Manila Standard - 2018 March 25 - Sunday

ZAMBO TOLD: GO FEDERAL, JOIN THE PARTY

By Maricel V. Cruz VOL. XXXII • NO. 42 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez on Saturday urged new members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino in Zamboanga del Sur to support not only PDP candidates but also candidates from other parties who are supportive of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Alvarez urged them to vote for the party’s senatorial bets in the 2019 polls and reject others, particularly those who do not support federalism.

He made the call before an estimated 15, 000 local officials and private individuals who took their oath as new PDP members at the Molave Gymnasium in Zamboanga City.

Aside from the previous names that Alvarez endorsed as possible senatorial candidates of the ruling party, he also appealed to the new PDP members to support Rep. Pia Cayetano of Taguig City and Cynthia Villar in their senatorial bid.

The two lawmakers are both from the Nacionalista Party.

“They are not members of the party but they are very supportive of the President,” Alvarez said But before endorsing Cayetano and Villar, Alvarez stressed the Turn to A2

SPARU REVIVAL ONLY A PLOY, CPP WARNS LIGHTS OUT. SM Malls participate in the annual Earth Hour celebration—at 8.30 p.m. Saturday—as part of a global move against climate change and the steep decline of nature as biodiversity loss threatens the planet. At the banks of the Marikina River, hundreds of lanterns (inset) made from capiz are being lit Saturday.

Malacañang itself encouraged Filipinos to participate in this year’s Earth Hour 'to symbolize our commitment to saving Mother Earth.' Manny Palmero, Norman Cruz

RODY: GOVT PURGE RESUMES IN APRIL

By Vito Barcelo

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is on a firing spree to rid the government of corrupt officials, saying more officials in the executive department will be fired after the Holy Week break.

The President made the announcement during the 16th founding anniversary of the Supreme Tribal Council for Peace and Development Inc. in Davao City, adding when he returns to Manila, more executive officials would be on the chopping board.

“Do you know how many government officials I have fired already? A lot. I will fire more upon

my return to Manila,” Duterte said.

The President, who will spend the Holy Week in Davao, did not give more details on who will be affected by the changes.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the President would make some changes in his Cabinet as he was apparently not satisfied with the performance of some members of his official family.

The President, whose campaign promise included eradicating corruption in the government, said the public could expect more officials to be fired.

Duterte has said he’s been spending a lot of time just to clean up government, adding “It’s still graft and corruption. It has been pulling us down through the years... I will not hesitate. I have fired so many before and I will fire so many of you now and in the future.”

The Chief Executive has sacked several Cabinet members and government officials over alleged corrupt practices.

Duterte fired on Jan. 4 Philippine Maritime Industry Authority chief Marcial Amaro III over alleged junkets.

Amaro maintained his trips abroad were for official business, and a certain business group was behind the move to replace him.

Duterte also let go of former Dangerous Drugs Board chief Diniosio Santiago and former Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno for alleged corruption.

At the same time, Duterte warned he would punish law enforcers who continue to ignore the law by letting colorum vehicles to operate in exchange for certain amount of consideration.

“Several law enforcers are turning a blind eye on colorum vehicles.

That regulation against illegally operating units must be fully enforced,” Duterte said when he went Turn to A2

MARANAO WOMAN TOPS SHARI'AH BAR EXAMS A MARANAO woman has topped the 2018 Shari’ah Special Bar Examination conducted by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court released late Friday the results of the Sharia Special Bar Examination given at the Supreme Court along Padre Faura St., and in the Court of Appeals along Orosa St. in Ermita, Manila last Jan. 22 and 27.

Rohanifah D. Abdul-Rahman of Lanao Sur topped the exams by garnering a rating of 90.40 percent, followed

by Abdulkarim C. Hadji Ibrahim Jr., 89.35 percent second place; Sha Elijah B. Dumama-Alba, 88.85 third place; Adly A. Umpa 88.80 fourth place; Benyamen S. H. Salic, 88.45 percent fifth place; Mozifa I Ibbin 88.00, percent sixth place; Nurhainie S Abolais, 87.90 percent and Arvin A Sirad 87.90 percent,

both seventh place; Nassem D. Sarangani, 87.25 percent eight place; Hisham G. Panganting, 87.20 percent ninth place, and Rayhana D. Faisal, 86.85 percent tenth place.

(See complete list on http:// sc.judiciary.gov.ph/ and http:// s c. j u d i c i a r y. g o v. p h / p d f / we b / viewer.html?file=/baradmission/ shariah/2018BarResults.pdf ) On Saturday, the High Court and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) jointly made the official announcement of the results of the examination.

Bar Confidant and Deputy Clerk of Court Ma. Cristina B. Layusa said only 191 out of 360 examinees passed the 2018 Shari’ah Bar administered by the High Tribunal last January 21 and 28.

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RELIGIOUS SYMBOL. Palm fronds—known as palaspas in many parts of this predominantly Catholic country of 106 million people—are being hawked on Saturday, on the eve of Palm Sunday when, according to Christian tradition palm branches were waved at the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It was adopted into Christian iconography to represent the victory of martyrs, or the victory of the spirit over the flesh. Norman Cruz

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THE Communist Party of the Philippines on Saturday said President Rodrigo Duterte was creating another scheme to silence his critics with his claim that the infamous hit squad of the New People’s Army—“Sparu” or “Sparrow” unit— had been revived.

“It seems Duterte is doing some scenario-building to hatch up another tyrannical scheme,” the CPP said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Duterte warned soldiers against the supposed resurgence of the Sparrow Unit.

PNP chief Director-General Ronald dela Rosa also said the “Sparu” unit of the NPA boosted its operations against government forces after Duterte terminated the peace talks with communist rebels last year.

“The PNP’s plan to have a group of ‘seasoned retired police officers’ to train PNP field personnel on ‘anti-sparrow’ operations sound shady, to say the least,” it said.

Meanwhile, the military on Saturday claimed it had 28 leaders of the CPP-NPA who surrendered to security forces along with the seizure of at least 51 camps across the country as troops waged relentless anti-insurgency campaign during the first quarter of 2018 following the collapse of peace talks. Turn to A2

BAGUIO CHILLS AS SUMMER SETS IN

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— While everyone expects scorching heat and summer getaway plans are being hatched, online weather monitoring stations registered as low as 14 degrees Celsius on Saturday here.

In Baguio City, the lowest recorded was 13 degrees Celsius at early morning on the same day.

In Mt. Pulag, the highest peak in Luzon, www.weather.com recorded that temperature dropped to 1 degree Celsius early in the morning. The reading as of 8:00 a.m. was placed at 6 degrees Celsius.

Tourists tolerated the 90 degrees Celsius coldness of dawn to witness sunrise on top of Mt. Pulag, the highest peak in Luzon.

From the base camp, a hike starting at 2:00 a.m. would be the best timing to witness the majestic sea of clouds as dawn breaks.

On Jan. 19 last year, a similar temperature drop in Mt. Pulag was reported.

“It should be always like this,” a resident of Hungduan, Ifugao commented.

Hungduan and Tinoc towns of Ifugao are at the north face of Mt. Pulag, which are places with cool Turn to A2

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'RELOCATE EL NIDO SQUATTERS' BORACAY isn’t the only place the Department of Environment and Natural Resources wants to clean up.

On Saturday, the DENR pushed to relocate informal settlers living along the coasts of El Nido in Palawan, the worldfamous tourist site and one of the island province’s protected areas.

Meanwhile, over 600 local government officials will soon know if they have violated Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, mainly for allowing illegal dumpsites, Eli Ildefonso of the DENR’s National Solid Waste Management Commission told dzBB radio.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, in a statement, said El Nido’s local government has issued a final notice to vacate to 24 families who have lived along the famed Corong Corong beach.

“We are working closely with the local government to ensure that the relocation site for these informal settler families is prepared as soon as possible,” Cimatu said.

Their houses are built on stilts directly above the waters of Corong Corong Bay and do not have toilets, with the families disposing household waste directly into the sea, local DENR officials said.

“You can smell the stench in that area.

These activities have a significant effect to the water quality in the immediate area around the houses. Aside from the fact that they do not have toilets, they are also encroaching on the easement zone, so we hope to move them to a new location soon,” Cimatu said.

El Nido is famous for its pristine blue waters and white sand beaches, lush forests, towering limestone rock formations and caves, as well as the numerous islands surrounding its seas.

Meanwhile, one-third of the 1,634 cities and municipalities in the country failed to strictly implement the Solid Waste Management Law, said Ildefonso, the NSWC executive director.

Officials of more than 50 cities and municipalities have been charged and investigated for the illegal dumpsites and are just awaiting the Ombudsman’s decision on their cases, he added.

The officials charged include mayors, vice mayors, councilors, and local environment and natural resources officers or ENROs, Ildefonso said.

The cases stem from February 2016, when the EcoWaste Coalition filed complaints against 50 local government units before the Office of the Ombudsman for violations of RA 9003 and their failure to close and rehabilitate dumpsites.

RODY:...

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to the crash site in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, where a Dimple Star bus fell into a ravine and left 19 dead and 21 wounded.

“It has been there like cancer, many Filipinos died too soon because of the illegal racket of these people,” he said.

The Chief Executive has ordered transport officials to embark on a nationwide crackdown against unregistered public utility vehicles following the fatal bus accident in Occidental Mindoro.

“Now is the time for the government to prove itself and should take responsibility in protecting its people,” he said.

The Chief Executive personally checked the condition of injured passengers at San Sebastian District Hospital.

He also visited the wake of a victim and condoled with the relatives.

“I had a meeting with the Highway Patrol and the chief of police there. I told them to ‘apprehend all the colorum drivers and operators in the Philippines,’” he said.

“Lock them up because I want them to experience life in jail,” the President said.

Duterte explained his order was meant to eliminate the operation of colorum or unregistered vehicles.

At the same time, Duterte instructed authorities to impound the colorum vehicles and to conduct a drug test for PUV drivers.

He said the arrest of the colorum public utility drivers and operators was valid because they were violating laws and regulations.

“When a vehicle is not registered and uninsured, and you park it in terminals, that is considered as fraud,” he explained, noting the units were not maintained well by the owners.

“We got used to vans that are unregistered, uninsured, and has (sic) unmaintained engines and tires, and we do not do anything about it almost every day,” he said.

Duterte noted that some drivers involved in mishaps would not even be apprehended for reckless imprudence.

“It would eventually be declared as an accident,” he said.

DUTERTE ASSURES LUMAD OF P100-M LIVELIHOOD AID

By Vito Barcelo

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte vowed to give P100 million in livelihood assistance to tribal communities in Mindanao as part of his commitment to help indigenous peoples there.

Duterte made the announcement during the 16th founding anniversary of the Supreme Tribal Council for Peace and Development Inc. at the 3rd In-

fantry Battalion Headquarters in Davao City.

“I will help you survive, but you have to start now. I will give you assistance to cultivate your

lands,” the President said.

He also pledged to provide the Lumad with tractors and seedlings for farming and told them to take good care of the equipment.

“By taking care of your equipment it will function as it was intended to and last longer,” he said.

The President also asked the Lumad to stop supporting the New People’s Army.

During the event, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairman Eduardo del Rosario presented 35 former NPA rebels, 26 of them surrendering at least 29 firearms.

Ten of them were members of the dreaded NPA Sparrow Unit, and 16 were actively operating in the provinces of Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, North Cotabato and Davao del Norte.

Nine NPA rebels surrendered without firearms.

Meanwhile, the President led the handover of 17 emergency vehicles to 15 local government units in Mindanao.

Duterte also witnessed the blessing of a rescue truck, two pumper trucks, and 14 ambulance units donated by the Japanese government.

HOUSE OKAYS BILL ON FOREIGN MARRIAGE

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill recognizing the foreign degree of termination of marriage and allowing its subsequent registration with the Philippine Civil Registry.

House Bill 7185, which passed by a 202-3 vote before Congress adjourned last March 23, seeks to amend Executive Order 209 or the Family Code of the Philippines.

The proposed amendment to Article 13 of EO 209 states: “The Filipino spouse need not seek recognition or

MARANAO...

From A1 Sharia Bar Examinations are composed of four subjects, namely: 1) Persons, Family Relations and Property; 2) Jurisprudence (FIQH) and Customary Laws (ADATS); 3) Procedure in Shari’a Courts; and 4) Succession, Wills, Adjudication and Settlement of Estate.

The government has since 1977 institutionalized the Sharia in the country (mainly for Muslim Family Code), because the only applicable provision in the Civil Code (Article 78) to the country’s Muslims expired in 1980 or 30 years after the Civil Code’s enactment. Nash B. Maulana Following is the list of passers in alphabetical order (From http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/ pdf/web/viewer.html?file=/baradmission/shariah/2018BarResults.pdf ): Abbas, Nur-Jihad B; Abdel-Fattah, Norhayfa B.; Abdul, Ebrahim S.; Abdulahab, Rahima U.; Abdulgani, AbdurRahman L.; Abdullah, Abdulgani S.; Abdullatif, Norhaya T.; Abdulmunap, Ar-Asrima C.; Abdul-Rahman, Rohanifah D.; Abdulkarim, Al-Yassein C.; Abdulraof, Abdulkhair L.; Abdurahim, Hassanal H.; Abdulssalam, Sittie Hanan N.; Abedin Abdulrahim P.; Abedin, Anida M.; Abolais, Nurhainie

SPARU...

From A1 In related developments: • The Armed Forces will continue implementing appropriate security measures to fully secure the country during the Holy Week despite the absence of major security threats against the annual religious observation.

“There is no specific threat monitored for the Holy Week but the AFP will not put its guard down. We will continue to conduct appropriate security measures where needed to safeguard vulnerable communities,” AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bienvenido Datuin said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency on Friday.

He added the military would make appropriate deployment when and where the need arises.

“In every security measure, there will always be a gap that criminals and terrorists will pursue and take advantage of,” Datuin said.

And while the AFP does everything it can to protect the country and its people against all forms of threats, the military official said the help of

enforcement of the foreign decree of termination of marriage. The registration of the duly authenticated foreign decree of termination in the Philippine Civil Registry shall be sufficient proof of capacity to remarry.”

Where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is celebrated and a decree of termination of marriage is thereafter obtained abroad by either spouse and subsequently registered in the Philippine Civil Registry as provided in Article 13, the Filipino spouse shall likewise have capacity to remarry under Philippine Law, it added.

Article 412 of the Civil Code “shall not apply in recognizing the termination of marriages referred therein,” the amendment said.

“Any agreement on the liquidation, partition and distribution of properties of the spouses, the custody and support of common children, the delivery of their presumptive legitimes [forced share or legal rights share] included in the degree of termination of marriage shall be recognized. In the absence thereof, the provisions of the Family Code shall be in force,” it said.

The bill’s authors, led by Deputy

S.; Acmad, Aisanie B.; Adap, Neshreen M.; Addat, Jayson M.; Ader, Mohammad, Ashraf P.; Adju, Abdul-Azeem S.; Aguil, Sahod S.; Alanoden, Salha M.; Alapa, Hassanor M.; Alawi, Jasmine A.; Ali, Mohaimen P.; Ali, Roslani T.; Ali, Sittie Aifat A.; Ali, Yasir M.; Alih, Ummu Karthum A. Alimoden, Wasima A.; Alioden, Jalilah A.; Aliola, Masnor D.; Aliponto, Abdulkarim C.; Aliuden, Fahleah M.; Alonto, Khalid Bin Ali P.; Amboloto, Jalilah M.; Ambor, Mohammad-Ali B.,; Amer, Mohammad, Jurayd M.; Amil, Bai Putri Morayah A.; Aming, Rhasdy P.; Ampuan, Abdel Hasiib B.; Ampuan, Anesah T.; Andang, Esmaida H.; Arsa, Ansary D.; Bacarat-Lucman, Hayanisah T.; Balan, Ibrahim A.; Balang, Anna Farina S.; Balenti , Sri Hasniyah C.; Balt, Al-Rashid L.; Bangcola, Mahid M.’ Bangcola, Mohammad Fauzie T. Baniaga, Sittie Aliya A.; Bantuas, Aliah P.; Bara-acal, Anshanor D.; Basmala, Aisah S.; Basri, Rajad B.; Batara, Abdel Jameh D.; Benito, Sittie Sheirina B.; Bilao, Juhairah T.; Biona, Jonty F.; Bobong, Muamar Khadaffy M.; Bustamen, Jadida M.; Calbe, Nor-Ayah L.; Cali, Ibrahim S.; Comacasar, Farhanisah D.; Daligdig, Amir O.; Datu-Dacula, Nashibah S.; Delawi, Sittie Al-Hadya A.; Diamla, Saida T.; Dida-Agun, Asraleah M.; Dida-Agun, Shannen Jairah R.; Digermo, Zoraida A.; Dimakuta, Rajchanee M.; Dimalen, Zahira D.; Dimapundug, Abdulgaffar G.; Dimaro,

Mustapha E.; Disomimba, Sahraman C.; Doro, Amer Hassan E. Dumama-Alba, Sha Elijah B.; Esmael, Anabelle V.; Esmail, Camaludin A.; Espe, Junjun M.; Eza, Nazrima D.; Faisal, Rayhana D.; Gunang, Catherine P.; Guro, Abdallah B.; Guro, Jr., Sonny L.; -Ali, Nasima B.; Cosain, Sonaya P.; H. Junaid, Sittie Asiah G.; H. Salic, Benyamen S.; Habib, Jamal M.; Hadji Ali, Abdulnassef T.; Hadji Ali, Jamaloding B.; Hadji Ibrahim, Jr., Abdulkarim C.; Hadji Salic, Sitti Hanzalia A.; Hadji Solaiman , Fahad A.; Hadji Taha, Salahuden L.; Halbi, Rashida I.’ Hassiman, Nidzma T.’ Hernandez, Nestor Dl.; Husain, Amani M.; Ibbin, Mozifa I.’ Ibra, Nassif P.’ Imam, Shafaatullah L.’ Indar, Nissreen L.; Indardaya, Sittie Aiza G.’ Ishmael, Abdul Aziz A.’ Ismael, Maida H.; Jauhari, Ombraida E.’ Kanda, Jocelyn L.;Kisri, Rawina I.’ Langcua, Hafsah B.; Langilao, Adiah U.; Lao, Amanah B.; Latiph, Rohaidah M.; Lawansa, Hasim M. Lininding, Sittie Jannah A.; Macabangen, Abdulshocor M.; Macabantog, Acmalin S.; Macalandong, Raihana M.; Macalandong, Rainisa M.’Macapasir, Najer M.; Macaumbos, Khair T.; Magarang, Mazohra M.; Mala, Sittie Amerah Dahlia L.; Malawad, Rohainah D.;Malik, Muhammad A.; Mamintal, Jamil L.; Mamucao, Princess Sheryn A.; Manaol, Ihsan P.; Mangacop, Muhammad Zaim I.; Mangontawar, Norhaynie S.;Mansawi, Amerah Saliha T. Nash B. Maulana

the public in foiling lawless elements was always welcome.

“Again we recognize the importance of the help of our citizens and the community against the enemies of peace. We call on our people to be part of the security net to detect, deter and frustrate any move by criminals and terrorists,” he added.

• The National Capital Region Police Office has intensified crime prevention effort and deployed 11,800 policemen all over Metro Manila in connection with the country’s observance of Lent this week.

The authorities will be using deliberate, sustained police operations such as checkpoints, mobile and beat patrols supported by scientific crime reporting from the Community Precincts to the stations, to the districts up to the NCRPO headquarters.

NCRPO director Oscar Albayalde said more police personnel would be dispatched to secure orderly situation in bus terminals, airports and seaports and other crowded places such as shopping malls and other commercial establishments in Metro Manila.

“Aside from areas of public convergence, our policemen were also

tasked to conduct patrols around communities to prevent burglars from entering houses left by families on vacation,” he said.

Lt. Col. Emmanuel Garcia, chief of the Public Affairs Office, said that most number of NPA surrenderers came from the Eastern Mindanao Command which accounted for 17 ranking leaders.

Garcia said the ranking NPA leaders included two amazons identified as Alvie Marie Cominador, alias Ara, 51, secretary of Guerillas Front; Shane Rosete Cacdac 51, alias Neo, staff officer of sub-regional committee in Davao; and Gerardo Baro, also known as Arnold, former vice commander of Guerrilla Front 27.

The NPA leaders were Noel Legaspi, alias Efren, deputy secretary, and his wife Jeanalyn Bendalian, alias Wendy, a medical officer; Beong Dalumatan, a sub-commander of Guerillas Front 72 based in Sultan Kudarat.

Garcia claimed the NPA leaders yielded to various army battalion forces to include 36th IB, 73rd IB, 27th IB, 73rd IB, all operating in Western and Eastern Mindanao. Francisco Tuyay, PNA

Speaker and Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano and Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, said the measure, once enacted, can be availed by a Filipino who is married to a foreigner whose marriage has been terminated abroad by either spouse.

It also included Filipinos whose marriage has been terminated abroad prior to the effectivity of the proposed law; who have been divorced from a spouse who had subsequently acquired foreign citizenship; or who have subsequently acquired foreign citizenship, and who has divorced from the Filipino spouse abroad.

ZAMBO...

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need to support the party’s own senatorial candidates in 2019.

Among the names mentioned by Alvarez as possible members of the PDP senatorial ticket were incumbent lawmakers such as Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Representatives Sajid Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, Karlo Nograles of Davao City, Alfredo Benitez of Negros Occidental and Geraldine Roman of Bataan.

The name of Rep. Reynaldo Umali of Oriental Mindoro had been floated earlier as possible member of the PDP senatorial ticket.

From the Executive Department, Alvarez named Special Presidential Assistant Christopher Go, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino.

“But the one who would determine the final list of the administration’s senatorial ticket is of course President Duterte,” Alvarez said.

However, Alvarez said that for candidates from other parties to join the administrations’s senatorial ticket, they must support federalism.

“It will be [a requirement] definitely, because federalism is the cornerstone of the PDP,” Alvarez said.

He added that it would make an awkward situation if candidates from other parties would share the stage with PDP’s own senatorial bets if they were not supporting federalism.

BAGUIO...

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summer sought after by tourists.

Other upland towns of Luzon, like Sagada in Mountain Province, are favorite summer destinations.

Hungduan is also getting a share of local and international tourists due to its pristine rice terraces.

Some tourists are no longer happy with Banaue Rice Terraces because the landscape was invaded by settlements.

Native houses were replaced by concrete and galvanized iron roofed structures.

But not everyone is happy.

“Incidents of upper respiratory illnesses such as colds, cough and asthma manifested in some residents of Hungduan, which registered 9 degrees Celsius at 3:25 a.m. of Saturday,” posted Rowena Sicat, Hungduan’s tourism officer, on social media.

“Severe coldness destroyed cabbage and other leafy vegetables. Farmers are suffering from huge losses during these times. Perhaps we should also make our farms as tourist attractions to compensate our losses during cold days,” remarked Florante Bela-o, an organic farmer based in Loo, Buguias town in Benguet. Abe Almirol

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SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

HOUSE OKS PENSION HIKE FOR WAR VETS

HOLY WEEK BREAK. Passengers start to build up at the Cubao provincial bus terminal in Quezon City as Holy Week travelers go home for a much-needed vacation in their respective provinces. Manny Palmero

‘POWER DEMAND HIGHER IN SUMMER’

By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co., the country’s biggest power distributor, on Friday said data have shown that high power demand during the dry months is a reality as reflected by the 366-megawatt increase in demand for Luzon during the February supply month alone amid higher temperatures.

“Every year, during summer months, the trend is really for demand to increase. In fact, during the February 2018 supply month, demand in Luzon already grew by 366 MW, while [power generation] capacity on outage increased by around 1,000 MW. Increase in demand may be attributed to higher temperature. February 2018 average temperature was even higher than February 2016, which was an El Niño year,” Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said.

Zaldarriaga said higher demand is driven by the higher temperatures especially during the dry months. Historically, demand shoots up during the dry months thus pushing up power prices.

“Higher demand is a recurring situation, it happens every year as summer arrives. And Meralco, with no other motive but to empower its consumers, will continue to communicate the latest updates on supply situation, and equip customers with the necessary knowledge to live energy efficient lives,” the official said.

Meralco, which has over six million customers in its franchise area, said that because of this increase in temperature and demand, the company continues to promote energy efficiency and encourage customers to make energy efficiency a way of life.

DU30’S ORDER ON SPEEDY RICE IMPORTS BACKED

By Maricel V. Cruz

A

HOUSE leader has backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive for the National Food Authority to speed up the importation of 250,000 metric tons of rice to stabilize the supply and price of the commodity in the market.

At the same time, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte reiterated his call to return full control of rice imports to the food agency in lieu of private traders.

But he said the NFA must also run after “scalawags” at the state-run firm who might be selling NFA rice to private grains traders who, in turn, mix them with their imports and sell these stocks at higher prices.

“The President’s order to speed up

rice imports should give all the more reason to the NFA Council to reverse its longstanding policy of allowing private traders to import rice in favor of giving back to NFA 100 percent control over all overseas purchases of the staple,” Villafuerte said.

“While the NFA can do the job of importing rice better and faster, it must also watch out for some scalawags in its ranks who sell NFA rice to traders as this will defeat the purpose of stabilizing prices in the market,” he added.

Villafuerte said President Duterte’s directive during a recent NFA council meeting for the food agency to fast-track rice imports, along with a crackdown on erring employees possibly in cahoots with unscrupulous grains businessmen, would stabilize domestic supply and prevent retail prices from soaring beyond the reach of ordinary consumers, especially during the July-September lean season.

According to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, President Duterte issued the order to the NFA to expedite rice imports during a recent NFA Council meeting and told the Cabinet

he did not want a repeat of the 2008 rice crisis.

Piñol said if the importation process starts now, the stocks will arrive either late April or early May. Villafuerte said the NFA should be given back full control over rice imports, considering that certain unscrupulous grains traders have cashed-in on the current system to corner the bulk of domestic supply and unduly jack up prices of this staple at the expense of ordinary Filipinos.

He called on the NFA Council to reverse its policy of letting private grains businessmen import rice through the NFA, following an earlier appeal by NFA administrator Jason Aquino to farmers to sell part of their harvest to the food agency so it could replenish its stocks.

“We need to fix the existing system to shield both farmers and consumers from the shady practices of private traders that have left the NFA helpless in carrying out its primary task of ensuring the stability of the price and supply of rice in the market,” Villafuerte said.

MMDA TO USE CCTVS TO CURB ILLEGAL PARKING

By Joel E. Zurbano

CATCHING illegally parked vehicles using CCTV, handheld mobile devices and digital cameras will soon become a policy of the Metro Manila Development Authority.

Members of the Metro Manila Council are set to sign a resolution allowing the MMDA to enforce its No Physical Contact Apprehension policy and use the CCTV cameras in catching motorists who will illegally park their vehicles on sidewalks and in no parking zones on both secondary and major streets of the metropolis.

The MMC, composed of 17 mayors and other local government officials in Metro Manila, is the governing board and policy-making body of the MMDA. “People must understand that we will not tolerate illegal parking,” said MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim, adding that illegally parked vehicles is a contributing factor to the worsening traffic situation in the National Capital Region.

Lim said the no contact apprehension scheme has been effective with the help of closed circuit television cameras, digital cameras and other handheld devices in catching erring motorists.

“There remains a proliferation of illegally parked motor vehicles along the national, city and municipal roads of Metro Manila despite earnest efforts exerted by the MMDA and Metro Manila local government units in road clearing,” he said.

Lim said they came up with the decision to impose the no contact policy to avoid possible confrontation or heated argument between MMDA men and the car owners during road clearing operations.

“Thus, this regulation can be a big boost to the agency’s campaign against illegal parking and help avert heated argument between traffic enforcers and vehicle owners during clearing operations,” added Lim. “They can’t deny because we have photos or videos of their act,” he said.

At present, the MMDA has 300 CCTV cameras installed in strategic areas in Metro Manila.

The MMDA listed these areas where parking are prohibited: all national roads in Metro Manila; primary and secondary roads of cities and municipalities in Metro Manila that are: within six meters of any intersection or curved lane; within four meters of driveways or entrances to any fire station, hospital, clinic and other similar establishment; within four meters of fire hydrants; on the roadside of any legally parked vehicle; on pedestrian crosswalks; in front of any authorized driveway; on sidewalks, paths and alleys not intended for parking; at the foot or near bridges and at any place where official signs have been erected prohibiting parking and/or declared No Parking Zone by the MMDA such as the Mabuhay Lane, and Other areas duly declared as “No Parking Zone” provided by law or ordinances.

PH GOVT OFFERS SYMPATHY TO FRANCE OVER IS-OWNED TERROR ATTACK THE Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, on Saturday extended its sympathies to France after three persons were killed there while two others were wounded in a shooting and hostage-taking incident owned up to by the Islamic State on Friday.

The department at the same time announced that no Filipino was involved in the incident in the southwestern town of Carcassonne.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of France today as they mourn those who lost their lives in the terrorist incident in Carcassonne,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

“We stand with France and the rest of the world in condemning this incident,” he added.

In a report, Ambassador to Paris Maria Teresa Lazaro said the Philippine Embassy has not received any report of any Filipino casualty in the incident.

Lazaro said the incident involved a 25-year-old French-Moroccan national, who was killed by security forces after killing two persons he took hostage at a supermarket.

The envoy said the gunman earlier killed one person and wounded another when he carjacked a vehicle that he used in trying to run over a group of police officers who were jogging at that time. PNA

COMICS DELEGATES. Hundreds of delegates gather at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City during the Comic Con Asia 2018 Convention. Manny Palmero

THE House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations has approved the funding provisions for House Bill 270 that increases the “old age pension” of Filipino war veterans.

The bill, otherwise known as “An Act increasing the monthly pension of senior veterans thereby amending Republic Act 6948, as amended,” was authored by Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman.

If signed into the law, the measure will increase the monthly old age pension of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans from the current P5,000 to P20,000. Provided, that these veterans do not receive pension from the Armed Forces.

“Our war veterans are literally a dying breed. There will be less of them with us as the years pass by and that’s why we need to pass this measure as soon as possible. Once our war veterans are gone, they are gone forever,” said Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, the panel’s chairman.

Nograles said veterans of World War II, Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea, and the Philippine Civic Action Group who are not eligible to receive retirement pensions from the AFP are only receiving an old age pension worth P5,000 per month and Total Administrative Disability pension amounting to P1,700 per month.

“The 300 percent increase in old age pension that’s being sought by the measure is a deserved benefit for our veterans. We should guarantee them and their kin a minimum livable pension in accordance with the times. It will relieve them a great deal when it comes to their burden of buying maintenance medicine and other essentials,” he said. Maricel V. Cruz

DISTRESSED TOURIST BOAT RESCUED IN EL NIDO THE Philippine Navy has rescued a distressed motorized boat filled with local tourists in the waters of Bacuit Bay in El Nido on Friday afternoon.

“Under the operational control of the Western Command’s Joint Task Force Malampaya [JTFM] in El Nido, the Navy vessel [BRP Federico Martir/PC 385] rescued a total of 20 Filipino tourists and three crewmen of Queen Cleopatra at around 4 p.m.,” said Capt. Cherryl Tindog, the Command’s spokesperson, on Saturday morning.

Tindog said PC 385 was conducting maritime patrol some 1,870 yards northeast off Miniloc Island, when its personnel noticed the frantic waving of the boat’s passengers.

“The ship’s personnel noticed a motorized banca at her port quarter with its passengers waving their hands, as a signal of distress, and found that it was already stuck in the water,” she said.

Given the rough weather condition, she said, and the need to render necessary assistance, PC 385’s commanding officer, Commander Virgilio de Guzman, immediately decided to approach Queen Cleopatra.

“If they had not been rescued on time, they might have been drifted somewhere and might have capsized,” said Tindog, adding the Navy vessel towed the boat that reportedly suffered engine failure. PNA

TWIN EXPLOSION WOUNDS COP, FOUR CIVILIANS JOINT police and Philippine Marine troops have launched a manhunt against two men blamed for the twin explosions in Upi, Maguindanao on Friday evening, which injured a police officer and four civilians.

The first explosion, believed to be from a fragmentation grenade, occurred at past 7:45 p.m. beside a basketball court at the Borongotan Elementary School in the village of Borongotan, according to Maguindanao Police Director, Senior Supt. Agustin Tello.

He said the first blast wounded a basketball player and three spectators.

“There was a misunderstanding during the game and suddenly a fragmentation grenade was lobbed from nowhere and exploded,” Tello said, quoting a report from the Upi Police.

The second explosion happened at about 8 p.m., a few meters away from the basketball court, and believed to have been intended for responding police officers.

The blast injured PO1 Police Officer 2 Marjune Lahaylahay of the local police force.

Mayor Ramon Piang condemned the grenade attack, saying “we are peaceloving people here.”

“I condemn this act against our peaceloving people,” Piang added. PNA

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Opinion

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

ABSOLUTE DIVORCE, ABSOLUTELY

NO SMALL THING S OME holders of Malacañang’s official press identification card found something to amuse themselves with while waiting for the President to arrive at an event last week.

This is again to the embarrassment of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, which issued an ID card full of grammatical errors to journalists covering Malacañang. The entire text was in capital letters, which in today’s fashion amounts to screaming.

“This card to be worn during presidential coverage, but subject to specific accreditation/ security requirements.

It should be worn all times in entering Malacanang and while inside the palace grounds. Unauthorized use of this card will result in confiscation.

It is non-transferable and void if altered this card remains property of Presidential Communications Office.

Upon expiration or when resigns from his or her agency this card should be returning without delay to the International Press Center, G/F National Press Club.

Magallanes Drive Intramuros Manila.”

The language is so atrocious one would think there was a deliberate attempt by someone within the staff to make the PCOO look more stupid and ridiculous than it is already perceived.

This is the same executive office whose assistant secretary used misleading pictures to portray the siege in Marawi and who believed Mayon Volcano was in

another location altogether. The same agency whose news platform contained unverified information on countries purportedly supporting the administration’s war on drugs, and which believed that the Labor and Employment Department’s logo was that of a pineappleproducing company.

There is only one thing worse than a sabotage—that the mistake was genuine, and that the PCOO bosses had allowed it to pass, anyway.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, whose signature is shown on the ill-fated card, says he never saw a draft of the text and that the wrong electronic signature was used on his behalf. He has ordered an investigation into how the blunder was committed.

The reaction only sounds comical, given that these are things one should be taking for granted already.

Sure, this is a small thing, it’s just text on the back of an ID card, anyway, and there are decidedly more consequential issues that this office should be preoccupied with.

But it is also a big thing because it says a lot about the quality of work that people around the President are turning in. It’s sloppy staff work, period.

Even the fact that the right processes were not observed in the approval and release of the ID tells us about the poor work flow in Andanar’s office. He really should not be complaining and ordering a probe; he should be covering his face in shame that such hilarious mistakes happen under his watch.

Excellence is a way of life. Before one can excel in grand things, one must at least be able to get the little things right.

‘COLORFACE’ ON TV: AN ISSUE OF REPRESENTATION

MAALAALA Mo Kaya, a long-running television program on the ABS-CBN network, is coming under fire for an episode that uses actors in blackface.

MMK, which tells true stories in a fictionalized format, scheduled the episode “MMK: Equal Rights” for airing

last night, but the trailer earlier released caught the ire of netizens for the actors’ use of brown foundation and curly wigs to make themselves up as Aetas.

According to MMK’s tweets, the episode starts with Jhong Hilario as Roman King, “an Aeta who led the struggle for the tribe’s right to their lands” (translated from Tagalog). Zaijian Jaranilla plays Roman’s son Norman, who “pursues his studies to expand his knowledge about their rights.”

Looking at the show’s publicity, the episode aims to inspire by sharing a story of determination and courage in

the face of societal prejudice and other challenges.

But what catches attention more than the story is the use of blackface on the actors. Blackface is the practice of white or non-black actors of using dark makeup to portray black characters. The term has expanded to mean the use of an actor of an ethnicity other than that of the character, and led to the coinage of other terms such as yellowface, where a white actor plays an Asian character. An example of this would be Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Blackface and yellowface are offensive because it perpetuates racial stereotypes.

In the case of black people, the makeup emphasizes kinky hair and thick lips. In the case of Asians, it’s squinty eyes and buck teeth. In racially diverse countries, the propagation of such stereotypes serves to reinforce racist attitudes and the minority status of the non-dominant races.

In the case of MMK’s ‘Equal Rights’ episode, it’s Filipino or part-Filipino actors who are portraying characters of a particular ethnicity, hence the need for makeup and wigs. But why not choose Turn to A5

THE divorce bill has hurdled third and final reading at the House of Representatives. This is the farthest any piece of legislation on the matter has gone.

The debates continue. We hear the usual arguments for and against it. Those who are against it say that marriages are inviolable, that couples must persevere even if they are going through a tough phase, and that children will suffer the consequences of a “broken home.”

Those who advocate divorce, on the other hand, say that divorce addresses a power imbalance in society.

I believe there are three points that must be highlighted in the conversation.

First, absolute divorce will be an equalizer. There are existing laws governing situations where marriages fail. There is the option for legal separation, annulment, and declaration of nullity. The most akin to divorce is the third one, but it comes at a steep cost.

To get one’s marriage declared void ab initio, a party has to pay up in the tens, even hundreds, of thousands. This comes in the form of lawyer’s fees, court fees, psychologist’s fees. The role of the psychologist is central to the case if the ground being invoked is “psychological incapacity.” This is provided for in the Family Code of the Philippines.

A party cannot just come forward to claim he or she is psychologically incapable of marriage. One cannot self-diagnose. It is a psychologist or psychiatrist who makes this conclusion in a document submitted to the court, and through a testimony.

This costs money—something an average worker can ill afford. Thus, only those with means are able to go through the process. With the bill promising to make divorce inexpensive, more people can now afford to decisively close one chapter of their life, and begin the rest of it.

Second, it will help empower women trapped in abusive situations.

It appears that men and women see divorce differently. Many male advocates of divorce see it as a way of getting out of their unhappy marriages so they could be free to commit to another—self-serving, sure, but who is to say this is worse that pretending to be a family man while having a paramour on the side?

More importantly, the bill claims to be pro-women in that it affords a way out for those in abusive situations.

Indeed, despite our gains in gender equality in recent years, too many marriages are like prison sentences instead. Women find themselves bound to abusive husbands, and are not able to contemplate a life beyond the marriage. They either believe they have no choice, or no strength to strike out on their own.

Divorce provides them the opportunity to assert their right to be free and to lead a satisfying, selfactualizing life, with or without a new partner.

Finally, divorce will encourage all of us to be honest and forthcoming. We learn to tell it like it is.

The truth is that many marriages start out in bliss. Over the years, however, trust and respect break down and the differences become irremediable.

The option of declaration of nullity denies couples this reality. What it says is that there was no marriage from the start because of this or that reason. But it’s a cop-out.

Denial is of little help. To move on to the next phases of their lives, erstwhile spouses should be able to acknowledge there was once a good thing, but despite their best efforts at reconciling for their mutual satisfaction, things have changed. Only when there is recognition can lessons be learned.

Those in happy and satisfying marriages are blessed, indeed. It is a rare gift to be with someone for decades and still really want to be with them.

They should not be threatened by the option of divorce—they would not need it, anyway.

Sadly, others do.

Done the right way and as a last resort, the only thing divorce threatens is our tendency to keep up appearances and be dishonest with our partners— and ourselves.

The House of Representatives has done what it can. It’s time for the Senate to act. adellechua@gmail.com

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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.thestandard. com.ph; e-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

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Opinion WORLDS APART: HONG KONG’S GREAT ART DIVIDE

‘COLORFACE’ ...

From A4 actors whose appearance more closely resemble the characters? We do not lack for dark-skinned, curly-haired actors.

As it is, the makeup on Hilario, Jaranilla, and Nikki Valdez looks ludicrous and obviously fake, and detracts from the actors’ competent performances.

As for the argument that “there are no Aeta actors,” there is at least one – Garry Cabalic. He won the Best Actor award at

By Honor Blanco Cabie TOMORROW, the Catholic areas of the Philippines, will commemorate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when palm branches were placed in his path, before his arrest on Maundy Thursday and his crucifixion on Good Friday.

This beginning of Holy Week, the final seven days of Lent or the start of “Passion Week” which is the final days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, is ushered in by the Christian tradition of waving palm branches, adopted into Christian iconography to represent the victory of martyrs, or the victory of the spirit over the flesh.

It is what theologians and religion scholars describe as the “beginning of the end” of Jesus work on earth—the travel over the Mount of Olives, with two disciples sent ahead to the village of Bethphage to find an animal to ride.

From as far north as Batanes to the villages of Mindanao, the areas baptized into the Cross, Lent has become a major portion of the people’s tradition and culture.

From Ash Wednesday—Feb. 14 in 2018—to Easter, many Christians, the Catholics included, allow the priest to mark their foreheads with ash in the shape of a cross, fasting or abstaining from certain foods or physical pleasures for 40 days.

Then there is the flagellation ritual which, in some parts, has become a tourist come-on.

Some scholars suggest they do this to imitate Jesus Christ’s 40-day fast in the wilderness (Matt: 4:1-2).

Many give up anything in preparation for Easter.

There are some who ask, and with good reason, what Lent is and why is it widely practiced by those who profess Christianity.

Some even ask: Is it because the Bible commands it?

Or did Christ or any of His apostles observe Lent?

Unlike New Year’s, Epiphany, Christmas, Halloween, St. Valentine’s Day and other pagan holidays celebrated by the secular, non-religious world, the Lenten season is observed by zealous religious believers.

Some Church observers say people who observe Lent may be religious, dedicated and sincere—“but they are sincerely wrong.”

Some propose an examination of Lent, its practices and customs, its historic and religious origins, and its true meaning from the Bible’s perspective, not from the “traditions of men” (Mark 7:7-9).

Where then did Lent originate? How did it come to be so widely observed by mainstream Christianity?

Some Bible scholars say Lent was never observed by Christ or His apostles.

He commanded them to “Go you therefore, and teach all nations…teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I havecommanded you” (Matt.

MAIL MATTER I WRITE on behalf of the Task Force Boracay composed of the heads of the Departments of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources and Interior and Local Governments and other government agencies, in response to an opinion column written by Mr. Lito Banayo on his “So I See” column on Manila Standard’s 21 March 2018 issue.

In his piece, Mr. Banayo claimed the Task Force has misinterpreted President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to solve the “cesspool” that Boracay has become after decades of neglect and abuse by national and local officials and its population and the millions of tourists who have visited it. Being a former head of the Philippine Tourism Authority and now government official as head of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office which represents Philippine interests in Taiwan, Mr. Banayo should have understood that the government’s job is not only to protect the short-term interests of businesses, but ensure that we have a sustainable future for all our peoples.

We in the Task Force recommended temporary closure of the entire island of Boracay for six months to one year for a simple reason.

Boracay is not just a mall or subdivision that could be shut down partially while repairs are being done to parts of it. It is a living, breathing

the first To Farm film festival in 2016 for his role in ‘Paglipay.’

ABS-CBN has received similar criticism lately for their show ‘Bagani’ which netizens and even some government officials said does not genuinely depict the lumad or katutubo culture as expected based on the show’s title.

The accusation in this case was of “cultural appropriation” for using halfwhite Filipino actors to play tribal Filipino characters. But the network explained their decision by saying ‘Bagani’ is a fantasy and does not attempt to actually

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PALM SUNDAY, A MAJOR PORTION OF CATHOLIC TRADITION, CULTURE

EVERYMAN

By Yan Zhao HONG KONG—As international galleries and wealthy collectors descend on Hong Kong for Art Basel, life for some of the city’s creatives is still a struggle to make ends meet.

Art Basel’s Hong Kong edition was launched five years ago and spawned a host of simultaneous shows in what has become known as “Art Month.”

But the glamorous artistic whirl associated with March in Hong Kong feels like a world away for some artists battling sky-high rents and lack of space.

Hong Kong mural painter Jackie Chung works out of a small unit in the workingclass neighbourhood of San Po Kong, away from the hustle of downtown.

The 23-sqm studio is one of 25 subdivided flats in an industrial building.

Such cramped partitioned spaces are commonly lived in by residents who cannot afford spiralling accommodation costs.

Chung, 36, and oil painter Ray Chow, 31, pay $1,020 per month to use the unit as a studio and have promised the landlord not to get paint on the floors and walls. Both live with their families to save on outgoings.

“It’s not ideal. After we moved in with our artwork and tools, it was almost full,” said Chung, who paints under the name “Pinkhead” after the color of her hair.

The bright unit is neatly stacked with oil paints, easels, books and paintings.

Chung has been commissioned to create giant murals around the city, including a 22-storey-high elephant, but although her works are large-scale, she practices in miniature.

“The studio is tiny and the ceiling is low. I can only paint on a medium size canvas,” she told AFP. Chung has a day job as a graphic designer, painting every evening and on weekends. She earns around HK$5,000 for a 40-square-feet mural.

Fellow artist Chow relies on freelance work including graphic design, teaching and painting commissions to pay his way —creating an oil painting takes him up to three months and he sells one or two each year for around HK$10,000 each.

“Sometimes it makes you feel so frustrated to be an artist in Hong Kong.

You need to do a lot more other things to sustain your passion,” he said.

- Art appreciation Artists must be represented by a gallery to participate in Art Basel, which runs for five days at Hong Kong’s harborfront convention center.

The line-up this year includes galleries from Iran to Istanbul and some from Hong Kong with local artists on their books.

Ink artist Hung Fai, 30, was born and bred in the city and has exhibited at Art Basel four times under Grotto Fine Art gallery, which aims to nurture emerging Hong Kong talent.

He believes the fair is a good opportunity to meet other artists, curators and collectors, with tens of thousands of visitors each year.

But Hung hopes that in the long term, Art Basel will work more closely with local art institutions or even the public sector to build a broader creative culture in the city.

“If we can transform the short-term interest of an art fair into a long-term habit of appreciation of the arts, then there can be positive changes on the local art scene,” he told AFP. Art Basel’s Asia Director Adeline Ooi said the fair tries to encourage Hong Kong galleries to present local artists as much as possible.

“Our support for the Hong Kong local scene is clearly 100 percent there, but it is also the fact that we are an international art fair. So it’s about trying to find the balance between these two points,” Ooi said.

Enduring passion There are plenty of galleries and exhibitions in Hong Kong year-round, but some feel the emphasis is commercial rather than aimed at a wider public and that there is a disconnect with grassroots artists.

Mural artist Chung has worked at Art Basel as a volunteer and says she felt it was too driven by sales and visitor numbers.

“I don’t think Art Basel is that close to local artists. It seems to help local tourism more than the local art scene,” she said.

Smaller-scale shows in Hong Kong can also be prohibitive, adds Chung.

She applied for a booth at a week-long local art festival last year, but the HK$20,000 ($2,500) entry fee scared her off.

Chow admits he sometimes fantasises about selling a painting for tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. But he says passion is the overriding motivation.

“I make art because I like it,” he says.

“Whether it makes me successful or not, it doesn’t matter.” AFP

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018

28:19-20).

These scholars say Jesus never commanded them to observe Lent or Easter.

He did, however, command them to keep Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread.

In fact, during His last Passover on earth, Christ gave detailed instructions on how to observe the Passover service. He also instituted new Passover symbols (John 13:1-17).

Notice what Alexander Hislop wrote in his book The Two Babylons: “The festival, of which we read in Church history, under the name of Easter, in the third and fourth centuries, was quite a different festival from that now observed in the Romish Church, and at that time was not known by any such name as Easter…

“That festival [Passover] was not idolatrous, and it was preceded by no Lent. ‘It ought to be known,’ said Cassianus, the monk of Marseilles, writing in the fifth century, and contrasting the primitive [New Testament] Church with the Church of his day, ‘that the observance of the forty days had no existence, so long as the perfection of that primitive Church remained inviolate.’”

Lent was not observed by the first century Church.

It was first addressed by the church at Rome during the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325, when Emperor Constantine officially recognized that church as the Roman Empire’s state religion.

Any other brand of Christianity that held to doctrines contrary to the Roman church was considered an enemy of the state.

In A.D. 360, the Council of Laodicea officially commanded Lent to be observed.

Originally, people did not observe Lent for more than a week. Some kept it for one or two days.

Others kept it for 40 consecutive hours, falsely believing that only 40 hours had elapsed between Christ’s death and resurrection.

Eventually, it became a 40-day period of fasting or abstaining from certain foods.

The Catholic Encyclopedia says: “The emphasis was not so much on the fasting as on the spiritual renewal that the preparation for Easter demanded.

It was simply a period marked by fasting, but not necessarily one in which the faithful fasted every day.

“However, as time went on, more and more emphasis was laid upon fasting…During the early centuries (from the fifth century on especially) the observance of the fast was very strict.

“Only one meal a day, toward evening was allowed: flesh meat and fish, and in most places even eggs and dairy products, were absolutely forbidden. Meat as not even allowed on Sundays.”

From the ninth century onward, Lent’s strict rules were relaxed.

Greater emphasis was given to performing “penitential works” than to fasting and abstinence.

According to the apostolic constitution Poenitemini of Pope Paul IV (Feb. 17, 1966), “abstinence is to be observed on Ash Wednesday

and on all Fridays of the year that do not fall on holy days of obligation, and fasting as well as abstinence is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday” (Catholic Encyclopedia).

Today, Lent is used for “fasting from sin and from vice…forsaking sin and sinful ways.”

It is a season “for penance, which means sorrow for sin and conversion to God.” This tradition teaches that fasting and employing self-discipline during Lent will give a worshipper the “control over himself that he needs to purify his heart and renew his life.”

However, some scholars say the Bible clearly shows that self-control—temperance—comes from having God’s Holy Spirit working in the life of a converted mind (Gal. 5:16, 17, 22).

Fasting, of and by itself, cannot produce godly self-control.

Paul warned against using self-denial as a tool to rely on one’s own will. He called it “will worship.”

“Wherefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances, (touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

“Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh” (Col. 2:20-23).

God’s people humble themselves through fasting to draw closer to Him—to learn to think and act like Him—to live His way of life in all things.

Some scholars refer to what the Prophet Jeremiah wrote: “Thus says the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: “But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says the Lord” (Jer. 9:23-24).

The Roman church replaced Passover with Easter, moving the pagan Feast of Tammuz to early spring, “Christianizing” it. Lent moved with it.

According to the book The Two Babylons: “This change of the calendar in regard to Easter was attended with momentous consequences. It brought into the Church the grossest corruption and the rankest superstition in connection with the abstinence of Lent.”

Before giving up personal sins and vices during Lent, the pagans held a wild, “anything goes” celebration to make sure they got in their share of debaucheries and perversities—what the world celebrates as Mardi Gras today.

HBC, a group leader of the Elderly Ministry of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, is a member of the Workers of Mercy and the Propagation of the Faith.

TASK FORCE BORACAY INSISTS SHUTTING DOWN THE ISLAND THE CORRECT THING TO DO island with an ecological system that needs to be fixed with a holistic and comprehensive approach to restoring the environment’s balance while ensuring its sustainability as the Philippines’ top tourism destination.

This would require a total renovation of all the areas of the island where establishments were built in violation of environment laws, building a comprehensive sewage and water treatment facility for the entire island, establishing a system for a sustainable tourist traffic inflow into the island, and training the local businesses and workers in practicing a sustainable tourism culture that would prevent a repeat of the rapacious greed that turned Boracay into the “cesspool” it has become.

We have asked noted architect and urban planner Felino Palafox Jr. to help the government design a new Boracay rehabilitation program with sustainability as end-goal.

Similar decisions to close down other tourism destinations had been made before because the huge tourist traffic severely degraded the local environment. Mt. Apo in Davao and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan were just a few tourism sites shut down for two years or less to allow the environment to breath and restore balance to their ecology. In other

tell the lumad community’s narratives.

About this MMK episode, I don’t think there was any negative intention on the part of its creators.

Probably they went the brownface route for convenience’s sake, trusting that audiences would understand that the job of actors is to act, to pretend to be the character and play them as convincingly as they can to make the story come alive, and that makeup is just a tool.

But audiences nowadays seek greater verisimilitude in the shows that they

nations, including the United States, tourist sites are closed down on a regular basis to restore the beauty of the environment that is the reason they become favorites to tourists.

Indeed, President Duterte himself declared in a business forum in Davao City on February 8, 2018 that he wants Boracay closed because of the severe environmental problems that businesses there have created, especially on the issue of sewage management (http://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/258403/ boracay-faces-shutdown.html).

Clearly, we in the Task Force understand the situation of the tourism industry leader who complained to Mr. Banayo that closing Boracay would be bad for his business. Profit, indeed, is a shining goal many businessmen aspire for in the short term. In many instances, many Boracay establishments found it more profitable to just pay the fine for violating environmental laws such as throwing their sewage directly into the sea rather than do something to protect the environment.

The national government is taking measures to protect investors and workers from the temporary closure of the island to tourism inflow.

The DoT is negotiating with airlines and travel agencies so that the affected tourists could be rebooked to other destinations or their flights

rebooked to when Boracay could again accommodate tourists back into its shores. The Department of Labor and Employment is preparing packages for the affected workers, while the Department of Finance is asking banks to be lenient on local businesses with loans.

We would rather err in favor of rescuing Boracay’s environment and be accused of misinterpreting the President’s directives and make the correct move in making sure Boracay breathes easily again not only as en ecological system but as a great tourist destination.

This is not a matter of punishment, though the government intends to file cases against businessmen and national and local officials who have violated the laws in the name of profit. This is about giving Boracay back its sustainability as a paradise island for everyone to enjoy in the longer term.

We cannot argue against business people who fear losing profits and their business so we could protect our environment. We just believe this is the right step so we could help make Boracay live forever.

watch. They know that blackface, or ‘colorface,’ to coin a more general term, is wrong and offensive. And they expect content producers to know this and find better solutions to the challenges of accurately portraying a story’s characters.

Other reasons to reject colorface are respect and representation.

Underrepresentation, or the lack of it, on screen and in the fictional world can lead to lower self-esteem and a feeling of being invisible or unimportant within society—the research term for this ‘symbolic annihilation.’

FREDERICK M. ALEGRE Assistant Secretary Department of Tourism

But using actors of actual or similar ethnicity, identity, or appearance—for instance, choosing an LGBT actor for an LGBT character—shows respect.

It also means a greater measure of representation for different cultures and communities, which helps to increase our understanding and appreciation of them and inspires people who can relate to what they see in media.

Dr. Ortuoste is a writer and communication consultant.

FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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TODAY MARCH 25, 2018 SUNDAY, mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

COAST-TO-COAST LARGEST ‘MARCH FOR OUR LIVES’ SET WASHINGTON—Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation.

The student-organized “March For Our Lives” is to feature rallies from coast to coast, with the main event scheduled to take place in Washington within sight of the US Capitol.

“The kids are leading the movement,” said Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, where 20 children aged six and seven years old were killed in December 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida -- where 17 people were shot dead on February 14 by a 19-year-old former classmate -- have been the driving force behind the march.

With a mixture of outrage and passion, they have been relentlessly badgering US lawmakers to enact a ban on assault rifles and to expand background checks to cover all gun purchases, even private sales. AFP

IRAN SLAMS US SANCTIONS OVER HACKING SCHEME TEHRAN—Iran on Saturday slammed new US sanctions against 10 of its citizens and an Iranian company over their alleged involvement in a massive statesponsored hacking and intellectual property theft scheme.

The US Treasury Department unveiled charges on Friday against nine Iranians along with sanctions against 10 individuals and the Mabna Institute, which it accused of hacking hundreds of universities on behalf of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi called the accusations “false”.

“Iran condemns the United States’ provocative, illegal and unjustified actions, which are a major new sign of the hostility and animosity of US leaders towards the Iranian people,” he said in a statement on the ministry’s website.

“They will not prevent the scientific development of the Iranian people.”

The two founders of the Mabna Institute, Gholamreza Rafatnejad, 38, and Ehsan Mohammadi, 37, were among the nine Iranians indicted in New York and whose assets are subject to US seizure.

Since 2013, the Mabna Institute carried out cyber intrusions into the computer systems of 144 US universities, the Treasury Department said, and 176 universities in 21 foreign countries. AFP

EUROPE PRESSURES RUSSIA OVER SPY ATTACK

BOMBING FLARES. A picture taken early on Friday shows what appears to be white phosphorus incendiaries landing during Syrian regime bombardment in Douma, one of the few remaining rebel-held pockets in Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of the capital Damascus. AFP

T

FRENCH COP DIES IN JIHADIST SPREE

RÈBES, France -- A French policeman who was shot and stabbed after swapping himself for a hostage in a rampage and siege President Emmanuel Macron branded “an Islamist terrorist attack” died of his wounds Saturday, becoming the gunman’s fourth victim.

Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame, 45, was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene in the town of Trebes in southwest France Friday after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed a supermarket and fired at shoppers and staff.

Beltrane offered to take the place of a woman the gunman had taken hostage and was shot and badly wounded before anti-terror police moved in to kill the attacker and end the siege.

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

ThePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum ofFIFTEEN MILLION THREE HUNDREDFIFTY ONE THOUSAND PESOS (P15,351,000.00) through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2017being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)for theSUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF 1 LOT FIREPOWER EQUIPMENT (479 UNITS CAL.45 SHORT FIREARMS). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected duringbid opening

2.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for theSUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF 1 LOT FIREPOWER EQUIPMENT (479 CAL.45 SHORT FIREARMS).Delivery of the goods is 90calendar days upon receipt of Authority to Import. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “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 Act.”

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on March 20, 2018from the address given below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of twenty five thousand pesos (PhP25,000.00).

ThePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum of FORTY TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P42,500,000.00) through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2018being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)to paymentsunder the contractfor theSUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF ONE (1) LOT EIGHTY FIVE (85) TRAINED NARCOTIC DETECTION DOGS (CANINE).Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected duringbid opening.

2.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for theSUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF ONE (1) LOT EIGHTY FIVE (85) TRAINED NARCOTIC DETECTION DOGS (CANINE).Delivery of the goods is 30calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “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 Act.”

4.

5.

The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 27 2018, 10:00 a.m. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders.

6.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before April 10, 2018, 10:00 am. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

7.

Bid opening shall be April 10, 2018, 10:00 am. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100. 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.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat Mr. Arvin E Sadulloat the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting March 20, 2018at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

9.

PDEA 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

10. For further information, please refer to:

ThePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum ofSEVENTY-SEVEN MILLION PESOS(P77,000,000.00) through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2018being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)to paymentsunder the contractfor theSUPPLY, DELIVERY, INSTALLATION, AND TESTING OF ONE (1) LOT LABORATORY AND OTHER EQUIPMENT.Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected duringbid opening.

2.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for theSUPPLY, DELIVERY, INSTALLATION, AND TESTING OF ONE (1) LOT LABORATORY AND OTHER EQUIPMENT.Delivery of the goods is180calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “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 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.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (8:00 am to 5:00pm).

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (8:00 am to 5:00pm).

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on March20, 2018 from the address given below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of FiftyThousand Pesos (Php50,000.00).

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on March 20, 2018 from the address given below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of TwentyFiveThousand Pesos (Php 25,000.00).

The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 27, 2018,11:30 AMat PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City, 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders.

The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 27, 2018,11:00AMat PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City, 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before April10, 2018, 11:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before April 10, 2018, 11:30 PM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be April10, 2018, 11:00 AM. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City, 1100. 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.

Bid opening shall be April 10, 2018, 11:30 AMat PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City, 1100. 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.

8.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat Mr.Armando B. Macalalag Jr. at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 08:00 AM to 04:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting March 20, 2018at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat Mr. Arvin E Sadulloat the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 08:00 AM to 04:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting March 20, 2018at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

9.

9.

PDEA 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.

PDEA 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.

10. For further information, please refer to:

10. For further information, please refer to:

Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082

1.

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.

The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

8.

INVITATION TO BID SUPPLY, DELIVERY, INSTALLATION, AND TESTING OFONE (1) LOT LABORATORY AND OTHER EQUIPMENT Bid Ref. No. 2018-17

Bid Ref. No. 2018-18 1.

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.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (8:00 am to 5:00pm).

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

INVITATION TO BID SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF ONE (1) LOT EIGHTY FIVE (85) TRAINED NARCOTIC DETECTION DOGS (CANINE)

Bid Ref. No. 2018-15 1.

Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082

Mr. Armando B. Macalalag Jr. PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082 (Sgd) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

(MS-MAR. 25, 2018)

radicalization and links to the Salafist movement,” Molins told reporters in Carcassonne, adding that Lakdim had been tracked for his online contacts with extremists.

Security sources said Lakdim was born in Taza in northern Morocco and held French nationality. His partner, who lived with him in Carcassonne, has been detained, Molins said.

Lakdim started his rampage in Carcassonne at around 10:30 am (0930 GMT), hijacking a car and shooting the two people inside, Molins said.

The passenger was killed, and the driver remains in a critical condition.

Lakdim then shot and wounded a police officer who was out jogging with colleagues before driving to nearby Trebes where he burst into the Super U supermarket. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

INVITATION TO BID SUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF 1 LOT FIREPOWER EQUIPMENT (479UNITS CAL.45 SHORT FIREARMS)

5.

“Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame has passed away. He died for his country. France will never forget his heroism,” Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said on his Twitter account.

Macron earlier paid tribute to the bravery of the police officer.

“He saved lives and honored his colleagues and his country,” Macron said.

With the death of the officer, the assailant, identified as 25-year-old Radouane Lakdim, killed a total of four people in France’s first major ji-

hadist attack since October.

“Our country has suffered an Islamist terrorist attack,” Macron said in a televised address following the rampage in the medieval town of Carcassonne and nearby Trebes.

The Islamic State group claimed the attack was in response to its call to target Western enemies -- as is customary when the assailant has pledged allegiance to the jihadists.

The shootings come as France remains on high alert following a string of deadly attacks that have killed more than 240 people since 2015.

Top anti-terror prosecutor Francois Molins said the gunman had convictions for carrying a banned weapon and for drug use.

“He had been on a watchlist for his

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

4.

BRUSSELS, Belgium—European countries are set to take further steps as early as Monday to punish Russia over the poisoning of a former spy in England, officials said, as diplomatic pressure builds on Moscow over the nerve agent attack.

Russia, for its part, accused London of trying to force its European allies to take “confrontational steps” and unleashing an “anti-Russian campaign”.

EU leaders meeting in Brussels have agreed to recall the bloc’s ambassador from Moscow over the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English city of Salisbury.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday the poisoning with the Soviet-made “Novichok” agent was an “attack on European sovereignty”, after EU leaders unanimously backed London’s assessment that it was “highly likely” Moscow was to blame and that there was no plausible alternative explanation.

Several member states are considering following Britain’s lead and expelling Russian intelligence agents posing as diplomats, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying further coordinated actions were “necessary” to respond to the attack. AFP

(MS-MAR. 25, 2018)

(Sgd) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

(Sgd) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee (MS-MAR. 25, 2018)

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SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018

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PRINCESA, MONEDERO TOP SR GOLF WILLY Princesa and Francis Monedero shot a 78 in Aggregate format at the Masters and put in 46 in Best Ball at the Legends to capture the Class A crown with 124 points in the Southwoods Seniors Invitational at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club recently.

The Princesa-Monedero pair beat Jonathan Thorp and Rodney Hall, who combined for 120 (75-45) in the 10th edition of the annual tournament sponsored by Red Eagle Lending Investors Corp., Romago Inc. and San Miguel Corp./Purefoods.

Gil Domingo and Vito Noceda topped Class B with 127 points (84-43) while Tony Villanueva and Frankie Flameno 119 (71-48) took the Class C crown in the event organized by the Southwoods Seniors headed by its president Paco Gonzalez.

The event, which staked a Mitsubishi Mirage G4 GLX from Diamond Motor Corp. and a Solar Water Heater from BMG Solar as holein-one prizes, was backed by hole sponsors Avante Coffee by CJH Coffee Services, Camp John Hay Golf Club, Caramba Foods, Forest Hills Golf and Country Club, Le Chef, Meralco, Pacsports, The Manor @ Camp John Hay, The Residences @ Brent and United Laboratories.

Peter Guber: MAGIC stands for Motivating one’s Audience through Goals, Interactivity, and Content.

WARRIORS’ CO-OWNER GUBER WEAVES MAGIC Text and Photo by Peter Paul Duran

S

PANNING a career that has seen him rise to the top as an executive, entrepreneur, TV personality, professional sports team owner and bestselling author, this Academy award-winning producer has certainly worked his “M-A-G-I-C” in his over 40 years of experience in the corporate big leagues.

“In sports, we are led to believe that a player on a streak has a ‘hot hand,’” said Peter Guber, Chairman and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment Group and co-owner of NBA team Golden State Warriors during ANC’s Leadership Series at a teeming Grand Ballroom of the posh Sofitel Philippine Plaza Tuesday.

“There’s no such thing as a hot hand,” he said next to the slew of businessmen, young professionals, industry leaders and political heads present at the third leadership forum presented by the country’s first 24-hour news network.

He further explained in his “Telling

Stories, Winning Games” talk, that success is a result of the constant effort to perfect one’s craft, noting that behind every bit of success is failure. And that there is a thin line separating the two which could spell the difference in any endeavor, adding the importance of “MAGIC” in leadership- his extra special secret sauce to success.

“MAGIC stands for Motivating one’s Audience through Goals, Interactivity, and Content,” said Guber who was also Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment as well as Polygram Entertainment, Co-Founder of Casablanca Record & Filmworks and President of Columbia Pictures.

The 76-year-old UCLA professor and co-owner of sports teams Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Football Club, spoke about his astounding career and engaged with audience queries for more than an hour. He is the third speaker of the ANC Leadership Forum in as many years, after Virgin Group chairman and founder Richard Branson in 2016 and former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in 2017.

Moreover, Guber produced or executive-produced (personally or through his companies) films that garnered five Best Picture Academy Award nominations (winning for Rain Man) and box office hits that include The Color Purple, Midnight Express, Batman, Flashdance, The Kids Are All Right, and Soul Surfer.

In 2010, Guber and partner Joe Lacob were the driving forces behind the ownership group’s NBA bid to purchase the Warriors. Five years later in 2015, the Warriors captured

the organization’s first NBA Championship in 40 years to culminate the most successful three-year run in franchise history. In 2017, the Golden State Warriors won their second NBA Championship in three years.

Guber, a Regent of the University of California, is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Tell to Win, Connect Persuade, and Triumph with the Hidden Power of Story. Currently, he is likewise Co-Chairman of aXiomatic, an esports and gaming company, owner of Team Liquid, a premier esports organization, and is Chairman of the Advisory Board and an Investor in NextVR. He is estimated to be worth $800 million.

The ANC Leadership Series is part of the country’s premier all-English cable news channel’s efforts to raise the level of discourse on global affairs and business issues in the country by bringing renowned international speakers for a one-day speaking engagement.

AYALA LAND OPENS FACILITY FOR ATHLETES AT VERMOSA

THE Philippine sports scene climbs a notch higher as Ayala Land Inc.’s Vermosa Sports Hub, the country’s first premier and professionally managed sports facility, opens its doors to the public.

Creating the ideal environment for athletes, sports buffs, and fitness junkies who aim to reach the top of their game, Vermosa Sports Hub is equipped with training facilities designed for international sports competitions.

Vermosa Sports Hub is home to groundbreaking features that include an Olympic-size swimming pool equipped with the latest timing system by Omega and the Anti Wave Starting Blocks; and the Philippines’ first 9-lane track oval built in accordance with the International Association of Athletics Federations standards. For football and field sports enthusiasts, there’s also a standard sized football field with natural grass and a sand sub-base, which makes it an ideal playing surface that is able to divot, or give way, under foot traction. For a sport that involves sliding tackles, this is a prime feature that minimizes the risk of injuries caused by having the player’s get caught by strong traction. The Vermosa Sports Hub will also soon unveil bike lanes, jogging paths, and other outdoor sports facilities.

To complete the development is a training and fitness club equipped with a sports science laboratory especially suited for athletes who want to take the next step to reach peak performance. To be managed and op-

soon open, and these will include health and sports merchants, providing users of the sports hub easy access to the equipment, accessories, and other sports and fitness essentials they need.

Vermosa Sports Hub is located at Vermosa, Daang Hari Road cor. Vermosa Blvd., Imus, 4103 Cavite. It is situated within the 700 hectares of space in Vermosa, a masterplanned mixed-use estate of Ayala Land Inc., the Vermosa Sports Hub is envisioned to be a complete destination Vermosa Sports Hub is home to groundbreaking features that include an Olympicsize swimming pool and the Philippines’ first 9-lane track oval built in accordance with IAAF standards.

erated by Sante Health & Fitness, Inc., known as one of the fastest growing global providers of organic health and wellness products and services, the Sante Fitness Lab is a one-stop shop that will include a strength and conditioning fitness facility, sports rehab areas, a dance studio, a spinning class area, bike shop and services, a nutrition and fitness café, VO2 max/lactate testing by using a machine that can test an individuals level of oxygen while training , plus conference and lecture rooms.

To ensure that Vermosa Sports Hub is accessible to the growing market of sports enthusiasts, competitive rate packages and periodbased membership passes are

WORLD...

From A8

community of T’boli brass casters present Mindanao’s culture before the world through the medal which will be given to all participants who complete the race.

Kublai said the medal symbolizes the island’s heritage as well as its constant struggle to find peace. He said that by swimming, biking and running, participants from all over the world will help others better understand what is happening in this part of the country.

Today’s lung-busting race will be the culmination of three days of exciting races including Friday’s IronGirls race and yesterday’s IronKids swim-bike-run.

The race officially starts at 6 a.m., with a 1.9-kilometer swim along the coastline of the Azuela Cove. It will be followed by the 90-kilometer bike race from Azuela Cove to Robinsons Tagum and back to Azuela Cove. The run will be through a 21-kilometer two loop course through Davao’s commercial district.

NOTICE OF SALE OF SERVICE VAN OF VENTECH PHILS.INC. Notice is hereby given that in accordance to Section 13.3 (D) of the Contract of Lease with Insular Life Assurance Co. Ltd., the personal property of VENTECH PHILS., INC. in Insular Life Corporate Centre, Insular Drive, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City will be placed in public bidding. All interested bidders may call Lester or Carol at 582-1818 local 2331, Monday-Friday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm, or email mljacinto@ insular.com.ph for the walkthrough, registration procedures and requirements.

Schedules of Walkthrough: March 22, 23 & 28, 2018, 8am to 4pm April 2 – 5, 2018, 8am to 4pm Sealed bids will be accepted on or before April 6, 2018, Friday until 4:00 pm.

Service Van: 2007 TOYOTA HI-ACE GRANDIA GL (Manual transmission): Minimum Bid Price is P450,000.00 (as-is where-is basis).

(MS–MAR. 18, 25 & APR 2, 2018)

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

INVITATION TO BID SUPPLY, DELIVERY, INSTALLATION, TESTING AND COMMISSIONING OF1 LOT GENERATOR SET WITH HOUSING AND WATER TANK Bid Ref. No. 2018-16 1.

ThePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum ofEIGHTEEN MILLION PESOS (P18,000,000.00) through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2018being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)to paymentsunder the contractfor theSUPPLY, DELIVERY, INSTALLATION, TESTING AND COMMISSIONING OF 1 LOT GENERATOR SET WITH HOUSING AND WATER TANK. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected duringbid opening.

2.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for theSUPPLY, DELIVERY, INSTALLATION, TESTING AND COMMISSIONINGOF 1 LOT GENERATOR SET WITH HOUSING AND WATER TANK.Delivery of the goods is 90calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed.

Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “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 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.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (8:00 am to 5:00pm).

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on March 20, 2018from the address given below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount ofTwentythousand pesos (PhP25,000.00).

The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 27, 2018, 10:30 am. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before April 10, 2018, 10:30 am. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be April10, 2018, 10:30 am. at PDEA ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100. 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.

being offered by the company.

For those who avail their passes until April 2018, they can enjoy a 20% discount.

Passes purchased until April 2018 will have a 20% discount.

All rates are inclusive of 12% VAT. Rates are subject to change without prior notice.

Aside from the sports facilities, other components are also designed to promote healthy and active living. Retail outlets will

designed specifically to provide an effective and complete training experience for the athletic lifestyle, offering a seamless integration of facilities and sports-related elements.

Vermosa is currently the fourth largest mixed-use estate of Ayala Land Inc. It will be home to 6,000 households that highlight the diverse living options with the presence of four of ALI’s residential brands—Ayala Land Premier, Alveo, Avida and Amaia.

8.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat Mr. Arvin E Sadulloat the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting March 20, 2018at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

9.

PDEA 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.

10. For further information, please refer to: Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082 (Sgd) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee (MS-MAR. 25, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A8

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018 Riera U. Mallari, Editor

Sports

Reuel Vidal, Issue Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

WORLD WATCHES IRONMAN 70.3

By Reuel Vidal

D

AVAO CITY— The eyes of the whole world will be on Davao as Sunrise Events celebrates 10 years of staging the IRONMAN races in the Philippines with the holding of the Alveo IRONMAN 70.3 Davao at the Azuela Cove today March 25, 2018.

Leading the elite cast of professional athletes competing in the race are Tim Reed (Australia), Craig Alexander (Australia), Mauricio Mendez (Mexico), Benny Allen (Australia), Bradley Weiss (South Africa), and Radka Vodickova (Czech Republic).

Sunrise Events lived up to its billing as a sports tourism company as it expanded its presence to all

Sunrise Events President and founder Wilfred Steven Uytengsu and Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo (center) lead the cast of professional triathletes who will compete in the Alveo IRONMAN 70.3. Jamil Buergo

Australian Tim Reed raises his hands in victory after winning another triathlon race.

three Philippine island groups of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

“We can’t truly say that IRONMAN is in the Philippines until we have an IRONMAN held in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. With the Alveo IRONMAN in Davao, IRONMAN is now truly in the Philippines,” said Sunrise Events President and founder Wilfred Steven Uytengsu.

“We at Sunrise Events are excited to be offering a brand-new race in another part of the country. We are encouraged by the enthusiasm Davao has expressed in hosting us there and I expect we will see this race steadily grow,” added Uytengsu.

Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio expressed her gratitude that an IRONMAN race will finally be held in Mindanao.

“I’ve been waiting for IRONMAN since my first term as mayor back in

2012. Finally it’s here. I’d like to share this honor with all the Davaoenos.

Thank you to everyone for coming to Davao. Despite Martial Law in Mindanao we hope you have a good experience. We want everyone to experience Davao City in the best way possible,” said Mayor Duterte-Carpio.

Davao City is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines because of its natural beauty as well as its first class infrastructure. Participants, other athletes and visitors have a wide selection of world-class hotels to enjoy their stay in Davao which is on the east coast of Mindanao.

Sunrise Events General Manager Princess Galura said local celebrities like Uytengsu, Matteo Guidicelli, Kim Atienza and Bubbles Paraiso will also participate in the event.

Mayor Duterte-Carpio guaranteed

JamilKublai: Renowned sculptor and performance artist Kublai Millan displays the Duyan ng Magiting medal which will be given to all Alveo IRONMAN 70.3 finishers.

Jamil Buergo

MILLAN, T’BOLI BRASS CASTERS PERFORM LABOR OF LOVE FOR ALVEO IRONMAN DAVAO CITY—Local sculptor and performance artist Kublai Millan pressed a whole community of T ’boli brass casters to help present Mindanao’s culture before the world through the medal which will be given to all participants who complete the Alveo IRONMAN 70.3 in Davao.

The medal is called “Duyan ng Magiting” or Cradle of the Brave and stands for Mindanao which is home to brave heroes.

He said the medal symbolizes the island’s heritage as well as its constant struggle to find peace and he hoped that by swimming, biking and running, participants from all over the world will help others better understand what is happening in this part of the country.

Kublai says he is not just an artist and sculptor but also a culture bearer of Mindanao. It’s a wonderful opportunity and he is honored to share that commitment of culture bearer with the island’s indigenous population.

The medal itself is like a smaller version of the agung which is a wide-rimmed gong used by the Maguindanao, Maranao, Sama-Bajau and Tausug people of the Philippines as a supportive instrument in kulintang ensembles.

Kublai said brass casting is tedious work.

It’s not mass production with molds reused

again and again. Each mold is broken after one use and Kublai had to work with an entire community of brass casters to make 1,800 unique medals.

“At the start I thought it was an easy process. So we hired a few families to help us.

But because we were pressed for time, we actually invited the whole community to be able to finish the job,” Kublai said.

While the medal is his own design the Mindanao artist said he also wanted to involve the artisans of Mindanao in the project which affords a chance to show the world the traditions and customs of the island.

“The project was so big we had to work day and night just to finish all of the 1,800 medals. I was amazed with the professionalism of this community that they came up with uniform craftsmanship for all the medals. It was just a few days ago when all the medals were finished. It was really a labor of love,” said Kublai.

Kublai is known primarily for his giant sculptures. His most famous sculptures in Mindanao include the “Kampilan” in the city of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; the “Risen Christ” in the church of Tagum City; the giant durian monument in Davao International Airport; and the giant eagle and Bagobo children in People’s Park, Davao City. Reuel Vidal

the safety of the close to 1,800 participants. Mayor Duterte said the city has prepared for the event, from the venue, up to the security. She said the Philippine National Police has drawn up security plans for the country’s biggest triathlon event this year.

“We have been preparing for this three-day event since last year. We know that everybody, all the Davaoeños and our neighboring LGUs in Davao del Norte, are ready to welcome all our guests, athletes and our visitors. I hope they have a pleasant stay in Davao City and they enjoy Davao City as well as the other parts of the region,” she said.

Mayor Duterte said tourists and visitors will appreciate the richness of Davao City and other local government units’ culture in their stay during the event.

Renowned artist Kublai Millan and a

Turn to A7

PUSING, EREDIANO LEAD WINNERS DAVAO City—Clifford Pusing and Moira Erediano came away with victories in varying fashions to lead the winners in the Alaska IronKids swim-bike-run race at the Azuela Cove here yesterday.

Pusing flashed top form and dominated the boys’ 13-14 division in 41:23.7, taking control in swim (5:52) before sustaining his charge in the bike (20:07) and run (13:09) to beat Adrian Dionisio, who clocked 41:47.6 while Irienold Reig Jr. placed third in 41:49.0.

Erediano, on the other hand, nipped Marielle Estreba in the stretch of the closing run leg to snare the crown in the girls’ premier side of the local junior version staged to promote a well-balanced lifestyle for kids and at the same time serves as venue for family bonding.

She timed 43:29.8 with Estreba churning out a 43:30.5 clocking. Nicole del Rosario finished third in 45:35.5.

Other winners in the annual event organized and produced by Sunrise Events, Inc. featuring the future of Philippine triathlon were Earol Belonguil and Asia May Araneta (11-12), Carron Canas and Chloie Dairo (9-10) and Al Dustin Bersabal and Eleora Avanzado (6-8).

Belonguil timed 32:58.9 to topple Matthew Hermosa (33:05.6) and Mark Grist (35:25.5) while Araneta clocked 41:22.0 to edge Angel Quidasol (41:32.2) and Mikele Jopson (42:26.5); Canas turned in a 26:27.4 clocking to outlast Connor Hodges (26:52.8) and Matthew Dugaduga (26:54.8) while Dairo clocked 27:14.3 to dominate Zurielle Galo (29:44.4) and Raiannelle Bacus (29:51.7).

Bersabal clocked 18:03.5 to beat Peter del Rosario (19:09.6) and Ahmad Ali Alonto (19:24.8) while Avanzado timed 20:34.2 to nip Rhexiel Belonguil (22:27.9) and Perrine Arenas (27:50.6).

In other events, Catherine Kamdom (24:24.5) and Charles Potter (27:09.8) topped the Play Short category; Jayden Corvera (33:03.1) and John Tayros (38:15.9) (Play Long); Team Paolo (relay-28:03.4) and Team Heart (21:46.6).

B1

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@manilastandard.net

FRENCH FIRM ENABLES PHONE TO CONTROL ELECTRICITY IN PH

A

FRENCH conglomerate that employs 3,000 Filipinos has introduced three innovations in the Philippines that allow homeowners or building managers to monitor or control energy consumption using a smartphone.

“I could say we are the first to do this in the Philippines, although other companies are developing similar technologies, but not in the context of energy management,” says Michael Victor Sapitan, the business director of Schneider Electric Philippines.

Schneider Electric is a French company that specializes in energy management and automation. Its products include smart panels, circuit breakers, switches, sensors, sockets, transformers, substations and uninterruptible power supply or UPS devices.

“We have a plant in [Rosario] Cavite that produces UPS under the name of APC. Majority of our people in the Philippines are located there. The factory supplies global requirements for UPS. We do a lot of more exports than we do imports. We export to Europe, the Americas, the Middle East,” Sapitan, who has more than a decade in marketing, says during the launch of Schneider’s three latest products at Marriott Grand Ballroom in Newport City, Pasay.

Schneider introduced Smart Panel, Compact NSXm and PowerTag on March 21. Sapitan says the new products aim to help homeowners, companies, businesses and building operators optimize energy management, making it safer, smarter and more sustainable.

Sapitan, who obtained a degree in Business Administration and Management from University of Asia and the Pacific and who have worked for various companies such as RFM Corp., Cemex Philippines and Philips Lighting before joining Schneider, says the three new products represent a switch from “a very boring electrical panel into something more consumer related.”

“Now that everybody has smartphone and other connected devices, we are transitioning into that. Why not connect this boring electrical panel board into something you and I as regular consumer will relate to and will probably have fun and have a lot of benefits using,” he says.

Smart panel is an Internet-connected solution for managing power distribution that gives electrical equipment the ability to directly communicate to homeowners or buildings managers. Real-time data are sent to a webbased platform that can be accessed through a computer, mobile phone or smart device.

Sapitan says a smart panel is simply an electrical circuit board that can communicate, store data and provide reports by sending data to a computer or a smart device, making it easy to track a building’s electrical system status and

From left: Ella Mangubat, SAP Philippines digital business services general manager; Albert Billones, head of IT CSS for PLDT; Claus Andresen, president and managing director of SAP Southeast Asia; Chaye Cabal-Revilla, senior vice president and PLDT Group controller and concurrent Smart CFO; and Edler Panlilio, managing director of SAP Philippines.

Schneider Electric Philippines business director Michael Victor Sapitan

increase operational efficiency, energy expense optimization, reliability and safety.

“You don’t need to get home, You just open your cellphone and you can already see from your smartphone what is happening. This is basically what a smart panel is. You can log on to it and you can switch the lights on or off,” he says.

“Smart panel can be controlled from your smartphone. We are leveraging the technology of connected devices, IoT, Wi-Fi, because they are already available. If your open your phone in the office, you will see if your power meter is going crazy. All these information will make you act. It is up to you how much you want to save,” says Sapitan.

He says the technology is already available in the Philippines. “We already have it installed in several locations such as a major hotel chain and a mall,” he says.

Smart panels are part of the connected products of Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure.

It helps users measure energy consumption through embedded and stand-alone metering and control capabilities. It provides a way to implement smart technologies using a simple plug-and-play architecture, and it also provides contractors with clear proof of readiness for commissioning.

Sapitan says by connecting cutting-edge hardware with innovative software, smart panels are able to pinpoint overloads and inefficiencies proactively, enabling users to make smart and informed decisions.

Meanwhile, Compact NSXm is Schneider Electric’s latest brand of molded case circuit breaker. Schneider Electric’s PowerTag has wireless sensors that accurately monitor energy consumption real time for small buildings to large facilities.

PowerTag users are able to manage energy consumption more efficiently and economically on all electrical loads, from IT and heating, ventilation and air conditioning to machines, pumps and process equipment. PowerTag sensors are compact and easy to install on existing or new panel boards, according to Sapitan.

“Schneider Electric continues to look for ways to use technology to improve energy efficiency for industries, businesses and homes. With the launch of Smart Panels, Compact NSXm and PowerTag, building operators and even homeowners now have a smarter and more sustainable way to closely monitor and manage their energy consumption. Through these innovations, we are providing innovation at every level, taking the Philippines a step closer to becoming a smart nation,” says Sapitan.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

AUTOMOTIVE SCION ENTERS THE FOOD GAME THOTIE Torres, the president and chief executive of Yazaki-Torres, one of the most successful FilipinoJapanese automotive par ts manufacturers in the Philippines, has entered the food game. He opened a ramen house.

Yazaki-Torres, a partnership between Japanese wiring harness company Yazaki of Japan and Torres has become an institution in the Philippine automotive industry and has been the consistent top exporter of auto parts for many years.

But the seasoned entrepreneur is showing no signs of slowing down after dominating the auto parts industry. Recently, he has been busy taking care of a new venture. He set up an authentic Sapporo Nishiyama Ramen shop.

The name of the shop is King Men, which lives up to its name because it tastes like the king of ramens or ramen fit for a king, With its first outlet situated at the food hall section at the fourth floor of the Ninoy Aquino International

PLDT LEADS TRANSFORMATION OF DIGITAL FINANCE

From left: Alven Torres, head of sales of Torres Trading; Feliciano Torres, president and CEO of Yazaki-Torres; Eddie Monreal, general manager of MIAA; and Rommel Juan, president of the Electric Vehicles Association of the Philippines

Airport Terminal 3, entering the shop seemingly transports one to Japan and into an honest to goodness ramen shop. Torres explains that

the restaurant was designed by an architect from Japan and many items like indoor décor were done in Japan and shipped here.

It comes naturally for Torres to choose Japanese food when he ventured into the food game. He is no stranger to Japanese food, having made countless visits and business trips to Japan while doing business for Yazaki-Torres.

It was in one of those trips to Japan that he met Mr. Nishiyama.

He was a speaker at the 42nd AseanJapan Business Meeting in October 2016 in Japan and after his talk, he approached him and immediately closed a deal.

Torres is ecstatic that after inaugurating his first store, many people have shown interest not only in the ramen but also in opening the restaurant in other locations.

“Friends and acquaintances have been offering store spaces so we may also open a shop in their area.

Then they do not have to go to Naia just to savor the king of ramens. We are happy that the public likes our food. And we intend to grow the number of our stores aggressively during the next two years,” he says.

SAP SE announced the completion of the SAP Revenue Accounting and Reporting solution implementation for PLDT, Inc., the country’s largest telecommunications company.

This implementation makes PLDT the first in the Philippines to use RAR as a step in addressing the International Financial Reporting Standards compliance requirements.

The project is a part of PLDT’s digital finance transformation efforts. It aims to continuously improve business processes to adopt to changing market and regulatory requirements.

The company first adopted SAP Enterprise Resource Planning in 2006 in order to streamline and standardize finance practices across the group and to change the role of Finance from bookkeeper to enterprise controller, business planner and adviser.

This paved the way to increased transparency, improved reporting capabilities and faster decisionmaking. Over the next few years, PLDT’s Finance Team has initiated additional technology-enabled process enhancements in the area of treasury and cash management, investment management and most recently in the legal and management consolidation func tions with SAP Business Planning and Consolidation.

2017 proved to be yet another significant year as PLDT prepared for transformation in financial reporting and compliance. With the adoption of SAP RAR, PLDT’s SAP system is able to generate reports that helped the company towards the adoption of IFRS 15, a new revenue recognition standard, mandated by the Philippine Financial Reporting Standards Council and the Board of Accountancy, which took effect in January 2018.

Chaye Cabal-Revilla, senior vice president and PLDT Group controller and concurrent Smart CFO, said: “We are happy to usher in a new digital era in finance within PLDT. As a publicly listed company in the Philippines and in the US, it is crucial for us to move forward towards IFRS 15 – both at a country and global standard level.”

Revilla also noted that as a large and diversified conglomerate, the PLDT Group has challenges in integrating different organizations and different Lines of Business who usually maintain their own operation and system of record.

With the latest SAP technologies, PLDT is able to look into these entities’ performance and contribution to PLDT consolidated operations. Soon, when S4HANA becomes its digital core, PLDT will be able to embark on another Finance Transformation project that will be focused on business users’ empowerment, predictive capabilities, collaboration between lines of business and partner networks and mobile-ready applications.

Commenting on the completion of the project, Edler Panlilio, SAP Philippines managing firector, said: “For SAP, it has always been our purpose to help Filipino conglomerates like PLDT to run better. With this strong collaboration, we are extending SAP’s expertise to guide them in their journey towards digital transformation just as SAP has enabled the world’s leading conglomerates to run better.”

Business

B2

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018 business@manilastandard.net

AMAIA SET TO TURN OVER 4,000 UNITS TO HOMEOWNERS

Turnover to buyers is ongoing at Amaia Skies Cubao Tower 1, while turnover at Tower 2 will start this 2018. The project is a three-tower development at Edsa corner P. Tuazon St. and is highly accessible via various modes of transportation.

BEFORE 2017 drew to a close, Amaia Land Corp., a leading real estate provider in the affordable homes sector, fulfilled its vision to provide superior quality homes to more Filipinos when it turned over more than 3,700 units to aspiring homeowners at various projects across the country.

The successful turnover of projects took place at Amaia Scapes San Pablo, Amaia Scapes Trece, Amaia Scapes General Trias, Amaia Scapes San Fernando, Amaia Scapes Bulacan, Amaia Scapes Urdaneta, Amaia Scapes Pampanga, Amaia Skies Avenida, Amaia Skies Sta. Mesa, Amaia Square N ova l i c h e s, Am a i a Ste p s Pa s i g Esperanza, Amaia Steps Capitol Central, Amaia Steps Sucat and Amaia Steps Nuvali.

With 2018 now underway, Amaia remains on track and is poised to repeat the feat. This year, Amaia expects to hand over the keys of around 4,000 more units to excited new residents in various Amaia projects in the country.

Amaia will welcome homeowners to their brand-new abodes in 16 condominium buildings and villages, including Amaia Scapes Cabuyao, Amaia Scapes Iloilo Sector 1, Amaia Scapes Cagayan de Oro Sector 1, Amaia Skies Cubao Tower 2, Amaia Skies Shaw, Amaia Steps Nuvali, Amaia Steps Parkway Nuvali and Amaia Steps Alabang.

The year 2018 is also shaping up to be one of growth and expansion for the real estate provider. Mr. Robert Lao, president of Amaia Land, affirms this as he discloses plans to ramp up land acquisition activities in key locations and launch 12 new buildings and projects this year.

Amaia is also offering special deals for the few remaining completed units at its Sucat and Sta. Mesa projects.

As Amaia Land sustains its momentum in 2018 and builds on gains in the past year. Amaia Land offers flexible payment schemes such as cash payment, deferred and bank financing.

From left: Miroslav Mandel, Tomas Sarocky and Lubos Milan of Flowmon Networks, Teddy Sumulong of Computrade Technology Philippines Inc., Harry Surjanto of PT Computrade Technology International, Ryan Guadalquiver and Jason Loh of SAS and Antonio Soriano and Cedric Tan of Varonis

BLOCKCHAIN EYED TO ADDRESS PH RED TAPE AND CORRUPTION

T

HE local unit of an Indonesian technology vendor believes that ‘blockchain’ has the power to make government and business transactions more transparent and efficient.

“The intention of encouraging blockchain as a concept is to cut across a lot of inefficiencies.

Especially in the Philippines, it can potentially eradicate some of the corruption and red tape we are experiencing as citizens,” says Computrade Technology Philippines Inc. managing director Teddy Sumulong.

CTP is the local unit of Jakarta-based PT Computrade Technology International, a leading distributor and provider of infrastructure and information technology solutions in Southeast Asia.

Sumulong, who held senior management positions in Samsung Electronics, Technopag and EMC before establishing CTP in 2014, believes that blockchain is the next big concept in information technology.

He says while blockchain has become popular mainly because of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, it can offer a lot more value to transform financial transactions. A blockchain is a ledger of records, called blocks, which are linked and secured using cryptography.

Blockchain allows digital information to be distributed but not copied. Originally designed for the digital currency bitcoin, the technology is now finding other potential uses.

Information held on a blockchain exists as a

shared—and continually reconciled –database.

The blockchain database isn’t stored in any single location, such that the records it keeps are actually public and easily verifiable. There is no centralized version of the information, which a hacker may corrupt. Its data are hosted by millions of computers simultaneously and are accessible to anyone on the internet, according to CTP. “Aside from cryptocurrency, there are other blockchain applications. Cryptocurrency has been used and abused. Everybody wanted to create their own currency. But we are encouraging the concept of blockchain because of the integrity of creating a very secure ledger of transactions,” Sumulong says.

Sumulong explains that the concept of blockchain is about the credibility and integrity of the transaction. “It really cuts the middle person out, so we can have a nice credible transaction without a bank in the middle. So it becomes more efficient. At the same time, it becomes faster. I don’t need to know who you are. As long as we have a common platform by which to transact, we can even be cutting across countries. Then it becomes very important,” he says.

He says that in the country, Union Bank of the Philippines is a pioneer in the adoption of blockchain, while the government’s online tradefacilitation portal TradeNet has blockchain as a platform.

Sumulong says CTP, being established just four years ago, is on expansion mode by bringing in international brands and partners that can help companies expand and take advantage of digital technologies such as blockchain.

He says among the company’s offerings are cloud solutions, cyber security, big data analytics and network infrastructure.

CTP recently hosted its annual technology summit for 2018 at Dusit Thani Manila in Makati City which unveiled its latest solutions partners and affirmed its readiness to provide support for blockchain technology.

C TP announced three new par tners to help reinforce its current capabilities to provide effective cybersecurity in enterprise networks, implement intelligent integration of software systems, enable secure and efficient collaboration in digital space and make available dependable on-demand cloud computing platform.

CTP signed partnerships with data protection and analytics innovator Varonis, leader in analytics SAS and high-performance network management professionals Flowmon Networks.

CTP foresees the application of its expertise in data infrastructure, big data analytics and data security to play a significant role in the roll-out of blockchain technology in the Philippines.

“Blockchain technology is the wave of the future. For Computrade, it represents what is likely to be the next stage of digital transformation. We are preparing ourselves to provide the solutions that will ease its acceptance in the country and to fully secure the transactions facilitated by this innovative technology. We are excited at the possibility that we will be able to contribute our share in enabling Filipino enterprises and individuals as well to take full advantage of an emerging technology,” says Sumulong.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

YOUNG WOMAN FULFILLS DREAMS WITH ABOITIZPOWER NOT so long ago, a young woman on her bicycle would pass by a breathtaking landscape of rice paddies and mountains on her way to work.

While taking pleasure in the beauty of nature, she also could not help but notice the transmission lines, steam pipes and geothermal fields in the background. She grew more curious about the facilities and promised herself that one day, she would learn what these are for.

True enough, she found out about electricity in more ways than she imagined possible. Maria Kimberlyn Terbio, or more popularly known as “Ate Kim” of AboitizPower’s Cleanergy Center, is now more than just a young woman on a bicycle. She is fulfilling her dreams of helping people and working hard to make it happen every day.

“I was once a visitor at the Cleanergy Center,” Ate Kim said as she recalled how her journey with Aboitiz Power Corp. began.

As a community mobilizer for an NGO in her community, Ate Kim was responsible for helping the youth find economic opportunities. Inspired by

the many positive stories she had heard about AboitizPower, she proposed and built on a partnership with AP Renewables Inc., the business unit that operates and manages the MakBan Geothermal Power Plant and Cleanergy Center in the provinces of Laguna and Batangas.

That partnership with APRI led her to the Cleanergy Center, which opened endless opportunities for her to realize her dream of making an impact on many people’s lives. Ate Kim joined APRI in 2016 and has since contributed to the organization’s goal of advancing business and communities.

To date, Cleanergy Center, where Ate Kim works as a tour guide, has welcomed close to 40,000 local and foreign visitors since it opened in 2013.

It has become a favorite educational facility for people who want to learn about Cleanergy, AboitizPower’s brand for clean and renewable energy, in a fun and engaging way.

In 2017, Cleanergy Center underwent renovation to provide visitors with an even better learning experience. It reopened in December last year in time

for its fourth anniversary celebration that highlighted the youth’s invaluable role in the community.

Recently, APRI also awarded the

Cleanergy Youth Ambassador title to twelve students of Buenaventura E. Fandialan Memorial Integrated National High School in Laguna. The

project was launched in 2017, where aspiring Cleanergy youth ambassadors were trained on tour and events management at the Cleanergy Center.

The volunteers also immersed in APRI’s host community in Barangay San Vicente, Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

Ate Kim’s eyes glistened with tears as she witnessed how her once small idea of creating opportunities for the youth to discover their potentials has now become a reality.

The Cleanergy Youth Ambassadors Project was actually inspired by her “youth integration” proposal to APRI when she was still in her previous organization.

Ate Kim is only one of the thousands of AboitizPower team members all over the country, who are continuously inspired by the lives they help improve through the work that they do.

This inspiring “dream come true” story of Ate Kim is a testament to AboitizPower ’s bigger dream of becoming the power partner, neighbor, and employer of choice of all its stakeholders.

Tech & Gadgets

B3

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

SMART DIGITAL TOOLS TO BOOST ANTIQUE TOURISM

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Over 200 female learners from various schools get inspired to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math

ITH its cerulean waters surrounding stretches of white sandbars, majestic nature trails harboring rare flower species, and sites honoring a not too distant historical event, Antique has piqued the interest of travelers who prefer the off the beaten path.

Antiqueños are proud of their province and are spreading the word about it further by tapping into the digital space with the help of mobile innovations.

PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications and InnoPub Media recently released the Antique Guide app, bringing the digital tourism program to the province. The app contains information useful to visitors and students, such as historical background, local folklore and other interesting cultural trivia. It also lists things to do and places to see.

Did you know that Rafflesia speciosa, one of the world’s largest flowers, can be found in Antique? Or that the first Malay inhabitants in the Philippines established their permanent settlement in the province? Facts and other details such as these are available on the app.

“We hope more people will discover what our place has to offer,” said Gov. Rhodora Cadiao. “We thank Smart for helping to improve our tourism and communication efforts by making these services available and accessible through mobile phones.”

The digital tourism program also includes the installation of markers with quick response (QR) codes and near field communication (NFC) chips in popular tourist spots and heritage sites. Through an NFC chip or QR code reader, mobile users will get on their phones detailed information about the said landmark.

The app is now available as a free download for both Android and iOS devices. The guide may also be accessed at “Our technology for development initiatives aim to use mobile innovations to help improve lives in our communities. We are pleased that Antique will now benefit from digital technologies,” said PLDT and Smart public affairs head Ramon R. Isberto.

The initial batch of QR code markers will be deployed to the following sites: Anini-y town and its Spanish-era church; Hamtic, home to the

MICROSOFT CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH

Discover the natural beauty of the uninhabited Nogas Island by taking a 15-minute boat ride from Anini-y. Find out more interesting destinations on Antique Guide, a free app for Android and iOS devices by Smart and InnoPub.

Malandog marker commemorating the establishment of the first Malaysian settlement in the Philippines; Antique provincial capitol; the Evelio B. Javier Freedom Park, named after the former governor whose heroism was seen as catalyst in the downfall of the Marcos dictatorship; and the capital town of San Jose de Buenavista.

More QR code markers will be deployed in other areas within the province, according to InnoPub cofounder Max Limpag. “We hope to showcase more of Antique into the digital space, and the best way to do that is to bring the information straight to users’ mobile phones,” Limpag said.

To help enhance efforts in communication, as well as disaster preparedness, Smart also turned over to Antique its Infocast system. Smart Infocast is a short message service (SMS) broadcast platform that will enable the provincial government to send news updates, weather alerts, and other important information to its constituents through text message.

With the Smart Infocast, provincial authorities

can send relevant updates to subscribers, who, in turn, can also send reports and feedback by replying to the message.

In partnership with government units, the digital tourism program of Smart and InnoPub is a nationwide initiative that harnesses technology to deliver tourism, cultural, and historical information to more mobile users. The program was launched in 2012 and has since been implemented in Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, Baguio City, and Metro Manila, among other areas. It involves the creation of tourism apps and e-guides, and the installation of interactive markers in selected landmarks to trigger the download of more information.

Smart Infocast, for its part, has boosted the communication efforts of the institutions where it has been implemented, among them government units and agencies, and other organizations. It is part of Smart’s #SafePH advocacy, which promotes the use of technology to help mitigate disaster risk in communities.

IPC SHARES GAME-CHANGING NATURE OF PRODUCTIVITY APPS TO KICK OFF SEMINARS LOCAL cloud services pioneer IPC (IP Converge Data Services, Inc.) opened its digital transformation seminar series this year with an insightful discourse on how productivity applications are changing the workplace for the better.

Dubbed as ‘Business over Beers,’ the first of IPC’s #DiscoverDigital series for 2018 was recently held at ASPACE Greenbelt, Makati. The event gathered more than 40 business representatives -- whose core competencies range from Information Technology, Media, Finance, General Trade, and Professional Services to discuss how cloud-based solutions like Google Maps, Google Chrome and Chrome devices, and G Suite can help boost office productivity, communication and collaboration.

Google works far more than just its search engine and email feature.

Google Maps, for instance, aids in brand awareness and market research. It helps increase the business’ visibility online by managing its search ranking, as well as present data, locate mobile teams in real-time, and see how visitors use the maps’ functionalities.

Google Chrome provides organizations with advanced tools for a fast

IPC Director for Marketing and Digital Innovation Niño Valmonte encourages business reps to find new and better ways to improve office productivity.

and secure web browsing experience, while its Chrome devices are managed and configured in the cloud and can take different forms -- from a conventional laptop, to a small box that plugs into any modern monitor, to a tiny device that plugs directly into an

HDMI port on a screen. On the other hand, G Suite is a set of intelligent apps that can help employees share and work on documents at the same time, input data and create presentations, as well as interact with other employees.

Niño Valmonte, IPC’s Director for

Marketing & Digital Innovation emphasized that “In the spirit of game changing, we came up with this live sitcom-type demo to show clients that, just like veering away from the usual events with product-centric slide presentations, there is a different and better way of getting work done faster, smarter, and easier. Optimum workplace productivity and operational efficiency is possible through Google’s G Suite, Maps API and various Chrome devices.”

With this activity, IPC invited businesses for a collaboration to use applications from Google Cloud, and see how these can improve the business.

IPC’s #DiscoverDigital campaign is composed of various activities that share the latest innovations, trends, and best practices that are shaping the world of business IT. These are addressed to empower Filipino enterprises and organizations, whether large or SMEs to keep ahead with the digital changes of the times.

To register for IPC’s #DiscoverDigital events, visit http://www.ipc. ph/discoverdigi tal and follow IPC on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

MALAYAN HIGH SCHOOL OF SCIENCE BAGS 2 AWARDS

Two teams from Malayan High School of Science bagged awards during the Power Robotics Skills Competition held last September 22 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.

TWO teams from Malayan High School of Science bagged awards during the Power Robotics Skills Competition at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.

Team A, composed of Rochel Patrick R. Omoyon, Gabriel Joaquin B. Siojo, and Rahjen Zyrel A. Remo, placed 4th, while Team B, with Milsten Clark Cadorniga, Emmanuel Cavalida, Josh Vincent Contawe, and Sariel Pedraza, had a strong 2nd Runner-Up finish.

The two teams were accompanied by their coaches Joan T. Tranquilo and Phillip Erwyn C. Baron.

Team A was able to modify the chassis of a Standard

Drive Base robot and gave it tools to efficiently complete a given task. Meanwhile, Team B modified the Clawbot’s claw by making the robot’s arm and claw slim enough to grab pieces in hard-to-reach places.

MHSS has always played a vital role in strengthening its students learning, especially in the field of science and technology.

In fact, it has recently updated its robotics course offering, reinforcing collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking among the students. On top of this, the curriculum emphasizes computational thinking as an important

skill to make students more competent and globally competitive in terms of providing solutions to real-life problems.

Tranquillo said the teams’ coach and a robotics instructor at MHSS, the updated robotics program uses different hardware and programming software compared with the previous curriculum.

More notably, it also focuses more on scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical skills.

“This course offering utilizes up-to-date materials designed and simplified for easy construction, programming, and controlling of robot prototypes,” she noted.

TO celebrate the International Women’s Month, Microsoft launched the #MakeWhatsNext campaign, a campaign that aims to encourage young women to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

“We want to change the way young women view STEM by letting them envision how technology, science, engineering can be tools used to solve global challenges; how their interests today could turn into a job of the future.

We’re inviting girls to explore their passions further and gain insights from LinkedIn on how to make their dream job a reality. To make it happen, we are introducing all girls, including those from underserved communities, to female role models from different industries as well as hands-on, purposedriven experiences where STEM concepts are linked to real-life situations,” said Dr. Daiana Beitler, Philanthropies Director, Microsoft Asia.

DigiGirlz 2018 In the Philippines, Microsoft gathered over 200 female learners from various schools for DigiGirlz 2018—an initiative to inspire young women to pursue careers in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

“The Philippines is one of the most gender equal countries in the world and is in fact the only Asian country in the top ten of the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report in 2017. With DigiGirlz, Microsoft seeks not just to further improve gender equality in the country, but also to empower women to do and achieve more with technology,” said Hans Bayaborda, Managing Director, Microsoft Philippines.

The program aimed to: Increase awareness about what we, together with our partners, are doing to reduce the gender gap in STEM. Influence audience to believe that STEM can lead to exciting and meaningful career paths, by enabling them to tackle big challenges impacting people and the world.

Empower audience with resources to learn about computer science and STEM career paths.

Making Herstory The 200 female learners in attendance had the chance to hear the stories of prominent female figures in various fields at the Asia Pacific College. Among the invited speakers were Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative Sharon Garin and Isabel Sieh, founder of Girls Will Code.

DS Sharon Garin enlightened and inspired young girls as she shared her experiences working in a male-dominated environment. She reminded the students to be brave, to talk louder, study harder and never let gender become a barrier in achieving more.

“Education is the key to make women free,” she said.

Isabel Sieh, at 15 years old is considered as the youngest programmer of the country, and is already proficient in Java, C++ and is starting out Python. She shared the story of how she founded her company at 11 and how her love for coding opened the door for more young girls to break the barrier and pursuit a career in STEM. Her company, Girls Will Code, is one that encourages young women to code, while debunking most of the myths surrounding the field.

Women from Microsoft also shared their own personal stories of empowerment. Microsoft Philippines’OCP director Eileen Ong encouraged more girls to not be bound by gender stereotypes and pursue a career in STEM. Clarissa Segismundo, Microsoft Education Programs Lead, shared the value of taking risks, of the difference between learning-it-all and knowing-it all, and of the importance of finding your purpose.

The plenary also covered the importance of inclusion and diversity; how technology is making waves to equalize people with disability. The message? DigiGirlz of today who will become the women of tech tomorrow, will carry the torch to invent something that will eventually benefit the world.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

TECH & Gadgets

VIVO V9: AI-POWERED PERFECT SELFIE SHOTS Ramkumar Sarma, founder and CEO, Bank-Genie

TECH STARTUP BANK-GENIE TO OPEN GLOBAL HELP DESK IN PH

The top three smartphone brand in the Philippines unveiled the V9 in a media launch at the Grand Ballroom of Nobu Hotel at the City of Dreams, Pasay recently.

By Peter Paul Duran

W

HEN Vivo released their flagship V7 last year, many were convinced that it was a game-changer in the mobile phone industry.

Straight off the heels of its predecessor, the new Vivo V9 is sure to turn heads as it offers more—90% bodyto-screen ratio to be exact—than its already proud former flagship older brother, one that creates perfect shots giving users an enhanced AI-powered experience every single time.

The top three smartphone brand in the Philippines unveiled the V9 in a media launch at the Grand Ballroom of Nobu Hotel at the City of Dreams, Pasay recently.

“Vivo is currently the top three brand in the country right now and we have over 1.5 million users in the Philippines. That’s why Vivo will be very aggressive in order formanymorefilipinostoknowandexperience our brand,”saidVivo Brand Director Annie Lim during the event.

The all-new FullView™ Display handset is packed with AI-powered features in a sleek and stylish design.

From photography to enhanced mobile performance, the V9 adapts to specific users’ needs to create the perfect shot while providing a fun and optimized mobile experience.

FullView™ Display for Unlimited Fun The V9 is as compact in design as a traditional 5.5-inch phone but offers an incredible 6.3-inch display, while still

feeling comfortable in your hand. The Vivo V9 adopts a 19:9 aspect ratio to increase screen size by 5.2% compared to the previous generation’s V7+, and the side bezels have been reduced by 19% to a mere 1.75mm. Taking phone design to the extraordinary, every arc and curve on the ergonomically optimized 3D curved cover is carefully polished to ensure absolute comfort in the palm of your hand.

Creating the Perfect Shot with AI Photography New AI-powered camera functions continue Vivo’s ambitions to provide smart mobile photography with the V9’s crystal-clear 24MP front camera and 16MP+5MP dual rear camera. Based on in-depth research, powerful software and machine learning, Vivo uses AI to help consumers pursue a great photo that truly represents their beauty.

AI Face Beauty identifies users’age, sex, skin tone and texture, as well as the surrounding lighting environment. A comprehensive database of almost one million facial images from around the world has been used to train the AI algorithm.

This allows AI Face Beauty to adapt and apply the ideal algorithm for optimized photos. As usage increases, the AI

will also learn your customized setting preferences, automatically creating the ideal photo every time and exactly the way you want.

The new AI Selfie Lighting feature also allows users create artistic photo masterpieces anytime anywhere without an elaborate equipment setup. The V9’s AI algorithm transforms the facial profile in the original 2D photo into a 3D model to process the light accents authentically.

Users can choose from a range of effects like Natural Light, Studio Light, Stereo Light and Monochrome Background. When coupled with AR Stickers that provides numerous effects to decorate your selfie, the V9 helps users to take selfies that reflect their unique style with just a few clicks.

The rear facing 16MP+5MP dual camera of V9 creates amazing bokeh shots that rival those taken on a DSLR camera using its AI Bokeh algorithm, which has been optimized based on machine learning, so it can achieve high-level precision in identifying the key subject to ensure optimal focus in the photo.

AI-Optimized Mobile Experience The V9’s AI also ensures the best mobile performance and endurance with Vivo’s AI Smart Engine. By learning your usage habits and preferences, the AI Smart Engine prioritizes processing and storage resources for an optimized experience. Not only does it ensure smooth operation and save power, as the AI picks up on your usage habits,

Smart Engine can accurately predict your next move and have your favorite apps launch 20% faster.

With its updated AI Face Access technology, the V9 can detect the reflection of natural skin and the subtle movements of the face to further reduce the possibility of accidently unlocking when shown photos or videos. AI Face Access for App-Lock even helps secure your data and privacy for individual applications.

The V9’s AI Attention Sensing also recognizes when you’re looking at the phone to keep disruption to a minimum by automatically reducing the volume of message alerts, incoming calls and alarms, since you’re already looking at the screen.

Entertainment and Power Updated Game Mode delivers the hyper-focused environment required for the most dedicated gamers with the ability to block all messages, calls and alerts while gaming. Alternately, you can set it up to display phone calls from designated contacts only.

The new picture-in-picture for games feature means you won’t even have to exit the game to reply to critical messages. The V9 comes equipped with the latest Android 8.1 OS and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 octa-core processor, 4GB RAM and 64 ROM. The V9 will be available in Pearl Black and Gold. Prices and availability vary in markets. It will be retailed at P17,990 in the Philippines.

BANKING solutions company BankGenie, with corporate headquarters in Singapore has announced it will establish its presence in Manila to service a growing clientele that includes Universal Banks, Saving and Lending Banks, Rural Banks and Multi-Finance Institutions across the globe.

Bank-Genie is backed by SBI-FMO, a private equity fund, set up by two large global institutions—The SBI Holdings Group, a leading internetbased financial services conglomerate in Japan and FMO, the Dutch development bank.

Drawing from their expertise, knowledge and experience, BankGenie provides innovative banking solutions to help lower the cost of service of the Financial Institution while expanding its reach to the unbanked and under-banked sectors.

The young company founded in 2016 had already acquired over 10 clients and have since rapidly expanded its footprint across Africa and Asia.

“To support these plans, customer support is critical,” said Ramkumar Sarma, Bank-Genie Founder and CEO. “After our study, it became apparent that the Philippines is the right location for our GlobalCustomer Support Centre for our growing client base. It offers a number of considerable advantages such as the availability of well-trained and hard-working talent.”

To this end, Ram cited that the company has already begun to rollout its plans and is presently looking at potential locations in Metro Manila and the recruitmentof local talents immediately.

Bank-Genie’s flagship product is a mobile native software running on a tablet, POS device or smartphonethat enables banks and financial institutions to create virtual, integrated, secured and seamless retail branches freeing “the teller” from brick and mortar branch.

The state-of-the-art solution enables banks to set up branches where customers can access complete set of banking services at a fraction of the cost of a full traditional branch. CEO Ram explains, “What we have done with Bank-Genie is to take out all the dependencies and connectivity of a bank teller to branch facilities.”

D-LINK GADGETS IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY, SECURITY D-LINK, one of the world’s biggest suppliers of home networking products, matches the growing demand for high-speed connectivity and improved home security with enhanced Wi-Fi gigabit routers and security cameras.

The DIR-878 AC1900 MU-MIMO and DIR-882 AC2600 MU-MIMO Wi-Fi Gigabit routers and DCS-8000LH and DCS-8100LH. security cameras deliver not only faster wireless internet connections and greater network security but also state-of-the-art protection.

This means seamless and high-definition connectivity and streaming from making online calls and playing multiplayer games to surfing content-rich websites and launching multimedia applications.

Upgrade to seamless Internet connectivity The DIR-878 AC1900 MU-MIMO provides a convenient and flexible networking experience for small office/home office (SOHO) environ-

DIR-878 AC1900 MU-MIMO

ments by combining high-speed 802.11ac Wi-Fi with dual-band technology and Gigabit Ethernet ports.

Its SOHO-class advanced security features, together with the increased range and reliability of wireless AC technology, provide a protected network for devices at home or office and help keep data safe from unwanted

network intruders.

With a 3x3 Multiple User- Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) antenna configuration, the DIR-878 offers better data rates, fewer dead spots, more coverage and increased reliability to bring Wi-Fi speeds up to 1,900Mbps. Moreover, the built-in Quality of Service (QoS) engine allows

better traffic control through prioritization of application programs. This ensures preferred applications receive optimal bandwidth.

The DIR-882 AC2600 MU-MIMO, which is powered by a dual-core processor, is designed for highbandwidth applications such as HD, 4K and 3D video. Depending on the ISP on the WAN side, the DIR-882 has a Gigabit WAN port to support faster Internet connection speeds of up to 1000Mbps per 1 Gigabit for a seamless viewing experience.

On top of the dual-band Wi-Fi, the DIR-882 boasts an improved range, backward compatibility and a state-of-the-art QoS engine. Its 4x4 MU-MIMO antenna configuration allows concurrent communication with multiple compatible devices, thus providing users with faster speeds for smoother video streaming and online gaming.

Both the DIR-878 and DIR-882 support the latest 802.11ac Wave II tech-

nology, which has 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports for Network Attached Storage (NAS), media centers and gaming consoles. With the advanced algorithms from D-Link’s Smart Connect Technology, both units DCS-8000LH and DCS-8100LH automatically distribute devices to the most optimal The DCS-8100LH enables an even wireless network for the best connec- more flexible viewing experience at tion and stability.

720p HD resolution with its 180-degree Experience advanced ultra-wide viewing angle. It can pivot, tilt home security and rotate to provide the best view of The DCS-8000LH security cam- SOHOs. It also features Wireless Signal era delivers 720p HD resolution Strength LED that locates the best and a 120-degree viewing angle wireless location for smooth video for wider coverage. Its built-in night streaming, motion detection and vision, motion and sound detection, built-in infrared LEDs with up to 5m Bluetooth setup and IR LEDs prom- night-time viewing.The DCS-8100LH’s ise day and night security for home microphone can pick up and capture or office. It also easily connects to loud sounds that will instantly send a wireless network for installation notifications to the user, and allows anywhere with Wi-Fi coverage. seamless two-way communication.

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Young Life sunday, march 25, 2018

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

The

Courageous

Class

of spring 2018 The Courageous Class is a group composed of young, determined individuals who overcome life’s challenges and fearlessly pursue their dreams to become inspirational role models. Meet these modern role models chosen by american fashion label Kenneth Cole.

SLEEPING WITH SUITCASE. Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo refuses to leave his luggage behind in the TV commercial featuring american Tourister's Curio in lemon chrome.

WhaT’s inside

CrisTiano ronaldo’s luggage?

Connor Franta

LGBTQ+ advocate, YouTube personality, author, and entrepreneur

By Bernadette Lunas

F

ooTBaLL superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, all cool and casual, enters an airport and checks in at the counter. everything was going normal and well until the Real Madrid forward refused to leave his bright yellow suitcase behind and ended up accompanying it from the check-in counter to his destination.

american Tourister Curio in denim blue

The five-time Ballon D’or winner makes us wonder what could be inside his luggage that he cannot simply part from it in the television commercial featuring american Tourister’s Curio products. as a frequent traveler himself, Ronaldo brings back more memories, experiences, and memorabilia from his trips in his suitcase. and now he can bring back more as he has been recently named the newest brand ambassador for american Tourister.

The professional footballer and american Tourister are said to be a match made in marketing heaven as the two share many characteristics—passion for travel, youthful energy, and enviable fashion sense. according to the luggage label, Ronaldo’s brand and lifestyle Turn to C2

Connor Franta has evolved from a YouTube personality to a global trendsetter, author, philanthropist, activist, and entrepreneur.

With an expanding audience of more than 20 million, he continues to evolve into multiple arenas. Franta launched his lifestyle company Common Culture, which offers superior clothing, premium coffee, and a variety of undiscovered musical talent. he is a co-founder of hear Well, the first record label powered entirely by social tastemakers.

Franta is also a dedicated supporter of GLSen, a non-profit whose mission is to affect positive change for LGBTQ+ children in schools. he was also the recipient of the prestigious GLSen Game Changer award in 2016 for his work with and activism for LGBTQ+ youth.

Ronaldo brings back more from his trips in his Curio suitcase

Makeup knows no race and gender The Careline Gang encourages everyone to be confident in their skin

Gone are the days when cosmetic products are exclusive to women or only to a certain color.

Yes, makeup now comes in a wide spectrum of shades to match all skin colors; and, yes, men do and can put on full face of makeup, too.

This group is the proof that there is beauty in diversity. The Careline Gang is composed of seven bloggers/vloggers/social media influencers who are confident in their skin.

Careline Cosmetics gathered Seff Francisco, Mara Luz Smith, Rei Germar, Kenny Manalad, MargarMargar ita Gumabao, emma Briones, and Brittany Rhodes to

serve as an encouragement to everyone, regardless of size, shape, gender, and color, to be proud of who they are and embrace their flaws.

With thousands of social media followers, these influencers intend to make other Filipinos understand the real meaning of beauty. Through the Careline Gang, Careline aims to spread awareness of breaking gender barriers and other stereotypes.

Visit careline.com.ph or its social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram to know more about this inspiring group.

Flaviana Matata

Education provider and model Born and raised in Tanzania, Flaviana Matata is a model with a degree in electrical engineering.

Since she was discovered by hiphop mogul Russell Simmons, she had gone achieving various recognitions in the modelling industry, such as the Model of the Year title at arise Magazine Fashion Week in nigeria, one of the 2014’s Most Influential People in africa by New African Magazine, and one of the Top 10 african Models by Forbes Africa, among many others.

Turn to C2

young Life

C2

sunday, march 25, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Delivery woman breaks logistics traDitions ThErE’s a common misconception that there’s always a man behind the wheel of a delivery van. But today, this job is no longer exclusive to men.

Lynneil Gaspar loves to drive, and she particularly loves to drive trucks. “(In) 2014, nagmamaneho na ako ng truck. Hindi man halata, pero kinakayakaya ko lang ang mga truck deliveries dati (I used to drive truck in 2014. although not obvious, but truck deliveries were easy for me),” shared Gaspar. she worked with traditional couriers before, but when she thought she could earn more with her time she signed up to be a partner-driver of Lalamove, an on-demand logistics company that matches users and drivers and provides same-day delivery and courier services.

Today, Gaspar is considered one of the best drivers on Lalamove. “she might look small to you, but it turns out the respect she gets from her clients is what makes her a big woman. This 2018, it’s easy to say that women are playing a major part in the industries and breaking traditions,” Lalamove said in a statement.

malolos Bulacan mayor christian natividad and Philippine seven corp. president and chief executive Jose Victor Paterno (seated, center) sign the deed of donation.

“I

Learning on wheeLs

T TaKEs a village to raise a child” is an old proverb that illustrates the crucial role that an integrated community plays in rearing a child. The message remains relevant to this day, as active involvement is strongly needed to deliver genuine positive impact for poor Filipino children.

Lalamove partner-driver Lynneil Gaspar

what's inside...

From c1

are closely aligned with american Tourister’s (and curio’s) target audience, namely millennial travelers on the hunt for exciting stories and unique, authentic travel experiences.

“It’s fantastic to have cristiano star in our latest campaign. his lively and vivacious personality, on and off the field, resonates perfectly with our fun-loving, vibrant brand personality,” enthused subrata dutta, president of asia Pacific at samsonite. ronaldo is likewise excited to be part of the american Tourister team. “as an avid traveler, I love the brand, their suitcases, and the active lifestyle they promote,” said the current world’s highest paid athlete. ronaldo showcases his jet-setting life lifestyle and adventur adventurous personality in the augusto de Fra Fraga-directed commer commercial that ends on a cliffhanger, inviting audience to guess w h a t he has packed in his luggage.

It could be tokens american Tourister curio from his in spicy peach trip, his football gear, or a souvenir for his gorgeous girlfriend Georgina rodriguez.

Fans can post their guesses on social media using the hashtags #AmericanTourister and #BringBackMore.

Perhaps it is the luggage itself that ronaldo cannot leave behind. Besides, a curio spinner in new eye-catching color of either lemon chrome, spicy peach, or denim blue, could be your perfect travel companion and accessory. american Tourister curio is made of lightweight and durable polypropylene material, comes with double wheels for smooth rolling, features a fixed three-digit recessed Tsa lock for security, and offers more packing space with its expandable feature.

Go to www.samsonite.com.ph/brandamerican-tourister for more information.

This fundamental tenet inspired the latest youth advocacy of Philseven Foundation Inc.— the corporate social advocacy arm of Philippine seven corp.—as it brings valuable opportunities closer to street children via the Gulong ng Karunungan mobile school Project.

While espousing a fun, alternative learning model, PFI’s mobile school, through the GnK and mobile day care Project, aims to enjoin stakeholders and partners in community in helping address government’s problem concerning disadvantaged children—specifically out-of-school youth and street children on and off the streets of a PFI-identified city-beneficiary—by providing them safe and accessible learning venues. a survey conducted in 2002 found out that one of the factors that determine the visibility of children on the street is their being away from school. Their unique circumstances all the more make it difficult to integrate them into the formal education system, according to the study.

If not properly addressed, the proliferation of street children will continue.

By bringing GnK services to barangays and streets, youth street dwellers are directly provided with basic education through depEd aLs and/or Eccd, values formation and promotion

The Gulong ng Karunungan mobile school child beneficiaries

of good hygiene, health and nutrition services through medical check-ups and supplementary feeding, and responsible parenting sessions and learning.

In partnership with the city Government of malolos in Bulacan, PFI successfully launched the GnK project at the malolos sports and convention center. The formal signing of deed of donation for the turnover of two mobile school multicabs was led by mayor christian natividad and Psc president and chief executive Jose Victor Paterno.

Working closely with the malolos csWd and depEd local division, PFI’s GnK mobile school cabs will be used for the “supervised neighborhood Play” program which targets day care children (3-4 years old) of market and ambulant street vendors in Barangay caingin and Baran-

the courageous...

From c1 aside from walking hundreds of runways and gracing the pages of numerous magazines, she also empowers young girls in Tanzania through her Flaviana matata Foundation, she is an angel ambassador of the diamond Empowerment Fund, and she has worked for mitindo house, Life Project for africa, malaika for Life, usher new Look, malaria no more, sOs Village, and the hassan maajar Trust. matata is also the founder of Lavy Products, a line of non-toxic, cruelty-free nail polish that’s available in more than 60 stores in six countries.

gay san Vicente. To date, 60 indigent beneficiaries are enrolled in the one-year program. apart from the GnK multicabs, PFI further bolstered its efforts by donating learning materials, school supplies, bags, and uniforms, as well as the conduction of supplemental feeding programs in the said barangays. “as our way of giving back to the society and reaching out to communities served by 7-Eleven stores all over the country, the GnK’s mission is simply to provide opportunities like basic education, feeding, and health services for the marginalized youth sector. Through this long-standing advocacy, we hope to inspire multi-sector participation and of course develop more partnerships to create the needed transformation in our society,” said PFI agency head Israelita Ferrer-Lequin.

Today, he is studying for a film degree at ucLa, directs music videos, and serves as the creative director of ‘90s-inspired athleisure brand Joyrich.

Broadus is also the founder of revolt of the youth—a youth group initiative that helps support underprivileged communities in the Greater Los angeles area. In addition to giving free pizza and essential supplies out to the homeless, revolt of the youth partners with the non-profit group hav a sole in giving away shoes.

“This is a dream I’ve had since I was 15 years old. It means the world to me. I have a passion for helping others and this is just the beginning,” shared Broadus.

Hanne Gaby Odiele

Intersex activist and model Born and raised in Kortrijk, Belgium, hanne Gaby Odiele, at a young age, underwent invasive medical procedures due to misinformation from medical Youth motivator, creative director, and filmmaker professionals and a fundamental lack of sensitivity to intersex children.

In January 2017, she made the boldest statement to date as a fashion model, by up until 2016, cordell Broadus was a wide receiver for ucLa’s football team, disclosing being born intersex and subsequently becoming an activist for intersex but decided to turn down a lucrative future because it wasn’t his true passion rights across the globe. By being the first public figure to come out as intersex, and in life. he has openly admitted that he only played football for his father, rap- through her partnership with interacT advocates, Odiele now adds activism to her per and entertainer snoop dogg. list of accomplishments, which includes a fashion career that spans over 12 years.

Cordell Broadus

Showbiz

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018

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Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

BROKEN SOULS FIND EACH OTHER ON CINEMA ONE

Piolo Pascual and Toni Gonzaga in 'Last Night.'

IDOL ASPIRANTS. Who among these girls will succeed in the coming weeks and ultimately make up the country’s first-ever all-girl idol group?

MNL48 ASPIRANTS

FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL FOR ULTIMATE IDOL DREAM A

FTER weeks of intensive trainings and weekly performances on It’s Showtime, 48 aspirants have emerged the strongest to continue their journey to becoming the first generation members of the country’s first-ever all-girl idol group MNL48, the Filipino version of Japan’s highest-selling and phenomenal idol group AKB48.

After a live elimination last week that saw seven aspirants bid goodbye to the competition, 48 aspirants remain to face new challenges that will bring them closer to their ultimate dream of becoming an idol.

This week, the top 48 girls are divided into groups to perform every day on the It’s Showtime stage, try to impress the madlang people, and woo votes that will increase their individual standings.

The latest official ranking shows that Eunice of Cabanatuan is still leading for the fifth consecutive week, followed by Sheki of Quezon City, Sayaka of Legazpi City, Abby of Quezon City, Gabb of Pasig City, Tin of Iloilo, Alice of Quezon City, Trixie of Marikina. and twins Shaina and Shaira of Cainta.

The top 48 girls are fighting for a spot in the top seven, who will be flown to Japan to undergo training under AKS, the prestigious talent agency that manages AKB48.

They will also be granted endorsement and recording contracts, a chance to perform with AKB48 and sister groups from Thailand, Taiwan, India, and Indonesia, and the privilege of headlining the daily performances of the group in MNL48’s exclusive theater.

Meanwhile, fans may vote again for their “oshi” or favorite on the MNL48 website (MNL48.ph) and mobile app, where the highest to the bottom ranking applicants and their update videos are displayed.

GMA TRIUMPHS AT UPLB’S GANDINGAN AWARDS GMA Network took home a total of 28 awards at the Gandingan 2018: The 12th UPLB Isko’t Iska’s Multi-media Awards. The awarding ceremony was held March 17 at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna.

Leading the Kapuso winners was GMA News’ Mike Enriquez who was conferred with the Gandingan ng Kapayapaan award for his public affairs program Imbestigador.

Jessica Soho, was given the Gandingan ng Kabataan for her top-rating show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.

Meanwhile, Kapuso personality Drew Arellano was awarded the Gandingan ng Edukasyon for his infotainment program AHA!, which was also recognized as the Most Development-Oriented Educational Program.

UPLB gave Dr. Nielsen Donato and Dr. Ferds Recio the Gandingan ng Kalikasan award for their travel and wildlife show Born to be Wild, while reporter Emil Sumangil won as this year’s Best Field Reporter.

The network’s special documentary entitled Sa Serbisyong Totoo, Nabago ang Buhay Ko was recognized as the Most Development-Oriented Public Service Program.

Taking home two awards for GMA Entertainment Content Group was the series Legally Blind top-billed

by Janine Gutierrez. The series

won Most Development-Oriented Women’s Program and Most Gender Transformative Program.

On top of being given the Gandingan ng Kaunlaran award, leading local news channel GMA News TV also earned seven more recognitions.

Flagship evening newscast State of the Nation with Jessica Soho was this year’s Most Development-Oriented News Program with Soho taking home the Best News Anchor recognition as well.

Other winners were: Investigative Documentaries, Most DevelopmentOriented Investigative Program; I Juander, Most Development-Oriented Magazine Program; Bawal ang Pasaway kay Mareng Winnie, Most Development-Oriented Talk Show; and Wagas, Most DevelopmentOriented Drama Program. GMA News TV’s public service campaign “Karapatan Mo, Juan” was chosen as the Most Development-Oriented TV Plug.

Radio GMA, on the other hand, dominated Gandingan 2018’s radio category. GMA’s flagship AM station Super Radyo DZBB won as Most Development-Oriented AM Station, while Saksi sa Dobol B emerged as this year’s Most Development-Oriented AM Program.

Barangay LS 97.1 DWLS FM was named Most Development-Oriented FM Station, Radyo Nobela won as Most

Development-Oriented FM Program. Barangay LS radio personality Papa Dudut was recognized as Best FM Program Host for Barangay Love Stories.

GMA Regional TV, won big that night with four core awards, including the Most Development-Oriented TV Station citation. Core awards are given to outstanding programs aired over local, community, or regional radio and TV stations or channels as well as those produced by schools.

Under regional division, Balitang Amianan took home the Most Development-Oriented News Program award, Tek Ocampo of One Mindanao was recognized as Best News Anchor, while Lou-Anne Mae Rondina of Balitang Bisdak was named as Best Field Reporter.

GMA News Online capped off the honors the Network receiving with two more awards: Late Response, Clunky Policies Leave Saudi OFWs, Kin in Misery by Rie Takumi and Jessica Bartolome took home the Most Development-Oriented Online News Article award while Chino Gaston’s Deception and Regret: The Story of a Maute Child Warrior won as the Most Development-Oriented Online Feature Article.

Jessica Soho wins Best News Anchor and her shows KMJS and 'State of the Nation' receive the awards for Gandingan ng Kabataan and Most DevelopmentOriented News Program, respectively.

TONI Gonzaga and Piolo Pascual returns in the intriguing film Last Night as it makes its mark on Cinema One tonight at 8:00 o’clock.

The much-awaited ToniPiolo comeback film features the two as wide-eyed Carmina and businessman Mark, who both lost the will to live. The seemingly lost pair finds each other in an unusual circumstance, but develop a mutual understanding as they share a common goal.

Together, they make a pact and think of creative ways on how they could end their days. Will two broken souls succumb to dark thoughts and lose their selves completely, or will they learn to embrace life and each other?

Last Night is directed by Joyce Bernal, written by actress Bela Padilla, and produced by Star Cinema, N2, and Spring Films.

4TH CINEMALAYA INSTITUTE CONDUCTS FILM WORKSHOP CINEMALAYA Institute is now open for applications for its advanced courses in directing and producing. Classes will be held from May 8 to June 30 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Applications will be accepted until April 20.

Award-winning director Carlos Siguion-Reyna will teach Basic Filmmaking: The Silent Film, a six-week course in directing that will enable the students to apply the basics of film language in film exercises and master the classic conventions and tools of the film directors. Viewing of clips, readings, and classroom discussions will provide a framework for the course material.

John Paul Su will teach Introduction to Producing, a fourweek course on film production that covers the different elements and fundamental skills and procedures used in making a film. Students are advised to learn Movie Magic prior the beginning of classes. By the third week of class, they are required to prepare a production book for their shoot. A Master of Fine Arts graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Su is a two-time recipient of Ani ng Dangal award and was named one of the Outstanding Filipino Artist in the field of Cinema in 2016.

Since 2015, Cinemalaya Institute has been the training arm of the Cinemalaya Foundation. For inquiries, please call CCP Media Arts Division at tel. no. 832-1125 local 1705.

C4

sunday, march 25, 2018

Desiree Carlos, Editor

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Pets

Dear cat owners, Beware oF

rhinotracheitis

By Anthony Prado Basa, DVM

A

virAl infection called rhinotracheitis is another reason to have your kittens and cats vaccinated.

My Furry Bestie

THiS corner features pets of animal lovers every week. We hope new owners and those thinking of getting a pet will be encouraged to be responsible “furparents” through these features. We also hope more people will be moved to be kind to animals when they read about the great relationship that can be created between humans and animals.

For contributions, please email to daycarlos28@yahoo.com and put My Furry Bestie as subject.

Cats of all ages can be infected with the Feline viral rhinotracheitis (Fvr), an upper respiratory infection of the nose and throat caused by feline herpesvirus 1 (FHv-1).

At higher risk are kittens who can be infected as early as five weeks of age.

Also at higher risk are pregnant cats and those suffering from a lowered immunity due to a pre-existing disease.

SYMPTOMS AND TYPES

Be careful because some infected cats may not show symptoms but are carriers and can spread the disease fast.

Symptoms may be sporadic in an FHv-1 carrier. But to check a cat, here are the symptoms: • Sudden, uncontrollable attacks of sneezing • Watery nasal discharge or pus in the nasal discharge • Loss of sense of smell • Spasm of the eyelid muscle resulting in the closure of the eye (blepharospasm) • Eye discharge • Inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye.

• Keratitis (inflammation of the cornea causing watery painful eyes and blurred vision) • Loss of appetite • Fever • General malaise • Loss of pregnancy

FOXIE is a rescued dog adopted by Eleanor Agulto.

“Ours is an equal opportunity household for dogs. Big, small, pedigreed or not, we love them all. Foxie was almost dog meat until CArA came to her rescue,” Eleanor says.

She adds,”i now have 11 doggos with me. Yes, they're quite a handful, but hey, they have this amazing ability to soothe all my stress away!”

CAUSE

Caused by the feline herpesvirus 1 infection, this disease is common in households with several cats and in kennels.

Overcrowding is never good.

Other risk factors are poor ventilation, poor sanitation, poor nutrition, or physical or psychological stress.

Dos and Tres, kids of stray cat Apple who was rescued by Save Animals of love and light (Save All), have been given the tricat vaccination to keep them safe from the three fatal illnesses: panleukemia, chylamydiosis and rhinotracheitis.

DIAGNOSIS

4. To make the recovery period easier, place a litter box close to your cat’s “recovery place” so that she does not have to walk far to do her business.

5. Put the food and water near your cat, and remove and wash the bowls after every feeding.

6. Please check your cat as often as you can to make sure she is doing well, and as quietly as you can so as not to disturb your cat. Observe the breathing pattern and rate.

7. Your sick cat will want to see you often. it is stressful for cats to be left alone at this time.

8. Your cat will appreciate food that can easily be chewed and digested during the recovery period..

Some cats die due to lack of nutritional support.

9. Dehydration can cause death in cats so give lots of water.

10.inform your vet if your cat has not eaten for a day or two. The vet might decide to use a stomach tube to force nutrients into your cat's body.

11.As the respiratory system is affected, the feeding tube may cause discomfort, thus proper care and vigilance are required to prevent complications due to the feeding tube.

12.For care at home, your vet will show you the right way to feed, clean the feeding tube, and to keep the tube in place.

13. For cats with prolonged anorexia, the feeding tube may be Mama Bubbles, another Save All rescue, is given a vaccination every placed directly in the stomach year by Doc Anthony Prado Basa. She lost an eye due to viral infection through a surgical incision in the abwhich she already had when she was rescued. She was pregnant then. dominal wall. if there is no secondary bacterial infection, the cat will improve within 7 to 10 days.

The cat can survive this disease if given proper nutrition and sufficient fluid.

For a proper diagnosis: 1. The owner has to give a detailed history of the cat’s health, the symptoms you observed and when these were noticed. So please make a habit of writing down your observations.

2. The vet will do a thorough physical exam.

3. The cat will undergo routine tests like a complete blood count, biochemistry profile, and urinalysis.

4. in some cats, the complete blood count may reveal temporary low numbers of white blood cells (WBCs), which is called leukopenia, followed by an increase in the number of the cells called leukocytosis.

More advanced tests can be done to detect FHv-1.The vet can take samples of secretions from the nose and eyes of the cat or testing to confirm the initial finding. Some vets may recommend an X-ray to determine changes in the nasal cavity, especially those due to chronic infections.

TREATMENT

A vet will usually prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic to prevent and treat secondary bacterial infections.

To prevent eye damage and to control an existing eye infection, ophthalmic medications can be used. A vet might also prescribe an ophthalmic antiviral preparation.

To address nasal congestion, nasal decongestant drops will be prescribed for regular use.

Most cats infected with this disease have no appetite. Be patient and please make sure to give what your cats can eat. A good nutritional and fluid support is important to maintain a healthy energy level and for hydration.

LIVING AND MANAGEMENT

Some advice for a cat owner whose pet has been diagnosed with this disease.: 1. Minimize or remove any stress as this may prolong the course of the disease.

2. Set up a place in your house where your cat can rest comfortably and quietly. Keep the sick cat away from other pets, active children, and busy entryways.

3. isolate your cat from other cats to prevent the spread of the virus to other cats.

PREVENTION

Kittens as young as five weeks old can die of rhinotracheitis if not detected and treated early. Amber, a kitten rescued in Pasay by Save All admin Nicole Benedito, was vaccinated to keep him safe from fatal illnesses.

To keep your cat protected from this disease, have your kitten or cat vaccinated with tricat vaccine.

About the Author: Anthony Prado Basa, 34, graduated from virgen Milgarosa University Foundation in San Carlos City, Pangasinan in 2008. He is married to Mariliza Basa and has been a practicing vet in Metro Manila for several years now. He is the head veterinarian at Sha Sha Veterinary Clinic, West Avenue, Quezon City.

SUGAR , another rescued dog who is black and tan, is now being fostered

by Eleanor Agullto “Sugar is staying with us until her mama, who's now abroad, gets settled and sends for her,” says Eleanor.

NANO, 11 months, is the youngest furbaby of Joy Gallarpe but she is also the most “hyper” in the pack.

“She is a super hyper dog. She always jumps and ‘ikot ng ikot’ (she goes round and round) because she gets so excited when she sees one of us in the house, “ Joy says.

Nano is short for “unano” or dwarf because she is the smallest dog in the household, Joy says.

“We rescued her when she was about to be hit by a vehicle on a busy road in Deparo, Caloocan City. She was so small that drivers hardly noticed her. So we decided to stop and get her,” Joy recalls.

“She is a jolly dog. She make me happy and i laugh a lot because of her antics. She also taught me to relax and remain calm all the time.” Joy adds.