another. All Maranaos, part of our lineage is from Marawi.”

The group held a peace rally on Friday after issuing a statement appealing to President Rodrigo Duterte to stop plans to establish an “eco-zone” and military camp within the city, calling it “an invasion of a different kind.”

The government has decided to close the most affected areas again after May 10 and will start to clean up the debris left by the five-month battle. According to Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Task Force Ranao, the clearing of the debris may take a year to finish.

Meanwhile, local news outlet MindaNews report said the Bagong Marawi Consortium, which is composed of five Chinese and four local firms and led by China State Construction Engineering Corp. Ltd., has been selected to build a “new Marawi” within the 250-hectare Ground Zero.

PCSO wants to enhance strategies PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan said on Monday the agency through its Gaming Sector will not be introducing a new game this year, but it will revitalize and enhance instead its existing games to increase sales revenues.

“We have to innovate in our strategies to enhance our existing lottery games such as Lotto in connection with Tax Reformation for Acceleration and Inclusion [TRAIN] law. So we don’t see the need to introduce a new lottery game at this time although this is part of our strategy to increase our revenues,” Balutan said.

Due to the implementation of Republic Act 10963, otherwise known as the TRAIN law, effective April 1, 2018, a final tax of 20 percent shall be imposed on Small Town Lottery prize winnings exceeding P10,000.

The 20-percent rate shall be computed on the basic of the full amount of the prize winning. The imposed 20-percent Final Taxes on the prize winnings shall be remitted daily to PCSO. A separate “Summary of Winners” subjected to the 20 percent Final Tax shall be prepared on a weekly basis and be submitted every Tuesday by all STLAuthorized Agent Corporations to PCSO. A consolidated report of the “Summary of Winners” shall likewise be prepared on a monthly basis and be submitted within five days following the end of every month.

The 5-percent Prize Fund Tax shall no longer be remitted to PCSO in lieu of the Final Tax. In an interview, Gaming Technology Department officer-in-charge Aimee de Viterbo said her department and the Gaming Sector have started discussing strategies to innovate the games.

“The introduction of the TRAIN law is very challenging for PCSO because right now, we are already bleeding. Ang lakilaki na ng taxes kaya very challenging siya on how you will implement the law at the same time,” Viterbo said.

Under the TRAIN law, a 20-percent tax will be imposed on winnings of more than P10,000 from Lotto, Keno, Small Town Lottery, Sweepstakes, and other PCSO products.

Public school teacher gets ‘correct’ wage

By Rio N. Araja

SUSPENDED. The Baguio Carnival has been suspended pending a safety inspection following an accident involving two teens on Easter Sunday. The two young riders were in mid-air inside the ride cage when the machine powering the fun ride suddenly stopped for around 30 minutes. The kids were eventually rescued after the operators finally were able to restart the machine. Shown in photo are the two teenagers as they hang upside down in mid-air. Maria Jesusa Leonardo Gambulao

PNP warns vs field trips in rebel-infested areas A

HIGH-RANKING Philippine National Police official on Monday has discouraged students in insurgencyaffected areas from joining activities outside their campuses to prevent them from being recruited by New People’s Army rebels.

PNP Deputy Director-General Rolando Mendez said students should avoid joining groups which may had been already infiltrated by front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA. “Mag-training ka muna, basic military force. Kung ano ang mapipili mong gawain sa bundok, ’yan ang trabaho mo. Pwede maging armado o sa kampo ka lang,” he said of the possibility of students becoming members of the NPA. Mendez also warned parents of students to be wary of extracurricular activities which that are not approved by school officials such as social immersion programs, social field work and field trips.

“Yung ginagawa ng mga organizations ay dumidikit sa students na may contact sa NPA. Usually during breaks or vacation ng students, yung mga na-recruit nila iniinvite nila, exposure to the countryside in the guise of field trips. That is for a period of one week usually,” he said.

“Kung nagustuhan ng mga recruit ang buhay sa bundok, maiiwan sila. Once naiwan ka, mag-undergo ka na ng kursong militar para maging full time NPA member,” Mendez added.

The PNP raised the concern last week following the reported sightings and active participation of some students in recent CPP-NPA activities including joining the rebels in firefights against government troops.

Government forces continue to wage war and has pushed their offensive in areas known where guerilla fronts of the NPA are located.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has said that if the CPP-NPA is really interested in forging a lasting and enduring peace with the government, they must demonstrate sincerity in the peace process.

This was the statement made by AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Emmanuel Garcia Sunday when sought for a com-

ment on the possible resumption of peace negotiations with the rebel group.

President Rodrigo Duterte recently expressed interest to resume the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the communist rebels after a recent meeting with Norwegian government officials.

But the AFP said that the CPP-NPANDF must stop atrocities and other senseless attacks on military and civilians aside from their extortion and other criminal activities.

On Nov. 23, 2017, Duterte signed Proclamation 360, ordering the termination of all peace negotiations and meetings with the rebel group.

The termination was an offshoot of the rebel atrocities and other acts of violence against civilians and security forces. Garcia also said that the AFP will always follow the policy direction of the political leadership.

“We leave it to our political leaders to decide on political questions and we will always follow legally mandated decisions,” he said.

Also, the military takes cognizance of the need to have a just and lasting peace in the country and the AFP supports every effort to achieve this. PNA

2 OTS staffers caught stealing from Japanese

By Joel E. Zurbano

DOST SCHOLARS. Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra announced during a press briefing in Malacañang that the Department of Science and Technology has recorded a total of 8,994 qualified students for their scholarship programs for this year. He added that the number of qualified students this year is a 69.6 percent increase from the 5,303 qualifiers in 2015. Presidential Photo

Leyte mayor ordered suspended for graft THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the suspension of a mayor from Leyte for one month and one day without pay.

It ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government to implement its decision.

Mayor Oscar Monteza of Santa Fe municipality, along with human resource officer Videl Apurillo, was found guilty of simple neglect of duty.

In 2014, the Ombudsman's field investigation office conducted a probe on the illegal use of the town's ambulance (SKA-337) after its apprehension when its driver, Lito Torre, could not provide any trip ticket to the unregistered vehicle.

The anti-graft investigators issued four subpoenas duces tecum received by Apurillo May 6, 2015.

Despite receipt of the subpoenas, no compliance was submitted.

On Jan. 8, the field investigators 2016 sent a letter to Monteza and informed him about his non-compliance.

On March 10, 2016, they reiterated their request for the production of documents, to no avail.

As defense, Monteza said he overlooked the Ombudsman's directive because of his hospitalization due to his heart ailment.

On the other hand, Apurillo claimed pertinent documents were destroyed during Typhoon “Yolanda.”

In a March 7 resolution, the Ombudsman ruled that under Section 26(4) of the Ombudsman Act of 1989 or Republic Act No. 6770, any delay or refusal to comply with the referral or directive of the Ombudsman or by any of the deputies shall constitute a ground for administrative disciplinary action against the officer or employee to whom it was addressed. Rio N. Araja

THE Office for Transportation Security, the controversial government unit, wherein a number of its personnel got involved in the so-called bullet planting scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, is in the news again.

This time, two OTS personnel were accused of stealing money worth 1,700 Australian dollars from a Japanese national last Holy Wednesday.

Charged with qualified theft before the Pasay City prosecutors office were Stephen Bartolo and Demmie James Timtim, both OTS personnel assigned at the Naia Terminal 3.

Reports showed that the Japanese passenger—Yuya Sakata, 25, a resident of Fukuoka—arrived at the airport around 12:45 p.m. last Wednesday on board Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J40 from Sydney, Australia with a connecting flight to Cebu at 9:35 p.m. the same day.

The suspects were arrested after members of the Airport Police Department recovered 300 Australian dollars from their possession. One of them was also identified by the victim as the one who stole his money.

The APD men also reviewed the closedcircuit television camera and found out that one of the suspects took out money from the victim’s wallet at the arrival entrance gate 2 where the foreigner entered prior to his connecting flight.

Bartolo admitted that he took some money from the wallet of Sakata while conducting a luggage search.

Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal immediately ordered the cancelation and revocation of the access passes of the two OTS men. He also directed his men to place the names of the suspects under the agency’s blacklist of personnel.

AFTER 11 years of waiting, a public school teacher from Guimaras Island can finally receive the correct wage she is entitled to.

Just last March, the Commission on Audit ruled that Josefina Linda Pabraquel, an alternative learning system teacher I in January 2004 in Guimaras’ Nueva Valencia town, is entitled to receive P109,989.20 to compensate her for payment of salary differential after her promotion as teacher II. Pabraquel was denied her rightful pay grade when she was promoted to teacher II on Sept. 11, 2006 until October 2015.

Records showed Pabraquel as teacher I in January 2004 was deployed as a mobile teacher in Division of Guimaras, Department of Education in Region 6-Western Visayas.

Upon promotion to a higher rank, Pabraquel was supposed to receive a pay grade one level higher but her appointment was recalled by the DepEd Region 6 superintendent on Oct. 2, 2006 despite the approval by the Civil Service Commission on Sept. 13, 2006.

The education department’s Region 6 invoked that its guidelines that mobile teachers for the alternative learning system could only hold a teacher I position.

“She did not receive her salary as teacher II from the date of her promotion on Sept. 11, 2006 until she was integrated to the regional payroll in October 2015, with the salary of a teacher II,” CoA's Commission Proper decision read.

To back her position, Pabraquel persented her complete daily time records from September 2006 to July 2015, certificate of her appointment to Teacher II, oath of office, service record, notices of salary adjustments and schedule of salary differentials.

House to pass bill on SIM card registration bill

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives on Monday expressed hope that the Senate will support its approved measure requiring the registration of all users of Subscriber Identity Module cards.

House Bill 7233, or the proposed “Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act” was approved on second reading and is expected to hurdle the third and final reading approval when Congress resumes session next month.

The bill's author, deputy speaker Sharon Garin of AAMBIS-OWA Party-List said the bill aims to help law enforcement agencies in tracking down lawless criminals who use mobile phones with postpaid and pre-paid SIM cards to pursue nefarious activities, such as kidnapping for ransom and petty crimes like theft.

The bill defines “SIM” as the Subscriber Identity Module, which is an embedded circuit that securely stores international mobile subscriber identity and related keys used to identify and authenticate subscribers on mobile devices, such as mobile phones and computers.

It refers to “SIM card” as a removable card into which an electronic integrated circuit is embedded and is transferable between different mobile devices.

“Public Telecommunication Entity or PTE” refers to any person, natural or judicial, government or private, engaged in the provision of telecommunications services to the public for compensation.

Garin said the bill mandates the sale and registration of SIM cards by directing every PTE or direct seller to require the end-user of a SIM card to present valid identification with photo to ascertain the latter’s identity.

The PTE or direct seller shall also require the SIM card end user to accomplish and sign a controlled-number registration form issued by the respective PTE of the SIM card purchased, she added.

Under the measure, all direct sellers are mandated to register in the SIM card registration form the following information: full name, date of birth, gender and address of the end-user appearing in a valid government-issued identification document with photo.

The bill also requires end-users who are foreign nationals to register their full name, passport number and address in the SIM card registration form.

It also requires the PTE to submit to the Department of Information and Communications Technology a verified list of their current authorized dealers/agents nationwide, within 30 days after the effectivity of this Act.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

North Edsa Hawks top SM Sportsfest ‘18 SM officials and employees recently gathered to celebrate the spirit of sportsmanship, teamwork and healthy competition during the annual SM Sportsfest. As it had been during the past years, the Sportsfest promoted physical fitness through two exciting and fun-filled events, the SM Fun Run and the Mini Olympics.

SM Retail Inc. Director Jorge Mendiola and The SM Store President Chelo Monasterio graced the Sportsfest together with SM EDD Corp. & Security Affairs SVP and Sportsfest Committee Chair Antolin Paule led this fun event along with the different participating teams.

The SM Fun Run, which was held at the SM Mall of Asia Complex, brought together the best runners from The SM Store’s branches in Metro Manila and Bacoor, as well as its Head Office in Pasay.

A record-breaking attendance of 3,000 employees ran for health in the Men’s 5.6K and the Women’s 3K races, dashing from the business park’s Simbahan Drive to the Seaside Boulevard near the bay area. As the runners competed, other SM employees had fun at the body jam activity at the SMX open parking area.

The SM Mini-Olympics, on the other hand, was held at the Marikina Sports Center, turning employees into track superheroes in events such as the men and women’s 100-meter dash, where Nomer Carpio of SM Bicutan—for the 3rd year in a row, and Mary Rose Naza of SM North Edsa bagged the gold medal for their respective teams.

Another highlight was the sack race where the Manila King Cobras rose to the challenge and retained their first-place finish. The Marikina Krocs, meanwhile leaped to victory at the Obstacle course.

The North Edsa Hawks, who won team events like the 8x50m relay and the very engaging tug-o-war, emerged as the overall champions, taking home the Mini-Olympics trophy for four straight years.

The Manila King Cobras took second place and the MOA Bay City Blue Sharks received third place honor.

Sixers on a roll; Cavs win L

OS ANGELES—Australia’s Ben Simmons tallied 20 points and 15 assists as the Philadelphia 76ers won their 10th straight game with a 119-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.

Marco Belinelli came off the bench score 22 points against his former Hornet teammates. JJ Redick added 20 points and Robert Covington delivered 17 points and 11 rebounds in the win which kept the Sixers on track for homecourt advantage in the playoffs.

“I think he’s one of these rare players who shoots better when he’s off balance,” said Sixers coach Brett Brown of Belinelli. “He came in and hit tough shots. He was massive and has been a huge pickup for us.”

Philadelphia had 36 assists, setting a franchise record with its ninth straight game of 30 or more assists.

After falling behind 33-28 early in the

second quarter, the 76ers went on a 13-1 burst to take the lead with 6:53 left in the first half.

The Sixers led 68-55 early in a see-saw second half. After the Hornets went on a 16-3 surge to get within 72-71 midway through the third quarter, the 76ers pulled away by scoring 14 consecutive points.

Malik Monk and Michael KiddGilchrist led the Hornets with 16 points apiece. Willy Hernangomez added 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Elsewhere, LeBron James stretched his record double-digit scoring streak to 868 games and the Cleveland Cavaliers won a low scoring 98-87 game over the Dallas Mavericks.

James broke Michael Jordan’s alltime NBA mark for consecutive games with at least 10 points on Friday night.

But on Sunday, he didn’t hit the 10 point mark until the fourth quarter and finished with just 16.

He shot five of 21 from the field but made a pair of three-pointers as Cleveland sealed the victory with a 15-2 run in the fourth quarter.

James also tallied 13 rebounds and 12 assists for his 17th triple-double this season and No. 72 of his brilliant career.

“I missed four, five, maybe six layups, which I’m not accustomed to doing,” James said.

“But me not shooting the ball well never stopped me making an impact on the game.

“So if I’m not shooting well, I gotta make sure I get my guys on time, on target with my passes and I gotta rebound and I gotta do other things to help us win and I was able to do that.” AFP

Rafa reclaims ATP top spot PARIS—Rafael Nadal reclaimed top spot in the men’s ATP rankings on Monday a day after Swiss rival Roger Federer crashed out in Miami to American John Isner.

Nadal, who hasn’t hit a ball in anger since pulling out of the Australian Open quarter-finals in January, saw Federer take over top spot on February 18.

The Swiss veteran, however, slipped 10 points behind his Spanish rival and into second place after a second round defeat to Isner that saw the towering American leap eight places to ninth thanks to his eventual victory Sunday in the Masters 1000 event.

Isner thus equals his previous best ranking of ninth, reached in April 2012, while beaten finalist Alexander Zverev of Germany moved up one place to fourth. AFP

Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Manila IN THE MATTER OF DEPUTIZING THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD (PCG) FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENSURING FREE, ORDERLY, HONEST, PEACEFUL AND CREDIBLE CONDUCT OF THE MAY 14, 2018 BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS x----------------------------------------------x

PARREÑO, A.A., Acting Chairman GUIA, L.T.F., Commissioner GUANZON,M.R.A.V., Commissioner ABAS, S.M., Commissioner

PROMULGATED March 28, 2018

SM officials and employees are shown during the SM Sportsfest.

RESOLUTION NO. 10275

PSA Forum tackles Azkals, PH football THE Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum will be all about the Azkals and Philippine football in general when it resumes its weekly sessions on Tuesday at the Tapa King Restaurant at Farmers Center in Cubao.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami and Philippine Football Federation secretary general Ed Gastanes are the main guests in the public

service program that will discuss the outlook for the national men’s football team maiden stint in the AFC Asian Cup as well as the plans of the federation.

The forum starts at 10:30 a.m.

The weekly forum is presented by San Miguel Corp., Tapa King, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

PPS Bicol Open net tournament underway in Iriga City JOLO Basa and Paula Uy hope to live up to their hype as top picks in the premier division as action in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Bicol Open regional age-group tennis tournament got going yesterday (Monday) at the University of Saint Anthony Tennis Club in Iriga City.

Basa topbills the 32-player field in the boys’ 18-and-under play while Uy looms as the player to beat in the girls’ 16- and 18-U play that drew the likes of Trisha Lagatuz, Patricia Corporal, Glydel Guevarra, Katrina Salvadora, Ianne Contreras and Emely Mendez.

Also on tap is the Open division, which features the singles and doubles categories from the 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-70

age-groups, making it one of the biggest in terms of participation and scope. For details, call PPS Sports Program Development director and event organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

“We’re happy to be part of this long-running event which features not only the youth but also those from various age-groups competing in fun but competitive tournament,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Jan Trillanes, Raphael Liangco, Osward Hernandez and Jomar Pante, on the other hand, banner the 32-player cast in the boys’ 16-U side with Liangco and Pante leading the 14-U roster that includes Mark Egipto and Ranier Lagatuz.

Keen competition is also seen in the rest of

the categories of the Group 2 tournament sponsored

by Palawan Pawnshop and backed by Asiatraders Corp. that features talents from Naga, Tigaon, Goa, Sorsogon and Polangui, among others.

Caloy Dindo, Chester Wong, Nathan Cortez and CJ de Castro lead the boys’ 12-U roster with Guevarra, Carla Andrada, Carol Plaxides and Abby de Castro headlining the girls’ cast in the week-long event sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. Sabion Sabio, Keyin Oliva, Marcel Correa and Dwane Nojara, meanwhile, are tipped to dispute the 10-unisex crown in the event presented

by Slazenger with Dunlop as the official ball.

Republic of the Philippines CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO.: 012-18 TO : ALL CONCERNED FROM : DIRECTOR GENERAL SUBJECT : AMENDMENT TO PCAR PART 7 IN COMPLIANCE WITH ICAO ANNEX 6 PART II. REFERENCES: 1. Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations 2. ICAO Annex 6 Part II 3.6.9.3 3. Regulations Amendment/Revision Procedure 4. Board Resolution No.: 2012-054 dated 28 September 2012

Photo shows summer class participants at the start of their training at the Taekwondo School Center at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Taekwondo classes slated THOUSANDS of participants in R8B—Valente Villanueva, 0916the 2018 SMART/MVP Sports 4026680; R9—Emmanuel Flores, Foundation Taekwondo Summer 0906-6120734; R10A—Marilou Go, Class have started their two-month 0917-3199778; R10B—Crisanto Roldan, training in 22 venues nationwide, 0917-9851638; R11—Hyoung Joo according to organizer Philippine Kim,0939-5607269; R12A—Porferio Tripoli, 0908Taekwondo Association.

PTA Secretary General and 9012131; R12B—Rogelio Gusilatar Makati Congressman Monsour Del (OIC)—0998-5841772; CAR—MelRosario, a multi-titled former inter- vin Morte, 0917-5066861; CARAnational campaigner, says training GA—Rigor Avenido, 0927-8735301; sessions are in full swing in the fol- ARRM—Husin Abdulkadil, 0916lowing regional chapters with their 9367677; AFP—Gen. Alvin Parreno, respective contact persons and cell- 0917-5965679; and PNP—Gen. Roberto Fajardo, 0917-8981823. phone numbers: Region 1—Loreto Velasquez, 0943-5605932; R2—Arnel Gamata, 09063360807; R3—Dauphin Punzalan, 0908-8977886; R4A—Eric Go, 092000-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 9548956; R4B—Raymund Val Padua, 09178872382; R5—Benjamin 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M Custodio, 0921-3984475; R6A—Harny Tabuada, DIGITS 0-0-0-0 0908-5477219; R6B—Antonio Diasnes Jr., 0908-3054563; DIGITS 0-0-0 R7—Antonio del Prado, 0939-9999777; R8A— EZ2 0-0 Jed Lirios, 0930-1131039;

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 6/45 4 3 2

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TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Pursuant to the powers vested on the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines under Republic Act 9497, otherwise known as the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008 and in accordance with the Regulations Amendment/Revision Procedure with Board Resolution No.: 2012-054 dated 28 September 2013, I hereby approve the incorporation of the following amendments to the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations.

WHEREAS, Article IX-C, Section 2(4) of the 1987 Constitution empowers the Commission on Elections (Commission) to deputize, with the concurrence of the President, law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the Government for the exclusive purpose of ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections; WHEREAS, the Commission, pursuant to Comelec Resolution No. 10210 in relation to Comelec Resolution No. 10247, has deputized the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for purposes of the May 14, 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections; WHEREAS, Comelec Resolution No. 10210 provides that the DOTr, including its attached agencies, shall perform, among others, duties and functions which the Commission may prescribe from time to time; NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the Omnibus Election Code and other related election laws, has RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, as follows: SECTION 1. Coverage. - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is hereby deputized in connection with the conduct of the May 14, 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

SEC. 2. Duties and functions of the PCG as deputy of the Commission. - The PCG shall: 1) Provide security to, and render assistance in the deployment of: (i) personnel and deputies of the Commission as well as other persons performing elections related duties; and/ or (ii) election paraphernalia, equipment, forms, and supplies; 2) Assist the Commission in implementing election laws and/ or rules and regulations especially within the maritime jurisdiction of the country, including ports; 3) At the least time possible, deploy within the maritime jurisdiction of the country, troops for election duty in coordination with the concerned Regional Election Director, Provincial Election Supervisor, and Election Officer; 4) Make available, at the least time possible, land, air and water-craft assets, communication systems and other equipment, in connection with the conduct of the elections; 5) Look into the existence of any armed group organized to commit, or which is committing or attempting to commit, acts of terrorism, or threats to intimidate or coerce any person to vote for or against a candidate, and to suppress or prevent said acts of terrorism or threats; 6) Conduct a periodic assessment of the peace and order conditions in the maritime jurisdiction of the country · and recommend measures which may be adopted by the Commission in the interest of free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections; 7) To render aid, including rescue operations, to (i) personnel and deputies of the Commission as well as other persons who, in the performance of election-related duties, are in distress at sea; and/ or (ii) vessels in distress which are carrying election paraphernalia, equipment, forms, and supplies; 8) To conduct inspections and emergency readiness evaluation on ships and vessels which will carry (i) personnel and deputies of the Commission as well as other persons performing election related functions; and/ or (ii) election paraphernalia, equipn1ent, forms, and supplies; 9) Render periodic reports on action taken in accordance with this Resolution; and 10) Comply with and/ or implement directives or resolutions which the Commission may issue or promulgate from time to time.

AMENDED REGULATIONS: PCAR PART 7

Despite being deputized, the PCG shall continue its own functions and responsibilities.

7.6.7 AIRBORNE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM II (ACAS II) xxx (d) [AAC] No person may operate a turbine engine airplane for which the individual airworthiness certificate was first issued after 1 January 20078 with a maximum certificated take-off mass in excess of 5,700 kg but not exceeding 15,000 kg or authorized to carry more than 19 passengers, unless it is equipped with an ACAS II. Separability Clause – If, for any reason, any provision of this Memorandum Circular is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other part or parts thereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force or effect.

Repealing Clause – All orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Memorandum Circular are hereby repealed, superseded or modified accordingly.

Determination Of Changes – To highlight the amendments and/or revisions in the Memorandum Circular, the deleted text shall be shown with strikethrough and the new inserted text shall be highlighted with grey shading, as illustrated below: 1. Text deleted: Text to be deleted is shown with a line through it.

2. New text inserted: New text is highlighted with grey shading.

3. New text replacing existing text: Text to be deleted is shown with a line through it followed by the replacement text which is highlighted with grey shading.

SEC. 3. Precedence of Commission Orders. - Orders issued by the Comlnission in connection with the May 14, 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections shall take precedence over and above the orders and directives issued by any other office or agency of the Government, except the Supreme Court and those issued in habeas corpus cases.

SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Resolution shall take effect on the seventh day after its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

SEC. 5. Dissemination and publication. - The Executive Director shall furnish copies of this Resolution to the Secretary of Department of Transportation, to the Officer-In-Charge of the PCG, as well as to all Regional Election Directors, all Provincial Election Supervisors and all Election Officers of the Commission.

The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this Resolution in at least two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines, and disseminate this Resolution for the information of the public.

SO ORDERED.

AL A. PARREÑO Acting Chairman

Effectivity – Fifteen (15) days after compliance with the requisite publication in a single newspaper of general circulation and a copy filed with the U.P. Law Center – Office of the National Administrative Tegister, these amendments shall be incorporated to the Philippine CAR, series of 2017.

Signed this 23rd day of MARCH 2018, CAAP, Pasay City.

LUIE TITO F. GUIA Commissioner CAPTAIN JIM C. SYDJONGCO Director General (MS-APR. 3, 2018)

MA. ROWENA AMELIA V. GUANZON Commissioner

SHERIFF M. ABAS Commissioner (MS-APR. 3, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

A8

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018

Magnolia’s Paul Lee, shown here attacking the basket in Game 3, assured his team that he will play through pain in Game 4 after injuring his middle and index fingers.

PH Malditas to play a cautious game in Asian Cup

By Peter Atencio PLAYING a cautious game will get the Philippine Malditas national women’s football team a long way when they see action in the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup Jordan 2018.

The Malditas are in Group A of the tournament, which begins on April 6 in Amman, Jordan.

Head coach Rabah Benlarbi said their first game against Jordan will be a challenge, but they will be ready.

“The first game will be tactical.

We will be patient,” said the French coach Benlarbie when the Malditas had a send off last Wednesday at the Sheraton Hotel.

This will be the first time that the Philippines will participate in the Women’s Asian Cup after a qualifying round.

Last year, the Philippines clinched a berth to the final round after finishing their group in second place behind host Jordan with 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss.

Following their qualification last year, the team had several training camps in the United States, Manila and Japan in preparation for the competition.

Also part of their bracket are China and Thailand.

Benlarbi said their training camp in Japan did wonders in getting the girls ready.

Making up the final list of 23 players that make the lineup are goalie Inna Palacios, Claire Lim, Alesa Dolino, Krystal de Ramos, Hali Long, Morgan Brown, Kathleen Rodriguez, Ma. Luisa Park, Jesse Anne Shugg, Also making the cut are Caitlyn Kreutz, Kristen Bugay, Kearra Bastes-Jones, Leah Larot, Sara Castaneda, Stacey Cavill, Alexa Diaz, Calah Simarago, Tahnai Annis, Patrice Impelido, Quinley Quezada, Jessica Miclat, Chalise Basa and Sarina Bolden.

Injured Lee to play thru pain in Game 4

By Jeric Lopez

M

AGNOLIA needs the warrior in Paul Lee more then ever.

Down 1-2 in their best-of-seven championship tilt against San Miguel in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup, the Hotshots can’t afford to lose another key player in the series.

There’s a concern in the Magnolia camp about Lee’s availability for the rest of the series as he injured his middle and index fingers in his right hand in Game 3 Sunday night.

However, Lee, the warrior that he is, already assured his team that he will continue fighting in this critical juncture.

The former University of the East Warrior said that though his fingers are banged up and hurting, he will most certainly play the rest of the way as the Hot-

shots badly need him and his services, being one of the team’s top guns.

“Ready ako, laban lang. Balewala na ito,” said Lee. “Na-jam ko pagsundot pero hindi ko na muna ‘to iindahin. Kailangan namin manalo na ulit.”

Magnolia can’t afford to lose any more wards as it is already undermanned with key players Justin Melton and Marc Pingris already out for the series.

After staying within striking distance through three quarters in Game 3, the Hotshots got blown out by the sizzling San Miguel Beermen in the payoff period.

The three-time defending champion fired from all cylinders and dealt Magnolia a 111-87 drubbing to take a vital 2-1 edge.

Still, all is not lost for Magnolia as it is still very much in the thick of things.

However, Lee and the Hotshots need to find their touch sooner rather than later to give themselves a chance at the title against the mighty Beermen.

Game 4 is scheduled tomorrow, where Magnolia is facing a must-win situation.

FILIPINO CHAMPIONS: The Standard Insurance Centennial III, skippered by

veteran sailor Ernesto ‘Judes’ Echauz, won the Rolex China Sea Race 2018 Championship at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Clu in the top racing class, the IRC 0. The champion boat co-skippered by Standard Insurance IT executive Stephen Tan (next to Echauz’s right) finished in two days and 11 hours the 565-nautical mile race from Hong Kong to Subic in Zambales. Helmed by Asia’s match racing champion Ridgely Balladares and cohelmed by Asian Sailing Federation Keel Boat Cup champion skipper Emerson Villena. the Philippine team, the only entry from the Philippines out of the 30 international yachts competing, has once again demonstrated its excellent sailing performance after also having won the top racing division in the China Cup.

Subic Bay International Triathlon offers ITU points THE 3-in-1 2018 NTT Asia Cup Subic Bay International Triathlon slated at the Subic Bay Freeport on April 21 and 22, starting at ACEA Subic Bay looms to be the most significant edition ever.

As an Asian Cup Series 2018 event under the supervision of International Triathlon Union and Asian Triathlon Confederation, it offers to top local and international elite athletes ITU points for Asian and world rankings and qualification to major international competitions such as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics triathlon event and other international events.

To be held in conjunction with SUBIT sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Arena, New Balance, Philippine Star, Gatorade, Omega Pain Killer Liniment, Stan-

dard Insurance, Lighthouse Marina Resort, Century Tuna, Gatorade, Subic Holiday Villas, Travelers Hotel, ACEA, Asian Center for Insulation and Solar Sports on the final day is the Subic Bay Southeast Asian Championships envisioned to alternate with the Southeast Asian Games Triathlon.

The curtain raiser on the first day of action is the local event for youth participants serving as a test race for the Asian Youth Olympic Games qualifier which will be held on June 17.

“This year’s staging of SUBIT will be one big celebration,” said Tom Carrasco, president of both the organizing Triathlon Association of the Philippines and Southeast Asian Games Triathlon Association.

“We will not only commemorate the 25th anniversary of SUBIT, by far the country’s

longest running triathlon competition, and the partnership of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and TRAP. We will celebrate TRAP’s award bestowed by Philippine Sportswriters Association as the “National Sports Association of the Year 2017”.

“On top of that, SUBIT 2018 serves as the vehicle for the revival of SEATA, which was founded in Subic Bay Freeport 10 years ago,” added Carrasco.

As of March 28, close to 800 triathletes have confirmed participantion, including 41 elite men and 14 elite women from 20 nations, namely: Australia, United States, Portugal, New Zealand, Palestine, Israel, Japan, China, Korea, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Macau, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal and Philippines.

Agustines, Lanipa lead net winners

PERENNIAL leg winner Nash Agustines and Dean Lianne Lanipa led the charge for local netters at the recent leg of the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Champions Series in Oroquieta City, with Agustines ruling both the boys’ 14-under and 16-under categories, and Lanipa making her mark in the girls’ 12-under group.

Agustines beat 12-under champion Heinz Asian Carbonilla from Maranding, Lanao del Norte, 6-3, 6-4, in the finals of the 14-under and duplicated it with another 6-3, 6-2 straight-set victory over Al Kent Balazo from Tubod, Lanao del Norte for the 16-under crown.

Lanipa was extended by Nicole Marie Bubutan from Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur, 6-1, -6, 10-6, before taking the 10-under unisex title in the tournament backed by Dunlop as the official ball.

“It certainly is good to see a mix of previous winners and a few newcomers as podium finishers, it means the good players are getting better, while new ones are becoming good players,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President/CEO of the sponsoring Cebuana Lhuillier Group that initiated this grassroots tennis program 12 years ago.

Iligan City’s Rovie Baulete matched the feat of Agustines, winning both the girls’ 16-under and 18-under titles.

She had an easy 6-3, 6-3 victory over Cebu City bet Pherl Bless Coderos in the finals of the 16-under, but struggled against Alessandra Quimbo from Jimenez, Misamis Occidental, before pulling off a three-set win, 6-4, 3-6, 10-8, in the finals of the 18-under age group.

Garlandson Ardiente, an up-andcoming player from Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur, topped the 10-under unisex group, beating Bryzen Wyn Sanchez, 4-2, 4-2, in the championship match, then added the 10-under doubles’ title to his collection as he shared it with Pete Bandala.

PH Cuppers to bank on crowd support vs Thailand THE fancied Thailand Davis Cup squad arrives tomorrow three days before its crucial tie with the Philippines in the Asia Oceania Zone Group II at the PCA shell-clay courts in Paco, Manila.

PH Davis Cup Administrator Martin Misa said the Thais – twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana, Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul, Jirat Navasirisomboon, and Palaphoom Kovapitukted – are also well-prepared and fully motivated but are more dangerous.

“On paper, the Thais are stronger and more experienced, but they can’t take our team for granted this time,” said Misa. “Our team has been preparing for almost two weeks.”

The short-handed PH Cuppers were beaten black and blue by the Thais last year in Thailand, but Misa is hoping the crowd support more than the slow shell-clay courts will do wonders again at the PCA courts.

“We produced a number of big comeback wins in this venue in the past because of the crowd support, so we hope tennis enthusiasts will come to support our team again,” said Misa.

Tennis head Atty. Antonio Cablitas echoed Misa’s observation, saying he witnessed how Raymund Suarez and company defied great odds to bring Japan down to its knees during their Davis Cup tie 1988.

“That’s perhaps the biggest win by a PH team in the Davis Cup, I hope we can do that against Thailand,” said Cablitas.

The PH squad will be bannered by former PCA champions AJ Lim and Johnny Arcilla, back-to-form Francis Casey Alcantara, Jeson Patrombon, and John Bryan Otico.

Meantime, the Filipino and Thai Cuppers will have a mini-press conference tomorrow while the draw will be held on Friday at 1 p.m. also at the PCA.

Thais back in full force THAILAND is fielding in a seven-player contingent, all ready to stop Princess Superal and the rest of the local aces in the ICTSI Luisita Ladies Championship firing off tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac.

The Thais have won two of the first four legs of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour but have been outclassed in the last two stops dominated by Superal, who posted a record 16-shot romp in Tagaytay and won by five at Riviera last month.

But with a crack squad, the country’s perennial regional rivals are confident of pulling it off again this week behind Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang, Thanuttra Boonraksasat, Sarinee Thitiratanakorn, Numa Gulyanamitta, Ananya Vitayakonkomol, Jaruporn P Na Ayuttaya and former leg winner Saruttaya Ngam-usawan.

But Superal and the rest of the locals are also raring to slug it out with the Thais, promising a shootout right from the start of the P1.5 million event sponsored by ICTSI at the tight, hazardladen layout.

Cyna Rodriguez, for one, is out to break a long title-spell while Chihiro Ikeda hopes to play in full strength after a hand injury stymied her bid at Riviera.

Gretchen Villacencio is also expected to come out stronger and tougher after losing steam the last time out, enabling Superal to cruise to another victory.

Meanwhile, Jona Magcalayo joins the big cast of amateurs out to spoil the fancied pros’ drive in the seventh leg of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. Amateur Yuka Saso actually ruled the kickoff leg at Ayala Greenfield last January but the pros have since re-imposed their might, winning the next five.

CHAIRMAN KAP GOLF.

The 5th edition of the Tanduay Chairman Kap 2018 Invitational Golf Tournament is all set on Friday at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City. Photo shows business tycoon Lucio Tan Sr. in whose honor the tournament is being held, and his son young tycoon Lucio ‘Bong’ Tan Jr.

IN BRIEF Aboitiz Power joins solar rooftop trade ABOITIZ Power Corp. is joining the solar rooftop business with the creation of a new unit—Aboitiz Power Distributed Energy Inc., or APX. Aboitiz Power said in a statement APX was completing several key projects in Luzon and Visayas in 2018, with plans to to integrate them with the group’s existing open access customers.

“We have been in the power industry for more than 80 years. This gives us a wealth of knowledge and technical capability that we can share to our customers who want to go into solar,” Aboitiz Power president Antonio Moraza said.

APX general manager Ping Mendoza said the company had an edge over other solar rooftop providers because of the group’s experience in the power industry.

“The positive response from customers affirms our view that distributed energy technology such as rooftop solar complements existing products and services that the AboitizPower group provides,” he said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

Maynilad allots P1.7b for wastewater jobs MAYNILAD Water Services Inc., the concessionaire operating the west zone of Metro Manila, is allotting nearly P1.7 billion this year for wastewater projects to increase sewerage coverage and maintain the reliability of the network.

“It is a challenge for us to facilitate the completion of wastewater projects, given the impact to traffic of laying new conveyance systems. Nonetheless, these projects are important so we can catch harmful effluents before discharge to the environment. We need the support of local government and the communities to accelerate sewerage coverage expansion,” said Maynilad president and chief executive Ramoncito Fernandez.

The company is budgeting P1.4 billion to lay some 35 kilometers of conveyance systems in Las Piñas and Muntinlupa.

The systems will catch wastewater generated by households and convey it for treatment to Maynilad’s three Sewage Treatment Plants in the area. Othel V. Campos

AIA Group bares strong financial results in 2017 HONG KONG—AIA Group Limited, the parent organization of local insurer Philam Life, said the group delivered strong results for the year ending November 30, 2017 with double-digit growth across its main financial metrics.

AIA achieved excellent growth in value of new business with an increase of 28 percent, reaching a new high of $3.5 billion. It also delivered strong operating profit generation as reflected by a 16-percent increase in IFRS operating profit after tax to $4.6 billion and a 19-percent increase in embedded value operating profit to nearly $7 billion.

“Today’s results are the direct outcome of the scale, quality and breadth of AIA’s exceptional businesses across the region and the significant progress we are making in delivering our strategic objectives,” said AIA Group chief executive and president Ng Keng Hooi.

POWER rates are expected to increase in April on higher prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the country’s trading floor of electricity, an official of power retailer Manila Electric Co. said Monday.

“There are very strong indications that spot market prices will register significant increases this March, which would be reflected in the April generation charge,” Meralco head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez said.

He said the March supply month started with yellow alert in the Luzon grid because of a constraint in the supply of Malampaya natural gas, which in turn, forced some gas-fired plants to reduce output or go on forced outage.

ICTSI’S NOMINATION.

Port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. and its flagship operation at the Manila International Container Terminal are again nominated in the Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain Awards, honoring the best in the world of freight and logistics.

ICTSI joins other top global port operators in vying for the coveted title of Best Global Container Terminal Operator, while MICT is nominated for the Best Container Terminal in Asia (Under 4m TEUs) category. The awards is organized by Hong Kong-based Asia Cargo News, one of the more prominent and important shipping and logistics publications. Shown is ICTSI’s flagship Manila International Container Terminal.

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018

B1

By Othel V. Campos

PLDT-SMART DONATION. As a part of its program to accelerate financial inclusion nationwide, FINTQnologies Corp.’s KasamaKA, through PLDT-Smart Foundation, hands over a P5-million donation to Robin Padilla’s Tindig Marawi movement. KasamaKA advocates financial inclusion in Mindanao covering displaced micro-entrepreneurs in Marawi City through Tindig Marawi. At the handover ceremony are (from left) Mindanao peace advocate and actor Robin Padilla, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. and FINTQ managing director and KasamaKA founder and lead convenor Lito Villanueva.

MetroPac acquiring P1.98-b stake in Vietnam water firm

By Jenniffer B. Austria

M

ETROPAC Water Investments Corp., a whollyowned unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., said it is acquiring a 49-percent stake in one of the largest water companies in Vietnam for P1.98 billion.

MPIC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange MPW signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 3.926 million shares in Tuan Loc Water Resources Investment Joint Stock Company.

The transaction allows MPIC through MPW to expand into the Vietnam water market.

TLW is one of the largest water com-

panies in Vietnam, with 310 million liters per day of installed capacity and a billed volume of 87 MLD as of end-2017.

Majority of TLW’s 310 MLD will be supplied to industrial parks. It has three main project assets, including Song Lam Raw Water Treatment Plant with an installed capacity of 200 MLD (expandable to 300 MLD) that supplies raw water to Nghe An Water Supply JSC and surrounding industrial parks.

Ho Cau Moi Water Treatment Plant with an installed capacity of 90 MLD (expandable to 120 MLD) supplies treated water to Dong Nai Water Company and surrounding industrial parks, while Nhon Trach 6A Sewage Treatment Plant with an installed capacity of 20 MLD (expandable to 40 MLD) handles the wastewater treatment facility for the 400-hectare Nhon Trach 6 Industrial Park in Dong Nai Province.

MPIC said the completion of

Tight supply leads to higher power rates in April

By Alena Mae S. Flores

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

PCC starts review of Grab-Uber transaction

Dominguez wooing Swiss businessmen FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III invited Swiss investors to locate in the Philippines and take advantage of the government’s efforts to improve the ease of doing business and transform the country into one of the world’s top investment destinations.

Dominguez told Swiss investors during a recent meeting with members of the Philippine-Swiss Business Council that now was the right time for them to set up shop in the Philippines, citing President Duterte’s political will to pursue bold reforms to sustain the growth momentum.

He said the government remained on track to push the economy’s growth rate to 7 percent or better this year, and attain its goal of investment-led growth and more inclusive development with the ultimate objective of reducing poverty incidence to 14 percent by the time President Duterte leaves office in 2022.

Julito G. Rada

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

Fernandez said a unit of the Malaya diesel power plant was reactivated on Feb. 26 to March 1, March 5 to 10 and March 12 to14 to augment the reserves in the Luzon grid.

“As a result, we have observed daily average prices in the spot market stay above P5.50 per kilowatt-hour in the first two weeks of the supply month, even spiking to P8 per kWh several times,” he said.

Power rates in the Meralco franchise area were adjusted upward by P0.85 per kWh in March, lower than the actual increase of P0.97 per kWh to cushion the impact of the higher electricity prices on consumers.

Meralco said it would reflect the remaining P0.12 per kWh in the bills of consumers this month.

Meralco’s overall rate reached P10.32 per kWh in March, up from February’s P9.47 per kWh. This translated into an increase of P170 in the monthly bill of a residential customer consuming an average of 200 kWh. The power distributor’s generation charge went up to P5.2962 per kWh in March from P4.6548 per kWh in February.

Charges at WESM also went up by P1.4441 per kWh in the March billing because of tighter supply conditions in Luzon.

“The demand for power in the grid grew by around 366 MW in February due to warmer temperatures, while around 1,000 MW of generating capacity went on scheduled maintenance outage,” Meralco said earlier.

the transaction was subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions.

Under the agreement the parties have until June 30, 2018 to complete the transaction.

This is the second acquisition made by MPW in Vietnam. MPW acquired a 45-percent stake in BOO Phu Ninh Water Treatment Plant Joint Stock Company for P615 million in November last year.

PNW holds a 50-year build-to-own contract to develop a water supply system to meet clean water demand in Chu Lai Open Economic Zone and urban areas, industrial zones and adjacent rural areas in Quang Nam province.

MPW currently operates water projects that collectively provide 150 MLD of water in Cebu, Laguna and Iloilo.

The water utility firm was awarded the P12.35-billion Iloilo water distribution project in December 2017.

Cavitex to extend road from Kawit to Rosario for P22.5b

By Darwin G. Amojelar CAVITEX Infrastructure Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., said it will submit a proposal to the Toll Regulatory Board to extend the Manila-Cavite Expressway from Kawit to Rosario in Cavite province at a cost of P22.5 billion.

“We completed the feasibility study, so it will take us another month to put together the business proposal to the TRB,” Cavitex Infrastructure president Luigi Bautista said.

Segment 5 of Cavitex is a 7.6-kilometer road that will link Kawit to Noveleta to Rosario in Cavite province.

The company earlier earmarked P1.7 billion to expand Cavitex.

Cavitex Infrastructure tapped FF Cruz Construction Inc. to build the first phase of the Cavitex C5 South Link, which will connect C5 and Merville, Parañaque by way of a flyover.

The second phase will link Merville and Cavite at a cost of P9.5 billion.

Cavitex C5 South Link will allow residents from Cavite, Las Piñas and parts of Parañaque to avoid Edsa and take a direct link to and from C5 to Cavitex.

Bautista said the new expressway, which was expected to be completed in 2019, would add 40,000 to 45,000 vehicle traffic per day, on top of the 130,000 vehicles currently using Cavitex.

C5 South Link will ultimately connect with R1 Expressway (Coastal Road) and provide fast, safe and convenient travel for motorists going to and from Parañaque, Las Piñas and Cavite and for Paranaque residents in Multinational, Moonwalk and Merville villages.

THE Philippine Competition Commission on Monday expressed concern over the impact of the merger between ride sharing service providers Grab and Uber on Filipino passengers.

The anti-trust body, which called for a meeting with Grab and Uber Monday, said it might subject the merger to review, either as a notified transaction or a motu proprio case, which refers to an act taken without a formal request from another party.

PCC has yet to receive a formal notification from Grab or Uber. The agency said the meeting with stakeholders on Monday aimed to determine if the transaction would meet the merger notification thresholds and verify if the Grab-Uber transaction was notifiable.

Both are foreign companies with presence in the Philippines.

PCC said the acquisition by Singapore-based Grab of Uber’s Southeast Asian business would likely have a far reaching impact on the riding public and transportation services.

It said a merger or acquisition review using competition lens would determine whether the merger of two players in the ride-sharing market would substantially lessen competition.

The commission said it would evaluate and analyze if prices would likely increase after the acquisition, if ridesharing services would deteriorate or if passengers would effectively have less options.

It said it would also determine how likely other new transport network companies would have a chance in fairly competing against the merged firm.

PCC said it recognized that the exit of California-based Uber in the Philippines would put rival Grab in virtual monopoly of the ride-sharing market until new players came into operation.

First Metro says Q1 GDP growth likely topped 7%

By Julito G. Rada THE Philippine economy likely grew by more than 7 percent in the first quarter, driven by strong government spending on infrastructure in tandem with the robust manufacturing sector, economists from First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia & the Pacific said in a joint report Monday.

The projection for the January-toMarch period this year would be faster than the 6.4-percent actual expansion in the same period last year.

Citing latest available data, the economists said the economy added 2.4 million jobs in the first month of 2018 alone, the highest in a non-election year, with the industry sector―construction and manufacturing―clearly making a headway.

Manufacturing output surged 21.9 percent year-on-year in January, providing support to the robust job numbers, the report said.

The economists said from the demand side, infrastructure spending in December exceeded 20 percent, while capital goods imports kept a positive pace.

“All told, we see GDP growth accelerating to beyond 7-percent pace in Q1, given the strong multiplier effects of job growth, and robust manufacturing and construction sectors,” the report said.

The economists said the P8.4-trillion ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program of the Duterte administration would further boost economic growth in the years ahead.

Under the program, the government aims to build more airports, seaports, highways, bridges, railways, and water and irrigation projects across the country to stimulate economic activities.

The government will build a 25-kilometer subway in Metro Manila to decongest the metropolis of heavy traffic that was causing about P3.5 billion in economic losses daily.

B2

Business

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market climbs on bargain-hunting T HE stock market rose Monday on late bargain-hunting to send the benchmark index back above 8,000 points after a long Easter holiday.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 59.62 points,or 0.8 percent, to 8,039.45 on a value turnover of P4.6 billion. Gainers beat losers, 131 to 81, with 36 issues unchanged.

Now Corp., which is bidding to become the third major telecommunications company in the Philippines, advanced 12.3 percent to P9.20, while JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei climbed 3.4 percent to P64.80.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. rose 2.4 percent to

P34.50, while conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. added 2.1 percent to P5.35.

Tokyo stocks, meanwhile, drifted lower on Monday in thin holiday trade, pulling down markets in China and South Korea, with the majority closed for the Easter holiday.

After rising in early trade, Tokyo ended down 0.3 percent as the Bank of Japan’s closely watched “Tankan” business confidence survey slipped after five straight quarters of growth.

Selling was mainly driven by profittaking, analysts said, with investors squaring positions before major overseas markets open after Easter.

“All eyes are on the opening in New York following the holidays,” said Hikaru Sato, senior technical analyst at Daiwa Securities.

With no direction from Wall Street or Europe, Tokyo dragged down other

Asian markets.

Shanghai was down 0.2 percent as traders digested new tariffs on US imports.

The government in Beijing imposed new tariffs on 128 US imports worth $3 billion, including fruits and pork, in retaliation for US duties on steel and aluminum, fanning fears of a trade war.

“New tariffs by China on US imports stoked worries over a new round of US-China trade frictions,” said Zhang Gang, an analyst with Central China Securities.

Seoul edged slightly lower, dropping 0.1 percent.

Volumes in Asian trade were light however, with financial markets in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong all closed for public holidays.

The outlook for equities will be determined by US jobs data to be released on Friday, brokers said.

Oil prices also rose in Asian trade following a reported drop in US rig drilling activity.

Energy markets were reacting to data from oil services firm Baker Hughes released last Thursday, which showed US rigs fell by seven to 797.

Rig counts are a closely-watched indicator of drilling activity and future production in the United States.

“Oil was building up in the morning, I think this is primarily due to the spillover effect from Thursday when Baker Hughes released its report on a decrease in operational rigs,” Benjamin Lu of Phillip Futures Singapore told AFP. Forex markets were largely stable, again in thin holiday trade, with all eyes on speeches by key monetary policy makers, including Fed governor Lael Brainard, and the US jobs report.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.3 2,620 115 2,288,610 3.19 2,000 140.2 1,457,160 1.62 1,196,000 35.2 50,800 8 500 15.8 51,900 18.94 711,400 3.38 11,000 8.71 400 1.62 2,000 0.57 390,000 86 1,343,320 1.21 285,000 12.6 351,800 54.05 33,890 237.6 1,850 123 6,710 85.5 10 45.5 45,100 236 236,840 1,930 100 90 3,480 1.2 1,000

155,966 257,532,364 6,380 201,179,888 1,970,460 1,787,760 4,000 833,178 13,545,032 37,020 3,478 3,240 219,200 115,840,390 346,520 4,447,860 1,831,941.50 439,590 863,055 855 2,053,555 55,707,844 193,250 313,251.50 1,200

121,372 -74,202,429 -64,352,583 3,220 238,960 -1,600 3,178,254 7,640,872 -2,205,000 -1,699,354 -46,740 1,830,200 -33,953,578 105,304 -

38.35 13.74 0.59 1.27 19.22 0.245 173 3.67 16.34 299 50 29.25 72.25 2.05 5.3 9.88 11.4 14.2 10.72 7.43 5.53 1.7 16.4 64 25 9.6 15.62 2.41 292 53 4.88 3.1 26.55 16.04 20.15 320 0.189 7.78 2.78 4.81 9.17 5.05 1.48 11.74 54.5 6.25 606 4.72 2.13 2.2 14.5 5.32 0.134 0.99 150.5 2.61 1.97 0.75

INDUSTRIAL 38.5 930,200 13.9 442,900 0.6 1,126,000 1.3 239,000 19.54 54,200 0.247 22,960,000 175 200 3.68 2,778,000 17 219,600 299 10 51.5 479,560 32 127,200 77.9 5,770 2.12 1,273,000 5.3 5,000 10.3 175,900 11.52 151,700 14.2 148,600 10.82 38,200 7.47 141,300 5.56 561,400 1.72 10,000 16.74 364,100 65.85 11,310 25 20,800 9.6 2,500 16.16 1,896,200 2.64 10,172,000 300 701,450 53 1,040 4.99 65,000 3.16 19,000 27.45 358,600 16.08 8,600 20.95 2,758,000 326 151,980 0.195 240,000 7.78 2,700 2.78 370,000 5.06 103,000 9.28 700,800 5.34 442,800 1.51 1,732,000 12.78 132,100 54.55 193,150 6.25 200 623 16,870 4.75 30,000 2.29 183,000 2.29 613,000 14.68 103,700 5.33 10,700 0.134 200,000 0.99 22,000 151.5 725,280 2.61 4,000 1.98 7,455,000 0.77 5,180,000

35,840,585 6,155,042 669,900 304,950 1,055,186 5,730,570 34,880 10,282,760 3,737,614 2,990 24,441,710 3,936,210 445,751.50 2,659,400 26,500 1,834,862 1,747,368 2,110,858 411,936 1,057,477 3,133,199 17,180 6,081,510 742,788.50 523,880 24,590 30,625,924 25,971,740 206,930,584 55,128 317,900 59,440 9,785,360 139,208 57,190,745 24 49,335,112 46,630 21,006 1,035,740 519,280 6,476,977 2,368,124 2,584,910 1,665,588 10,555,332.50 1,250 10,483,165 141,810 403,300 1,389,540 1,526,056 57,713 26,830 23,030 109,847,536 10,440 15,129,780(2, 3,972,490

-28,533,550 257,578 -86,400 -731,570 -3,391,570 182,160.00 9,360 6,320 -806,436 523,932 32,320 -32,922 407,443 -1,242,556 593,743.50 15,568,942 -108,360 6,538,148 -1,925,265 -6,434 ,792,825.0004 1,952,656 19,590 191,430 284,434.00 1,639,100 -170 -3,267,784 839,775 89,680 41,010.00 -229,098 10,880 -36,704,656 838,359.9997) 1,540

0.3 69.35 13.56 6.45 0.61 0.62 948 7.36 12.68 7.57 4.61 0.207 1,178 7.23 64.8 5.44 0.67 5.24 20 0.72 5.4 0.046 1.14 3.26 140 945 1.1 1.75 713 280 0.25 0.198 0.215

0.29 67.85 13.24 6.28 0.57 0.59 918 7.25 12.18 7.57 4.6 0.191 1,140 6.93 63 5.44 0.65 5 19.22 0.68 5.27 0.043 1.11 3.15 135.3 921 0.88 1.71 647 265 0.235 0.198 0.213

HOLDING FIRMS 0.295 1,420,000 68.5 1,582,450 13.5 2,923,900 6.4 22,300 0.61 4,906,000 0.6 2,231,000 923 206,380 7.3 629,100 12.68 2,617,500 7.57 800 4.6 26,000 0.207 100,000 1,150 81,780 7.23 1,100 64.8 1,155,580 5.44 100 0.65 123,000 5.2 134,100 19.72 2,034,600 0.69 10,207,000 5.35 14,993,200 0.046 5,600,000 1.14 292,000 3.15 1,084,000 138.2 116,180 945 179,470 0.97 4,354,000 1.71 180,000 651 5,160 276 680 0.25 360,000 0.198 1,050,000 0.215 230,000

418,650 108,354,064.50 39,237,322 141,305 2,930,880 1,348,700 190,673,515 4,594,536 32,727,732 6,056 119,630 19,260 94,195,140 7,653 74,142,247.50 544 79,990 690,915 40,117,664 7,065,380 80,136,307 246,500 326,150 3,460,230 15,943,852 168,320,770 4,363,460 308,350 3,486,105 186,530 86,900 207,900 49,270

-66,403,285 765,312 6,450 -242,080 -93,427,115 -905,256 -15,532,238 -45,345,515 1,790,021 305,550 -11,807,340 616,760 9,202,655 8,800 3,330 95,400 50,150.00 -21,862,570 1,610 -

6.8 1.02 15.8 2.19 0.87 41.15 3.72 4.71 6 0.45 1.1 1.03 0.3 0.46 32.7 0.63 1.71 1.63 1.03 4.79 0.64 0.405 0.55

6.55 0.98 15.1 2.17 0.85 40.25 3.68 4.62 5.96 0.43 1.09 0.99 0.275 0.44 32 0.63 1.66 1.56 1.01 4.6 0.59 0.4 0.53

1,792,105 3,798,210 27,460 89,480 542,600 237,372,000 369,080 668,580 19,152 1,610,800 48,020 674,910 17,907,150 116,400 13,120,475 7 25,830 19,799,020 23,785,770 1,343,480 55,797,160 58,959,680 596,350 1,488,550

-19,255 34,150 -46,544,360 -47,880 -110,000 -528,960 150.0005 4,400 ,317,594.9997 1,522,140 -215,900 101,000 14,831,420 -1,337,150 -7,020

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 FILIPINO FUND IREMIT MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

59.7 115 3.19 137 1.65 35.2 8 16 19 3.47 8.68 1.62 0.54 86.3 1.24 12.7 54 237.8 130.5 85.5 45.65 240 1,935 90 1.2

59.7 115.4 3.19 140.2 1.68 35.2 8 16.1 19.28 3.47 8.71 1.62 0.57 86.9 1.24 12.7 54.9 237.8 140 85.5 45.65 240 1,935 90.5 1.2

59.3 109.8 3.19 136.2 1.61 35.15 8 15.8 18.94 3.25 8.68 1.62 0.54 85.8 1.2 12.6 53.9 237.4 123 85.5 45.5 232.4 1,930 89.95 1.2

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA 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 LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL 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 SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

39.1 13.96 0.59 1.28 20.1 0.25 173 3.68 17.08 299 50 29.25 72.25 2.05 5.3 10.08 11.56 14.4 10.78 7.43 5.59 1.7 17 66 25.5 9.9 15.62 2.47 296 53.05 5 3.1 27.9 16.04 20.5 320 0.189 7.78 2.9 4.81 9.28 5.8 1.5 12.2 54.55 6.25 608 4.72 2.23 2.28 14.5 5.45 0.135 1.04 152 2.61 2.03 0.75

39.2 13.98 0.6 1.3 20.1 0.265 175 3.78 17.08 299 51.5 32 79.25 2.12 5.3 10.6 11.56 14.4 10.82 7.59 5.65 1.72 17 66 25.55 9.9 16.34 2.65 300 53.05 5 3.16 27.9 16.44 20.95 326 0.195 7.78 2.92 5.08 9.29 5.8 1.51 12.78 54.95 6.25 634 4.75 2.33 2.32 14.8 5.45 0.135 1.05 152 2.61 2.08 0.78

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

0.29 68.6 13.3 6.45 0.57 0.59 948 7.36 12.3 7.57 4.61 0.191 1,178 6.93 63 5.44 0.67 5.15 19.22 0.72 5.27 0.045 1.12 3.25 140 921 0.88 1.71 671 280 0.25 0.198 0.213

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

6.61 1 15.8 2.17 0.86 41 3.72 4.7 5.96 0.445 1.09 1.03 0.29 0.44 32 0.63 1.68 1.59 1.03 4.68 0.6 0.4 0.54

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 33.4 19.94 1.95 3.15 33.9 0.98 16.1 0.86 6.48

4.01 33.45 19.94 2.05 3.18 34.5 1 16.5 0.86 6.5

3.93 33.4 19.5 1.93 3.15 33.5 0.98 16 0.8 6.31

3.93 33.45 19.66 2 3.18 34.5 1 16.3 0.8 6.5

300,000 300 1,641,100 188,000 6,000 4,440,400 431,000 79,700 51,000 1,175,300

1,189,580 10,030 32,206,398 373,110 18,930 151,129,440 427,640 1,294,880 41,320 7,607,308

-96,230 -7,197,088 75,470 3,253,880 78,024 -1,494,463

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

18 30.4 1.29 0.51 0.049 13.48 14.34 0.063 95 8.95 8.09 7.6 28.45 915 1,622 6.41 302.8 16.9 5.2 2.35 100 13.16 8.3 1.44 3.19 14.62 6.88 1.02 26.25 5.7 7.81 3.41 8.28 11.5 10.1 2.88 125 6.6 1,483 1.08 0.45 52.5 89.3 7.49 2.75 1.46 0.42 4.1 0.87 10.9

18 30.5 1.31 0.51 0.049 13.48 14.52 0.065 95.35 8.97 8.39 7.9 28.5 915 1,669 6.41 308 16.9 5.28 2.35 100.1 13.18 8.3 1.47 3.19 15 7.09 1.04 27.35 5.7 8.08 3.6 9.39 11.5 10.1 2.88 127 6.7 1,536 1.08 0.45 52.9 89.3 7.82 2.76 1.46 0.445 4.16 0.88 11

17 28.8 1.29 0.48 0.047 13.48 14 0.062 92 8.7 8.03 7.6 26.1 910 1,610 6.3 300.4 15 5.14 2.35 97 13.16 8.3 1.44 3.19 14.62 6.78 1.01 26.25 5.55 7.8 3.41 8.28 11.5 9.91 2.88 123 6.46 1,468 1.07 0.43 51.1 87 7.3 2.7 1.45 0.405 3.92 0.86 10.7

SERVICES 17.98 28.85 1.31 0.485 0.047 13.48 14.3 0.064 92 8.7 8.3 7.7 27 910 1,624 6.3 308 15 5.2 2.35 98 13.18 8.3 1.47 3.19 15 7.07 1.04 26.6 5.55 8.08 3.54 9.2 11.5 9.91 2.88 125 6.67 1,470 1.07 0.435 52.9 89 7.74 2.75 1.45 0.44 4 0.88 10.92

11,400 384,600 56,000 4,640,000 12,300,000 800 6,657,500 7,340,000 181,930 7,200 3,742,300 199,200 72,300 400 15,415 340,100 18,030 2,300 620,800 4,000 1,827,960 7,100 1,000 125,000 3,000 2,200 18,950,500 88,000 1,247,900 581,700 3,682,000 2,854,000 30,869,700 1,400 9,100 1,000 37,440 335,700 177,075 1,429,000 5,080,000 94,020 570,040 799,600 279,000 619,000 21,150,000 8,602,000 2,689,000 1,525,300

201,454 11,205,705 73,180 2,262,000 588,000 10,784 95,336,342 466,580 16,998,163.50 63,204 30,818,436 ( 1,539,319 1,979,625 364,150 25,041,610 2,148,950 5,509,256 38,488 3,229,339 9,400 179,719,056 ( 93,538 8,300 180,090 9,570 32,962 132,867,708 90,450 33,572,755 3,248,687 29,389,653 10,050,480 273,605,141 16,100 91,811 2,880 4,669,329 2,210,629 261,146,885 1,539,060 2,220,150 4,955,114.50 50,542,445 6,151,794 760,470 899,240 9,034,550 34,866,900 2,335,670 16,651,152

23,250 6,740 16,566,486 -72,146 278,054.9999) -61,435 -4,752,370 44,900 -177,404 17,403,118.5) -225,844 7,020,165 28,128 1,105,089 2,441,950 -3,291,758 11,500 -216,120 -128,857,205 -769,650 -43,350 283,264.50 -3,056,858 75,880 552,320 502,350 -14,371,050 -74,820 3,107,138

1,172,800 3,587,050 478,950 40,898 99,250 134,560 111,600 704,490 1,382,950 19,300 276,600 20,150 37,200 51,510 1,424,586 65,590 720,800 1,048,130 6,525,200 1,799,300 42,370 350,152 49,242,486 20,279,135

19,800 67,600 -4,650 -24,400 -30,362 7,220 347,718 20,130 -2,246,348 -4,198,850

MS

PROPERTY 6.55 1 15.1 2.19 0.87 41 3.68 4.67 6 0.44 1.1 0.99 0.3 0.46 32.2 0.63 1.71 1.56 1.01 4.79 0.62 0.4 0.54

269,800 3,812,000 1,800 41,000 631,000 5,811,400 100,000 143,000 3,200 3,670,000 44,000 675,000 60,930,000 260,000 405,700 41,000 11,744,000 14,948,000 1,323,000 11,894,000 95,585,000 1,490,000 2,763,000

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

0.0029 1.67 4.65 18.38 1.61 1.62 0.31 7.8 2.42 0.214 0.147 0.155 0.0093 1.41 6.1 1.28 0.55 0.85 0.012 0.013 2.23 6.08 14.7 30.5

0.003 1.7 4.65 18.6 1.65 1.63 0.31 8.58 2.46 0.219 0.15 0.155 0.0093 1.49 6.14 1.28 0.59 0.91 0.014 0.014 2.23 6.15 15.2 31.25

0.0028 1.66 4.65 18.38 1.61 1.62 0.31 7.42 2.4 0.213 0.147 0.155 0.0093 1.41 6.06 1.18 0.53 0.85 0.012 0.013 2.23 6.08 14.52 30.5

MINING & OIL 0.003 410,000,000 1.67 2,136,000 4.65 103,000 18.6 2,200 1.65 61,000 1.63 83,000 0.31 360,000 8.12 85,600 2.43 572,000 0.218 90,000 0.147 1,870,000 0.155 130,000 0.0093 4,000,000 1.43 36,000 6.11 233,400 1.22 53,000 0.58 1,264,000 0.87 1,193,000 0.013 503,300,000 0.014 133,100,000 2.23 19,000 6.1 57,400 14.7 3,311,800 31.2 654,300

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

27.7 507 520 102 505 6.29 991 100.3 1.06 104.1 1,050 1,165 992 102 1.96 76.5 79.9 76.95 78.8

28 507 520 102.2 505 6.29 991 100.3 1.06 104.7 1,050 1,165 992 102 1.96 77 79.9 76.95 78.9

27.7 500 515 102 505 6.29 990 100.3 1.06 103.7 1,050 1,164 992 102 1.96 76.5 79.9 76.9 77.2

PREFERRED 28 482,300 500 5,810 515 2,150 102.2 3,840 505 20 6.29 10,700 990 600 100.3 30,000 1.06 74,000 103.7 10,000 1,050 5 1,164 70 992 10 102 40 1.96 4,000 77 1,930 79.9 190 76.95 14,000 77.2 37,400

13,486,435 2,925,740 1,117,250 391,886 10,100 67,303 594,127.50 3,009,000 78,440 1,038,280 5,250 81,520 9,920 4,080 7,840 147,875 15,181 1,077,086 2,915,628

-10,429,955 47,115 -

LR WARRANT

4.47

4.67

4.36

WARRANTS 4.6 2,746,000

12,468,450

2,265,050

20,932,201 110,430 44,351,450

-507,638 50,100 -6,583,730

1,073,683

171,500

18,334

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

5.26 3.23 3.79

5.84 3.43 3.92

5.26 3.23 3.54

FIRST METRO ETF

122.5

123

122

USD TECH B2

1.03

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

1.03

SHARES 9,896,344

INDUSTRIAL

72,434,502

HOLDING FIRMS

58,961,241

PROPERTY

226,237,726

SERVICES

143,919,293

MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

1,062,765,071 1,748,552,645

1.03

5.8 3.39 3.6

SME

3,728,400 33,000 11,800,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 123 8,760 1.03

DDS

17,800

VALUE 2,082.7 (down) -6.97 802,072,747.01 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,474.37 (up) 44.72 684,172,996.94 HOLDING FIRMS 11,474.37 (up) 44.72 911,280,099.71 PROPERTY 3,681.97 (up) 35.12 SERVICES 1,666.14 (down) -5.68 690,282,664.39 MINING & OIL 11,049.51 (up) 162.58 1,307,568,293.58 PSEI 8,039.45 (up) 59.62 89,630,626.114 All Shares Index 4,869.55 (up) 28.99 4,551,495,058.76 Gainers: 131; Losers: 81; Unchanged: 36; Total: 248

Megaworld returning to debt market after 5 years

By Jenniffer B. Austria MEGAWORLD Corp., the property unit of billionaire Andrew Tan, is returning to the debt market for the first time in five years.

Megaworld said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it tapped J.P. Morgan as the sole book runner to arrange a series of fixed income investor meetings in Singapore and Hong Kong starting today.

“A proposed Regulation S USD denominated securities offering may follow, subject to market conditions.

The securities, if issued, are expected to be unrated and will be issued by Megaworld Corp.,” the property company said.

No further details on the debt securities.

The last time Megaworld issued debt notes was in 2013 when it raised $250 million in 10-year US dollar-denominated fixed rate notes that will mature in 2023.

Megaworld has earmarked P60 billion in capital expenditures this year, with 80 percent set aside for the construction of mostly residential, office and commercial developments in several townships across the country.

The company is allotting the balance for land acquisition and other investment properties.

Megaworld reported a 12.7-percent increase in 2017 net income to P12.8 billion from P11.3 billion a year ago, fueled by the positive performance of its residential, office and commercial leasing businesses.

Consolidated revenues rose 7.7 percent to P50.4 billion from the previous year’s P46.8 billion.

Residential sales, which accounted for 70 percent of the group’s total revenues, expanded 4.5 percent to P11.8 billion from P10 billion a year ago.

Rental business, which covers both office and commercial space leasing, meanwhile, grew at a faster rate of 18.2 percent to P11.8 billion in 2017 from P10 billion in the previous year.

Asian Terminals raises ‘18 capex by 74% to P8b

By Darwin G Amojelar ASIAN Terminals Inc. raised its capital expenditures this year by 74 percent to expand the capacity of ports in Manila and Batangas.

The port operator owned by businessman Eusebio Tanco said the 2018 capex amounted to P8 billion from last year’s P4.6 billion.

“This will invest in the acquisition of more cargo handling equipment and various infrastructure projects at Manila South Harbor and Batangas Port, to further grow capacity, increase efficiency and enhance safety performance, in support of the growing Philippine economy,” ATI said “As a forward-looking company, ATI looks for more business investment opportunities, including exploring new port operations locally or overseas,” it added.

The company earlier reported a net income of P2.5 billion last year, up 31 percent from P1.9 billion in 2016.

ATI’s revenues in 2017 rose 15 percent to P10.6 billion from P9.2 billion in 2016 on higher volumes of containerized cargoes and favorable cargo mix in the non-containerized segment.

Reflective of the robust growth of the Philippine economy in 2017, ATI’s international ports in Manila and Batangas handled a combined container cargo throughput of over 1.3 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).

International boxed cargoes handled at Manila South Harbor in 2017 reached over 1.1 million TEUs, an increase of nearly 6 percent from 2016. The rapidly growing Batangas Container Terminal handled almost 200,000 TEUs, an increase of over 25 percent compared to the previous year.

BCT is supporting government’s drive for inclusive growth outside Metro Manila by opening up direct market connectivity and delivering competitive port services to shippers based in South Luzon.

ATI expects the delivery of two additional quay cranes, four more rubbertired gantry cranes and other cargo handling equipment by 2018 in line with the company’s plan of doubling BCT’s capacity to over 600,000 TEUs.

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK Manila Manila

Standard Standard

World

TODAY TODAY

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018

B3

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, World Editor

China imposes retaliatory tariffs on 128 US products B

EIJING―China on Monday imposed tariffs on 128 US imports worth $3 billion, including fruits and pork, retaliating for US duties on steel and aluminum that Beijing said “seriously infringed” Chinese interests.

China’s move, which the Xinhua news agency said was decided by the custom tariffs commission of the State Council, followed weeks of rhetoric that had raised fears of a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.

The Trump administration had said its duties were aimed at steel and aluminum imports that it deemed a threat to US national security, but China’s Commerce Ministry on Monday called that reasoning an “abuse” of World Trade Organization guidelines.

The US measures “are directed only at a few countries, seriously violating the principle of non-discrimination as a cornerstone of the

multilateral trading system, which seriously infringed the interests of the Chinese side,” said a statement on the Commerce Ministry website.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly railed against China’s massive trade surplus with the United States and promised during the US election campaign to take steps to slash the US deficit.

Beijing had warned last month that it was considering the tariffs of 15 percent and 25 percent on a range of products that also include wine, nuts and aluminum scrap. They came into force on Monday, Xinhua said, citing a government statement.

The levies are in response to tariffs of 10 percent on aluminum and 25 percent on steel that have also angered US allies.

“We hope that the United States can withdraw measures that violate WTO rules as soon as possible to put trade in the relevant products between China and the US back on a normal track,” the Commerce Ministry statement said.

“Cooperation between China and the United

States, the world’s two largest economies, is the only correct choice.”

Trump has temporarily suspended the tariffs for the European Union as well as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and South Korea.

But the White House has unveiled plans to impose new tariffs on some $60 billion of Chinese imports over the “theft” of intellectual property.

China has called on the United States to stop its “economic intimidation” and had warned that it was ready to hit back.

But Beijing has so far held fire against major US imports such as soybeans or Boeing aircraft -- items that state-run daily the Global Times suggested should be targeted.

The nationalistic newspaper said in an editorial last week that China has “nearly completed its list of retaliatory tariffs on US products and will release it soon.”

“The list will involve major Chinese imports from the US,” the newspaper wrote, without saying which items were included. AFP

Chinese space lab plunges back to earth BEIJING―A defunct Chinese space lab disintegrated under intense heat as it hurtled through Earth’s atmosphere Monday and plunged towards a watery grave in the South Pacific, Chinese officials said.

The Tiangong-1 “mostly” burned up above the vast ocean’s central region at 8:15 am (0015 GMT), China’s Manned Space Engineering Office said.

There was no immediate confirmation of the final resting place of any remaining debris, although the South Pacific is largely empty.

Tiangong-1―or “Heavenly Palace”― was placed in orbit in September 2011, acting as a testing ground for China’s efforts towards building its own space station by 2022, but it ceased functioning in 2016.

Space officials had promised the atmospheric disintegration would offer a “splendid” show akin to a meteor shower.

But the remote location likely deprived stargazers of a spectacle of fireballs falling from the sky.

Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, said the module zoomed over Pyongyang and the Japanese city of Kyoto during daylight hours, reducing the odds of seeing it before it hit the Pacific.

“It would have been fun for people to see it, but there will be other re-entries,” McDowell told AFP. “The good thing is that it doesn’t cause any damage when it comes down and that’s what we like.”

AFP

PASSOVER. Jewish priests wearing ‘Talit’ (prayer shawls) take part in the Cohanim prayer (priest’s blessing) during the Passover (Pesach) holiday at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem on April 2, 2018. Thousands of Jews make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem during the eight-day Pesach holiday, which commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt some 3,500 years ago, and they remember their plight by refraining from eating leavened food products. AFP

Presidential candidates slam Trump CIUDAD JUAREZ―Mexico’s top presidential candidates launched their campaigns Sunday vowing to take a harder line against Donald Trump, with the leftist front-runner saying his country is done being the US president’s “piñata.”

Just as candidates were putting the finishing touches on their opening campaign speeches for Mexico’s July 1 elections, Trump gatecrashed the kick-off party via Twitter, accusing the country of doing “very little” to stop illegal migration and drugs, and renewing his threat to ax the

North American Free Trade Agreement.

The veteran leftist leading in the polls, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and his conservative rival, Ricardo Anaya, both hit back at the Republican president, whose anti-Mexican diatribes and insistence that Mexico pay for his planned border wall have made him supremely unpopular here.

“Neither Mexico nor its people will be the piñata of any foreign government,” Lopez Obrador told a cheering crowd in Ciudad Juarez, on the US border.

The former Mexico City mayor repeated his longstanding criticism of Trump’s idea of a border wall.

“Let this be heard near and far: neither security issues nor social problems can be resolved with walls,” he said, condemning Trump’s “mistaken foreign policy” and “contemptuous attitude toward Mexicans.”

Anaya, who is locked in a brutal battle for second place with ruling party candidate Jose Antonio Meade, vowed to answer Trump with a “strong and dignified stance.”AFP

Countries with their own Catalonias A MULTITUDE of questions has been asked about the future of the autonomous province of Catalonia ever since the holding of the referendum on Catalonian independence from Spain, but the question that matters above all others is, is Spain ever likely to let the populous northeastern province go?

The answer is No. There are two principal reasons for this negative prognosis. The first reason relates to Catalonia’s place in Spain’s scheme of things. The second has to do with the likely impact of a Catalonian breakaway on the political stability of countries – in Europe and elsewhere – with fragile ethnic structures.

Catalonia accounts for around 24 percent of Spain’s GDP (gross domestic product).

Most of Spain’s major industries are centered on that province. The province’s capital, Barcelona, is arguably Spain’s most important city and its No. 1 port. It is difficult to imagine that the Spanish government would give up Catalonia willingly.

The second factor underlying Spain’s unwillingness to grant Catalonia independence is its desire to demonstrate solidarity with the countries that are experiencing separat-

ist movements. These countries include Belgium (roughly half of whose population, the inhabitants of Wallonia, are Francophiles), the United Kingdom (whose Scottish component is seeking a second referendum on independence) and Italy (whose industrial North has repeatedly expressed a desire to separate from the agricultural Mezzogiorno, or South).

The governments of these and other similarly placed countries fear that the grant of independence to Catalonia will serve as an encouragement to the separatist movements within their borders. Indeed, so conscious are the separatism-infected countries that the announcement of the pro-independence side’s victory in the first Catalonia referendum was quickly followed by a chorus of wewill-not-grant-recognition declarations from several Western European governments.

Truly, the loss of Catalonia would be a serious blow to the political stability of Spain, which has been facing an on-again-off-again separatist movement in the three Basque provinces (Alava, Biscay, Guipuzkoa) along the Bay of Biscay. Independence for Catalonia would probably lead to a resurgence of separatist activity among the Basques.

A successful Catalonian breakaway certainly would cause Spain to lose some prestige and esteem in the international community. The beautiful city of Barcelona is, after all, one of the jewels of the Mediterranean Sea. Apart from the political severances associated with decolonization, there have been only two instances in the post-World War II era where a territory has succeeded in breaking away from its mother country. Those were Singapore’s breakaway from the Federation of Malaya in 1965 and, a few years ago, South Sudan’s breakaway from Sudan.

Loss of part of its territory by a country is bad enough; it is worse when the lost territory is of great economic significance, as in the case of Catalonia.

Spain losing Catalonia would be more or less like Germany losing Bavaria, or the US losing California, or Canada losing Ontario, or this country’s losing Metro Manila.

No self-respecting country would give up such territory without a bruising fight.

I have a great deal of respect for the Catalans, and I’m entirely sympathetic with their cause.

But the foregoing discussion suggests that the world will not be seeing an independent Catalonia in the foreseeable future.

N NO OT T II C CE E

Notice Notice is is hereby hereby given given that that CEBU CEBU AIR, AIR, INC. INC. doing doing business business under under the the names names and and styles styles of of Cebu Cebu Pacific Pacific and and Cebu Cebu Pacific Pacific Air Air [Formerly: [Formerly: CEBU AIR, INC.) with office address at Cebu CEBU AIR, INC.) with office address at Cebu Pacific Pacific Building, Building, Domestic Domestic Road, Road, Barangay Barangay 191, 191, Zone Zone 20, 20, Pasig Pasig city, city, is is applying applying for for registration registration with with the the Board Board of of Investments Investments (BOI) (BOI) as as aa New New Operator Operator of of Air Air Transport Transport Services Services (A321CEO (A321CEO #3 #3 with with CAB CAB registration registration No. No. RP-C4112 RP-C4112 and and Serial Serial No. No. MSN8245) MSN8245) on on aa non-pioneer non-pioneer status, status, with with project project site site at at airline airline Operations Operations Center, Center, Domestic Domestic Road, Road, Pasay Pasay City.

City.

Any Any person person with with valid valid objection/s objection/s on on the the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in in writing, writing, under under oath, oath, with with the the BOI BOI within within three three (3) (3) days days from from the the date date of of this this publication. publication.

(SGD) (SGD)ANGELITA ANGELITAF. F.ARCELLANA ARCELLANA

Officer in Charge Officer in Charge Infrastructure Infrastructure and and Services Services Industries Industries Service Service

(MS-APR. (MS-APR.3,3,2018) 2018)

N NO OT T II C CE E

Notice Notice is is hereby hereby given given that that CEBU CEBU AIR, AIR, INC. INC. doing doing business business under under the the names names and and styles styles of of Cebu Cebu Pacific Pacific and and Cebu Cebu Pacific Pacific Air Air [Formerly: [Formerly: CEBU CEBU AIR, AIR, INC.) INC.) with with office office address address at at Cebu Cebu Pacific Pacific Building, Building, Domestic Domestic Road, Road, Barangay Barangay 191, 191, Zone Zone 20, 20, Pasig Pasig city, city, is is applying applying for for registration registration with with the the Board Board of of Investments Investments (BOI) (BOI) as as aa New New Operator Operator of of Air Air Transport Transport Services Services (A321CEO (A321CEO #2 #2 with with CAB CAB registration registration No. No. RP-C4113 RP-C4113 and and Serial Serial No. No. MSN8254) MSN8254) on on aa non-pioneer non-pioneer status, status, with with project project site site at at airline airline Operations Operations Center, Center, Domestic Domestic Road, Road, Pasay Pasay City.

City.

Any Any person person with with valid valid objection/s objection/s on on the the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in in writing, writing, under under oath, oath, with with the the BOI BOI within within three three (3) (3) days days from from the the date date of of this this publication. publication.

(SGD) (SGD)ANGELITA ANGELITAF. F.ARCELLANA ARCELLANA

Officer in Charge Officer in Charge Infrastructure Infrastructure and and Services Services Industries Industries Service Service

(MS-APR. (MS-APR.3,3,2018) 2018)

INVITATION INVITATIONTO TOBUY BUYIN INTHE THENEGOTIATED NEGOTIATEDSALE SALEOF OFTWO TWO(2) (2)PARCELS PARCELSOF OFLAND LANDLOCATED LOCATEDAT AT CENTRAL CENTRALBUSINESS BUSINESSPARK PARKII––ISLANDS ISLANDSBB&&CCOF OFTHE THEBAY BAYCITY, CITY,PARANAQUE PARANAQUECITY CITYUNDER UNDERITB ITB NO. NO.BACD18-001 BACD18-001 The ThePhilippine PhilippineAmusement Amusementand andGaming GamingCorporation Corporation(PAGCOR) (PAGCOR)isisinviting invitingoffers offersto tobuy buyininthe thenegotiated negotiatedsale sale of oftwo two(2) (2)parcels parcelsof ofland landlocated locatedat atCentral CentralBusiness BusinessPark ParkII––Islands IslandsBB&&CCof ofthe theBay BayCity, City,Parañaque ParañaqueCity City under underITB ITBNo. No.BACD18-001.

BACD18-001.

DESCRIPTION: DESCRIPTION: Item ItemNo. No. Item ItemName Name Item Item

Location Location Total TotalLand LandArea Area Floor FloorPrice Price Land LandTitle TitleNo/s.

No/s.

Property PropertyUse Useand and Encumbrances Encumbrances

I.I.

LOT LOT11 Bay BayCity CityProperties Properties Two Two (2) (2) parcels parcels of of land land purchased purchased by

by Philippine Philippine Amusement Amusement and and Gaming Gaming Corporation Corporation (PAGCOR) (PAGCOR)from fromthe thePhilippine PhilippineReclamation ReclamationAuthority Authority(PRA): (PRA): a. An a. An area area of of 3,733 3,733 square square meters meters (more (more or or less) less) covered covered by Transfer

by Transfer Certificate Certificate of Title of Title (TCT) (TCT)No. No.010-2014000775 010-2014000775under underPAGCOR’s PAGCOR’sname nameand andaaDeed Deedof ofAbsolute AbsoluteSale Saledated dated 19 19February February2013; 2013;and and b. An area of 156,626 square meters (more or less) covered by Transfer Certificate of Title b. An area of 156,626 square meters (more or less) covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) (TCT)No. No.010-2018000424 010-2018000424under underPAGCOR’s PAGCOR’sname nameand andaaDeed Deedof ofAbsolute AbsoluteSale Saledated dated August August16, 16,2017.

2017.

Central CentralBusiness BusinessPark ParkI I––Islands IslandsBB&&CCof ofthe theBay BayCity, City,Parañaque ParañaqueCity City 160,359 160,359square squaremeters meters(more (moreor orless) less) Php Php37,233,130,000.00 37,233,130,000.00(VAT (VATExclusive, Exclusive,Zero ZeroRated) Rated) TCT TCTNo. No. 010-2014000775 010-2014000775isisregistered registeredunder underthe thename nameof ofPAGCOR PAGCORwith withan anarea areaof of3,733 3,733 square squaremeters metersmore moreor orless; less;and and TCT TCTNo. No. 010-2018000424 010-2018000424isisregistered registeredunder underthe thename nameof ofPAGCOR PAGCORwith withan anarea areaof of156,626 156,626 square squaremeters metersmore moreor orless less The TheProperties Propertiesare aresubject subjectto toaalong-term long-termlease leaseinitially initiallyininfavor favorof ofBloomberry BloomberryResorts Resorts&&Hotels Hotels Inc. Inc.who whobuilt builtand andoperate operatethe theSolaire SolaireResort Resort&&Casino Casinothereon. thereon.However, However,the theleasehold leaseholdrights rights were were later later assigned assigned to to Sureste Sureste Properties, Properties, Inc. Inc. (“Lessee”). (“Lessee”).The The lease lease period period isis up up to to July July 11, 11, 2033 2033 and and isis extendible extendible for for another another term term under under certain certain conditions. conditions.The The Lessee Lessee has has aa Right Right to to Match Matchthe thehighest highestoffer offerfor forthe theProperties.

Properties.The TheLessee Lesseehas hasmortgaged mortgagedits itsleasehold leaseholdrights rightsover over the the Properties.

Properties. In In the the same same vein, vein, the the title title and and rights rights over over the the buildings, buildings, structures structures and and other other improvements improvementsthereon thereonwere werelikewise likewisemortgaged mortgagedto tovarious variouslenders. lenders.

GENERAL GENERALCONDITIONS: CONDITIONS: 1.

1. Disposal Disposal of of the the Real Real Properties Properties for for Negotiated Negotiated Sale Sale shall shall be be on on “AS “AS IS IS –– WHERE WHERE IS” IS” and and on on “CASH” “CASH” basis. basis.The TheOfferor Offeroracknowledges acknowledgesthat thathe hehas hasbeen beengiven givenevery everyopportunity opportunityto toinvestigate, investigate,inspect inspectand and verify verify the the REAL REALPROPERTY PROPERTY offered offered for for sale sale to to ascertain ascertain the the actual actual conditions conditions thereof thereof as as well well as as the the status statusof ofthe thetitles. titles.The TheOfferor Offeroralso alsoaccepts acceptsPAGCOR’s PAGCOR’sdisclaimer disclaimerof ofany anywarranty, warranty,implied impliedor orotherwise, otherwise, that thatthe theassets assetsconform conformprecisely preciselyto tothe thedescription descriptionavailable availableininthe theInvitation Invitationto toBuy. Buy.Further, Further,the theOfferor, Offeror, knowing knowingthe therisks risksand andassuming assumingthe theconsequences consequencesof ofeviction, eviction,accepts acceptsPAGCOR’s PAGCOR’sabsolute absolutewaiver waiverof of warranty warrantytherefrom. therefrom.Furthermore, Furthermore,Offeror Offeroracknowledges acknowledgesthat thatparticipation participationininthe theNegotiated NegotiatedSale Saleshall shall be bean anexpress expressassent assentto tothe theprovisions provisionsherein. herein.

2.

2. Prospective Prospective offerors offerors must must be be Filipino Filipino citizens citizens or or otherwise otherwise authorized authorized by by law law to to acquire acquire real real property property ininthe thePhilippines.

Philippines.In Incase caseof ofaacorporation corporationor orpartnership, partnership,60% 60%of ofits itscapital capitalmust mustbe beowned ownedby byFilipino Filipino citizens. citizens.

3. degree of of consanguinity consanguinity and and 3. Officers Officers and and employees employees of of PAGCOR PAGCOR and and their their relatives relatives within within the the 44thth degree affinity shall be ineligible to offer. affinity shall be ineligible to offer.

4.

4. No offer below the floor price shall be accepted. On the other hand, PAGCOR, in view of the provisions No offer below the floor price shall be accepted. On the other hand, PAGCOR, in view of the provisions on onNegotiated NegotiatedSale Saleas ascontained containedininCommission Commissionon onAudit AuditCircular CircularNo. No.89 89––296, 296,may maynegotiate negotiateaaprice price which is higher than the floor price. which is higher than the floor price.

5.

5. The Theoffer offershall shallstrictly strictlybe beininPhilippine PhilippineCurrency.

Currency.

6.

6. PAGCOR PAGCOR shall shall deliver deliver to to the the Best Best Offeror Offeror TCT TCT Nos. Nos. 010-2018000424, 010-2018000424, and and 010-2014000775 010-2014000775 free free from from all all liens liens and and encumbrances encumbrances except except the the Contract Contract of of Lease Lease (and (and its its addenda) addenda) executed executed between between PAGCOR PAGCOR and and Bloomberry Bloomberry Resorts Resorts and and Hotels, Hotels, Inc. Inc. (formerly (formerly Bloomberry Bloomberry Investments Investments Holdings, Holdings, Inc.) Inc.) and andthe theDeed Deedof ofAssignment Assignmentbetween betweenBloomberry BloomberryResorts Resortsand andHotels, Hotels,Inc. Inc.and andSureste SuresteProperties, Properties,Inc Inc ItIt isis expressly expressly understood understood and and agreed agreed that that the the property property shall shall be be used used exclusively exclusively for for the the purpose purpose for for which whichititwas wasintended, intended,i.e. i.e.that thatititserves servesas asan anintegral integralpart partof ofthe thePAGCOR PAGCOREntertainment EntertainmentCity CityProject Project and and isis to to be be utilized utilized for for the the purpose purpose of of developing developing and and maintaining maintaining thereon thereon aa world-class world-class integrated integrated resort resort inin accordance accordance with with the the plans plans approved approved by by the the lessee lessee and and PAGCOR. PAGCOR. The The Best Best Offeror Offeror cannot cannot use usethe theproperty propertyininany anymanner mannerand andfor forany anypurpose purposenot notconsistent consistentwith withPAGCOR’s PAGCOR’sEntertainment EntertainmentCity City Project Projectand andmust mustconform conformto toapplicable applicablezoning zoningregulations regulationsand andrestrictions. restrictions.

Furthermore, Furthermore,ititisisunderstood understoodthat thatthe theownership ownershipof ofthe theproperty propertydoes doesnot notconfer conferto tothe theBest BestOfferor Offerorthe the right rightto tooperate operategaming gamingfacilities facilitiesand andbusiness. business.AAcasino casinolicense licenseor orlicense licenseto tooperate operategaming gamingoperations operations isisNOT NOTpart partof ofthe thesale saleof ofthe theProperty.

Property.Hence, Hence,the theBest BestOfferor Offerorwhich whichshall shallthereafter thereafterbe bethe theAwardee Awardee of ofthe theProperty Propertyshall shallneither neitherhave haveright rightnor norauthority authorityto tooperate operateaacasino casinoor orany anyother othergaming gamingoperation. operation.

This Thisparagraph paragraphshall shallbe beinapplicable inapplicableshould shouldthe theLessee Lesseebe bedeclared declaredthe theBest BestOfferor Offeroror orisisable ableto tomatch match the theBona BonaFide FideOffer Offerof ofthe thehighest highestofferor. offeror.

7.

7. Pursuant Pursuantto tothe theContract Contractof ofLease Lease(and (andits itsaddenda), addenda),the theReal RealProperty PropertyTax, Tax,including includingarrears, arrears,penalties penalties and andcharges, charges,ififany, any,shall shallbe befor forthe theaccount accountof ofthe theLessee.

Lessee.

8.

8. All All other other applicable applicable taxes taxes including including capital capital gains gains tax, tax, transfer transfer costs, costs, registration registration fees, fees, documentary documentary stamps stamps taxes taxes and and other other expenses expenses incidental incidental to to the the sale sale and and transfer transfer of of the the assets assets shall shall be be for for the the account accountof ofthe theBest BestOfferor Offeroror orthe theLessee, Lessee,as asthe thecase casemay maybe, be,which whichshall shallbe beresponsible responsibleinincausing causing the transfer/issuance of certificates of title under its name. the transfer/issuance of certificates of title under its name.

9.

9. The The Contract Contract of of Lease Lease (and (and its its addenda) addenda) between between PAGCOR PAGCOR and and the the Lessee Lessee shall shall be be registered registered and and annotated annotatedon onthe thetitle titleof ofthe thesubject subjectproperty. property.The Thelease leasecontract contractshall shallbe bebinding bindingon onthe theBest BestOfferor.

Offeror.As As such, such,the theLessee’s Lessee’ssecurity securityof oftenure tenureshall shallbe berespected respectedand andguaranteed. guaranteed.

10.

10. Where Where aa re-survey re-survey or or re-location re-location of of the the land land applied applied for for isis necessary, necessary, all all expenses expenses including including the the preparation preparationof ofplans plansand andother otherpapers papersshall shallbe bedefrayed defrayedby bythe theBest BestOfferor.

Offeror.

11.

11. OFFER OFFERREQUIREMENTS: REQUIREMENTS: 11.1 Inside an envelope: 11.1 Inside an envelope: 11.1.1 11.1.1 Articles Articles of of Incorporation Incorporation (AOI) (AOI) // Partnership Partnership (AOP) (AOP) for for corporation/s corporation/s or or partnerships, partnerships, and and Proof Proofof ofCitizenship Citizenship(POC) (POC)for forindividuals. individuals.In Incase caseof ofJoint JointVentures, Ventures,the theduly dulynotarized notarizedJoint Joint Venture VentureAgreement Agreement(JVA) (JVA)as aswell wellas asthe theAOI, AOI,AOP AOPand andPOC, POC,as asthe thecase casemay maybe, be,for forthe the partners partnersconstituting constitutingthe theJoint JointVenture.

Venture.In Inthe theabsence absenceof ofaaJVA, JVA,duly dulynotarized notarizedstatements statements from from all all the the potential potential joint joint venture venture partners partners should should be be included, included, stating stating that thatthey they will will enter enter into intoand andabide abideby bythe theprovision provisionof ofthe theJVA JVAininthe theevent eventthat thatthe theoffer offerisissuccessful. successful.

11.1.2 11.1.2 Latest LatestGeneral GeneralInformation InformationSheet, Sheet,ififapplicable; applicable; 11.1.3 11.1.3 Financial FinancialStatements, Statements,2016; 2016; 11.1.4 11.1.4 Income IncomeTax TaxReturn, Return,2016; 2016; 11.1.5 11.1.5 If through Representative, Special Power of Attorney (SPA) or Secretary’s Certificate.

If through Representative, Special Power of Attorney (SPA) or Secretary’s Certificate.

11.1.6 11.1.6 Terms Terms of of Reference Reference and and Offer Offer Bulletin Bulletin (if (if any) any) with with all all pages pages signed signed by by the the offeror offeror or or the the authorized authorizedrepresentative; representative; 11.1.7 11.1.7 Sworn Sworn Statement Statement that that each each of of the the documents documents submitted submitted inin satisfaction satisfaction of of the the Offer Offer Requirements Requirements isis an an authentic authentic copy copy of of the the original, original, complete, complete, and and all all statements statements and and information informationprovided providedtherein thereinare aretrue trueand andcorrect; correct;and and 11.1.8 11.1.8 Photo Photocopy copyof ofany anygovernment governmentissued issuedID IDof ofthe theofferor offeroror orthe theauthorized authorizedrepresentative. representative.

11.1.9 11.1.9 Duly Dulyaccomplished accomplishedOffer OfferForm Form 11.1.10 11.1.10 Offer Bond - equivalent to 10% of the floor price in the form of Manager’s Check issued Offer Bond - equivalent to 10% of the floor price in the form of Manager’s Check issued by by any any Universal Universal or or Commercial Commercial Bank Bank payable payable to to “Philippine “Philippine Amusement Amusement and and Gaming Gaming Corporation”.

Corporation”.

11.2 11.2 The Thefollowing followingdetails detailsshall shallbe bewritten writtenon onthe theenvelope: envelope: Upper Upperleft lefthand handcorner: corner: Name Nameof ofOfferor Offeror Address Address Contact ContactNumber Number Fax FaxNumber Number Center: Center: BIDS BIDSAND ANDAWARDS AWARDSCOMMITTEE COMMITTEEFOR FORDISPOSAL DISPOSAL(BACD) (BACD) PHILIPPINE PHILIPPINEAMUSEMENT AMUSEMENTAND ANDGAMING GAMINGCORPORATION CORPORATION PAGCOR Corporate Office PAGCOR Corporate Office AG AGNew NewWorld WorldManila ManilaBay BayHotel Hoteland andCasino Casino 1588 1588M.H. M.H.Del DelPilar PilarStreet Streetcor. cor.Pedro PedroGil GilStreets Streets Malate, Malate,Manila.

Manila.

Name Nameof ofProperty: Property:Bay BayCity CityProperties Properties ITB ITBNumber: Number:BACD18-001(Negotiated BACD18-001(NegotiatedSale) Sale) 11.1 11.1 The TheOffer OfferForms Formsshall shallbe beavailable availableat atRoom Room202 202Engineering EngineeringRoom Room(c/o (c/oMs. Ms.Shalee ShaleeNacino) Nacino)22ndnd Floor, Floor,PAGCOR PAGCORHouse, House,1330 1330Roxas RoxasBoulevard, Boulevard,Ermita, Ermita,Manila Manila(10:00 (10:00A.M. A.M.to to4:00 4:00P.M.) P.M.)upon upon payment paymentof ofaanon-refundable non-refundableOffer OfferFee Feeof ofP75,000.00.

P75,000.00.

12.

12. OFFER OFFERBOND BOND 12.1 12.1 Failure Failureto topost postthe theOffer OfferBond Bondshall shallconstitute constituteaaground groundto toreject rejectthe theoffer. offer.

12.2 12.2 Posting Postingof ofthe theOffer OfferBond Bondshall shallbe beaarequisite requisitefor forthe theOfferor/s, Offeror/s,including includingthe theLessee, Lessee,to toparticipate participate ininthe theNegotiated NegotiatedSale.

Sale.

12.3 12.3 In In case case the the Lessee Lessee does does not not participate participate inin the the Negotiated Negotiated Sale, Sale, immediate immediate posting posting of of the the Offer Offer Bond Bond shall shall be be aa requisite requisite for for the the exercise exercise of of its its Right Right to to Match Match pursuant pursuant to to the the provisions provisions of of its its Lease LeaseContract Contractwith withPAGCOR. PAGCOR. 12.4 12.4 The TheOffer OfferBond Bondshall shallbe beforfeited forfeitedininfavor favorof ofPAGCOR PAGCORininthe theevent eventof ofany anyof ofthe thefollowing: following: 12.4.1 12.4.1 Withdrawal Withdrawalby byany anyofferor offerorof ofhis/her his/heroffer offerduring duringthe theconduct conductof ofthe theNegotiated NegotiatedSale, Sale,i.e. i.e. from from2:00 2:00PM PMon onthe theday dayof ofthe theNegotiated NegotiatedSale Saleup upto tothe thetime timethe thehighest highestoffer offerhas hasbeen been declared; declared; 12.4.2 12.4.2 Withdrawal Withdrawalby bythe theofferor offerorof ofhis hisoffer offerafter afterthe thesame samehas hasbeen beendeclared declaredthe thehighest highestoffer; offer; and and 12.4.3 12.4.3 Refusal Refusal of of the the highest highest offeror offeror to to accept accept the the award/contract award/contract for for any any reason reason after after itit has has been beenawarded awardedto tohim. him.

12.5 12.5 Offer OfferBonds Bondsof ofofferor/s, offeror/s,except exceptthat thatof ofthe thehighest highestofferor offeroror orthe theLessee, Lessee,inincase casethe thelatter latteropts opts to to exercise exercise its its Right Right to to Match, Match, shall shall be be returned returned to to them them as as soon soon as as the the highest highest offer offer has has been been declared or at a reasonable time thereafter and the waiver to file the Motion for Reconsideration/ declared or at a reasonable time thereafter and the waiver to file the Motion for Reconsideration/ Protest Protesthas hasbeen beensigned signedby bythe therespective respectiveofferor. offeror.

13.

13. SUBMISSION SUBMISSIONOF OFOFFER OFFERREQUIREMENTS REQUIREMENTS 13.1 13.1 The TheInvitation Invitationto toBuy Buyshall shallform formpart partof ofthe theTerms Termsof ofReference.

Reference.

13.2 13.2 Submission Submission of of Offer Offer Requirements Requirements shall shall be be on onApril April 17, 17, 2018, 2018, 2:00 2:00 PM PM at at Meeting Meeting Room RoomA, A, 55thth Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, AG New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino, 1558 M. H. Del Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, AG New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino, 1558 M. H. Del Pilar Pilarcorner cornerPedro PedroGil GilStreets, Streets,Malate, Malate,Manila.

Manila.

13.3 13.3 Offeror Offeror//authorized authorizedrepresentative representativeshall shallbe bepresent presentduring duringthe theNegotiated NegotiatedSale.

Sale.

13.4 13.4 Offerors Offerorsshall shalladdress addressand andsubmit submittheir theirOffer OfferRequirements Requirementsto: to: BIDS BIDSAND ANDAWARDS AWARDSCOMMITTEE COMMITTEEFOR FORDISPOSAL DISPOSAL(BACD) (BACD) PHILIPPINE PHILIPPINEAMUSEMENT AMUSEMENTAND ANDGAMING GAMINGCORPORATION CORPORATION

PAGCOR Corporate Office PAGCOR Corporate Office AG AGNew NewWorld WorldManila ManilaBay BayHotel Hoteland andCasino Casino 1588 1588M.H. M.H.Del DelPilar PilarStreet Streetcor. cor.Pedro PedroGil GilSts. Sts. Malate, Malate,Manila.

Manila.

14.

NEGOTIATED SALE AND AWARD 14. NEGOTIATED SALE AND AWARD 14.1 14.1 At least one (1) offeror must submit an offer not lower than the floor price for the Negotiated Sale At least one (1) offeror must submit an offer not lower than the floor price for the Negotiated Sale of ofthe theproperties. properties.

14.2 14.2 In Incases caseswhere wherethere thereisisone one(1) (1)participant, participant,said saidparticipant participantshall shallnegotiate negotiatedirectly directlywith withPAGCOR. PAGCOR. The The parties parties shall shall undertake undertake negotiations negotiations to to conclude conclude aa price price both both acceptable acceptable to to each, each, which which however must not be lower than the floor price. however must not be lower than the floor price.

14.3 14.3 In In cases cases however however where where there there are are two two (2) (2) or or more more participants, participants, they they shall, shall, inin aa group, group, openly openly negotiate negotiatewith withPAGCOR PAGCORas asto totheir theirbest bestoffers. offers.In Insaid saidgroup, group,each eachparticipant participantshall shallopenly openlyconvey convey to toPAGCOR PAGCORtheir theirbest bestoffers. offers.The Thehighest highestoffer offershall shallbe benoted notedand andeach eachparticipant participantshall shallthereat thereat be begiven giventhe theprivilege privilegeto tobest bestthe thecurrent currenthighest highestoffer offeruntil untilthe thesame samebecomes becomesuncontested. uncontested.

14.4 14.4 The The Offeror Offeror who who provides provides the the highest highest offer offer (the (the Bona Bona Fide Fide Offer Offer resulting resulting from from the the successful successful Negotiated NegotiatedSale) Sale)shall shallbe bedeclared declaredas asthe theBest BestOfferor Offerorsubject subjectto tothe theLessee’s Lessee’sRight Rightto toMatch Matchas as specified in Items 14.5, 14.6 and 14.7 below. specified in Items 14.5, 14.6 and 14.7 below.

14.5 14.5 In In case case the the Lessee Lessee participated participated inin the the Negotiated Negotiated Sale Sale but but was was not not declared declared the the Best Best Offeror, Offeror, it shall thereat be notified of its Right to Match the highest offer (the “Bona Fide Offer”). If the it shall thereat be notified of its Right to Match the highest offer (the “Bona Fide Offer”). If the Lessee signifies its affirmative intent thereto, its Offer Bond shall not be released and it shall have Lessee signifies its affirmative intent thereto, its Offer Bond shall not be released and it shall have aaperiod periodof ofone onehundred hundredtwenty twenty(120) (120)days daysininorder orderto tosuccessfully successfullymatch matchthe theamount amountof ofthe theBona Bona Fide FideOffer.

Offer.

14.6 14.6 In In case case the the Lessee Lessee did did not not participate participate inin the the Negotiated Negotiated Sale Sale but but was was actually actually present present thereat thereat only onlyfor forthe thepurpose purposeof ofexercising exercisingits itsRight Rightto toMatch, Match,ititshall shallimmediately immediatelypost postthe therequired requiredOffer Offer Bond Bond and and shall shall have have aa period period of of one one hundred hundred twenty twenty (120) (120) days days inin order order to to successfully successfully match match the theamount amountof ofthe theBona BonaFide FideOffer.

Offer.

14.7 14.7 In In case case the the Lessee Lessee was was not not present present during during the the Negotiated Negotiated Sale, Sale, it it shall shall be be notified notified in in writing writing of of the the Bona Bona Fide Fide Offer Offer and and of of its its Right Right to to Match Match under under the the Lease Lease Contract.

Contract. IfIf Lessee Lessee elects elects to to exercise its Right to Match, it shall post the required Offer Bond within five (5) days from receipt exercise its Right to Match, it shall post the required Offer Bond within five (5) days from receipt of ofthe thewritten writtennotice noticeand andshall shallhave havean anaggregate aggregateperiod periodof ofone onehundred hundredtwenty twenty(120) (120)days daysfrom from said saidreceipt receiptwithin withinwhich whichto tosuccessfully successfullymatch matchthe theBona BonaFide FideOffer.

Offer.For Forpurposes purposesof ofsuccessfully successfully matching matchingthe theamount amountof ofthe theBona BonaFide FideOffer, Offer,full fullpayment paymentthereof thereofmust mustbe bemade madeby bythe theLessee Lessee within withinthe theone onehundred hundredtwenty twenty(120) (120)day dayperiod periodabove. above.

14.8 14.8 The Best Offeror, in case he/she is not the Lessee, shall be notified in writing in case the Lessee The Best Offeror, in case he/she is not the Lessee, shall be notified in writing in case the Lessee elects electsto toexercise exerciseits itsRight Rightto toMatch Matchthe theBona BonaFide FideOffer.

Offer.

14.9 14.9 Post qualification for the Best Offeror or the Lessee, as the case may be, shall be conducted to Post qualification for the Best Offeror or the Lessee, as the case may be, shall be conducted to verify verify the the documents documents submitted, submitted, clear clear the the Offer Offer Bond, Bond, and and submit submit other other documents documents as as decided decided upon uponby bythe theBACD. BACD. 14.10 14.10Awarding Awardingto tothe theBest BestOfferor Offeroror orthe theLessee, Lessee,as asthe thecase casemay maybe, be,shall shallbe besubject subjectto tothe theapproval approval of ofPAGCOR’s PAGCOR’sBoard Boardof ofDirectors.

Directors.

14.11 14.11Notice Noticeof ofAward Awardshall shallbe beissued issuedafter afterthe theBoard Boardhas hasgranted grantedapproval. approval.

14.12 14.12In Inthe theevent eventof ofaafailed failedNegotiated NegotiatedSale, Sale,PAGCOR PAGCORmay mayagain againresort resortto toanother anotherNegotiated NegotiatedSale Sale consistent consistentwith withapplicable applicablelaws, laws,rules rulesand andregulations. regulations.

15.

15. PAYMENT PAYMENT 15.1 15.1 The The Offer Offer Bond Bond shall shall be be considered considered as as partial partial payment payment and and the the difference difference between between the the Offer Offer Bond Bondand andthe theBona BonaFide FideOffer Offershall shallbe bepaid paidininthe theform formof ofmanager’s manager’scheck checkfrom fromany anyUniversal Universalor or Commercial CommercialBank.

Bank.

15.2 15.2 The The remaining remaining balance balance of of the the offer offer price price shall shall be be paid paid inin full full by by the the Best Best Offeror Offeror at at PAGCOR’s PAGCOR’s Finance and Treasury Department (FTD) Cashier within forty-five (45) calendar days (inclusive of Finance and Treasury Department (FTD) Cashier within forty-five (45) calendar days (inclusive of 33working workingdays daysclearing clearingof ofmanager’s manager’scheck) check)from fromthe thereceipt receiptof ofthe theNotice Noticeof ofAward.

Award.In Inthe thecase case of ofthe theLessee Lesseeififitithas haselected electedto toexercise exerciseits itsRight Rightto toMatch Matchthe theBona BonaFide FideOffer, Offer,ititshall shallpay payininfull full the theremaining remainingbalance balancewithin withinthe theone onehundred hundredtwenty twenty(120) (120)day dayperiod, period,as asprovided providedabove. above.

15.4 15.4 Failure of the Best Offeror to fully pay the Bona Fide Offer within the prescribed forty-five (45) Failure of the Best Offeror to fully pay the Bona Fide Offer within the prescribed forty-five (45) day day period period shall shall result result inin the the forfeiture forfeiture of of the the Offer Offer Bond Bond inin favor favor of of PAGCOR PAGCOR to to be be applied applied as as liquidated liquidateddamages. damages.Failure Failureherein hereinshall shallinclude includewithdrawal withdrawalby bythe theBest BestOfferor Offerorof ofthe theBona BonaFide Fide Offer.

Offer.

15.5 15.5 Likewise, Likewise, failure failure of of the the Lessee Lessee to to fully fully pay pay the the amount amount of of the the Bona Bona Fide Fide Offer Offer pursuant pursuant to to the the exercise exerciseof ofits itsRight Rightto toMatch Matchshall shallmean meanforfeiture forfeitureof ofthe the10% 10%Offer OfferBond Bondininfavor favorof ofPAGCOR. PAGCOR. 16.

16. FAILURE FAILUREOF OFPAYMENT PAYMENT 16.1 16.1 Failure Failureof ofthe theBest BestOfferor Offeroror orthe theLessee, Lessee,as asthe thecase casemay maybe, be,to tofully fullypay paythe thehighest highestoffer offershall shall not notimmediately immediatelyconstitute constituteas asfailure failureof ofthe theNegotiated NegotiatedSale.

Sale.

16.2 16.2 In Inthe theevent eventthe theLessee, Lessee,ififititopted optedto toexercise exerciseits itsRight Rightto toMatch, Match,fails failsto tosuccessfully successfullymatch matchthe the Bona Bona Fide Fide Offer Offer within within the the one one hundred hundred twenty twenty (120) (120) day day period period above, above, its its Offer Offer Bond Bond shall shall be be forfeited forfeitedininfavor favorof ofPAGCOR. PAGCOR.Consequently, Consequently,the theBest BestOfferor Offerordeclared declaredduring duringthe theNegotiated NegotiatedSale Sale shall be notified in writing of the Lessee’s failure to successfully match the Bona Fide Offer and shall be notified in writing of the Lessee’s failure to successfully match the Bona Fide Offer and that that aa privilege privilege isis granted granted to to itit (Best (Best Offeror) Offeror) to to be be the the awardee awardee of of the the herein herein subject subject properties properties upon full settlement of the Bona Fide Offer within forty-five (45) days from receipt thereof. upon full settlement of the Bona Fide Offer within forty-five (45) days from receipt thereof.

16.3 16.3 In Incase casethe theBest BestOfferor Offerorfails failsto tofully fullypay paythe theBona BonaFide FideOffer, Offer,its itsOffer OfferBond Bondshall shallbe beforfeited forfeitedinin favor favorof ofPAGCOR. PAGCOR.Consequently, Consequently,the theOfferor Offerorwhich whichprovided providedthe theSecond SecondHighest HighestOffer Offerduring duringthe the Negotiated Sale shall be notified in writing of the Best Offeror’s failure to fully pay the Bona Fide Negotiated Sale shall be notified in writing of the Best Offeror’s failure to fully pay the Bona Fide Offer Offerand andthat thataaprivilege privilegeisisgranted grantedto toitit(Offeror (Offerorof ofthe theSecond SecondHighest HighestOffer) Offer)to tobe bethe theawardee awardee of the herein subject properties upon fully paying the Bona Fide Offer within forty-five (45) days of the herein subject properties upon fully paying the Bona Fide Offer within forty-five (45) days from fromreceipt receiptthereof. thereof.

16.4 16.4 Failure Failureof ofthe theBest BestOfferor Offeroror orthe theOfferor Offerorof ofthe theSecond SecondHighest HighestOffer, Offer,pursuant pursuantto toItems Items16.2 16.2and and 16.3 16.3respectively, respectively,to tofully fullysettle settlethe theHighest Highestor orBona BonaFide FideOffer Offermay maybe beaaground groundfor forfailure failureof ofthe the Negotiated NegotiatedSale.

Sale.

17.

17. PAGCOR PAGCOR reserves reserves the the right right to to disqualify disqualify any any and/or and/or all all prospective prospective offeror/s offeror/s ifif found found that that they they have have submitted falsified documents and/or information, and the right to accept or reject any or all offers, to submitted falsified documents and/or information, and the right to accept or reject any or all offers, to annul annulthe theprocess processof ofNegotiated NegotiatedSale, Sale,to towaive waiveany anydefects defectsof offormalities formalitiesfound foundtherein thereinand andto toaccept accept such such offer offer or or aa part part thereof thereof as as may may be be deemed deemed most most advantageous advantageous to to PAGCOR PAGCOR without without thereby thereby incurring incurringany anyliability liabilityto tothe theaffected affectedofferor offeroror orofferors. offerors.

18.

18. PAGCOR reserves the right to change any of the rules as it sees fit. Revised Terms of Reference will PAGCOR reserves the right to change any of the rules as it sees fit. Revised Terms of Reference will be beissued issuedwhenever wheneverapplicable. applicable.PAGCOR PAGCORfurther furtherreserves reservesthe theright rightto toamend amendthe theTerms Termsof ofReference Reference any anytime timeprior priorto tothe theconduct conductof ofNegotiated NegotiatedSale.

Sale.IfIfthe theamendments amendmentsare areof ofaanature naturethat thatwill willaffect affectthe the offers, offers,PAGCOR PAGCORwill willentertain entertainrequest requestto toreschedule reschedulethe theNegotiated NegotiatedSale.

Sale.

19.

19. PAGCOR PAGCOR reserves reserves the the right right to to reject reject any any and/or and/or all all offers, offers, or or declare declare aa failure failure of of Negotiated Negotiated Sale, Sale, or or not facie evidence of evidence of collusion collusion between between relevant relevant public public officers officers is prima prima facie not award award the the contract, if contract, if there there is or or employees employees of of the the agency agency or or between between the the Corporate Corporate Disposal Disposal Committee Committee or or between between the the BAC BAC for for Disposal Disposaland andany anyof ofthe theofferors, offerors,or orififcollusion collusionisisbetween betweenor oramong amongthe theofferors, offerors,or orbetween betweenaaofferor offeror and a third party, including any act which restricts, suppresses or nullifies competition, or if the BAC and a third party, including any act which restricts, suppresses or nullifies competition, or if the BAC for for Disposal Disposal isis found found to to have have failed failed to to follow follow the the prescribed prescribed bidding bidding procedures procedures and and procedures procedures inin Negotiated Sale, or for any justifiable and reasonable ground where the award of the contract shall not Negotiated Sale, or for any justifiable and reasonable ground where the award of the contract shall not redound to the benefit of the government. redound to the benefit of the government.

20.

20. All All documents documents submitted submitted by by the the offerors offerors are are presumed presumed to to be be legally legally inin order, order, that that the the person person signing signing and and executing executing said said documents documents isis authorized authorized to to do do so so and and that that the the signatures signatures appearing appearing thereon thereon are are authentic authentic and and not not forged. forged.Any Any material material defect defect or or misrepresentation misrepresentation on on the the documents documents which which will will invalidate invalidate or or render render unenforceable unenforceable the the offers offers submitted submitted shall shall cause cause the the rejection rejection of of the the offer offer and and the the forfeiture forfeitureof ofany anyamount amounttendered tenderedto toPAGCOR. PAGCOR. 21.

21. All Allcommunications communicationsas asregards regardsthe theconduct conductof ofnegotiated negotiatedsale saleshall shallbe beaddressed addressedto: to: Bids Bidsand andAwards AwardsCommittee Committeefor forDisposal Disposal(BACD) (BACD) Thru Thruthe theSecretariat: Secretariat:Ms. Ms.Shalee ShaleeNacino Nacino 22ndndFloor, Floor,General GeneralServices Servicesand andEngineering EngineeringDepartment Department(GSED) (GSED) PAGCOR PAGCORHouse, House,1330 1330Roxas RoxasBlvd., Blvd.,Ermita, Ermita,Manila Manila Tel. Tel.No. No.(02) (02)521-15-42 521-15-42loc. loc.258 258

(MS-APR. (MS-APR.3,4,5, 3,4,5,2018) 2018)

(SGD) (SGD)ATTY. ATTY.ANGELINE ANGELINEPAPICA-ENTIENZA PAPICA-ENTIENZA Chairman Chairman Bids Bidsand andAwards AwardsCommittee Committeefor forDisposal Disposal(BACD) (BACD) PAGCOR PAGCOR

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

Sara condemns NPA attacks on 3 road projects

LocaL government units

tuesday, april 3, 2018

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

EASTER EGG HUNTS. Children in costumes pose with mall workers dressed as Easter bunnies during the Easter Sunday celebration at SM City in Masinag, Antipolo City to mark the end of the Lenten season. It was different at SM City in Rosario, Cavite, as kids hunted for the treats amid a simulated dinosaur jungle (inset). Manny Palmero and Norman Cruz

QC approves P12-m donation to Batanes towns

By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City government on Monday gave Mayor Herbert Bautista the green light to donate P12 million to four towns of Batanes that were struck by a strong typhoon.

Councilors passed a resolution authorizing Bautista to extend P12 million in financial assistance to Basco, Ivana, Itbayat and Mahatao in the province of Batanes that were affected by super typhoon “Ferdie.”

The allocation shall be taken from the city’s disaster risk reduction and management fund subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.

“Ferdie” hit Northern Luzon in 2016 and was considered the strongest typhoon that ever hit the province of Batanes, classified as a category 4 storm.

The city government’s humanitarian and financial support has been approved by the city’s DRRMC. The Batanes mayors requested Bautista to extend financial assistance for the repair and restoration of their various government infrastructure and facilities.

The transfer of the fund was allowed under Section 1, Rule 1 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

The fund amounting to P12,092,307 will cover the cost of the following projects: 1. Repair of Ivatan Lodge in the municipality of Basco; 2. Repair and rehabilitation of Itbayat District Hospital building 1 and 2, ward and nurse station and safe motherhood building in Itbayat; 3. Rehabilitation of Ivana municipal building; 4. Repair and rehabilitation of day care center and seaport-seawall in Mahatao.

Korean firm proposes modernized Port Irene

A

SOUTH Korean company, through its Philippine subsidiary, has offered to undertake the expansion and modernization of Port Irene in Santa Ana, Cagayan, to dredge its harbor and reinforce its pier that would allow large cargo and cruise vessels to dock there.

Secretary Raul L. Lambino, administrator and CEO of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, said the proposed expansion and modernization would be undertaken by Fairbridge Overseas Development—Philippines Inc. or FODPI, the local subsidiary of a South Korean firm of the same name.

“This is a breakthrough proposal, for it is at no cost to the government,” said Lambino in a press statement.

“It will mark the beginning of the development of Port Irene to its full poten-

tial,” he added.

Lambino and FODPI president Kim Myung Hwan recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding setting the scope of the project.

Port Irene, in Cagayan’s northernmost tip, is the jewel of the Cagayan Economic Zone and Freeport, but poor port conditions and inadequate infrastructure have set back its development using its advantage of being along the Northern Pacific’s major international shipping lanes.

The proposed modernization in-

cludes dredging of the navigational channel, upgrading of existing piers and wharves, and reinforcing the onekilometer concrete breakwater and repairing its storm-damaged portions.

Under the MOU, Fairbridge would get the sea sand dredged from the harbor and its periphery and use the harbor for its business.

Fairbridge planned to contract local labor for the manufacture of building materials made from sea sand for its mass housing project and for the importation and local sale of the product.

Since taking over as Ceza administrator in July last year, Lambino has eyed the rehabilitation of Port Irene as the “key in realizing the Freeport’s potential as a regional transshipment hub for goods in East Asia and the Northern Pacific.”

THE Manila City government has beefed up its anti-tuberculosis program to effectively curb and prevent the spread of the disease to attain a tuberculosis-free community with the launch of “Project Heal, Healthy and Active Lungs” at the Ama Dome, Baseco Compound in Tondo.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said the project is a continuing TB awareness campaign to remind the public of the importance of consulting with doc-

‘Tech research needs to reach people, LGUs’

By Butch Gunio

Ceza administrator and CEO Raul L. Lambino (second from left) shakes hands with Kim Myung Hwan, president of the Fairbridge Overseas Development Philippines Inc., which seeks to undertake the expansion and modernization of Port Irene in Santa Ana, Cagayan.

Manila bolsters anti-TB drive; Estrada urges frequent doc checkups

By Vito Barcelo

DAVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte on Monday condemned the recent attacks of the New People’s Army in three different areas here, as the terrorist group burned 10 heavy equipment and machines on Saturday.

“The attacks were downright cowardly and indicate that the NPA is nothing but a terrorist group that deserves our collective rejection and condemnation,” Duterte said.

The heavy equipment was used for the construction of road projects in Barangay Callawa, Barangay Fatima, and Barangay Dalagdag, which the mayor said aims to end the “condition of chronic poverty in these areas.”

Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza also condemned the destruction of the construction equipment.

“The fact that the three consecutive attacks happened during the observance of Holy Week all the more angers us,” Dureza said in a statement.

It also “unnecessarily squanders whatever gains we have been quietly getting lately in our common efforts with the CPP/NPA/NDF leadership to achieve just peace through the negotiations table,” he added.

Duterte said the NPA attack “hinders the development of the area to deliver faster services” of the government, such as education, health, agricultural development and livelihood.

“The NPA’s revolution is one designed to undermine our democracy and development through its brand of egregious violence and extremism,” she said.

“The fresh atrocities reveal that the terrorist group only truly intends for people to continue living in a condition of poverty, which they could use as a capital in their propaganda against the government and to justify their presence in the communities where their influence and significance are waning,” the mayor added.

Duterte also noted that the attacks were retaliatory actions of the NPA, as the construction companies refused the extortion attempts of the terrorist group.

tors on how to have healthy lungs.

Addressing more than 1,000 participants of the project launch, Estrada said tuberculosis is curable with the advances made in the medical treatment and the city government through the Manila Health Department, which has been implementing health programs for the eradication of TB. “We brought the program here in Baseco to remind all of you the importance of lung check-up,” Dr. Benjami Yson, MHD chief, said.

Estrada expressed confidence that TB patients will be cured and free from the disease by taking regular treatment.

“The MHD is committed to ensure health for one and all in the city of Manila that is why they launched the ‘Healthy and Active Lungs’ project,” the mayor said.

Citing a report from the MHD, Estrada said in 2017 the city health department cured around 5,930 TB patients, or about 90 percent of all TB cases in the city.

“TB is easy to treat and cure,” the mayor said. “We have medicines that are given out for free at the MHD.” Estrada advised the public on the importance of consulting with doctors to prevent and stop TB, adding prevention is the best cure to prevent any illness.

A resident only must go to a Health Center, and once given the prescribed medicines, the patient should take the medicines without any break for effective recovery from the disease, Estrada added.

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—Research on science and technology must go down to the people, officials of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development said Monday.

“It is vital that research go down to end-users. I commend our productive researchers,” said PCAARRD Acting Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo Ebora during the staging of the agency’s regular media conference for its research in collaboration with other institutions at the DOST-PCAARRD Innovation and Technology Center here.

“Government money is being spent for the researchers. So, the people must benefit from them,” said the agency’s Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development, Dr. Edwin Villar.

For his part, Dr. Melvin Carlos, Officer-in-Charge and Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management and Support Services, said: “We want the institutionalization of PCAARRD projects. Communities must part, and LGUs [must be] embracing them.”

“We express our profound gratitude to all mediamen for spreading PCAARRD technology researches and helping us reach more people,” Marita Carlos, Applied Communication Division director, told the attending journalists.

Mining firm FCF plants 1.76-m seedlings for NGP

By Ben Moses Ebreo QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya—Some 1.76 million assorted seedlings have been planted by mining firm FCF Minerals Corp. in various areas in the province in support of the National Greening Program.

Peter Storey, FCF Minerals general manager, said the figure was recorded by their Mine Environment Protection and Enhancement Office as of July last year and was carried out in environmental plans and programs since 2007.

The programs, Storey said, include reforestation and integrated agroforestry programs focused on the rehabilitation of degraded areas within and outside the firm’s Financial and Tech-

nical Assistance Agreement area, offset deforestation and land degradation caused by mining operation.

Storey added the programs were also aimed at establishing forest protection habitat for wild life and restore the original state of flora and fauna around the Runruno gold mine.

One of FCF’s initiatives is the Mining Forest Program, which operates and manages their central nursery, produced the 1.766 million assorted seedlings, and established 196.65 hectares of reforestation areas in the province.

“Seedlings produced are donated and planted within and outside the host community of barangay Runruno in Quezon town,” Storey added.

In Runruno alone, more than 162,000

various seedlings have been planted with 92.293 percent survival rate, the GM noted.

Storey also reported that as of July last year, a 126-percent compliance to the Tree Cutting Permit Terms of Reference was achieved. The TCPTR requires the replacement of 100 seedlings for every tree cut.

He said a bigger volume of the seedlings produced were also donated to various organizations, such as the Magapuy Farmers Association with 66,755 seedlings, schools and local government units.

In April 2017, FCF also established 4,600 square meters of a model agroforestry farm planted with various cash crops such as ginger and corn.

TOYOTA OUTREACH. Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation recently held its medical-

surgical outreach program for the constituents of Santa Rosa City, in collaboration with the local government and Makati Medical Center at the Santa Rosa Community Hospital in Santa Rosa City, Laguna. The program served 25 pre-screened patients with cases of hernia, gall bladder stones, hemorrhoids and masses/cysts, as they underwent surgery performed by medical volunteers from MMC. Photo shows (front, from left) Santa Rosa City Vice Mayor Arnold Arcillas, Laguna 1st District Rep. Arlene Arcillas, Santa Rosa Mayor Dan Fernandez, TMPF president Dr. David Go, TMPF assistant vice president Ronald Gaspar, and (back) Santa Rosa Community Hospital medical director Dr. Parnell Patacsil.

Life

Bernadette lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MstandardliFe

health and environment

tuesday, april 3, 2018

C1

The ECONYL lace dress is the highlight of the Conscious Exclusive 2018 Collection

FASHIONABLY SUSTAINABLE.

H&M launches its seventh Conscious Exclusive Collection composed of high-end pieces made from recycled and sustainable materials, such as discarded fish nets, organic cotton, and recycled polyester, among others.

Saving oceans

with recycled dresses

By Bernadette Lunas

A

CCORDING to a 2016 report of the World Economic Forum, by year 2050 there will be more plastics than fish in the world’s oceans—that is if we keep producing plastics and fail to properly dispose them of.

“The best research currently available estimates that there are over 150 million tons of plastics in the ocean today,” WEF said in the study entitled The New plastics Economy: rethinking the future of plastics. “In a business-asusual scenario, the ocean is expected to contain 1 ton of plastic for every 3 tons of fish by 2025, and by 2050, more plastics than fish (by weight).”

When you factor in the dramatic increase of worldwide plastic production, by more than 20 times over the past 50 years, and the 8 million tons of plastics leaking into the ocean (“equivalent to dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute”), which the study indicated, we could see a terrifying future of us literally swimming with our own garbage.

To make matters worse, particularly for us here in the Philippines, environmental group Greenpeace ranked the country as the third biggest plastic polluter in the world.

Recognizing that our plastic waste can easily outlive us and that those thrown in the ocean can degrade into small bits of toxic chemicals that may end up in the guts of our favorite sea-

food, many individuals are now taking active steps, albeit small, to reduce their plastic waste.

The world’s oceans are home to a number of plastic garbage, such as PET bottles, single-use shopping bags, sachets and other food and non-food packaging, disposable diapers, and abandoned fishing nets.

About 640,000 tons of discarded nylon fishing nets are left in the ocean each year, according to the World Animal Protection organization.

In a bid to lead the change towards circular and renewable fashion as well reduce nylon waste in the ocean, Swedish fashion retailer H&M partnered with Aquafil, a global producer of nylon yarn, to create clothes made of ECONYL, a regenerated nylon fiber made from fish nets and other nylon waste.

As the company aims to manufacture products made entirely from recycled or sustainable sources by 2030, H&M presents its seventh Conscious Exclusive 2018 Collection, whose highlight is the two ECONYL lace dresses with organic cotton embroidery.

Xin-Yi Wong, sustainability manager for H&M Southeast Asia, ensures that

Patti Grandidge and Antoinette Taus wearing pieces from H&&M Conscious Exclusive 2018 Collection

despite being made from recycled materials, the ECONYL dresses are durable and comfortable to wear. The pieces are also elegant and stylish, so much so that the white midi ECONYL dress can also be worn as a wedding gown.

Wearing a piece from the Conscious Exclusive 2018 Collection, United Nations’ Sustainable Development advocate and Planet CORA founder Antoinette Taus said, “I feel that we should be proud wearing it because it’s not just beautiful, there’s so much meaning behind it.”

Rounding up the collection are a variety of inventive pieces made of other sustainable materials, like recycled polyester, and accessories crafted from discarded candlesticks and recycled silver.

“Some of the pieces from the Conscious Collection highlight the marriage of fashion and sustainability and at the same time show us how innovation can propel us to a sustainable future,” said H&M Philippines communications head Dan Mejia.

The Conscious Exclusive 2018 Collection launches in select H&M Stores around the world and online at hm.com on April 19.

But prior to the official release, H&M Philippines, on March 24, displayed some of the pieces from the collection at Greenbelt. It also presented the art installation by furniture and industrial designer Vito Selma: submerged sculptures made of used fish nets, pearls, plastics, and other recycled materials.

Vito Selma created sculpture pieces made of used fish nets and other recycled materials to showcase the beauty of ‘broken things’

Like magic, Tulip water filter system turns muddy water to potable water.

Dutch water filter system widens access to potable water in PH

By Joyce Pangco Pañares “Mahirap makipagbakbakan nang may LBM.” This was posted on Facebook by a soldier who fought in the five-monthlong armed conflict in Marawi City after it was occupied by Islamic Stateinspired extremists. It may sound comical at first, but it reflects the grim situation on the ground, especially in rural areas, where potable water is not readily available.

This was precisely what the people behind Southlight Technology and Distribution sought to address in bringing to the country the Tulip Table Top, a water purification device invented by Dutch firm Basic Water Needs.

Southlight managing director Wilbert Cua said they discovered BWN in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda in 2013 as the Dutch company supplied the product to survivors of the catastrophic cyclone that leveled most parts of Eastern Visayas and hit eight other regions across the country.

“Initially, we were not impressed.

The product looked too simple. Our initial questions then: Is it effective?

Can it really produce clean, potable water?” he shared during the media launch of the Tulip Table Top at the Wilcon City Center in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City.

They decided to test the water filter system and, in what appears to be a leap of faith, used the murky waters of Pasig River as test sample.

“The test administrators were asking us if we would like to reconsider as we have to pay the P40,000 testing fee whether we pass it or not. They told us our product would not pass because it looks so simple. They suggested we use a different water source, but de-

cided to push through with the test,” recalled Cua. The simple-looking, easy-to-assemble, easy-to-use, and easy-to-maintain Tulip water filter passed the test with flying colors in 2016, and it has certificates from the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration to back up its claim.

“And then the Marawi Crisis happened. We decided to move a few hundreds of our water filter product to Marawi City. Some wives of soldiers bought our products, too, and sent these to their husbands who were to be deployed in the battle area,” said Cua. Annemarieke Maltha, head of business development of BWN, said the Tulip Table Top product is present in 35 countries and services close to 2.5 million people across the globe.

“Tulip products are based on gravity, which implies that no electricity or complicated processes are involved.

The filter can be used in emergency situations as well as for daily usage,” explained Maltha.

Tulip water filter’s presence in the Philippines could not have come at a more opportune time.

In mid-March, a report by USbased non-profit media collective Orb Media showed that the world’s leading brands of bottled water are contaminated with tiny plastic particles that are likely seeping in during the packaging process. “Widespread contamination” with plastic was found in 93 percent of the samples, with researchers testing 250 bottles of water in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Thailand, and the United States.

The safety of potable water remains a huge concern, with data from the Turn to C2

Life

C2

tuesday, apri apriL 3, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

30 years of clear eyesight

BBC Worldwide director of communications Jeanne Leong listens intently as Dr. Michael Mosley talks about the latest series of his TV show, ‘Trust Me I’m a Doctor.’ Mae Gianina C. Pascual

Not your ordinary doctor

b

RITIsH medical doctor-turned-television presenter and producer Michael Mosley is best known for his programs on bbC and for endorsing a diet program which he tested on himself.

In hopes of curing himself of type 2 diabetes, whose complications took the life of his father, without relying on medications, he tried a novel approach to intermittent fasting wherein he only consumed 600 calories for two days and ate normally for the rest of the week. He called it the “5:2 Diet” was born.

The result of his diet was remarkable; Dr. Mosley lost more than 10 kilos, the visceral fat in his liver was gone, and his blood sugar level went back to normal. He reached the non-diabetic range without taking any drugs.

He featured his personal journey in his TV show Eat, Fast, Live Longer in 2012, and by the end of the year, his 5:2 Diet was already a popular method, whose fans include beyonce Knowles and benedict Cumberbatch among many others. He also detailed the diet plan in his book The Fast Diet, which has already sold 2 million copies to 40 countries, with translations of 20 languages. apart from intermittent fasting, gut bacteria also play a big role on how our

bodies function and behave, says Dr. Mosley. according to him, Psychobiotics, which refers to the intake of probiotics and prebiotics, can alter a person’s mental health, as emotional, cognitive, systemic, and neural variables could be highly correlative to health and disease.

The 61-year-old doctor, however, admits that his unconventional approaches don’t translate to more earnings. When asked by Manila Standard, he openly shared that he and his wife remain committed to teaching nutrition and losing weight to cure diseases instead of administering drugs despite losing money that could potentially reach to $20,000 to $30,000 a year.

Though a dauntless non-conformist, his knowledge and medical practices are backed by scientific references and support from Nobel Prize winners. He says he would be happy to debate vis-a-vis doctors who may be doubting his methods.

Moreover, he shares it is part of his mission to find the best medical solutions for people all over the world; to

learn more about prevention and natural ways to take care of our bodies, and not just cures that heavily rely on drugs. and he is ready to test them himself.

This is exactly what he aims to discover in the latest series of his TV show, Trust Me I’m a Doctor, on bbC. Dr. Mosley and his team of experts go behind the hype to find the truth about what’s really good for our health. season seven’s first episode focuses on mental health and explores the impacts of sleep, laughing and food on the wellness of our minds.

In Episode 2, Dr. Mosley takes on beverages. Do fizzy drinks make people eat more? Does caffeine boost physical performance? He also tests the claim that cholesterol can cut out cholesterol in Episode 3. succeeding episodes will investigate if eating crabs at night is bad for us as well as how to minimize the effects of jet lag, among other topics.

“I hope that the series will resonate with Filipino viewers, and provide them with information that will help them live better, healthier lives,” says Dr. Mosley.

The latest season of Trust Me I’m a Doctor premieres on April 16 at 10:50 p.m. on BBC Earth (Ch. 245 on Cignal).

Mae Gianina C. Pascual

Called to Rescue treats children to fun activities IN CElEbRaTIoN of this year’s Valentine’s season, non-profit, worldwide organization Called to Rescue, treated underprivileged children from different barangays in Taguig to the love Day event at Kidzania Manila. love Day, organized by Called to Rescue, in partnership with communications and social agency ComCo southeast asia and McDonald’s Philippines, is dedicated to giving underprivileged children a memorable time in which they can be themselves—as young, playful, and carefree kids, and dream for their future. The organization is dedicated to rescuing minor children from sex trafficking, violence, and abuse.

“Children are dreamers and learners and as much as everyone wants to see children learn and enjoy at the same time, let us not forget that there are still other kids who are being abused, trafficked, and abducted,” shared Called to Rescue founder Dr. Cyndi Romine. “between 1.2 million and 1.8 million children are being trafficked each year worldwide according to the International labor of organization.”

Hence Called to Rescue made its mission to help create and keep a safe environment for children. The organization aims to help protect and save every child who is a victim of abuse, violence, and human trafficking. Everyone can be a part of this cause by becoming heroes and bringing hope to children.

“We have the power to create a safe environment for kids and this is possible only if we work together. There

EssIloR, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company celebrated its 30th year with a grand anniversary party at Valkyrie.

Partners and friends were welcomed

by Essilor Philippines general manager Dr. Emelita Roleda, regional vice president for asean and Korea Kathy Park, general manager for commercial Kyle Galias, and marketing manager Jinky Navo.

Celebrity endorser Piolo Pascual serenaded the attendees with his rendition of “Can’t Take my Eyes off You.” Pascual and Tom Rodriguez joined the Essilor team during the grand champagne toast.

Committed to improving lives by improving sight, Essilor is the world leader in innovative lens. some of its flagship brands include Varilux, Crizal, Xperio and optifog.

For more information, visit Essilor’s website at www.essilor.com.ph, and follow @EssilorPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Essilor Philippines general manager Dr. Emelita Roleda

From left: Tom Rodriguez, Piolo Pascual, Essilor Asean and Korea regional vice president Kathy Park, and Cito Beltran

The perks of world-class medical insurance Global leader in insurance and asset management aXa, empowers everyone to take control of their health with Global Health access, a health plan that provides worldclass medical coverage—not only in the Philippines but in any country in the world.

With GHa, you can easily maintain optimal health and wellness because the plan gives you access to the best healthcare around the globe.

Even if you’re diagnosed in the Philippines, you can opt to receive treatment anywhere. With it, you are also always one step ahead in terms of protection, especially since illnesses can strike anytime, anywhere. as a comprehensive worldwide health solution, GHa offers extensive international medical coverage of up to P150 million annual coverage for in-patient and out-patient treatments on select plans, inclusive of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, kidney dialysis, and many others. For select plans, coverage is also available for alternative treatments. The policyholder

may consult his own specialist or even the hospital of his choice, even if both are outside the aXa network.

To avail of GHa, all you have to do is answer yes or no to three questions—a medical exam result need not be presented. Even if you are a customer with pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you still have the chance to get coverage under the plan. other benefits of GHa include 24/7 health advice and support through a telephone health information service staffed by professional healthcare practitioners, and global concierge services, such as flight and travel arrangements for scheduled treatments, including transfers to and from the hospital.

To learn more about GHA, call the AXA customer service hotline at (02) 5815-AXA (292) or talk to an AXA Financial Coach at any AXA, Metrobank, or PSBank branch nationwide. You may also visit www. axa.com.ph/health-protection/global-health-access for more details.

Children put out fire at the Kidzania fire station. (Inset) The kids prepare to become firemen for a day

are plenty of ways to help—you can volunteer, spread awareness about the cause, sponsor or donate to programs, and report abuses against children,” said Dr. Romine.

Called to Rescue officer-in-charge anthony Pangilinan and celebrity advocates Donny Pangilinan, RJ dela Fuente, and Quest were present during the love Day event at Kidzania Manila. They shared inspirational talks and performances.

Kidzania Manila is the perfect place for children to experience and role-play their dream jobs like being a fireman, cabin crew, or doctor. Kidzania Manila gives children the opportunity to explore and learn while having fun.

To report trafficking, abuse, and cases of missing children, contact Called to Rescue via its local hotline at 0917-5410287 or visit its Facebook page at www. facebook.com/Called2RescuePh/ or website at calledtorescue.com.ph.

GHA provides policyholders access to the best healthcare around the world

Dutch...

From C1

A kiddie reporter talks in front of a camera

Briefing before the children enjoy a fun day of learning and activities at Kidzania Manila

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund showing that at least 663 million people are still without access to clean drinking water. at least eight in 10 people without access to clean water live in rural areas, and many of those deprived communities are in remote, hard to reach areas.

“We are dedicated to bringing safe water the world. our commitment is to make clean, potable water accessible and build a sustainable supply chain for Regular soda is filtered into clean, this,” enthused Maltha. potable water.

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

JAPAN’S DRUM TAO

in Manila for the first time

Megan Young, Mikael Daez and Katrina Halili, starts of the daily drama, 'The Stepdaughters.'

Simply Red...

From C4

Members of Drum Tao are world-renowned martial arts and drum-playing extraordinaires who perform by combining music and dance to reflect Japanese tradition.

T

HE renowned Drum Tao group of Japan is bringing its extraordinary dance, martial arts, and percussion show to Shangri-La Plaza’s Grand Atrium on April 15, 7:00 p.m..

After several standing ovations Drum Tao will be performing the and sold-out shows from more than 7 famous Samurai Drum Rock for the first million audiences in over 17 countries, time in Manila, with Shangri-La Plaza

as one of their stops.

Mall guests will witness this oneof-a-kind musical drum concert where highly-trained Japanese Taiko drummers beat their Wadaiko drums together with passionate chanting and music. It’s a unique theatrical experience featuring an eclectic mix of dance and martial arts and flawless movements.

Guess who’s back, back again?

EDU Manzano is back again in Kapamilya grounds after not renewing his contract with GMA. “I didn’t sign up with the Kapuso. My last show with them was Celebrity Bluff, was doing so well, ratings-wise. I was also part of the soap Someone to Watch over Me Alyas Robin Hood Dingdong Dantes,” he says.

So why did he choose to leave?

“There’s an option to renew. I just thought that I’ve been with the program for quite a long time already so it’s okay. It’s hard to be identified with just one genre, right? It will be to a star’s advantage if he or she will be given the chance to try everything.”

When his contract with GMA lapsed, a good offer from the rival network came.

“Yes! That’s my inclusion in the toprating prime time soap Ang Probinsyano. will play the role of the Vice-President.

You know, the offer came just as timely.”

Some quarters asked if one reason why he didn’t renew with GMA is that the station didn’t give him a solo game show.

“No, that’s not the point. The two networks have their respective strengths.

While GMA is known for its specialty in fantasy offerings, ABS-CBN shines when it comes to their drama presentations. So, if you’re an actor, you would opt to experience everything.

From drama, to comedy to action.

Perhaps, I’m just lucky to be given the opportunities to try every possible genre over the years.”

Asked whether he is contemplating on running for another national seat in the 2019 elections, the witty host/actor states: “No! I won’t. I’ve experienced being a public servant already. I left the service with my name unscathed so that’s it.

Enough!” *** Many notice Erich Gonzales’ glow

these days. Her aura is so light and positive.

“Perhaps, I’m just happy with the latest goings-on in my life. For one, my career is on the upswing. After the boxoffice run of my film The Significant Other Lovi Poeand Tom Rodriguez, I also have Blood Sisters, which is doing well in the ratings chart. There are also new product endorsements tucked under my belt so it’s just exciting,” she avers.

Apart from this, many speculate that it’s because of her love life. There’s an allegedly rich guy being linked to her at present.

“Well, I won’t deny that I have a suitor

Erich Gonzales in a recent event where she was introduced as mySlim celebrity endorser.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, April 3, 2018

ACROSS 1 Rhino snouts 6 Ready to eat 10 Turkey 14 Bring cheer 15 Mighty — — oak 16 Space preceder 17 Head dog 18 Row of trees 20 Ballet step 21 Actress Dianne — 23 Ticket info 24 Cold feet 25 Coq au — 26 Stamen output 29 Stamps 33 Ran in neutral 34 Threesomes 35 Floor covering 37 Wheedle 38 Invigorating 39 Geog. region 40 Limb 41 Coeur d’— 42 Coup plotters 43 Wood particles 45 Distrustful (hyph.)

46 Lime cooler 47 “Cope Book” aunt 48 Social class 51 Soup-eater’s sound 53 Energy 56 Yowl

58 Toughen up 60 “Moonstruck” star 61 Type of eagle 62 Brilliance 63 Tenets 64 German industrial region 65 Shake awake

now who’s very persistent. I find nothing wrong with that since both of us are single. We enjoy each other’s company at this stage,” she admits.

People are curious as to the guy’s identity.

“Oh no! His family is not used to being dragged into the limelight. They’re private. Let’s just leave it at that, okay?”

Interestingly, how did they meet?

“We became friends last year, around April. When my sister had a painting exhibit in Japan early this year, I flew there. He followed because my sister also invited him. Talks sparked when I posted our group photo on social media.

His family is into various businesses.

I just don’t want to divulge because I respect their privacy. They’re not used to the controversies of the ‘biz! What’s important is that we’re enjoying our friendship at present and hopefully, we get to the next level soon,” ends Erich.

32 It has a crust 34 — bien, monsieur!

36 Fracture finder (hyph.)

38 Holmes quest 39 Luncheon salad 41 Snake or calculator 42 More edgy 44 Tends the DOWN garden 1 Jalopy 45 Rover’s beef 2 Earthenware jar 47 Calculus 3 Talks to a beat pioneer 4 Highest degree 48 301 of yore 5 Iodine source 6 More blustery 7 Wife of Osiris 8 Gasp 9 Terminate 10 Wheat product 11 Majors and Remick 12 Vaccine type 13 Elbow 19 Heckles 22 Mr. Woosnam of golf 24 Bend 25 Brandy bottle letters 26 Not elite 27 Hounds’ trails 28 Pack animal 29 Publish 30 River in France 31 Verdon et al.

49 Sighs of relief 50 Restrain 51 Ms. Teasdale 52 Moon, to Luigi 53 Language with clicks 54 401(k) cousins 55 Guitarist — Townshend 57 Unseld of the NBA 59 Drill sgt.

If you’re a true blue Kapuso follower, you must have seen The Stepdaughters, the new afternoon series that has been on your screens since Feb. 12. The Stepdaughters is a story of two women who are both beautiful and intelligent but with personalities that couldn’t be any more different. They have always been destined to be rivals and both of them aren’t ones to back away from a fight.

This drama stars Miss World 2013 Megan Young and Katrina Haliliwith Mikael Daez.

In the recent episodes Isabelle Salvador (Halili) failed to stop Mayumi Dela Rosa (Young) from attending her birthday celebration sending her to another scheming fit.

Francis Almeda (Daez) rescued Mayumi from being locked in as part of Isabelle’s plan to sabotage Mayumi’s birthday celebration.

Alos, Isabelle;s father Hernan (Gary Estrada) proposed to Luisa (Glydel Mercado) for them to get married in a church wedding, making Isabelle even more furious.

I don’t know when will Hernan finally tell Luisa that the wealth he and his family have now is actually hers.

But I don’t want to jump the gun, as everyone knows, the people in GMA’s drama group meander about the plot and keep everyone hanging in anticipation, especially if the series is getting good numbers in the ratings race.

So, you devoted Kapuso, have enough patience before the revelation happens, or perhaps it would soon as the show is now running for nearly two months. *** For the third straight year, Globe wins at the Kidlat Awards this time for its unique execution of #PlayItRight’s “Piracy Vs. Piracy,” the company’s homegrown advocacy to encourage Filipinos to download or stream content from legitimate sources.

“Piracy Vs. Piracy” was recognized for three awards - Creative Use Of Media, Branded Corporate Social Responsibility and Digital Activation and Campaigns - at the Ad Summit Pilipinas 2018 on March 10, in Subic.

Tackling the issue of piracy head on, the campaign delivered its message by using the channels where piracy happens: torrent and streaming websites. During the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival, Globe uploaded copies of the participating films and other blockbuster Filipino movies online.

After showing the opening credits and scenes, the films featured the crew recounting the hours of work they put in creating the films and appealing to viewers to #PlayItRight and watch

from legitimate sources.

“Our customers deserve not just safe but also quality content. At the same time, we also want to make sure that our products and services are not used for illegal activities. These pursuits, along with our high regard for original content, inspired us to create this innovative campaign,” Yoly Crisanto, Globe senior vice president for Corporate Communications, points out.

“We also want to protect the copyright of our content partners and educate our customers on how to consume content properly. We have made it easier for them by giving them the platforms to watch the best movies, TV shows, music, and videos,” adds Nikko Acosta, Globe senior vice president for Content Business.

“Our execution hopes to highlight the impact of piracy to the people in the industry and their families. We want to remind everyone who participates in this illegal activity that their downloads affect hundreds of cast and crew members,” says Globe Studios Director Quark Henares.

Filmmakers themselves have chimed in their support for the anti-piracy campaign.

“We should protect the film industry from pirates. Without piracy, we keep our jobs, and convince creators to produce good content the audience would love to see,” JP Habac, director of I’m Drunk I Love You, says.

“This commitment by Globe to fight film piracy gives due credit to the money, sweat and tears that filmmakers have put into their projects. Every day, we get messages from our site to request for a free download of Respeto.

(Talk about respect!) The campaign is also such a clever way to shame the shameless pirates from downloading films,” Monster Jimenez, producer of Respeto, adds.

The other films that lent their support to “Piracy vs. Piracy” were: All of You, Ang Larawan, Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B, Baka Bukas, Birdshot, Heneral Luna, Ilawod Siargao.

In February, the campaign was also recognized in the Direct Marketing category of BestAdsOnTV.com, an international website showcasing the best ads around the world.

The Kidlat Awards is an annual creative competition led by the 4A’s Philippines’ Creative Guild. It celebrates and recognizes the country’s best advertising work of the past year.

This year’s judges include some of the industry’s best from the top advertising agencies in the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Previously, Globe and its partner agency Publicis JimenezBasic, were conferred Kidlat Awards for its campaigns for Globe Prepaid in 2016 and Globe Corporate Thematic in 2017.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018

FROM SOAP, COUGH REMEDY AND OTHER CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Alden Richards

now pitches peanut butter THE week before Holy Week, Alden Richards, the actor everyone in the biz calls as the Pambansang Bae (whatever that means) met members of the press at a small joint a stone’s throw away from his mother studio, GMA Network. He was met by Cookie Yatco and his wife Joy AbalosYatco.

The couple introduced Richards as Cookie’s Peanut Butter’s first brand ambassador.

Richards said he has known about the peanut butter even before the Yatco’s made him an offer to be the face of the brand.

“I have tried it even before they manufactured it in commercial quantities. I liked it,” he told members of the press.

The Yatcos averred that their product is made of all-natural ingredients with absolutely no preservatives. Cookie’s Peanut Butter is proudly made in Biñan, Laguna, Cookie’s hometown where his wife developed the recipe.

Joy prepared the peanut butter in her own kitchen as a special gift to family and close friends especially during the holidays. It became an instant hit among their friends. So, Joy and Cookie decided to distribute the product commercially in order to share it with other consumers and also to provide long-term jobs to a lot of people.

Currently, the brand’s flagship products include Cookie’s Peanut Butter, Cookie’s Cashew Butter, and Cookie’s Peanut Butter Pangluto as well as Mani Ni Cookie and Kasuy Ni Cookie.

Meanwhile, with a very active lifestyle as one of the country’s busiest and biggest young stars, it is very important for Alden to be fit and healthy. He is seen daily as one of the hosts of the top-rating noontime variety show Eat Bulaga, is currently

preparing for a brand new primetime TV series, and busy with non-stop showbiz commitments.

To stay ISAH V. RED in his best shape, Alden works out regularly and is also currently doing intermittent fasting where fasts for several hours a day interspersed with eating whatever he wants for a limited number of hours in a day.

Cookie’s Peanut Butter is a perfect food choice for Alden as it is both rich in nutrients and very yummy at the same time. “I love Cookie’s Peanut Butter.

It’s so delicious and a very good source of protein, which keeps me strong and energized every day. I eat it anytime – as part of my breakfast or as an inbetween snack,” says Alden.

“I am so happy to be part of the Cookie’s Peanut Butter family.

“Cookie’s Peanut Butter is a wholesome brand for the whole family to enjoy,” says Cookie Yatco. “Alden is the best celebrity to represent our brand because he is wellloved by millions of Filipinos because of his wholesome and positive image.

It is such a joy and honor to work with him in this endeavor of ours.”

“I hope that Filipinos will love and enjoy Cookie’s Peanut Butter as this is a recipe that we gladly share to everyone with all of our hearts,” adds Joy Abalos-Yatco.

As part of Cookie’s Peanut Butter on-going series of mall tours, Alden will be at Megamall Event Center in SM Megamall on April 22.

Cookie’s Peanut Butter is available in groceries and supermarkets nationwide.

Continued on C3

‘TFCU Talks’ heads to NYC

Magazine editor and She Talks Asia cofounder Sarah Meier

NEW STARS to watch out for

Pambansang Bae Alden Richards

EMPOWERING MILLENIALS NEW YORK—TFCU Talks is coming to New York City on April 14 at the Philippine Consulate General on 556 5th Avenue. Doors open at 1:00 p.m. and the event starts at 1:30.

TFCU Talks New York City will feature a lineup of top industry leaders including Grammy and Tony Awardwinning producer Jhett Tolentino, MTV VP of Design Rich Tiu, magazine editor and She Talks Asia co-founder Sarah Meier, and Bloomberg Product Development and Executive Director Norman Dalager.

TFCU Talks New York City is an exclusive free event with limited seating - first come, first serve. People

Kyline Alcantara

Joaquin Manansala

of all ages, races, and backgrounds are welcome to attend this empowering event.

An affiliate of ABS-CBN International, TFCU strives to connect, inspire, and empower millennials by helping them realize their full potential in relation to their cultural identity. Their main project, TFCU Talks, is an opportunity where students and young professionals can connect with successful industry leaders who share their inspiring stories and experiences.

For all ticketing information and to reserve your spot, visit tfcunyc. eventbrite.com.

Shaira Diaz

Donita Nose

Patricia Tumulak

Joshua Bulot, Bryan del Rosario, and Kim Ordonio of JBK

EW Kapuso stars Kyline Alcantara, Patricia Tumulak, Donita Nose, Shaira Diaz, Kelley Day, Joaquin Manansala, and boy group JBK share what goals they have as they officially become part of the GMA Artist Center family.

because they opened this door for me.

I’m happy to have their support and guidance,” she says.

Former beauty queen Patricia declares her penchant for physical roles, “I really enjoyed my being Black Super Ma’am, so I want more of that. But of course I’m willing to try anything and I’m up for challenges.”

For The Stepdaughters cast member Donita Nose, she reveals the things she aspires to accomplish, “It’s my dream to have my own shows, apart from drama or teleserye I also want to do game shows. Gusto kong ma-try lahat.”

Meanwhile, Shaira is ready to do more challenging roles, especially in the action and fantasy genre.

“I am excited to explore more of what I can do as an actress. I want to do action, that’s my dream role or someone who is physically challenged, yung parang kailangan ng prosthetics,” shares the former Trops star. She adds that she also looks forward to starring as a fire fighter with David Licauco in Regal Films’ Because I Love You. The One That Got Away cast member

N

All of them are eager to take their career to the next level, and they are not only hopeful for a spot in the industry, but they are determined to excel in what they do.

First up is Kambal, Karibal star Kyline, who feels humbled despite praises she earned for her exceptional performance in the primetime show.

“I totally did not expect that the viewers would appreciate me and my character. I’m thankful to Artist Center

Kelley Day

Kelley wants to stay outside the box.

Her transfer to the network is more for her self-growth than anything else.

“I was working with a group for more than a year and I enjoyed it. But I realized I wanted to be known as Kelley Day. This is a risk I took because I know that if I’m content, I’m not pushing myself enough,” the Fil-British actress explains.

For Joaquin, he is thankful for the opportunity to show a different side of him, “I am thankful for the trust na binigay sakin ng GMA. I’m excited to work with the prime stars of the network.”

Joshua Bulot, Bryan del Rosario, and Kim Ordonio, collectively known as JBK, are best known for their stint in X Factor UK. “We are overwhelmed that someone has seen potential in us and trusted us to be part of their family. Now we have a network we can call home,” they collectively say.

Greater heights await these new Kapuso stars as they show grit and confidence in showcasing what they have to offer in the industry.