Manila Standard - 2018 April 4 - Wednesday

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 48 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

MUTILATED MOSQUE. This photo, taken on March 28, 2018, is an aerial shot of a destroyed mosque in Marawi City after five months of house-to-house fighting between troops and jihadists loyal to the Islamic State group that killed nearly 1,200. Residents of the lakeshore city, capital town of Lanao del Sur, were allowed back on April 1 for the first time to dig through the rubble where once stood their homes. AFP

Qing dynasty bowl fetches $30m HONG KONG—An extremely rare Qing Dynasty bowl made for the Chinese emperor Kangxi fetched US$30.4 million (HK$239 million) at auction Tuesday, Sotheby’s said.

The bowl, just under six inches (14.7 cm) in diameter, is decorated with falangcai—painted enamels combining Chinese and Western techniques-and flowers, including daffodils which are not typically depicted on Chinese porcelain. Next page

VP race recount hits snag as revisors quit SC compels govt to submit all records on drug war

By Rey E. Requejo

Oh deer: Animals nibble tourists TOKYO—Faced with a growing number of injuries from deer bites, authorities in Japan’s Nara Park have issued tips on feeding the hundreds of animals that attract tourists from around the world.

The picturesque park in Japan’s ancient capital is home to more than 1,000 deer, which can even be found roaming the streets in search of special tasty crackers offered by tourists. Next page

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Our entire Metro Manila office no longer has rice supply. The stocks that we have, have already been bought by the DSWD. We have no food security.

—NFA North District Office manager Arnel Alfonso

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the appeal of Solicitor General Jose Calida to recall its resolution ordering him to submit all records and documents related to the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs.

Court spokesman Theodore Te said the justices resolved to dismiss Calida’s motion for reconsideration during the start of their yearly summer session in Baguio City.

“The Court denied the solicitor general’s motion for reconsideration of the Court’s order dated Dec. 5, 2017 and directed the respondents to comply with the said order by submitting the required reports within a period of 15 days from notice,’ Te said, in a media briefing.

In its resolution dated Dec. 5, 2017, the Court ordered the Office of the Solicitor General to submit within 60 days documents including the list of persons killed in legitimate police operations from July 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, 2017; list of deaths under investigation from July 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, 2017; list of Chinese and Filipino-Chinese drug lords who have been neutralized; list of drugs involved whether shabu, cocaine, marijuana, or opioids; comparative tables in index crimes, statistics of internal cleansing within the police force and drug watch lists in affected areas.

The tribunal also directed the OSG to submit the list of warrants and warrantless arrests in high-value target police operations and the list of cases under investigation under the PNP Internal Next page Affairs Service.

By Rey E. Requejo, Joel E. Zurbano and Rio N. Araja

HE recount of votes for the vice presidential race in the 2016 elections hit a snag Tuesday after several heads of revision committees resigned for unknown reasons.

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This prompted former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Leni Robredo to express concern because this could delay the proceedings to resolve the election protest.

Only a day after the recount started, four of the 40 head revisors assigned by the Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, resigned.

A head revisor leads a three-member committee, composed of the head revisor himself and one representative each from the Robredo and Marcos camps.

“We are surprised and concerned with the withdrawal of the four head revisors for no apparent reason. I hope this will not result in another round of delays, especially now that we have started to uncover clear signs of fraud,” Marcos said in a statement.

“They are no ordinary revisors, having undergone rigid psychological test and meticulous screening by the PET. They must

have a compelling reason for backing out and I am one with the Filipino people in asking why,” he added.

The former senator said the PET had already postponed the recount twice—from February to March and then from March to April—because of the difficulty in securing the required number of revisors.

The PET had initially planned to constitute 50 revision committees but was only able to fill in 40 committees with their head revisors.

Marcos earlier bewailed the slow pace at the start of the recount last Monday, believing that it could take more than three months to finish the revision of his three pilot provinces--Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental—with a total of 5,418 clustered precincts.

The former senator expressed hopes the manual recount would speed up once the Next page process is streamlined.

High court sets oral arguments on quo warranto against Sereno

NFA runs out of cheap rice, Palace allays fears of shortage

By Rey E. Requejo

THE National Food Authority said Tuesday its supply of cheap rice in Metro Manila has already been consumed, and that the country no longer enjoyed food security.

“Actually, the whole of Metro Manila [no longer has cheap rice],” NFA North District Office manager Arnel Alfonso told the TV news program Balitanghali.

“The stocks that are left have already been paid for by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. We have no food security,” he added in a mix of Filipino and English.

Alfonso said the NFA’s importation of 250,000 metric tons or 5 million bags in September wasn’t enough.

On a nationwide basis, he said, the supply of seven to eight days was far from the 15 days mandated for food security, he said.

Alfonso added, however, that there was no shortage of rice, per se, but of inexpensive rice.

“The supply is sufficient,” he said in Filipino. “There is no rice crisis, but maybe a price crisis.”

Malacañang on Tuesday admitted that stock of cheap NFA rice is low but assured the public that the overall rice supply in Metro Manila is more than sufficient and that there was no Next page need to panic.

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday decided to conduct oral arguments on the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida seeking to nullify the appointment of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

During its summer en banc session in Baguio City, the high court also required Sereno to attend the oral arguments at the Court Session Hall on April 10 to answer questions from her colleagues regarding her case.

Sereno is on leave to prepare for her impeachment trial at the Senate.

“The Petition for Quo Warranto will be heard on the oral arguments on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 2 p.m.,” Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te told reporters.

Solicitor General Jose Calida backed the high court’s decision.

“There no better party to address the petition head-on than Sereno herself,” Calida said in his Twitter account.

“Any other litigant will only unnecessarily add more issues to be resolved by the Supreme Court. ” Calida made his statement even as at least 20 civil society groups vowed to hold a vigil at the Supreme Court compound in Next page

ARMS SEIZED. President Rodrigo Duterte, on the sidelines of his attendance at the ceremonial distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Award to agrarian reform beneficiaries at the Sultan Kudarat Sports and Cultural Center in Isulan, leads the inspection Monday of firearms seized by security authorities. Malacañang Photo

Oust plot vs Alvarez, Fariñas swirls around

By Maricel V. Cruz SPECULATION is rife that members of the House of Representatives are plotting a coup against Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas even as a Mindanao lawmaker downplayed the ouster plot.

Several lawmakers who requested anonymity said efforts to replace Alvarez

and Fariñas are expected to gain traction with the belated birthday party for President Rodrigo Duterte being organized by Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco on Thursday at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

Duterte earlier celebrated his 73rd birthday on March 28 in Davao City.

Apart from Velasco, who is a close ally Next page

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Dela Rosa vows action vs Caloocan criminal group

By Francisco Tuyay A CRIMINAL group in Caloocan City with a penchant for shooting people, which cost the city’s police commander and the district police chief their jobs, will soon be taken down, the country’s top cop vowed Tuesday.

Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa vowed “drastic action” to pin down “hooded assassins” involved in the mysterious slaying of suspected drug personalities and civilians in Caloocan.

“There really is a group which is fond of shooting [drug] pushers and even those who aren’t [into drugs], and we are closely watching [them] and nearing a potential encounter with our police,” Dela Rosa said in a chance interview with reporters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

He also dispelled insinuations that police are either tolerating the killings in Caloocan or are being carried out by “enforcers” that have led to unresolved cases and an alarming situation in the northern part of Metro Manila.

“We have to something about it, because it hurts [the PNP], especially if [the killings] are being attributed to the police,” Dela Rosa lamented.

The series of killings in Caloocan led to the abrupt sacking of city police chief Senior Supt. Jemar Modequillo, but the PNP chief did not attribute the relief to incompetence—rather, he called the former “unlucky.”

Two henchmen of Espinosa killed in separate incidents—DoJ TWO of the co-accused in the drug charges filed against businessman Peter Lim and self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa are already dead, the Department of Justice said Tuesday.

The DoJ said the returned subpoenas confirmed that Max Miro and Noel “Jun” Pepito were killed in separate incidents.

Miro died March 10 in a police operation conducted by Ormoc PNP in Barangay Bantigue, Ormoc City, while Pepito was killed by assassins on a motorcycle in Albuera, Leyte on Dec. 1, 2017.

Aside from Lim, Espinosa, Miro and Pepito, the police named as respondents convicted drug lord Peter Co, alleged drug supplier Lovely Impal, alleged drug dealer Marcelo Adorco, Ruel Malindangan, and several others who are only known by the aliases Amang, Ricky, Warren, Tupie, Jojo, Jaime, Yawa, Lapi, Royroy, Marlon, and Bay. The subpoenas issued by a reconstituted panel of prosecutors required the respondents to attend the first hearing set at 1 p.m. on April 12.

The new panel of prosecutors formed

by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II is composed of Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, Assistant State Prosecutor Anna Norren Devanadera, and Prosecution lawyer Herbert Calvin Abugan.

Aguirre empowered the panel to continue the preliminary investigation on the cases against the two alleged drug kingpins. Rey E. Requejo

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But their cute and calm demeanor can be deceptive and tourists can find themselves surrounded by aggressive animals when they try to feed them.

So authorities have erected a sign written in Chinese, English and Japanese entitled: “A polite request from the deer when feeding them” at the stalls where crackers are sold.

Small children should be accompanied by adults and “deer sign language” should be employed, showing both hands to the animals when feeding time is over.

“As they are wild animals, they get angry if people tease them,” Nara official Yuichiro Kitabata told AFP. “For example, if you keep them waiting when feeding, they can bite you ... but not all of tourists know they are wild, believing they are kept in the park,” he added.

The sprawling park that also includes wooden temples and shrines built centuries ago is a major tourist attraction, welcoming some 13 million visitors annually. AFP

Du30 to decide on Boracay six-month closure today P

By Vito Barcelo

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is expected to decide in today’s Cabinet meeting whether Boracay Island will be closed for six months starting April 26 to undergo a total rehabilitation as recommended by three government agencies, an official said Tuesday.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra the recommendation had already been submitted and would be discussed during the Cabinet meeting in Malacañang.

The final action on Boracay could be taken up there,” Guevarra said.

He made his statement even as Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao asked the Tourism Department to give priority to other tourist sites in the region in its promotional campaign in view of Boracay’s impending closure.

“Since Boracay is in Western Visayas, I ask that the [Tourism Department] promote other tourists destinations in the region,” Cadiao said Monday.

Guevarra did not disclose the content of the letter recommending what to do in Boracay, but he said Duterte will be firm in his decision to close down Boracay to make way for the island’s rehabilitation.

“We are working on it. That’s our top priority,” Guevarra said.

“The overwhelming consideration for

the President really is to restore Boracay to its pristine condition.”

Guevarra said any short-term effect of the island’s closure would not outweigh the long-term benefits of the planned clean-up.

He said the administration could close down the island on the basis of the government’s exercise of police power.

The Office of the President earlier received an official communication from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Tourism recommending a six-month shutdown of Boracay starting April 26.

Guevarra said Malacañang was also considering a recommendation from the Trade department to shut down Boracay in stages. He said a key factor in any decision on Boracay was the economic impact of its closure on the workers and residents on the island. With PNA

Measles cases, deaths up in Q1

SC...

THE Health department recorded 598 cases of measles and 12 deaths from it from Jan. 1 to March 17 this year against 508 suspected cases from Jan. 1 to March 4 last year, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday.

“We have 598 confirmed cases from January 1 to March 17, 2018 and 12 deaths,” Duque said in a phone interview.

Of the 508 cases reported last year, 393 cases were tested and only nine of those were classified as laboratoryconfirmed measles while 107 cases were laboratory-confirmed rubella cases.

Duque made his statement even as Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III seeking to transfer to Congress from the Health department the power to choose the vaccines to be included in the government’s basic immunization program.

He cited the danger of relying on the wisdom of one person the health of Filipino children.

“The danger of relying on the wisdom of one individual on a matter as

vital as the health of our children has been made painfully clear to us all,” Pimentel said.

He was obviously referring to the anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccination that has endangered the lives of more 800,000 children.

“For the sake of our children―and for the sake of our health officials too―the responsibility of deciding what vaccines our children are required to receive should not be borne by one person alone,” Pimentel said.

The deaths from measles this year were recorded in Davao, Soccsksargen, Central Luzon and the National Capital Region.

Measles outbreaks were previously declared in Negros Oriental, a village in Taguig, Zamboanga City, Davao and Davao City.

Central Luzon and Metro Manila, along with Calabarzon, are also the regions where the Health Department’s now-suspended dengue vaccination program for public school children was launched.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

The Court issued the order after it concluded the oral arguments on the petitions questioning the legal basis of the government’s anti-drug war.

In his motion for reconsideration, Calida cited the risk to national security.

“Their submission would not only compromise ongoing police anti-drug operations but likewise put at risk the lives of informants who provide such information,” Calida said in his appeal.

The case before the Court involves the petition filed by the Center for International Law (CenterLaw) seeking the issuance of a writ of amparo to protect the residents of 26 barangays in San Andres Bukid, Manila City against the government’s anti-illegal drug war.

On the other hand, the petition filed by the Free Legal Assistance Group asked the Court to declare as unconstitutional “Oplan Double Barrel,” which it said allows the police to “neutralize” suspected drug pushers instead of arresting and prosecuting them.

A spokesperson for CenterLaw welcomed the Court’s decision, calling it a “triumph of justice and the rule of law.”

VP...

“We will be looking into these claims closely, taking into account, the published general instructions governing the conduct of the 2016 national and local election,” he said.

Marcos claimed that 39 out of 40 ballot boxes from Bato town in Camarines Sur did not have audit logs and “this means somebody opened the ballot boxes and took the audit logs before closing them again.”

But former elections commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said paper audit logs must be submitted to election officers and not placed inside ballot boxes.

“Based on the procedure, teachers must submit the printout to the election officer and it should not be placed inside the ballot box,” he said.

Larrazabal said the counting machines record all of their activities on audit logs, including the opening and closing times of precincts and the times when votes are fed into the machine. “It’s like a black box [of an airplane].”

Digital copies of audit logs, stored in each machine’s SD cards, are kept by the Comelec’s central office.

Larrazabal also said the Board of Election Inspectors turns ballot boxes and the ballots inside them over to the city or municipal treasurer, who retain custody over them until retrieved for a protest case.

Larrazabal said each ballot box contains the ballots of a clustered precinct, which may be a single precinct or a combination of several established precincts.

Sometimes boxes were stored outside, or maybe the roof of the office leaked, which may have caused water to seep into the ballot boxes, Larrazabal said.

“Remember that custody of the ballot boxes after the electoral exercise is with the city or municipal treasurer, not with the local Comelec election officer,” he added.

But Larrazabal said the statistics cited by the Marcos camp should not be disregarded and must be checked against ballot images.

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

Robredo’s lawyer, Romulo Macalintal,

played down the significance of wet ballots and said these would not affect the accuracy of the vote count.

“That news does not matter at all. Mr. Marcos, your representatives already knew about the wet ballots,” he said. “The ballots got wet during a typhoon in the province.”

Marcos’ lawyer, Vic Rodriguez, said they expected Robredo’s camp to play down the wet ballots.

“We expect them to say that such was not a big deal because definitely, that would be unfavorable [to them],” he said.

“Why is it that the ballots were wet?

That’s unusual and from our studies, we saw only four were wet [in areas] where the so-called undervotes were that high,” he added.

He also denied Macalintal’s claim that they knew ahead of time about the wet ballots, saying he had no knowledge of them until the boxes were opened on April 2.

“We cannot even take a glimpse of the ballots since they are inside the ballot boxes. And remember, that’s [for] the purpose of the manual recount. Before the manual recount, we should look into the physical attributes of ballot boxes,” he said.

“We look into the integrity of the ballot boxes before you can proceed with checking the ballot itself.”

Macalintal also twitted the Marcos camp for its claim that the audit logs were missing.

“Mr. Marcos was ill-advised. He was not provided with the information by his advisers that an audit log should not be placed inside the ballot box,” he said.

Macalintal said Marcos must apologize to the Board of Election Inspectors, including teachers, for accusing them of ignorance of the election guidelines.

The opposition Liberal Party, meanwhile, described the election protest as a “desperate attempt to rewrite the history of the Marcos dictatorship,” referring to the former senator’s late father, the strongman Ferdinand Marcos who presided over a martial law regime starting in 1972.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said the recount would merely confirm that Filipinos chose Robredo over Marcos.

“It is our collective goal that the true sentiments of Filipinos would prevail in the result of the recount,” he said. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

phone bidder from the “Greater China” region, said chairman of Sotheby’s Asia From A1 Nicolas Chow.

“This is the absolute finest example to The bowl, said to have been used by exist. There are only three examples altothe emperor in the early 18th century, was gether that use this beautiful pink [backsold within five minutes to an unnamed ground],” Chow said.

The bowl was created in an imperial workshop within Beijing’s Forbidden City by a small team of craftsmen, with the help of Jesuits from Europe who had brought new techniques and materials, according to Sotheby’s. AFP

From A1

Robredo’s lawyer Bernadette Sardillo shared the concern of Marcos, saying the resignation of the revisors was “unfortunate as this will once more cause delay in the proceedings.”

Meanwhile, the PET has discovered two more wet ballot boxes on the second day of the recount, bringing the total to six—two from the town of Baao town and four a day earlier from Bato town, both in Camarines Sur. Marcos said the wet ballot boxes were suspicious because they meant they got wet only upon transfer to the PET. The wet ballots, which were illegible, were set aside, he said.

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

Earlier, Marcos also questioned the missing audit logs from clustered precincts in Bato town discovered by revisors upon opening of the ballot boxes.

He revealed that 38 out of 40 ballot boxes from the town in Camarines Sur did not have audit logs.

A revision of votes is conducted to verify the physical count of ballots, to recount the votes of parties, to record objections and claims, and to mark the contested ballots.

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

In his protest, Marcos contested the results in a total of 132,446 precincts in 39,221 clustered precincts covering 27 provinces and cities. He sought a recount in Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental covering a total of 5,418 clustered precincts.

Robredo won the vice presidential race in the May 2016 polls with 14,418,817 votes or 263,473 more than Marcos’ 14,155,344 votes.

The Commission on Elections said Tuesday it would investigate the allegations made by Marcos.

“The Comelec takes the matter of former senator Marcos’ allegations seriously,” said Comelec spokesman James Arthur Jimenez.

Qing...

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NFA...

From A1

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the rice supply is sufficient with plenty to spare despite the pronouncement of the NFA North District Office.

In a text message, Guevarra said there is no rice shortage and that the unusual rise in prices could only be the result of manipulation.

The Palace official said the government would monitor rice traders closely.

Senator Grace Poe, meanwhile, called for the resignation of NFA Administrator Jason Aquino.

“If there is indeed a zero percent buffer of rice, this is an indication of the inefficiency of his leadership,” Poe said in a statement.

“The NFA’s buffer stock is a lifeline for the thousands of Filipinos who subsist on rice and little else. Rice is the most important staple food for at least 10 million poor Filipinos,” she said.

The senator said it was unbelievable that the supply of NFA rice has already been wiped out at a time when the country’s rice production has hit a record high.

This situation is directly attributed to the inefficient management at the NFA, which is mandated to ensure the availability of affordable rice, she said.

“The current NFA officials have been remiss in their duties and responsibilities,” she said.

Aquino, on the other hand, called for the maintenance of a National Rice Reserve even under a time of surplus because rice production is never assured or certain at all times. This, he said, would also spare the country from exposure to price volatility brought about by global political and economic shifts.

In its position paper on the tariffication of rice imports in lieu of quantitative restrictions, NFA said government should maintain a National Rice Reserve equivalent to at least 15 days national consumption requirement. At present, the country’s daily consumption requirement is 32,013 metric tons or 640,260 bags. Vito Barcelo

Oust...

From A1

of the President, lawmakers were also reportedly looking at Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. as possible contenders for House Speaker.

Both Arroyo and Floirendo have strained relations with Alvarez–the former was stripped of her post as deputy speaker for Central Luzon after voting against the death penalty bill while the latter was slapped with a graft case over a controversial joint venture agreement between the Bureau of Corrections and the Tagum Agricultural Development Co. One of the sources said that if only Floirendo released funds before Congress adjourned on March 23, Alvarez could have already been ousted.

“If only Tonyboy released cash to fund the move, a new Speaker would have been installed at the last day of the session [March 23],” the source said.

Under the rules of the lower chamber, a motion to declare all seats vacant can be raised at any time on the floor by a member of the House.

Both Alvarez and Fariñas did not reply when asked to comment on the issue.

For his part, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. said the supposed ouster plot is bound to fail if there ever was one.

“I doubt that will succeed because Speaker Alvarez is still very strong. He has the support from us. We’re solid for him,” he said.

“That [leadership change] is always the talk whenever there is an upcoming State of the Nation Address (in June) because supposed to be, there should be an election of the Speaker and the Majority Leader. People are interested in that. But for now, for us Mindanaoans, we trust Speaker Alvarez,” Rodriguez said.

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Baguio City starting Tuesday to persuade the tribunal to dump the petition against Sereno.

Some of the group leaders commuted from Manila to join in the protest and vigil. The groups include Alitaptap, People Power Volunteers for Reform, Democratic Alliance Movement of the Philippines International, Netizens for Conscience and Bravery, Pilipinas kong Mahal, Edsa 30, UPSAMASA, Win for Freedom Movement, The Silent Majority, Bagani, Everywoman, Edsa Prodem and others mostly belonging to the Coalition for Justice.

Meanwhile, the high wcourt also denied the petitions for intervention filed by the Makabayan lawmakers led by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and a group of private individuals led by running priest Robert Reyes that they be allowed to intervene on the petition against Sereno.

The high court merely noted the same bid by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FBI probes Quiboloy church in Hawaii THE Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the church of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for alleged human trafficking in Hawaii, according to an exclusive report by Hawaii News Now, immediately denied by the pastor’s camp in Davao City.

The investigation stems from a 2015 case involving a former Quiboloy church member who said she was physically abused for failing to raise enough money.

In an exclusive report, Hawaii News Now said the FBI was investigating Felina Salinas, reportedly the business manager of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, for alleged human trafficking.

Salinas was one of those aboard Quiboloy’s plane when US authorities found $350,000 in undeclared cash and rifle parts inside the aircraft on Feb. 13, before the group headed back to the Philippines. Quiboloy was temporarily detained while Salinas was charged with attempted bulk cash smuggling.

Sources of Hawaii News, a local news outlet with its own verified Facebook page, said that shortly after Salinas’ arrest on Quiboloy’s plane, the FBI “pursued the trafficking angle.”

The news outlet said Salinas was previously arrested in 2015 “for allegedly assaulting a fellow church member, who claimed she was forced to raise money.”

The alleged victim, former Quiboloy church member Kristina Angeles, said she was made to sell “manapua and Krispy Kreme” donuts for church fundraisers “rain or shine.” She said church members were punished if they did not sell enough. Pearl Gajunera

Coffee chat at Café Mindanaw

By Nash B. Maulana TALK about Moro issues at the coffee shop or request book topics to read over hotly brewed coffee and native delicacies from the management of Café Mindanaw and the owners’ friends in the circle of peace advocacy.

Coffee chat can go anywhere about the Moro people: from facts about their centuries-old struggle for selfdetermination to guided review of local history on café walls of old photographs of places and people, and by the authentic taste of pastil (steamed rice stuffed with corned stew native chicken wrapped in banana leaf), tipas (native crackers), bruwa (native cupcake), tuna kinilaw (local ceviche), listening to unaltered sound of ethnic music.

These, over hotly brewed native coffee served as one’s group revisits the past and engages the present for a glimpse of the future.

The Sinarimbo family in Cotabato City has opened the Café Mindanaw (near the corner of Ramon Rabago Sr. Avenue and T.V. Juliano Avenue) with circles of professional friends in the legal profession as well as in the peace advocacy and development works attending the simple ceremony on March 18.

Journalists visiting the city are used to conveniently bring along plastic bags for a few pairs of pastil (naturally preserved on slightly fire-lodged banana leaf) and bottled water during coverage of running stories in Maguindanao.

e-MINIBUS.

Lawyer Aileen Lizada, LTFRB board member with DoTr Undersecretary for Road Thomas Orbos (left) test drive Tuesday an electric minibus during the Public Transport Modernization Expo at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Norman Cruz

POLICE COMPETITION. The Manila Police District conducts training in preparation for the annual Philippine National Police Civil Disturbance Management competition this month at the Quirino Grandstand at the bayside Luneta Park. Lino Santos

AFP condemns NPA’s wanton Lent attacks T HE Armed Forces of the Philippines strongly condemned the New People’s Army for conducting four attacks during the Holy Week despite its pronouncement that it would not conduct any tactical offensive during the Lenten season.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the recent attacks conducted by the Communist NPA terrorists that disturbed the peaceful observance of the Holy Week and caused death and destruction in several communities in the country,” AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Emmanuel Garcia said Tuesday.

The same unprovoked attacks targeted government troops, as well as civilians and properties, he added.

Garcia said: “One of the attacks resulted in the death of two newly-surrendered NPAs who were members of the Militia ng Bayan in Montevista, Compostela Valley.

“The NPA terrorists ambushed the surrenderers and the soldiers accompanying them. The attack also endangered the lives of a barangay captain and a councilor who assisted the two former rebels. We believe

that their former members are in possession of some knowledge that will expose the CPP-NPA-NDF [Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front].”

In related developments: • The NPA recent torching of engineering equipment used in constructing the Davao Bypass Road Callawa in Buhangin, Davao City clearly shows the rebel group’s lack of concern for national development and economic growth, according to AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bienvenido Datuin in a message to the Philippine News Agency late Monday.

“The recent burning of construction equipment intended for road widening once again manifest (sic) the NPAs nonconcern for national development and economic growth,” he added.

Also, Datuin said that such criminal and ruthless attacks all the more justified the terror tag on the group which continues to sow fear to the Filipino people.

“The remaining members should instead join the mainstream society and contribute for peace and progress,” the AFP spokesperson stressed.

On Sunday, NPA members burned three “Howo” dump trucks, one backhoe, one “King Long” dump truck, operated by the Leonardo Trucking Services.

• The growing number of surrendering NPA members and supporters, the sanctions and charges awaiting businesses supporting them and their looming terror tag are the primary reasons why the rebel group is now eagerly pushing for the resumption of the peace talks.

This was mentioned by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a statement Tuesday.

“First, their fighters and mass base are surrendering in droves. As of last count, more than 4,000 have done so nationwide, with the bulk coming from Eastern Mindanao. More and more are returning to society because of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program and their desire to give their families a better future,” Lorenzana said. PNA

Sanchez property to be ‘successfully’ recovered

By Rio N. Araja AFTER over 25 years, the Office of the Ombudsman is now able to complete the “successful” recovery of the ill-gotten wealth of ex-mayor Antonio Sanchez of Calauan, Laguna and his wife Editha Vito-Sanchez.

Last March 1, the Ombudsman obtained copies of the transfer certificates of title of the 19 real properties now registered in the name of the Republic of the Philippines.

The TCTs were forwarded to the Department of Finance’s Bureau of Treasury.

The 19 properties all located in Calauan, Laguna formed part of the illegal wealth of Sanchez.

In July 18, 2016, the Sandiganbayan

ordered the forfeiture of Sanchez’s real properties, a residential building, two units of Mercedez Benz 1987 model 230E series, a 1991 Dodge Caravan van, share in ERAIS lending business, including accrued dividends, and P246,120 in cash and bank accounts.

Sanchez, then the vice mayor of Calauan as a fourth class municipality, was entitled to a per diem of P992 per municipal council session, or P3,968.00 per month, the anti-graft court said.

As mayor from 1980 to 1981, he was entitled to a monthly maximum salary of P17,724, P26,388 monthly wage from 1981 to 1986, and P10,443 from 1988 when Calauan was downgraded to a fifth class town.

Based on their joint income tax returns from 1986 to 1992, the Sanchez

couple had a total of P855,073.88 as declared income after tax during the sixyear period.

The Sandiganbayan took into account the gross disproportion of the couple’s declared income against their lavish lifestyles, such as being able to send their three children to Hurtwood House, an exclusive school in London costing P1,000,000 per child; travel expenses for frequent trips abroad to the United States of America, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Hong Kong, China; a lavish birthday party with 550 guests at the Manila Hotel; 19 real properties with improvements; three luxury vehicles; a house and lot; business interests in ERAIS Lending, and bank accounts.

DoJ starts hearing PNP appeal on dismissal

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice has begun hearing the appeal of the Philippine National Police on the dismissal of criminal charges against the arrested Egyptian national tagged by authorities as a “commander” of the international terrorist group Islamic State.

During the hearing on Monday, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong presented evidence counterveiling the allegations of the PNP against Fehmi Lassqued and his Filipina live-in partner Anabel Salipada.

Ong specifically cited closed circuit television footages, which showed that Lassqued was arrested at the garden of Ayala Triangle in Makati City last Feb. 16, contrary to the claim of the police that he and Salipada were nabbed at an apartment in Adriatico Street in Ermita, Manila on the same day where unlicensed .45 caliber pistol and four pipe bombs were seized from them.

Ong noted that those who arrested the two were not the same persons who claimed to have arrested the respondents.

In its resolution last month, the DoJ dismissed the charges of illegal possession of explosive devices and firearms against Lassqued and Salipada for lack of probable cause.

The DoJ held that the PNP failed to prove its allegation that explosive devices, including four pipes, two batteries, three capacitors, two integrated circuits, three battery clips and 11 resistors and also the .45-caliber pistol and ammunitions were seized from the couple during their arrest.

The respondents conceded that the photographs of the seized items—which were among the evidence submitted by police—were taken inside the apartment, but stressed that those did not include the arresting officers and the suspects.

The DoJ noted that two other photographs, which showed the suspects with the seized items, were not taken inside Room 409 due “to the difference between the backgrounds of said photographs and earlier five photographs.”

OFW’s convicted employers should be in Kuwait custody

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Joel Villanueva on Tuesday said the employers of murdered Filipina helper Joanna Demafelis who was kept in a freezer should be transferred to the custody of Kuwait authorities.

Nader Essam Assaf, a Lebanese national, remained in Syrian custody and handed over to Lebanon, while his Syrian wife Mona Hassoun is still in the custody of Damascus authorities.

“Joanna’s employers are not under Kuwait custody. They should be made to face the consequences of what they have done in Kuwait before we can even think of any talk with the family of Joanna for forgiveness,” stressed Villanueva, chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment, and human resources development.

Villanueva said the government should not stop its efforts to ensure that no migrant Filipino workers be under the “kafala” system.

Under the “kafala” system, workers cannot legally leave the country without the consent of their employers. Running away from employers without their consent is a criminal offense in Arab countries like Kuwait.

“Like other Gulf countries, Kuwait has adopted the notorious ‘kafala’ system or sponsorship system which hinders the rights of our migrant workers,” the senator explained.

Villanueva said the “kafala” system had facilitated the abusive practice of altering the terms of employment contract of migrant workers or taking their passports and identifications as leverage.

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

Sabbatical and a spring wedding I THOUGHT it was a good time to go on a sabbatical. More importantly, it was the wedding of my daughter Lesley on March 24th. The wedding was set in a sylvan setting in Mill Valley outside Oakland in California. My daughter married Pablo Taccioli, an American of Italian-Argentine descent. Born and raised in New York, and educated in Boston, she lives in California.

It was a simple, beautiful ceremony performed at dusk with no more than a hundred close relatives and friends in attendance. As the father of the bride, I walked her down the aisle. At the dinner reception, I gave a short speech. In such a situation, a father in most cases is at a loss for words, I had to fall back on such clichés as “not losing a daughter, but gaining a son.”

At the time, I was suffering from a diabetic attack which affected my heart. But walk and talk I still did.

This, despite my doctor’s advice I should check into a hospital. But I was determined to walk my daughter down the aisle I didn’t go on a journey of thousands of miles to miss this momentous event. The trip to ManilaNew York—San Francisco–Manila totaled almost 40 hours. It didn’t dawn on me I had suffered a near-death experience. Although I didn’t see my whole life flash in front of me as a I lay on the hotel bed for four days, my chest felt heavy—like someone was stepping on it. I’m not being melodramatic about it. Dr. Jim Savage, warned my condition was serious.

A

The albatross around Duterte’s neck

SSISTANT Secretary Mocha Uson is clearly unfit for public office, and the sooner the Palace realizes this and stops wasting time making excuses for her, the sooner it can get around to doing really important work that is based on facts, not the fake news she purveys.

There is a tendency among administration officials to circle the wagons around Uson, particularly since the most vocal among her critics come from the opposition. That is unfortunate because rational, right-thinking members of the administration and their supporters should realize that Uson is a liability that cheapens their own work, tarnishes their reputation and erodes their credibility.

Exhibit A is the presidential spokesman—once a credible human rights activist—who incredibly held Uson up as a model for Filipino women because she had overcome her past as a sexy dancer and a blogger dishing out sex advice to become what she is now—a foul-mouthed assistant secretary, disowned by her own alma mater and widely regarded as the queen of fake news.

This is not a title bestowed lightly,

and Uson has done much—all of it verifiable—to earn her reputation.

In May 2017, when Uson was appointed assistant secretary, she called for prayers for Filipino soldiers in Marawi City, but accompanied her Facebook post with a photo of praying Honduran forces. When called out for the error, she said she never claimed that the photo was of Filipino soldiers, and used it only for “symbolism.”

In August 2017, Uson shared an article about a decorated police officer who was killed on the job and challenged Vice President Leni Robredo and opposition senators to attend his wake, too, after they commiserated with the family of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, who was killed in a police drug raid. But it turned out that the policeman in question had died a year, making it impossible for Robredo and the senators to attend his wake or funeral.

In October 2017, after Marawi was declared “liberated” from Maute group terrorists, Uson posted an image of clean city streets, claiming that Duterte’s government moved really fast and that “22 barangays were already cleaned.” It turns out that the photo was from May 25, 2017, just the third day of the Marawi siege.

In January 2018, she posted a video lambasting her critics and said they were diverting the nation’s attention

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

from important developments such as the eruption of Mayon Volcano, but erroneously identified its location as Naga City. Such a slip might be understandable for a sexy dancer, or an ordinary blogger—but is downright embarrassing for an assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.

This abbreviated list does not include false information that she spread before her appointment to the PCCO, including falsely accusing St. Scholastica’s College of forcing its students to attend a rally to protest the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos, or sharing the photo of a dead girl said to be the victim of rape by drug addicts—but which turned out to be a photo from Brazil taken in 2014.

In defending his appointment of Uson, the President said, “She’s bright, she’s articulate,” and should not be deprived of the “honors that she deserves.” He said it was his turn to believe in the likes of Uson after she and her group Mocha Girls campaigned for him for free.

The President may feel he owes Uson a debt of gratitude but the Filipino taxpayers who pay her salary certainly do not. She is not all that bright, and not even particularly articulate—unless that is the word now used to describe the gutter-level ad hominem attacks she seems to prefer.

THE big question that came up last Monday after it was announced that the Presidential Electoral Tribunal would start the recount of votes for the vice presidential race is obvious—who really won between Leni Robredo and Bongbong Marcos?

We all know that during elections, there are only two kinds of candidates—those who won, those who were cheated. We are also familiar with decisions that come out close to the next elections.

What is truly significant about the PET decision is that it was handed down nearly two years after the election. I actually think this is early!

We will witness history unfold. This is the first time that the Supreme Court, meeting as the PET, has ordered a recount.

Mere hours after the close of the 2016 polls, Marcos and his team already raised alleged discrepancies and trends in the way his votes were being counted. This led them to investigate further and gather the data so they could protest to the PET. I remember going to sleep on election night and waking up surprised that Marcos had lost his early, and what I thought to be decisive, lead. When reports came out that some Smartmatic executives were monkeying round with the ballots, I concluded that the results were indeed being manipulated.

How could it happen that on election night Marcos was leading but lot his advantage by morning?

My conclusion was validated by the final results of the elections. Liberal Party candidate Mar Roxas suddenly emerged second, even ahead of Grace

This is why it is significant.

I survived and now I am back to my comfort zone.

To make a long story short, I survived and managed to make the trip back to Manila. I am back to my comfort zone.

A month of madness March was a month of madness. It started March 4 when former Soviet spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a nerve agent known to be manufactured by Russia. Skripal suffered instant death but his daughter survived.

Britain could only suspect the Russians did it as they had done several years ago when another former Kremlin spy was fatally poisoned in England. In this recent case of Russian transgression, British response was swift and severe. London expelled 23 Russian diplomats. The United States and other western allies also loaded Russian diplomats on several planes and shipped them out to Moscow.

In Washington, US President Donald Trump went on a firing binge as he sacked Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. He also appointed former Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, a hard-nosed negotiator who could give China and North Korea a tough time. Along with Trump’s policy of economic sanctions and heavy tariffs on Chinese products, there is room to expect the easing up of escalating global tension.

A march by millions of young Americans nationwide carried a strong message against gun violence.

The protests were triggered by the fatal shooting of students in Parkland, Florida. Some will dismiss this mass action as nothing but an emotional outburst of young people that will dissipate as soon as the furor dies down.

But here are observers who believe this mass action will translate into votes in the next US election. The US National Rifle Association has been entrenched so long that its time for reckoning has come. Politicians who receive campaign funds from the NRA now have to rethink where they stand on the issue of gun control.

The PET vote count

Indonesia’s footless goalkeeper kicks home powerful message

By Dessy Sagita WHEN Eman Sulaeman begged his parents to let him play football, the couple worried their young son—born with no feet and just one full leg— would be mocked.

But two decades later, the 30-yearold Indonesian goalkeeper is wowing crowds at home and abroad with his “cat-like” reflexes, and sending a powerful message about people with disabilities.

“I cried for days, begging them (my

parents) to buy me a ball,” he told AFP at a recent match in the small town of Indramayu, some 220 kilometres (135 miles) east of Jakarta.

“They relented and went out to find me a cheap plastic ball.”

Turn to A5

Poe who poll surveys said was leading Roxas and closely following Rodrigo Duterte. My gulay, even Vice President Jejomar Binay was relegated to fourth place!

Am I biased against Roxas and the Liberal Party? Yes I am.

Later on, a source told me that the party also wanted to cheat for Mar, but Duterte’s margin was just too big to overcome. Unfortunately, Hollywood provides us a steady stream of unrealistic plots involving computer hackers.

Were the precinct count optical scan machines really used to frustrate the will of the people?

Quite frankly, this is a ridiculous idea. While automated elections are not the be-all and end-all solution, it is the key component to minimize if not altogether eliminate electoral fraud. It main purpose is to make everything go faster, and as we know, speed is the numberone enemy of cheaters. My nephew says “fraud hates fast.”

Say what you will about the last elections, but there is no denying the exceptional speed by which the votes were counted and transmitted.

On election day itself, Poe and then Roxas conceded. An exception, really, since elections here are notorious for cheating allegations.

This brings me to my second point.

While cheating starts when there is slowness in a process, it is substantiated when it goes undetected. This is yet another important element that the PCOS machines and the VCMs have brought to the table.

In the event someone does anything funny, the built-in check and balances of an automated system will certainly uncover it. For example, at 7:30 on election day, something as inconspicuous as changing a “?” to and “N” was immediately flagged, alerting the public.

The Marcos camp already noticed alarming trends just hours after the voting. This would not have been possible if technological systems set in place were not doing their job.

“Don’t blame the messenger” is a common phrase that may be altered a bit in this context. While I am not conclusively saying that cheating happened, we should not blame the channel for the cheating even if it did. The truth is the system did its job and did it well. If automated elections were not in place during the 2016 polls, it may have taken months or years for the anomalies to be detected.

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. manilastandard.net

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Opinion Sudan’s ‘sister coach’ takes love of football to field

By Jay Deshmukh and Abdelmoneim Abu Idris Ali IN SUDAN, where a women’s national football team remains a distant dream, Salma al-Majidi knew the only way to take part in her beloved sport was to coach... and that the players had to be men.

Majidi, 27, acknowledged by FIFA as the first Arab and Sudanese woman to coach a men’s football team in the Arab world, is a pioneer in a sport that dominates the region.

“Why football? Because it is my first and ultimate love,” said Majidi, clad in sports gear and a black headscarf, as she led players of the Al-Ahly AlGadaref club at a practice session in the town of Gadaref, east of Khartoum.

“I became a coach because there is still no scope for women’s football in Sudan,” said Majidi, who is affectionately called “sister coach” by her team.

Daughter of a retired policeman, Majidi was 16 when she fell in love with football.

It came about as she watched her younger brother’s school team being coached. She was captivated by the coach’s instructions, his moves, and how he placed the marker cones at practice sessions.

“At the end of every training session, I discussed with him the techniques he used to coach the boys,” Majidi told AFP, as she watched her own players practising on a hot day at a dusty ground in Gadaref.

“He saw I had a knack for coaching... and gave me a chance to work with him.”

Soon Majidi was coaching the under-13 and under-16 teams of AlHilal club in Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum on the west bank of the River Nile.

Limits on women players Questions like whether she understood football or had the skills to coach men were all put to rest over time, said Majidi, speaking in a soft but confident tone.

Named in the BBC’s 2015 list of “100 inspirational women”, Majidi has coached the Sudanese second league men’s clubs of Al-Nasr, Al-Nahda, Nile Halfa and Al-Mourada.

Nile Halfa and Al-Nahda even topped local leagues under her coaching. She currently holds the African “B” badge in coaching, meaning she can coach any first league team across the continent.

The only other woman to have gained recognition in Sudan’s footballing world was Mounira Ramadan, who refereed men’s matches in the 1970s.

Sudan joined FIFA in 1948 and established the Confederation of African

Indonesia’s...

From A4

Sulaeman’s fans came out in force at a recent match at a local court for futsal—a five-a-side game played on a hard pitch with hockey-sized goals and a less bouncy ball.

They snapped pictures and cheered as Sulaeman protected his net by shifting quickly on stumps and his one leg —the other limb is missing from the knee down.

Cheers turned into a roar as he kicked the ball into the back of the other team’s net, capping off a win for his side.

Young fans waited for a selfie with their hero.

“He is very inspiring,” said 18-yearold Muhammad Faisal Bahri.

“Although he’s physically very different from the rest of us, his spirit remains strong. He really motivates me.”

It hasn’t been easy for Sulaeman— a big fan of former Manchester United keeper Edwin Van Der Sar and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo—who had to train tirelessly to get where he is.

“I spent a long time learning to walk in balance before I was able to kick the ball,” he said.

Really touched Sulaeman’s perseverance paid off, with friends asking him to join the local football team as he completed an electronic engineering degree.

“Football for me is just like my wife.

My girlfriend is even jealous of it because I love it too much,” he laughed.

Still, some were not convinced.

“At my first tournament, the other team’s manager doubted me and asked if I really could play,” he said.

Despite the challenges posed by his birth defect, Sulaeman never considered wearing prosthetic legs.

“I don’t even like wearing shoes.

The only time I wore shoes was for a match in Scotland,” he said, adding that it was to allay organisers’ safety concerns.

Football (CAF) along with Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa. It won the CAF trophy in 1970.

Women’s football has faced an uphill task since the country adopted Islamic sharia law in 1983, six years after which President Omar al-Bashir seized power in an Islamist-backed coup.

There is no legal ban on women’s football in Sudan, but a conservative society coupled with the Islamist leanings of the government have left it in the shadows.

Women do play football but there are no competitions or women’s clubs, and they do not play much in public.

“There are restrictions on women’s football, but I’m determined to succeed,” Majidi, whose dream is to coach an international team, said, as her players kicked up clouds of dust practising free kicks.

Kids of Salma Majidi’s journey has not been easy.

“Sudan is a community of tribes and some tribes believe that a woman’s role is confined only to her home,” said Majidi, a university graduate in accounts and management.

“There was this one boy who refused to listen. He told me he belongs to a tribe that believed men should never take orders from women,” she said.

It took months before he finally accepted her as coach. “Today, he is a fine player,” said Majidi, who works full-time and receives a salary that is equivalent to that of a male coach.

At first, “people in the streets used to call us ‘Salma’s kids!’” said Majid Ahmed, a striker and an ardent fan of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

“In school we have female teachers, so what’s the problem having a female coach?”

Majidi said her entrance to what was a male preserve is just a start.

“My message to men in general is to give women a chance to do what they want,” she said as she prepared tea after a gruelling practice session.

She was different Coming from a traditional family, it was a challenge for Majidi to prove herself to their relatives, recalls her father, Mohamed al-Majidi.

“Then one day, her uncle who used to criticise her saw crowds shouting ‘Salma! Salma!’ during a match,” he told AFP at the family’s mud-and-brick home in Omdurman.

“These same relatives now pray to Allah to support her.”

From early on, Majidi’s mother knew her daughter was different.

“She always preferred wearing trousers... And even when crossing the street, she would watch the boys playing football,” said Aisha al-Sharif. AFP In 2016, he joined the Indonesian team at the Homeless World Cup in Glasgow.

The annual football tournament is aimed at raising awareness about homelessness and usually involves homeless players as well as drug addicts, asylum seekers and disabled athletes.

An instant sensation, Sulaeman was crowned the competition’s best goalkeeper.

“It was unreal. My first time ever being abroad and I was named the best goalie,” he said.

“The crowds and even all the organising committee members clapped for me. I was really touched.”

British media at the time praised Sulaeman and his “cat-like reflexes”.

“Football really embraces every part of our society,” he said.

“People with disabilities like me and poor people can all unite without being looked down upon or stigmatised.”

Don’t be disheartened Sulaeman’s talents have caught the attention of West Java’s sports agency, lifting hopes that the government might boost its so-far lacklustre support for disabled athletes.

“We’ve recently learned that our disabled athletes have extraordinary skills and they have opened our eyes that if they’re given equal opportunities, they can achieve anything,” said agency spokesman Dani Ramdan.

Sulaeman—who runs an electronics repair shop—is determined to spread his love for the sport by establishing a futsal lover’s community in his hometown Majalengka and coach football at several local junior high schools.

He dreams of competing in a major event like the Paralympic Games one day, and hopes that he will continue to be an inspiration for other disabled athletes.

“We must stay confident and motivated to bring out the potential in ourselves,” he said.

“Although we (disabled people) have limitations, within those limitations there are extraordinary things.” AFP

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Forming a Senate slate SO I SEE LITO BANAYO IF WE had honest-to-goodness political parties, forming a Senate slate for the consideration of the entire archipelago would take a logical process.

But political parties in this country defies reasonable definition. The closest description one could make of it is that it is a “barkadahan.” Parties or coalitions in this country are also temporary alliances, good for six years or sooner, depending on the fortunes of the president, or his chosen successor.

Though one could criticize the political set-up we had before martial law, we at least had a semblance of choice: the Nacionalistas or the Liberals. Both parties would cobble up a Senate slate on the basis of a party convention, where nominees for inclusion in the slate are vetted and eventually voted upon. Sometimes the choice of a slate are left to an Executive Council of the party which is composed of major party leaders from the different regions of the party.

Thus, prior to martial law, we always had an Ilocano, a Pampango or Central Luzon candidate, a Tagalog, a Bicolano, Ilonggo, Waray, Cebuano, a Christian Mindanaoan, and a Muslim, or closest approximations thereof in the mix of candidates for a Senate slate by either the NP or LP. The Cory constitution did away with that regional, or call it ethno-linguistic balance. As a result, many regions feel left out both in the division of budgetary allocations as well as in representation.

Take a look at the present Senate.

The Senate President is from Christian Mindanao. The Senate President protempore is from Batangas. The Majority Floor Leader is from Nueva Ecija and Cebu, although known more as a Quezon City politician. The graduating senators by 2019 are Chiz Escudero (Bicol), Gringo Honasan (Bicol), Loren Legarda (NCR and Antique), Antonio Trillanes (NCR and Bicol).

The reelectionists are: Grace Poe (NCR), Cynthia Villar (NCR), Sonny

Angara (Aurora), Bam Aquino (Central Luzon), Nancy Binay (NCR), and JV Ejercito (NCR). Rep. Pia Cayetano (NCR) seeks to return to her Senate seat.

The remaining senators are: Ping Lacson (Cavite), Dick Gordon (Olongapo) Franklin Drilon (Iloilo), Joel Villanueva (Bulacan), Sherwin Gatchalian (NCR), Kiko Pangilinan (NCR), Risa Hontiveros (NCR), Manny Pacquiao (Sarangani), and Migs Zubiri (Bukidnon) and Leila de Lima (Bicol).

Ten are from the National Capital Region. Three are from Bicol. Two are from Southern Tagalog, with four from Central Luzon. One represents the Ilonggo-speaking Region 6. It is nice to know we have three Mindanaoans, but

Never mind qualifications. Never mind regional representation.

there is no Muslim or indigenous minority representative.

There is no Ilocano, the third largest ethno-linguistic group in the country. There is no Waray, no Muslim, no one from the Montanosa. Worse, no one speaks Bisaya, the largest ethnolinguistic group in the country.

This is the best reason why we need to elect our senators by region, or if we federalize, by state. Another reason is ensuring that we elect senators not on the basis of popularity alone, which for the last five Congresses of the Republic, has become the metric for a seat among the “august” 24.

A real political party would winnow the chaff from the grain, and present not only regionally-representative, but highly qualified and outstanding personalities.

Thus did we have a pre-martial law Senate composed of brilliant legal and professional luminaries, so unlike the present.

Now fast-forward to the forthcoming elections next year, the candidates for whom would have to register as such by

the first week of October this year, just six months away.

Of the reelectionists, four are from NCR. Add Pia Cayetano of Taguig, who will return to the Senate, and you have a fifth. Harry Roque is from Pasay as well as Bataan. Francis Tolentino is from Tagaytay (Southern Tagalog).

Bam Aquino and Sonny Angara would represent Central Luzon. Bong Go is from Davao (Christian Mindanao).

Who else? The Liberals are thinking of Erin Tanada (Quezon), Gary Alejano (Negros), another NCR candidate in Mayor Herbert Bautista of QC, but there are few takers for additional seats.

It is good that Speaker Bebot Alvarez wants Sajid Mangudadatu to run, so there would be Muslim representation. But the ranks from the House seem to be thinning. I am told Albee Benitez would run for governor of Negros Occidental, where victory is easier. Geraldine Roman is only on her first term as representative of Bataan, and re-election there is a cinch.

Karlo Nograles from Davao City would be an additional representative for Christian Mindanao, with Ilonggo paternity and Batangueno maternal ancestry. Rey Umali is from Mindoro Oriental. Majority Leader Rudy Farinas of Ilocos Norte would also make for an outstanding senator, but he has options either in his home province or in an appointive post.

It’s a paltry listing.

With so many reelectionists with by now household name recall, the Senate race for 2019 is daunting for newcomers with lower awareness ratings. And quite expensive as well, the political “barkadahan” which passes off as parties in this benighted land not being known to raise enough money for its senatorial candidates. As usual, it will be “kanya-kanyang kayod” for humongous advertising expenses and individual organizational spade work.

Who will be part of the senatorial slate of both the administration and opposition will be largely a function of the “tale of the surveys”, that is, how Pulse Asia and SWS rate different personalities in terms of their national awareness level and the conversion thereof to potential votes.

Never mind qualifications. Never mind regional representation.

This political system really sucks.

Disrupting the Peza model VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ AS DIRECTOR general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Brigadier Gen. Charito “Ching” B. Plaza is, in effect, trying to reinvent the wheel, or to put it mildly in today’s lingua franca, disrupting a successful business model.

Peza has been proven to be a sure-fire formula to attract huge chunks of foreign investments and to boost the Philippine manufacturing sector and in the process, create massive employment and export earnings: Hugely liberal tax and other perks, no red tape, onestop shop, and best of all, no graft, especially now under President Duterte’s no-nonsense no corruption policy.

DG Ching Plaza thinks there is still room for improvement. Enormous improvement. And she is right.

You think 379 operating industrial estates or economic zones are one too many? Think again. DG Plaza believes they are not enough. That there should be many more. In fact, she wants the entire country to be declared an economic zone. Which to me, is a brilliant idea.

Because the entire Asean territory has been declared a single free market of 600 million anyway. So why distinguish one location from another, one Philippine island from another?

The Philippines has 300,000 square kms of land or 30 million hectares.

And the biggest landowner is—the government. Most of those lands are idle or unproductive. So why not develop some of them as manufacturing hubs?

Within the government itself, among the biggest landowners are the state colleges and universities. And a number of government agencies. The Department of Finance has a Property Management Office that manages foreclosed or acquired assets.

The University of the Philippines in Diliman alone has 493 hectares. The land includes 21.55 hectares for the core campus, 137 hectares for academic or support units, 95 hectares for staff housing, 44 hectares for parks and open spaces, 18 hectares, and 113 hectares appropriated for the Ayala Group as a science and technology park.

In other words, easily three-fourths of UP’s Diliman properties could be put to better use—like manufacturing or business process outsourcing, or innovation hubs. DG Plaza thinks that is what should be done with UP’s suburban Quezon City lands.

Additionally, UP Los Baños has 5,445 hectares of lands. It has land grants in

Laguna (3,336 hectares, according to Wikipeida), Negros Occidental (704 hectares) and Quezon province (5,719 hectares) totalling nearly 10,000 hectares. UP Diliman itself is said to have a mammoth land grant of 80,000 hectares in Quezon province. Those lands are largely idle.

DG Plaza thinks that large tracts of lands such as UP’s could be developed to produce local raw materials that can feed industries.

This will intensify the processing of agricultural produce, boost small and medium businesses, and create employment in the rural areas.

Peza has entered or is entering into memoranda of understanding with government landowners such as UP, DOF’s PMO, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for joint development of their idle lands into ecozones.

The DENR, for instance, manages timberlands and mining concessions.

“We can promote their lands as agroforestry zones,” General Plaza suggests.

The cooperative undertaking with DENR, Plaza believes, “could help restore our wood industry.” “When we had the wood industry in private hands,

There is still room for improvement.

Enormous improvement.

government was actually losing. Only 2 percent of the wood cut was the share of the government. And there was a lot of technical smuggling and underreporting of actual trees cut. Corruption was rampant.”

With the agro-forestry economic zones, Plaza explains, “government is assured of the right share of the income because it is Peza that will provide the permits to export or import. All the transactions will be properly recorded

by Peza.”

Normally, explains DG Plaza, “economic zones are for export-oriented manufacturing enterprises. But these enterprises use mostly imported raw materials.”

“Why not,” she asks, “discourage these importations and motivate our local SMEs to produce the local raw materials? We can develop the supply chain for ecozone manufacturers.”

That way, she elaborates, “our SMEs will become indirect exporters when

they are located in domestic economic zones as part of the link in a supply chain. Hopefully, we can reduce drain our dollar reserves and stop dependency on imported raw materials.”

Plaza is not bent on tapping government land holdings alone for factory sites.

She wants private owners of large tracts of land to approach Peza for joint ventures to develop industrial communities or cities. “This is now a major program of Peza,” stresses the director general.

The Peza chief reckons easily one million hectares of government and private lands could be harnessed for production of raw materials for industries and the development of industrial cities.

Developing big manufacturing zones could guzzle up large tracts of land.

A BPO IT park should have a minimum area of one hectare, a tourism economic zone five hectares, and an agroindustrial, agro forestry, aquamarine economic zones, and other bigger economic zones easily need 25 hectares, often more.

“Our concept of economic zones is that we start it as an industrial zone, then we make them into townships, and they grow bigger, they level up as smart cities.”

General Plaza’s other major initiative is the focus on green and the environment. “We would like to change the old mindset that when you industrialize, you destroy the environment.”

“We will now be promoting a green ecozone and a green industry program,” she declares. How will that be done?

Plant trees, of course. Hundreds, if not thousands of them inside the ecozones.

Equally important, perhaps, Peza will be pursuing the use of environment-friendly technology such as LED lights, recycled water, and less polluting technology, machinery, and equipment.

Peza, Plaza points out, has prepared a handbook on what is a green ecozone and a green industry. “We are requiring all our locators to comply with the standards to protect the environment,” she declares.

Ching Plaza has the rank of a brigadier in the AFP reserve force. She has a bachelor’s degree in commerce in Butuan’s Saturnino Unos University, a master in national security administration from the National Defense College, a PhD in public administration UP, and two honorary doctorate degrees.

She was the youngest woman congressman in the 8th Congress and served for nine years as congressman.

She authored the Peza law, among other laws. biznewsasia@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sandiganbayan oks ex-FG Arroyo travel request

‘Lift PNP tattoo ban on recruits’

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan Seventh Division has granted the motion of former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo for a sevenday trip to Tokyo, Japan and Hong Kong by end of the month.

The anti-graft court, in a minute resolution dated March 26, allowed Arroyo's request to travel abroad from April 21 to 27.

In his motion, Arroyo said he will spend five days in Tokyo and two days in Hong Kong but did not state any reason for his trips.

But the anti-graft court allowed Arroyo to travel, arguing that because of his business interests in the country, there is no chance that he will seek refuge in other countries, the court said.

"This honorable court has, for many times before, permitted him to travel, and he has always returned here as it is here where his family and business interests are, hence, he has no reason not to return.

He is, thus, clearly not a flight risk," the Sandiganbayan said.

It added that Arroyo was allowed to travel abroad “subject to the usual terms and conditions imposed by the court.”

Arroyo posted a travel bond of P90,000 He is required by the anti-graft court to report to the Division Clerk of Court within five days upon his return.

Arroyo is facing graft charges before the anti-graft court's Seventh Division owing to his alleged involvement in the alleged anomalous P34.6-million Philippine National Police purchase of two helicopters in 2009.

The Ombudsman accused Arroyo and 19 others, including former National Police chief Jesus Verzosa, of causing “undue injury” to the government when the second-hand helicopters were sold to the PNP as brand new.

MIAA to probe missing Fil-Am elderly THE Manila International Airport Authority has stepped into the case of a septuagenarian Filipino-American who went missing following her arrival at the airport from the United States early Monday morning.

Footages taken by closed-circuit television cameras installed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Terminal 1 are now being reviewed to determine where the 73-year-old Orvilla Ordinario Runas went before she went missing.

Runas, who arrived from San Francisco, California, is reportedly suffering with dementia and underwent a number of medical operations.

Initial investigation showed that Runas was last seen walking out from the terminal Monday afternoon.

Runas’ brother Ador Ordinario, who came along with his family from La Union to fetch and bring her home, said the woman lives alone in the United States after her husband died.

Ordinario told investigators that they were able to contact the Filipino-American friends of her sister in San Francisco to secure and arrange her trip back to the Philippines.

He added that a fellow Filipino-American couple who were scheduled to fly to Manila were asked to accompany Runas on her flight.

But after they arrived at Terminal 1 around 5 a.m., the couple, whom the Airport Police Department did not identify, and Runas got separated at the Bureau of Immigration area, and later disappeared.

Ordinario appealed to whoever would find her sister to immediately report her whereabouts to the police authorities.

Joel E. Zurbano

By Maricel V. Cruz and Francisco Tuyay

RARE MIGRANT. This photo taken on March 26, 2018 shows a bean goose, a rare migrant to the Philippines, perched beside a windswept pond near the extreme northern town of Itbayat, in the Batanes islands. AFP

Du30 vows to implement ‘genuine’ land reform

By Vito Barcelo

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte vowed to continue to implement land reform even after the collapse of peace talks with the communist rebels.

“With or without the talks between government and the communist, land reform will continue to be implemented. It will not end this way,” Duterte said as he led the distribution of the certificates of land ownership award to 1,680 agrarian reform beneficiaries in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat on Monday.

In his speech, the President assured the farmers that he would implement genuine land reform “through strong and decisive governance.”

Among the beneficiaries of the land certificates were former members or supporters of the communist party of the Philippines-New People’s Army.

The free distribution of land was among the issues tackled by the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace panels before the peace talks collapsed in November last year.

President Duterte congratulated the farmers saying that they “rightfully deserve” the lands “as hardworking Filipinos.”

“I stand before you to say only one thing: Today is a victorious day for you, our farmers,” he said.

“I laud the efforts of the Department of

Agrarian Reform for being instrumental in upholding the rights of our farmers to own, control, secure, cultivate and enhance their agricultural lands as well as to improve their quality of life,” he added.

The President also encouraged the farmers to continue their duties of tilling the fields and bringing food on the table of every Filipino.

“The Philippines is nothing without our farmers who regularly provide our people with sustenance and ensure food security despite difficulties such as disasters, price fluctuations and financial shortages,” he said.

He called on the Department of Agriculture and other concerned agencies to continue their efforts to increase farm productivity, reduce farm expenses and promote the wellbeing of farmers, consumers and the general public through various programs.

“I assure you that the government stands [by] you every step of the way. We continue to provide support services [from] other agencies through livelihood programs such as crop insurance, production and postharvest trainings and credit access,” he said.

Duterte underscored that the programs

and services provided for the farmers are the building blocks to achieve a comfortable and dignified life for everyone.

He urged the farmers to demonstrate solidarity in “the shared task of building a stronger and more robust society.”

The President, meanwhile, urged staterun Land Bank to make credit and loans more accessible to farmers.

“I am urging the LandBank to look for ways and means na makarating kayo doon sa farmers at anuhin mo man ’yang pera na ’yan, marami na ’yan [where you can reach the farmers and whatever you do with the money, that’s a lot],” he said.

Duterte described LandBank as “almost like a commercial bank” and urged them to release the funds to the farmers. “’Yang pera na ’yan, bitawan na ninyo, give it to the farmers [That money, you should let go of it, give it to the farmers],” Duterte said.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza earlier said it would take “the presence of an enabling environment” to resume peace talks.

Duterte started formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in 2016 but canceled them last year because of continued attacks of the New People’s Army on government forces.

He issued a proclamation classifying the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization in December last year. With PNA

BoC exceeds collection by P265m for March THE Bureau of Customs collected P45.398 billion in import duties and other taxes in March 2018, exceeding the goal for the month by P265 million.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said that despite the failure of five ports to meet their respective targets, the bureau still managed to perform well above its expectation by increasing its collection by 0.6 percent.

“Based on the initial report from the BOC Financial Service, a total of P45.398 billion revenue was collected, exceeding the P45.133 billion target for the month of March by P265 million,” Lapena said.

Data showed that despite the two nonworking holidays in March, majority or 12 ports maintained and exceeded their revenue collection for the month, and these are Port of Batangas, which collected P11.542 billion in revenue, 10.5 percent up against the P10.449 billion target; Port of Limay

collected P2.896 billion in revenue, 5.5 percent up against the P2.746 billion target; Port of Cebu collected P2.189 billion in revenue, 7.6 percent up against the P2.034 billion target; Davao collected P1.755 billion in revenue, 21.1 percent up against the P1.449 billion target; Port of Subic collected P1.655 billion in revenue, 1.9 percent up against the P1.624 billion target.

Other ports that met its collection targets are Port og Cagayan de Oro with 1.625 billion in revenue, 27.4 percent up against the P1.275 billion target; San Fernando, P278 million in revenue, 13 percent up against the P247 million target; Clark collected P154 million in revenue, 29.8 percent up against the P119 million target; Tacloban earned P68 million in revenue, 241.6 percent up against the P20 million target; Legaspi amassed P22.10 million in revenue, 0.5 percent up against the P22 million target; Surigao collected

P4 million in revenue, 262.7 percent up against the P1 million target; and Aparri earnedd P6 million in revenue, 37.5 percent up against the P4 million target.

This year’s collection is P7.286 billion or 19.1 percent higher compared to the P38.11 billion collection in the same period last year.

Lapeña said the ports which failed to hit the target are the following: Manila which collected P5.776 billion in revenue, 14.9 percent lower than the P6.785 billion target; Manila International Container Port collected P12.625 billion in revenue, 9.28 percent lower than the P13.917 billion target; Ninoy Aquino International Airport earned P3.094 billion in revenue, 25.9 percent lower than the P4.175 billion target; Iloilo garnered P176 million in revenue, 27.8 percent lower than the P244 million target; and Zamboanga collected P700,000 in revenue, 96 percent lower than the P21 million target. Vito Barcelo

‘Marawi ‘bakwits’ consulted on rehab’ THE Task Force Bangon Marawi, which is in charge of rebuilding the war-torn city, denied that residents displaced by a fivemonth siege last year, were not consulted on the government's planned strategies of rebuilding 24 worst-affected villages.

Defense Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima said the task force has held a series of forums hosted for representative groups of officials and residents by the local government units of Marawi City and Lanao del Sur. Purisima even told a TV interview over that most of those who oppose the government's plan to construct an “eco-zone" and military camp in the city are not residents of Marawi.

The Office of Civil Defense of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao also supported Purisima’s statement with its photo-posts on social media showing consultation forums have had broad coverage.

OCD-ARMM has posted on social media photos of Defense Undersecretary Cesar Yano, task force head, presenting to his audience TFBM’s “plans and actions,” dur-

ing a main forum dubbed the “Civil Society Stakeholders’ Shared Visioning and Strategic Planning for Marawi Crisis Response and Rebuilding” at Celadon Hotel, Iligan City on Aug. 10, 2017.

A civil society organization worker, who wished to remain anonymous for this story, recalled attending the forum, where—she said—a national newspaper quoted a Maranao leader warning officials that by pushing the TFBM plans, they could be “charged before the international court of justice.”

But Drieza Lininding, chairman of the Moro Consensus Group, said: “We dare challenge TFBM to produce documents, not just photos, that [could] prove that we, the affected residents, gave our consent to their plan, and also to make public the plan, if they are not doing any illegal acts.”

Lininding said he wanted the TFBM “to [also] name in public any group or individuals, including politicians, who allegedly support [the plan] for us to validate, if indeed they are residents [of the] main affected areas and are not misrepresenting us.” Nash B. Maulana

TOP GRADUATE. Kindergarten pupils are left in awe for their top graduate classmate, Johnny Travis Royo in yesterday's graduation rites at Salinas Elementary school at Bacoor City, Cavite. Ey Acasio

DAVAO City Representative Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday that the Armed Forces and National Police should junk some of its “archaic” requirements for potential recruits, most notably the “no tattoo rule.”

“For our military and police organizations to bar the entry of capable and well-meaning Filipinos in their ranks on the basis of tattoos is quite archaic, if only because tattoos are no longer taboo in this day and age. Thus, we call for the removal of this ban,” Nograles, chairperson of the House committee on appropriations, said.

Enlistment of a person exposed tattoos is currently prohibited by the police, the military and even the Coast Guard since they view such body markings as “physical defects” that “demerit or disqualify their application.”

“I know a lot of people whose applications were rejected on the basis of their having tattoos. They said that it felt unfair to be rejected and I can’t help but agree with them,” Nograles said.

He said he finds it incorrect to automatically associate or judge tattooed individuals as being criminals, rebels, or undesirables.

“Like the nonsensical minimum height requirement of at least five feet for both the military and police service, the no tattoo rule must be done away with for the simple reason that it is not a good measure of one’s capabilities or heart on the battlefield,” Nograles said.

He said it is more important for the applicant to be physically fit, with good moral character and no criminal record.

“If the applicant meets these requirements then he or she should not be denied the right to serve the country,” said Nograles, who is being groomed to be part of the administration’s Senate slate for the midterm elections next year.

If anything, Nograles said that Philippine history is replete with instances of bravery by tattooed Filipino warriors in the face of foreign conquerors. This is because tattoos have been a part of the country’s rich culture even before the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century.

“The Spanish conquistadores branded these Filipino warriors as the 'pintados' because of their ornate and at times intimidating body markings.

Ultimately, the foreigners admired these painted people for their fierceness and courage,” he said.

595 nabbed for drugs during Lent

By Joel E. Zurbano A TOTAL of 595 individuals have been arrested in Metro Manila in separate operations conducted during the observance of Lent last week as part of a crackdown on drug dealing in the country.

The latest operations, involving antinarcotics personnel of the National Capital Region Police Office in close coordination with the police district offices in Metro Manila, led to the arrest of 105 suspected dealers of the illegal substance and 490 drug users.

“The observance of Holy week did not stop the police operatives of the NCRPO to conduct anti-illegal drugs operations,” said Metro Manila police director Oscar Albayalde.

Albayalde said police operatives took advantage of the full alert status during the Lenten season in strengthening their surveillance and monitoring to the suspected drug personalities who continuously operate their illegal activities.

He assured that the operation will continue in line with the directives and guidance of National Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa.

The NCRPO is also conducting an anti-drug campaign dubbed “Operation Tokhang” in all community and villages in Metro Manila to promote awareness on illegal drugs and to convince suspected illegal drug personalities to submit themselves to the authorities.

Tokhang (toktok-hangyo or knock and plead) mandates police station commanders to ask barangay captains to submit a list of residents known to be into illegal drugs, including pushers, dealers, users and couriers.

Albayalde said his men assigned to conduct the operation are working hard to appeal suspected drug personalities to surrender and to commit not to engage with illegal drugs activities anymore.

He reiterated his guidance to operatives to strictly follow the guidelines set for tokhang operations. Otherwise they will be sanctioned accordingly.

In 2017, a total of 228,395 suspected drug personalities surrendered to the police.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Manila

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Visitors rule Cebuana net tilt in Cavite VISITING players from adjoining provinces and cities dominated the recent Cebuana Lhuillier Age-Group Championship Series leg held at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite, led by Anna Laura de Myer, who came all the way from Dagupan, Pangasinan and ruled both the girls’ 16-under and 18-under age categories.

De Myer squeezed past Denise Bernardo from Calamba, Laguna, 5-7, 6-4, 10-6, in the finals of the girls’ 16-under, but had an easier time against the same opponent in the 18-under championship match, where she swept Bernardo in straight sets, 7-6, 7-5, for the crown in the tournament backed by Dunlop as the official ball.

The other back-to-back winners in the Group 2 level tournament were girls’ 12- under champion Beatrice Veloso from Muntinlupa, Rizal and Frank Nhiel Dilao from Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Veloso beat Rocel Anne Ravino from Binan, Laguna, 6-2, 7-5, in the finals, then partnered with Muntinlupa’s Sandra Apostol to share the girls’ 14-under doubles crown, downing the Favis siblings Maxine and Sabina, 8-4, in the championship match, while Dilao edged out sister France, 4-2, 3-4, 7-5, for the singles title and teamed up with his sibling and blanked Karl Ujauco and Jason Caminting, 8-0, in the 10-under unisex doubles championship match.

“This means there are new tennis talents emerging from the provinces as they get the opportunity to show their potential in our Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championship Series, which is the country’s longest-running grassroots tennis program that I initiated 12 years ago,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President/CEO of the sponsoring Cebuana Lhuillier Group.

PRISAA sports meet slated in Tagbilaran

TOUR DE BINTAN WINNER. Standard Insurance triathlete Monica Torres (center) wins the general classification championship for women 18 to 34 at the Tour de Bintan, a three-stage event for the UCI Gran Fondo World Series recently. In collaboration with the Triathlon Association of the Philippines, Torres will spearhead the Standard Insurance duathlon team representing the Philippines in duathlon in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games to be held in Subic. The Asian Duathlon champion will prepare the Standard Insurance’s team for its training camps in Phuket and Subic with top international coaching.

Pacman eyes world title

M

ANNY Pacquiao said Tuesday he “can’t wait” for a crack at another world title as Lucas Matthysse’s promoter confirmed the Argentine will stake his belt against the Filipino in Kuala Lumpur in July.

Promoter Oscar De La Hoya announced on Twitter in the US that the contest was now confirmed.

“Signed, sealed, and delivered: Proud to officially announce that WBA welterweight world champion @MatthysseLucas will put his title on the line against @mannypacquiao in Kuala Lumpur, Malyasia on Saturday night July 14 (US time),” De La Hoya said Monday.

Pacquiao then went onto his on his Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts to respond.

“It’s on! Can’t wait to challenge Lucas Matthysse for another world title on July

15 in Kuala Lumpur, Malyasia - July 14 US time,” said Pacquiao.

Both announcements misspelled Malaysia.

The De La Hoya announcement appeared to clear lingering doubts about the contest taking place since the Filipino icon, winner of an unprecedented eight world titles in different weight divisions, first announced the contest last month.

Pacquiao, 39, had said the fight against Matthysse would take place on June 24.

Pacquiao, an elected senator in the Philippines, has not fought in the ring since being

defeated on points by Australia’s Jeff Horn in Brisbane last July, a loss that cost the Filipino star his World Boxing Organization crown.

The 35-year-old Matthysse, who has 39 wins including 36 by knockout against four defeats, won the vacant World Boxing Association belt after beating Thailand’s Teerachai Sithmorseng in January.

“This is going to be a tough fight. Matthysse is also a knockout artist,” Pacquiao had said last month.

“I’m the underdog in this fight but I’m used to it. It serves as a big motivation for me to train and fight hard to win the crown,” he added.

Pacquiao has 59 wins to his name including 38 KOs against seven defeats and two draws. His last victory inside the distance was back in 2009. AFP

PRIVATE school athletes from 567 colleges and universities nationwide take the spotlight in the 2018 National PRISAA Sports competition, which unfurls April 22 to 28 in Tagbilaran, Bohol.

The athletes will show their worth in 18 sports, headlined by medal-rich athletics and swimming, with everyone determined to win their events and follow in the footsteps of Brazil Olympics’ silver medalist and Asian Weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz, who was a product of the PRISAA when it was played in Zamboanga.

National Executive Director Prof.

Elbert “Bong” Atilano said he expects several new athletic stars to emerge from the games, which have been a breeding ground of national athletes like Diaz, fellow lifter Nestor Colonia and former marathon queen and SEA Games medalist Mercideta Manipol, who competed for University of the East during her prime.

“I expect many athletes to shine and add to the roster of the national pool,” said Atilano during the Batang Pinoy Mindanao leg held in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental, where he headed the Zamboanga delegation to fourth overall with a gold-silver-bronze haul of 38-13-27.

Davao City topped the games with 58-31-25 for a total 114 medals.

“Everything is in place. We ironed out all the major kinks to make the competition run smoothly,” said Atilano, who is also the vice president of the Weightlifting Association of the Philippines and owner of PRISAA member Zamboanga Institute of Aviation and Technology.

Atilano said the main thrust of PRISAA is to focus on individual sports to discover young talents, who may someday play for the Philippines in future international sports competitions.

Falcons kings of 14th Fr. Martin Cup cagefest

Commissioner Robert de la Rosa hands the Adamson Falcons their trophy for winning the 14th Fr. Martin Cup Collegiate Open basketball crown.

THE Adamson Falcons banked on a strong start to beat the San Beda University-A Red Lions, 105-59, recently to bag the 14th Fr. Martin Cup Collegiate Open basketball crown at the St. Placid Gymnasium of the San Beda Manila Campus in Mendiola.

Jerrick Ahanmisi led the way in the first period, knocking in eight of 14 points to carry the Falcons to a 26-13 advantage in the first 10 minutes of play.

“This just concluded tournament is a training ground for us to prepare for the coming UAAP season,” said Falcons’ coach Franz Pumaren.

Congo cager Lenda Demarcia topscored with 20 points for the Falcons, who swept their five-game, eliminationround assignment in Group B. The Falcons reached the finals following a win over the University of Perpetual Help-Altas, 96-86, in the semifinals.

Demarcia unloaded nine points in the second period and his presence underneath allowed the Falcons to finish the quarter with a 55-27 halftime spread.

Kyle Carlos stepped it up for the Red Lions with 19 points, while Kenneth Mocon tallied 18.

Ahanmisi’s first triple came during a

Tight finish looms as Ladies PH Golf Tour Luisita unfolds TARLAC—Princess Superal seeks to extend her win run to three but expects a tougher, fiercer challenge from a souped-up field in the ICTSI Luisita Ladies Championship, which gets going today (Wednesday) at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here.

Superal swept the last two legs of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour in Tagaytay and Riviera in emphatic fashions, including a record-setting 16-stroke romp at Highlands. But she braces for a lot more test this week given the depth of the com-

peting field and a challenging course that requires length and accuracy.

“I’m confident but I expect it to be a lot tougher this time,” said Superal, who went on a winless slump for a year-and-a-half before finally putting it all together in Tagaytay and at Riviera.

She vows to put up a strong start in her early duel with Gretchen Villacencio, whom she foiled at Riviera, and amateur Samantha Dizon in the 7:50 a.m. flight right after Eagle Ridge leg winner Chihiro Ikeda launches

Aranar, Bualla top DanceSports Quarter Ranking competition Jose Michael Angelo Cabarles and SEAN Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla and the pair of Michael Febrah Mae Tacorda beat Efren Cesista Angelo Marquez and Stephanie and Gilie Ballovar to capture the Grade Sabalo ruled the 2018 DanceSports C Standard title, while Shaquille Jay Council of the Philippines Inc. 1st Hanz Basan and Cindy Jaz Basan won Quarter Ranking Competition recently over Gelmar Ballovar and Sheena Baat the Valle Verde Country Club Ball- dong to gain the Grade C Latin crown.

The next DanceSport events are the room Hall in Pasig City.

Aranar and Nualla bested Mark 2018 DSCPI Midyear Ranking and Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen Competition in July 2018, Palarong to take home the Grade A Standard Pambansa DanceSport Competition title, while Marquez and Sabalo beat on April 17 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur and Cristian Vanni and Camilla Mola to Cebu WDSF Open and DanceSport win the Grade A Latin crown of the sa Sugbu on Sept. 8 at the Waterfront competition organized by DSCPI Hotel in Lahug, Cebu.

For inquiries, you may reach the President Becky Garcia.

The competition was sponsored by DSCPI Secretariat at 637-2314. the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Board, GNK Ballroom, C+H Multimedia Solutions Inc., Flawless, Retro DCG-FM P0 M+ 105.9, Studio AK and The Greenery Bulacan.

Aldrin Perez and Cristina P0 M Irish Armstrong defeated Michel Flores and Ariane Rose Madrid for the Grade DIGITS B Standard plum, while Filemon Baguio, II and Jhistine Glyde Baguio beat Darren DIGITS De Guzman and Danica De Guzman for the Grade B EZ2 Latin crown.

LOTTO RESULTS

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her drive for a second LPGT crown in the company of Marvi Monsalve and amateur Mikha Fortuna.

Focus will also be on Cyna Rodriguez, the former three-time Order of Merit winner raring to break a long spell in the circuit she used to dominate. She tees off at 7:30 a.m. with amateur Sofia Chabon and former leg champion Saruttaya Ngam-usawan, spearhead of a crack seven-player Thailand delegation out to re-assert its might in the country’s premier ladies tour sponsored by ICTSI.

11-2 blast, sending the Falcons to a 20-4 edge in the last five minutes.

Meanwhile, organizer Edmundo Badolato said the 24th Fr. Martin Cup summer tournament will begin on April 14 at the St. Placid Gymnasium of the San Beda Manila Campus in Mendiola.

Around 39 school are initially listed to join, with the Diliman College Blue Dragons among the 12 squads expected to join the senior division, according to Commissioner Robert de la Rosa.

There are nine squads that are tentatively signed up in the women’s division, while 18 quintets are in the junior division list.

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Sur MUNICIPALITY OF SINAIT OFFICE OF THE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC) INVITATION TO BID FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS (INFRA) The Municipal Government of Sinait, through the R.A. 71712016 Projectsintends to apply the sum specified per Infra Projects below as being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the following various clustered projects to wit: Approved Budget Location Cost (ABC) Brgys. Paratong, CLUSTER VI- Magsaysay, DLY, Calanutian, CONCRETING Cadanglaan, Cabarambanan, AND Sallacapo, Marnay, P29,803,245.11 IMPROVEMENT Cabulalaan, Tubigay, OF FARM TO Quimmallogong, Jordan, MARKET ROAD Barikir &Sapriana, Sinait, Ilocos Sur

Name of Projects

Source of Duration of Fund Works

R.A. 7171

280 cd

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION NOTICE Pursuant to its functions to study the impact of tariff policies and programs on national competitiveness as well as to provide analysis, information and technical support on matters related to tariffs and non-tariff measures (NTMs) affecting Philippine industries, the Tariff Commission (TC), in accordance with Section 1603 (h) of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), will conduct a public consultation on edible offal falling under the following ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) 2017 Codes: AHTN 2017 Code

Description

0206.10.00, 0206.21.00, 0206.22.00, 0206.29.00 Of bovine animals 0206.30.00, 0206.41.00, 0206.49.00 0207.13.00A, 0207.13.00B, 0207.14.30A, 0207.14.30B, 0207.14.99A, 0207.14.99B, 0207.26.00A, 0207.26.00B, 0207.27.10A, 0207.27.10B, 0207.27.99A, 0207.27.99B, 0207.43.00A, 0207.43.00B, 0207.44.00A, 0207.44.00B, 0207.45.00A, 0207.45.00B, 0207.45.00C, 0207.45.00D, 0207.53.00A, 0207.53.00B, 0207.54.00A, 0207.54.00B, 0207.55.00A, 0207.55.00B, 0207.55.00C, 0207.55.00D, 0207.60.00C, 0207.60.00D, 0207.60.00E, 0207.60.00F 0206.80.00, 0206.90.00

Of swine

Of poultry

Of sheep, goats, horses, asses, mules or hinnies

0208.10.00, 0208.30.00, 0208.40.10, 0208.40.90, Of other animals 0208.50.00, 0208.60.00, 0208.90.10, 0208.90.90

The Municipal Government of Sinait now invites bids for the said Project stated above. Completion of the Works is required as stated above under Duration of Works.

Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) 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. Instruction to Bidders.

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

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Municipal Government of Sinait BAC Office and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. BAC Office or MPDC Office – Sinait Municipal Hall, Sinait, Ilocos Sur. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address above and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents ISSUANCE OF BID DOCUMENTS –April 4-24, 2018 The Municipal Government of Sinaitthru BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 11, 2018 @ 9:30 A.M. at MPDC Office SinaitMun. Hall, Sinait, Ilocos Sur which shall be open to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered to the address above on or before April 24, 2018@ 9:30 A.M. at Sinait Mun. Hall Main Bldg., Sinait, Ilocos Sur. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

OPENING OF BIDS – APRIL 24, 2018 @ 9:30 A.M. @ Municipal Treasurer’s Office, Sinait Municipal Hall, Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

Interested parties are encouraged to attend and share their views and insights on the matter.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives with the Authority of the Signatory who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The consultation will be held on 18 April 2018 (Wednesday), 9:00 A.M., at the TC Conference Room, 4th Floor West Insula Condominium, 135 West Avenue, Quezon City.

The Municipal Government of Sinait reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For inquiries, please call up the Research, Investigation and International Trade Analysis Service (RIITAS) at Telephone Numbers 926-8731 and 936-3318.

Issued this 2nd day of April 2018, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

For further information, please refer to: BAC SECRETARIAT MPDC Office Sinait Mun. Hall Main Bldg. (1st floor) Mobile # 09171420015 e-mail address: bacoffice_lgusinait@yahoo.com

MARILOU P. MENDOZA Chairperson (MS- APR. 4, 2018)

(sgd.) EMELFA C. INES BAC Chairman ( M S - A P R . 4 , 2 018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

Rachel Ann Daquis of Cignal scores against Foton’s CJ Rosario and Gyselle Sy. Roman Prospero

Smart Candy triumphant again at 3Y0 Stakes Race CARMONA, Cavite—Smart Candy continued to stamp her class on longer distances at the San Lazaro Leisure Park here.

The young dark bay filly, with jockey Kelvin Abobo on top, fended off the spirited late charge of Wonderland and Victorious Colt and won by a length in one minute and 41 seconds in the 1,600-meter 3rd leg of the 2018 Philippine Racing Commission’s 3YO Local Fillies and Colts Stakes Race.

The course was 100 meters longer than the second-leg distance, which Smart Candy, also won.

It was also the first time that Smart Candy went through such a long route and proved that she can hang on to a lead.

“Sa tingin ko, kaya niya makipagcompete sa mahabang distansiya. First time niyang tumakbo ng mile. Maganda ang pinakita niya,” said Abobo.

Smart Candy finished just a pace ahead of Wonderland, which overtook Victorious Colt from the right side.

Abobo said he had little trouble prodding Smart Candy to the front since she loves to take charge in any race she runs.

“Gusto niya sa harapan, kaya hindi kami masyadong nahirapan,” added Abobo of Smart Candy, which won for owner SC Stockfarm the top purse of P600,000 from the total guaranteed purse of P1 million.

Trainer Chito Santos said this serves as Smart Candy’s continuing preparation for next month’s Triple Crown.

“Preparation niya ito for the prestigious Triple Crown, which I believe, 1,600 meters din ang first leg. Sinasanay namin siya dito,” said Santos.

Smart Candy scored a sweet and emphatic win in the second leg of the series, winning by eight paces over her closest pursuer. Right of the bat, Smart Candy rushed into a swift start, leaving the field following her trail and reaching the finish line in one minute, 32.6 seconds.

At that time, it was the longest race that Smart Candy ran since January. So far, she has already finished on top of six races.

Last February, she topped the 1,300-meter course of two 3-year old races, plus two 1,000-meter races last January, with Abobo also on top.

Peter Atencio

Romeo, Castro form PBA’s best backcourt

By Jeric Lopez

T

ERRENCE Romeo is headed to a new team in the Philippine Basketball Association.

After a month of speculations and negotiations, GlobalPort has decided to part ways with its longtime star Romeo as it dealt away the flamboyant scorer.

The Batang Pier shipped Romeo to TNT KaTropa in exchange for the Texters’ top pick Moala Tautuaa.

Along with Romeo, GlobalPort also sent center Yousef Taha to the Texters with the Batang Pier receiving a 2020 first round pick and a 2021 second-round pick in addition to Tautuaa.

The PBA already confirmed and approved the transaction.

This deal was already discussed as early as late last season, but it only came to fruition yesterday.

The final nail in Romeo’s coffin as a Batang Pier was when it had a heated shouting match with GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio in the team’s lone game in the quarterfinals last month.

Romeo was also reported to be unhappy

with GlobalPort as he allegedly sought for a trade before the season started.

Either way, the spitfire is now headed to his second team where he is expected to form what could be the league’s best backcourt in tandem with Jayson Castro in the Texters’ camp.

“It’s sad to let go one of hottest players in the land, but we will not stand in the way of one’s desire and happiness. So with a heavy heart, we are trading our top star,” said GlobalPort Team manager Bonnie Tan. “This is a win-win solution for us and the camp of Terrence. We have so much respect for the guy, but we, as a team, must also move on towards our main goal which is to get better and contend for our first-ever championship. Besides, Tautuaa could be the missing link to our championship asRomeo piration,” added Tan. Meanwhile, will it be a series again or will San Miguel Beer move closer to secur-

ing a date with history?

The Beermen hope it’s the latter as they gun for a commanding 3-1 lead even as Magnolia aims to equalize in Game 4 of their best-of-seven championship battle in the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup. The two protagonists meet again tonight at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the result of Game 4 dictating if it will be lengthy series or a short one.

San Miguel Beer is in a good spot right now in its quest for a historic fourth straight All-Filipino crown.

“We are getting closer but the job is still not done. We need to keep our focus and keep fighting,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.

San Miguel got the vital edge it is enjoying now by demolishing Magnolia, 111-87, in Game 3 Sunday using a huge avalanche in the fourth quarter.

Smart Candy (5) paces the field in the final 50 meters, with Wonderland (7) and Victorious Colt (8) closely behind making a final push in the 3rd leg of the 2018 Philippine Racing Commission’s 3YO Local Fillies and Colts Stakes Race. Peter Paul Duran

Redman snaps slide at CF BETS

A shorter but more aggressive Richard Redman (left) sends the taller Brian Paule into submission via rear-naked choke to rule their welterweight tiff in the CF BETS V at CF Manila Bay.

FIST Gym’s Richard Redman snapped a three-game losing streak in overwhelming fashion, forcing a taller Brian Paule into submission right in the first round to reign supreme in their highly anticipated welterweight encounter in the Casino Filipino Battle Extreme Tournament of Superstars V last March 23 at CF Manila Bay in Ermita, Manila.

Nicknamed “The Cannibal”, the 5’7” Redman bucked a five-inch height disadvantage against his six-foot foe as he displayed awesome power and aggression from the opening bell to defeat Paule via rear-naked choke.

The victory was Redman’s third win in eight fights, while Paule remained unsuccessful in two professional battles after emerging triumphant in an amateur contest against Jem Romero in 2014.

In the co-main event, Arvin “Asintado” Chan was spot-on with his fierce striking as he also made short work of

Ace Almeria, who tapped out in just 18 seconds of their fight after absorbing solid blows to the body.

With his second straight first-round win following a submission victory over Joel Labonero in CF BETS IV last December, Chan’s record improved to 3-8-0 (win-loss-draw). The loss, on the other hand, was Almeria’s first in nine professional outings.

Another highlight of the eight-fight card, which drew throngs of mixed martial arts enthusiasts, was the exciting women’s strawweight division tiff between Denice Zamboanga and South Korean Hye Seon Kim. Zamboanga, the younger sister of Universal Realtiy Combat Championship bantamweight champion Drex, swiftly submitted Kim in the 2:47 mark of the second round via arm bar after punishing her opponent with heavy fists and knee strikes in the early goings of the match.

Manabat lifts Foton past Cignal in PSL Games Tomorrow (Filoil Flying V Centre) 4:15 pm – Petron vs Sta. Lucia Realty 7:00 pm – F2 Logistics vs Cignal

FOTON banked on the late-game heroics of Dindin Manabat to eke out a thrilling 25-23, 27-25, 21-25, 32-30 victory over Cignal in the Chooks to GoPhilippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Manabat, who is returning from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, delivered crucial blows to lift the Tornadoes to their first victory in the second round of this prestigious women’s club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu and UCPB Gen with ESPN5 as official broadcast partner.

It was the Tornadoes’ fourth victory in eight matches, giving them a handsome chance of nabbing one of the four twice-to-beat incentives in the quarterfinals of this battle that also has Senoh, Mikasa, Asics, LGR and Grand Sports as technical sponsors.

Cignal, on the other hand, fell to 3-5 win-loss card, making its remaining two games in the second round against F2 Logistics and Generika-Ayala very crucial for its quarterfinal campaign.

New import Channon Thomson passed her first major test, finishing 18 points and seven blocks for the Tornadoes, who made a gamble when they replaced American Brooke Kranda midway into the conference.

PH Azkals to decide on Dooley’s future

By Peter Atencio FOR nearly a month, Azkals’ coach Thomas Dooley’s future will be on the line.

Officials of the Philippine Football Federation will deliberate on his status with the Philippine national men’s football team after the Azkals pulled off a historic 2-1 win over Tajikistan last week at the Rizal Memorial Football Field to qualify to the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup 2019 for the first time.

Dooley’s contract with the team expired last March 31.

“Looking at his record, I think maganda ang naipakita niya sa atin. Ang pinag-uusapan na lang is the level that we want to go. Kung kayang mag-respond ng players at team at kung madadala niya doon,” said Palami, who talked about the plans for the Azkals during yesterday’s weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Tapa King in Araneta Center.

For now, Palami said officials will need a month to deliberate on Dooley’s status.

There will also be plenty of time to prepare for the tournament proper, which will be held at the United Arab Emirates from Jan. 1 to Feb. 5, 2019.

By the time they have decided on Dooley’s fate, the team will know their schedule when the draw of lots are held on May 4.

While getting ready, new players can be called from the collegiate leagues of the UAAP and the NCAA and from clubs here and abroad.

The coaching staff will then prepare to select the players, who will play in different camps that they will hold in Europe and in the Gulf region.

“We have a preparation tournament, which is the Suzuki Cup. This is where we started,” added Palami.

Dooley has been with the Azkals for the last four years. It was during his time that the Azkals reached their highest FIFA world ranking of 113 this month and most likely, inside the Top 100 later on, according to Palami.

Ravena to join La Salle Archers’ scrimmages FORMER two-time Most Valuable Player Kiefer Ravena will soon be practicing with the La Salle Green Archers.

But, hey, Ravena won’t be playing for the Green Archers in the coming 81st season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

Ravena said in an online interview with the official school paper that he will be taking a master’s degree in communications in La Salle and that he has already used up his playing years while with the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Now playing with NLEX Road Warriors, Ravena will take part in the Green Archers’ scrimmages as a practice player after getting the nod of Green Archers’ coach Louie Gonzales.

“I talked with coach (Gonzales), puwede naman daw. So, siguro, I can go play before and after my classes,” said Ravena.

Ravena said his is looking to having scrimmages with regulars Kib Montalbo and Aljun Melecio, his counterpart as a point guard. Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF

Sun Life still leading insurance firm in PH

SUN Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc. remains the number one life insurance company in the Philippines, according to a report released by the Insurance Commission.

Sun Life sustained its leadership for the seventh consecutive year after attaining the highest total premium income in 2017 of P32 billion.

“This milestone is one we attribute to our clients, whose trust and support inspire us to keep improving and innovating,” Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc. president Alex Narciso said. “We also have our advisors, employees and partners to thank, for it is through their hard work and passion that we are able to touch the lives of more Filipinos.”

Narciso recounted how the Sun Life advisors rallied to serve more clients in 2017, despite some challenges presented by the market. “In fact, in the last quarter of 2017, our advisors settled P2 billion in Annualized First Year premium—the company’s highest in the past five years,” he said.

Papua New Guinea group backs ICTSI

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. said Noho-Magae, an organization representing the Baruni and Tatana communities in Papua New Guinea, has supported the operations of its subsidiary at Motokea International Terminal in Port Moresby.

MIT chief executive officer Edward Muttiah said ICTSI was pleased to have NohoMagae on board to represent the interests of the Baruni and Tata communities.

“Today, we commence a 25-year journey and the strong support of our community partners has ensured a solid foundation built on trust, respect, and mutual commitment to build a world-class maritime facility–one that will, in time, become a source of pride for the nation,” he added.

ICTSI senior vice president and head of Asia Pacific Christian Gonzalez expressed optimism on the project, saying ICTSI was “privileged and excited to have been granted the opportunity to collaborate with our host community to jointly realize the potential of the Port of Motukea as a logistics hub. This mutually beneficial goal would not be possible without the support of our host communities.”

Darwin G. Amojelar

Business Consortium warns Naia may become next Edsa A

By Darwin G. Amojelar

CONSORTIUM of seven conglomerates on Tuesday said the Ninoy Aquino International Airport could become the next Edsa if the government will not act quickly on its proposal to rehabilitate and expand Manila’s international gateway.

“Naia is a must-solve-now challenge.

The country cannot wait. We hope the government can expedite the approval process so we can start re-building our gateway and giving passengers an experience they only enjoy when abroad,” Naia Consortium spokesperson Jimbo Reverente said, referring to the monstrous traffic in premier highway Edsa.

The group has a pending proposal to expand and improve Naia.

Reverente said the consortium must get the notice to proceed from the government by late this year to deliver the project.

The consortium’s members are Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., AEDC, Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

The proposal involves expanding and interconnecting the existing terminals of Naia, upgrading airside facilities and developing commercial facilities to increase airline and airport efficiencies, enhance passenger comfort and experience and improve public perception of Naia as the country’s premier international gateway.

The group proposed a 35-year concession period and committed to spend P100 billon for Phase 1 and P250 billion for Phase 2.

The all-Filipino consortium, consisting of seven of the largest corporations in the country, proposes to raise Naia’s terminal capacity of 31 million to 47 million in two years, or in 2020, and to 65 million in four years, or 2022.

“Clearly, Naia is a lifeline for the

countryside. Tourism is one of the ways the government can achieve its goal of making the country’s growth more inclusive. The bigger and better Naia is, the better for everybody all over the country,” Reverente said.

He cited a study by Oxford Economics and the International Air Transport Association that said the local aviation sector contributed 3.2 percent or more than $9 billion of the country’s 2014 gross domestic product and generated a total of 1.2 million jobs.

The sector had grown since then and Naia must grow as well to keep driving growth, he said, adding that time was running out to prevent “Naia from becoming the next Edsa.”

Oxford said 38.8 million flew through Naia in 2014 and 42 million in 2017.

Passenger traffic in Naia is expected to hit 44 million this year.

“In all those years, Naia’s terminal capacity remained constrained at 31 million.

If we want air transport to create more economic wealth and generate more jobs, we have to expand, upgrade and improve Naia now, not later,” he said.

DoF puts up online payment gateway

THE Department of Finance is establishing an online-based payment gateway called PHPay System to be used for government transactions in line with the administration’s efforts to cut red tape and further improve the ease of doing business.

Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said in a statement Tuesday the payment system would enable taxpayers and other state clients to remit fees and other charges electronically to government agencies.

He said the PHPay system “will cover the development of a payment gateway and a payment ledgering management system for the whole of government.”

The PHPay system is designed to be a secure and reliable collection system in which government clients can transfer payments online for government services anytime and anywhere, minimizing the need for human contact and eliminating long queues in state offices.

“Taxpayers and other government clients, can however, still opt to use other payment methods even when PHPay is in place,” Beltran said. Julito G. Rada

13 PLDT AWARDS. PLDT Inc.’s business units from Enterprise, Home and Public Affairs and the PLDT-Smart Foundation bag 13 awards for outstanding communications programs from the PRSP during the 53rd Anvil Awards.

D.M. Wenceslao seeking big infrastructure projects

By Jenniffer B. Austria D.M. WENCESLAO & Associates Inc., an integrated construction and real estate developer, plans to secure big-ticket government infrastructure projects to complement its projects within its 107-hectare Aseana City.

“We are a AAAA general contractor, one of less than 20 in the country, and are in a position to take advantage of the government’s massive infrastructure program, especially in our core areas of horizontal infrastructure and construction, foundation works and marine construction,” said DMWAI chief executive officer Delfin Angelo Wenceslao.

Wenceslao did not identify the potential government projects. The company has ongoing several construction proj-

ects in Aseana City, including the mall being put up by Ayala Land Inc. next to Solaire and City of Dreams Manila.

The company over the past years has completed over 100 construction and infrastructure projects across the country and reclaimed the land hosting Aseana City, Solaire, Resorts World’s West Side City and the City of Dreams entertainment complex.

DMWAI negotiates to have the first right to build for the buyer or the lessee, or the right to match the lowest bid of contractors when it sells or leases land in Aseana. ”We also have our own projects in Aseana which will be a central business district in the coming years within the huge development encompassing the Entertainment City, Mall of Asia, the Senate and various other develop-

ments,” Wenceslao said.

DMWAI helped the government reclaim 2.04 million square meters in the Manila Bay area. It is now the country’s fastest-growing commercial business district.

The company currently owns some 568,000 square meters in its flagship project at the 107-hectare Aseana City.

About 292,000 sq. m. are not allocated yat and available for development.

The company also has 208,000 sq. m. of landbank in several other locations in the Philippines.

“This distinguishes us from other property developers who have to rely on locating and acquiring suitable land for their developments at significantly higher costs, providing us a premium competitive advantage over our competitors,” said Wenceslao.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

B1

PH presses Thailand to finally resolve cigarette row

By Othel V. Campos THE World Trade Organization will create a second panel to evaluate the cigarette tax issue between the Philippines and Thailand upon Manila’s prodding.

A WTO statement said the Philippines submitted a revised request for dispute consultations with Thailand to address the latter’s compliance with a previous ruling on taxes imposed by Thailand on imported cigarettes from the Philippines.

The global body circulated the request on February 26, 2018.

The revised request effectively replaced and superseded the initial one circulated on July 6, 2017 in order to expand the scope of the consultations.

The revised request includes a number of notices of assessment issued by Thailand’s customs authority with respect to imports of cigarettes between 2001 and 2003.

The request is the second compliance proceeding initiated by the Philippines in the dispute. A WTO panel is currently reviewing Thailand’s compliance as part of separate proceedings initiated by the Philippines in 2016.

The case raised against Thailand involved Thai fiscal and customs measures affecting cigarettes from the Philippines that included customs valuation practices, excise tax, health tax, TV tax, VAT regime, retail licensing requirements and import guarantees imposed on cigarette importers.

The Philippines claimed that Thailand administered the measures in an unreasonable manner.

Manila noted that after more than a decade since the dispute arose, Thailand had not taken significant steps to comply with the WTO rulings.

Thailand took a number of positive steps to remove some of the inconsistent measures but also introduced new measures that were inconsistent with the WTO rulings, the Philippine panel said.

These include new criminal charges against a Thai importer and its employees involving 272 entries of cigarettes that cleared Thai Customs between July 28, 2003 and June 24, 2006, as well as notices of assessment for underpayment of taxes and duties of over $800 million on 1,052 entries imported in 2001-2003.

Tobacco farmers likely to produce 6.5m kilos this year, says DA exec TOBACCO farmers expect to produce 6.5 million kilos in 2018 under a fiscal support system extended by the National Tobacco Administration of the Department of Agriculture.

The estimate represented about 14 percent of the 2018 production target of 45 million kilos for the current crop year, DA corporate planning department manager Fortuna Benosa said.

The agency released some P210.39 million in production and facility assistance to help tobacco farmers reach the targets for the year.

The trading season started on March 8, 2018 with the opening of the buying station for Virginia tobacco in Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur. Trading for Burley/Native tobacco in Region 2 is expected to start on April at the buying station in Reina Mercedes,

Isabela.

The DA has issued licenses to buy to 36 stations in the two Ilocos provinces, La Union, Pangasinan and Isabela, and on in General Santos City.

Tobacco is the country’s largest foreign currency earner with production hitting 43.39 million kilos in crop year 20162017 valued at P3.18-billion.

The NTA, the sole government tobacco regulatory agency, has adapted the market-oriented and technology-based production system through contract-growing arrangement between buyers and farmers.

Under the Tobacco Contract Growing System, buyers provide the inputs required for the production and guarantee to purchase all the tobacco contracted at the prevailing prices not lower than the floor price per kilo per grade of tobacco.

Othel V. Campos

Govt missed goal of reducing unemployment rate in 2017

By Julito G. Rada THE government missed its target of reducing the unemployment rate to between 5.1 and 5.4 percent as more than half-a-million jobs were lost last year, the National Economic and Development Authority said Tuesday.

Preliminary Neda estimates showed the national unemployment rate registered 5.7 percent in 2017 from 5.5 percent in 2016.

Economic Planning Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said in a briefing while the current unemployment rate had improved compared to previous decades, “we are still behind the 5.1 to 5.4-percent target that we have set in 2017.”

“Also, employment creation remains a challenge as there were more than

650,000 net employment losses in 2017, far from the target of increasing employment to 900,000 to 1.1 million per year,” Edillon said.

Unemployment rate is one of the core indicators of the government’s Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 that promises to lay down the foundation for inclusive growth, a high-trust and resilient society and a globally-competitive knowledge economy.

Under the plan, unemployment rate is targeted to decrease eventually to 4.7 percent to 5.3 percent this year, and 4.3 percent to 5.3 percent in 2019.

Data also showed that the youth unemployment rate, another core indicator, for the full of 2017 stood at 14.4 percent against the target of 11.0 percent.

The underemployment rate in areas outside the capital region, however, de-

creased and settled at 17.4 percent in 2017, down from 19.7 percent in 2016.

“We have exceeded the target of 18.3 to 20.3 percent underemployment rate target that we have set for the year. This is consistent with our objective of making sure that development outside NCR also progresses.” Edillon said.

The gross national income or GNI per capita grew at a rate of 6.5 percent for 2017, which already exceeded the 4.5 percent target set for the year.

The data for poverty, rural poverty, and subsistence incidence were not available in 2017. Edillon said the 2018 poverty data would be released sometime in 2019.

Meanwhile, food inflation increased from 2.6 percent in 2016 to 3.7 percent in 2017, but still remained within the target for the period.

BEYOND EARTH HOUR. Green advocates Antoinette Taus (from left), CORA Foundation founder and head, University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute associate dean for research Laura David and UP College of Mass Communication dean Elena Pernia share creative ways to conserve, preserve and protect the environment.

The Aboitiz corporate headquarters at Bonifacio Global City held “An Hour of R2R” on March 26 in a live webcast viewed by thousands of Aboitiz team members across the country.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks gain; SM Investments rises P HILIPPINE stocks trimmed their gains in late trading after a weak Wall Street overnight as fears of a trade war between the United States and China hit market sentiment.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 9.27 points, or 0.1 percent, to 8,048.72 on a value turnover of P6.1 billion. Losers edged gainers, 104 to 98, with 45 issues unchanged.

SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. advanced 3.2 percent to P975, while Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest telecommunications firm, rose 2.7 percent to P1,668.

Security Bank Corp., the sixth largest lender in terms of assets, fell 2.9 percent to P229.20, while Jollibee Foods Corp.,

the biggest fastfood chain, lost 1.2 percent to P296.40.

China, meanwhile, led the market declines in Asia, with the main Shanghai Composite index down more than one percentage point heading into the final hour of trade.

In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.45 percent or 96.29 points to 21,292.29, paring early losses.

Markets in Seoul and Hong Kong were also weaker, with New Zealand the only regional exchange in the green.

However, the losses were not as bad as first feared at the open, with stocks across the region clawing back ground later in the session.

“The impact from the US market turned out not to be so bad as to incite terror here” thanks to lingering hopes that tensions may ease in the weeks to come, noted Makoto Sengoku, market analyst at Tokai

percent.

Giants Amazon, Facebook and Tesla Motors suffered the largest drops but the negative feeling infected the broader market.

Amazon sank 5.2 percent after a series of attacks by Trump in recent days in which he accused the retailer of profiteering at the expense of the US Postal Service.

“It started with the tech stocks and it’s become ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater,’” said J.J. Kinahan, chief market strategist at TD Ameritrade.

“They’re reassessing the valuation on the entire market,” said Kinahan. “A while ago all news was good news. Now (the) news is all things to be afraid of.”

With sentiment souring, the safehaven yen strengthened earlier in the trading days before also falling back as equities pared losses. With AFP

Tokyo Research Institute.

Traders were however spooked by Chinese retaliatory action on trade with the US, as the government in Beijing slapped tariffs on 128 US imports worth $3 billion, including fruit and pork.

In addition to that move, US President Donald Trump again threatened to tear up the North American Free Trade Agreement, tweeting that Mexico was doing too little to counter illegal immigration into the United States.

Investors also took their cue from US markets which tumbled on the first trading session back after Easter holidays, both on trade fears and a bearish turn for tech stocks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 1.9 percent lower while the broad-based S&P 500 shed 2.2 percent.

But it was tech stocks that led the declines, with the Nasdaq dropping 2.7

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.5 4,570 108.7 1,102,590 140.5 1,905,080 1.65 45,000 35.15 48,100 16.1 17,000 18.82 1,381,100 3.39 1,000 8.71 300 1.55 29,000 0.57 4,000 85.5 1,289,090 1.21 259,000 22 5,000 53.95 44,270 236 6,980 112.2 320 85.5 880 44.7 21,000 229.2 1,316,560 1,940 5 92 47,060 1.22 288,000

272,365 120,958,721 267,680,551 73,860 1,691,015 273,210 25,985,704 3,390 2,613 45,780 2,280 109,918,449.50 308,940 109,180 2,396,356.50 1,644,442 38,697 75,205 941,365 302,968,224 9,700 4,300,694 345,620

267,603.50 -52,861,300 -2,459,794 -313,270.00 -6,400 832,578 7,402,358 -6,010 -1,056,311.50 23,500 448,500 -129,209,204 2,067,273.50 -

38.4 13.74 0.59 1.26 19.14 0.234 140 3.65 17 297.8 51 30.5 61.2 73 2.1 5.31 10.38 11.4 14.2 10.74 7.47 5.33 1.7 16.74 64.2 24.15 9.7 16 2.51 294.8 50 4.99 3.15 26.4 16.04 20.65 321.6 0.189 7.78 2.78 5 9 5.2 7.74 1.49 12.42 54.1 6.15 620 4.76 2.14 3.38 2.22 14.68 5.31 0.134 0.99 148.5 1.96 0.76

INDUSTRIAL 38.45 531,500 13.86 653,700 0.62 4,006,000 1.29 217,000 19.54 39,600 0.243 22,620,000 173 280 3.65 2,181,000 17 148,100 300 1,030 52 438,840 33.8 190,200 61.2 10 73 4,530 2.12 3,437,000 5.66 24,200 10.4 100,700 11.5 2,270,500 14.54 4,266,200 10.8 77,600 7.47 126,800 5.48 16,354,800 1.7 1,000 16.96 1,831,900 65.3 167,740 25.2 29,500 9.7 25,000 16.68 1,370,200 2.52 4,382,000 296.4 1,392,970 53 60,380 5.08 347,000 3.16 6,000 27 733,200 16.16 39,500 20.65 613,600 324 91,640 0.19 140,000 7.9 3,900 2.82 1,624,000 5.06 160,800 9.2 1,794,300 5.5 195,300 7.82 90,700 1.5 382,000 12.42 127,600 54.35 718,830 6.15 3,800 620 20,190 4.85 47,000 2.2 134,000 3.38 32,000 2.23 427,000 14.7 16,200 5.4 60,600 0.137 470,000 1.04 87,000 148.5 839,630 1.98 2,244,000 0.83 16,491,000

20,442,670 9,061,236 2,444,520 273,450 773,444 5,414,670 42,132 7,991,870 2,518,980 308,956 22,572,950 6,230,530 612 333,403.50 7,400,020 129,372 1,047,060 26,127,148 62,127,500 836,346 953,053 88,487,470 1,700 31,035,084 10,937,235 743,940 245,605 22,634,080 11,189,670 413,559,980 3,020,148 1,766,970 18,970 19,862,465 640,298 12,843,720 29,657,602 26,640 30,561 4,572,530 810,067 16,481,067 1,056,246 710,950 572,500 1,625,696 39,087,740.50 23,520 12,586,175 226,810 293,420 108,160 952,910 238,574 324,402 63,010 87,270 126,469,438 4,437,010 13,213,920

-6,605,730 -4,296,660 -108,800 -3,539,430 248,726.00 -186,867.50 -10,050 236,530 -1,042,900 -344,628 739,516 -206,902 -66,550 -16,677,176.00 -3,514,810.00 803,452.50 -105 34,768 7,063,030 -2,444,920 -9,743,798 139,150 -1,089,205 89,076 2,861,890 2,052,040 58,730 155,358.00 -539,184 -453,370 180,000 -136,532 -9,801,689 -513,340 20,280 164,990 66,330 -19,390,688 -1,600,000 288,720

0.3 68.5 13.3 0.89 6.25 0.61 0.62 916 7.2 12.2 7.3 0.19 1,146 6.94 63.65 5.42 0.63 5.03 19.52 0.69 5.31 0.043 1.1 3.14 136.4 936.5 0.86 1.71 630 265 0.25

HOLDING FIRMS 0.3 240,000 68.55 675,820 13.6 8,564,900 0.93 18,000 6.25 39,100 0.64 12,080,000 0.66 5,223,000 918 662,270 7.2 295,700 12.5 3,156,400 7.5 12,600 0.207 20,000 1,150 58,965 7.18 165,200 64.65 1,900,010 5.42 1,000 0.66 172,000 5.13 263,700 20 7,500,600 0.69 11,031,000 5.35 58,676,600 0.045 1,700,000 1.14 355,000 3.2 663,000 140.2 260,810 975 367,970 0.91 710,000 1.73 298,000 647 1,920 275 7,310 0.25 540,000

72,400 46,459,629.50 115,136,452 16,230 248,251 7,629,060 3,352,320 608,757,050 2,148,947 39,571,228 92,320 3,970 68,041,820 1,146,536 122,902,535 5,420 109,870 1,362,971 149,401,740 7,765,050 313,592,076 75,600 397,010 2,116,050 36,510,682 356,918,365 632,430 518,120 1,225,830 1,972,662 135,000

-2,711,828 105,932,650 1,478,000 -230,954,290 -129,234 -3,048,078 1,213,625 13,578,487.50 20,069 -116,042,004 1,063,940 -53,963,498 4,500 -38,350 7,789,952 192,576,080 -34,300 2,652 -

586,986 5,034,080 136,086 522,530 244,230 359,807,925 1,178,040 530,900 31,600 22,321,600 319,410 503,410 9,615,000 18,800 10,596,345 3,037,400 22,500 5,072,730 11,697,550 4,080,920 41,548,210 33,619,990 840,850 9,595,170

1,950 -7,140 63,940 9,499,315 -87,580 1,800 -4,265,400 -81,200 -15,250.00 332,980 -3,018,880 3,093,530 988,230 436,040 -9,642,930 297,330 -141,950.00

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.65 110.2 138 1.6 35.2 15.8 18.94 3.39 8.71 1.6 0.57 85.9 1.2 22.25 54 237 125 85.5 45.5 235 1,940 90 1.2

59.65 111.5 141.3 1.66 35.3 16.1 18.94 3.39 8.71 1.63 0.57 85.9 1.21 22.25 54.5 237 125 85.5 45.5 235 1,940 92 1.22

59.5 108.7 138 1.6 35 15.8 18.62 3.39 8.71 1.55 0.57 84 1.18 21.5 53.95 235 112.1 85.15 44.7 228 1,940 90 1.2

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

38.5 13.9 0.6 1.26 20.9 0.246 174 3.67 17 300 51 31.5 61.2 76 2.14 5.31 10.48 11.58 14.2 10.8 7.53 5.56 1.7 16.74 65.95 24.75 9.88 16.16 2.58 295 53 4.99 3.18 26.6 16.04 21 325 0.189 7.78 2.78 5 9 5.34 7.74 1.49 12.78 54.6 6.25 625 4.76 2.19 3.38 2.25 14.8 5.35 0.134 1.01 150.7 1.98 0.77

38.8 13.92 0.62 1.29 20.9 0.246 174 3.69 17.1 300 52 34 61.2 77 2.19 5.66 10.48 11.58 14.58 10.82 7.59 5.56 1.7 17 65.95 25.55 9.88 16.7 2.62 298 53.05 5.2 3.18 27.4 16.38 21 325 0.195 7.9 2.93 5.3 9.21 5.6 7.95 1.5 12.78 54.6 6.25 625 4.87 2.21 3.38 2.29 14.8 5.45 0.137 1.04 151.7 2 0.84

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

0.3 68.95 13.48 0.89 6.25 0.61 0.62 922 7.3 12.6 7.32 0.19 1,147 6.94 63.8 5.42 0.67 5.2 19.7 0.7 5.31 0.046 1.12 3.15 138 937 0.93 1.71 630 265.2 0.25

0.305 69.5 13.6 0.93 6.4 0.65 0.66 930 7.34 12.72 7.5 0.207 1,172 7.18 65 5.42 0.67 5.24 20 0.73 5.38 0.046 1.15 3.23 141.4 975 0.94 1.76 665 275.8 0.25

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

6.5 1 15.2 2.2 0.87 40.3 3.69 4.67 5.95 0.44 1.09 0.99 0.3 0.47 31.95 0.63 0.123 1.72 1.55 1 4.7 0.62 0.395 0.54

6.65 1.04 16 2.31 0.87 41.8 3.69 4.67 6 0.45 1.1 1.03 0.3 0.47 32 0.65 0.129 1.74 1.56 1.05 4.72 0.62 0.405 0.59

6.5 1 15.12 2.19 0.85 40.3 3.65 4.61 5.95 0.435 1.09 0.99 0.29 0.47 31.75 0.63 0.123 1.71 1.52 0.99 4.6 0.59 0.395 0.54

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

3.95 19.7 2 3.15 34.15 1 16.6 0.81 6.4

3.99 20.15 2.04 3.18 34.5 1 17.5 0.86 6.48

3.92 19.42 1.94 3.15 33.85 0.99 16.6 0.81 6.4

3.95 19.42 2 3.16 34.3 0.99 17.4 0.82 6.48

312,000 1,270,500 238,000 58,000 5,450,200 416,000 239,400 192,000 2,388,500

1,231,940 25,043,010 472,820 183,480 187,130,750 411,900 4,119,668 157,260 15,397,929

209,100 -5,231,151 162,420 71,892,970 68,542 -5,546,438

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

17.98 28.85 0.48 0.047 13.38 14.02 0.065 92.5 8.25 7.44 2.4 27.1 910 1,668 6.36 302 13.5 5.2 2.47 98.2 12.9 8.3 0.125 1.45 3.19 7 1.03 26.6 0.51 5.5 8.07 3.54 17.94 9.31 11.5 9.85 2.88 8.01 125 6.67 1,475 1.08 0.435 51.55 89 7.8 2.75 1.45 0.44 4.04 0.88 10.94

18 29.4 0.49 0.049 13.38 14.5 0.067 95 8.25 7.79 2.4 34 910 1,670 6.4 308 14.44 5.2 2.59 100.2 12.9 8.3 0.125 1.47 3.33 7.2 1.03 27.1 0.51 5.9 8.15 3.62 17.94 9.34 11.5 9.85 3.04 8.01 125 6.67 1,495 1.08 0.445 52.25 90 7.8 2.75 1.46 0.455 4.1 0.88 11.34

17.54 28.3 0.47 0.046 13.38 14.02 0.064 90.05 8.04 7.35 2.38 27 900 1,620 6.3 301.4 13.5 5.14 2.47 97 12.9 8.3 0.12 1.44 3.18 6.82 1.01 26.3 0.51 5.45 7.97 3.44 17.94 8.71 11.5 9 2.88 8.01 122 6.46 1,465 1.06 0.415 51.55 87.2 7.36 2.72 1.45 0.43 3.9 0.85 10.84

SERVICES 17.9 28.5 0.485 0.048 13.38 14.3 0.067 92 8.07 7.53 2.4 32 905 1,668 6.38 308 14.44 5.17 2.55 100 12.9 8.3 0.122 1.47 3.32 7.15 1.03 26.5 0.51 5.85 8.07 3.57 17.94 8.99 11.5 9.5 3.03 8.01 125 6.6 1,480 1.06 0.435 51.6 90 7.58 2.74 1.46 0.45 4.02 0.87 11.14

8,300 61,200 5,860,000 17,100,000 1,400 13,269,600 24,410,000 304,370 1,051,600 133,000 85,000 1,555,400 510 64,735 58,300 9,130 5,100 436,500 59,000 471,520 7,800 5,000 9,360,000 249,000 148,000 14,537,700 150,000 1,361,000 117,000 1,262,700 5,183,700 1,363,000 600 15,059,800 1,000 46,600 10,000 700 5,660 255,100 166,515 890,000 3,950,000 455,270 459,850 365,700 173,000 174,000 13,300,000 4,843,000 1,197,000 2,082,600

146,628 1,750,825 2,805,250 810,900 18,732 190,148,708 1,609,210 27,882,120.50 8,542,786 989,156 203,750 49,333,105 459,950 107,700,465 369,442 2,782,422 70,896 2,259,207 148,490 47,075,405 100,620 41,500 1,128,330 362,000 482,450 102,714,224 152,880 36,319,060 59,670 7,314,484 41,827,864 4,850,230 10,764 136,019,116 11,500 434,890 29,860 5,607 697,610 1,671,587 245,954,445 948,690 1,691,650 23,627,027.50 40,523,741.50 2,741,596 473,690 253,340 5,916,950 19,664,730 1,039,700 23,106,432

24,395,144 650 4,702,282 202,370 90,000 45,687,840 -220,116 5,180 -147,296 1,220 -5,238,850 30,320 1,944,610 -440,070 13,816,697 837,380 -1,502,691.00 9,700 11,680 164,160 24,309 -23,327,940 -99,770 -9,232,549.50 4,489,497 148,000 -62,820 37,700 164,900 10,117,570 8,870,700

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

0.003 1.65 4.69 18.6 1.65 1.65 0.31 8.28 2.46 0.218 0.147 0.154 0.0092 1.48 6.09 1.25 0.58 0.9 0.013 0.013 0.012 2.22 6.11 14.68 31.25 0.0066

0.0032 1.73 4.69 18.6 1.65 1.65 0.315 8.7 2.46 0.219 0.151 0.156 0.0092 1.48 6.18 1.25 0.61 0.91 0.014 0.014 0.013 2.22 6.15 15.92 32.5 0.0066

0.003 1.65 4.64 18.5 1.65 1.63 0.31 8 2.42 0.212 0.147 0.154 0.0092 1.48 6.05 1.18 0.56 0.89 0.012 0.013 0.012 2.22 6.11 14.12 31.15 0.0066

MINING & OIL 0.0031 1,185,000,000 1.7 3,057,000 4.64 26,000 18.5 9,600 1.65 5,000 1.65 323,000 0.315 40,000 8.52 116,900 2.44 584,000 0.217 800,000 0.151 2,040,000 0.156 510,000 0.0092 6,000,000 1.48 3,000 6.11 620,000 1.19 48,000 0.61 1,796,000 0.89 597,000 0.013 492,200,000 0.014 10,800,000 0.013 10,700,000 2.22 31,000 6.12 92,600 15.5 10,074,900 31.6 1,123,400 0.0066 20,000,000

3,602,200 5,199,150 121,290 177,710 8,250 530,310 12,450 992,490 1,422,050 170,600 303,770 79,290 55,200 4,440 3,790,637 58,430 1,070,610 534,740 6,102,400 150,200 132,500 68,820 567,353 155,042,798 35,948,610 132,000

-9,200 -4,640 -27,342.00 266,450 -573,568 8,330 -58,000 6,000 14,694 -1,768,228 -2,648,815 46,200

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PF PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H

28 501 522 102 505 6.16 988 100.3 1.06 1,050 980 77 78.1 76.5 77

28 501 522 102.1 505 6.16 988 100.6 1.07 1,050 980 77 78.1 76.8 77

27.7 501 515 102 504.5 6.16 988 100.3 1.06 1,050 980 77 78 76.5 77

PREFERRED 28 30,800 501 50 515 590 102.1 520 504.5 3,000 6.16 100 988 70 100.6 700 1.06 158,000 1,050 50 980 7,660 77 370 78 14,060 76.8 6,300 77 2,100

862,250 25,050 305,180 53,041 1,514,290 616 69,160 70,360 167,510 52,500 7,506,800 28,490 1,096,744 482,850 161,700

-296,650 82,400 49,984 -

LR WARRANT

4.59

4.79

4.46

WARRANTS 4.6 2,647,000

12,258,990

157,510

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

5.82 2.93 3.25 3.6

5.98 2.93 3.44 3.68

5.65 2.93 3.2 3.49

5.68 2.93 3.41 3.65

14,303,600 5,860 418,050 8,517,020

-413,352 -584,020

FIRST METRO ETF

123.1

123.5

122

286,418

-

USD DMPL A1

10.2

10.2

10.2

1,020

-

MS

PROPERTY 6.6 1.02 15.92 2.19 0.86 41.6 3.66 4.66 6 0.445 1.09 1.01 0.3 0.47 31.75 0.64 0.129 1.74 1.54 1.04 4.6 0.6 0.405 0.57

88,800 4,926,000 8,700 234,000 285,000 8,699,200 321,000 115,000 5,300 50,170,000 293,000 504,000 32,580,000 40,000 332,900 4,746,000 180,000 2,936,000 7,608,000 3,977,000 8,940,000 55,790,000 2,100,000 16,908,000

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

7,816,742

INDUSTRIAL

95,741,332

HOLDING FIRMS

122,672,823

PROPERTY

213,409,137

SERVICES

145,178,344

MINING & OIL

1,746,598,412

GRAND TOTAL

2,336,407,248

SME

2,480,900 2,000 126,000 2,376,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 123.5 2,330 10.2

DDS

100

VALUE 2,059.20 (down) 23.50 840,064,845.95 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,371.28 (down) 103.09 1,077,566,612.95 HOLDING FIRMS 8,046.67 (up) 80.80 1,995,872,540.50 PROPERTY 3,682.74 (up) 0.77 1,676.61 (up) 10.47 775,369,041.985 SERVICES MINING & OIL 11,208.07 (up) 158.56 1,182,244,370.50 PSEI 8,048.72 (up) 9.72 216,286,589.03 All Shares Index 4,871.90 (up) 2.35 6,110,946,854.44 Gainers: 98; Losers: 104; Unchanged: 45; Total: 247

Splash wins trademark row in Indonesia

By Jenniffer B. Austria HOMEGROWN personal care manufacturer Splash Corp. is preparing for an aggressive expansion in Southeast Asia after winning a long-drawn out trademark registration case in Indonesia.

“We are happy that Maxi-Peel has finally been registered in Indonesia.

Maxi-Peel has considerable wordof-mouth following in Indonesia, but registration issues prevented us from directly selling the product in this market,” Splash co-founder and chief executive Rolando Hortaleza said in a statement.

“With this trademark issue out of the way, we can now be aggressive in expanding our presence in Indonesia, the largest country in Asean, through our subsidiary PT Splash Cahaya.”

Splash applied for a trademark registration of its flagship exfoliant brand Maxi-Peel in Indonesia in 2004, but the opposition succeeded in having the application rejected in 2010.

Splash recently re-applied for the trademark registration and finally obtained the trademark certificate in March this year.

Splash also obtained the product registration for Maxi-Peel Micro-Exfoliant Fluid brands in December last year.

Splash said it would introduce MaxiPeel Micro-Exfoliant Fluid in the Indonesian market starting this month.

Other Maxi-Peel variants will be sold in Indonesia as soon as product registration for the variants is obtained.

The manufacturing of Maxi-Peel Micro-Exfoliant Fluid is done in the Splash facility in Valenzuela City, which is among the lowest cost producers of soaps and lotions in the Philippines. The finished products will then be exported to Indonesia.

Splash, which was earlier listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange before voluntarily delisting, is confident Maxi-Peel would have the same kind of success in Indonesia as it has in the Philippines. Maxi-Peel is the dominant player in the competitive Philippine exfoliant market.

Phoenix hikes petroleum mart share to 6.2%

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines Inc. increased its market share to 6.2 percent last year from 5.7 percent in 2016, cementing its position as one of the country’s leading oil companies.

The Department of Energy’s Oil Supply/Demand Report for 2017 showed Phoenix’s market share ranked fourth among the oil companies, followed that of Chevron Philippines which retails the Caltex brand at 7 percent.

Petron Corp. leads the market with a 27.5-percent share while Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. cornered 19.93 percent.

“We are proud to be an emerging major in the industry today, after having started just over 15 years ago in Davao City,” said Phoenix Petroleum President and chief executive officer Dennis Uy in a statement.

“As we enter the next phase of our growth, we will continue to be passionate and committed in serving our customers’ needs and growing the business. This milestone inspires us further towards our vision of being an indispensable partner to our customers and business partners,” Uy said.

Phoenix posted record volume sales in 2017, making the company one of the most aggressive oil firms in the country.

Sales volume includes that of Petronas Energy Philippines, the LPG business which Phoenix acquired last year and has been renamed Phoenix LPG Philippines Inc. Phoenix recorded its best performing year in 2017 when it posted triple all-time highs in sales volume, revenues and net income.

The company booked a net income of ₱1.79 billion, up 65 percent from ₱1.09 billion in 2016.

Taking out the non-recurring gains and costs related to the newly-acquired LPG business, core income still reached an all-time high of ₱1.42 billion, up 30 percent from a year ago.

Revenues rose 45 percent to ₱44.43 billion, driven by a strong fuels business in which sales volume increased 17 percent to 1.76 billion liters.

Phoenix has 530 retail stations nationwide and serves a growing number of commercial and industrial accounts in power, marine, manufacturing, transportation, aviation and other industries.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Manila Manila

Standard Standard TODAY

World

TODAY

B3

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The scandal that changed America retold L OS ANGELES―US Senator Edward Kennedy went to his death in 2009 haunted by his role in the drowning of a young woman 40 years earlier after he crashed their car.

The accident at a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, an upscale resort off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, indelibly stained Kennedy’s reputation and destroyed his chances of entering the White House.

“It was the event that changed the course of Teddy Kennedy’s career,” said John Curran, the director of “Chappaquiddick,” a new movie delving into the mysterious events surrounding a tragedy that has enthralled America for half a century.

Speaking at the premiere in Beverly Hills ahead of the movie’s US release on Friday, Curran described himself as a fan of Kennedy.

“I do realize I’ve had this sort of blind spot about this episode in his life and it just felt time to re-examine it honestly,” said the 57-year-old film-maker.

Kennedy boasted a rich family political legacy linked to an era of civil rights gains as brother of

President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.

The Massachusetts senator’s own legislative achievements since his election in 1962 at age 30 helped craft his legacy as one of the most accomplished lawmakers in US history.

In “True Compass,” his memoir published weeks after his death in 2009, Kennedy stuck to his assertion that Mary Jo Kopechne’s death on July 18, 1969, was an accident.

Critics have long speculated that the last of the four Kennedy brothers was drunk-driving and left the dead or dying 28-year-old campaign worker behind to cover his tracks and save his fledgling career.

Kennedy, who had offered Kopechne a ride home from a party, swam to safety after the crash but left her trapped in his Oldsmobile, lying on its roof in shallow water.

In his memoir Kennedy described his despair and heavy

PREMIERE. Mikey Madison attends the premiere of FX’s ‘Legion’ Season 2 at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Watchdog cracks down on parodies of ‘heroes’ BEIJING―China’s culture watchdog has slapped fines on websites that posted parodies of “Communist classics and heroes”, as the authorities further restrict what people can say―or even laugh at―online.

Major video sites iQiyi and Sina were handed undisclosed fines for “distorting or mocking” classic works, the culture ministry said, less than two weeks after new rules were issued to ban online spoofs.

The ministry did not describe the offending videos.

But another company in southwest China’s Sichuan province,

Sichuan Shengshi Tianfu Media, was given “the highest fine according to law” for creating a popular parody of a revolutionary ballad, the ministry said in a Monday statement.

“Yellow River Cantata”, a patriotic song written in 1939 encouraging youth to fight during the Sino-Japanese war, has inspired several humorous remakes that have chafed the authorities.

One viral video this year featured employees from the Sichuan company in panda hats, lamenting delays in year-end bonuses. AFP

IN BRIEF South Africa celebrates Winnie Mandela JOHANNESBURG—South Africa paid tribute to Winnie Mandela’s “fighting spirit” on Tuesday as plans were made to mark the life of the firebrand anti-apartheid campaigner and Nelson Mandela’s former wife.

She died in a Johannesburg hospital at the age of 81 on Monday after suffering a long illness that failed to rob of her of the charisma and energy that defined her sometimes divisive character.

Mourners continued to gather at her Soweto home to honor the anti-apartheid fighter after President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that a memorial service would be held on Wednesday April 11 and a full state funeral on Saturday April 14.

The outspoken leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party Julius Malema, who became a confidante of Winnie Mandela

in recent years, is expected to visit her modest two-storey red brick home on Tuesday.

The EFF paid tribute to Winnie Mandela’s “fighting spirit” following news of her death.

“She affirmed both the love and anger of black people; always committed to their right to defend their lives even [with] arms in the face of a deadly apartheid evil,” the radical leftist party said in a statement.

The ruling African National Congress party’s Women’s League, which Winnie Mandela once led, will stage a mass march to her home on Wednesday.

The firebrand activist died in Johannesburg’s Milpark hospital, her family said, adding that she had “fought valiantly against the Apartheid state” and that she was known “far and wide as the Mother of the Nation”. AFP

Court’s verdict on Park to be televised live SEOUL―The corruption verdict and sentencing of South Korea’s ousted ex-president Park Geun-hye will be televised live, a Seoul court said Tuesday, in a case that could see her jailed for up to 30 years.

The 66-year-old daughter of a former dictator was impeached and arrested in March 2017 over a wide-ranging corruption scandal that exposed the shady links between big business and politics and prompted massive street protests.

The Seoul Central District Court said it would allow the verdict and sentencing of Park, set for Friday afternoon, to be broadcast live in light of the high public interest―the first time a trial will be televised live in South Korea.

It will mark the first time that a verdict and sentencing will be broadcast live since the country’s Supreme Court last year changed the guidelines on court proceedings to allow such practices.

Park has been boycotting her trial hearings since the court extended her detention last October, accusing the institution of being biased against her.

Even though she is widely expected not to attend Friday’s verdict and sentencing, she has asked the court not to allow live TV coverage of the hearing.

Prosecutors have demanded a 30-year-jail sentence and a 118.5 billion won ($110 million) fine for Park, saying she must take responsibility for the scandal as the former president. AFP

drinking after the assassinations of both John and Robert Kennedy, in 1963 and 1968.

He admitted it was “inexcusable” that he did not report the accident to police until Kopechne’s body was recovered the following day, but denied driving under the influence of alcohol, or any affair.

He ultimately won sympathy for the extraordinary litany of tragedies in his family, but his hopes of following JFK into the Oval Office were figuratively and literally dead in the water.

He did make a White House run in 1980, but failed in his bid to challenge then-president Jimmy Carter for the Democratic Party nomination.

Before age slowed him down, Kennedy was known for years as a cavorter and skirt-chaser, infamous for his drinking and disas-

INVITATION TO BUY IN THE NEGOTIATED SALE OF TWO (2) PARCELS OF LAND LOCATED AT CENTRAL BUSINESS PARK I – ISLANDS B & C OF THE BAY CITY, PARANAQUE CITY UNDER ITB NO. BACD18-001 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting offers to buy in the negotiated sale of two (2) parcels of land located at Central Business Park I – Islands B & C of the Bay City, Parañaque City under ITB No. BACD18-001.

DESCRIPTION: Item No. Item Name Item

LOT 1 Bay City Properties Two (2) parcels of land purchased by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) from the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA): a. An area of 3,733 square meters (more or less) covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. 010-2014000775 under PAGCOR’s name and a Deed of Absolute Sale dated 19 February 2013; and b. An area of 156,626 square meters (more or less) covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. 010-2018000424 under PAGCOR’s name and a Deed of Absolute Sale dated August 16, 2017.

Location Central Business Park I – Islands B & C of the Bay City, Parañaque City Total Land Area 160,359 square meters (more or less) Floor Price Php 37,233,130,000.00 (VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated) Land Title No/s.

TCT No. 010-2014000775 is registered under the name of PAGCOR with an area of 3,733 square meters more or less; and TCT No. 010-2018000424 is registered under the name of PAGCOR with an area of 156,626 square meters more or less Property Use and Encumbrances The Properties are subject to a long-term lease initially in favor of Bloomberry Resorts & Hotels Inc. who built and operate the Solaire Resort & Casino thereon. However, the leasehold rights were later assigned to Sureste Properties, Inc. (“Lessee”). The lease period is up to July 11, 2033 and is extendible for another term under certain conditions. The Lessee has a Right to Match the highest offer for the Properties. The Lessee has mortgaged its leasehold rights over the Properties. In the same vein, the title and rights over the buildings, structures and other improvements thereon were likewise mortgaged to various lenders.

I.

InvItatIon to BId for the Supply and delIvery of hot and Cold Beverage for vIp Bar under ItB no. pB18-008ang-03 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Hot and Cold Beverage for VIP Bar under ITB No. PB18-008ANG-03.

Brief Description Lot 1 2 3

Descriptions Beverages Bottled Water Coffee, Tea, Creamer, Sugar

Delivery Schedule

Monthly delivery for a period of twelve (12) months

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC):

The total ABC is the amount of Thirteen Million Nine Hundred Eighty Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy-Two Pesos and 80/100 (P 13,980,772.80), VAT-Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction.

Lot 1 2 3

Source of Funds:

ABC per Lot VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction Six Million Two Hundred Seventy-Six Thousand Two Hundred Seventy-Two Pesos and 80/100 (P 6,276,272.80), VAT-Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction One Million Five Hundred Sixty-Three Thousand Eight Hundred Forty Pesos (P 1,563,840.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction Six Million One Hundred Forty Thousand Six Hundred Sixty Pesos (P 6,140,660.00), VAT-Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction

Corporate Budget for CY 2018

GENERAL CONDITIONS: 1.

Disposal of the Real Properties for Negotiated Sale shall be on “AS IS – WHERE IS” and on “CASH” basis. The Offeror acknowledges that he has been given every opportunity to investigate, inspect and verify the REAL PROPERTY offered for sale to ascertain the actual conditions thereof as well as the status of the titles. The Offeror also accepts PAGCOR’s disclaimer of any warranty, implied or otherwise, that the assets conform precisely to the description available in the Invitation to Buy. Further, the Offeror, knowing the risks and assuming the consequences of eviction, accepts PAGCOR’s absolute waiver of warranty therefrom. Furthermore, Offeror acknowledges that participation in the Negotiated Sale shall be an express assent to the provisions herein.

2.

Prospective offerors must be Filipino citizens or otherwise authorized by law to acquire real property in the Philippines. In case of a corporation or partnership, 60% of its capital must be owned by Filipino citizens.

3.

Officers and employees of PAGCOR and their relatives within the 4th degree of consanguinity and affinity shall be ineligible to offer.

4.

No offer below the floor price shall be accepted. On the other hand, PAGCOR, in view of the provisions on Negotiated Sale as contained in Commission on Audit Circular No. 89 – 296, may negotiate a price which is higher than the floor price.

5.

The offer shall strictly be in Philippine Currency.

6.

PAGCOR shall deliver to the Best Offeror TCT Nos. 010-2018000424, and 010-2014000775 free from all liens and encumbrances except the Contract of Lease (and its addenda) executed between PAGCOR and Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels, Inc. (formerly Bloomberry Investments Holdings, Inc.) and the Deed of Assignment between Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels, Inc. and Sureste Properties, Inc It is expressly understood and agreed that the property shall be used exclusively for the purpose for which it was intended, i.e. that it serves as an integral part of the PAGCOR Entertainment City Project and is to be utilized for the purpose of developing and maintaining thereon a world-class integrated resort in accordance with the plans approved by the lessee and PAGCOR. The Best Offeror cannot use the property in any manner and for any purpose not consistent with PAGCOR’s Entertainment City Project and must conform to applicable zoning regulations and restrictions.

7.

All other applicable taxes including capital gains tax, transfer costs, registration fees, documentary stamps taxes and other expenses incidental to the sale and transfer of the assets shall be for the account of the Best Offeror or the Lessee, as the case may be, which shall be responsible in causing the transfer/issuance of certificates of title under its name.

9.

The Contract of Lease (and its addenda) between PAGCOR and the Lessee shall be registered and annotated on the title of the subject property. The lease contract shall be binding on the Best Offeror. As such, the Lessee’s security of tenure shall be respected and guaranteed.

10.

Where a re-survey or re-location of the land applied for is necessary, all expenses including the preparation of plans and other papers shall be defrayed by the Best Offeror.

11.

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

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.

PAGCOR will no longer hold a Pre-Bid Conference for this project.

12.

OFFER BOND 12.1 Failure to post the Offer Bond shall constitute a ground to reject the offer.

12.2 Posting of the Offer Bond shall be a requisite for the Offeror/s, including the Lessee, to participate in the Negotiated Sale.

12.3 In case the Lessee does not participate in the Negotiated Sale, immediate posting of the Offer Bond shall be a requisite for the exercise of its Right to Match pursuant to the provisions of its Lease Contract with PAGCOR. 12.4 The Offer Bond shall be forfeited in favor of PAGCOR in the event of any of the following: 12.4.1 Withdrawal by any offeror of his/her offer during the conduct of the Negotiated Sale, i.e. from 2:00 PM on the day of the Negotiated Sale up to the time the highest offer has been declared; 12.4.2 Withdrawal by the offeror of his offer after the same has been declared the highest offer; and 12.4.3 Refusal of the highest offeror to accept the award/contract for any reason after it has been awarded to him.

12.5 Offer Bonds of offeror/s, except that of the highest offeror or the Lessee, in case the latter opts to exercise its Right to Match, shall be returned to them as soon as the highest offer has been declared or at a reasonable time thereafter and the waiver to file the Motion for Reconsideration/Protest has been signed by the respective offeror.

13.

SUBMISSION OF OFFER REQUIREMENTS 13.1 The Invitation to Buy shall form part of the Terms of Reference.

13.2 Submission of Offer Requirements shall be on April 17, 2018, 2:00 PM at Meeting Room A, 5th Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, AG New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino, 1558 M. H. Del Pilar corner Pedro Gil Streets, Malate, Manila.

13.3 Offeror / authorized representative shall be present during the Negotiated Sale.

13.4 Offerors shall address and submit their Offer Requirements to: BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE FOR DISPOSAL (BACD) PHILIPPINE AMUSEMENT AND GAMING CORPORATION PAGCOR Corporate Office AG New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino 1588 M.H. Del Pilar Street cor. Pedro Gil Sts. Malate, Manila.

14.

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

14.2 In cases where there is one (1) participant, said participant shall negotiate directly with PAGCOR. The parties shall undertake negotiations to conclude a price both acceptable to each, which however must not be lower than the floor price.

14.3 In cases however where there are two (2) or more participants, they shall, in a group, openly negotiate with PAGCOR as to their best offers. In said group, each participant shall openly convey to PAGCOR their best offers. The highest offer shall be noted and each participant shall thereat be given the privilege to best the current highest offer until the same becomes uncontested.

14.4 The Offeror who provides the highest offer (the Bona Fide Offer resulting from the successful Negotiated Sale) shall be declared as the Best Offeror subject to the Lessee’s Right to Match as specified in Items 14.5, 14.6 and 14.7 below.

14.5 In case the Lessee participated in the Negotiated Sale but was not declared the Best Offeror, it shall thereat be notified of its Right to Match the highest offer (the “Bona Fide Offer”). If the Lessee signifies its affirmative intent thereto, its Offer Bond shall not be released and it shall have a period of one hundred twenty (120) days in order to successfully match the amount of the Bona Fide Offer.

14.6 In case the Lessee did not participate in the Negotiated Sale but was actually present thereat only for the purpose of exercising its Right to Match, it shall immediately post the required Offer Bond and shall have a period of one hundred twenty (120) days in order to successfully match the amount of the Bona Fide Offer.

14.7 In case the Lessee was not present during the Negotiated Sale, it shall be notified in writing of the Bona Fide Offer and of its Right to Match under the Lease Contract. If Lessee elects to exercise its Right to Match, it shall post the required Offer Bond within five (5) days from receipt of the written notice and shall have an aggregate period of one hundred twenty (120) days from said receipt within which to successfully match the Bona Fide Offer. For purposes of successfully matching the amount of the Bona Fide Offer, full payment thereof must be made by the Lessee within the one hundred twenty (120) day period above.

14.8 The Best Offeror, in case he/she is not the Lessee, shall be notified in writing in case the Lessee elects to exercise its Right to Match the Bona Fide Offer.

14.9 Post qualification for the Best Offeror or the Lessee, as the case may be, shall be conducted to verify the documents submitted, clear the Offer Bond, and submit other documents as decided upon by the BACD. 14.10 Awarding to the Best Offeror or the Lessee, as the case may be, shall be subject to the approval of PAGCOR’s Board of Directors.

14.11 Notice of Award shall be issued after the Board has granted approval.

14.12 In the event of a failed Negotiated Sale, PAGCOR may again resort to another Negotiated Sale consistent with applicable laws, rules and regulations.

15.

PAYMENT 15.1 The Offer Bond shall be considered as partial payment and the difference between the Offer Bond and the Bona Fide Offer shall be paid in the form of manager’s check from any Universal or Commercial Bank.

15.2 The remaining balance of the offer price shall be paid in full by the Best Offeror at PAGCOR’s Finance and Treasury Department (FTD) Cashier within forty-five (45) calendar days (inclusive of 3 working days clearing of manager’s check) from the receipt of the Notice of Award. In the case of the Lessee if it has elected to exercise its Right to Match the Bona Fide Offer, it shall pay in full the remaining balance within the one hundred twenty (120) day period, as provided above.

15.4 Failure of the Best Offeror to fully pay the Bona Fide Offer within the prescribed forty-five (45) day period shall result in the forfeiture of the Offer Bond in favor of PAGCOR to be applied as liquidated damages. Failure herein shall include withdrawal by the Best Offeror of the Bona Fide Offer.

15.5 Likewise, failure of the Lessee to fully pay the amount of the Bona Fide Offer pursuant to the exercise of its Right to Match shall mean forfeiture of the 10% Offer Bond in favor of PAGCOR.

16.

FAILURE OF PAYMENT 16.1 Failure of the Best Offeror or the Lessee, as the case may be, to fully pay the highest offer shall not immediately constitute as failure of the Negotiated Sale.

16.2 In the event the Lessee, if it opted to exercise its Right to Match, fails to successfully match the Bona Fide Offer within the one hundred twenty (120) day period above, its Offer Bond shall be forfeited in favor of PAGCOR. Consequently, the Best Offeror declared during the Negotiated Sale shall be notified in writing of the Lessee’s failure to successfully match the Bona Fide Offer and that a privilege is granted to it (Best Offeror) to be the awardee of the herein subject properties upon full settlement of the Bona Fide Offer within forty-five (45) days from receipt thereof.

16.3 In case the Best Offeror fails to fully pay the Bona Fide Offer, its Offer Bond shall be forfeited in favor of PAGCOR. Consequently, the Offeror which provided the Second Highest Offer during the Negotiated Sale shall be notified in writing of the Best Offeror’s failure to fully pay the Bona Fide Offer and that a privilege is granted to it (Offeror of the Second Highest Offer) to be the awardee of the herein subject properties upon fully paying the Bona Fide Offer within forty-five (45) days from receipt thereof.

16.4 Failure of the Best Offeror or the Offeror of the Second Highest Offer, pursuant to Items 16.2 and 16.3 respectively, to fully settle the Highest or Bona Fide Offer may be a ground for failure of the Negotiated Sale.

17.

PAGCOR reserves the right to disqualify any and/or all prospective offeror/s if found that they have submitted falsified documents and/or information, and the right to accept or reject any or all offers, to annul the process of Negotiated Sale, to waive any defects of formalities found therein and to accept such offer or a part thereof as may be deemed most advantageous to PAGCOR without thereby incurring any liability to the affected offeror or offerors.

18.

PAGCOR reserves the right to change any of the rules as it sees fit. Revised Terms of Reference will be issued whenever applicable.

PAGCOR further reserves the right to amend the Terms of Reference any time prior to the conduct of Negotiated Sale. If the amendments are of a nature that will affect the offers, PAGCOR will entertain request to reschedule the Negotiated Sale.

19.

PAGCOR reserves the right to reject any and/or all offers, or declare a failure of Negotiated Sale, or not award the contract, if there is prima facie evidence of collusion between relevant public officers or employees of the agency or between the Corporate Disposal Committee or between the BAC for Disposal and any of the offerors, or if collusion is between or among the offerors, or between a offeror and a third party, including any act which restricts, suppresses or nullifies competition, or if the BAC for Disposal is found to have failed to follow the prescribed bidding procedures and procedures in Negotiated Sale, or for any justifiable and reasonable ground where the award of the contract shall not redound to the benefit of the government.

20.

All documents submitted by the offerors are presumed to be legally in order, that the person signing and executing said documents is authorized to do so and that the signatures appearing thereon are authentic and not forged. Any material defect or misrepresentation on the documents which will invalidate or render unenforceable the offers submitted shall cause the rejection of the offer and the forfeiture of any amount tendered to PAGCOR.

21.

All communications as regards the conduct of negotiated sale shall be addressed to:

The schedule of bidding activities is listed, as follows: Date, Time and Venue April 04, 2018 to April 27, 2018 April 13, 2018 (Friday), 2:00 p.m.

April 27, 2018 (Friday), 2:00 p.m.

April 27, 2018 (Friday), 2:00 p.m., onwards

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Procurement Section (PS), acting as the BBAC Secretariat, of PAGCOR and/or inspect the Bidding Documents at Mezzanine Floor, Casino Filipino – Angeles, Mac Arthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City during office hours of PAGCOR from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, based on the following matrix: Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000.00 and below More than 500,000.00 up to 1 Million More than 1 Million up to 5 Million More than 5 Million up to 10 Million

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos) 500.00 1,000.00 5,000.00 10,000.00

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee of the Bidding Documents not later than the deadline for the submission and receipt of bids.

Prospective bidders should present to Finance Section located at the Mezzanine Floor, Casino Filipino – Angeles, Mac Arthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City either the Fee Slip which may be secured from PS or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents.

Bidders shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of his bid, and PAGCOR will in no case be responsible or liable for those costs, regardless of the conduct or outcome of the bidding process.

Bidders should note that PAGCOR will accept bids only from those that have paid the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents.

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 will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the venue of the bid opening. Late bids shall not be accepted.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Branch Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC) shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: a) b)

In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids 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.

Please address all communications to the Branch Bids and Awards Committee thru PS, Mezzanine Floor, Casino Filipino – Angeles, Mac Arthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City, Tel No.: 892-5073 local 401.

(SGD) GLECY B. DANGA Chairperson Branch Bids and awards committee (BBac) (MS-APR. 4, 2018)

OFFER REQUIREMENTS: 11.1 Inside an envelope: 11.1.1 Articles of Incorporation (AOI) / Partnership (AOP) for corporation/s or partnerships, and Proof of Citizenship (POC) for individuals. In case of Joint Ventures, the duly notarized Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) as well as the AOI, AOP and POC, as the case may be, for the partners constituting the Joint Venture. In the absence of a JVA, duly notarized statements from all the potential joint venture partners should be included, stating that they will enter into and abide by the provision of the JVA in the event that the offer is successful.

11.1.2 Latest General Information Sheet, if applicable; 11.1.3 Financial Statements, 2016; 11.1.4 Income Tax Return, 2016; 11.1.5 If through Representative, Special Power of Attorney (SPA) or Secretary’s Certificate.

11.1.6 Terms of Reference and Offer Bulletin (if any) with all pages signed by the offeror or the authorized representative; 11.1.7 Sworn Statement that each of the documents submitted in satisfaction of the Offer Requirements is an authentic copy of the original, complete, and all statements and information provided therein are true and correct; and 11.1.8 Photo copy of any government issued ID of the offeror or the authorized representative.

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

11.2 The following details shall be written on the envelope: Upper left hand corner: Name of Offeror Address Contact Number Fax Number Center: BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE FOR DISPOSAL (BACD) PHILIPPINE AMUSEMENT AND GAMING CORPORATION PAGCOR Corporate Office AG New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino 1588 M.H. Del Pilar Street cor. Pedro Gil Streets Malate, Manila.

Name of Property: Bay City Properties ITB Number: BACD18-001(Negotiated Sale) 11.1 The Offer Forms shall be available at Room 202 Engineering Room (c/o Ms. Shalee Nacino) 2nd Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila (10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.) upon payment of a non-refundable Offer Fee of P75,000.00.

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before 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.

Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids 4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Furthermore, it is understood that the ownership of the property does not confer to the Best Offeror the right to operate gaming facilities and business. A casino license or license to operate gaming operations is NOT part of the sale of the Property. Hence, the Best Offeror which shall thereafter be the Awardee of the Property shall neither have right nor authority to operate a casino or any other gaming operation. This paragraph shall be inapplicable should the Lessee be declared the Best Offeror or is able to match the Bona Fide Offer of the highest offeror.

Pursuant to the Contract of Lease (and its addenda), the Real Property Tax, including arrears, penalties and charges, if any, shall be for the account of the Lessee.

8.

For several lots, please add “NOTE: Bidders may bid on one or both/all lots.”

Otherwise delete

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, PostQualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR.

trous divorce after a stormy marriage to his first wife, Joan Bennett Kennedy.

“I was desperate to play this part and I’m very proud of what we did, what we’ve made,” said Jason Clarke (“Everest,” “Mudbound”), who plays Kennedy.

“This film is going to stand the test of time.”

Clarke, 48, described the senator’s fleeing the scene as “hard to forgive, if it’s forgivable” but added, “that’s human and that’s life.”

The actor said Kennedy’s legislative accomplishments stood the test of time.

“What he stood for is on the right side of history: education, civil rights, so many things.”

Kennedy admitted leaving the scene of an accident at Chappaquiddick and received a suspended two-month jail sentence. AFP

Bids and Awards Committee for Disposal (BACD) Thru the Secretariat: Ms. Shalee Nacino 2nd Floor, General Services and Engineering Department (GSED) PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Blvd., Ermita, Manila Tel. No. (02) 521-15-42 loc. 258

(MS-APR. 3,4,5, 2018)

(SGD) ATTY. ANGELINE PAPICA-ENTIENZA Chairman Bids and Awards Committee for Disposal (BACD) PAGCOR

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

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wednesday, april 4, 2018

Estrada: Manila’s Andres Bonifacio Hospital upgrades near completion THE Manila city government is nearly finished with upgrades to the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center in Tondo, giving Manileños better access to quality health care.

“I want every person in this city to have access in health care. To make this a reality, we have this program of upgrading and modernizing the health facilities of the GABMMC,” Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said Tuesday.

“I believe that a good government should and must ensure that its citizens will receive quality care and invest our resources in people—through expanded health cares and improve medical services,” he added.

Estrada said with the city-owned hospital’s new facilities, city residents are going to be able to access improved services with its 150-bed capacity in District 1.

The mayor said almost the entire hospital has been renovated with the provision of new hospital equipment, including the patient wards, private rooms, the outpatient department, its laboratory and blood bank, the emergency room, pharmacy and records section, admitting and billing section, social service office, chapel, and the newly renovated Manila Eye Center.

“This is one of the first milestones in our journey to better meet the health care needs of our community,” Estrada said.

The Eye Center has new state of the art equipment to better serve Manilenos and diagnose and treat different eye diseases.

The center offers various tests such as visual acuity test; eye examination with computerized refraction; fundoscopic examination; indirect ophthalmoscopic examination; color vision test; cataract screening; glaucoma screening; and biometry.

Muntinlupa top students receive cash incentives ALL hard work will be rewarded in Muntinlupa City.

The City Government of Muntinlupa proved this Tuesday as it awarded cash incentives to top performers in all public schools for their academic achievement, continuing its financial support to public senior high school graduates.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi led the distribution of Honor Cash Incentives for the overall Top 10 Completers and Graduates in all Muntinlupa Public Schools starting April.

For Grade 6, students in the honor roll will receive (Top 1-3) P5,000, (Top 4-6) P4,000, and (Top 7-10) P3,000.

Students in Grade 10 and 12 will receive (Top 1-3) P10,000, (Top 4-6) P7,500, and (Top 7-10) P5,000.

Since 2014, the cash incentive program for honor students has been facilitated by the Muntinlupa Scholarship Program. This year, almost 250 students will be receiving the incentive.

The local government also rewards Top 1 students of all sections from Grade 1 to 12 in all Public Schools with P1,000 cash incentive each through the STudents with Awesome Records program.

Graduating public SHS students will also receive P5,000 Scholarship Voucher. Public SHS graduates enrolling to any college/university/technical-vocational institution of their choice may avail of the Basic Scholarship assistance.

GENTRI BYPASS.

Cavite Rep. Luis ‘Jon Jon’ Ferrer IV, General Trias City Mayor Antonio Ferrer and Vice Mayor Morit Sison ride the vehicle traversing the new LumandasManggahan bypass road—which will cut traffic in half in the area, according to GenTri Traffic Head Noel Moreno—as local officials lead the ribbon cutting ceremony (inset).

LGUs LocaL government units

AMBASSADORS IN MARAWI. The local community welcomes members of the diplomatic corps to the Philippine Army Bahay Pag-asa Phase 2 Housing Project in Brgy. Mipaga,

Marawi City. Ambassadors Kok Li Peng of Singapore, Aruni Ranaraja of Sri Lanka, Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev of Russia, Jaideep Mazumdar of India, Ly Quoc Tuanm of Vietnam, Aman Rashid of Pakistan, and Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune of Laos visited the one-hectare Immediate Shelter and Accommodation housing complex. They were accompanied by Thai Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Urawadee Sriphiromya, who represented Ambassador Thanatip Upatising. With the diplomats are the people behind the project: Maj. Gen Roseller Murillo, commander of the Armed Forces’ 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division; Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito D. Bautista, Commanding General of the Philippine Army; Isa Suntay and Isabel Cojuangco-Suntay, co-founder of the Tarlac Heritage Foundation.

Fire hits fuel storage loading rack in Subic

By Alena Mae S. Flores

A

FIRE hit the Philippine Coastal Storage and Pipeline Corp.’s loading rack at its facilities in Subic Bay, Zambales, which supplies fuel to other oil players.

PCSPC’s terminalling and storage services for fuels has a capacity of 5.2 million barrels at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Energy Assistant Secretary Leonido Pulido III said the fire occurred at the centralized gantry of the facility. Loading rack no. 2 was damaged, he said.

However, Pulido said that based on the assessment of the department’s Oil Industry Management Bureau, the fire had no effect on fuel supply.

“The terminal manager will later send official report,” Pulido said.

The present lessors or locators of PCSPC

includes PTT, Microdragon, Subic Petroleum Trading and Transport Philippines, ED&F, Bioenergy, Seaoil, Novalco, Bunge, Raizen, Marubeni, Defense Logistics Agency, Rockoil and Phoenix Petroleum.

The fire was declared out at 1:20 p.m. on Monday.

Last year, PCPSC successfully completed the construction of 540,000 barrels of additional storage capacity and loading facilities at its operations within the freeport zone.

Three new 180,000-barrel fuel storage tanks and two tank truck loading

racks, were built over 12 months.

The new tanks increased PCSPC’s total fuel storage to 5.2 million barrels (827 million liters) of various fuel products such as diesel, gasoline, jet and fuel oil.

PCSPC’s strategic location in the SBFZ provides for efficient importation of fuel products for storage and onward distribution along the network of well-maintained toll roads to Clark, Manila, Central and Northern Luzon.

SBFZ also provides an efficient coastal location for hub operations with imports from regional refineries for onward export distribution to the region.

PCSPC operates the petroleum storage and pipeline facilities of the former Subic Bay Naval Base. The facility was originally constructed in 1953 with 2.4 million barrels of capacity, but its capacity has doubled over the past six years.

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi congratulates graduates during the Completion Ceremony at Soldiers Hills Elementary School in Brgy.

Putatan on Tuesday.

Financial analyst, electrician bag SBMA EOY plum

By Butch Gunio SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—A financial analyst and an airport lineman/ electrician were named 2017 Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Employee of the Year for their remarkable contributions to the agency’s performance.

For the second year in a row, two finalists tied to receive the coveted SBMA EOY award. Nora Sevillejo of the Support Services Group and Eric Labarentos of Operations Group stood out among the six finalists during the recent awarding ceremony at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

SBMA Chairperson and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma congratulated the winners and other finalists during the ceremony and lauded all the employees for heeding her call for malasakit.

“There’s a renewed energy in SBMA; there’s a renewed energy in Subic Bay. And whether you believe it or not, it came from our call for malasakit [compassion],” Eisma said.

“And I’m not taking credit for it. You should take credit for it because you listened to the call. You listened to the call to do your best, more than what you are expected to do,” she added.

Sevillejo, a financial analyst for 23 years, was first a volunteer under the SBMA Tourism Department for seven months in 1994. She was named the Support Services Group’s best employee for her on-time submission of the Budget and Financial Accountability Report and the Budget Execution Documents required by the Department of Budget and Management.

Had Sevillejo failed to produce the documents on time, it would have affected the power subsidy for Hanjin Heavy Industries and ConstructionPhilippines, which is the biggest locator-company in Subic Freeport, and the Performance-Based Bonus for SBMA employees.

Joy: Use QC GAD fund to add more women and children’s help desks

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday proposed the use of the city government’s gender and development or GAD fund to put more women and children’s help desks in the city’s 142 barangays.

According to Belmonte, daughter of former mayor and now Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr., the city’s 2018 budget is P19 billion, of

which five percent or roughly P950 million goes to GAD projects and programs.

Belmonte said there is a need to intensify programs to protect the rights of every women-constituents against all forms of crimes and abuses.

She cited a recent study done by the Social Weather Stations showing women were most vulnerable to sexual harassment, especially in public places.

“There is an issue that maybe we can use the GAD budget for these things, or for example, in giving a seed capital to women who wish to start up [a business],” the vice mayor added.

She said Quezon City, Metro Manila’s biggest locality with a population of over three million, three out of five women were sexually harassed at least once in their lifetime.

“With more women and children’s protection desks in every barangay, in addition to those at the police stations, we can address the vulnerabilities of women,” Belmonte pointed out.

Under the GAD budget policy, all government offices, local government units, and state universities and colleges are enjoined to utilize at least 5 percent of their budget for programs that promote gender equality.

Mining firm taps NV farmers for greening program

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Mining firm FCF Minerals Corp. has tapped the help of farmers in this town in a bid to provide them a source of income and reinforce the government’s efforts on the National Greening Program.

Peter Storey, FCF Minerals general manager for operations, said a tripartite agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Magapuy Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative in 2016 paved the way for the identification of 100 hectares of land in barangay Magapuy for the planting of coffee seedlings.

“We provide the seedlings including financial as-

sistance for the plantation’s maintenance for two years with the supervision of the DENR while the farmers made the planting,” said Storey, who oversees the Runruno gold-molybdenum mine in this province.

Richard Cordero, MFMPC manager, said that as of the second quarter last year, FCF Minerals has already provided 15,000 coffee seedlings and has planted 15 out of the 100-hectare plantation.

“This is a great help for farmers like us. Despite negative views about this project, it has succeeded with proper implementation and cooperation,” he said.

Cordero said he looks forward to the benefits they will gain from the coffee plantation project which will bring their children to schools.

Life

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

fashion and beauty

@MStandardLIFE wEdnESday, aprIL 4, 2018

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Princess Diana-inspired Claire is the Lance shoe reworked into a new style, wrapped in softly ruched PVC to create the modern princess’ glass slippers

shoe collection T

Jane high heel and flat square-toe sandals are perfect for summer getaways

Art on your feet

WeNTY years since her passing, the late Diana, Princess of Wales remains an icon looked up to by today’s stylish lot.

Victoria satin pointy-toe shoes with a cascade of tear-drop crystals will shine at any party

Mary is your pair of ultrarefined stiletto heels with large au courant bow that captures the devil-maycare attitude of new luxury

as one of the first devotees of Jimmy choo, the “People’s Princess” serves as the muse of the shoe collection born out of the collaboration of the luxury accessories label and ready-to-wear brand off-White.

Under the creative direction of Sandra choi, the elegance of Jimmy choo takes a leftfield swerve and unites with Virgil abloh’s cult fashion label off-White, bringing together a fresh aesthetic to luxury footwear.

“To collaborate with a brand like offWhite allows Jimmy choo to explore a new avenue and take part in a different conversation,” says choi. “I love to mix it up by getting together with a different creative mind identifying our synergies and combining our DNa to create a beautiful and surprising collection with unexpected links to the roots of our brand.”

This marks the first time that Jimmy choo has collaborated on a commercial shoe collection with a ready-to-wear designer.

The nine shoe silhouettes complement the ready-to wear looks that celebrate Princess Diana’s style, imbued with abloh’s aesthetic.

Her signature 90s looks are reconfigured for today’s princesses, to make for fantastical runway propositions that comprise conceptual plastics, tulles, and explosive hothouse florals whilst all cleverly grounded in reality. exclusive packaging ensures these new footwear designs are as collectible as they are wearable.

The young exuberance of off-White and the storied elegance of Jimmy choo have brought to life claire & Frances, Jimmy choo’s classic styles reconceptualized with twisted practicality and steely femininity. The Lance shoe was reworked into a new style, wrapped in unexpectedly softly ruched PVc to create the modern princess’ “glass slippers”; leg-lengthening structured knee-boots encased in PVc or a tornado of tulle; and chisel-toe satin pumps enrobed in plastic and presented with a high heel and directional square toe. also part of the collection are Mary, ultrarefined stiletto heels with large au courant bow that captures the non-precious, devilmay-care attitude of the new luxury; Victoria, satin pointy-toe shoes with a cascade of tear-drop crystals that will shine at any party; and Jane, high heel and flat square-toe sandals that are perfect for a summer getaway in the south of France.

In the Philippines, Jimmy Choo is located at Shangri-La Plaza East Wing and Rustan’s Makati.

The local label tapped Peter Xandrix to create summer-inspired designs on its shoes

LocaL handcrafted footwear label annie & Lori launches a limited edition hand-painted leather sandals. annie & Lori tapped artist Peter Xandrix, who worked as a product designer for home accessories and décor in New York, to give the homegrown brand’s bestselling crostini slip-ons and Behati sandals a refreshing and summery upgrade.

The limited edition collection embraces the vibrancy of nature as it features patterns of palm greens, lilies, hibiscus, and birds of paradise. With the combination of vibrant hues and rich textures, the collection is a celebration of the exciting summer season. according to Xandrix, the inspiration for his work on the shoes is the

“peace and escape I got from my apartment in New York.”

He shared, “amidst the city chaos, I had always found relaxation at home, where a symbiosis of color and nature thrives. It is designed for urban explorers who can take a piece of paradise wherever they go.”

“We’re super ecstatic to launch this collection. It’s something new for us and we’re looking forward to seeing our stylish customers wear these designs in their summer trips,” enthused Faith Mijares, annie & Lori’s founder and creative director.

The hand-painted collection is available exclusively for online orders. For more information, visit www.annielori. com or follow Annie & Lori on Facebook or @annieandlori on Instagram.

Annie & Lori launches a limited edition collection of its bestselling leather footwear with hand-painted designs.

Life

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wednesday, apri apriL 4, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

4 easy styles

you can wear this summer

Enchanted nature

W

ITH the warmer days upon us, pick a chic style that you can wear from the streets to the beach without breaking a sweat, literally. These four easy-breezy ensembles highlight the two most important things in summer dressing: stylish and comfortable.

Jessica spring/summer 2018 collection features pieces with plants, flowers, fruits, and ocean patterns

THIS season, fashion label Jessica looks to the natural world for inspirations; incorporating unique patterns from the vibrant nature, particularly that of plants, flowers, fruits, and the ocean into its spring/summer 2018 collection.

Trendy fashion items are sweetened up with romantic pastel shades, oozing a fairylike whimsical vibe, while premium fabrications are adorned with artisanal embroidery and embellishments. This enchanting collection is composed of essential daily wear and playful party dresses.

Springtime bliss

Sassy sundress

The lightweight and effortless sundress is the quintessential summer must-have, perfect to wear at the beach or when running errands in the city. Pick a length that best accentuates your frame and go for either solid or printed fabric. Finish off your fuss-free look with a lightweight strappy sandals made for walking. The Skechers On-theGo 600 sandals come with soft knit upper and 5GEN midsole for memory retention that helps absorb impact. This style is available in various colors, so you can easily mix and match.

luxe boho

Nail the effortlessly casual boho look with the signature classics: a printed dress, earth-toned accessories, and easy to wear and comfy strappy sandals. With On-the-Go 600 sandals, you can move around easily. Imagine strolling a new town smoothly with these extra plush footwear made with the GOga Max footbed and high-rebound cushioning.

ruffle rush

new urban classics

Denim jacket, neutral-colored top or dress, and a pair of slides are wardrobe essentials of today’s fashion-forward gals. Wear an ankle-length dress or a shirt and skirt combination, top it off with a classic blue denim jacket, and slip on a pair of Skechers 2nd Take slides. You may choose from plush faux fur, smooth satiny fabrics, or bejewelled upper.

Aside from eye-catching designs, the 2nd Take has padded and contoured footbed for comfort.

Ruffled tops and skirts are slowly climbing the top of summer trends list. If you’re living too far away from the beach or not heading to the sea anytime soon, bring the sea waves to you with a variety of wavy ruffled options you can wear. Finish your glitzy look with a bold accessory, like a printed turban, and comfy wedge sandals with striking accents that you can easily wear from day to night. The Skechers Rumblers sandals are your best bet to pull off a classy windswept look with just the right amount of shine and comfort. These sandals feature metallic finish faux leather that gives them an elegant twist, and Memory Foam insoles for superior cushioning.

The shoes mentioned in this story are available at Skechers stores and at www.skechers.com.ph.

Celebrate the arrival of spring with flamboyant shades of red, or harmonious pastel hues of blue, lilac, lemon, and apple green. Botanical floral motif is the highlight, boasting the ethereal feminine beauty with floral prints in various shapes and shades. Steal the limelight with the modern lilac sleeveless shift dress adorned with watercolor botanical prints and lace panel.

Artisanal embroidery and enchanting embellishments are incorporated into lace fabrications, organza, mesh, and chiffon, adding dimensions and bringing life to intricate floral patterns. Look sweet in the ivory flare dress with multicolor botanical embroidery lace. Or opt for an effortlessly playful look by pairing the trendy shorts with the floral embroidery jacket lined with chiffon trimmings.

The jungle leaf print on jacquard is another unique trendy option. Match the wide-legged cropped jacquard pants with the white fringe top, or don the jacquard dress with lace panel for your next tropical holiday.

Get on with the latest trend by styling the oceanic floral print ivory knit top with belted ivory pleated wide-legged pants with buttons down the sides. Complete the look with a navy trench coat to elongate your silhouette while staying warm in the transitional weather.

Stay warm in oceanic floral print ivory knit top, belted ivory pleated wide-legged pants, and navy trench coat

Look sweet in a dress with intricate floral patterns

Highlight your unique charisma with the multicolor knit dress with colorful trimmings, or add a subtly sexy touch with the black chiffon dress with leaf-shaped embellishments. Match the color striped tweed Sheer summer blooms jacket with detachable cuffs with a Inspired by the rich layers and soft tex- pair of light pink slim-cut pants for a tures of flower petals, the summer collec- youthful, lovable style. tion embodies the elegance of blooming bulbs with contrasting fabrications and a midsummer fantasy textures, while skillfully applying shades Jessica’s designer extends her fanof pink, lemon, lilac, blue, and apple tasy of the tropical forest and the endgreen into various seasonal items. less ocean into the summer collection, The stripes on the lemon yellow creating playful patterns of seashells, dress are made up of contrasting fab- seahorses, ferns, and water plants in rics of matte, silk, and organza with the shades of jade and blue. Featuring irregular sheer, and lined with lace a pearl collar, the fern and seashell patruffles, creating a stylish yet classy terned shift dress reflects your desire for look for a nice day out. Meanwhile, a coastal voyage, while the forest devore the sheer off-white organza sleeveless dress with yellow and green forest patdress is not only lined with embroi- tern oozes a trendy tropical flair. dery flowers but also shines with emUp your style game by matching bellishments that glitter under the sun. the aqua blue embroidered midi dress Multicolor three-dimensional lace with a jeweled belt to stand out from is one of the key styles for this sea- the crowd. The green metallic floson. Lace dress in warm tones of coral ral sequin dress with the detachable orange and lilac lace features a sheer shoulder bow, on the other hand, submesh collar to enhance your graceful tly shows off your posh style. Mint or allure. The pastel pleated dress with off-white tops or dresses with fruit light blue and baby yellow lace is per- floral prints also add a splash of vifect for your next summer party. brant charm to your look.

va n i t y c o r n e r : Sunscreen edition WE’VE all been told time and again the importance of wearing sunscreen every day, and this importance increases ten-fold during the warmer season. Here are two of our picks that you can slather on your skin before you head out today.

eco-friendly SunScreen

Skin caring SunScreen

MOST synthetic sunscreens contain ingredients like parabens, oxybenzone, and benzophenone which can bleach corals within 96 hours of exposure. Human Nature’s SafeProtect sunscreens keep your skin safe while caring for coral reefs with its 100 percent natural and biodegradable formulation.

SafeProtect is available in two variants: Human Nature SafeProtect SPF 30 Sunscreen and Human Nature SafeProtect SPF 30 Sunscreen for Babies & Kids. The latter is safe for babies six months and onwards.

Both variants have a PA++++ rating, providing superior protection against skin-aging UVA rays, and broad-spectrum shield that deflects 97 percent of UVB rays.

SafeProtect sunscreen is available at Human Nature branches and select supermarkets and department stores nationwide.

Backed by science, Celeteque DermoScience Sun Care range is for those who like their sunblock to have skin nourishing benefits, too.

Hit two birds with one stone with Celeteque Sun Care Matte Moisturizer with SPF 30 that provides double sunscreen protection against UVA/UVB rays, while hydrating the skin. It is oil free and settles on the skin with a matte finish that keeps you look fresh even while under the sweltering heat of the sun.

Meanwhile, the Celeteque Sun Care Face and Body Sun Defense Spray is a lightweight alternative to the usually dense sunscreen formula; it diffuses the formula evenly on the skin without the heavy and sticky feeling. The sunscreen spray also provides dual protection against aging UVA rays and burning UVB sun rays under dry and wet conditions, as proven by an open clinical trial conducted among Filipinos. Finally, its Vitamin E and Sunflower Oil properties allow the skin to remain moisturized.

These sun care products are available at Watsons, PCX, and major department stores nationwide.

Human Nature SafeProtect SPF30 Sunscreen and Human Nature SafeProtect SPF30 Suncreen for Babies & Kids

Celeteque Matte Moisturizer SPF30 and Celeteque Sun Care Spray

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

TODAY

C3

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

nickie.standard@gmail.com

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CEBU-BOHOL 230 kV INTERCONNECTION PROJECT AND NABASCATICLANBORACAY TRANSMISSION PROJECT, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY, NATIONAL CORPORATION PHILIPPINES,

OF

13. As shown in the abovementioned data, the demand of Boracay Island will already exceed the capacities of the existing transformer in Manoc-manoc LES in the year 2017, and Caticlan - Boracay 69 kV submarine cable by 2018. The same simulation also clearly shows that by 2021, the cumulative demand of the load-end substations in Caticlan and Boracay will already exceed the capacity of the 69 kV line from Nabas Substation which will result to system collapse.

14. To avoid the system collapse, NGCP proposes to construct an additional transmission line and substation facilities to cater the growing demand of Boracay Island.

ERC CASE NO. 2 0 17-093 RC

GRID THE

15.

Applicant. x--------------------------------------------x

a. Caticlan CTS - Boracay SS: 1 circuit XLPE Submarine Cable of 100 MW capacity at 138kV, 2 km; b. Caticlan: 1 circuit XLPE Underground Cable of 100 MW capacity at 138kV, 8 km; c. Boracay: 1 circuit XLPE Underground Cable of 50 MW capacity at 69kV, 1 km; d. Nabas - Caticlan: ST/SP-DC, 1X795 MCM ACSR, 138 kV overhead line, 14km; e. Boracay SIS: 1XIOO MVA, 138/69kVand 2 x 50 MVA, 69/13·2kV; f. Nabas S/S: 2x138kV PCB + Associated Equipment; and g. Boracay S/S: 1X138 kV PCB and 4X69kV PCB + Associated Equipment.

NOTICEOF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 13 October 2017, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed an Application dated 09 October 2017 (Application) for approval of the implementation of the Cebu-Bohol Interconnection Project and the Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay Transmission Project, with prayer for provisional authority.

NGCP alleged the following in its Application:

Atlantis Thea tr

The Applicant

ical's new se

ason lineup

Simply Red...

From C4

After a stellar year that included a repeat run of the Tony Award-winning musical Fun Home starring Lea Salonga, the Tony/Olivier/Grammy Award winning musical Kinky Boots, and the Olivier Award winning family musical Matilda, Atlantis Theatrical has announced its 2018 Season which will include the first international production of the Sara Bareilles musical Waitress, which continues to run on Broadway to SRO crowds.

Atlantis kicked off its 2018 Season with a repeat run of the hit musical Kinky Boots Nyoy Volante as Lola. With songs by Grammy® and Tony® winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper, this fabulous musical celebration is about the friendships we discover, and the belief that you can change the world when you change your mind.

Inspired by true events, this joyous musical was brought to life on the big screen in 2005, with Oscar® nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor as the dazzling Lola, before being transformed into a hit Tony Award winning Broadway musical that continues to run on Broadway. The Limited Repeat Run of Kinky Boots played at the RCBC Theatre, Makati from March 2 to 18.

In September, Atlantis will premiere the critically acclaimed Broadway musical Side Show, with music by Henry Krieger, who composed Dreamgirls.

Based on the true story of conjoined twins and famed entertainers Violet and Daisy Hilton, Side Show is a remarkable musical about acceptance, love, and embracing one’s uniqueness. As the starring act of a sideshow, helmed by an abusive ringmaster, Violet and Daisy Hilton are eager to accept an offer of fame, fortune, and potential romance proffered by Terry, a talent scout, and Buddy, a budding musician.

As stars on the Orpheum Circuit, it seems that Violet and Daisy have everything they ever wanted. The one thing they lack, however, is the fulfillment of their hearts’ desires.

Nearly entirely sung-through, Side Show features soulful music, stunningly beautiful lyrics, and powerhouse show-stoppers, particularly the famous duets “Who Will Love Me as I Am” and “I Will Never Leave You.” A stunning reminder of the importance of accepting and celebrating what makes us unique, Side Show is a true story that will touch the audience’s heart.

In November, Atlantis closes its season with Sara Bareilles’s hit musical Waitress, that continues to sell out on Broadway.

Making its international debut in Manila with a sparkling new production, this irresistible Broadway hit features original music and lyrics by the 6-time Grammy® nominee (“Brave,” “Love Song”) and a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam).

Inspired by Adrienne Shelly’s beloved film, Waitress tells the story of Jenna - a waitress and expert pie maker, Jenna dreams of a way out of her small town and loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s new doctor may offer her a chance at a fresh start, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes for happiness. But Jenna must summon the strength and courage to rebuild her own life.

“Waitress is a little slice of heaven!” says Entertainment Weekly and “a monumental contribution to Broadway!” according to Marie Claire.

Atlantis’ Artistic Director, Bobby Garcia, says, “I am thrilled to announce our line-up for 2018. We’ve been getting calls asking us for a repeat run of Kinky Boots, so we gave them one final chance to catch Lola and her Angels celebrate diversity in 6-inch heels. I was one of the lucky ones to catch Side Show in 1997 with Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner and have been in love with the musical ever since. And now here we are bringing the updated 2014 Broadway revival to Manila for the first time ever. Lastly, it is with great pride that we will be marking the International Premiere of Waitress in the Philippines. It is a beautiful, heartwarming and joyous musical about finding the strength to rebuild your life one pie at a time. We hope you will join us for all our shows.”

Tony Tuviera, Atlantis’ chairman of the board, and Dan de Padua, Atlantis’ president said, “We are equally happy to be producing these brand new shows Side Show and Waitress, and to be part of the exciting growth of theater in the Philippines.”

With these musicals lined up for 2018, Manila is all set for another year of exciting musical theatre.

For sponsorship and show buying opportunities please contact Atlantis Theatrical at telephone numbers 650-5144 or 0917-8381534 or email info@atlantistheatrical.com *** MTRCB Chairman Rachel Arenas seemed to be doing her job well at Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Last week, March 27 to 28, before the holidays of the Holy week, she and her team conducted an inspection and information drive on passenger buses and various bus terminals.

The regular inspection and information drive aims to increase public awareness and to ensure that buses only exhibited materials within the General Audience (“G”) or Parental Guidance (“PG”) film classification so that children on board will not be exposed to materials inappropriate for their ages.

There were three violations gathered at the inspection held on March 27 at Araneta Bus Station and Araneta Bus Port as per the MTRCB’s Monitoring and Inspection Unit (MIU). The buses were from Ceres Transport Inc., Ceres Gold Star and Elavil all of which displayed unrated video materials. The Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive found at Elavil Bus was confiscated by the MIU and would serve as evidence of their violation. The Ceres Transport bus and the Ceres Gold Star bus also exhibited films beyond the PG rating.

On March 28 the inspection continued at Florida Bus Terminal and at Victory Liner Terminal to cover more stations for the info drive and to guarantee that passengers view the version of the materials, which was approved by the Agency.

16. The estimated cost of the proposed project is PhP 4,269.302Mn, with an implementation period of 35 months.

The Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay Transmission Line Project is discussed in the ERC Documentary Requirements on the Proposed Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay Transmission Line Project attached as Annex “B.”

1. NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner B.I.R. Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire, which was granted the rights and obligation to construct, install, finance, manage, improve, expand, operate, maintain, rehabilitate, repair, refurbish, and replace the Transmission Assets pursuant to R.A. 9136, otherwise known as the “Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001” (EPlRA). It may be served with notices and other processes of this Honorable Commission through its counsel at the address indicated below.

Justifications for the Issuance of Provisional Approval 17. NGCP is mandated to plan and construct transmission facilities to ensure reliable transmission service to its customers. Thus, it needs adequate transmission capacity to foster economic growth and serve growing demand of the load customers. Considering that planning, site development, right-of-way concerns and construction of the transmission facilities would take more than 3 years to develop and complete, it is critical for NGCP to act immediately and address issues early by undertaking the abovementioned projects.

2. Pursuant to R.A. 9511,1 NGCP was granted the franchise to operate, manage and maintain, and in connection therewith, to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through a high-voltage backbone system of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, system operations, and other activities that are necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system2 and is authorized to charge its customers at the rates approved by the Honorable Commission.

18. A system collapse is imminent and Will be experienced as early as 2021, if the projects are not undertaken. It must be emphasized that the implementation periods of the projects are 50 and 35 months for the CebuBohol and Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay, respectively. Thus, it is necessary for NGCP to immediately commence the implementation of the proposed projects.

3. This Application is filed pursuant to, Section 9 (d) of the EPIRA which directs NGCP to submit any plan for expansion or improvement of its facilities for approval by the Honorable Commission. Hence, NGCP seeks authority from the Honorable Commission for the immediate implementation of the herein described capital expenditure projects.

19. In support of this application, NGCP submits the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Christian B. Ereño, Head of the Visayas System Planning Division, Transmission Planning Department of NGCP attached as Annex “C.”

4. The subject projects will support the increasing demand for electricity of Bohol and Boracay’s load customers, and improve the reliability of the electrical system of the Visayas Grid.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, NGCP most respectfully prays that this Honorable Commission:

I. CEBU-BOHOL 230 KV INTERCONNECTION PROJECT

1. Immediately ISSUE an Order PROVISIONALLY AUTHORIZING the implementation of Cebu-Bohol 230 kV Interconnection and Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay Transmission Line Projects; and

5. The Cebu, Leyte and Bohol Islands are radially interconnected through the Cebu-Leyte 230 kilovolts (kV) and Leyte-Bohol138 kV submarine cables. The LeyteBohol 138 kV submarine cable has a limited capacity of only 90 megawatts (MW).

2. After notice and hearing, APPROVE the Application for the implementation of the Cebu-Bohol 230 kV Interconnection and Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay Transmission Line Projects.

6. Bohol is highly dependent on power coming from Leyte.

Although Bobol hosts several hydro- and oil-based power plants, their aggregate capacities are not sufficient to supply Bohol’s total demand. It is estimated that by year 2020, the demand of Bohol win reach 89 MW and by year 2021 will further increase to 95 MW. Thus, transmitting the needed power from the Leyte Island win absolutely overload the Leyte-Bohol138 kV submarine cable.

NGCP prays for other equitable relief.

On 02 March 2018, Applicant filed a Motion to Set Case for Initial Hearing dated 01 March 2018 (Motion) praying that the instant case be set for hearing. Finding said Motion in order, the Commission grants the same.

Bohol Island, Actual and Forecast Demands, in MW 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 62 70 72 77 83 89 95 102 109 116 124

7. Shown in the table below is the actual demand (20152016) and forecasted demand of Bohol from 2017 to 2025.

8. To avoid the expected overloading of the Leyte-Bohol submarine cable, NGCP proposes to interconnect the Cebu and Bohol Islands through a 230 kV submarine cable. With the interconnection, the overloading of LeyteBohol 138 kV submarine cable will be avoided, and will provide the Bohol Island with another source of power coming from the Island of Cebu.

Accordingly, finding the instant Application sufficient in substance with the required fees having been paid, the same is hereby set for hearing on the following dates: DATE AND TIME

VENUE

18 April 2018 (Wednesday) ten o’clock in the (10:00 A.M.)

Metro Center, Tagbilaran City, Bohol

b. c. d. e. f. g. h.

Sibonga CTS - Loon CTS: 4x1600mm2 230kV XLPE, Submarine Cable, 30 km; Sibonga SIS - Sibonga CTS: ST-DC, 4X795MCM ACSR, 230 kV Overhead line, 2 km; Loon CTS - Corella SIS: ST-DC, 4x79SMCM ACSR, 230 kV Overhead line, 17 km; Corella SIS: 2X300 MVA, 230/138kV; Sibonga SIS: 6X230kV PCB + Associated Equipment; Corella S/S: 8x230kV PCB and 2X138kV PCB +Associated Equipment; Sibonga S/S: 2X40MVAR 230kV Reactor; and Corella SIS: 2x40MVAR 230kV Reactor.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified · Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: i.

10. The estimated cost of the proposed project is PhP8,139.26Mn, with an implementation period of 50 months. The Cebu-Bohol 230kV Interconnection Project is exhaustively discussed in the ERG Documentary Requirements on the Proposed Cebu-Bohol 230 kV Interconnection Project attached as Annex “A.” II. NABAS-CATICLAN-BORACAY PROJECT

TRANSMISSION

11. The demand of the Island of Boracay is served only by the Nabas Substation through the single-circuit NabasCaticlan-Boracay 69 kV overhead line and submarine cable system. However, the demand in Boracay is projected to increase, which can no longer be accommodated by the Caticlan-Boracay 69 kV line.

12. Shown below are the historical and projected noncoincident peak demands of the load-end substations (LES) in Caticlan and Boracay Island:

PURPOSE Determination of jurisdictional requirements and Expository Presentation.

19 April 2018 ERC Visayas Field (Thursday) at ten Office, St. Mary’s Expository o’clock in the morning Drive Banilad, Cebu Presentation (10:00 A.M.) City 26 April 2018 Paradise Garden (Thursday) at ten Resort and ConvenExpository o`clock in the morning tion, Boracay Island, Presentation (10:00 A.M.) Malay, Aklan ERC Hearing Room, Expository Presenta04 May 2018 15F Pacific Center tion, Pre-trial Confer(Thursday) at ten Building, San Miguel ence, and Presentao`clock in the morning Avenue, Ortigas tion of Evidence (10:00 A.M.) Center, Pasig City

9. The proposed 230 kV interconnection will have the following components: a.

The proposed 138kV transmission line has the following components:

The petitioner’s name and address;

ii. The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and iii. A statement of the relief desired.

LINE

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1) The name and address of such person; 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO, AGNES VST DEVANADERA, and Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 8th day of March 2018 in Pasig City.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

JOSEFINA PATRICIA AGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal

1

2 3 4

An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise to Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-bone System or Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and For Other Purposes; 1d, Section 1 Based on actual meter reading; Based on the coincident demand forecast as of May 2017; (MS-MAR. 28-APR. 4, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

C4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

Cornerstone announces concerts this year LAST month, C o r n e r s t o n e Entertainment, Inc., the management company headed by Erickson R a y m u n d o , announced this year’s concerts with its signed stars along with friends of the management agency at Luxent Hotel ballroom.

The artists managed by Cornerstone got together for the series of announcements in celebration of Cornerstone Concerts’ eighth anniversary.

The company is set to produce eight concerts this year.

For the company’s opening salvo, it mounted Moira de la Torre’s sold-out gig Tagpuan at Kia Theatre on Feb. 17 and 18.

On April 18, K Brosas celebrates her 18th year in the music business with a concert called 18K, also at Kia Theatre. Her guests include Zsa Zsa Padilla, Jaya, and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid.

This will be followed by another gig featuring Richard Poon who is celebrating his decade in the business this year. His 10th Anniversary concert will be at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila.

KZ Tandingan, who is made waves in China’s reality competition Singer 2018, will be featured ISAH V. RED in her first solo gig at the Big Dome in June.

In August, Jason Dy, JayR, and Jaya take center stage for a night of R&B and soul at Kia Theater.

Erik Santos is going solo on Sept. 22 for his 15th anniversary concert titled Erik Santos: My Greatest Moments.

Santos was featured in a successful show on Feb. 10 along with Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid at the MOA Arena.

This is going to be Santos’ biggest concert to date.

Though no specific date yet, Cornerstone will also mount a show featuring its roster of young artists: AJ Rafael, a YouTube sensation, Janina Vela, Kyle Echarri, Alex Diaz, Claudia Barretto, and Jayda.

And in November, the Divas— Angeline Quinto, KZ Tandingan, Kyla, and Yeng Constantino – will be back in The Divas Live at the Big Dome.

As if performing live isn’t enough, all the artists set to do shows are also releasing original singles soon.

Continued on C3

Cornerstone artists were in full force during a special media event where this year's concert lineup was unveiled.

Music helps restore a world heritage treasure UNIVERSAL Harvester, Inc., together with the local government of Banaue offers a new experience to the Filipino and to the world.

The 2018 BANAUE International Music Composition Competition invites composers around the Philippines and all over the world to create Banaue-inspired symphonic works.

This is the first time that a competition of this magnitude will be held in the Philippines. With the Grand Prize of USD 12,000, two Consolation Prizes of USD 6,000 each, and the week-long immersion in Banaue, this momentous event is set to bring excitement and cultural awakening to the selected participants and the province of Banaue.

A total of 20 selected composerfellows will be part of the Banaue Immersion Program. This is where they will learn and experience local culture and music. With new perspective and inspiration, the composerfellows may revise their entry before the semi-finals.

The composer- fellows will re-

hearse their pieces with an entire orchestra, open for the Banaue audience to enjoy Banaue.

Only 10 composer- fellows Fellows will be chosen to be the finalists to perform on the Finals Night on July 25 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

This competition is in line with the Banaue Rice Restoration Project of Universal Harvester Incorporated headed by Dr. Milagros O. How and the local government of Banaue led my Mayor Jerry U. Dalipog. With the attention that the event will be getting, may it also create awareness of the current situation of the World Heritage Treasure and encourage people to participate and help.

“We want to let the world know that the Philippines is home to great wonders, not just in terms of natural resources, but also in inspiring talents from all over the world,” says Dr. How. The deadline for entries is on April 15. For more details, visit www. banauemusic.org

From left: Luchie Roque, Chino Toledo, Dr. Milagros O. How, General Jaime delos Santos, and Mayor Jerry Dalipog

In 2017, BTS members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, V, Jimin, and Jungkook were also named by TIME magazine as the most influential people on the Internet.

By Nickie Wang

A

FTER making an impressive Stateside debut, ruling red carpets, and getting featured as one of the young innovators of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list, South Korea’s Bantang Boys, or known worldwide as BTS, is leading the 2018 TIME 100 reader poll of the most influential people.

The online poll that started on time. com on March 28, BTS is leading with 15 percent votes, followed by South Korean president Moon Jae-in (5 percent), former US president Barack Obama (3 percent), pop star Bruno Mars (2 percent), Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown (2 percent), and American author Stephen King (2 percent).

TIME 100 is a list of influential people who have made an impact on the contemporary world. For more than a decade, the annual TIME 100 has featured some of the world’s most significant artists, leaders, scientists, activists and entrepreneurs. While the editors at TIME make the final judgement call on who makes the list, TIME also values who its readers believe are the most influential people of the year.

Indeed, from being South Korea’s local pop sensation, the group has become a global phenomenon. It continues to make the world swoon with its music, its members’ dancing skill and fashion choices, and its music videos that break records on YouTube.

Meanwhile, the seven-member boy band composed of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, V, Jimin and Jungkook is also making its mark in the beauty world by collaborating with Mediheal, a skincare

BANTANG

BOYS are on a roll Eugene Yap, Genson Distribtions Inc Pres, Diane Yap, Genson Distributors Inc VP, Jared De Guzman Watsons Group Category Manager , Host Janeena Chan and Mark Dean Lim, Marketing Head Gensons Distributors Inc. during the Mediheal x BTS official launch held last month.

brand from Korea, which has sold over 1 billion mask packs worldwide.

The collaboration, which even made headlines back in December (thanks to the group’s 21 million online followers), features BTS members as poster boys of a box set that was made available online at www.watsons.com.ph on March 15 and was officially launched in the Philippines five days later.

The mask pack that Filipinos used to purchase online is now distributed in the Philippines by Genson Distribution Inc..

The box that retails for Php 1,250 includes 10 mask packs and 14 photo cards and is exclusively available at Watsons and SM Beauty Stores. Watson’s carries four boxes of Mediheal x BTS—Hydrating Care, Brightening Care, Moisturizing Care and Soothing Care.

Mediheal x BTS mask packs containing the K-pop group's photo card.

Dark comedy ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ at OnStage YOU thought your family was crazy?

With a sadistic great grandfather, a delusional brother, and two seemingly-sweet aunts revealed to be more sinister than anyone could imagine, Mortimer Brewster has to control the crazy situation without going insane himself.

Repertory Philippines (REP) is staging the dark comedy Arsenic and Old Lace from April 6 to 29 at the OnStage Theater, Greenbelt 1, Makati City.

Joseph Kesselring’s Arsenic and Old Lace was a hit on stage and ran for more than one thousand shows both in New York and London. It was popularized through the film of the same name, which starred Cary Grant and was one of the most beloved comedies from Hol- The cast and director of REP's Arsenic and Old lywood’s Golden Era. Lace, opening this Friday at the OnStage Theater The story follows Mortimer who in Greenbelt 1. seems to be living a happy and perfect

life with a steady job in a prestigious New York publication and a new engagement. As he goes to see his aunts, he uncovers family secrets that turn his world upside down. With his delusional brother’s surprise visit, Mortimer must now protect his fiancée and his family, all while trying to save his own sanity.

Directed by Jamie Wilson, REP’s Arsenic and Old Lace features Joy Virata, Jay Valencia Glorioso, Jeremy Domingo, Nelsito Gomez, Apollo Abraham, Barbara Jance, Robbie Guevara, Gabe Mercado, Steven Conde, Dingdong Rosales and Luis Marcelo.

Purchase your tickets by calling REP at 843 3570 or Ticketworld at 891 9999, or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph.