Manila Standard - 2018 March 19 - Monday

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FIRE HITS MANILA PAVILION: 3 DEAD, 23 INJURED THREE people were killed and 23 injured in a major fire at the Waterfront Manila Pavilion hotel and casino on Sunday, as rescuers plucked people from the rooftop by helicopter, authorities said.

The blaze was still raging nine hours after it began on Sunday morning, with two people missing as hundreds fled the area.

Of the three who died, two were identified as hotel employees, said Manila city’s disaster risk reduction chief, Johnny Yu. “The two are a security guard and a treasury officer.

They were likely trapped, suffered from suffocation and were brought to the hospital but de- Thick smoke billows from Waterfront Manila Pavilion (left) while rescuers assist a clared dead on arrival,” Yu told hotel occupant in a stretcher after being rescued from the burning hotel on Sunday as reporters.

Next page firefighters climb a ladder leading to the hotel. AFP, Norman Cruz

VOL. XXXII • NO. 36 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Rody to other nations: Quit ICC PH president chides tribunal for going after blacks

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday urged other nations to follow his move to quit a treaty underpinning the International Criminal Court, which is examining his deadly drug war.

TWO OF THE 10 CASUALTIES: Elish Necesario (left) and Maria Vera F. Pagaduan in their March 2017 graduation pictures.

Amazon to prevent Plane crash victims’ Alexa from legal cackling kin seeking aid

By Orlan Mauricio MALOLOS CITY—The father who lost his wife, mother-in-law and three children when a six-seater light aircraft crashed into their house in Plaridel, Bulacan Saturday morning is pleading for legal assistance after getting no certainty as to who will be held accountable for the incident.

“I hope a lawyer could help us because it has been more than 24 hours but those who were responsible for the accident have not communicated with us,” Noel dela Rosa told Manila Standard.

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Do you think a high school graduate [Janet Napoles] can fool or convince very good lawmakers, and for that matter, senators? That is too impossible.

—Stephen David, lawyer of Janet Napoles

Duterte lashed out at the war crimes tribunal two days after his government officially notified the United Nations of his decision to pull the Philippines out of the Rome Statute.

“I said withdraw simply because to announce to the world and I will convince everybody now who [is] under the treaty: get out, get out. It is rude,” Duterte said in a speech before Philippine Military Academy graduates.

“It is not a document that was prepared by anybody. It’s an EU-sponsored [treaty],” he added, as he criticized the court

for going after “blacks.”

The Hague-based ICC announced last month it was launching a “preliminary examination” of Duterte’s bloody antidrug crackdown that has drawn international concern.

Duterte, 72, won elections in mid-2016 vowing to launch an unprecedented drug war in which tens of thousands of people would die.

Police say they have killed nearly 4,100 drug suspects as part of the campaign, while rights groups claim the toll is around three times the numbers given

by authorities.

Opened in 2002, the ICC is the world’s only permanent war crimes court and aims to prosecute the worst abuses when national courts are unable or unwilling.

On Friday, the Philippines formally notified the UN that it was withdrawing from the ICC saying the stand was against “those who would politicize and weaponize human rights.”

The tribunal had urged Manila to reconsider its decision, with the president of its governing body saying he deeply regretted the move.

“A state party withdrawing from the Rome Statute would negatively impact our collective efforts towards fighting impunity,” said Assembly of State Parties president O-Gon Kwon.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel Next page

Sereno’s fate as CJ hangs; House readies impeachment CONGRESS is set to approve today the articles of impeachment and committee report finding probable cause to remove Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno from the Supreme Court.

“Our committee report and the articles of impeachment are now prepared for the approval of panel members,” said Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, committee chairman.

The panel was supposed to approve both on Wednesday, March 14.

“We are preparing a very strong impeachment case against the chief justice,” Umali said.

Congress, meanwhile, is set to approve on third and final reading a measure postponing the barangay and SK polls from May to October before it adjourns for the Holy Week break, said Citizens Battle Against Corruption Rep. Sherwin Tugna, chairman of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms.

At the same time, House Bill No. 7185 seeking to simplify the process of recognizing in the country divorce petitions that were granted abroad will also be approved on third and final reading over the week.

“The registration of the duly-authenticated foreign decree of termination of marriage in the Philippine Civil Registry shall be sufficient proof of capacity to remarry,” said Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, a deputy speaker. Rio N. Araja

PRESIDENTIAL SABER. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presents the Presidential Saber Award to Philippine Military Academy ’Alab Tala’ Class of 2018 Valedictorian and Baron Jaywardene Hontoria during the PMA commencement exercises at Fort General Gregorio H. del Pilar in Baguio City on March 18, 2018. Presidential Photo

Aquino, 2 others told to face criminal raps

By Rey E. Requejo FORMER President Benigno Aquino III and two former Cabinet secretaries have been summoned to appear before the Department of Justice to answer criminal charges filed against them in connection with the reported deaths and serious illnesses of children inoculated with the controversial anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine.

In a subpoena, the DoJ’s panel of investigating prosecutors required Aquino, former Health secretary Janette Garin and former Budget secretary Florencio Abad to appear before the DoJ on March 23 at 10 a.m. for a preliminary investigation of the complaint filed by anti-corruption groups Volunteers Against Crime

and Corruption and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. last month.

Aquino, Garin and Abad are expected to submit their respective counter-affidavits to the charges of multiple homicide and physical injuries under the Revised Penal Code, malversation of public funds, and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Government Procurement Reform Act. The panel chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rossane Balauag also summoned other incumbent and former government officials and personnel who were named respondents in the charge sheet—Department of Health undersecretaries Carol Tanio, Gerardo Bayugo, Next page

‘Napoles unlikely pork mastermind’

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta JANET Lim-Napoles could not have masterminded the pork-barrel-fund scam because she was only a high school graduate, her lawyer Stephen David said Sunday.

“Do you think a high-school graduate can fool or convince very good lawmakers, and for that matter senators?” David told dzBB radio.

In other developments: • Rep. Edcel Lagman on Sunday slammed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III for giving Napoles provisional admission to his department’s witness protection program.

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News

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PMA’s top grad gets new home as Du30 gift THE Philippine Military Academy’s top graduate this year will be going home to Iloilo City to a new house given to him

by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte himself conferred the certificate of ownership of the house to 25-year-old Cadet First Class Jaywardene Galilea Hontoria during the graduation rites on Sunday.

Hontoria, a registered nurse from Pavia, Iloilo, also received the Presidential Saber.

He was also awarded the Chief of Staff Saber for being the brigade commander of the Cadet Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which was conferred to him by chief of staff General Rey Guerrero.

Hontoria, who will be joining the Philippine Navy, was also given the Philippine Navy Saber by Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad, the Navy’s flag officer-in-command.

Hontoria led this year’s batch of PMA graduates followed by Cadet First Class Ricardo Witawit Liwaden and Cadet First Class Jun-Jay Malazzab Castro.

Asean, Aussies boost defense ties S YDNEY―Australia and its Asean neighbors vowed to boost defense ties while stressing the importance of non-militarization in the disputed South China Sea Sunday at a summit where the “complex” Rohingya crisis took center stage.

Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, at the three-day meeting in Sydney, also agreed to work more closely to tackle the growing menace of violent extremism and radicalization.

But while a final communique noted a resolve to “protect the human rights of our peoples,” it failed to condemn mem-

ber state Myanmar’s treatment of the Muslim-minority Rohingya.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled the troubled Rakhine state for Bangladesh since authorities launched a brutal crackdown six months ago that the UN has called “ethnic cleansing.”

Myanmar, whose de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi was in Sydney, has vehe-

mently denied the allegations.

“We discussed the situation in Rakhine state at considerable length today,” Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said at a closing press conference.

“Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the matter comprehensively, at some considerable length herself,” he said.

“It’s a very complex problem … Everyone seeks to end the suffering that has been occasioned by the events, the conflict.”

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, said the crisis was “a concern for all Asean countries, and yet Asean is not able to intervene to force an outcome.”

Tensions in the South China Sea remain a big worry for regional leaders, as Bei-

Plane...

torate Service.

Manila Standard learned from the Santiago family, a longtime resident in Brgy.

Lumangbayan, that the plane sounded in trouble as they heard popping noises before it plunged down.

All five passengers aboard the singleengine Apache 23 turbo aircraft died on impact after the plane crashed on the roof of Dela Rosa’s house in Purok Tres, Ba-

rangay Lumang Bayan in Plaridel.

The bodies of the pilot, Ruel Melloria, and chief mechanic Romeo Huenda, and three passengers—flight engineer Meljun Melgar, student-pilots Elisha Necesario, and Maria Vera Pagaduan—have all been retrieved by their families.

Killed in the Dela Rosa’s household were his mother-in-law Luisa Santos, 75; his wife, Rissa, 37; and children: John Noel,

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The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines immediately issued a bulletin announcing to the media that all planes of Lite Air Express are grounded pending the result of crash probe to be conducted by the CAAP’s Flight Safety and Inspec-

jing continues to build artificial islands capable of hosting military installations― much to the chagrin of other claimants to the area.

Vietnam remains the most vocal in the dispute with the Philippines backing off under China-friendly President Rodrigo Duterte. Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei also have claims.

Canberra and Asean reaffirmed “the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, freedom of navigation and overflight in the region,” without naming Beijing.

The leaders added they wanted to see an “early conclusion of an effective code of conduct in the South China Sea.” AFP

17; Timothy, 10; and Krissa Nhoelle, 7.

Their bodies, according to the father who was at work when the accident happened, were all burned and mangled beyond recognition.

The closed coffins of the five victims now lie in state at the Parokya ni Santiago Apostol chapel a few meters away from the Lumang Bayan Barangay Hall. They will be buried on Tuesday.

SUPREME SACRIFICE. Erwin Ocson (right, before the microphone), president of the Supreme Court Employees Union, on Monday asks Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, in a manifesto he has just read to resign from her post during the flag-raising ceremony. Sereno, who maintained she would not resign and fight until the end of the impeachment case, says she will stand up against those who want to undermine the judiciary. Norman Cruz

CEREMONIAL TOSS. Graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (Alab Tala) Class of 2018 toss their caps in the air to cap off their commencement exercices at at Fort General Gregorio H. del Pilar in Baguio City on March 18, 2018. Presidential Photo

Rody...

From A1

said Duterte’s decision now put the country in the same boat as the United States.

“In spite of its reputation as the global champion of human rights, America has spurned the ICC. So we are now in a similar situation. The only difference is that while the US was never a party to the Rome Statute, we are a party to the treaty who has decided to quit,” Pimentel said.

“Our departure from the ICC does not make us less devoted to the protection of human rights, in the same manner that America’s snub of the tribunal does not make that country less dedicated to human rights,” Pimentel, chairman of the House good government and public accountability committee, said.

The US has opted not to ratify the Rome Statute out of concern that it might be put in a quandary once Ameri-

Aquino,...

From A1

Lilibeth David and Mario Villaverde; former undersecretaries Nemesio Gako, Vicente Belizario Jr. and Kenneth Hartigan-Go; assistant secretaries Lyndon Lee Suy and Nestor Santiago; former financial management service director Laureano Cruz; incumbent DOH directors Joyce Ducusin, May Wynn Belo, Leonila Gorgolon, Rio Magpantay, Ariel Valencia and Julius Lecciones; and Garin’s former executive assistant Yolanda Oliveros Summons were also sent to senior

can soldiers and their commanders are investigated, prosecuted and put on trial before the ICC for purported war crimes committed while operating in foreign lands, Pimentel said.

“This is why you will never hear the White House or the US State Department passing judgment on our withdrawal from the ICC,” Pimentel said.

President Duterte enjoys the prerogative to pull the Philippines out of the ICC, Pimentel said.

“As chief executive, the President is also our lead foreign policy architect.

He is in fact our chief diplomat,” Pimentel said.

Duterte, who has waged a brutal war on illegal drugs, is under investigation by the ICC for supposed crimes against humanity in connection with the alleged extrajudicial killings of thousands of drug suspects.

The Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC would reduce to 122 the number of countries that are parties to the Rome treaty and members of the permanent

international tribunal founded in 2002 “to bring to justice the perpetrators of the worst crimes known to humankind—war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.”

Shortly after Duterte announced his decision to leave the ICC, Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Friday submitted Manila’s letter of withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

In its letter dated March 15, the Philippines said that its decision to withdraw from the treaty was a “principled stand against those who politicize and weaponize human rights.”

Under Article 127 of the Rome Statute, a state party may withdraw from the treaty through a written notification addressed to the UN secretary-general. The withdrawal will take effect a year after the date of receipt of the notification.

The other states that have not ratified and have not become parties to the Rome Statute include China, India, Indonesia, Israel and Sudan. AFP

executives of French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur, the developer and manufacturer of Dengvaxia, and Zuellig Pharma, DoH’s supplier of the vaccine, who are facing the same charges.

In their complaint, the VACC and VPCI accused Aquino and the other respondents of committing criminal liability after they allegedly “anomalously and illegally funded and procured the Dengvaxia vaccine and ill-advisedly, thoughtlessly and imprudently implemented the dengue immunization” project of the DoH. Earlier, the VACC also filed a complaint for violation of election laws before the Commission on Elections

against Aquino and the other former officials also in relation to the Dengvaxia controversy.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II had also tapped the Public Attorney’s Office and National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a fact-finding probe to determine possible liabilities of officials behind the project that was approved during the Aquino administration.

The DoH earlier suspended the implementation of the controversial P3.5billion dengue vaccine project of the DoJ after Sanofi announced that the drug Dengvaxia could pose health risks to those who had not been exposed to dengue.

‘Napoles...

From A1

“The Justice secretary can’t wait to give Napoles the freedom [to be a] [state] witness,” Lagman told dzBB radio.

“Her affidavit is still under scrutiny, and yet she was already granted the provisional admission as early as Feb. 27.

“Well, many have surmised that Napoles will [just] be weaponized. What they mean is that she will be an instrument to implicate the allies of former President Benigno Aquino III.” • Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Sunday said President Rodrigo Duterte and not Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre was the real mastermind behind all the “legal maneuvering” involving Napoles.

“Make no mistake, Justice Secretary Aguirre is merely a pawn,” Trillanes said.

He said turning Napoles into a state witness in the pork barrel scam cases was sending a chilling message to the other legislators implicated in the anomaly.

David was referring to the allocation of

Fire...

From A1

Authorities were investigating the cause of the fire, which is believed to have begun in the casino or mezzanine area of the 21-floor hotel, which regularly hosted both locals and foreigners, Yu added.

Responders sent a helicopter to rescue people trapped on the rooftop and officials launched a ground operation to get the others out.

Nearby cities were helping put out the

former senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr.’s pork barrel to ghost projects through several foundations organized by Napoles.

“Can you believe in that? She is not a senator, a congresswoman, a President or a [Cabinet] secretary. How can she dictate on the people? She cannot manipulate people,” David said.

He said even the witnesses during the cross-examinations pointed to some other people, not Napoles, who could have actually made money in the scam.

“Why point to her as the mastermind?”

David said.

“She is just a private person. How can she manipulate intelligent lawmakers?

She has not even reached college level to be able to take control of the Senate and the entire Congress.

“That is too impossible. It was just fabricated by the past administration that she was the mastermind.”

Napoles was charged with several cases of plunder and graft before different divisions of the Sandiganbayan for her involvement in the P10-billion pork barrel scam. blaze, Manila’s fire department said.

“This is a major fire. There were those who inhaled the smoke and were brought to the hospital,” senior fire officer Marlon Banaag said.

On Sunday afternoon, President Rodrigo Duterte conducted an aerial survey of the fire aboard a helicopter.

Deadly blazes break out regularly, particularly in slum areas where there are virtually no safety standards.

The deadliest in recent years was in subu rban Manila where 72 people died in 2015 at a factory which makes rubber slippers. AFP

News ‘Pinoys don’t trust lawmakers to amend Charter’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SenatoR Francis Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, said Filipinos want to be directly involved in revising the 1987 Constitution as they don’t trust Congres to do it.

“Mistrust is one, and that’s a concern,” Pangilinan said. “I think the underlying sentiment is really, if you’re going to change the Constitution, we want to be directly involved instead of allowing Congress, the Senate, and the House to do so. If there’s Charter change, the public should be involved.” “they want to participate. they want to know and they want to have a say,” said Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party. the opposition senator reiterated that to resolve this problem, direct participation in the process is needed.

“I think that is one overriding consideration, trust and at the same time direct participation. they don’t want that it be done in haste and because historically, Charter change did no push through because of the public perception that those behind it were merely after their selfinterest,” he said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson also shared his observations that a number of people invited in Friday’s Senate regional consultative hearing in Baguio City don’t trust lawmakers.

Lacson said this might be because pro-Charter change congressmen were insisting on no elections and no term limits.

Senate President aquino Pimentel III, who is also president of ruling PDP-Laban party, tried to allay the public’s fears of amending the Constitution, noting that the proposals are not yet official.

“My only advice is for them to read all of the proposals. Don’t be too alarmed about the proposals because these are not yet the official proposals,” he said.

MoNday, March 19, 2018

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Operators buck Boracay closure Rio N. Araja

R

eSoRt operators in Boracay Island, aklan province are appealing to the government not to order the closure of the world famous tourist spot.

Malacañang should instead just order an extensive cleanup of the entire area, they said. noa Macavinta, who owns the Baling Hai Resort in Boracay, spearheaded

the Boracay United movement and I Support#SaveBoracay in an eight-minute unity event Saturday evening. the resort owners turned off the lights in the island for at least eight

minutes to show how Boracay would look like if ordered closed.

“Please shut of the lights of your home/ business and join us on the beach with your flashlights/ cellphones in the air,” he called on the people through his message posted on his Facebook account.

Macavinta called on all stakeholders to work together and cooperate with the government to create a more sustainable Boracay. the resort owners also urged all people who visit and live in Boracay

to make a stand to unite, protect and save the island, and to reject the island’s closure.

“Shutting an island down does not necessarily mean renewal and is not the only solution. the very act of closure implements the enforced migration and displacement for it’s inhabitants.

Where are all the locals going to find their livelihood?”

“Let us all stand together, make your placard, let them hear your voice. no to closure, yes to cleanup,” the group said.

‘Only supporters of federalism can join PDP-Laban’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

LIGHTS OUT. Resort owners in Boracay turn off the lights in the island for eight minutes Saturday evening to show how the world-famous tourist destination will look like if the government makes good of its threat to close it.

Senate President President aquilino Pimentel III on Sunday said candidates who will not support efforts to shift to a federal form of government will not be entertained by the ruling party PDP-Laban as candidates under its banner for the 2019 mid-term elections.

Federalism, he said, is one of the guiding principles of the ruling party, which now has more than 300,000 members across the country.

“You cannot be a member of PDP-Laban, much less a candidate of the party, and not support one of its core tenets,” said Pimentel, who is also the president of the ruling party.

Pimentel said the prospective candidates must support the programs of the party chairman, President Rodrigo Duterte, until the end of his term.

Pimentel added the party is open to considering non-PDP members, provided they are supportive of federalism and the President even as party members will be prioritized in the selection process.

In a recent show of force, some 30,000 new party members took their oath in Bulacan before top officials of PDP Laban at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center, a far cry from the earliest oathtaking ceremonies of the party which were usually held under the shade of banana trees.

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Opinion

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018

The equities of free university education UNTIL Republic Act No. 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education law, university education at state universities and colleges was never really completely free. There were costs and, as frequent complaints directed at the UP enrollment insinuated, they sometimes resulted in the formation of an “elite beneficiary class,” students who might well have been able to bear the costs of university education but have nevertheless been beneficiaries of the largesse of the State.

They are deserving, to be sure, because they hurdled the bar, but that only begs the question of the equity of the measure: For if entrance examinations such as the UPCAT are the measure, then there seems to be an inherent bias against those who graduate from barangay high schools and less affluent secondary education institutions.

Between one who graduates from the high school department of Assumption College and another who finishes from the Palanan High School, at the edge of the Pacific Ocean and hemmed its shores by the formidable Sierra Madre

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

The unanswered question

I

T IS politically expedient for administration critics to portray the President’s recent withdrawal from the International Criminal Court as a sign of guilt or weakness.

At the instigation of some of these critics, the UN tribunal earlier this year announced it would open a preliminary examination of allegations of widespread extra-judicial killings in the Philippines’ war on illegal drugs.

But such attacks ignore the nature of the ICC and what its role ought to be.

In the aftermath of the ICC’s announcement in February that it would look into the Philippine situation, the administration has raised one key question that not a single official of the tribunal has adequately addressed.

This question should not be viewed as an attempt to frustrate or to obfuscate, but rather to clarify the conditions for the ICC’s involvement in what appears to be a domestic, lawand-order concern.

The unanswered question is: Is the ICC not violating the principle of complementarity, which is spelled out in the Rome Statute?

To initiate an investigation, the ICC prosecutor must have a “reasonable basis to believe that a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court has been or is being committed;” the investigation would be consistent with the principle of complementarity; and the investigation serves the interests of justice.

The principle of complementarity means that the ICC will only prosecute an individual if states are unwilling or unable to prosecute. Therefore, if legitimate national investigations or proceedings into crimes have taken place or are ongoing, the Court will not initiate proceedings. This principle applies regardless of the outcome of national proceedings.

To date, Philippine courts have not proved themselves to be unwilling or unable to prosecute cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, so what is the basis for the ICC’s involvement?

There are other questions regarding the nature of the crimes that the ICC may prosecute under the Rome Statute, and whether the Philippine cases fall within any of these categories. But the ICC must argue convincingly why it believes it has jurisdiction over these cases when Philippine courts continue to function.

The country’s withdrawal from the ICC, Duterte asserts, removes him and his administration from the tribunal’s jurisdiction—a view the ICC and other legal experts dispute because the process had already begun before the pullout and also because the Rome Statute to which the Philippines was a signatory requires a one-year notice before the withdrawal takes effect.

But while all this is being sorted out, to the extent that the ICC has left some legitimate questions unanswered, its jurisdiction—and credibility—are suspect, to say the least.

Unseen hands LAST Tuesday evening, after a good steak and wine dinner in a Makati winery, I met an accident. While walking out of the wine house, someone sent me a text message, and foolish me, I read the message while I was walking on the pavement leading to the parking area.

Unknown to me, the pavement was uneven, and I suddenly fell.

Fortunately, my eyeglasses did not break, or my eyes would have been damaged by the strong fall. Still, profusely bleeding, my friends brought me to the Makati Medical Center where I stayed for five hours until the wee hours of Wednesday.

Before the painful ordeal was over, I had stitches on my right eyelids and under the right eye, on the bridge of my nose, and the mouth, as well as wounds in the hands and knees. I am very thankful to the Lord that it was not as serious. CT Scan and X-ray tests showed there was no brain concussion, and later examination of the eyes did not show damage.

Apart from reminders from above about the mortality of us all, a simple lesson is learned—never read text

Food security is a complex and expensive matter.

It will not be available at the drop of a hat.

mountains, the “Assumptionista” has a far better chance at clearing the hurdle—not because education in Palanan is necessarily bad, but because it is circumstantially disadvantaged.

And yet, quite clearly, it is the Palanan lad or lass who will need the chance at UP education more!

This coming school year, due in very large measure to the untiring advocacy of Acting Commission on Higher Education Chairman Popoy de Vera, university education in all SUCs will be free—for those who want it free! Unlike the Free Tuition 2017 scheme, there is no more distinction between tuition and miscellaneous fees in respect to coverage. All fees will be covered, although some questions in this respect remain to be calling for authoritative answers, such as affiliation, internship, OJT and analogous fees. But free access has to be the availability of “quality” tertiary education to its recipients— and classes packed with 70 to 80 students just to accommodate the predicted influx of students does not make for quality tertiary education at all, neither do experiments performed “by observation” because there are just not enough microscopes or laboratory facilities to go around!

Besides, there is that very interesting if challenging provision of the law on Tertiary Education Subsidy that grants students from families on DSWD’s special list to certain additional benefits: board and lodging, book allowance, transportation allowance, living allowance and even the costs of the first try at licensure examinations.

I really wonder whether Secretary Ben Diokno gets much sleep these days, while trying to figure out how to finance all this. But he must, for so does the law ordain.

And so while university education in SUCs might be free, it will not be available at the drop of a hat, for the rules clearly render eligible only those who pass and comply with the admission requirements of the university. That is why SUCs around the country are reviewing the Philippine Quality Framework, the requirements of Mutual Recognition Agreements arising out of an integrated Asean and the more stringent standards.

The schematic placement of National Certificates evidencing skills and Turn to A5

Cybersecurity—a strategic necessity WITH much of the country—and the world—preoccupied with issues of security and terrorism, a critical aspect typically escapes attention: cybersecurity. In the Philippines, one of the recent events that brought this obliviousness to the fore was the $81-million heist that unidentified hackers pulled off over the Bangladesh central bank’s account in February 2016. The entire Philippine financial system was alarmed by the catastrophic repercussion of what happened.

This is not the first high-profile cybercrime incident in the country and will certainly not be the last.

Clearly then the Stratbase-Albert del Rosario Institute-organized roundtable discussion “Developing a Cybersecure Culture” last week in Makati couldn’t have come at a better time. Officials and experts from government, the academe,

A milestone is the development of the Cybersecurity Plan 2022.

and the private sector exchanged thoughts on where the country stands in terms of cybersecurity and, most importantly, what can be done before it was too late.

There was a palpable urgency to the discussion. And for good reason.

In opening the forum, Stratbase ADRi

president, professor Dindo Manhit, stressed modern life’s increasing dependence on technology and the consequently high cost of any disruption.

“Cybersecurity has become a critical concern and the widespread collection, use, and sharing of data] between companies of personal data can negatively affect one’s financial wellbeing and career prospects,” he said.

As such, the role of government and regulation cannot be overstated, he added, in particular the institutionalization of laws and policies to safeguard digital-age rights, such as privacy of information.

A key milestone, he said, is the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s

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messages while walking, or driving for that matter. Imagine what could have happened if I was reading that text message while going down a flight of stairs. *** The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the farm gate price of a kilo of palay has gone up from P18.60 per kilogram March last year to P20.22 per kg. this year. It’s been an upward trend for the tenth straight week.

Now that’s good news for the farmers who are now beginning to harvest, and with the announcement that government stocks won’t be coming in until July, those prices are likely to set in, if not increase further once the estimated summer harvest falls short of expectations.

But that’s bad news for the consumers who will have to put up with increased rice prices at anywhere from 44 to 50 pesos for well-milled rice. And that’s not even high quality rice.

Meanwhile, the market awaits congressional action on rice tariffication, which would amend local laws that would align with our WTO commitment to dispose of quantitative restrictions on the importation of our staple food commodity.

Sometimes I wonder whether the recent rice price crisis was not just a case of the NFA administrator and the NFA Council not seeing eye-toeye, as has been reported.

Is it a case of unseen hands testing the temper of the market? Thus far, consumers, while quietly grouching, seem to have just accepted the price spikes.

This is a good sign for the economic managers who hold sway over the NFA Council. If people accept market realities more easily, then the shift from import restrictions to tariffication will likely be welcomed.

For once, import quotas are no longer in force, and the private sector can import rice without restrictions other than paying the right taxes, prices of rice in the domestic market will go down, barring of course, unforeseen developments in the world supply situation.

Yet we hope our government is preparing, and is capable of helping the palay farmers on the cost of inputs, that is fertilizers, good seeds, Turn to A5

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

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Opinion EVERYMAN

Maria Bonita, a musician’s old flame

By Honor Blanco Cabie WHAT does one, an incorrigible lover of beautiful creations, do when one meets an old flame, a veritable trove of lifting and lilting memories, six years and two scores from their first meeting?

You may rest in the thought that the time gap would have put either in the bracket of what Philippine law would identify as the subdivision that had crossed the frontyard of the senior citizens block—and there may not be much left between the two.

But there are mortal loves that do not die despite the whip of harsh seasons.

These loves—and there may be few and far between—give sense and substance to life that we know is from womb to tomb.

There may have been instances when the love, whose flame keeps dancing in the memory of the breathing lover, appears as a pleasant dream, when the stars are like strewn chunks of bars of gold in the sky, which sometimes play host to speeding asteroids and shooting stars.

There may be other instances when that love must itself take some rest, only to emerge beyond the midnight clock when the evening breeze is as soothing as a woman’s voice when the woman is in her most fertile moments.

And if the lover has, all these years, been faithful as faithful to a commitment he has been, how can the meeting 46 years later appear, when just the two of them, beyond the kibitzing eyes of a crowd, are in a room, recalling yet once more the first meeting they had in a younger clime?

Would they perhaps be absolved at once by a Benedictine monk or a Dominican priest who, on a Sunday dusk, after several confessions heard, would have ears pierced by a love that has not died, a love that has been properly concealed in particularly the man’s bosom where dreams are built and hopes are made from the beauty of sounds unleashed on weekends and holidays before?

Or would the man, who has enough of loves in his heart, be condemned to lasting perdition and perhaps hell, for his continuing love for the old flame he knows he will never turn his back to, the one love he knows that perhaps, if he were a sonneteer, would always be in his quatrains and octaves, sextets and couplets?

Would there be any difference if the man were me, a very loyal banana— as in bananas and daffodils, as I used to address my students at the staterun University of the Philippines—to things that carry and excite my passion, my soul and my system, which would include my flesh and bones?

Let me temporarily take a space from the pleasant highway of that preceding thought.

The other night, I was at the dining table with my wife, my son and his wife. In keeping with the tradition of the clan, the dining table was filled with plates replete with vegetables— we are vegetarians, or at least I am, after all.

As was usual in nights previously, the other night was no exception—with intellectual exercises that raise both the IQ and the EQ levels of members of the family.

One comment from Andy Lord elicited a raucous laughter that reverberated across the dining room, drowning the mother’s lighthearted comment that the father would hardly

admit to anything that would not please his mental valleys.

Now, back to that old flame, whose sound would put to shame even the most soothing sigh of a woman in love, in her most seductive state when the night is young and the stars are most jealous.

I was a 16-year-old college freshman when I met Maria Bonita, whose sounds haunted me nights on end as I dreamed, first among the wooded hills of home in the chosen town of Pinili.

And then along the corridors of the Benedictine school where, during Thursdays, the skirted daughters of Eve shuffling feet along Mendiola towards the Catholic St. Jude church beside Malacanang, were trapped by admiring Bedans’ eyes, enjoying a break from their theology and philosophy classes.

But even the white uniformed Holy Ghost—later Holy Spirit—College girls were no match to Maria Bonita, God’s creation who excited in me, and perhaps in some other virile men, a love that would remain pulsating, with outbursts that healthy bipeds are familiar with, 46 long years later.

What a relief indeed it was when I found Maria Bonita once again, right before my eyes as in that first encounter when I had the strength of a raging stallion in some summer night back home.

As on the first encounter, Maria Bonita’s sounds overwhelmed me once more, and raised my soul several notches higher with the speed of an elevator rushing up to the 102nd floor of a high rise structure in some busy metropolis. An encounter it was that I would never, for the life of me, apologize for, jokingly—jokes are half meant, after all, aren’t they?—or whatever.

It is not in my character to apologize for God’s creations when they strum the strings of my passion, my humanity and soul.

I do not know where Maria Bonita was born. But perhaps she was born in Matanzas, Cuba, where Damaso Perez Prado, later called “El rey del mambo,” was himself born.

Classically trained to play the piano, Perez Prado concentrated on Latin music as soon as he started to become a professional in 1941 in the Cuban capital of Havana.

Incidentally, it took some time for music enthusiasts to realize what Prado, who also played with his orchestra the naggingly familiar Skokiaan, the African melody written by August Msarurgwa of Zimbabwe.

In another time this was also played by the Ray Anthony Orchestra.

Yes, I met Maria Bonita once again this year. And I am keeping her in the master’s bedroom. Very often, my wife and I would dance to its rhythmic beat when sleep is still off our eye bags at around 2 a.m., about the same time dreams can lift the soul up.

And then the very grateful wife and I would slide down to slumberland, dreaming of the sounds that Maria Bonita unleashed in an earlier clime and made me fall for her.

Such Maria Bonita indeed. The one Maria Bonita who can never inspire fear in the wife’s heart.

(HBC, a trombonist since he was seven years old, is a lyricist and songwriter; he was musical arranger of the Tiger Boys Orchestra, and 1st Trombone of The Mendiola Brass with the Bad Habits.)

Unseen...

From A4

as well as irrigation (free irrigation has been legislated recently), and expansion of credit and crop insurance facilities.

Food security is a complex matter, expensive even. But food is food; we just have to bear the costs. *** I hope another possible case of unseen hands is the seemingly queer acceptance of Janet Lim Napoles, albeit temporary and conditional, into the witness protection program.

Everybody and his mother chorused condemnation of the latest DoJ ruling, coming as it did on the heels of a most controversial recommendation of a panel of state prosecutors who dismissed the cases against admitted drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, convicted drug lord Peter Co, and suspected drug lord Peter Lim. But then again, since the Ombudsman has already filed cases with the Sandiganbayan against Napoles and her conspirators, that DoJ utilization of the pork barrel queen as potential state witness would no longer affect the cases already filed.

What possible unseen hands may have in mind is what beans, if any, Madamme Janet could spill on those not yet implicated by the Ombudsman.

If the suspicion is true, then it becomes a case of one step backward, two steps forward in the celebrated unraveling of the mother of all scams. *** On happier news, let us greet President Fidel Valdez Ramos and first lady Ming a very happy 90th birthday. Their birthdates are just a week apart, with FVR celebrating his as we write this article.

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018

A5

House call 2.0: Women GPs bring remote care to rural Pakistan

By Sajjad Tarakzai IN A remote Pakistani village surrounded by lush green hills, Mohammad Fayyaz brings his twoyear-old son to a clinic so that a female doctor sitting hundreds of kilometres away can examine him.

Healthcare in rural Pakistan and the careers of women doctors are being revolutionized as internet access grows across the country, allowing people with limited mobility because of geography or culture to interact online.

Previously, Fayyaz would have had to travel for hours from his village of Bhosa, in northern KhyberPakhtunkhwa province, only to spend hours queuing at overcrowded clinics in cities like Abbottabad or Peshawar for medical help.

Women doctors more than 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) to the south in the port of Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, face their own challenges, with their careers often put on ice once they marry and become mothers in the conservative, patriarchal country.

Now, a Karachi-based health tech startup, Sehat Kahani, has deployed Skype to solve both problems at once by bringing work to the doctors and medical advice to the villages.

“My son took just one dose of medicine and he feels much better now,” Fayyaz told AFP after paying a nominal fee of 100 rupees (90 cents) to visit the Sehat Kahani clinic in his village and speak face-to-face via video conferencing to a doctor in Karachi.

Convenience is everything in a place where women must walk for miles to fetch water from a spring and power cuts can last up to 12 hours a day, the low hum of generators a constant backdrop to village life.

The remote doctors offer a fresh solution to Pakistan’s struggling healthcare sector.

Cybersecurity—...

From A4

Cybersecurity Plan 2022. It is holistic and multi-sectoral in nature, as it includes “making critical information infrastructure trusted and secure to ensure its continuous operations, making government information environment and businesses secure; effective coordination with law enforcement agencies, and helping shape a society with an ingrained culture of cybersecurity.”

The government recognizes the importance of dealing with cyber threats, said DICT Assistant Secretary Allan Cabanlong. In fact, he said, aside from the National Cybersecurity Plan, the agency is also looking at ICTs as they are used in illicit trade involving drugs and guns, which are paid through virtual currencies, as well as terrorism, in which websites are used to promote and recruit potential members.

The President himself, Cabanlong said, has prioritized dealing with the “threat of cybercrime,” enjoining the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement authorities to coordinate in dealing with the matter.

The Cybersecurity Plan was put in place precisely because the country stands to lose so much in terms of investment if

The equities...

From A4

competences (largely in the technical and vocational areas) makes clear that it certainly is not the goal to send everyone off to university studies. But the point of social justice that the law makes, and that Chair Popoy has left no doubts about is that access should be there, and realistically so!

There are two measures of control available to SUCs. The first lies in their admission requirements. Students of SUCs should not compare poorly with their counterparts in private higher education institutions.

The aristocracy of the mind should have nothing to do with bank deposits and holdings, although the fact is that, in the Philippines, such a correlation does exist, so that social oligarchs engender an academic elite class. That is not true only in the Philippines of course. After all, not everyone goes to Cambridge and to Oxford, and these are about the very best one can have! If anything, “iskolar ng bayan” should mean not only beneficiary of state funds, but distinguished scholastic wards of the State, the fair offspring of its Platonic

The country has one of the world’s highest infant mortality rates and just 0.5-0.8 percent of its GDP has been spent on the health sector in the past decade.

“It is very helpful, particularly for female patients because it is close to all of us,” Fayyaz says.

“That’s why I am here,” agrees Bibi Mehrunisa, one of the many women clustered in the clinic’s waiting room, some with children in tow.

Marriage versus career It’s also important for the women on the computer screens.

At her Karachi home, doctor Benish Ehsan was multitasking, caring for her child as he sat on her lap, even as she began her online examination of a young patient in Bhosa.

“Is he using the bathroom, has the vomiting stopped or not?” she asks through the computer screen, advising the worried mother to feed her child more fruit and vegetables.

“He has lost some weight, so I am prescribing some medicines for that too,” she says.

Later, speaking to AFP, Ehsan says the programme is empowering for stay-at-home mothers who also happen to be doctors, like her.

“It suits us, we don’t need to go outside and can continue our practice even sitting at home,” she says. “We are enjoying our family life and can also take care of patients.”

Raheel Tanvir, a Sehat Kahani representative at the clinic in Bhosa, says roughly 80 percent of women doctors quit the profession after they get married.

“So the basic aim was to bring back those female doctors... They can continue their profession, can examine the patients while sitting at home and can also take care of their family,” says Tanvir.

The Bhosa clinic opened last September and since then has seen hundreds of patients each month,

demonstrating the need for the female doctors’ skills.

“It’s a huge waste,” says Javed Akram, vice chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences [PIMS] in Islamabad, lamenting how women end up using their medical degree “to get married.”

“Men prefer to have doctors as wives rather than receptionists or hair stylists,” he explains. “They are not giving anything back to the country...

Let them work.”

Helping remote areas remotely The clinic in Bhosa operates simply: a nurse examines the patient and sends all the information to the doctor, who then consults with the patient via Skype before making a diagnosis.

The local government is also tuning in to the trend, setting up an e-ilaj, or e-treatment, centre in a village called Bilahi, with plans to expand in other remote areas of KhyberPakhtunkhwa.

At Bilahi, where women clad in traditional shawls await their turn at the clinic surrounded by rolling hills, a four-year-old named Zehwish Azeem is examined remotely by physician Nadia Rasheed in Islamabad.

Rasheed said the government initiative works with a local internet provider to bring medical advice to some 15 villages with a population of more than 27,000 people in a rural area where doctors are few.

Over the last five years, more than 50,000 patients have been treated in such clinics in the Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces, and in a remote village in the Margalla Hills bordering Islamabad, said Rasheed.

“This area is remote, people are poor and they had to travel a long time for treatment,” Mian Badar Jan, an official in the Bilahi clinic told AFP. “Now this system with modern facilities is helping them.” AFP

its digital infrastructure is not as robust as necessary.

In particular, the cybersecurity roadmap identified four key strategic imperatives: the protection of critical Infostructure, the protection of government networks both public and military, the protection of businesses and supply chains, and the protection of individuals.

“Users are typically the weakest link, and so there is a need to educate them no matter how sophisticated their systems are,” he added.

Commissioner Raymund Liboro of the National Privacy Commission emphasized that in addition to this new roadmap there is a “symbiotic relationship between data privacy and cybersecurity, and it is supported by a “trinity of laws.” These include the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and the law that created the DICT. Liboro said the commission received complaints in relation to unauthorized processing and security of personal information. Half of such reported breaches, he added, were from malicious criminal attacks, while the rest were a result of system glitches and human error.

According to Union Bank Chief Information and Security Officer Aldrin Escurel, the private sector can contribute to cultivating a cybersecure culture by

integrating controls in its products and services and shifting from “passive to active defense” in this light.

“For the private sector, what’s at risk are customer privacy and security, and this security is integral to the supply chain, and so the sector should work with regulators and relevant authorities,” he said.

For instance, the cybersecurity team of Unionbank monitors the security operations center 24/7, where there is harmony between people and the process, the better to catch cyber-attacks and threats such as pharming, phishing, and social media impersonators.

Technology has implications on strategic affairs, said Stratbase ADRI fellow and University of Nottingham professor Francis Domingo. Among them, there is a general misperception of cyber threats due to exaggerated framing in the media, there is a militarization of cyberspace, especially in Asia, and while there are guidelines such as the Tallinn manual, not all states comply to these. Agencies like the UN, Nato, and the EU failed to make cyber rules, to cite.

As complex as the issues are, a good way to move forward, Domingo said, is to manage what’s happening on three levels: Global, state, and individual. For its part, for all its regulatory strength, the Philippines is in a strong position to do just that.

guardian-hood! And that should be true only only the University of the Philippines, but of all SUCs. If anything at all, UP should not be in a class all its own, but should be the paradigm of all state educational institutions and a center of excellence in relation to them all. But how does one craft an instrument that makes admission selective without falling into the pitfall of elitism and reinforcing the vicious cycle of social imbalance? That is the challenge, but it is one that must be met.

And this is the reason that admission should not depend on the results of a poorly crafted test. Some years ago, intelligence tests were assailed for being culturally biased. There then arose a series of attempts to make these tests “culture fair.” I am not saying that the attempts always succeeded, but I am insisting that we are capable of screening tools that are socially balanced. Mediocrity and economic privation are not synonymous.

The second device is the “return service agreement.” Those who are benefited particularly by the State must serve the State. While institutions are free to formulate their return-service policies, the whole point is that the beneficiaries of the universal access

law must make themselves available for service to the State and must not hie off somewhere abroad where the pastures seem proverbially greener. And not everyone will be willing to bind herself to return service. In such a case, the rules announced by Chair Popoy are clear: The student impliedly opts out of the system of benefits and must assume the costs of her education.

I am sure that SUC administrators are already at work putting in place the mechanisms of admission, registration and placement of students. There is a lot to be done in this area, and lackadaisical guidance services that have left students wandering about like headless chicken following entering any classroom that seemed to them congenial and finding out only later in there course of study that they had embarked on a course farthest from their interests must be ordered to shape out or ship out to the nearest island of cannibals. And more importantly, the conjunction of three vital terms should never be lost sight of: Universal access—quality education— return service. rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

A6

News

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Handline fishing docks eyed in Benham S O AS to entice marginal Filipino fishermen hunting for high-value tuna, Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza on Sunday supported the plan of the Department of Agriculture to put up shelters in the shallow portions of Benham or the Philippine Rise.

“Subject to the conduct of environmental impact studies, we favor the plan construct docks in the banks of Benham to draw in handline fishermen in motorized boats from as far as Quezon province,” Atienza, author of a bill seeking to establish the Philippine Rise Protection and Development Authority, said.

“Studies by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources have demonstrated that there is a high catch rate for big-eye tuna, yellowfin tuna and albacore tuna in the waters of Benham,” Atienza said.

Handline tuna fishing could improve in a big way the living standards of marginal families in the coastal communities around the region, according to Atienza, the senior deputy minority leader.

Atienza earlier urged Malacañang to certify his bill that seeks to establish the PRPDA “to safeguard and manage the resources found in the waters, seabed and subsoil of region that rightfully belong to the Philippines.”

Under the bill, the PRPDA’s governing board would include the heads of the departments of environment and

natural resources, agriculture, energy, science and technology, finance, tourism, public works and highways, and defense, plus three private sector representatives.

During the administration of thenPresident Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Philippine government in 2009 specifically marked Benham as within the limits of the Philippine continental shelf.

The demarcation was approved by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf three years later.

Atienza was environment and natural resources secretary when he had Benham surveyed and mapped between 2007 and 2008 to gather the technical data that would later officially define the region as inside the Philippine continental shelf.

“There’s no question Benham is of great economic value to Filipinos,” Atienza, former three-term mayor of Manila, said.

Benham is located off the Philippines’ Pacific coast, some 250 kilometers east of the northern beaches of Dinapigue, Isabela.

PYROMUSICAL TILT. Team Taiwan’s entry for the 9th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition conjures an image of coconut stands swaying with the wind. Taiwan is among 10 teams locked in the ‘battle for sky supremacy’ which enters its 5th Saturday at the Mall Of Asia (Sea Side Ground), Pasay City on March 17, 2018. The competition concludes on March 24, 2018. Norman Cruz

Make school subsidy work, Angara urges SENATOR Juan Edgardo Angara has called on the government to ensure that poor students will benefit from the subsidy that will cover not only tuition but also other school expenses as mandated by the Free College law.

The law also has an additional financial assistance for the poor students to cover their expenses for the books, fare, dorm and others,” said Angara, author of both the Free College law and the UniFAST law.

Angara has lauded the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Board for finally coming up with the implementing rules and regulations for Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to

Quality Tertiary Education Act. RA 10931, with an initial funding of P40 billion, covers the tuition, miscellaneous and other school fees of students enrolled in 112 state universities and colleges, 78 local universities and colleges, and all technical-vocation education and training programs registered under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The law requires SUCs, LUCs and TVET institutions to formulate and implement affirmative action programs to enhance access of disadvantaged students, such as lumads, Muslims, and other indigenous peoples; persons with disabilities; students from public schools; and stu-

Coco trust fund bill slated for Senate’s approval today SENATE has approved on second reading the bill creating the coconut industry trust fund, which Senator Cynthia Villar says, addresses the decades-old issue surrounding the coconut levy fund and how it can be used for the benefit of 3.5-million coconut farmers in the country.

On March 12, Senate approved SB 1233 or An Act Creating the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund, Providing for its Management and Utilization, and for Other Purposes during its plenary session on March 12. It is supposed to act on the bill at Third Reading today March 19.

“We are confident that with safeguards and reforms in place, we can finally see the day when poverty incidence is no longer

the highest among our coconut farmers,” Villar said, adding that a coconut farmer earns on the average, P50 a day.

During the period of individual amendments on the bill, Villar has introduced provisions in the bill to safeguard the P100-billion coconut levy funds composed of cash and assets and to ensure increased income for all coconut farmers.

The chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Food pushed for the inclusion of a provision that will mandate “the investment of the trust fund principal only in Philippine government securities to ensure the safety of the fund and for assured returns.”

“In terms of the deployment of the trust

fund for investment purposes, this representation strongly feels that as a business woman, investing in stocks, commodities, futures and options would be very risky for a trust fund that is endowed with public interest, even where the services of fund managers are engaged,” she said.

She also pushed for the earmarking of the income or interest earning of the trust fund to the following programs: a. Shared facilities program, 35 percent; b. Scholarship program, 15 percent; c. Empowerment of coconut farmer organizations and their cooperatives, 15 percent; and d.

Farm improvements (to encourage selfsufficiency), 35 percent.

Villar also supported the amendment

of Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto to do away with a trust committee which will decide on the investment of the fund as this will only resurrect the failed Coconut Industry Investment Fund.

She added that an increased representation of coconut farmers in the reconstituted Philippine Coconut Authority will ensure that the protection of farmers’ interest is the paramount consideration in the agency’s decision-making process.

The Nacionalista Party senator also introduced amendments to make sure that the PCA will have a yearly appropriation in the General Appropriations Act to fund programs for the development of the coconut industry. Macon Ramos Araneta

Uber sets up one-stop shop IN SUPPORT of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s processing of transport network service applications, Uber has announced it will be extending its TNVS Assist Center for another three months. Uber said that the temporary processing facility, located at the Matrix Events Place in Quezon City, serves as a one-stop shop to help make the application process as smooth and efficient as possible.

Just a short walk away from the LTFRB Central office, the center creates a comfortable environment for Uber partners, where they are briefed and assisted to ensure that all their documents and requirements are ready for processing at the LTFRB. Partners with any concerns and other inquiries are also attended to by an Uber support team on site.

Upon entry, partners present their IDs for verification and batching. They are then ushered to a briefing area, where they are oriented with the process that will take place in the LTFRB. If all their requirements are complete, they are shuttled in batches to the LTFRB for submission and and processing of their TNVS applications.

PLAYING INDIAN. A vendor offers his bow-and-arrow toy to a local tourists at Fort Santiago in Manila on Sunday. His wares include different kinds of hats. Lino Santos

dents from depressed areas.

Angara stressed the provision that creates a Tertiary Education Subsidy which will cover the allowance for books, supplies, transportation, room and board, personal computer or laptop, and other educationrelated personal expenses of poor students.

The subsidy will also provide financial support for the tuition and other fees of poor students enrolled in private colleges and universities.

Students included in the Listahanan will be prioritized as eligible beneficiaries of the subsidy, which shall be managed by the UniFAST Board. Macon Ramos Araneta

More women hold high positions at DENR—Usec

By Rio N. Araja

AS THE country celebrates March as women’s month, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has welcomed a reported growing number of women holding management positions in the agency.

“In the present time, I am happy to say that we have much to celebrate as we have continuously empowered women within the department,” Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning Service Corazon Davis said.

Davis has been tasked to head the agency’s gender and development focal point system.

With only 5-percent females in third level positions in 1987, the agency officials are now 26 percent women under the administration of Secretary Roy Cimatu, she cited.

Undersecretary posts, which were previously male-dominated, are now being occupied by two females, she said, adding they now have now five female assistant secretaries from only two in 1987.

She cited the increase in the number of management positions occupied by women—service directors from three to 13, regional directors from one to 12, assistant regional directors, from one to seven and provincial environment and natural resources officers from two to nine.

Despite such development, she said there are more efforts to be needed to be able to close the gender gap at the DENR workplace.

“This is not to say that there are no gaps, in fact, we must strive to increase the number of women who are involved in the decision-making process of this institution,” she said.

For this year, the women’s month celebration kicked off with the opening of the women’s market at the walkway of the DENR central office to support grassroots women producers and entrepreneurs.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

MercedesTrophy golf at Sta. Elena THE 13th MercedesTrophy Golf Invitational gets going today (March 19) at Sta. Elena Golf Club with over 200 players setting out for a day-long battle of shotmaking, putting and stamina for cracks at the Asian Finals in Australia.

The winners in three men’s divisions and their respective runners-up along with the ladies champion will represent the Philippines in the MercedesTrophy Asian Finals set in Brisbane in August via Philippine Airlines.

Aside from the rare chance to play with other regional champions, participants in the Asian Finals will also be treated to an experiential drive that will showcase the world-class performance and dynamic handling of MercedesBenz vehicles.

The event, featuring Mercedes-Benz owners and golf enthusiasts, is put up by the Auto Nation Group, Inc., the exclusive importer and distributor of Mercedes-Benz in the Philippines, and backed by platinum and gold sponsors, including Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Philippine Airlines, PLDT Alpha, QBE Seaboard Insurance, Inc., Shell Philippines and TW Steel. Other backers of the event are Boysen, Business Mirror, Remy Martin and Security Bank.

Winners of the Asian Finals will then meet other champions in the prestigious International MercedesTrophy Tournament in Stuttgart, Germany in October.

LeBron, Cavs frustrate Bulls L

OS ANGELES—LeBron James’ 70th career triple-double propelled the shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers to a 114-109 NBA victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, when the injury plagued Golden State Warriors also pulled off a win.

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Chicago Bulls’ Paul Zipser at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. AFP

Record finish seen in Alveo Ironman

Sam Betten braces for a fierce duel with the likes of Tim Reed, Bradley Weiss and Ben Allen for the first Alveo Ironman 70.3 crown.

A7

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

THE Alveo Ironman 70.3 braces for a blistering finish among the top international bidders with personal records and new overall marks tipped to be established when it is staged March 25 at the scenic Azuela Cove in Davao City.

With a relatively flat and straight run and bike courses, observers see a feisty battle of strength and stamina in the 1.9K swim, 90K bike, 21K run event presented by Petron and held in Mindanao for the first time in a decade of triathlon staging by Sunrise Events, Inc. With the swim stage set at the break of dawn, the tide won’t be as high and the current won’t be as strong, thus ensuring a spirited

race right in the kickoff leg of the keenly awaited event that drew five world champions and a number of leading local and international triathletes.

Action starts at the Pakiputan straight, a 500m leg swim before the field turns right for another 50 meters followed by a n 850m leg heading south. Participants will then make a 25-meter right turn heading to the final 475 meter leg exiting in Azuela Cove.

They will then exit onto the highway for the fast, single loop bike ride from Davao City, Panabo, Carmen all the way to the turnaround point at Tagum City.

It will traverse through several cities on a straightforward course with wide and scenic roads.

The field will then head back to Azuela Cove for the second transition, heading to J.P. Laurel Ave. for the concluding run course, a two-loop counter clockwise 10km out-and-back flat layout through Davao’s commercial district.

Former Xterra world champion Ben Allen, also a regular campaigner in local triathlon, joins fellow Australian Tim Reed, the world titlist in 2016, Mexico’s Mauricio Mendez and Bradley Weiss of South Africa, the Xterra world champions in 2016 and 2017, respectively, and three-time Ironman winner Craig Alexander in the elite division of the event backed by title sponsor Alveo, an AyalaLand company.

Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James was once again the difference maker for the Cavs, who traveled to Chicago without Kevin Love, Rodney hood, Kyle Korver, Larry Nance Jr., Cedi Osman and Tristan Thompson.

Thanks largely to him Cleveland finished their six-game road trip 3-3.

“For us to go 3-3 throughout everything as far as the injuries and available guys, I think it was a good trip for us,” James said.

Coach Tyronn Lue also missed the second half of Saturday’s game because of an undisclosed illness, but the Cavs -- who led 69-52 at halftime -- fended off the Bulls’ late challenge to secure the win.

Trailing 85-81 going into the fourth period, Chicago tied the score twice in the final frame.

James’ jump shot over Paul Zipser with 39 seconds left put the Cavs up by six, and on the Bulls’ ensuing possession he rejected Cameron Payne’s shot.

James finished with 33 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, and became the sixth player to notch 70 triple-doubles in his career.

For a Warriors team missing stars Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson along with Patrick McCaw and Omri Casspi it was Quinn Cook and Kevon Looney who stepped up in a 124-109 victory over the Suns in Phoenix.

Cook led the Warriors with a career-high 28 points. Looney posted career-highs of 13 points and six blocked shots, and Draymond Green came within two assists of a triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Warriors bounced back from a loss to Sacramento on Friday.

Seven players scored in double-figures for Golden State, who trailed by 15 points in the second quarter but out-scored the Suns 72-49 in the second half.

The Warriors, seeking their third title in four seasons, are two and a half games behind the Western Conference leading Houston Rockets, who beat the Pelicans 107-101 in New Orleans.

James Harden scored 32 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as the Rockets notched their 21st win in 22 games.

Chris Paul added 21 points and Clint Capela chipped in 13 with 11 rebounds for Houston.

Against a Pelicans team fighting for their playoff lives, Harden drained a three-pointer that put the Rockets up by nine with 1:31 remaining. AFP NOTICE is hereby given that the Intestate Estate of Spouses WILFREDO S. ENCOMIENDA AND SUSAN M. ENCOMIENDA who died in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on March 22, 2015 and Medical City, Ortigas on December 9, 2015, respectively, is the subject of EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT by and among their sale heirs, namely: Wilson Anthony M. Encomienda and Kathleen M. Encomienda, as per Doc. No. 123; Page No. 26; Book No. I; Series of 2018 of the Notarial Register/Book of HENSON M. MONTALVO, Notary Public for and in the City of Makati.

ERRORS & OMISSIONS In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published.

We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

(MS-MAR. 19,26 & APR. 2, 2018)

Animo Interschool Triathlon at Vermosa set on April 15 TWO perfectly golden runs at the Southeast Asian Games later, the Triathlon Association of the Philippines is still hard at work in its campaign to build up the country’s bench for the prestigious sport it represents.

The 2018 NSA of the Year, along with the De La Salle Zobel Tri Team and Vermosa Sports Hub, will be holding the first Animo Interschool Triathlon on April 15 at the Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite, starting at 6 a.m.

The event will be the first triathlon ever in Ayala Land’s premiere fitness complex as well as TRAP’s first interschool competition designed to help scout for young triathletes.

Youth participants aged 11-12 years old will race in 250 meter swimming, bike 8 kilometers and run 2 meters.

Kids aged 13-14 engage in the 500 meter swim – 15 Km bike and 3 Km run while those aged 15 to 17 will engage in the same distance.

With the sport’s record growth in popularity, TRAP believes it is time for schools with swim teams to embrace triathlon.

“The potential is out there, we’ve proven that,” TRAP secretary general Tom Carrasco explained.

“Could your son or daughter be a future Olympic triathlete? Or one of your varsity swimmers or tracksters?

We want to share our excitement in that possibility.”

Registration is ongoing with an entry fee set at P3,150 for all agegroups. Only 150 slots are available and registration will last until March 31. The race is for the benefit of the De La Salle Zobel Sports Development Foundation.

InvItatIon to BId Procurement of varIous drugs and medIcInes 1.

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Defenders-BaiShipping a nonbearing contest.

Bulacan outlasted Bataan, 81-74, to claim the second spot, owing to its superior quotient over Muntinlupa and Valenzuela.

The Defenders, on the other hand, advanced to the next round after ending their elims with a 2-7 mark, tied with the Bandera, who were eliminated due to the win over the other rule. The Defenders won over the Bandera in the elimination round.

For the Kuyas, winning their fifth consecutive game is a good momentum builder heading to the playoffs.

“The boys are so P0 M+ determined to go to the playoffs with a win and take P0 M the No.2 spot,” said Baluyot.

“We just want to keep our winning culture and we want to bring it to the playoffs.”

The Kuyas will face the Parañaque Patriots-Gamboa Coffee in the best-of-three quarterfinal round where they carry a home court advantage.

INVITATION TO BID PROCUREMENT OF VARIOUS GOODS

The Department of Health (DOH), through the General Appropriations Act of 2018 intends to procure the following projects listed below: Cost of Bidding IB No. Name of Contract ABC (PHP) Documents (Php) 2018Procurement of Ferrous PhP24,515,694.04 25,000.00 197 sulfate Oral Solution 2018Procurement of CoPhP11,554,750.00 25,000.00 199 Amoxiclav

2.

The DOH now invites Bids from eligible Bidders for the procurement of the abovecaption projects. Delivery of the Goods is required as specified in Section VI. Schedule of Requirements.

3.

Bidders should have completed contracts similar to the cited projects as stated in the ITB. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

4.

1.The Department of Health (DOH), through the General Appropriations Act CY 2018 intends to apply the amount of Five Hundred Four Million Seven Hundred Sixty One Thousand One Hundred Fifty Eight Philippine Pesos (PhP504,761,158.00) for the projects listed below. Bids received in excess of each ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening: IB No.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), provided that Bidders who interested to participate shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

5.

IB No. 2018-192 IB No. 2018-193 IB No. 2018-195 IB No. 2018-196 IB No. 2018-201 IB No. 2018-204

Name of Contract

2018-197

Procurement of Ferrous sulfate Oral Solution Procurement of CoAmoxiclav

2018-199 6.

Activity (Date & Time) Submission Pre-bidding and Opening of Conference Bids 27 March 2018; 10:00 A.M.

(a) (b)

(c)

(d)

Cash or cashier’s/manager’s check issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank.

Bank draft/guarantee or irrevocable letter of credit issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank: Provided, however, that it shall be confirmed or authenticated by a Universal or Commercial Bank, if issued by a foreign bank.

Surety bond callable upon demand issued by a surety or insurance company duly certified by the Insurance Commission as authorized to issue such security.

Bid Securing Declaration

8.

50,000.00 25,000.00 25,000.00

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the COBAC Secretariat, G/F, Bldg.

6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila and inspect the Bidding Documents at 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents for each procurement package listed above may be acquired by interested bidders on 19 March to 10 April 2018 from the address above and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB Resolution No. 04-2012, dated 24 February 2012, in the amount specified above.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders who are interested to participate shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

Bidding Documents Fee may be refunded in accordance with the aforementioned Guidelines based on the grounds provided for under Section 41 of 2016 Revised IRR of RA 9184.

The DOH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference and the Submission and Opening of Bids at the COBAC Conference Room, G/F, Building 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila, which shall be opened to all interested parties on the schedule given below: Bids must Bids must be delivered to the address stated below. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated below:

6.

Form of Bid Security (a)

Five percent (5%)

(b)

No percentage required (c)

(d)

Cash, Cashier’s/manager’s check issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank.

Bank draft/guarantee or irrevocable letter of credit issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank: Provided, however, that it shall be confirmed or authenticated by a Universal or Commercial Bank, if issued by a foreign bank.

Surety bond callable upon demand issued by a surety or insurance company duly certified by the Insurance Commission as authorized to issue such security.

Bid Securing Declaration

Amount of Bid Security (Not less than the required percentage of the ABC)

Two percent (2%)

Five percent (5%) No percentage required

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

The DOH reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

9.

For further information, please refer to:

For further information, please refer to:

COBAC-C Secretariat Department of Health San Lazaro Compound Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. Nos. 651-7800 local 1625 to 1627; 1650 to 52 Facsimile No.: 741-9775; 740-6830

(SGD) ROGER P. TONG-AN, DMPA, MAN, RN Undersecretary of Health COBAC-A Chairperson (MS-MAR. 19, 2018)

25,000.00

At least Twenty Five (25%) of the ABC within the specified period in the Section III. Bid Data Sheet

4.

7.

COBAC-A Secretariat Building 6 Department of Health San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. Nos. 651-7800 local 1625 to 1627; 1650 to 52 Facsimile No.: 711-6061/740-6830

25,000.00

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

Two percent (2%)

The DOH reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

50,000.00

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bid opening shall be at COBAC Conference Room, G/F, Bldg. 6, DOH, San Lazaro Cmpd., Rizal Ave., Sta. Cruz, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

7.

25,000.00

3.

10 APRIL 2018; 9:00 A.M.

Amount of Bid Security (Not less than the required percentage of the ABC)

Procurement of Various Medical Supplies for the use of Type Kita/Type 40,040,788.00 ng Bayan Projects and Philippine Blood Center Procurement of Glass Ionomer Cement 74,610,000.00 (Restorative/Filling Material) Procurement of Pit & 33,600,000.00 Fissure Sealant Kit Procurement of Triple 18,505,620.00 Blood Bags Procurement of Fluoride 290,133,000.00 Varnish Procurement of ABO, RH Grouping and Antibody 16,671,750.00 Screening with Tie-up Machine Procurement of Essential 31,200,000.00 Health Care Package 1 Total 504,761,158.00

Single Largest Completed Contract

The DOH now invites Bids from eligible Bidders for the procurement of the above-caption projects.

Delivery of the Goods as specified in Section VI. Schedule of Requirements. Bidders should have completed, within the specified years from the date of submission and receipt of bids a contracts similar to each of the above-cited procurement projects stated in the Bidding Documents. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bid must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before the date given above. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated below: Form of Bid Security

Cost of Bidding Documents (Php)

ABC (PHP)

2.

The DOH will hold a Pre-bidding Conference and the Submission and Opening of Bids at COBAC Conference Room, G/F, Bldg. 6, DOH, San Lazaro Cmpd., Rizal Ave., Sta. Cruz, Manila on the schedule given below: IB No.

Name of Contract

IB No. 2018-190

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the COBAC Secretariat, Ground Floor, Building 6, DOH, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila and inspect the Bidding Documents at 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.

MPBL Final 8 cast now complete MALOLOS—Muntinlupa gave Bataan a free ride to the quarterfinal round after the Angelis Resort-backed Cagers subdued the Imus Bandera-GLC Truck and Equipment, 81-69, Saturday and completed the final eight cast in the MPBL-Anta Rajah Cup at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium here.

The Cagers’ win, their sixth in nine games to forge a threeway tie with the Bulacan KuyasLigo Sardines and the Valenzuela Classic-Yulz, made the main game between the Kuyas and the Bataan

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health CENTRAL OFFICE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health CENTRAL OFFICE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

(SGD) MARIA FRANCIA M. LAXAMANA, MD, MHSA, CHS Assistant Secretary of Health COBAC - C Chairperson (MS-MAR. 19, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

A8

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018

Federer battles Del Potro in final INDIAN WELLS, United States – World No. 1 Roger Federer extended his season win streak to 17 matches, booking his spot in the Indian Wells Masters final by rallying past Borna Coric 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday.

The Swiss superstar survived a stern test from world number 49 Coric but managed to hold on for a 17-0 record this year, surpassing his prior careerbest calendar year start in 2006 when he opened with 16 wins.

“It took a while to get the record,” Federer said. “But I’m happy. It was just a fighting match .... It didn’t come easy, so I had to go get it.

“I got a little bit lucky. I hung tough and put a lot of effort into it to get the record.

Ronald Oranza (middle) of the Team Philippine Navy Standard Insurance pedals behind eventual Stage 12 criterium winner Jan Paul Morales. Oranza was officially crowned the new champion of the Ronda Pilipinas 2018 presented by LBC.

Oranza rules LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2018 R

ONALD ORANZA officially crowned himself the new champion of the Ronda Pilipinas 2018 presented by LBC by coming through with one of the most dominant performances in the race’s eight-year history before a sizeable crowd at the Filinvest, Alabang yesterday.

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a shot to Borna Coric of Croatia during the semifinal match on Day 13 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 17, 2018 in Indian Wells, California. AFP

“The focus has to be the finals right now. But it’s nice to get off to a good start this year, and I hope I can play well again tomorrow.”

The defending champion will be aiming for a record sixth Indian Wells title when he squares off against world number eight Juan Martin Del Potro in Sunday’s championship match.

The 36-year-old Federer said he had to draw on every ounce of experience and mental toughness to pull out the match.

“Margins are slim at the top of the game,” he said. “And I have been there so many times.

“You just hope to take the right decisions along the way, and then it ends up falling your way.

“But for that you need to have a very positive mindset. You need to be match-tough, you need to be confident, have experience, and I think I have a bit of all of that right now.”

Down a set and trailing 4-2 in the second, Federer had to claw his way back from the brink of defeat.

In the third set he fell behind again 4-3 but won the final 11 points of the match to claim the victory.

Federer clinched the match when Coric hit a shot wide. The ball was called out but Coric challenged and after the video review the original call was confirmed.

Tigresses beat UP to snap losing streak SISI Rondina had 25 points, 13 digs and 13 excellent receptions while drawing the needed support from her teammates as University of Santo Tomas halted a five-game slide with a 19-25, 30-28, 25-20, 25-16 win over University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament last Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Tigresses, still much lagging behind in the race for the last Final Four berth, joined their victims at 3-7 as coach Kungfu Reyes is simply pushing his troops to put their pride in their game.

“Individually and as a group, malaking bagay itong panalo na ito kasi masyado na kaming nabugbog eh. This time, pinipilit naming tumayo. Ang importante dito, kung paano kami bumalik.

Yung five-game losing streak is very uncharacteristic para sa amin,” said Reyes.

Already ensured of the crown and his place in Ronda history, the Villasis, Pangasinan native didn’t relent and still went for it as he did the whole race and ended up second behind Stage 12 criterium winner Jan Paul Morales and ahead of Junrey Navarra in an all Navy-Standard Insurance podium finish, clocking one hour, 28 minutes and 15 seconds.

After 12 grueling stages that started in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Oranza totaled 34:11:23 to best all comers including Morales, the titlist in the last two editions who finished second and about 11 minutes behind with 34:22:56.

When the smoke of battle dissipat-

ed, Oranza was joined in the celebration by an adoring crowd that included Ronda Executive Project director Moe Chulani and Standard Insurance president Ernesto Echauz in this race presented by LBC and supported by MVP Sports Foundation, Filinvest, Philippine Rabbit, CCN, Petron, Versa.ph, 3Q Sports Event Management, Inc., Boy Kanin, Franzia, Standard Insurance, Bike Xtreme, SH+, Guerciotti, Prolite, Green Planet, Maynilad, NLEX Sports, Lightwater, LBC Foundation and PhilCycling.

For his effort, Oranza will pocket a cool P1 million plus P300,000 worth of Boy Kanin franchise and the beau-

tifully-crafted trophy and place in that exclusive club of Ronda champions also composed of two-time winners Morales and Santy Baranchea of Team Franzia, Irish Valenzuela of CCN Superteam, Mac Galedo and Butuan City’s Reimon Lapaza.

“I can’t feel anything but happiness,” said the 25-year-old Oranza in Filipino.

And domination is the word that best described Oranza’s effort as he took the overall lead as early as the second round and posting nine podium finishes including victories in Stages One in Vigan, Two in Pagudpud and Seven in Tarlac along the way.

He was just a class above anyone else.

The 26-year-old Navara, a proud son of General Santos, for his part, wound up third overall in 34:33:06 while taking home his fourth CCN King of the Mountain trophy while Morales added the Petron Sprint King award to his growing collection of trophies.

Veteran players playing in pro clubs abroad to join Azkals

By Peter Atencio MORE veteran players who are currently seeing action for clubs abroad will be available.

Philippine Azkals nation al men’s football Team Manager Dan Palami said this after he called for support for their upcoming matches of the national team on March 22 and March 27, 2018 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Fil-British goalie Neil Etheridge, playing out of Cardiff City, will be there, along with Ian Ramsay and Misagh Bahadoran.

Ramsay is with Felda United of Malaysia, while Bahadoran is coming in from Perak FA, also of Malaysia.

“We should also be proud of our national team players who are doing well internationally in their various clubs,” said Palami.

The Azkals are getting ready for a March 22 game against Fiji, which will be a friendly.

This will serve as a tune-up game for the crucial Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup 2019 qualifier match on March 27, 2018.

Palami said that the Tajikistan game is an important match for the country.

“The cards are not exactly stacked against us. We are currently on top of the table of Group F with 9 points,” added Palami.

A win or we draw will move the Azkals to the next level, and into the tournament proper of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time.

Tajikistan is currently ranked 124th, while the Philippines is currently ranked 122nd, in its latest rankings by FIFA, while Fiji is currently ranked 168th.

PH girls bow to Mongolia San Miguel Beer forward Arwind Santos (29) drives to the hoop against a pair of Barangay Ginebra defenders in Japeth Aguilar (25) and Joe Devance. PBA

San Miguel Beermen seek Philippine Cup four-peat

By Jeric Lopez FOUR more wins.

That’s how close the San Miguel Beermen are to potentially winning a record fourth straight Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup crown.

Following a masterful performance in the semifinals where they manhandled Barangay Ginebra, 4-1, in their best-ofseven affair, the defending champions are back in familiar territory.

Only one more series win separates the Beermen from basketball immortality.

For now, San Miguel coach Leo Austria wants his wards to cherish the moment temporarily and rest up to

prepare for the big stage ahead.

“We tried our best to finish the series for the players to have some rest first before the finals. We’re expecting a tough finals,” said Austria. “Enjoy muna ng konti sa pag pasok sa finals then prepare na agad kasi mahirap kahit sino makalaban.”

The Beermen will have the luxury of having ample time to rest and recuperate as they brace themselves for the final run.

They still await the victor in the other semis tussle between the Magnolia Hotshots and the NLEX Road Warriors.

The Hotshots and the Road Warriors are still locked in a tight and competitive series which is currently tied at

the moment, 2-2.

As of this writing, Game 5 is currently in play with both teams aiming for a pivotal 3-2 edge as the series approaches its homestretch.

Four-time reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo emphasized the importance of San Miguel wrapping up its semis series with Ginebra sooner rather than later.

“Mahalaga para sa amin na matapos na agad ‘yung series (against Ginebra) kasi pagod na din kami,” said the Cebuano powerhouse, who lorded over the Gin Kings’ frontcourt to help his team power its way to the finale. “Pahinga muna kami saglit para ready na sa finals.”

THE Philippines settled for fourth place the under-16 Junior Fed Cup Asia/Oceania pre-qualifying tournament at the Sri Lanka Tennis Center in Colombo last Saturday.

They took a 1-2 loss to Mongolia in the battle for fourth, and this allowed them to come up with their best showing in the weeklong meet.

Patricia Lim scored the only win for the Philippines after she downed Nomin Khurelbaatar, 6-3, 6-0.

Then Angelica Alcala took a 2-6, 6-7(3) setback from Maralgoo Chogsomjav in the second singles.

Later, Lim and Gaby Zoleta absorbed a 6-1, 4-6, 8-10 beating from Chogsomjav and Khurelbaatar in the doubles.

Team Pilipinas reached the semifinals and then took a 0-3 loss to Sri Lanka, 0-3, last Friday.

In that game, Zoleta lost to Anjalika Kurera, 0-6, 0-6, in the first singles match, while Ma. Patricia Lim absorbed a 2-6, 1-6 defeat from Savini Jayasuriya in the second singles match.

Zoleta and Angelica Alcala fell to Kurera and Oneli Perera, 1-6, 1-6, in the doubles match. Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF Solar PH completes biggest solar battery

SOLAR Philippines recently completed the largest solar battery micro-grid in Southeast Asia with a capacity of two megawatts in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro province.

The power facility is equipped with 2 MW of solar panels, two megawatt-hours of batteries and 2 MW of diesel back-up designed to supply reliable power 24 hours a day.

“We see ourselves as partners in developing Paluan into a first-class municipality in the coming years. While other companies seek to charge the highest rates possible, we believe that offering quality service at the lowest cost is win-win, helping the areas we serve and growing the market over the longterm,” Solar Philippines president Leandro Leviste said in a statement.

Solar Philippines said the facility charged 50 percent less than the full cost of the local electric cooperative and was seen to end brownouts in the area. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

BSP likely to keep interest rates—ING

THE Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will likely maintain the benchmark interest rates steady in its meeting on Thursday due to the expected moderation of inflation in the months ahead.

“Philippines’ central bank is likely to keep its policy rate steady at next Thursday’s meeting and through the rest of the year, as inflation trends lower. At the meeting, the bank is expected to release inflation forecasts for CPI indices of 2006 and 2012,” ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said in a report.

“They will probably show inflation peaking around mid-year before trending lower in late 2018 and returning to the target range of 2 to 4 percent by the first half of 2019,” Cuyegkeng said.

“With these inflation expectations over the policy horizon, and with a monetary policy lag of 12 to 18 months, we find no compelling reason to tighten anytime soon,” he said.

Julito G. Rada

Splash to unveil new consumer products

SPLASH Corp. is confident of making significant inroads into other bigger consumer product categories, after solidifying market leadership in the highly competitive skin whitening, skin exfoliant and specialized hair care categories.

Splash has launched innovative new products that were quickly embraced by the market. Early product successes like Extract facial cleanser and Extraderm exfoliant established Splash as an aggressive new player that had an innovative spirit and unique insight into the Filipino consumer.

Splash built on the early success with brands like SkinWhite and Maxi-Peel, which are now the leading brands in the skin whitening and exfoliant categories. The Vitress hair care line also allowed Splash to become a leader in specialized hair solutions.

“We have all the parts in place for an aggressive entry into new product categories,” said Splash co-founder and chief executive Rolando Hortaleza.

THE Department of Trade and Industry expects stronger collaboration with Japan air-conditioning company Daikin Industries Ltd. amid the firm’s plan to expand business in the Philippines.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez expressed optimism over the company’ intention and looks forward to its business expansion.

“We welcome investors who wish to join the country’s growth story, and contribute in our mission to provide jobs to Filipinos and share the prosperity to all,” Lopez said over the weekend.

The Trade Department welcomed a letter from the head office of Daikin Industries, the mother unit of Daikin Air-conditioning Philippines, after

7 AWARDS FOR SM GROUP. SM Investments Corp. and its subsidiaries receive seven awards from Hong Kongbased publication Corporate Governance Asia during its Best of Asia Awards 2017.

SM and units SM Prime Holdings Inc. and BDO Unibank Inc. were chosen as awardees from the Philippines. SMIC chairman Jose Sio (left) accepts the award on behalf of SM from CG Asia publisher Aldrin Monsod.

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018

B

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE Alegria oil field in onshore southern Cebu can power up to 60 megawatts of natural gas-fired power plant and produce up to 360 barrels of oil per day, the Energy Department said over the weekend.

PAL’S 77 th YEAR.

Philippine Airlines celebrates an especially sweet 77th birthday on March 15 after the flag carrier’s attainment of a 4-Star global airline status. The official Skytrax 4-Star is shown affixed to PAL’s iconic aircraft tail fin at the airline’s executive offices in Pasay City.

TV5 Network expects to break even next year

By Darwin G Amojelar TV5 Network Inc. said it is optimistic of breaking even next year on the back of improving revenues.

“We are looking at 50 percent growth target this year versus last year. If we’re able to achieve that growth rate this year, that would lead to breakeven by end of next year,” TV5 president and chief executive Chot Reyes said.

TV5 posted a 43-percent growth in revenues in 2017 from 2016.

The third-ranked network also said Netflix, the world’s leading internet entertainment company, recently acquired the rights to stream AMO, a TV5-pro-

Lopez welcomes expansion plan of Japan’s Daikin, cites PH growth

By Othel V. Campos

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

Cebu oil field to power gas plant

Steel makers seeking partnership with DTI

THE Philippine Iron and Steel Institute wants to create a partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry to stop local hardware stores from selling substandard steel and prevent the proliferation of inferior reinforcing steel bars.

The group proposed to help the Bureau of Fair Trade Enforcement in conducting a nationwide market monitoring and standards enforcement campaign.

The group also offered to assist market monitoring teams to conduct an actual weighing and measuring of bars to determine conformance to PNS 49:2002 and PNS 211:2002.

It volunteered to file cases against hardware store owners and local manufacturers violating product standard laws and practicing unfair trade.

The Pisi recently conducted a two-day market test-buy activity.

Test samples were cut from the purchased rebars and submitted to the Metals Industry Research and Development Center for third party testing. Othel V. Campos

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

clarifying its position to strengthen and expand business operations in the country.

Daikin Industries senior executive officer Yoshihiro Mineno conveyed to the department the company’s official position on investing in the Philippines.

“We do not have any complaint about (the) investment climate in the Philippines nor do not have any intention to criticize the policy of the government.

Our real intension is to do our best to expand our business in the Philippines,” Mineno said.

The company is optimistic of increasing net sales by as much 50 percent in fiscal year April 2018 to 2019 to P4.95 billion from P3.3 billion in the previous year due to the increasing preference for split-type air-conditioning.

duced show set against the backdrop of the Duterte government’s controversial drug war.

“TV5’s partnership with Netflix shows that the network is capable of producing high-quality programs that can be showcased to a wider audience worldwide,” said TV5 first vice president and head of content and programming Mellanie Yazon-Tolentino, AMO is the first-ever 12-episode mini series from the Philippines to be streamed on Netflix. It will be available worldwide starting April 9, 2018.

“AMO is a bold and suspenseful show that has the potential of capturing thrillseeking audiences worldwide,” Netflix

vice president of content acquisition Robert Roy said.

“We’re always seeking to work with passionate, talented storytellers like Mr. (Brillante) Mendoza, to bring premium content to the more than 117 million Netflix members around the world, ” he added.

Tolentino said the company was looking at the possibility of producing more entertainment, news and sports content to boost revenue.

“Depending on how AMO will be received by the worldwide audience, TV5 is open to the idea of producing more entertainment content on top of its high rating sports content,” she added.

“There are two wells that already produced 180 barrels per day. They are ready so we are just scheduling when will be the first delivery, first output,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said over the weekend.

He said while the oil flow was minimal compared with the country’s fuel requirements, the Alegria oil discovery would “help the local economy because it will support the local industry, cement factories and local factories using crude oil for fuel.”

“That will be a big help even if it’s small at 360 bpd but a positive development for our exploration. This is onshore and I understand there were attempts for the past 100 years but it is only now that we have this kind of development,” the energy official said.

Cusi said the project proponent, China International Mining Petroleum Co. Ltd., was readying oil production and preparing to put up a natural gas plant.

“It’s small but (it) will help Visayas and Cebu,” Cusi said.

CIMP holds Petroleum Service Contract No. 49 which covers the Alegria oil field, an onshore site in the fourthclass town of Alegria in the southern part of Cebu province.

CIMP, a subsidiary of Polyard Petroleum International Group, acquired an 80-percent stake in the participating interest of the SC 49 project and became its operator in July 2009. The contract covers a 25-year production period.

Cusi said the government would allow CMIP to recover first its cost equivalent to 90 percent of the production, with the balance to be shared by the government (60 percent) and CMIP (40 percent).

Cusi wants other oil and gas exploration projects to move forward.

“We are preparing to make a campaign to do some road work to promote exploration,” he said.

Cusi said the oil and gas industry had been plagued by several issues such as the unresolved Malampaya tax.

The oil and gas industry also ground to a halt amid the territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea.

More companies eyeing $2-b LNG complex—Cusi SEVEN local and foreign companies have expressed interest in the planned $2-billion integrated liquefied natural gas facility, the Department of Energy said over the weekend.

“We have received LOIs (letters of intent) but they have not actually submitted their plans. Here in DoE, six or seven expressed interest,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

Four companies have initially expressed interest in building the country’s first LNG complex.

The department previously identified the four parties as Cleanway-Filipino and Resiro, a UK company, Tokyo Gas of Japan, First Gen Corp. and China National Offshore Oil Corp.

The three new investors are state-

owned Philippine National Oil Co., Vires Energy Corp. and Carmine Energy Ltd. Pte. with partner Golar Energy.

“PNOC is aspiring to become a natural gas terminal operator. PNOC is looking for a partner... They are now processing already on who will be their partner,” Cusi said.

A source said US oil giant Chevron also expressed interest but had not formally submitted a letter to the department yet. Cusi said the seven companies so far had not submitted formal applications to the department.

“Based on PDNGR (Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Rules), anyone who has the qualification can participate but there will only be one to put up the terminal. PNOC would like

to become the operator. But PNOC would need a partner to do it. PNOC is looking for the partner... once they found a partner, they will submit to the DoE their proposal. DoE will evaluate the project,” Cusi said.

Cusi reiterated that the department would have the final say on who will construct the LNG facility and that PNOC was just one of those who wanted to operate it.

“PNOC as a corporation is aspiring to operate... PNOC will compete with the others,” he said.

He added PNOC had an advantage because of its franchise to operate the pipelines and the that department “might elect” to give PNOC a stake in the LNG terminal project. Alena Mae S. Flores

Foreign debt rose by $730m to $73.1b at the end of 2017

By Julito G. Rada THE country’s outstanding external debt as of end-2017 rose $730 million or 1 percent to $73.1 billion from $72.4 billion as of end-September 2017, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said over the weekend.

“The growth in the debt level during the (last) quarter was due largely to the $1.3-billion increase in the holdings of Philippine debt papers by nonresidents, reflecting sustained investor interest in the country,” Espenilla said in a statement.

He said positive foreign exchange revaluation adjustments of $70 million contributed to the increase in the debt stock as the Philippine peso strengthened against the US dollar in the last

quarter of 2017 due to strong remittances and equity inflows.

He also said net principal repayments amounting to $643 million by both public and private sector borrowers had a dampening effect on the debt stock.

The private sector accounts declined $1.7 billion (or 4.6 percent) from $37.3 billion in 2016 to $35.6 billion. The drop was mainly attributed to the nonbank sector, whose foreign loans decreased from $22.2 billion a year ago to $20.2 billion in 2017.

“This is consistent with the downward trend in loans from commercial sources (banks and other financial institutions, which are main sources of corporate funding), from the $25.8-billion level recorded a year ago to $22.5 billion,” he said.

He also said the decrease translated into a drop in US-dollar denominated borrowings from $48.6 billion to $45.6 billion (or by US$3.0 billion) during the year.

“These developments may be indicative of Philippine corporate borrowers’ deleveraging from foreign borrowings to minimize foreign exchange risk, among others,” he said.

External debt refers to all types of borrowings by Philippine residents from non-residents, following the residency criterion for international statistics.

Espenilla said key external debt indicators remained at comfortable levels in 2017. Gross international reserves stood at $81.6 billion as of end-2017 and represented a 5.7 times cover for short-term debt under the original maturity concept.

B2

Business

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

PSE trims brokers’ stake to 20% T

By Jenniffer B. Austria

HE Philippine Stock Exchange completed its P2.89-billion stock rights offering, effectively reducing the ownership of stockbrokers in the local bourse to below 20 percent.

The rights offering was strongly supported by retail and institutional investors, according to BDO Capital and Investments Corp., one of the underwriters handling the deal.

The PSE sold 11.5 million shares at P252 apiece during the offering period that ended March 16.

Broker-shareholders were not allowed to participate and subscribe to the shares. The rights offering aims to comply with the Securities Regulation Code provision that no single industry can own more than 20 percent of the voting rights of a stock exchange.

With the completion of the rights offering and the

reduction of brokers’ ownership in the stock exchange, the PSE is confident it could finally secure a green light from the Securities and Exchange Commission to acquire a majority interest in Philippine Dealing System and Holdings Corp., the owner and operator of the country’s fixed income exchange The PSE has been negotiating to take over the fixedincome exchange for the past years now in line with its plan for the two capital markets to promote synergies in operations.

The PSE to date signed share purchase agreements with several shareholders of PDSHC that will enable it to increase the bourse’s stake to 69.03 percent.

The completion of the share purchase agreements is subject to certain closing conditions, including the granting of a so-called exemptive relief to PSE from the SEC to own more than 20 percent of an exchange.

The Philippine Competition Commission in November approved PSE’s planned acquisition of PDSHC. Land Bank of the Philippines, however, recently announced that it offered to acquire a 66.78-percent stake of PDSHC at a much higher price of P360 per share compared with the bid of P320 apiece from the PSE.

LandBank gave PDSHC shareholders until April 5 to accept the offer.

LandBank, the third-largest lender in terms of assets, plans spend P1.5 billion to acquire a 66.67-percent stake in PSHC. LandBank president and chief executive Alex Buenaventura said early this month the bank expected to “lock up” the deal in 30 days, which would involve the acquisition of two thirds of 6,250,000 shares in PDS. “If we buy 66.67 percent, that will be equivalent to 4,167,000 shares. If we buy at P360 per share, that will be a total buying amount of P1.5 billion. So that is the total amount,” Buenaventura said.

“Our offer of P360 per share is 12.5-percent higher than the PSE offer of only P320 per share.

The acquisition by LandBank of PDS will not only serve as a potentially profitable investment of LandBank but also more importantly aligned with the government’s capital markets development program,” Buenaventura said.

Other major shareholders of PDS that have yet to sell their shares in the PSE include Singapore Exchange Ltd., Development Bank of the Philippines, Social Security System and Citibank NA.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

MARCH 12-16, 2018 Close Volume

Value

MARCH 5-9, 2018 Close Volume

Value

Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Ferronoux Holding Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

59.6 146.60 114.70 3.18 1.71 35.2 8 15.48 30.85 3.41 9.35 0.65 1.55 905.00 0.560 88.5 1.23 12.6 23.50 56.35 87 106.6 244.8 46.2 251 1950.00 90.00 1.2

46,360 13,216,280 13,179,150 939,000 1,643,000 1,623,800 8,000 548,400 7,618,900 150,000 4,700 10,944,000 105,000 1,440 12,647,000 23,663,370 16,624,000 223,800 12,100 624,840 3,120 40,970 137,180 632,600 3,920,650 2,750 3,660,940 489,000

FINANCIAL 2,757,486.50 1,946,575,846.00 1,523,193,652.00 2,939,050.00 3,040,420.00 57,271,355.00 66,396.00 8,502,818.00 235,242,910.00 512,760.00 241,402.00 7,438,910.00 164,880.00 1,296,250.00 7,459,100.00 2,221,103,467.50 21,495,060.00 2,821,886.00 282,360.00 35,548,165.00 269,131.50 4,617,622.00 33,975,944.00 29,424,965.00 968,476,238.00 5,351,375.00 331,814,412.50 592,030.00

59.6 149.00 117.50 3.34 1.85 35.1 8.5 15.5 30.35 3.5 8.82 0.65 1.65 900.00 0.550 96 1.43 12.88 24.00 56.80 88.5 125 248.8 46.85 250 1930.00 90.75 1.21

67,180 6,566,740 7,467,140 656,000 2,571,000 843,600 3,700 1,310,000 6,894,700 1,030,000 72,000 4,000 267,000 30 8,857,000 21,299,240 32,488,000 98,200 6,600 396,920 1,280 160,690 95,310 192,500 1,834,740 1,135 484,000 416,000

3,967,844.00 992,544,507.00 879,361,302.00 2,155,610.00 4,371,310.00 29,572,095.00 107,950.00 20,285,872.00 205,934,660.00 3,479,270.00 624,325.00 2,600.00 430,810.00 27,000.00 5,134,580.00 2,042,943,453.00 48,546,490.00 1,243,012.00 162,850.00 22,713,356.50 109,579.50 25,381,371.00 23,679,350.00 126,299,414.00 451,231,796.00 2,183,280.00 43,972,852.50 527,420.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp.

Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

40 13.96 0.6 1.32 19.28 0.224 180 28.50 3.71 17.6 320 50.9 63.55 86 62.5 2.08 5.5 10.14 11.760 14.68 11.02 7.37 5.65 1.84 16.8 67 25.10 9.60 17.52 2.520 305.40 51.15 5 3.29 18.18 27.15 16.52 20.7 0.205 335.00 8.07 2.85 5.11 9.00 6.1 8.11 1.55 12.50 59.9 6.05 4.70 2.5 3.41 619 2.44 15.3 5.45 0.136 1.04 150 2.83 2 23.90 0.96

14,181,000 7,234,700 10,642,000 3,148,000 96,400 6,780,000 19,710 2,523,000 37,961,000 12,291,800 6,310 2,404,980 34,860 6,170 98,710 6,980,000 1,751,200 47,900 9,480,200 1,492,800 2,985,700 2,178,400 78,431,400 124,000 23,197,200 1,283,430 1,303,100 1,972,300 16,996,200 111,479,000 4,811,760 780 3,400,000 238,000 13,100 6,631,300 867,600 6,724,300 154,257,300 1,837,900 38,100 4,005,000 20,084,300 30,580,800 588,000 147,800 4,646,000 271,000 9,152,050 72,100 163,000 1,299,000 88,000 56,340 25,681,000 3,057,300 266,500 4,880,000 429,000 5,332,300 81,000 36,669,000 1,000 67,943,000

INDUSTRIAL 570,461,590.00 100,181,476.00 6,381,660.00 4,173,550.00 1,825,466.00 1,500,430.00 3,582,806.00 78,264,640.00 154,094,670.00 213,661,522.00 2,162,862.00 123,005,854.50 2,327,842.50 558,891.00 6,091,298.50 14,248,690.00 9,675,439.00 489,578.00 112,211,686.00 21,736,780.00 32,928,348.00 16,309,073.00 463,243,715.00 219,170.00 403,506,640.00 85,478,007.50 35,313,665.00 19,452,030.00 303,344,802.00 318,584,080.00 1,414,306,386.00 41,321.00 16,835,430.00 791,960.00 243,070.00 180,548,645.00 14,368,602.00 138,757,810.00 35,656,414.00 608,147,712.00 304,703.00 11,258,090.00 110,523,133.00 281,494,543.00 3,612,134.00 1,229,093.00 7,206,940.00 3,424,334.00 542,166,723.50 436,839.00 770,320.00 3,403,330.00 304,190.00 35,023,370.00 66,046,760.00 48,118,650.00 1,447,782.00 666,610.00 443,640.00 792,414,568.00 216,730.00 72,854,010.00 23,960.00 69,131,220.00

39.15 13.8 0.58 1.38 18.98 0.226 200.2 36.00 3.83 17.3 398 50.95 79 115 61.55 1.96 5.71 10.5 11.940 14.46 11.10 7.52 5.68 1.73 16.68 65 28.00 9.85 19.7 2.810 292.00 53.00 4.75 3.25 20.00 27.35 16.68 20.9 0.200 327.20 7.97 2.71 5.04 9.18 6.2 8.30 1.55 12.82 54.9 6.01 4.85 2.75 3.67 620 2.46 15.92 5.43 0.139 1.04 150 2.77 2.1 24.00 1.10

5,826,700 11,141,500 1,448,000 3,369,000 89,100 36,581,000 58,360 4,048,000 12,125,000 11,654,800 11,100 2,561,860 280,660 32,330 1,110 2,775,000 7,560,700 255,400 16,736,000 1,301,900 6,342,600 2,642,400 17,823,400 43,000 17,165,700 949,570 362,200 250,700 9,595,400 163,466,000 2,796,200 11,170 1,686,000 800,000 49,900 7,432,100 1,328,300 10,858,700 5,470,000 1,309,660 65,800 3,090,000 2,141,600 5,533,700 1,885,100 285,700 1,848,900 637,540 912,600 115,000 4,453,000 8,014,000 168,000 113,780 31,458,000 1,577,600 714,500 16,410,000 385,000 4,012,130 25,000 75,060,000 5,500 235,953,000

227,234,320.00 147,312,482.00 817,120.00 4,438,880.00 1,691,500.00 9,304,480.00 10,371,990.00 160,252,420.00 44,980,940.00 196,813,896.00 4,440,258.00 131,801,452.50 22,647,966.00 3,920,904.00 70,194.50 5,524,340.00 46,659,144.00 2,676,264.00 200,523,938.00 18,627,162.00 70,741,082.00 25,728,185.00 101,392,003.00 74,470.00 261,533,686.00 60,044,958.00 10,149,490.00 2,416,690.00 191,569,805.00 449,794,050.00 838,125,946.00 586,156.50 8,040,430.00 2,772,890.00 1,021,805.00 198,549,040.00 22,178,446.00 226,640,830.00 1,075,450.00 431,928,140.00 515,285.00 8,237,130.00 10,961,676.00 50,576,678.00 12,041,976.00 2,356,723.00 3,149,600.00 16,084,119.50 50,295,044.50 703,419.00 21,595,570.00 24,074,590.00 572,890.00 71,054,070.00 78,916,080.00 24,864,138.00 3,740,381.00 2,226,410.00 399,340.00 233,626,656,239.00 67,860.00 152,639,490.00 132,500.00 324,308,000.00

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ BHI Holdings Inc. Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Lopez Holdings Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.310 72.05 14.38 0.95 7.50 0.620 0.660 990 2000.00 7.4 13.68 5 7.56 0.204 1298 7.08 64.55 5.3 5.24 0.67 5.18 19.6 0.610 5.6 3.51 0.0480 1.130 3.210 2.70 140.50 2.6 937.00 1.74 0.83 278.000 605.00 0.2500 0.2010 0.219

13,860,000 12,906,260 24,071,500 2,034,000 924,300 50,086,000 12,356,000 2,205,485 455 8,205,100 28,037,200 207,000 20,000 7,180,000 393,885 49,900 82,459,550 13,700 67,100 2,651,000 24,835,200 18,905,500 137,993,000 149,979,800 1,000 310,550,000 76,932,000 26,855,000 52,000 1,349,990 10,000 2,200,220 18,294,000 691,000 14,260 12,820 2,640,000 34,830,000 6,050,000

HOLDING FIRMS 4,238,650.00 947,840,144.50 347,204,730.00 1,910,570.00 6,979,022.00 32,075,270.00 8,131,900.00 2,227,874,715.00 1,137,210.00 60,112,806.00 378,407,514.00 1,035,000.00 150,273.00 1,489,030.00 514,581,665.00 357,120.00 5,325,570,945.50 71,245.00 377,570.00 1,769,300.00 129,093,652.00 371,179,014.00 77,959,090.00 834,646,158.00 3,510.00 14,917,960.00 104,522,170.00 87,032,520.00 133,950.00 191,954,705.00 25,920.00 2,070,988,890.00 33,640,660.00 575,400.00 3,923,486.00 8,644,145.00 648,140.00 7,298,360.00 1,375,080.00

0.310 74.30 14.58 0.95 7.48 0.670 0.680 1020 1488.00 7.17 13.22 5.49 7.42 0.204 1320 7.23 65.95 5.13 5.23 0.69 5.3 19.7 0.330 5.75 3.5 0.0440 1.680 3.430 2.65 143.00 2.57 958.00 1.82 0.81 278.400 750.00 0.2460 0.1960 0.230

52,320,000 5,274,850 26,948,400 716,000 877,600 99,316,000 13,690,000 678,770 35 16,856,900 24,693,400 183,500 17,200 26,760,000 314,665 6,400 12,495,650 33,200 4,500 6,167,000 5,869,800 15,069,100 4,860,000 124,596,400 19,000 88,900,000 130,190,000 38,198,000 502,600 1,096,000 351,000 1,342,590 27,377,000 966,000 16,060 81,520 3,600,000 179,040,000 19,420,000

18,403,850.00 387,280,815.00 390,153,686.00 661,580.00 6,592,225.00 67,035,780.00 9,374,000.00 704,771,835.00 49,405.00 120,944,405.00 325,846,168.00 951,034.00 128,128.00 6,249,240.00 413,251,100.00 46,319.00 813,982,498.00 175,869.00 23,533.00 4,364,340.00 30,522,330.00 310,428,163.00 1,667,350.00 720,356,594.00 66,540.00 3,931,700.00 206,111,590.00 134,581,030.00 1,435,810.00 178,098,326.00 899,870.00 1,277,176,745.00 49,800,150.00 847,060.00 4,511,640.00 59,962,182.00 897,790.00 41,725,520.00 4,562,940.00

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. `A’ Cebu Prop. `B’ Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Eton Properties Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Interport `A’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind.

7.000 1.05 18.50 2.100 0.870 41.000 3.78 4.91 6.3 6.5 6.42 0.430 1.10 1.020 0.275 0.470 33 0.640 0.65 0.135 1.73 1.37 0.93 4.9 0.680

2,971,400 50,405,000 420,300 173,000 17,535,000 83,845,500 3,873,000 6,349,800 768,500 105,400 37,600 40,050,000 307,000 3,560,000 350,810,000 1,530,000 12,817,500 20,209,000 480,000 960,000 37,065,000 14,858,000 71,477,000 101,488,000 2,563,606,000

7.030 1.12 16.24 2.080 0.920 41.750 3.93 4.85 6.2 6.2 6 0.445 1.06 1.040 0.300 0.480 31 0.640

4,083,800 126,976,000 76,400 252,000 94,450,000 67,819,600 6,335,000 4,503,000 321,000 72,200 2,300 86,980,000 5,023,000 1,285,000 487,570,000 4,550,000 1,586,800 5,602,000

28,252,522.00 143,688,290.00 1,208,290.00 532,990.00 91,517,660.00 2,816,713,185.00 24,553,460.00 21,531,000.00 1,944,532.00 438,732.00 13,800.00 39,513,200.00 5,441,410.00 1,331,710.00 149,070,900.00 2,145,300.00 49,821,485.00 3,625,630.00

0.130 1.80 1.41 0.77 4.8 0.780

1,820,000 25,269,000 30,185,000 8,572,000 99,967,000 1,733,451,000

236,100.00 45,232,380.00 41,196,950.00 6,656,820.00 478,590,320.00 1,344,176,490.00

PROPERTY 20,791,956.00 54,356,600.00 7,465,994.00 359,070.00 15,533,930.00 3,447,169,120.00 14,712,910.00 32,965,030.00 4,797,942.00 666,880.00 251,028.00 17,453,150.00 328,150.00 3,610,270.00 98,867,500.00 705,750.00 467,272,885.00 13,039,580.00 307,710.00 127,550.00 65,985,640.00 20,864,900.00 70,134,060.00 487,762,870.00 2,107,067,180.00

STOCKS

MARCH 12-16, 2018 Close Volume

MARCH 5-9, 2018 Close Volume

Value

Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

0.4500 0.550 35.00 4.25 20.70 2.06 3.28 34.75 1 22 0.860 6.500

315,020,000 10,455,000 19,100 7,465,000 9,585,600 7,657,000 4,635,000 44,458,000 3,659,000 967,700 244,000 35,255,800

149,581,150.00 5,585,510.00 670,985.00 32,059,960.00 197,388,929.00 15,811,150.00 15,368,590.00 1,559,317,805.00 3,695,550.00 21,229,960.00 203,230.00 226,618,445.00

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

18 29.2 1.39 0.590 0.053 13.1 5.54 14.86 0.0660 100.1 8.95 7.45 7.50 2.42 32.80 910 1670 6.33 321.00 11.32 5.60 109 2.72 13.28 8.30 0.128 1.4900 3.24 15.3 6.30 1.03 27.05 18.46 0.510 5.11 7.75 3.26 12.700 11.24 10.60 3.15 8.11 107.40 6.98 1520.00 0.435 1.170 53.00 84.50 8.40 2.65 1.460 0.52 3.42 0.960 11.220

156,300 399,800 1,727,000 148,972,000 546,560,000 429,300 3,000 37,437,700 124,960,000 1,081,260 66,700 4,331,700 2,303,400 249,000 871,100 160 297,215 1,665,600 237,510 2,400 16,801,400 8,835,350 162,000 358,500 74,700 36,020,000 1,313,000 429,000 2,283,300 55,524,500 1,832,000 10,369,200 28,000 379,000 2,346,000 8,790,000 8,675,000 41,340,600 19,272,600 116,100 1,115,000 15,600 8,336,380 4,973,900 532,855 61,180,000 7,882,000 6,536,110 10,151,860 12,298,100 7,720,000 14,784,000 205,030,000 1,335,000 145,148,000 16,457,600

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Phinma Petro Semirara Corp.

United Paragon

0.0037 1.64 4.86 18.28 1.7100 1.7100 1.69 0.300 7.32 2.590 0.225 0.150 0.156 0.010 0.0094 1.58 6.2 1.19 0.4500 0.9600 0.0120 0.0120 6.10 13.72 0.0120 2.3400 32.30 0.0068

MINING & OIL 20,255,300,000 91,145,500.00 16,164,000 27,011,210.00 905,300 4,413,740.00 15,400 283,994.00 26,000 44,030.00 5,000 8,550.00 4,125,000 6,982,790.00 6,850,000 2,127,600.00 20,300 146,266.00 35,543,000 92,317,780.00 4,570,000 1,024,890.00 44,100,000 6,581,000.00 6,260,000 955,550.00 45,000,000 429,700.00 7,000,000 65,800.00 2,849,000 4,491,790.00 12,819,700 81,657,667.00 3,851,000 4,751,630.00 1,980,000 940,150.00 32,277,000 33,945,680.00 154,200,000 1,820,300.00 11,700,000 151,400.00 4,667,200 28,417,369.00 26,159,900 369,946,288.00 164,200,000 1,989,100.00 298,000 688,350.00 11,618,400 382,463,035.00 26,000,000 176,400.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

28.5 518 514 102.1 110 506 6.15 1001 1009 101 1.06 108 1035 1174 982 104.9 109 76 78.15 75.1 77 78.1 76.6 76 77.4 2.1

500,000 6,450 20,190 123,280 82,680 3,400 505,700 2,500 45 28,230 1,757,000 8,590 2,830 135 4,790 610 2,020 13,630 51,010 20,110 49,150 84,300 21,860 159,690 55,010 2,000

LR Warrant

4.060

Value

0.3850 0.540 36.00 4.23 19.82 2 3.23 35.90 1.03 23.15 0.800 6.350

276,512,000 32,216,000 49,600 6,861,000 11,425,000 3,981,000 796,000 15,757,200 3,509,000 1,643,200 4,485,000 31,985,900

123,112,300.00 17,580,640.00 1,107,205.00 28,815,380.00 227,033,186.00 7,874,770.00 2,573,090.00 563,553,585.00 3,532,260.00 39,198,265.00 3,860,110.00 201,772,120.00

18 30 1.35 0.590 0.059 11.92 4.9 14.52 0.0700 100.7 8.71 7.95 8.70 2.47 38.90 950 1705 6.43 322.00 11.34 5.47 109.9 2.68 13.3 8.31 0.131 1.5200 3.22 15 5.61 1.03 27.20 17.88 0.500 5.34 8.11 3.26 13.300 10.4 11.00 2.84

489,600 273,900 10,925,000 261,681,000 455,830,000 20,900 6,000 115,814,300 186,300,000 534,460 25,000 6,170,600 5,213,200 232,000 1,421,700 120 162,675 2,905,200 586,860 26,300 15,608,400 3,442,640 188,000 157,300 120,700 30,250,000 3,883,000 4,269,000 4,100 75,067,300 12,090,000 17,538,300 11,200 750,000 4,798,300 9,353,900 6,494,000 85,565,400 15,800 30,600 36,000

9,247,277.00 8,201,045.00 16,873,050.00 170,892,250.00 27,460,900.00 232,246.00 29,240.00 1,668,205,668.00 13,111,120.00 53,394,669.00 222,595.00 46,963,950.00 48,868,597.00 566,010.00 60,004,450.00 109,250.00 276,446,625.00 18,591,270.00 193,303,328.00 277,648.00 82,459,398.00 376,688,755.00 496,660.00 2,069,352.00 1,001,039.00 3,864,980.00 5,867,000.00 15,242,120.00 60,720.00 377,682,739.00 13,152,510.00 488,536,885.00 192,492.00 376,000.00 26,200,502.00 72,996,471.00 21,222,290.00 1,199,783,706.00 163,836.00 326,842.00 104,630.00

111.00 6.95 1540.00 0.405 1.180 53.25 94.00 8.90 2.68 1.450 0.51 3.48 1.030 11.220

34,090 14,677,300 374,930 17,850,000 15,011,000 7,219,210 2,990,220 39,367,700 8,596,000 29,093,000 155,874,000 1,763,000 673,729,000 14,401,700

3,857,101.00 104,833,792.00 575,428,955.00 7,304,600.00 18,034,070.00 384,032,742.00 280,007,229.00 371,334,714.00 23,406,470.00 41,944,140.00 81,403,540.00 6,156,860.00 763,987,450.00 161,390,730.00

0.0030 1.73 5.00 17.20 1.7500 1.8000 1.71 0.300 7.22 2.430 0.225 0.152 0.154 0.009 0.0098 1.52 6.16 1.34 0.4900 0.9100 0.0120 0.0130 6.01 15.36 0.0120 2.3100 33.55 0.0068

9,187,000,000 47,060,000 811,400 13,600 20,000 38,000 3,678,000 6,460,000 27,700 35,620,000 13,480,000 56,940,000 54,270,000 891,000,000 724,000,000 3,117,000 13,361,000 1,615,000 5,850,000 912,000 206,100,000 700,000 3,969,300 41,753,000 505,600,000 849,000 14,275,600 28,000,000

28,074,400.00 80,995,980.00 4,067,463.00 238,010.00 34,680.00 65,610.00 6,206,830.00 2,006,100.00 200,374.00 86,489,740.00 3,411,620.00 8,317,430.00 8,250,760.00 8,023,900.00 6,807,200.00 4,692,820.00 80,984,817.00 2,147,120.00 2,742,500.00 814,570.00 2,476,300.00 8,900.00 23,956,303.00 668,458,238.00 6,002,300.00 2,129,340.00 491,495,970.00 189,300.00

PREFERRED 14,320,490.00 3,254,830.00 10,527,595.00 12,554,048.00 9,149,514.00 1,724,250.00 3,170,651.00 2,502,505.00 45,405.00 2,863,295.00 1,858,790.00 911,746.00 2,927,220.00 149,240.00 4,729,070.00 63,989.00 215,785.00 1,028,523.00 3,989,660.50 1,509,692.00 3,784,550.00 6,583,330.00 1,673,775.00 12,190,200.00 4,251,574.00 4,200.00

29 507 514 102.5 111 510 6.28 1000 1002 100.3 1.06 104.5 1034 1100 999 104.9 109 76.65 80 74.5 76.4 80.85 76.5 77 77.1 2

1,639,000 2,700 2,800 739,350 29,680 28,430 2,114,500 13,240 2,950 84,960 1,030,000 241,190 1,065 130 165 3,510 190 23,710 182,380 87,210 146,800 83,820 110,500 205,750 93,550 1,000

48,487,930.00 1,363,800.00 1,439,840.00 74,215,226.00 3,289,480.00 14,343,595.00 13,023,253.00 13,240,005.00 2,954,670.00 8,549,326.00 1,091,760.00 25,208,825.00 1,101,215.00 142,990.00 163,570.00 368,540.00 20,760.00 1,783,295.00 14,545,775.00 6,538,345.00 11,217,710.00 6,550,954.00 8,458,650.00 15,921,727.00 7,271,840.00 2,000.00

WARRANTS & BONDS 19,067,000 72,209,620.00

3.980

58,647,000

234,811,290.00

2.86 5.85 3.48 3.7

20,000 16,067,600 926,000 57,280,000

57,330.00 94,303,827.00 3,182,050.00 207,736,460.00

SERVICES 2,852,812.00 11,902,580.00 2,352,070.00 93,706,670.00 30,667,690.00 5,251,914.00 15,860.00 531,264,928.00 8,444,600.00 109,442,685.50 580,564.00 33,580,725.00 18,037,106.00 612,930.00 31,508,685.00 153,650.00 503,706,115.00 10,669,253.00 76,249,812.00 25,878.00 95,763,910.00 956,356,598.00 434,070.00 4,612,008.00 617,265.00 4,675,880.00 2,130,150.00 1,421,110.00 37,191,138.00 323,569,549.00 1,883,470.00 282,543,170.00 514,624.00 191,940.00 12,074,667.00 69,613,715.00 28,285,890.00 533,816,156.00 202,320,506.00 1,217,430.00 3,650,940.00 131,077.00 896,219,414.00 34,587,586.00 816,422,045.00 26,291,350.00 9,293,720.00 349,394,078.50 897,071,842.00 99,403,309.00 20,736,780.00 21,345,900.00 110,108,680.00 4,573,300.00 154,849,200.00 182,114,284.00

SME 36,670.00 136,242,528.00 5,605,430.00 89,477,940.00

Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Philab Holdings Xurpas

2.89 5.88 3.42 3.49

12,000 21,752,000 1,662,000 25,525,000

First Metro ETF

125.9

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 194,430 24,698,587.00

128.1

65,550

8,377,698.00

10.2 1.02

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 6,400 66,160.00 25,700 26,235.00

10.3 1.02

5,200 385,020

53,560.00 393,208.10

USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining MRC Allied Ind. Apollo Global Crown Equities Inc. Phil. Estates Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Transpacific Broadcast Philodrill Corp. `A’ MG Holdings Oriental Pet. `A’

VOLUME 20,255,300,000 2,563,606,000 546,560,000 350,810,000 315,020,000 310,550,000 205,030,000 164,200,000 154,257,300 154,200,000

STOCKS JG Summit Holdings Ayala Land `B’ Ayala Corp `A’ Metrobank MRC Allied Ind. SM Investments Inc. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. SM Prime Holdings Bank of PI Jollibee Foods Corp.

VALUE 5,325,570,945.50 3,447,169,120.00 2,227,874,715.00 2,221,103,467.50 2,107,067,180.00 2,070,988,890.00 1,946,575,846.00 1,559,317,805.00 1,523,193,652.00 1,414,306,386.00

Stock market analysts expect bearish trading TRADING at the Philippine Stock Exchange is expected to remain bearish this week as the trade war concerns triggered by US President Donald Trump’s America First agenda continue to weigh on investor sentiment.

Analysts said the index, after dropping to an intra-week low at 8,156.19 last week, could fall toward the 8,000/8,100 level this week. Worries about interest rates and expectations of higher inflation could also force investors to stay on the sidelines and recalibrate their portfolios.

“With lots of volatility we put our support to 8,100 and resistance for 8,300,” said Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan.

Limlingan said the PSEi approached technical correction after market closed at 8,190 on Thursday, down 9.58 percent from the recent high of 9,058.

But despite the market’s current downward trend, analysts said the Philippine growth story remained intact. They consider the current market correction a good opportunity to seize on weakness to position gradually.

The PSEi ended the week down 1.6 percent to 8,238.15 while the broader All Shares Index declined 1.39 percent to 5,982.50 on increasing concerns on a possible global trade war.

Except for the industrial index which rose 1.28 percent, all other subindices were in red, led by mining and oil which (-2.6 percent), holding firms (-2.07 percent), financials (-1.78 percent), property (-162 percent) and services (-1.49 percent).

Foreign selling accelerated at a net of P6.5 billion.

The average daily value traded increased to P9.7 billion from the previous week’s average of P7.1 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., which gained 9.1 percent to P59.90; Jollibee Foods Corp., which advanced 4.6 percent to P305.40, and Robinsons Land Corp. B, which gained 4.6 percent to P20.70.

Weekly top price losers include Integrated Microelectronics Inc., which dropped 11 percent to P17.52; Ginebra San Miguel Inc., which declined 10.3 percent to P25.10; and Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., which dipped 10.1 percent to P84.50 per share. Jenniffer B. Austria

Report claims Smart leads in internet speed

By Darwin G Amojelar SMART Communications Inc. claimed it continued to overtake rival Globe Telecom Inc. in terms of long-term evolution (LTE) download speeds nationwide and in all major regions in the country based on the latest study released by OpenSignal.

The OpenSignal report, which covers the months of November to January, showed that Smart LTE download speeds led across all measured areas.

In National Capital Region, Smart’s LTE download speed was at 13.04 Mbps, faster than of Globe’s 8.57 Mbps; North Central Luzon, (Smart 11.59 Mbps vs Globe’s 6.34 Mbps) South Luzon (Smart 11.66 Mbps vs Globe 7.03 Mbps), Visayas (Smart 13.49 Mbps vs Globe 7.37 Mbps), and Mindanao (1Smart 4.42 Mbps vs Globe 7.38 Mbps).

The study also found that Smart’s 4G/ LTE availability jumped to 59.68 percent from 39.96 percent a year ago.

Smart is also ahead in terms of latency, a metric that measures a network’s responsiveness, at 47.21ms, quicker than the competition’s 60.7ms. Latency, measured in milliseconds, is the time it takes data to make a round trip through the network. A lower score in the metric is a sign of a more responsive network, OpenSignal said.

OpenSignal’s State of Mobile Networks: Philippines report, which is based on independent analysis of 771,762,782 on-device measurements recorded by 51,417 users from Nov. 2, 2017 to Jan. 31, 2018, found Smart ahead in nationwide LTE download speeds at 12.5 Mbps, compared to the competition’s 7.7 Mbps.

“The OpenSignal results are proof that our investments in improving our network are bearing fruit,” PLDT and Smart senior vice president for network planning and engineering Mario Tamayo said.

“With our ongoing roll-out of LTE and LTE-Advanced to more areas, we are on track to meet our commitment to the National Telecommunications Commission to achieve 90 percent municipality coverage for 3G and 4G mobile broadband by the end of this year,” he added.

Tamayo also said better latency also meant better experience for customers who wanted to play games on their mobile phones and update their social media accounts without lag.

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Business/World

From left: Makati Business Club chairman Edgar Chua; Investment & Capital Corp. of the Philippines founder Guillermo Luchangco ; former Philippine Ambassador to US Jose L. Cuisia; Ambassador John F. Maisto; US-Philippines Society co-chair Manuel V. Pangilinan; Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno; Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez; AmCham executive director Ebb Hinchliffe; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas assistant governor Francisco Dakila, Jr.; and Ambassador John D. Negroponte

LOVELIER THE SECOND TIME AROUND ABOUT this time last year, I wrote about the meeting of the Board of Directors of the US-Philippines Society that was held here in the Philippines (see “The US-Philippines Society: A New Hope”, Mike About Town, The Manila Standard, 06 March 2017). In that column piece, I wrote about how the holding of the binational Board of Directors meeting here was proof-positive that US-Philippines relations never waned, and that it had, in fact, become stronger, contrary to the seeming public perception then.

Now, those relations are as strong as ever. For the second time, USPhilippines Society Co-Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan hosted a Board of Directors Meeting and Business Mission in Manila. The U.S. delegation was led by Society Co-Chair John D. Negroponte, former Ambassador to the Philippines and Deputy Secretary of State, and current US-Philippines Society President, former Ambassador John F. Maisto.

The Philippine Ambassador to the United States, my good friend, Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, flew in from Washington D.C. to be part of this significant event. Ambassador Babe, as we fondly call him, has been instrumental in ensuring a robust and engaging relationship with the United States.

The Board of Directors Meeting and the Business Mission was an opportunity for business leaders from Washington D.C. and the Philippines to explore investments between both countries as well as discuss means to enhance cybersecurity and protection of OFWs. With headquarters in Washington D.C., the US-Philippines Society was launched on 01 May 2012 to “realize the vision of its founders to create a new and timely mechanism for elevating the Philippines’ profile in the United States”. It is recognized as the premier organization promoting U.S. and Philippine relations.

One of the more prominent engagements the Society has ever done was to provide more than US$2-million in assistance to the Yolanda aid and relief effort, which has been on-going to this day. The Society was also able to raise funds to help displaced families from the war in Marawi.

During the board meeting, the Society made an additional donation to recovery efforts for Marawi, and this was done through the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF),

an organization co-chaired by MVP and Jaime Agusto Zobel de Ayala.

Prior to the start of the two-day meeting and forum, a welcome reception was hosted by Ambassador Romualdez at his residence. During the reception, the 2018 Carlos P. Romulo Award was presented to Tessie Sy-Coson for her “invaluable support in establishing the US-Philippine Society in 2012 and in sustaining the Society’s work in carrying out its mission over the past six years.”

Day One of the meeting-forum started with a breakfast briefing with legislators which was graced by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Congressman Max Rodriguez of the Second District, Cagayan de Oro. This was followed by a meeting with Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez, then the board meeting proper. The afternoon was spent on a Post-Marawi Mindanao Forum, then a meeting with Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia. The first day was capped by a reception hosted by CoChairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Day Two was reserved for two highlights: the call on President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at Malacañan Palace, attended also by Ambassador Romualdez and US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, and the Business Forum which included briefings by Trade Secretary Mon Lopez, Budget Secretary Ben Diokno, and BSP Managing Director Francisco Dakila Jr. After the two days of meetings and discussion, Society members got a respite by taking a follow-on visit to Marawi City and the neighboring areas ravaged by the conflict that broke out there some time ago.

In its six years of existence, the USPhilippines Society has covered much ground across the breadth of the Pacific Ocean. It seems like it was only yesterday that MVP and I attended the launch of USPS in Washington D.C , with thenPresident Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III as guest of honor.

I can only wish the organization and its leadership well as it continues to uphold the strength of relations between two countries that have withstood the test of time and history.

Biodiversity summit kicks off in Medellin M EDELLIN―A comprehensive, global appraisal of mass species extinction―and what can be done to reverse it―kicked off in Colombia’s second-largest city Saturday, with more than 750 experts in attendance.

President Juan Manuel Santos opened the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) meeting in Medellin by stating that protecting biodiversity is “as important as fighting climate change.”

Hundreds of scientists and government envoys are gathering at the event, which runs through March 26, to finalize details on five monumental reports designed to inform global policymaking into the future.

“Today the world is at a crossroads,” added IPBES president Sir Robert Watson.

CANDIDATE. Presidential candidate President Vladimir Putin votes at a polling station during Russia’s presidential election in Moscow on March 18, 2018.

AFP

Suu Kyi pressed on Rohingya crisis SYDNEY―Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi was pressed about the Rohingya crisis at an Asean summit in Sydney Sunday, but the regional bloc stressed it could not intervene and “force an outcome”.

Suu Kyi has been under intense global criticism for her public silence amid a brutal military crackdown that has forced nearly 700,000 of the Muslim-minority Rohingya to flee Myanmar’s Rakhine state for Bangladesh.

The humanitarian crisis was one of the key topics at the three-day special summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Australia.

“We discussed the situation in Rakhine state at considerable length today,” Aus-

Ambassador John D. Negroponte, Manuel V. Pangilinan, Ambassador John F. Maisto

With Manuel V. Pangilinan , Ambassador Joey Cuisia, Ambassador Babe Romualdez, SGV’s Ito Cruz and Ambassador John Maisto

Century Properties Group, Inc. chairman Jose Eduardo B. Antonio ; Philippine Veterans Bank chairman Roberto de Ocampo; Secretary Benjamin Diokno; AmCham executive director Ebb Hinchliffe

tralian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said at the closing press conference.

“Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the matter comprehensively, at some considerable length herself.

“It’s certainly an issue that has been discussed and it is fair to say... very constructively, in our meeting.”

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is this year’s ASEAN chair, said Myanmar’s neighbors were concerned about the ongoing situation but could not “force an outcome”.

“It is of concern for all Asean countries, and yet Asean is not able to intervene and to force an outcome,” Lee said alongside Turnbull.AFP

GHOR AL-HADITHA, Jordan―Israel and Jordan have long pursued a common goal to stop the Dead Sea from shrinking while slaking their shared thirst for drinking water with a pipeline from the Red Sea some 200 kilometers away.

Geopolitical tensions have stalled the efforts to break ground on the ambitious project for years, but the end of the latest diplomatic spat has backers hoping a final accord may now be in sight.

The degradation of the Dead Sea, on the border of Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian West Bank, began in the 1960s when water began to be heavily diverted from the Jordan River.

“Before 1967, the water was just a 10-minute walk from my house,” said Musa Salim al-Athem, a farmer who grows tomatoes on the banks on the Jordan side.

“Now it takes an hour,” he said, standing amid the resulting lunar landscape of spectacular salt sculptures, gaping sinkholes and craters.

“Only the sea can fill up the sea.”

“Since 1950, the amount flowing in the Jordan has dropped from 1.2 billion cubic meters per year to less than 200 million,” said Frederic Maurel, an engineering expert at the French development agency AFD. AFP

What is ‘sharing real estate for 1 hour per week’ all about?

GREEN LIGHT

Tessie Sy-Coson receiving her 2018 Carlos P. Romulo Award from USPS Co-Chair Amb. John Negroponte while (L-R) Amb. Roberto Romulo, USPS Executive Director Hank Hendrickson, USPS Co-Chair Manuel V. Pangilinan, and Amb. Babe Romualdez look on. (Photo courtesy of USPS)

“The historic and current degradation and destruction of nature undermine human well being for current and countless future generations.”

Compiled over the last three years, the reports will provide the most up-to-date picture of the health of the world’s plants, animals and soil.

The diagnosis will be unveiled in two parts.

First, on March 23, the IPBES will release separate assessments for the four regions into which it has divided the world into the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe and Central Asia.

Then on March 26 a report will be released focusing on the global condition of soil, which is fast being degraded through pollution, forest-destruction, mining, and unsustainable farming methods that deplete its nutrients.

The evaluations took 600 volunteer scientists three years to complete, and includes summaries of data taken from about 10,000 scientific publications.

The end product covers the entire Earth apart from Antarctica and the open oceans―those waters beyond national jurisdiction.

Host Colombia claims it has the world’s largest variety of birds and orchids, and is second only to Brazil in terms of overall species diversity.

Paradoxically, decades of Colombia’s internal conflict have preserved fragile habitats in no-go zones of the country, whose mountainous topography supports 311 different ecosystems. AFP

Dead Sea’s revival edges closer to reality

ANA LIZA ASISCASTRO

US-Philippines Society Leaders in their courtesy call to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

(Malacañan Palace photo)

B3

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PEACE and quiet. Motionless and tranquil. This is what one would feel during Sundays in what is an incredibly busy part of Barangay Bel-Air during weekdays. Thriving offices and restaurants in this area of the Makati CBD fetch heightened foot and vehicular traffic.

Salcedo Village is part of Makati where the population on ordinary weekday is six to eight times of its night-time population, according to the Makati City government. To add, there is the popular and pioneering eventful Salcedo market on Saturdays.

Nonetheless, the village settles from its conventional hectic work week on Sundays. Yet, a small group of folks and families, traveling on foot or by car, are observed. The venue is at the entrance hall of a modern commercialoffice building. On Sunday mornings, the lobby’s wide walkways, designed to accommodate heavy foot traffic, are restricted by the temporarily arranged furniture. The hall is filled with chairs that are arranged in rows from the base of the hall to the other end. Although chairs are comfortably spaced, they are positioned to fit in wherever possible. The arrangement specifically provides an open space meant for a center aisle. All chairs face three tables that are put together at the end of the hall to form a long table. This becomes the focal point of the arrangement. Minutes before 11 a.m., a podium is brought in and is positioned at the front. Loud speakers and microphones are wired. Then, a white cloth is placed on top of the tables, which are finally setup as an altar.

This temporary transformed place of worship can be found in one of the buildings in Salcedo Village. For more than 10 years, this expensive real estate has shared its assets for one hour during Sundays so that mass can be celebrated by

the St. John Bosco Parish. The voices of the Pugad Boys Choir add life to the sensible and amiable homily of Father Dave Buenaventura, SDB. If this building were to charge rentals for the space for its weekly event, the parish will probably incur a monthly expense of about P6,000 for a one-hour occupancy of the venue per event. This is based on a calculation of P1,500 per hour for the approximately 200 square meter floor area.

Note that this would not include the rental of chairs and tables, which the building administrators provide for free. The setup and clearing are also done by the building maintenance crew.

The alliance of two organizations, a real estate business and a parish church begets many benefits and advantages to communities, institutions and establishments it links.

First, the celebration of the mass promotes foot traffic during the inactive hours of the commercial building. Establishments that are open for business during the time of the mass celebration generate some income. On the other end, the business of the Pugad Boys farm is also endorsed as it is able to sell its products to mass goers.

Second, community solidarity is developed. Sunday masses cultivate volunteers from the residents in the community who help organize the celebration.

Organizers put effort so that every last one is given the chance to take part in different Sunday masses. By giving them pen and paper to write their requested special intentions, which are all sequentially read before the mass starts every Sunday, petitioners feel happy that many pray for what they ask for or what they are thankful for. Participation of mass goers are encouraged as they are tapped to read the readings and prayer for the faithful. Also, the children are not left behind. Children enthusiastically carry the collection boxes. This makes them feel an important part in a community activity.

At the end of the mass hour, everyone waits until Father Dave completes his blessings. As Father Dave walks on

the center aisle, he reaches out to bless everyone with Holy Water. Finally, it is in plain sight that parishioners greet each other. Although not everyone knows each other by name, what is obvious are the warm smiles that enfolds the hall.

Although most who attend are residents in the village, it is perceptible that other people from neighborhood villages also attend the Salcedo Village mass celebration on Sundays.

Third, together with other donors, parishioners similarly help maintain the needs of the Pugad Boys, a center for marginalized young people from ages 17 to 24. Pugad Boys farm and Casa de Don Bosco Retreat House are located in Balete, Batangas. The farm grows organic fruits, vegetables, honey bee and ducks. Every Sunday, Father Dave takes a few minutes to impart to parishioners any updates concerning the farm and progress of the Pugad Boys. What is nice to see at the end of each celebration is the swift disappearance of the little quantity of organic produce from the farm as they are hurriedly purchased by the residents.

The partnership of the owner and management of this real estate and St. John Bosco Parish reflects corporate social responsibility. The sharing of an expensive asset for one hour every week results in something that goes beyond the actual one-hour mass celebration. It generates positive outcomes needed to constructively build communities. Building relationships is a vital factor in forming communities that promote health, learning, and well-being of people.

Dr. Ana Liza “Pinky” Asis-Castro is a certified real estate broker. She is a faculty member of the Management and Organization Department of De La Salle University, where she teaches management courses. She is also an Assistant Professorial Lecturer in the Real Estate Management Program of DLS-College of St. Benilde. You may email her at ana. liza.asiscastro@gmail.com. The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

LGUs

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

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LocaL government units

monday, march 19, 2018

New census needed for QC settlers—Joy

By Rio N. Araja QUEZOn City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte has called for a new census of informal settlers to determine the extent of the city’s squatting problem. accurate data would help the city government plan its housing programs and projects, noted Belmonte, who is running for the mayoralty in next year’s elections.

“That’s the problem, the number one problem in Quezon City is data. There’s no data that is reliable because every office has its own data,” she said.

“That’s why one of the things that i really want to do is just to collate, collect accurate data to work with so you can actually do good planning,” the vice mayor added.

Based on the latest city hall estimate, about 190,000 informal settler families or approximately 950,000 individuals live in Quezon City.

Belmonte said there is proposed housing code designed to provide the informal settlers and lower income families with decent and affordable houses.

“They are the most vulnerable, not only to calamities but also to demolition. and when they are demolished, where will they go?” she stressed.

Since settlers’ shanties are also made of light materials, they are also susceptible to fires, Belmonte said.

“Can you imagine the disruption of the lives of their children and of themselves in terms of their livelihood just because they live in a very vulnerable environment with houses made of very light materials? and it’s not their fault,” the vice mayor said.

Meralco fetes Muntinlupa in Luminaries MUnTinlUPa City is one of this year’s recipients of the Meralco luminaries awards, a recognition given to organizations and groups in the country for their outstanding initiatives in nation-building through a partnership with the electric company.

Manila Electric Co. president and chief executive Oscar Reyes, with Senior VP and Head of Customer Retail Services and Corporate Marketing Communication al Panlilio, conferred the award for the local Government Category to Mayor Jaime Fresnedi in a ceremony held at Shangri-la at the Fort last March 8.

Muntinlupa was cited for its strong commitment to sustainable urbanization through disaster-resilient and environmentally sound infrastructure projects, as exemplified by Centennial avenue in Barangay Tunasan and all public buildings constructed along its stretch.

The City Government started building government facilities in the complex last 2015. Centennial avenue is home to Muntinlupa Police’s Headquarters (the biggest police station in the national Capital Region), City Health Office, Schools Division of Muntinlupa, Child Development “Bulilit” Center, Gawad Kalinga Centennial Village, Muntinlupa national High School–Tunasan annex, the soon-to-rise Muntinlupa Museum, and other offices.

BRIGHTER LIGHTS. To deter crimes at dark in the streets of Manila, Mayor Joseph Estrada (also on podium, inset) led the ceremonial switching of brand-new LED street lights along Felix Huertas Street from Lope de Vega Street to Antipolo Street in Sta. Cruz district on March 15.

Another student kills self over unpaid fees

By Abe Almirol

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lCala, Cagayaan—a mother blames a senior high school teacher here for the suicide of her son last week.

Mela Sergia, mother of 18-year-old student Ronnel, believes that her son’s tragic death was the fault of a teacher.

“The teacher shamed my son in front of his classmates, telling him he will not finish senior high school because his school fees were not yet paid in full,” Sergia alleged in an interview with local radio station Bombo Radyo.

Bombo Radyo said it tried to reach the accused teacher, identified as Mark anthony Cabison, but he refused an interview.

This follows an incident from two months ago, when a Cagayan State University student committed suicide on the evening on Jan. 16, a few days after being refused enrollment due to balances in the previous semester.

Police reported that student Rodolfo S. Urmanita, a native of Barangay Dugo, Camalaniugan, was found dead in his boarding house in Barangay Caritan norte, Tuguegarao City.

The Commission on Higher Educa-

tion recently announced that tuition for state universities and colleges was free following a P48-billion subsidy from the national government through the Department of Education.

Sergia admitted that her son reminded her of the unpaid fees when he got home in the afternoon of March 14. “i assured him i will talk to her teachers that i will pay the balance later,” Sergia said in the radio interview.

However, Sergia found later that day that Ronnel hanged himself in their kitchen. an exchange of text messages between the dead student and his classmate and teacher was discovered later.

The text message to the teacher said that it was painful for the student not to finish senior high school.

MEDICAL FASHION.

The De Los Santos Medical Center recently held ‘Step Forward,’ a summer fashion show featuring patients that underwent joint replacement surgery, in E. Rodriguez in Quezon City. The models are people from different ages and walks of life who have benefitted from the surgery and are now back on their feet, doing what they love to do and enjoying life.

Lino Santos

Laguna Lake clean up drive together with Bay Councilor Danilo C. Lanceras, Chairman of the municipal council’s Committee on Environment (standing, center) and NGOs headed by Anna Karenina Lim Puerto, Community Relations and External Affairs Manager of Laguna Aquatech Resources Corp. (left). Bay Chief of Police Chief Insp. Jojo Sabeniano also joined the event in Brgy. Tagumpay in celebration of World Water Day with the theme ‘Nature for Water.’ Roy Tomandao

Manila plans to hold an employers’ forum where accredited companies that employed the most number of applicants from past years’ job fairs will be recognized by the city government, Mayor Joseph Estrada said Sunday. “if given the chance, i would be very happy to give every unemployed Manila resident the assistance to have a job,” Estrada said.

The mayor was referring to the recent job fairs conducted by Employment Regeneration assistance Program and Public Employment Service Office Manila that accommodates employment for job seekers in the city.

On Feb. 21, the Erap-Peso Manila Job Caravan held in city hall invited 15 employers who offered various employment opportunities to hundreds of job applicants. according to Eileen C. Galang, officer-in-charge-Senior labor and Employment Officer, PESO Manila, a total of 180 job seekers registered for the event. Over half or 60.55 percent of them were women.

“Sixty applicants were hired on the spot, 32 males and 28 females,” said Galang.

The companies that participated in the job fair were 7-Star Man Power Service of the Philippines; acabar Marketing international, inc.; ace Promotion and Marketing Corp.; asiawide Human Resources & Consultancy Corp.; Clean Car Global Phils. inc.; Fieldmen Janitorial Services Corp.; Guaranteed Marketing Services inc.; Fineco Management Corp.; Hardworkers Manpower Services inc.; Mirof Resources inc.; Philippine Survey & Research Center inc.; Reliable Work Force & General Services inc.; Smartjob Management & Employment Services; StarBoard Manpower Services inc.; and TopServe Service Solutions inc.

“When a family member gets a job, the whole family is overjoyed. Providing job assistance to the jobless is a passion,” said Estrada.

In BrIef over 400 region 3 police promoted CaMP OliVaS, Pampanga—Over 400 newly promoted commissioned and noncommissioned police officers were warned to stay away from the nefarious activities or face immediate dismissal from service.

Police Chief Supt. amador V. Corpus, regional director of Police Regional Office 3, issued the warning and said: “i will not tolerate any one of you violating our laws.”

Corpus administered the oathtaking ceremony of the promoted officers, composed of 51 police commissioned officers and 413 noncommissioned personnel. He urged them “to know what is right and wrong and serve the people well without fear or favor.”

During the ceremony, Corpus also reminded them the new ranks laid on their shoulders “are well earned promotion that must be protected all the time” as members of a disciplined organization and true public servants.

Romeo Dizon

Dads seek Lto, LtFrB aid on nv – manila bus BaYOMBOnG, nueva Vizcaya— The Sangguniang Panlalawigan here has asked the assistance of the Department of Transportation and Communications and land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to encourage transport cooperatives and companies to apply for a public franchise for the nueva Vizcaya-Metro Manila and vice versa route.

The request was embodied in a Resolution no. 2017-2559 and addressed to Transportation Secretary arthur Tugade and lTFRB chairman Martin Delgra. Ben Moses Ebreo

Rotary Club supports Boracay rehab to return its ‘former glory’

WORLD WATER DAY. More than 600 students from different schools joined the

Estrada eyes employers’ forum, job fair

THE Rotary Club of Sta. Mesa District 3780, through its president Jose Paulo legaspi, supports the proposed rehabilitation of the island of Boracay to restore its former glory.

“We have ignored nature’s warning signs in the past, and we paid the price. let’s not let it happen to Boracay. let’s help in whichever way we can. The best time to start is now,” said legaspi, a supporter of Clean Up the Philippines, which has volunteered to help in the rehabilitation efforts for the “island Paradise.”

The Departments of Environment and natural Resources, interior and local Government, and Tourism had

recommended the total closure of the island resort, so it can be rehabilitated and connect establishments and households to the island’s sewerage system.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, interior officer-in-charge Eduardo año, and Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo announced their recommendation to the President on Thursday.

The DilG, DEnR, and DoT were tasked by President Rodrigo Duterte to recommend solutions to stop the degradation of the 1,032-hectare island, which attracts more than two million tourists and brings in P56 billion in tourism receipts yearly.

PH inventors take ‘radyo’ spotlight FiliPinO inventors took center stage as they were interviewed by veteran host Rolly “lakay” Gonzalo at “Kita mo na? Galing ng Pinoy” program by Radyo Pilipinas dzRBaM, sharing practices and experiences on technology generation, development, and marketing.

The radio program owned by the Philippine Broadcasting Service also known as Bureau of Broadcast Services is produced by the Filipino inventors Society Producer Cooperative. it is aired every Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 9 p.m. on dzRB 738khz aM. Stories focus on the success of Filipino inventor-entrepreneurs as they become powerhouse name and contribute to national development.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife

food

@mStandardLIFE monday, march 19, 2018

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Indulge in a guilt-free and meat-free platter of King Sisig Sizzling Bangus Sisig`

Meat-free and guilt-free

Meals for lent

Sunset Lounge at Cove Manila offers a relaxing space to enjoy good food and refreshing cocktails with a lovely view of the Manila Bay sunset.

Lounge with a view

Max’s Pinoy Ensalada

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ASTIng for lent does not mean depriving yourself of delicious, palate-pleasing food. Here are meatless dishes you can indulge in during the Lenten season.

Sizzling bangus sisig

In observance of Lent, King Sisig comes up with a “fish-tacular” sizzling sisig made of flaked milkfish, chopped onions, and red chili marinated in fresh

calamansi juice and vinegar. Served crispy fried and topped with crispy bangus skin, each mouth-watering platter of Sizzling Bangus Sisig is drizzled with King Sisig’s special sisig sauce for

that extra kick. Diners can also customize their meal with King Sisig’s “5 Anghang Levels” options. each Sizzling Bangus Sisig meal is served with sunny side-up egg, unlimited rice, and a serving of Soup of the Day. It can be upgraded to include drinks and a side dish of Veggie Sisig Lumpia. get you sisig fix sans the guilt at any of the 22 King Sisig outlets nationwide.

Seafood rolls

Looking for guilt-free snack? Costa Coffee rolls out its savory gourmet Seafood Rolls, inspired by the beloved Filipino pandesal.

Take a bite of the Spiced Tuna Roll to savor seared slices of fresh tuna spiced with pepper, complimented with mango and tomato salsa, and topped with crispy onion rings. Or go for the Hawaiian Shrimp Roll, a combination of crispy and juicy shrimp patties, caramelized onions and sweet pineapple for that refreshing finish.

Both gourmet sandwiches are best when paired with the new Flat Black, the Americano version of Costa Coffee’s signature Flat White.

KeepIng its reputation as a worldclass entertainment space, Cove Manila opened the Sunset Lounge, a bar lounge featuring a stunning view of the Manila Bay sunset.

The Sunset Lounge offers an unparalleled place to unwind after a hard day’s work, with Sunset Sessions as the best way to kick back with live music, delicious cocktails, and good food. enjoy signature cocktail during Sunset Session. These classic cocktails come with a Cove Manila twist: The Cove g’ n T (p400) is gin Mare blended with grape fruit bitters, olive brine, and finished with tonic water; The Spicy Whisky Sour (p500) is Jim Beam, spiced honey water, and celery bitters; while el Saraboso (p400) is the finest blackberry liqueur blended with Cazadores Reposado Tequila, apple juice, and agave syrup, finished with ginger ale.

Veggie side dishes

For light but tasty treats, Max’s Restaurant offers its new Spicy Ginataang Kangkong, made of fresh kangkong stalks cooked with tinapa flakes and chilies in rich coconut cream; and Pinoy Ensalada, a salad made with steamed vegetables served with shrimp paste and tomato salsa.

Pan Seared Fish Fillet from Pancake House

Fish fillet

pancake House serves up a sumptuous seafood classic, perfect for when you’re craving for something filling and familiar. The pan Seared Fish Fillet is served with a tangy tomato salsa, brown pilaf rice, and a tasty side salad.

This indulgent meal is available until April 30.

Shrimp and Caesar Salad Sizzlin’s Steak’s Shrimp Cocktail and Caesar Salad

Who says going meatless is sad? Sizzlin’s Steak lets you dive into the fresh flavors of its delectable Shrimp Cocktail or enjoy a plate of Caesar Salad, which you can customize with either shrimp or chicken topping.

Sunset Sessions starts at 5 p.m. to 12 midnight

Cove Manila’s Chef de Cuisine, paul Jean-Baptiste Cottanceau-pocard crafted the bar menu, serving up elevated bar chow options, including the Choripán (p480), made of Argentinian sausage, sourdough baguette, old-fashioned aioli, salsa criolla, chimichurri, and housemade pickles with French fries on the side; and Cornflake Chicken Fingers (p470), marinated cornflake-breaded chicken tenders with parmesan and honey mustard dressing.

Sunset Sessions starts at 5:00 p.m. until to 12 midnight on Sundays to Wednesdays, and from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays Happy hour is from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., during which all drinks are buy one, get one. group packages are available.

For more information, visit covemanila.com or go to Cove Manila Facebook page.

Life

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monday, march 19, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Expo puts our ‘best food’ forward

RECIPE FILES

WiTh the globalization of the food trade, the challenge of keeping up with the changes in consumption and demand due to economic growth rises equally.

The 14th Philippine Food expo, dub bed as the country’s “Only All-Filipino Food Show” happening on April 20 to 22 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, aims to offer valuable information concerning the food industry as well as present food products.

With the theme “emerging Trends in Food Trade,” the three-day event expo organized by the Philippine Food Processors and exporters Organization inc. will gather some 300 leading firms involved in food manufacture, growing, export, equipment, packaging, ingredients, and additives.

According to Philfoodex president Roberto Amores, the rise in spending power in countries in the Asean region results in greater demand for a variety of new diets which are nutritious and affordable. he added that the Philippine Food expo will help its members become more competitive in facing the challenges that the Asean economic Community might present.

Just like in previous editions, the event will be an excellent venue

for business matching between and among suppliers and food processors across the country.

Seminars include ASPiRe for Agripreneurs: agribusiness support for investments promotion in regional expositions, franchising opportunities, application of the TRAiN law to the food industry, impact of DOST Set Up Programs to SMe adaptors Other topics include trends and business opportunities in the Asean food and beverage industry, threats to food business, financial assistance for SMes, productivity and innovation, adapting GS1 barcodes, renewable energy, and packaging and logistics services.

Co-organized by the Philippine exporters Federation, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Trade and industry and the export Marketing Bureau, the expo will also include the Choco, Coffee and Tea Festival.

Spicing up the side event is a display of concoctions of a variety of brews and blends, a culinary showdown for college students and faculty, and a barista challenge.

For details, visit www.phillippinefoodexpo.com, or contact Cut Unlimited 372-7023 to 25 and info@eventsbycut.com.

Tuna Wraps and Tuna Pizza made of Gold Seas Tuna

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Tasty tuna meals

USY individuals who don’t have time to cook nourishing meals, let alone buy fresh ingredients at the supermarket, often resort to takeout or pre-cooked food. But oftentimes, these options do not come with enough nutrients.

This however doesn’t mean that tasty, healthy meals are out of reach for those whose schedule is always full.

Using substitutes, like canned tuna in place of fresh fish, is a way to go. Tuna is a great lean meat option. each serving is packed with nutrients, including muscle-building and brain-boosting Omega-3 fatty acids; Selenium, a rare mineral that’s also a powerful antioxidant; as well as vitamin C, zinc, and manganese, all of which strengthen your immune system.

What’s more, tuna is easy to incorporate to a multitude of dishes which are a breeze to make. even if you’ve never really cooked a full meal in your life, you can stir together tuna, some greens, and some onions and make a decent salad. \Gold Seas Tuna Chunks offers sustainably sourced yellow fin tuna in every can. it comes in Yellow fin Tuna Chunks in Olive Oil, Yellow fin Tuna Chunks in Olive Oil with Chili, Tuna Chunks in herb and Garlic, Tuna Chunks in lemon and Pepper, Tuna Chunks in Mild indian Curry, and Yellow fin Tuna Chunks in spring water. here are two delicious and easy-to-do recipes you can make with canned tuna.

Tuna PIzza Ingredients:

1 185g can Gold Seas Tuna Chunks in herb and Garlic 1 small can corn kernels 50 g canned black beans, drained 1 small red bell pepper, sliced thinly 1 small red onion, sliced thinly 2 tsp cilantro, chopped 1/2 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp cumin powder 1 piece lime Salt and pepper 1 large pizza dough or Flour Tortilla 170g easy-melt cheese

Procedure:

Pre-heat oven 425 degrees. in medium bowl, add tuna with a bit of oil from the can.

Break up with fork until shredded.

Add black beans, red bell pepper, onion, cilantro, chili powder, cumin, lime zest and juice. Toss and season with salt and pepper.

Put mixture on pizza dough. Top with cheese and place on baking sheet.

Bake pizza for around 5 minutes and serve immediately.

Tuna WRaPS Ingredients:

2 185g cans Gold Seas Tuna Chunks in lemon and Pepper 3 tbsp hoisin sauce 3 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar 1 tbsp Sriracha 1 tsp sesame oil 1 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tbsp ginger, grated 1/2 cup water chestnuts, drained and sliced 2 green onions, sliced Salt and pepper to taste large leafy lettuce (leaves separated for serving)

Procedure:

Make the sauce. Whisk hoisin, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, Sriracha and sesame oil in bowl. heat oil in a skillet. Add onions and sauté till translucent.

Add garlic and ginger.

Add tuna. Break up with back of the spoon.

Pour sauce and cook. Reduce. Turn off heat. Add water chestnuts and spring onions. Season with salt and pepper.

Spoon a large scoop in the middle of lettuce leaf and serve immediately.

McDonald’s celebrates National Breakfast Day YOUR breakfast is on McDonald’s as it celebrates its sixth ald’s outlets will give away free longgadesal.

National Breakfast Day today.

A new product from McDo, longgadesal is a delicious The National Breakfast Day lets Filipinos take on the traditional freshly-baked panall over the country enjoy the gooddesal combined with another Filipiness of a McDonald’s breakfast no breakfast staple, longganisa. to jumpstart their day on a experience a savory, beefy, positive note. longganisa patty, topped “National Breakwith a sweet, creamy fast Day is our biggest sauce, sandwiched bebreakfast activation and tween soft pandesal now on its sixth year, buns, and enjoyed with together with thousands or without an egg. of our crew and managTo complete your ers, we’re excited to once breakfast, pair your longagain welcome customers gadesal with McCafé Premifrom all over the country um Roast Coffee, made with in our stores and have them 100 percent Arabica Beans. experience a memorable mornAnd if you’re lucky, you can ing,” says Kenneth S. Yang, Mcget your free breakfast from ceClose to 500 McDonald’s outlets will give away Donald’s Philippines president and lebrity endorsers Alden Richards, free Longgadesal today chief executive.

Maine Mendoza, Tony labrusca, For one hour, from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., close to 500 McDon- Maymay entrata, and edward Barber.

The 14th Philippine Food Expo will showcase world-class Philippine food brands

Irish milk in the Philippines While other irish celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with alcohol, some irish government delegates in the Philippines had a glass of ireland’s no. 1 milk brand Avonmore.

The famous milk brand, which has full cream, low fat, and skimmed variants, is now available exclusively at Marketplace by Rustan’s and Rustan’s Supermarket branches. irish Ambassador Geoffrey Keating and ireland’s Minister of State at the Department of housing, Planning, and local Government John Paul Phelan, TD, were delighted to find one of their country’s most beloved brands on the shelves of a supermarket some 7,000 miles away from ireland. “it’s like seeing a bit of home,” enthused Keating. “i haven’t seen Avonmore in the Southeast Asian region before. This is a first and it’s a very nice feeling to walk into the store and see the display.”

Keating and Phelan were warmly received by Rustan Supercenters, inc. chief executive officer irwin lee during the event and joined by a group that included Rustan’s Commercial Corporation president Donnie V. Tantoco, Rustan’s Supercenters inc. as-

sistant vice president for Marketing Ana Punongbayan, RSCi wine import manager David Brissonnaud, Consul General and Vice-Consul of the irish Consulate Philippines Robert F. Trota, irish Food Board Southeast Asia director Ciarán Gallagher, and Avonmore representatives Maria Victoria Fuentes and Ramon Fuentes. lee said looks forward to continue forging a solid partnership with ireland, one that will hopefully see the arrival of its other world-class goods and brands in these shores. Nicknamed emerald isle, ireland boasts a lush, green terrain that supports its thriving meat, fish, dairy, fruit, vegetable, and cereal industries.

“Marketplace by Rustan’s is known for its wide variety of international products, and we want to keep expanding the selection for our customers,” said lee, who is in talks with the irish Food Board. “Avonmore is the no. 1 milk brand in ireland and is our first irish grocery product, so we’re proud to be able to make it available to our shoppers and offer them a better experience at our stores.”

For more info, visit www.rustansfresh.com.

RSCI chief executive officer Irwin Lee with Irish Ambassador Geoffrey Keating and Ireland’s Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government John Paul Phelan

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Series for millennials scores big wins

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ISCOVERING Routes, an original series produced by ABS-CBN Global Studios that follows people to their lands of ancestry in search of epic adventures, made an impressive impact at the 2018 Cablefax Digital & Tech Awards held at the Yale Club in New York City last week.

The series won in the Online Short and Original Content categories and was Honorable Mention for New Product or Launch and Overall Website categories.

Starring Filipino American siblings Garrett Gee, a millennial tech millionaire and adventure travel journalist of The Bucket List Family fame, and his sister Miristi, the first season of Discovering Routes followed them to the sovereign island nation of the Philippines to experience local Filipino traditions, exotic tropical locales and to explore their Filipino heritage.

Executive Producers for the show are ABS-CBN Global COO Olivia De Jesus, Program Manager Keesa Ocampo and Myx TV General Manager Miguel Santos, in partnership with Go Button Media.

The Cablefax Digital & Tech Awards honors the outstanding websites, digital initiatives and people in the media industry that are driving the digital media revolution, and salutes the best and brightest executives from the world of cable, online video and technology.

All-new season of ‘Jamie and Jimmy’s Food Fight Club’

Garrett and Miristi Gee were surprised by their mother, Mel (center) , in one of the episodes of 'Discovering Routes.'

Simply Red...

From C4

One thing that sets News5 apart from others is its strong public service arm. It has in fact become the go-to of Filipinos for finding resolutions to their problems, whether big or small.

“Mr. Action Man” Raffy Tulfo and his programs, Itimbre Mo Kay Tulfo in Aksyon sa Tanghali and Wanted sa Radyo on Radyo5, connects people with the support they need to overcome life’s challenges.

Helping those in need is also the thrust of Alagang Kapatid Foundation, which has been at the forefront of relief efforts every time a tragedy hits our country and affects fellow Flipinos.

On5 has connected Filipinos with what the rest of the world is watching by being the pioneer of localized international content. From Walking Dead to Arrow and many more, viewers enjoyed groundbreaking and popular US TV series and movies in Tagalized format.

D5 Studio is made for today’s millennial with fun, young and globally appealing content that tells the stories of the Filipino youth. It’s perfect for those who want original series that range from comedy to music to lifestyle. It will entertain, surprise and offer different perspectives for those looking for more than the usual.

Studio5 levels up the content creation game further by becoming the source of international-quality productions.

From story idea to directing to special effects, the series in this platform will elevate the standards of Filipino entertainment. It’s debut project is Amo, directed by Cannes Best Director Brillante Mendoza.

As 5 moves forward to bigger and better possibilities, it endeavors not only

The most watched Kapamilya programs in February led by the primetime drama 'FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.'

to be in-the-know, but to be involved; not merely to be where the action is, but to take action; not simply to tell stories, but to see the story through; and not just to connect people, but to build communities. *** Feel the ‘kilig’ with the extraordinary love story between a man, who is allergic to humans, and a woman pretending to be a robot in ABS-CBN newest Asianovela I am Not a Robot.

Starring award winning actor Yoo Seung-Ho and leading lady Chae Soo-Bin, the romantic comedy drama follows the life of Migo, a rich, handsome young man with a rare condition. Even science cannot find a way to cure his body’s allergic reactions when he makes any form of skin contact with humans. That is why he has lived his whole life in isolation, alone in his palace-like mansion.

Meanwhile, Jia’s life is the complete opposite of Migo’s. She takes on various jobs to make ends meet and to finally

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, March 19, 2018

ACROSS 1 Nudged 6 Barely open 10 Hairy humanoid 14 Orphan of comics 15 Olin or Horne 16 Comedian — King 17 Making a knot 18 Page of a book 19 Go on foot 20 Outside 22 Readies to pounce 24 Grasshopper’s rebuker 25 Catch on 26 Razor targets 30 Tuneful 34 Leno or Letterman 35 Is bold enough 36 Hired vehicle 38 Twitches 39 Not cling (2 wds.)

40 In — veritas 41 Yeasty brew 42 Tiresome talkers 43 Peony part 44 Victoria’s realm 46 Sporty sock 47 Cosmic force 48 Vt. neighbor 49 Former teens 52 Was enough

57 Begin a hand 58 Willy or Shamu 60 Orderly grouping 61 Deep-voiced lady 62 Fibber 63 Grounds 64 Pose 65 Advice, often 66 Drew to a close DOWN 1 Gourmet appetizer 2 Jet black 3 Do socks 4 Berlin single 5 Lower in esteem 6 Dispense 7 Catcall 8 Santa — winds 9 Ride the rapids 10 Was sleepy 11 Flexibility 12 Yarn 13 Writing fluids 21 — and outs 23 Psyche components 26 Test version 27 Griffith or Zola 28 Give emphasis to 29 Attorney’s thing 30 Sorted socks 31 Units of work

32 Sign before Virgo 33 Duct 35 Bruce or Laura 37 Stem of a tree 39 Hawaii’s Mauna — 40 Cucumber or carrot to a Brit 42 Dry with absorbent paper 43 Book part 45 Cider unit 46 — Wiedersehen

Jimmy Doherty, Sarah Millican, and Jamie Oliver get very hands on with a sausage in 'Jamie and Jimmy’s Food Fight Club.'

48 Canning jar size 49 Actor — Sandler 50 Pepperoni seller 51 Auctioneer’s declaration 52 Check 53 Oil producer 54 Muck or slime 55 Moderate 56 Did Easter eggs 59 Pedro’s river

achieve her ultimate goal and that is to put up her own business.

One day, however, Jia gets a business proposal that will change her life— to pretend as Aji 3, a robot designed to become Migo’s companion. Due to unfortunate events, the real Aji 3 malfunctions and it is only Jia who can pretend to be like her because Aji 3 based her appearance on her by her ex-boyfriend, who is the head of the robotic team commissioned to work on the project.

I am Not a Robot airs after Hanggang Saan. *** From a successful run in 2017, ABS-CBN Regional and The Filipino Channel’s (TFC) Kapamilya Fiesta World (KFW) now takes the entertainment fare to France with ABSCBN’s prime stars kicking off the first leg of the year at Les Docks de Paris on 87 avenue des Magasins Generaux at the 93300 Aubervilliers in Paris, on March 31.

ABS-CBN’s regional and international

THE artistic and fabulous life of celebrities and performers gives them access to a world of unique experiences and finds from iconic stores and cultural spots to gastronomic sensations.

Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty make it their mission to recreate special dishes that hold amazing memories for their guest celebrities in the sixth season of Jamie and Jimmy’s Food Fight Club.

Once again, the childhood friends take on a host of diners and celebrity guests in their iconic café at the Southend pier.

This season, twelve celebrities get the cooking lesson of a lifetime— remarkable celebrity guests such as Joanna Lumley, Sarah Millican, and Simon Pegg are put under pressure to

learn a recipe that they must make for all the diners in the cafe. Mark Hamill uses the Force to make his Yorkshire puddings rise, whilst Craig David takes Jamie’s instructions to “show a bit of love to his ingredients” seriously by singing to them.

Delicious food remains at the top of the menu as the boys track down the recipes that mean the most to their celebrity guests from their respective experiences. Jamie also shares his culinary skills to teach them how to recreate these special and delectable dishes that span the globe.

The all-new season of Jamie & Jimmy’s Food Fight Club premieres today at 8:05 p.m. on TLC.

arm’s annual celebration of the tradition that is the Filipino fiesta and brought all over Europe in key countries worldwide takes off in the City of Lights with no less than ultimate heartthrob Piolo Pascual, Arci Muṅoz, Blood Sisters lead star Erich Gonzales, dance floor heartthrob Enchong Dee and dance floor empress Maja Salvador.

Entertainment par excellence is expected as Pascual is set to thrill the ladies with his crooner voice and suave moves. Breaking through from film, television to the stage via Always Be My Maybe and Magpahanggang Wakas with her daring performances is Munoz who is set to bring the same passion on the KFW Paris stage.

Kapamilya Fiesta World regular Dee is bringing in his crowd-drawing dance sets. Meantime, fresh from the successful run of Wildflower, Salvador is giving the audience a throwback to her memorable stint.

Filipinos in France and nearby countries can enjoy the incomparable entertainment for free. *** ABS-CBN remained to be the network of choice by most Filipinos and brought relevant lessons and news stories to more viewers in February as it recorded an average audience share of 46 percent, compared to its rival network GMA with only 33 percent, according to data from Kantar Media.

The Kapamilya network ruled both rural and urban homes last month, particularly in Metro Manila where it garnered 40 percent versus GMA’s 28 percent. It also led the ratings game in Total Luzon as it registered 42 percent, compared to GMA’s 35 percent; in Total Visayas where it hit 56 percent, while GMA only got 27 percent; and in Total Mindanao where it got 52 percent, beating GMA’s 31 percent.

Viewers continued to welcome FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (41.2 percent) into their homes last month as it topped the list of most watched programs in February.

It is followed by Pilipinas Got Talent”(39.6 percebt), which showcased world-class talents of Pinoys weekly.

MMK (33.9 percent) also captivated viewers with the inspiring story of its letter senders.

ABS-CBN’s flagship newscast TV Patrol (32.2 percent) brought relevant news stories to more viewers last month, while La Luna Sangre (31.7 percent) gripped viewers to its thrilling scenes as it approached its finale.

The magical tales of Wansapanataym (30.7 percent) also captured audiences nationwide with its valuable lessons.

On the other hand, Wildflower’s (23.3 percent) wildest ending kept viewers on the edge of the seats.

Completing the list were ABSCBN comedy show Home Sweetie Home (23.3 percent) Erich Gonzales’ comeback series The Blood Sisters (22.7 percent), and Korina Sanchez’s Rated K (22.6 percent).

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN also won across all time blocks, particularly in the primetime block (6 p.m. to 12 midnight) where it recorded an average audience share of 51 percent, compared to GMA’s 31 percent. The primetime block is the most important time of the day when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put a larger chunk of their investments in to reach more consumers effectively.

The Kapamilya network also ruled the morning block (6 a.m. to 12 noon) as it hit 39 percent, compared to GMA’s 32 percent; the noontime block (12 noon to 3 p.m.) as it scored 44 percent versus GMA’s 36 percent; and the afternoon block where it registered 42 percent, beating GMA’s 39 percent.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018

GLAIZA

TV5 is now JUST 5

DE CASTRO is

ISAH V. RED

IF YOU happen to watch Channel 5, you must have noticed something different on the TV channel.

An evolution that will change the entertainment landscape for Filipinos is happening now.

The network, known before as TV5, is now called 5. A simple change, it seems, but one opening bigger and better possibilities for the network and its audience; possibilities that go beyond TV. TV5’s audience has always been the easygoing social connector. These are the people who are not just passive viewers but productive participants in relevant conversations. The need to be fully informed and see the full picture has led them to go beyond traditional sources of information. They have embraced the emergence of multiple platforms, which they use to increase their knowledge, better themselves and build stronger, more meaningful connections.

This is where 5 comes in. As it seamlessly connects the different platforms that the audience taps into, it also connects people with meaningful content that bonds them. Whether it’s the love for sports, the love for country or love to be in the know, 5 will empower its audience to amplify their connections.

The power of 5 lies in its five synergistic pillars – ESPN5, News5, On5, D5 Studio, and Studio5. Driven by the Filipinos’ different passion points, each platform is a venue for interaction among like-minded

News5 News Chief Luchi Cruz-Valdez

individuals.

ESPN5 is the leader in sports and the home of major sports events from PBA to PSL to NCAA. It also features international sports like FIBA and NFL; and even iconic multi-sports events like the Olympics, Asian Games and SEA Games.

With on-demand content being more prevalent, a game is an event best enjoyed live and ESPN5 will allow its viewers all over the country to experience these moments.

Beyond the live games, the worldfamous Sports Center will deliver more than game play-by-plays but also in-depth stories behind the teams and the players, bridging their world with their Filipino fans. To top it all, ESPN5.com, the #1 sports website in the Philippines, will continue to be the trusted source of the most comprehensive sports news in the country.

News5, led by its fearless News Chief, Luchi Cruz-Valdez, will also continue living up to its promise of Higit Sa Balita, Aksyon. It takes its role of giving accurate information very seriously but has transcended this role by also delivering real conversations, and real experiences.

This is what the audience will get from Aksyon and News5.com.ph, the country’s first 24-hour video and audio news platform, as well as its ally on the road, Radyo5 and Taxi Squad.

Continued on C3

‘CONTESSA’ P

REPARE to be enthralled in a riveting story of a woman seeking justice in a new drama series airing today right after Eat Bulaga.

No less than multi-talented actress Glaiza de Castro headlines the new program as Contessa/Beatrice “Bea” Resureccion and she feels grateful that she was chosen for the coveted role.

“I’m honored to play this challenging role. It just means na ganun kalaki ang tiwala sa akin ng GMA. I appreciate that they give me important

French Musician CHARLES BAPTISTE at SM Aura Premier AS PART of the Francophonie celebrations, Alliance Française de Manille, in partnership with the Embassy of France in Manila, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, and SM Aura Premier present French pop musician Charles Baptiste for a performance on March 21 at 6:00 p.m. at SM Aura Premier Atrium.

The International Francophonie Day is an annual celebration of the birth of the Intergovernmental Francophonie cooperation.

Francophonie is the term used to refer to all people and countries speaking the French language.

Francophonie Day celebrates the French language and the values of the French speaking countries around the world.

Baptiste, one of France’s rising stars today, will perform a series of piano and vocal concerts and DJ sets.

His real stage personality and incredible energy with his upbeat and French pop sounds have captivated audiences around the world.

He vibrates to the sound of music with aspiration, which makes people sing in chorus with lyrics that speak to all generations. It is now in duet electro-pop that Baptiste intends to revive the spirit of French elegance turned to joy, celebration, and dance.

Meanwhile, the event is also in partnership with authentic French restaurant, La Mère Poulard, for Goût de France in celebration of French gastronomy.

Baptiste’s performance will be one of the many enriching cross-cultural events at SM Aura Premier.

Glaiza de Castro's leading men Geoff Eigenmann (top) and Jak Roberto

SNAPSHOT

DOT endorses Pinay tattoo artist DEPARTMENT of Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. endorses Daenee Bartolome, the first Filipina tattoo artist to join the Vancouver Tattoo and Culture Show on April 20 to 22. In a courtesy visit to the DOT office, Bartolome shared with the undersecretary her dedication and passion in the art of tattooing.

“We are proud that a Filipina will be part of a gathering of tattoo masters and enthusiasts from all over

France’s rising stars Charles Baptiste

the world,” said Bengzon.

“Many tourists go here to have their tattoos done by our homegrown artists and I think it helps boost tourism. It is truly a great honor to have a woman tattoo artist in the person of Daenee,” said DOT Secretary Wanda Teo. With USec Bengzon and Bartolome in the photo is Philtag President Ricky Sta. Ana, who will also join Bartolome in the event. Robbie Pangilinan

projects that will enhance my skills as an actor,” she says.

After being accused and imprisoned for a crime she did not commit, Bea is determined to seek revenge on those who took everything and everyone she loved away from her. Witness her redemption and thirst for justice as she rises from the ground--stronger than ever--and claims a new identity as Contessa.

Playing very important roles in the series are Contessa’s leading men Geoff Eigenmann and Jak Roberto.

Geoff is Gabriel Caballero, a selfmade man and a successful OFW who returns to the country when his brother, Marco (Mark Herras) gets murdered. Meanhile, Jak is Santiago “Jong” Generoso, Jr., Bea’s closest and most reliable friend. Secretly, he is in love with her and hopes that she will love him back.

Adding star power to this series are Gabby Eigenmann, Lauren Young, Chanda Romero and Tetchie Agbayani. Completing the all-star cast are Leandro Baldemor, Dominic Roco, Bernadette Allyson, Melissa Mendez, Tanya Gomez, Karel Marquez, Phytos Ramirez, Denise Barbacena, and Will Ashley.

Behind this intriguing drama is the creative team composed of Creative Director Roy Iglesias, concept creator Marlon Miguel, head writer Christine Novicio, Creative Head for Afternoon Prime Block Dode Cruz and creative consultant Kit Langit.

The program is another original creation of the GMA Drama group under the supervision of Senior Vice President for Entertainment Content Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, Vice President for Drama Redgie AcuñaMagno, Assistant Vice President for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, and Senior Program Manager Cathy OchoaPerez.

The GMA Network drama is under the helm of director Albert Langitan, the man behind the recently-concluded top-rating Afternoon Prime series, Impostora.