Manila Standard - 2018 August 4 - Saturday by Manila Standard

WEATHER

Expect more rains, floods on weekend VOL. XXXII • NO. 170 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

THE torrential rain and thunderstorms brought about by the southwest monsoon caused traffic congestion in several areas of Metro Manila on Friday morning, leaving commuters stranded and vehicles caught in floods. Owing to the monsoon system and the influence of tropical storm “Shanshan”—which is still far from the Philippine Area of Responsibility—the weather bureau said in its 4 p.m. update Friday that more rain and flooding could be expected during the weekend. Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista blamed the various infrastructure projects for the floods on Friday. But he praised the weather bureau for its “accurate” weather forecast for Next page

Military fears Abu Sayyaf’s 2nd bomb car By Nat Mariano

STANDSTILL. In this photo from Facebook user Chris Macaraig, hundreds of vehicles are stalled by knee-high floodwaters in front of Camp Aguinaldo along Edsa in Quezon City, after early morning thunderstorms drenched most of northern Metro Manila on Friday. City officials blamed it on various unfinished infrastructure projects in the area.

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday said it is looking into reports that the Abu Sayyaf group has deployed a second van with explosives similar to those used in Lamitan, Basilan. The military refused to give further details but said operations are now ongoing against “persons of interest” to quell another possible attack. Autonomous Region in Next page

Govt insists on death penalty Gloria starts ‘House-keeping,’ Amid Pope declaring it as ‘inadmissible’ begins sessions hour earlier CoA calls out 3 By Nat Mariano

By Maricel V. Cruz

IN a sharp departure from the practice of her predecessor, Speaker Gloria Macagpagal Arroyo on Friday vowed that no legislative districts would be starved for funds, even though their representatives belonged to the opposition. “There will be no zero budget for opposition lawmakers. All lawmakers will receive their congressional entitlements as a gesture of goodwill,” Arroyo said in Filipino. Even Arroyo’s critics will get a fair shore of budget entitlements in their

legislative districts next year, said Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. As far as the Arroyo-led House is concerned, the days of economic bullying are over, he said. “The zero budget policy is over,” Andaya said. “Appropriations proposed by the Executive for projects and programs in a congressional district represented by a non-majority coalition member will not be drastically cut or reduced to zero.” During his term as a Speaker, Davao City Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez adopted Next page

Sotto gets flak over ‘touchy touch’

SEN. SOTTO

SENATE President Vicente Sotto III got ﬂak Friday for his remarks about copping a feel—an idiom for touching someone in a sexual way without someone’s permission—during an interpellation in the chamber two days

Rody eyes Libya-bound ships to rescue Pinoys TO SECURE the release of three Filipino engineers hostaged by an unknown group, President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday he will send two frigates to Libya. Duterte made the remark after reports that the South Korean Next page

Butcher quits as Azkals’ coach SPORTS A8

earlier on the proposed bill on Safe Spaces. Netizens rapped Sotto III, who turns 70 on Aug. 24, in regard to his remarks during interpellation about touching or doing—in the Tagalog Next page

govt agencies for fund misuse By Rio N. Araja

STATE auditors on Friday questioned the Commission on Elections for failing to properly document P2.58 billion worth of transactions; the Department of Transportation for an unﬁnished P295million toilet project; and the Philippine Health Insurance Company for issuing P163.85 million in unauthorized bonuses and allowances. In a 2017 audit, the Commission on Audit questioned the Comelec for lack of certiﬁcates of availability of funds in Next page

CHEER UP. Binibining Pilipinas second runner-up Samantha Bernardo carries a child as she, reigning Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Catriona Grey (4th from right) and fellow beauty queens spend Friday afternoon with 40 cancer and hematology patients of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. This was part of the Dairy Queen Philippines’ corporate social responsibility project called ‘Upside.’ Sonny Espiritu

HE administration will still push for the revival of the death penalty bill despite the Vatican’s opposition, the Palace said Friday.

“It is the priority of this administration to reimpose the capital punishment for serious drug-related offenses,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a press brieﬁng in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. The bill, which already passed by the Congress as House Bill 4727 in March 2017, is now in the hands of the Senate. “The decision, because it was already passed, now lies with the Senate... We leave it to the Senate whatever decision they may have. The President would still

try gentle persuasion, but it is really a decision for the senators now,” said Roque. On Thursday, the Vatican said Pope Francis declared death penalty “inadmissible” in all circumstances. The Roman Catholic Church approved the revision opposing capital punishment as it attacks the dignity of human beings and the sanctity of human life. The Roman Catholic Church revised the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s, which is a book containing the beliefs of the Catholic faithful. The revised draft stated: “The Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that ‘the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,’ and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.” The book also stated that the increasing effectiveness of detention systems, Next page

Fuel subsidy for jeeps rolls out next year By Maricel V. Cruz THE national government is set to provide the operators of public utility jeepneys and drivers P3.9 billion in fuel subsidies next year under the Pantawid Pasada Program, Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said Friday.

“The amount is nearly four times the P1 billion earmarked this year for the fuel subsidy program,” Atienza said. The fresh funding for the program is contained in the proposed P3.757-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2019 that Malacañang submitted to Congress, Atienza said. Next page

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018

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Napoles daughter flees country By Rey E. Requejo, Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

USTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday revealed that relatives of suspected pork barrel scam architect Janet Lim-Napoles— who had been indicted for conspiring to commit money laundering amounting to $20 million in the United States—are still in the country. However, Guevarra said the Bureau of Immigration has informed him that Napoles’ daughter Jeane Catherine left the country last July 27. Also indicted by the US Department of Justice for laundering funds derived from anomalies involving the pork barrel funds of lawmakers were her other children

Govt... From A1 growing understanding of the unchanging dignity of the person, and leaving open the possibility of conversion were the reasons why the teaching was amended. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said Pope Francis’ declaration cleared up any vagueness on the Church’s position against death penalty. The Philippines was the first in Asia to abolish the death penalty in 1987, but it was reinstated under President Fidel Ramos. It was abolished again under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2006.

Gloria... From A1 the policy of withholding funds from districts whose representatives did not vote for certain administration measures. But this will not happen again, Andaya said, as all congressmen will be treated equitably despite their refusal to support certain bills. Andaya said Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, was tasked to implement Arroyo’s order. “The big picture here is that constituents of opposition congressmen pay taxes so they are entitled to enjoy the fruits of their payments,” he said. In a plenary session Wednesday, lawmakers also agreed to begin the daily sessions at the House at 3 pm instead of 4 pm to enable the chamber to be more productive and ensure the passage of priority bills without delay. Among the priorities are the 2019 national budget and Charter change for federalism. The House committee on appropriations, chaired by Nograles, aims to pass the 2019 budget by end of August, setting the stage for its plenary approval in September. On the other hand, the House appointed Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso as the new chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, is set to begin deliberations on the draft federal constitution prepared by the Consultative Committee. Veloso replaced Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado as head of the committee after the latter abstained from voting for Arroyo as Speaker. Cebu City Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa was named as the new chairman of House committee on natural resources, replacing LPGMA Party-list Rep. Arnel Ty. Both Mercado and Ty, who are allied with the ousted Alvarez, have joined the minority group under ABS Party-list Rep. Eugene de Vera. Meanwhile, PDP-Laban president Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said they have yet to decide if Arroyo would get a higher position in the party, now that she is Speaker. Pimentel admitted there was a merit to the suggestions to give Arroyo a high position in the party since she holds a high post in the government. Pimentel acknowledged there was merit in proposals to give her a high position in the party, in keeping with her rank in government. Despite the actions of a breakaway group that “ousted” Pimentel as president, he said the PDP-Laban was healthy and in its “golden age.” Speaking to party members during a top-level meeting, Pimentel said PDP-Laban has grown from just 40,000 to 93,000 registered members. Pimentel credited the party’s growth to its chairman, President Rodrigo Duterte. The meeting came a week after a faction of the ruling party elected a new set of officers, ousting Pimentel, and only retaining Duterte as chairman.

Expect... From A1 Friday and did not blame it for the floods that hit portions of Quezon City and the other cities in Metro Manila. “The weather bureau’s [forecast] was right when it said it will not rain occasionally in the evening or at dawn. The floods such as those along Quezon Avenue were caused by [the unfinished] infrastructure projects,” Bautista told News to Go. “That is why we mayors in the Metro would want to know from the Depart-

Jo Christine and James Christopher, her brother Reynald Lim and his wife Ana. US prosecutors said the money was used to purchase assets in the States, including property and luxury vehicles. The Justice Secretary said the BI was not able to provide details of Jeane Catherine’s records.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said it recognizes the US indictment of Napoles. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque viewed the federal charges against Napoles and her relatives as a positive development “as it bolsters the government’s case against her before the Sandiganbayan.” “The charge of money laundering against Mrs. Napoles and her co-defendants shows that there is a reason to believe that they attempted to retain the ill-gotten gains from the PDAF scam,” said Roque in a statement issued Thursday night. “With the help of US authorities, who have been in continuous coordination with

our government, the funds that Mrs. Napoles and her co-defendants attempted to hide away will soon be returned for the benefit of the Filipino people,” he added. The indictment of Napoles and her family by a US grand jury is a result of the coordination of the DoJ and the Ombudsman with the US Government during the time the pork barrel investigations were being undertaken, said Sen. Leila de Lima. De Lima, who was Justice secretary at the time, said this is welcome news, since the Duterte administration has made it a point instead to release plunderers and partner with them instead of prosecuting them, Napoles included.

Palace: ‘Nothing objectionable’ with China‘s ideas By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta MALACAÑANG said Friday it sees “nothing objectionable” in China’s suggestion to exclude non-members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, such as the United States, in conducting military exercises and energy exploration in the West Philippine Sea. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said although there is a “manifestation of intent” as far as China is concerned, the country’s defense authorities will keep an eye on the matter. “I’m sure defense authorities will study the matter seriously. We find nothing objectionable to the fact that China would want to exclude non-Asians from the military exercise,” said Roque in a press briefing in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, adding that maybe the Chinese authorities would

Military... From A1 Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman said while there are some Abu Sayyaf members who have surrendered, the terrorist group still maintains some bomb experts. “They still have people. Those who surrendered said that those who have been trained are still there,” Hataman said in Filipino. The Palace urged the public Friday not to speculate or jump to any conclusions following the latest terrorist attack in Lamitan, Basilan. “For now, I ask the public to cease and desist from making any speculation and let us wait for the final investigation report from law enforcement agencies,” said Roque in a press briefing in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. Roque made the remark upon the claim that suicide bombers from the Islamic State infiltrated the country and executed the bombing in Lamitan killing 10 people and severely injuring several others. “I would not jump to any conclusion. So far, we know that there has been a lo-

Coa... From A1 connection with its 60 contracts worth P2.58 billion in the procurement of goods and services. The contracts were considered null and void, and “thus resulting [in] illegal disbursements,” it said. “Verification of the submitted contracts entered into by the Comelec disclosed that a total of P2,580,157,478.24 composed of 60 contracts for the supply and delivery of various goods and services were affected even with the absence of certificates of availability of funds,” state auditors said. CoA said the finance services department only released a certification of availability of allotment and directed it and the bids and awards committee to explain their failure to secure a certification of availability of funds and explain why CoA should not issue notices of disallowances on the 60 contracts. On April 18, Comelec’s financial services department, in a letter, apologized to CoA for its shortcomings, saying these were “purely and simply an oversight” because of the 2016 elections. CoA also flagged Comelec for the re-

Rody... From A1 government deployed a warship as a show of force, aiming to secure the release of one of its nationals who was abducted along with the three Filipinos. “The Koreans have sent a ship. You know I am not joking. I will also send one if ment of Transportation and Department of Public Works and Highways the timetable of their projects’ completion so that that would be our basis for a class suspension.” He apologized for Friday’s late suspension of classes in the public and private schools as a result of the floods. “I cannot [automatically] suspend classes based on Pagasa’s forecast that tells of thunderstorm and rains [only],” he said. Thousands of people were stranded by the floods, prompting Bautista to suspend classes before 11 am. Rio N. Araja, with PNA

want to strengthen military cooperation amongst its neighbors. However, Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros described the plan by the Department of Foreign Affairs to conduct a joint exploration of natural resources with China in the West Philippine Sea as “preposterous and treacherous.” “It reverses our historic victory at The Hague and signs away Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea,” she said. The DFA’s plan, Hontiveros said, is absurd as it recognizes China’s claim and ownership over the West Philippine Sea and nullifies the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. “Is this the result of the DFA’s socalled 50-100 diplomatic actions against China? Is this what President Duterte calls an independent foreign policy?” she asked.

Roque said it would be unusual for the US to enter the suggested war games and energy exploration when the purpose is solely to create a firmer relationship among the 10 Asean countries. “Of course, the United States is 10,000 miles away. So, if the intention is to build stronger relations between military forces who are neighbors, then the United States will be really out of place,” he said. The DFA earlier announced that it recommended a 60-40 ratio in a proposed joint exploration of the country’s sovereign waters with China amid oppositions from several leaders. In response, Roque said the ratio agrees with a specific Constitutional provision. “We are following the specific provision in the Constitution that foreigners can participate on a 60-40 basis, meaning 60 percent Filipino and 40 percent foreignowned,” he explained.

cal cleric who has been ordered arrested. We know that it was exploded in a vehicle and that it killed both passengers and those manning the checkpoint. I still have to get a final investigation report from law enforcement agencies,” Roque said. He added that they are still verifying that the ISIS was behind the attack as it was very easy to claim credit for a foreign attack. On Thursday, Malacañang vowed to bring the perpetrators behind the latest terrorist attack. The Philippine National Police on Friday also advised the public to ignore scare rumors. “There is no specific threat on any particular target. Therefore, the text scare being spread around is untrue and is obviously designed only to create panic. Scare messages of this nature deserve to be discarded and not shared,” the PNP said in a statement. “Break the scare chain. Delete that message as soon as it is received,” it added. The PNP said it was laying out a preventive plan that would deter terrorists from infiltrating the community. It asked the public to remain vigilant, but reminded them that “panic will only make

matters worse.” Zamboanga City Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the city has doubled security measures especially with information of another possible bombing. He said measures have also been taken to protect checkpoints. Department of the Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año said another terrorist attempt may be prevented if the community will be more vigilant of movements in their territories. The AFP said there was no sign that Tuesday’s attack in Lamitan was carried out by a suicide bomber. “I would like to make it clear for now that there is no indication that the Basilan blast was a suicide bombing,” said AFP spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo. He said many factors could have contributed to the explosion, including the possibility that the still unidentified driver could have panicked after seeing the soldiers at the checkpoint. The AFP spokesperson added that the military also believes that the van driver, who was among the 10 persons killed in the blast, was not the bomber but only a courier of the IEDs.

lease of P121 million for the hauling of the 2016 election paraphernalia, of which P119.28 million went to the joint venture of 2GO Express Inc. and 2GO Logistics Inc. Comelec’s accounting department said disbursement vouchers had already been transmitted to CoA in November last year. CoA’s other observation was the delivery of P2 million worth of 300,250 pieces of spiral notebooks by the Consolidated Paper Products Inc. for the technical working committees in 2016. CoA also called the attention of the Department of Transportation for the P295million unfinished toilet project in 2016. In a 2017 audit report, state auditors mentioned again the department’s unfinished Kayo ang Boss Ko (KBK) toilet facilities improvement project at the stations of the Philippine National Railways. CoA cited the lack of an inventory report on used and unused construction materials, saying the project management unit was only able to turn over four of the 45 memoranda of agreement as of Feb. 22, 2018. On the other hand, the other 41 agreements “remained unacted by the recipients.” CoA said it had been reporting the same findings in 2014 and 2015.

“The government may be left with unfinished/uncompleted toilet projects as a result of terminated contracts, which could not be used by the intended beneficiaries and ultimately cause wastage of government funds,” CoA’s January 2016 report read. In the 2016 audit report, CoA said only 53.17 percent of the project was delivered three years after its implementation “due to poor project management, project termination and abandonment by contractors.” The Transportation Department awarded 17 different contracts to three suppliers for P182 million for civil works and P113.7 million for toilet fixtures. “No clear guidelines were issued for the proper internal control over the custody, accountability and reporting requirements for the aforementioned construction materials,” the audit agency said. It told the department to conduct a probe into the failure to fully implement the toilet project, and file appropriate charges against those responsible. CoA also upheld its order for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to return P163.85 million in unauthorized bonuses and allowances for its officials and employees in 2009, 2010 and 2014.

they begin to hurt the Filipinos there. I will send a frigate...I will send two. You fools,” Duterte said Friday night in a speech in Bukidnon. The President said the abduction will be part of the agenda of a joint military-police command conference on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Duterte said he has yet to look through the plan on the safe release of

the hostages. He added that he plans to tackle the matter when the Cabinet meets on Monday. “I would like to make the announcement in this Cabinet meeting, then here in the command conference of police and military. I want you to come up with a modality and raise the bar higher,” Duterte said.

Fuel... From A1

of P833 per month. The beneficiaries may then use the cash card to pay for fuel purchases at the gas stations. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board began distributing the fuel cash cards last month. The LTFRB under the Department of Transportation is among the agencies involved in Pantawid Pasada. The Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Energy and the state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines are also involved in the program.

“We favor the program. Besides helping PUJ operators and drivers ride out the rising fuel costs, it will also in a way shield consumers―the jeepney passengers―by reducing the upward pressure on fares in the months ahead,” Atienza said. This year, a total of 179,852 jeepney operators and drivers across the country will each receive P5,000 in Pantawid Pasada cash card covering their subsidy for July to December at a rate

Sara swears in more allies as dad says ‘no more’ PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte reassured the public on Friday that he would not seek reelection or campaign for anybody in the May elections next year. This developed as his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, swore in several prominent politicians into her regional party, the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, in a ceremony in Tagum, Davao del Norte. “I am not campaigning for anybody, or even me, I cannot run anymore,” the President said at the inauguration of a rehabilitation center in Malaybay City, Bukidnon. “Sagad na ako [I am spent]. After my term, I will retire and, probably, die slowly. Or, if somebody is interested, they can make it faster,” the elder Duterte said in jest. In Tagum, Senators JV Ejercito and Cynthia Villar, Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go swore their oaths to the HNP, which Sara Duterte has positioned as an alternative to the ruling PDP-Laban party of her father. The Davao mayor previously said Hugpong is ready to ally with local political parties and that she “did not foresee this growing interest of other politicians from other regions.” With the blessing of President Duterte, Sara formed the HNP with four governors of Region 11. It will join PDP-Laban and the opposition Liberal Party in seeking positions in the Davao region and seats in Congress. Nat Mariano

VP Leni urges SC anew on shading threshold ruling By Rio N. Araja THE camp of Vice President Leni Robredo has again urged the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal to resolve its motion for reconsideration on the use of the 25-percent threshold in the election protest filed by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. In an urgent ex-parte omnibus motion, Robredo, through her lawyer Maria Bernadette Sardillo, asked the PET to order the head revisors to segregate the ballots containing shades below 50 percent, but within 25 percent in the physical count, pending a resolution to her urgent motion for reconsideration on April 18. Robredo is contesting the protest filed by Marcos before the PET, claiming Robredo’s camp had cheated in the 2016 presidential election that she won and demanding a recount of the votes. Robredo filed the omnibus motion days after the Commission on Elections affirmed that the 25-percent threshold was used by the vote-counting machines in the 2016 elections. “Without preempting the Honorable Tribunal, considering the categorical pronouncements and clarifications made by Comelec in its comment, Robredo asks that these ballots containing shades below 50 percent but within 25 percent be not considered stray,” Robredo’s omnibus motion says. Robredo asked the PET to order the head revisors to include the ballots with threshold issues in the physical count, but properly segregated and marked as such.

Sotto... From A1 lingo “hipo”—while Senate Bill 1326 or the Safe Spaces bill was being discussed. During the debate on the bill on Aug. 1, Sotto asked the bill’s sponsor, Senator Risa Hontiveros, on whether the provision on gender-based street and public harassment under SB 1326 was similar to the anti-discrimination provisions of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression (SOGIE) bill. GMA News quoted Hontiveros as saying the proposed Safe Streets Act zeroed in on “unwanted comments, gestures, and actions forced on a person in a public space without their consent and is directed at them because of their actual or perceived sex, gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation and identity.” Only a day earlier, Sotto asked his online critics not to be judgmental and branded as “fake news” unpublished online articles linking him to the alleged rape and death of ‘80s star Pepsi Paloma. By Friday, Sotto was facing verbal gunfire from two directions: the first, over his “hipo” or stroke comment during an interpellation in the Senate on the Safe Spaces measure; the other online articles linking him to Paloma. The SOGIE Equality Bill or the AntiDiscrimination Bill prohibits “discrimination on the basis of” SOGIE in terms of access to public service, including military service; employment, education, accreditation, medical service, or imposition of harsher sanctions. Sotto then asked if the act of harassment in public spaces or streets in the bill was being “limited” by the qualifier “gender based,” and what acts would be considered as harassment, according to GMA News.

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DBM issues guidelines on 2019 GAA THE Department of Budget and Management has ordered government agencies to procure goods and services under the proposed 2019 General Appropriations Act in the fourth quarter of 2018. The order, according to the DBM, is in line with the shift to cash-based budgeting. The DBM order is contained in Circular Letter No. 2018-8, which is prescribing the guidelines for Early Procurement for Fiscal Year 2019 National Expenditure Program. “All government entities covered by the Circular shall undertake Early Procurement activities, from October to December 2018, upon submission of the FY 2019 NEP to Congress,” according to the circular signed by Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno on July 30. He said that early procurement of goods and services ensures the efﬁcient implementation of programs, activities, and projects, the DBM noted in a statement on Friday. Diokno added that the idea is to facilitate project implementation, which can start in January 2009 instead of sometime in the second half.

Angara bats for passage of UHC bill SENATOR Sonny Angara has vowed to ensure the passage of the bill that seeks to provide universal health care for all Filipinos, as envisioned by his father, the late Senate President Edgardo Angara. The older Angara is known as the “father” of the National Health Insurance Program, which gave birth to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), the government agency responsible for providing health insurance coverage to Filipinos. “This endeavor is especially close to my heart since my father was the author of the law that created PhilHealth. Tinagurian siyang Ama ng Philhealth. “Decades ago, he already saw the difﬁculty of ordinary Filipinos in meeting the costs of healthcare. Strengthening this institution to cater to every Filipino family was perhaps one of his life-long commitments and dreams. I can only be proud to continue his mission,” Senator Angara said in his sponsorship speech. Under Senate Bill 1896, all Filipinos shall be automatically included in the National Health Insurance Program, and shall be entitled to appropriate, affordable, and quality health services including free check-ups, laboratory tests and medicines. Macon RamosAraneta

Coco levy fund bills ‘reconciled’ THE bicameral conference committee on the bill creating the P100-billion coconut levy trust fund has reconciled the disagreeing provisions on the versions of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senator Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food and head of the Senate panel, said the bicameral conference committee on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill 1233 and House Bill 5745 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act agreed adopted a reconciled version of the bill which they will now submit for ratiﬁcation by both houses of Congress. “Today marks the end of the long and grueling journey of enacting a law which will ensure the full utilization of the coco levy funds. This symbolizes a new beginning for all our 3.5 million coconut farmers and their families,” Villar said. “This will serve as a foundation of our future in our continued quest for sustainable development, poverty alleviation and food security. Our farmers have long waited for the moment where they could enjoy the funds which are rightfully theirs,” she added.

LOYALISTS. Supporters of Bongbong Marcos and Marcos family loyalists gather in front of the main office of Comelec in Intramuros, Manila on Friday to air their protest over the votes for Vice President Leni Robredo that they claim were intended for Marcos Jr. in the last senatorial election. Lorraine Alberto

Dismiss Carandang now, Palace tells Ombudsman M By Nat Mariano

ALACAÑANG on Friday asked incoming Ombudsman Samuel Martires to immediately execute the dismissal order against Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the Palace wishes that the order be implemented as soon as Martires officially takes his oath. “Well, as far as I know, it is the Office of the President that should also implement that [order], but we leave it to the incoming Ombudsman [on] how it will be implemented. We will give him the opportunity to implement that,” Roque told reporters in a press briefing in Bukidnon. The Palace order, dated July 30, said

that the transgressions of Carandang “constitute graft and corruption, as well as betrayal of public trust, which gravely affects his ﬁtness to remain in public ofﬁce.” Roque reiterated that the dismissal order is founded on both facts and law. “If former Deputy Ombudsman Carandang disagrees with it, then he can avail of judicial review,” he said, adding that Carandang can appeal the Palace decision. “Clearly, he violated the Anti-Money

Laundering Act himself when he made public certain documents, which was later on confirmed by AMLC not to be accurate. So, it was really a rumor on a matter that should have been handled on a confidential basis. I think that merits the order of dismissal,” Roque explained. Asked whether the dismissal order was unethical, Roque answered, “I think it was unethical for Carandang to have used its office for political reasons, because that’s clearly what motivated him to use unverified information from the AMLC, in a manner that is contrary to law.” The order said that Carandang violated Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Don’t disparage Uson, Andanar tells critics PRESIDENTIAL Communications Operations Ofﬁce Secretary Martin Andanar warned critics not to disparage Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson and millions of her online supporters following the administration’s plan for Uson to lead a nationwide information drive on federalism and Charter change. “I think if Mocha will study this power to the people, ‘Bayanihan Federalism,’ then she can explain it well to the people. We cannot look down or belittle Mocha Uson,” said the Communications chief, defending Uson’s ability to bridge the “communication gap” between the Constitutional Commission and Filipinos. “When you belittle Mocha,

you also belittle the ﬁve million followers that she has,” he said. Andanar conﬁrmed that Con-Com spokesman Ding Generoso tapped Uson to be at the forefront of the information drive explaining the merits of federalism and Charter change. Uson told reporters Thursday that she will use social media for Filipinos to fully understand the concept of federalism and contribute to the information dissemination campaign. “We will simplify the explanations [on charter change and federalism] to the people through [the use of] social media,” Uson said. “I urge the ordinary Filipinos to understand why the President believes in federalism. They should

understand it and they will be the ones to say if this will help the country. If the majority believes that the President is right, then why don’t we try it,” she added. Meanwhile, Senator Nancy Binay, who challenged Uson to draw the line between being a public ofﬁcial and a blogger, had asked Uson to talk about the salient points of federalism as a resource speaker in subsequent hearings on Charter change. Asked whether Uson will show up in the Senate, Andanar said the decision is still with the senators. “Maybe if the Senate will really request her presence. But Asec. Mocha is not really intimidated, I am sure that she is also responsible to her more than ﬁve million followers,” he said. Nat Mariano

‘Charge LGUs misusing PCSO ambulances’ By Maricel V. Cruz A HOUSE leader on Friday has pressed the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Ofﬁce to ﬁle appropriate charges against local chief executives who will refuse to honor a memorandum of agreement on donated ambulances. During the budget hearing, Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, the panel’s chairperson, said that instead of taking back its ambulances from local governments, “the PSCO should seek the prosecution of the local chief executives of the towns, cities, or provinces who for one reason or another neglect their memorandum of agreement [MOA].” “File the appropriate charges against them,” Nograles told PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan who was attending the budget deliberations for the agency. Nograles was referring to the PCSO’s

ambulance donation program, which was raised by some lawmakers in the hearing. Balutan told the committee he was aware of the common complaints regarding the misuse of the donated ambulances, which include forcing patients to shell out money for fuel and adding various markings or designs on the vehicle’s body. “Your honor, kung mayroon accumulation ng reports na ganyan, we will pull out yung mga ambulansya,” said Balutan, former director general of the Bureau of Corrections and vice commander of the Philippine Navy. “Sinusulatan po namin yung mga mayors na kapag may magreklamo at mag-accumulate ito, that will be a ground, inillalagay po namin sa MOA, sa aming kontrata, na kapag may nakita kaming ganun, we can pull out,” Balutan said.

BUSTED. Former child actor Cromel John Ocampo Ramos or CJ Ramos and Louvella Gilen were presented to the media at the National Capital Region Office in Taguig City after they were arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in Quezon City earlier this week. CJ Ramos was caught in possession of a transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu during a police operation in Quezon City on July 31, 2018. The police said Ramos admitted to the crime, saying he was tempted to use the illegal drug after being clean for a year. Norman Cruz

Du30 leads launch of new rehab center in Bukidnon By Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the inauguration and turnover ceremony of the North Mindanao Wellness and Reintegration Center in Barangay Casisang, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. DoH Secretary Francisco Duque III received from private donors and the City of Malaybalay the ceremonial key to the center. “The NMWRC is very different from the obsolete rehab centers as we have known before that looked more like jails rather than a place to be cured and be healthy,” said Senator Migz Zubiri. “Here, there are no bars and no detention walls. What we have are modern wide rooms and halls, fresh air and gardens, and modern gym, sports facilities and equipment for getting healthy and ﬁt. They are not here to be punished, they are here to be cared for. “ Touted to be the ﬁrst of its kind in the country, the NMWRC has the capacity to deliver international standards of treatment and management of drug dependents. The center will provide holistic approach in treating drug-dependent patients. This modern institution promises to give each patient the proper medical, therapeutic and social interventions.

JBC starts vetting process for new SC chief justice By Rey E. Requejo THE Judicial and Bar Council will start its vetting process for the five nominees for chief justice post on Aug. 16. “Public interviews for all nominees for the post of Chief Justice on Aug. 16, 9 am onwards at the Division Hearing Room, SC (Supreme Court) New Building,” the the SC Public Information Office said, in its Twitter account. The five aspirants for the most coveted post in the judiciary who managed to beat the July 26 deadline for the submission of applications and requirements are SC Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin, Andres Reyes Jr., and Tagum City, Davao del Norte Regional Trial Court, Branch 1, Judge Virginia Tejano-Ang. The top judiciary post was left vacant after the SC granted the petition for quo warranto seeking the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for her failure to comply with the constitutional requirement for the submission of Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth for 10 years.

Opinion

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The federal commissions Like in the 1987 Constitution, the Federal Civil Service Commission remains to be the central human resource agency of the government that shall administer the civil service. The same prohibitions found in the THE proposed Federal Republic of the present charter are also present in Consultative Committee shall establish the draft Federal Charter such as the six independent Constitutional Com- requirement that appointment to the missions, namely: the Federal Civil civil service should be based on merit Service Commission, Federal Com- and fitness, removal only for cause, mission on Elections, Federal Commis- prohibition against electioneering and sion on Audit, Federal Commission on partisan political activity, non-denial of Human Rights, Federal Ombudsman, right to self-organization, protection of and the Federal Competition Commis- temporary employees, and citizenship sion. This is a radical departure from requirement for appointment to the the three constitutional commissions civil service. Each Federated Region shall esunder the 1987 Constitution which are the Civil Service Commission, Com- tablish a Civil Service Commission mission on Audit and the Commission guided by the minimum standards and policies of the Federal Civil Service on Elections. The Federal Commissions shall Commission. The Regional Assemblies can enact enjoy fiscal aulaws which protonomy and its vide for the standmembers may be ards, policies, removed by imThey are a good qualif ications peachment. Memand compensabers are likewise idea but my concerns tion of employees prohibited from are the costs and the within their reengaging in acgions guided by tivities that are in redundancy especially at the minimum or conflict with their the regional level. higher standards position. Neither set by the Federal are they allowed Congress. to engage in cerThe Federal tain professions Commission on nor be financially interested in any contract with any Elections is essentially mandated to agency or instrumentality of the gov- enforce and administer all laws and ernment. The rotational scheme of suc- regulations relative to the conduct of cession of the members as mandated in an election, plebiscite, referendum, the 1987 Constitution is retained under and recall. Noteworthy is the provision that allows any registered voter or regthe proposed setup. As proposed, the Federal Commis- istered political party to file with the sions shall be composed of a chairper- Federal Administrative Court a petison and commissioners with two Com- tion to determine compliance with all missioners for the Federal Civil Service processes, procedures, and preparaCommission, the Federal Commission tions relative to the conduct of the elecon Elections with six Commissioners, tions and the same must be done six two each from Luzon, Visayas and months before any election. The Federal Commission on Audit Mindanao, the Federal Commission on Audit with four Commissioners, the retains the authority to examine, Federal Commission on Human Rights audit, and settle all accounts of the with four Commissioners, the Federal government, whether Federal or Ombudsman with four Associate Om- Regional Government. Congress is budsman and the Federal Competition likewise mandated to enact a Federal Commission with four Commissioners. Turn to A5

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

The finer things

HE name “Napoles” has become synonymous with ill-gotten wealth, an intricate scheme involving the plunder of taxpayers’ money, and an opulent lifestyle ﬂaunted on social media. Janet Lim-Napoles is detained at the Correctional Institute for Women, but the people have yet to hear the entire story and separate the truth from politically-motivated accusations. Some big names linked to the scam are also in jail, but it is believed Napoles knows a lot more than she is letting on about numerous politicians of diverse political colors. This week, the US Department of Justice announced that a federal grand jury had indicted Janet Lim Napoles

and members of her family— her three children Jo Christine, James Christopher and Jeane Catherine, her brother Reynaldo and his wife Ana Marie—for domestic and international money laundering, “quietly liquidating the assets in the United States.” The Napoles family is accused of conspiring to transfer $20 million which she allegedly earned from the pork barrel scam which she is believed to have masterminded. The US agency believes the funds were diverted to money remitters in the Philippines and then wired to bank accounts in Southern California. The money was then used to buy real estate, shares in two businesses, two Porsche Boxsters, and finance the living expenses of Jeane, Reynaldo and Ana. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra III and spokesman Harry Roque both welcomed

the indictment. Guevarra said it paves the way for the return of the people’s money to the national treasury and that the Philippine government will continue to work with its US counterpart to build a strong case against the Napoleses. He had earlier taken Napoles out of the Witness Protection Program. Roque said this was a “positive development.” Let the indictment serve as a lesson for the family members of all others conducting questionable business either in government, or with government. It may be too tempting to enjoy the finer things in life, if what is defined as “fine” pertains to material comforts that could not have been attained by pure, honest and hard work. An unsullied name remains the most enviable, longest lasting, finest treasure of all.

My search for heroes I was surprised when they said that no, they did not hear any bad stories about Gen. Aguinaldo from their family. What they actually remember is a funny story involving the General. They said that Aguinaldo was an asIT ALL began with envy. Because I tute businessman and his being so was am fascinated with Philippine history, performed simultaneously with his beI count myself lucky to have developed ing a revolutionary. It is on record that friendships with descendants of some Gen. Miong traded goods from one of our heroes. In my history-related ac- province to another using his “paraw” tivities, I have come to be acquainted (a sea vessel bigger than an ordinary with some of the descendants of Dr. boat but smaller than a ship). That was Jose Rizal, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, his business. Gen. Gregorio del Pilar, Gen. Antonio Allegedly, one time there was an imLuna, Gen. Miguel Malvar, Gen. Ma- portant meeting of the leaders of the cario Sakay, Gen. Mariano Alvarez, revolution in Tondo that Gen. Miong Galicano Apacible, Gliceria Marella was expected to attend. What the enVillavicencio, Gregoria de Jesus, and a trepreneur in him did was to buy goods few others. from Divisoria first, (I know not if the Chatting with them is always edu- place was already called Divisoria then cational and fun. I have observed that but apparently, it was a place of tradin their families, ing) since it was there is a living near the venue. tradition of tellSo when he aring stories about rived at the house Because of this the experiences where the meeting of their ancestors project, I am prouder to was to happen, he during the revowas carrying a lution, as well as be a Filipino. lot of stuff and he the kind of people was all perspiring these revolutionthat the revoluists were. There tionary guards of were also times the house would when descendants not let him enter! of one hero would relay what they have Perhaps they thought that he was a been told about other well-known revo- simple salesman plying his wares. Allutionaries. legedly, the guards had to get approval These stories are not the type one from someone inside who had to go reads in books or hears in lectures. out to see who it was that was patiently They not only make our heroes come waiting outside in the sweltering sun. alive, the heroes we put on pedestals Of course Miong was let in. And we are made human. For instance, we were had a good laugh after. having a chat with two descendants of Although such stories are difficult to the Alvarezes of Cavite and I was ex- verify, this one is not impossible at all. pecting them to be anti-Aguinaldo. Af- And it is very different from how preter all, Mariano Alvarez was the leader sent day “historians” talk about famiof the Magdiwang group in Cavite, as lies of our heroes like they were and well as an uncle of Gregoria de Jesus are always at odds against each other. who was married to Andres Bonifacio. Because I hear many anecdotes from The Magdiwang was the “rival” group our heroes’ descendants, I became of Aguinaldo’s Magdalo and it was “envious” of them. How nice to be able upon the invitation of Mariano Alvarez to say that one hails from a family of that Bonifacio traveled to Cavite. We revolutionaries! In my mind I have that know what happened after. Turn to A5

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

Working for a change: Breaking free from the traditional work culture in Japan MICHIYO Arai is one of many young Japanese women who believe flexible working patterns can enable them to have a viable career path but who are anxious about finding work in a country where such practices, including teleworking, are still a relatively new concept. Last year, the 28-year-old seized the opportunity to study basic programming at a local community centre in Funabashi City in Chiba Prefecture, designed to support unemployed young people, and participated in a four-day

telework internship at a company that supports “Youth UP.” “Youth UP”—or “Utilizing IT to Support the Employment of Youth” project—targets unemployed youth and is conducted by nonprofit organization and youth support group SODATEAGE-NET in Tokyo, with the cooperation of Microsoft Japan. After a year of studying hard and participating in further courses to improve her computer skills, Arai was hired by an IT-related company in Chiba City, outside of Tokyo.

She remembers her internship, which she did using Skype, for taking away some of her anxieties. “While taking part in it, they would tell me, ‘let’s get through this together one step at a time.’ Instead of having to come face-to-face with someone, Skype acted like a buffer and helped me relax,” Arai said. Expanding the window of employment opportunities Telework, which through ICT allows one to work flexibly without limitations Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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Opinion Indian mothers campaign to end breastfeeding stigma By Abhaya Srivastava CLUTCHING his elephant toy, Avyaan’s conversation is pretty much limited to a happy gurgle, but the ninemonth-old might be about to go down in history for helping make breastfeeding in public more socially acceptable in prudish India. Public breastfeeding carries a social stigma in much of the world—a situation that World Breastfeeding Week until Aug. 7 hopes to change—but in highly conservative India it is particularly taboo. The country’s hundreds of millions of women are expected to dress modestly, and even a glimpse of a breast during feeding is a strict no-no, all too often inviting disgusted demands to desist and even unwanted sexual advances. So this is what a petition brought in little Avyaan’s name—by his middleclass lawyer parents Neha and Animesh Rastogi—and currently before the Delhi High Court is aimed at chipping away at. “I was flying to Bangalore and my co-passengers were male. My son was exclusively on breast milk and it was so difficult to feed him there,” Neha Rastogi, 30, told AFP at her home in Noida, a satellite city on the outskirts of Delhi. “We want the government to set aside space in flights and at all public places because we can’t feed in the open simply because breast is just seen as a sexual organ.” The signs are good that the case may make some progress, with the court

Working... From A4

on time and location, is recommended in the Japanese government’s workstyle reform program. Aiming to broaden youth working styles, the “Youth UP” project provides “telework intern” opportunities using Skype and cloud services. SODATEAGE-NET president Kei Kudo said the organization found that nearly 70 percent of 15 to 39-yearolds that SODATEAGE-NET supports couldn’t use Word and Excel “at all.” Meanwhile, there are very few job postings that don’t require Word and Excel skills. “Companies assume that most people can operate a computer and use Word and Excel, but there are individuals who never had the opportunity to use them. There is a gap between what companies assume a person can do and what that person can actually do,” Kudo points out. Japanese government statistics show that approximately 600,000 youth are unemployed. To tackle this problem, Japan’s work-style reforms require improving the working environment to offer flexible working styles and creating a society that enables more women and youth to participate actively. Youth UP is born “Youth UP” project was launched

My... From A4

lingering question if I had a revolutionist ascendant because there were thousands and thousands who fought for our independence and not just the ten or so heroes that we can rattle off from the top of our heads. I wanted to be able to claim ONE revolutionary as my ancestor. My desire to find out became so great that I searched for lists. I asked many history enthusiasts and checked many history books. All I found were partial lists or mentions of revolutionists. It seemed odd to me that there is no extant list of revolutionists so I embarked on a personal project, I have to make that list. I gave it time because it is time-consuming. I used almost all my “free” and not-so-free hours constructing this list. My history books were again opened in search of names. I listed them down together with details about each revolutionary that I could find. I pored at historical pictures to get the names of those in it. I wanted to pay tribute to them. Doing this project made me emo-

The federal... From A4

Auditing Code that will include the scope, limit and manner of audit and the guidelines on the requirements for preaudit of the government. It is good that the Federal Commission on Human Rights is upgraded into a Constitutional Commission with the responsibility to investigate human rights violations both by state and nonstate actors. Under the present setup, the Commission on Human Rights has

demanding city authorities come up with a response at the next hearing day on Aug. 28. Obscenity But setting aside special places is one thing. Getting wider acceptance for women to feed their babies wherever and whenever they like is a much bigger challenge. This was what Gilu Joseph, an actress from Kerala in the south, was trying to alter when she posed with a baby—not actually her own—at her bare breast on a magazine front cover earlier this year. The photoshoot, captioned “Mums tell Kerala: Don’t stare—we need to breastfeed,” landed her and the publisher in court on charges of nudity, obscenity and endangering society’s moral fabric. The court dismissed the petition but Joseph found herself at the sharp end of torrents of abuse. “I don’t care what others say about me. The photoshoot was part of a campaign on how to be confident while feeding in public,” the 28-year-old told AFP. “Our society is so sexualized that men connect everything with sex. They are having a problem [with my picture] because for them the body is only for sex.” Roopam Gupta, a working mother, also had a taste of how hostile society can be when she started expressing milk for her six-month-old daughter in the car coming home from work. The driver “tried to put up covers inside the car,” Gupta told AFP. “I told

him he must change his mindset because I am not going to change mine.” Her place of work though is helping to fight back—the Fortis La Femme hospital, home to Delhi’s first “milk bank” for mothers, set up in 2016 but still only one of a handful. The Amaara facility collects breast milk from donor women who pump it at home. It is then pasteurized and provided to newborns in hospital or to mothers who are unable to breastfeed. Best start A new report released by Unicef and the World Health Organization Tuesday ahead of World Breastfeeding Week underscored the benefits of nursing babies from the word go. “Breastfeeding gives children the best possible start in life,” WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in the report. “We must urgently scale up support to mothers—be it from family members, health care workers, employers and governments, so they can give their children the start they deserve.” Breastfeeding is even more important in a developing country like 1.25-billion-strong India where many cannot afford formula milk and daily-wage earners often take their infants to work. The restrictive atmosphere prompts many mothers to stay at home, exposing them to the risk of postnatal depression, while also acting as a brake on getting women into the workforce. “I believe in breastfeeding and want every woman to be open about it,” said Gupta. AFP

in response to offer a solution to this situation. Under the project, Microsoft sends instructors to conduct lectures on a regular basis for youth who want to build their IT skills, as well as provide training for support group staff so they can become IT instructors themselves. This is a sustainable system, in which the support group will have the necessary know-how to conduct lectures even after the project ends. Within two years after the project’s launch, it was joined by youth serving nonprofit organizations throughout Japan, ultimately linking 41 groups nationwide. In addition to taking part in the project, SODATEAGE-NET, based in Tachikawa City in Tokyo, also acts as the organizer, and similar efforts are now being conducted on a nationwide scale. Internships help youth that participated in the project and acquired IT skills to move on to the next phase. However, the companies receiving interns are not necessarily located in the areas they live in, so covering commuting costs can be a problem for interns. But through telework internships, interns communicate with their employers through Skype, without having to physically visit the company. In Arai’s case, she used a computer at the center she visited for career counseling. This system is also advantageous for

the companies that participate in the project. Welcoming a telework intern is easier for a company than accommodating new in-office staff: the only requirement for both the intern and the company is having Internet access and fostering a mutual relationship of trust, bit by bit. Arai’s internship only lasted for four days, but she was able to gain confidence after completing a given task. It also made her realize what other skills she needed. Chartering a new course Since “Youth UP” was launched, a total of more than 50,000 people have taken the training program. The average employment rate of the trainees has reached 43 percent, exceeding the initial target of 30 percent. This spring Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare took over the “Youth UP” project’s IT basic training program to continue it. This move is deemed a rare endorsement of a private-sector project achieving significant results and outgrowing itself to be continued as a government project. Making use of her internship experience, Arai is now undergoing training at her new company and studying extensively about programming, computer history, etc. She says that deepening her knowledge in computer science is helping her envision what she wants to do more vividly. AFP

tional. Learning about unknown heroes also made me learn a lot more about the Philippine revolution. I realized that the fight was “ubusan ng lahi.” I cannot imagine how families handled this very difficult time. My list now contains what appears to me as entire menfolk of families going out to fight for freedom and independence. Many of them died or got seriously hurt in battle. The leaders got transferred to various provinces, some went to as far as the Visayas like Gen. Ananias Diokno who was from Batangas, because they were needed to head our forces there. A great number was incarcerated in Muntinlupa, Intramuros, and other prisons. Many were exiled to different places as far as Africa and Guam like what happened to Tandang Sora, Apolinario Mabini, and others. And many, yes, many were executed by firing squad for their love of country like Dr. Jose Rizal, the Trese Martires of Cavite, and the 19 Martyrs of Aklan. Being face to face with these lessons from the revolution made me really sad. But because of this project, I am prouder to be a Filipino. I have come

to realize that indeed, we are a proud, brave, and patriotic race. Putting names and some details to at least some of our unknown heroes is my tribute to them. My list now contains more than 2,400 names of heroes of the revolution and I shall continue growing this list. For now, together with my group Tunay na Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas (TUKLAS Pilipinas), Inc., we are printing the list and people can find out if they have revolutionist ascendants. This list that I call “Roll Call of Valor: A List of Heroes of the Philippine Revolution” will be made available to those interested at TUKLAS-13 Siblings booth no. 40 during the coming HistoryCon on August 10 to 12 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Many other historyrelated activities will happen there. You might be wondering about my personal search. I am very happy to say that I found THREE revolutionists carrying my mother’s surnames. I claim them to be my ancestors! Yes, I hail from a family of heroes and I believe that many of us do.

a limited mandate. It is only authorized to accept complaints and investigate but without prosecutorial powers, the CHR’s hands are tied. As a constitutional commission, the existence of the Commission on Human Rights is guaranteed. It becomes insulated from partisan politics and protected from emasculation by state actors like what previously happened when it ran the risk of being deprived of its annual appropriations by Congress. Also, one other important step is to clearly and categorically state that violations of human rights include those not only guaranteed by the Constitution but also international human

rights covenants and treaties to which the Philippines is a signatory. There is likewise created the Federal Ombudsman which shall continue to act as the protector of the people against government abuse. It shall continue to act on complaints against any public officer or agency of the government when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient. The Federal Administrative Court is the body that shall hear, on appeal or certiorari, any appeal or application for remedy against the decision or findings of the Federal Ombudsman. A new innovation is the proposed crea-

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Resolve the electoral vandalism more than sufficient to prosecute these Comelec officials who carried out this systematic desecration of the electoral process in favor of a shameless and obdurate lapdog. Defrauding our people of their sovereign right to elect goes beyond the issue of electoral protest but of Part I betrayal and possibly treason because WHAT the Duterte followers do not they practically delivered our interest know is that the opposition is deter- to a foreign power. As enumerated by UP Professor mined and set to oust him the soonest possible time so they could install and Doctor Francisco “Kiko” Pascual their bogus vice president. They hope Tranquilino, there are six instances to kill two birds with one stone. One how these officials committed the is to remove the President by the usual following acts: 1. June 22, 2018: Robredo Party Reclerico-elitist method of takeover, and two, to render the protest of Bongbong visor Osmundo (Ritchie) Abuyuan, Marcos moot and academic. In the bonding with 24 Presidential Elecevent Duterte is ousted, there is noth- toral Tribunal (PET) Chief Tabulator, ing more to protest because the cheat- Head Revisors, Alternate Head Reviing vice president would then takeover sor, Head Ballot Box Custodian, Ballot Box Custodians, Appraiser and other as de facto President. Because of our patience to tolerate PET personnel in 3J’s Resort in Pansol, this kind of anomaly, the Commission Calamba, Laguna 2. July 26, 2018: As expected, Comeon Elections practically looks at every Filipino as absolutely stupid. lec siding with Robredo on 25 percent This I say because the evidence of Shading Threshold on Vote Recount. 3. July 31, 2018: Hearing of Senmassive cheating requires them to do something beyond mechanically ate Committee on Electoral Reforms recounting the votes and should and People’s Participation where Atty. act motu proprio to punish those Glenn Chong was able to show proof responsible for rigging the election. of cheating during the 2016 Elections With massive evidence of fraud, which favored VP Robredo. Imagine, which the Comelec has shown machines were already transmitting recomplete incompetence to resolve, sults from Camarines on May 8, 2016 an investigation is warranted and even before election started on May 9. 4. July 31, 2018: Atty. Bernadette prosecution of those responsible of Robredo— beginning in the hiring of Smartmatic Sardillo—Lawyer and all those Comelec officials who coaching Senator Drilon on what to ask connived and collaborated in rigging Atty. Glenn Chong during the Senate Hearing the 2016 election. 5. Atty. Emil MaThe result preranon III—Rappler sented by ComeOpinion Writer and lec is disparaging a Robredo Conand insulting to sultant —was inthe intelligence of Power grab is now a vited as Resource the Filipinos that Speaker during the a power grab is possibility. Senate Hearing, on now a great poswhat capacity? He sibility. The Filiis a Robredo Conpino people can sultant, why do we no longer take this open travesty to their dignity and intel- need him in that hearing? 6. Claire Cattleya Amador—Head, ligence of having to render obeisance to one they never elected but supplanted Public Policy, Facebook Phil., works at by a machine out to defend foreign in- the Office of the Vice President—why terest done through electoral manipula- are FB posts related to the Senate Hearing on Comelec-Smartmatic Fraud last tion and cheating. Evidence showing massive rigging, July 31 being deleted by FB. Even the votes of the members of Igmanipulation and even outright vandalism to destroy ballots should have lesia ni Cristo in some precinct where automatically compelled the Senate to their votes could easily be traced and prosecute those responsible in hiring tabulated simply evaporated by the hoSmartmatic. Engaging this CIA-front cus pocus done by Smartmatic scramcompany cost taxpayers billions. In the bling machines. A deeper implication of this electoral end we were systematically cheated, with the Comelec acting as sanctifier shenanigan is it resulted in the destabilizing the government with the duly of the criminal act. The Robredo camp, visibly assisted elected President accommodating one by her handlers in Washington, des- that carries with her a bogus mandate, perately want Duterte out to prevent which by itself constitutes a serious the Comelec from finishing its job. crime. For the fact that Leni Robredo They would rather impeach or over- carries with her a falsified mandate, throw President Duterte so that Mar- logically she is committed to do evecos and his followers would forget all rything to thwart the investigation that about their electoral protest. And then, would nullify her proclamation, and by virtue of the revolutionary govern- for which the Comelec is now acting ment, they would be free to handpick as the lawyer for Smartmatic with one snoring senator acting as collaborating their lackey as vice president. It is also a desperate race to prevent counsel for Robredo. It seems that Comelec and Smartmatthe ruling administration from pushing through with Charter change be- ic are giving us Filipinos their smirking cause the yellow opposition considers smile as if to tell us just how stupid we the 1987 Constitution a legacy of the are. They committed a serious crime of woman who destroyed the constitu- subversion to politically destabilize the tional process of succession through government. This I hasten to say beelection. The clerics and their support- cause their proclamation of Robredo is ers that benefited it will join the anti- giving justification for her to instigate Duterte protest not for reasons they are the removal the President. It is only out united in their faith in God but for the of the fact that she does not command fact that they want the continuation of the majority of the members of Conthe tax-exemption on their properties gress and of the Senate why she and her power hungry yellow cabals could not and businesses. There are many instances indisput- initiate an impeachment case against ably showing how they rigged the elec- the President. President Duterte should not even tion, but their testimony and conduct before the PET show that they are no accept any suggestion to legitimize the longer acting as independent arbiters fraud committed by the Comelec and but as defenders/counsel for Smart- Smartmatic. That would automatically matic. The manner by which the Come- enlarge the number of anti-administralec conducts its hearing is no longer in tion congressman and senators. Procpursuit of its solemn duty to uphold a lamation of the fake vice president as clean, honest and fair election but in winner would give incentive to remove defending, at all costs, a cheater which him. From there, they could proceed to is a slap on the face of the people who block all cases lined up against their have been instilled to invoke the values chieftain who led this government to a of being makadiyos, makabayan, at complete waste. makatao. rpkapunan@gmail.com The prurient result of the election is

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

tion of the Federal Competition Commission. It is tasked to enforce and implement all laws and regulations relative to competition. At present, the function is being performed by the Philippine Competition Commission, an independent quasijudicial body, created by Republic Act No. 10667. As a constitutional commission, the existence and fiscal autonomy of the Federal Competition Commission is guaranteed by no less than the Federal Constitution. It is vested with more comprehensive powers and authority that promote the policies of the government for a more competitive and equitable business environment.

Generally, these Federal Commissions are a good idea. My concerns are the costs and the redundancy especially at the regional level. The transition is also important. The creation of these commissions must not be use to cut the terms of the current officials in the three independent constitutional commissions, the Commission on Human Rights, the Ombudsman, and the Philippine Competition Commission. I propose that a transitory provision be provided to state that the terms of these current officials will be fully respected. Facebook: tonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SBMA releases P147m for 1st sem LGU shares SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has released P147.13 million representing the ﬁrstsemester 2018 revenue share for local government units contiguous to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma distributed individual checks for the LGU shares on Aug. 1 during a meeting with mayors and municipal treasurers at the Fortune Restaurant here. The biggest share went to Olongapo City at P34,356,210.73; followed by Subic, Zambales with P22,438,000.32; Dinalupihan, Bataan with P18,317,950.71; and San Marcelino, Zambales with P17,652,452.62, the SBMA said in a statement. Next came Hermosa, Bataan with P15,292,064.02; Castillejos, Zambales with P13,656,489.21; Morong, Bataan with P12,776,665.57; and San Antonio, Zambales with P12,664,679.21. Eisma said the latest releases brought the cumulative LGU shares distributed by the SBMA in the last eight years to a total of P1,649,947,885.13. This means an average release of P206.24 million every year to the eight LGUs covered by the beneﬁt taken from the 5 percent tax paid by enterprises registered in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Again, Olongapo City received the biggest share in the eight years that the SBMA began directly releasing the shares to the LGUs. SBMA records indicate that Olongapo has received a total of P396.79 million; Subic, Zambales had P246.42 million; Dinalupihan, P206.39 million; and San Marcelino, P198.89 million. Meanwhile, Hermosa received a total P169.29 million; Castillejos, P145.03 million; San Antonio, P144.06 million; and Morong, P143.05 million. Eisma said the SBMA began directly releasing the shares to LGUs in 2010. Before this, Subic business locators paid their 5 percent corporate tax to the BIR, which remits payments to the national treasury. Then the Department of Budget Management released the 2 percent share to the LGUs concerned. Under Republic Act 9400, which amended RA 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, business enterprises within the Subic Freeport Zone only pay a 5 percent tax on their gross income earned within the zone.

‘DA must run after rice hoarders’ THE chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations has urged the Department of Agriculture to run after rice hoarders and smugglers in compliance to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to get rid of rice syndicates, rice smugglers and rice hoarders. “The President, in his State of the Nation Address, gave a very stern warning to all of these rice syndicates, rice smugglers, rice hoarders and all of these people. So what can you say about it?” Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, the panel’s chairman, asked DA Secretary Manny Piñol during the panel’s deliberations on the agency’s proposed budget of P55.9 billion for 2019. Before throwing this question, Nograles said the current shortage of “NFA rice” was the cheapest rice variety in the market at P27 per kilo. This is about half the price of commercial rice and is the one usually bought by poor Filipinos, if they have money for food at all. Also on Thursday, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said the bill liberalizing rice imports would result in a decrease in the price of the staple by as much as P7 per kilo and set up a support fund that would enable palay growers to raise their harvests while lowering their production costs. Villafuerte said that with the President’s endorsement of the rice tarifﬁcation bill, it was incumbent upon both chambers of the Congress to prioritize its passage to reduce rice prices. The price of the staple has been going up owing to the supply shortfall and volatile prices of the grain in the domestic retail market. Maricel V. Cruz

IN BRIEF 100 immigration officers hired THE Bureau of Immigration hired at least 100 new Immigration officers who will be deployed to the different international airports and sub-ports to augment its manpower and improve its service to the traveling public. “They will have to go through rigorous training for several months under our Center for Training and Research before they could be deployed to the various airports and seaports,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said Friday. The new employees will soon be dispatched to the Philippine Immigration Academy in Clark, Pampanga where they will initially undergo two-month training on immigration laws, rules and procedures. “Afterwards, they will undergo on-thejob training on immigration formalities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and on frontline service functions at our main office,” Morente said. BI OIC Deputy Commissioner and POD Chief Marc Red Mariñas welcomed the hiring of the new immigration officers, saying “their joining the bureau will surely usher in a marked improvement in our services to the traveling public.” Mariñas said the bulk of the new employees would be deployed to the Naia which is still in need of personnel who will perform primary inspection duties at the airport’s immigration arrival and departure counters. Vito Barcelo

FAKE, THESE. The Bureau of Customs, headed by Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, seizes Friday thousands of fake tax stamps,

ukay-ukay materials, cigarettes, rice and other goods worth about P8.5 billion during a raid at the warehouse at PTFC compound on Marvex Drive, Bonifacio Avenue in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

Court denies prosecution appeal for video testimony By Maricel V. Cruz

HE Sandiganbayan has denied the Ombudsman’s plea to allow the former Czech ambassador to the Philippines to testify through video conferencing in the case against former Metro Rail Transit Line 3 general manager Al Vitangcol III.

In a resolution dated Aug. 1, the Special Third Division turned down the prosecution’s appeal “for lack of merit.” The Ombudsmam prosecutors failed to establish the necessity of current ambassador to Chile Josef Rychtar’s testimony. However, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division allowed Rychtar and Inekon board chairman Josef Husek to testify via video conferencing in the $30-million extortion case of Vitangcol provided the prosecution adhered to its conditions. Vitangcol was charged with two counts each of grave misconduct, serious dis-

honesty, and unlawful solicitation and imposed upon him the penalty of dismissal from service with cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from holding public office. Vitangcol was also accused of putting pressure on the Inekon representatives to enter into a joint venture agreement with his supposed “envoy” Wilson de Vera for the contract. Separate graft charges had also been filed against Vitangcol in connection with the alleged anomalous awarding of the MRT-3’s $1.15-million maintenance contract to PH Trams and its

28 fishermen in El Nido waters

joint venture, Comm Builders and Technology Philippines Corp., in October 2012. The Ombudsman cited Section 1, Rule 10 of the Rules on Electronic Evidence as a legal means to enable Rychtar to testify through video conference at the Philippine Embassy in Chile. But the anti-graft court said Rychtar’s testimony would be irrelevant to Vitangcol’s case since it involved his alleged financial or pecuniary interest in PH Trams. “It is thus clear that the proposed testimony of Ambassador Rychtar is immaterial to the present cases. To be sure, these cases do not involve any alleged extortion by the accused on the Inekon Group,” the Sandiganbayan said in the resolution authored by presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang. Associate Justices Bernelito Fernandez and Sarah Jane Fernandez concurred in the resolution.

LONG LIFE.

Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco, with Office of Senior Citizens Affairs chairman Linda Ramirez, awards on Friday P10,000 cash to Apolinaria R. de Dios for reaching 100 years old and as recognition for her invaluable contribution to the city’s progress. De Dios served as teacher at Wawa Elementary School. Andrew Rabulan

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—A coastal patrol boat of the Philippine Navy on Thursday rescued 28 fishermen from their sinking boat, some 35 miles northeast of El Nido municipality in northern Palawan. Capt. Cherryl Tindog, chief of the Public Affairs Office of the Western Command, said Friday the fishermen aboard the Athan Uno were on their way to the West Philippine Sea when it sank due to strong waves. Upon receiving a distress call from the fishing boat at about 8 a.m., she said the Wescom, through the Joint Task Force Malampaya, immediately dispatched BRP Nestor Reinoso skippered by Commander Roldydin Cris Sergio for the search and rescue operation. “They were on their way to the WPS to catch fish, but due to strong waves, their boat wasn’t able to make it and began sinking. It was the boat captain who made the distress call,” Tindog told the Philippine News Agency in an interview. The coastal patrol boat located the fishermen about 2 miles southeast of the Alcon Production platform where they temporarily anchored. PNA

Manila City Council lauds San Beda U A RESOLUTION was passed and approved by the Manila City Council “lauding and hailing” the upgrading of the San Beda College to University recently. Resolution No. 115, principally authored by Councilors Christian Paul Uy and Casimiro Sison, “congratulates the San Beda University, formerly known as San Beda College, for its newly-acquired university status and recognizes the institution’s role as one of the pillars of education in the city and the country since its establishment 117 years ago.” SBC was established by the Order of St. Benedict along Mendiola Street, San Miguel district, near the presidential Malacañang Palace in 1901. It has produced, since then, a roster of commendable alumni in the fields of discipline including law and journalism, like incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte, Supreme Court Associate Justice Florenz Regalado, Ombudsman Samuel Martirez, former Senator Rene Saguisag, Manila Standard night editor Honor Blanco Cabie, and former Constitutional Convention delegate from Bulacan Pablo Trillana III.

Insurance Commission assures public cases before it are investigated By Julito Rada THE Insurance Commission has assured the public that all cases falling under its jurisdiction are fully investigated and dealt with in accordance with existing laws and regulations. This was the commission’s statement Thursday, in relation to accusations that it was delayed in its action on the recent ﬁling of an administrative case of a certain Mona Tan against the Philippine American Life and General Insurance Co. and three of its agents for allegedly manipu-

lating her insurance policies amounting to P101 million since 1990. “It is, thus, regrettable that this commission is being accused of inaction and delay. Nevertheless, in view of the pendency of the case, this commission deems it proper and appropriate not to comment on the merits of the case and will let the process run its course,” the commission said in a statement. “In this regard, this commission urges the parties involved and the public from forming any speculations regarding this matter in order to prevent any negative

impact on the insurance agency sector and the insurance industry as a whole,” it said. Based on its records, the Insurance Commission said Tan ﬁled an administrative case sometime in February 2017 against Philam and three Philam agents on the ground that the methods of business of the respondents was such as to render its proceedings hazardous to the public or its policyholders. “In observance of this Commission’s Rules of Procedure, the parties have undergone the regular stages of an administrative proceeding from ﬁling of the complaint until

the conduct of mediation proceedings and Pre-Trial. Meanwhile, several issues were raised by both parties in addition to requests for postponement ﬁled by both parties on separate occasions,” it said. As of date, a hearing is scheduled on Aug. 28, 2018 for the initial presentation of the evidence of the complainant Tan. “Based on assurance given by Philam to this commission, Philam will continue to comply with the process,” it said. “Rest assured that this commission does not and will not tolerate any unethical practices in the insurance industry,” it said.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Manila

Standard ThisTODAY is to notify the public the Arda

Construction has changed its name to Arda Construction and Supply with the same address located at #888 1st street Phase 2 Plesantville Subdivision Ilayang Iyam, Lucena City. And that the former company have no liabilities or case file under its name.

(MS-AUGUST 4, 2018)

PCSO charity worker shares pains, joys of public service MA. CRISTINA Bui Cura couldn’t help but get emotional every time she encounters patients and relatives with terminal illnesses seeking medical assistance to Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Ofﬁce. It breaks her heart to see and talk to them every day, but she had no choice but to do her job to the best of her abilities. Tina is a 45-year-old charity worker assigned at the Ofﬁce of the General Manager. A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Management at the College

of the Holy Spirit in Tarlac City, Tina had no idea at ﬁrst how to approach patients who are seeking medical assistance. “I don’t have social work training so it’s hard on my part before to carry out my responsibility, but I do my best every day, and now I am getting better at it,” admitted Tina. Tina worked for a private company in Tarlac City for 15 years. She looked for a new job when the company closed down. With the help of a good friend, Tina was hired

by PCSO on Sept. 1, 2010, and was immediately assigned at the OGM. That time, her tasks included receiving checks being signed by the former GM and delivering signed checks at the Treasury Department. Instead of cash, PCSO gives its assistance in the form of a guarantee letter, which has a two-month effectivity. In May 2012, she was assigned at PCSO’s satellite ofﬁce at the Lung Center of the Philippines to help patients. There, she would interview more or less 60-70 patients a day.

Sports

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

E-commerce platform partners with pro league

Velez eyes PPS triple win at Manila Polo MULTI-TITLED John David Velez tries to buck the odds as he shoots for a three-division romp in the PPSPEPP Manila Polo Club National age-group tennis tournament which got under way yesterday (Friday) at the MPC outdoor courts at the posh Forbes Park in Makati City. Though the 14-year-old rising star from Davao settled for the No. 2 ranking in his age group bannered by Marc Jarata, Velez gained the top seeding in the 16- and 18-and-under divisions of the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop and sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Pera Padala. As in the 14-U class, Velez also braces for a showdown with Jarata in the 16-U section that also features Jester Ocio, Edgardo Angara, Stefano Gurria, Daniel Estanislao III, Thomas Bernardo and Lorenzo Enriquez. He also expects to have his hands full in the premier category of the tournament, backed by Asiatraders Corp., that also includes No. 2 Loucas Fernandez, EJ Tugade and Jolo Basa. “Velez has gained so much confidence from his string of victories halfway through the season, so we expect him to measure up with the older, seasoned rivals in the higher divisions this week,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. An equally thrilling battle is seen in the girl’s side of the event, sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg, with Bea Acena, Anna De Myer, Bliss Bayking, Denise Bernardo, Renee Acena, Paula Uy, Danna Abad and Carlyn Guarde bannering the stellar 18-U cast. Bayking, De Myer, Uy and Renee Acena are also out to clash for the 16-U plum along with Justine Maneja, Gaby Zoleta, Kryshana Brazal and Julia Ignacio while Marielle Jarata, Melody Dizon, Mica Emana, Jiana Hernandez, Sandra Apostol and Steffani Pesengco join Ignacio and Maneja in the 14-U group.

(In photo from left to right: Al Villadolid, VP for sales and marketing of Quick Reliable Service and shareholder of Beebeelee), Ronald A. Rodriguez, chief executive officer of Beebeelee, Willie O. Marcial, PBA commissioner, and Jo Francisco, PBA Properties Inc. (PBAPI) head.

Mocon’s 4 triples power Red Lions past Cardinals By Peter Atencio

Games Tuesday

AVEE Mocon sizzled with four triples in the third period and his effort propelled the defending champion San Beda Red Lions to an 88-70 swamping of the Mapua University Cardinals yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan. The 6’3” power forward went on tally a game-high 22 points for the Red Lions, who posted their fourth straight win in the 94th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament. Mocon’s treys shattered a 49-all deadlock and fueled a 10-0 blast that allowed the Red Lions to take control of the game at 59-49. “The boys stepped up, especially in the second half. We just have to be consistent and learn to play the game,” said Red Lions’ coach Boyet Fernandez as the Mendiola-based dribblers moved a game behind the Lyceum Pirates (5-0) with their fourth straight win. Mocon, who also dominated the boards with 16 rebounds, four assists and

three steals, got support from Donald Tankoua, who had 17 points, and Robert Bolick Jr., who provided 11. Bolick, who was commended by Mocon for giving him good passes, had eight assists. Most of his good passes were with Mocon in the crucial of the third. Later, the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals needed an extra period and the charity shots from Hamadou Laminou and Jerome Garcia to put away the San Sebastian Stags, 79-77. Rookie JP Magullano, a walk in applicant last summer, tallied 30 points to lead the Generals to their first win in five matches. “We are thankful for this win,” said

(The Arena in San Juan) 8 a.m. Mapua vs San Sebastian (jrs) 10 a.m. LSGH v Lyceum(srs) 12 nn Mapua vs San Sebastian (srs) 2 p.m. CSB vs Lyceum (srs) 4 p.m. Letran vs Arellano (srs) 6 p.m. Letran vs Arellano (jrs)

Generals’ coach Ariel Sison after they forced the overtime off Renz Gonzales’ charity in the last 36.5 seconds from a 69all standoff. In the junior division, the San Sebastian Staglets outrebounded the EAC-ICA Brigadiers and struck with their outside shots to post a 78-71 win, with Milo Janao top-scoring for 30 points. The Staglets, who had 52 rebounds, broke a 42-all deadlock on two triples from Janao to move away, 58-47, in the last 3:47 of the third. “Our rebounds in the third period were a big factor in this win,” said Staglets’ coach Melo Banua.

Gallardo scores biggest win in Phoenix national slalom RICHARD Gallardo of JAF Racing Team scored his biggest win yet in the sixth leg of the RACE Motorsports Club Phoenix Pulse Technology National Slalom Series, which had a record number of participants at the NFA Compound Cabanatuan City. Gallardo clinched the Overall and Front Wheel Best time of the day with 38.54, foiling the bid of Milo Rivera of Tough Gear/Federal Racing Team, who placed runner-up with a 38.58. Pekto Pakutkot (39.08) of Speed Jav Racing Team, Inigo Anton (39.20) of Mark Young Racing Team, Powee Base (39.23) of PMMS Rennsport Racing Team, Carlos Anton (39.5) and Vegil Calayo (39.60) of JAF Racing Team rounded out the Top 7. Rivera, the defending champion, nevertheless got the Rear Wheel Production best time. Gallardo, meanwhile, also garnered Richard Gallardo of JAF Racing Team is shown prior to his winning drive. the Front Wheel best time, followed by Pakutkot, Inigo Anton, Base, Carlos Absorbers and Robinsons Malls. Team, Mark Young Race Cars, SpeedIt is also supported by Starbright jav Racing Team and from Talavera Anton and Calayo. Base also brought home the novice Body Kits, Auto Transporter, me- City. The seventh leg will be held on Aug. best time, with Calayo and Ram Rafa- dia partners Stoplight TV, C! Magnan (40.58) settling for second and third, azine, Auto Car Magazine, Power 19 at Robinsons Novaliches, while the Wheels Magazine and medical team second leg of the Slalom Invitational respectively. will be on Aug. 5 at Robinsons CalaThe 2018 RACE Motorsports Club AEROMED. The event was participated in by siao, Pangasinan. Phoenix Pulse Technology National For details, call Bing Bang Dulce at Slalom Series with enhanced power Tough Gear Racing Team, PMMS and acceleration is also supported by Rennsports, JEMAG Racing Team, 09178119337 or like the event’s Facemajor sponsors Federal Tyres, and Globe Spade, RODLEA Racing Team, book page racemotorsportsclub. Some of the Official Results: 3K Batteries, New SR KYB Shock JAF Racing Team, Pongga Racing

Novice Stock Injected: 1st Rap Rap Serrano 42.92; 2nd Christian Manuel Tan 44.19; 3rd Caloy Moreno 47.70; 4th Renz Salenga 47.95; 5th Tatit Kulit 50.48 Novice Modified A: 1st Ritchie de Jesus 40.71; 2nd EJ Veloso 42.88; 3rd Rod Chang 45.18; 4th Ram Rafanan 46.08; 5th Francoise Fernandez 47.57 Novice Modified B: 1st Vegil Calayo 40.63; 2nd Francoise Fernandez 42.82; 3rd Powee Base 43.55; 4th Jan Nico Pineda 43.89; 5th Glen Alfonso 48.88; 6th Chrisna Nevada 50.94; 7th Ram Rafanan 56.04 Novice Modified C: 1st Powee Base 39.23; 2nd Vegil Calayo 40.42; 3rd Glen Alfonso 43.30; 4th Chrisna Nevada 49.96; 5th Ram Rafanan 51.97 Novice 1A: 1st Vegil Calayo 39.81; 2nd oPwee Base 41.86; 3rd Ram Rafanan 50.02 Novice 1B: 1st Vegil Calayo 40.12; 2nd Ram Rafanan 40.82; 3rd Powee Base 41.16 Novice 1C: 1st Vegil Calayo 39.60; 2nd Ram Rafanan 40.58; 3rd Powee Base 45.62; Novice 1D: 1st Glen Alfonso 41.60; 2nd Vegil Calayo 42.22; 3rd EJ Veloso 42.48; Novice 1E: 1st Veg i l Calayo 41.62; 2nbd July Dionson 44.42; 3rd Dominique Sarmiento 49.64; Novice 1F: 1s Vegil Calayo 40.18.

Cebu bounces back in MPBL

POWERHOUSE TEAM. The Wednesday Basketball Group recently captured Flight’s Mile High Division crown. The powerhouse team of founder Engineer Jess De Leon and son Jolas De Leon is a dominant team in various commercial basketball leagues around Metro Manila, winning the LGR’s 40-and-above and novice titles for two consecutive seasons and the Neophyte crown (Airquiola Wednesday) recently. They also won their third straight Mile High division title in the Flight Basketball league two weeks ago. The Wednesday Basketball Group, shown here and composed of more than 50 players in different divisions, also captured two premium basketball league titles last year. The team, shown here with founder Engineer Jess De Leon (extreme left), started more than 20 years ago.

BATANGAS CITY—Cebu bounced back in a big way by pulling off a 72-66 upset win over inaugural staging champion Batangas City to finally make it to the win column of the MPBL Datu Cup at the Batangas City Coliseum here Thursday night. Earlier, Bacoor picked up its first back-toback wins of the season as it drew big games from Mikee Reyes and PBA legend Marlou Aquino in whipping Caloocan, 86-68. Reyes, the former prized guard from University of the Philippines, dished out a triple-double performance, finishing with 21 points, a career-tying 15 assists and 10 rebounds. But it was Aquino, who nearly stole the show as the three-time PBA champion played his best game since being plucked out of retirement. He contributed 16 markers for the Strikers, who improved their win-loss record to 3-2. Criticized by the passionate Cebuano

cage fans following a scoreless quarter in their forgettable game against the Manila Stars last time around, the Sharks went for the kill right from the get-go and played with a sense of urgency against the Tanduay-backed Athletics. Rhaffy Octobre played probably one of the best games of his basketball career as he finished with a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds to trigger the Casino Ethyl Alcohol-backed Sharks’ energized performance following a big let down against the Stars. Octobre admitted he had sleepless nights as well as the other teammates. “Hindi talaga kami nakatulog noon, pati mga teammates ko,” said Octobre. “Inisip namin kung paano kami magsisimula ulit. “Ang daming nag-bash sa amin, na wala daw kaming ibubuga sa liga sa Manila. Kaya sinabihan kami ng mga coaches na ipakita namin yung larong Cebuano.”

THE Philippine Basketball Association announces its partnership with Beebeelee Express Corporation (Beebeelee), a new e-commerce platform in the Philippines, for the coming PBA Governors’ Cup. PBA Commissioner Willie O. Marcial and Beebeelee’s Chief Executive Officer Ronald A. Rodriguez signed the memorandum of agreement on Thursday at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City. Through this partnership, PBA fans will soon enjoy the comfort of ordering the league’s merchandise via www.beebeelee.com. The platform will also help bring the PBA closer to Beebeelee’s growing online supporters of Philippine sports, tourism, brands and crafts, and eventually even music.

Philbike Expo ‘18 to promote PH cycling industry By Ram Christian Agustin TO mark its fourth year, the Phil-Bike Convention Inc. will launch the PHILBIKE EXPO 2018 at the World Trade Center on Sept. 7 to 9 with this year’s theme “BIKE as ONE,” featuring five key events and programs that aim for the development and growth of local cycling, fitness and recreation community in the country. KOMEDYA AT BISIKLETA, one of the highlights of the expo, is a stand-up comedy act endorsing biking as an active lifestyle, with Kaladkaren Davila, an internet sensation and now a TV host, participating in the program. Other programs include the Jericho Ride, a ride for a religious cause with the Godspeed Ministry; a musical event for the participants in the expo titled Music Lane; a recognition of bodies with great contribution to the cycling industry named Philbike Awards; and Bike Laban, which brings the best of bike artists amongst “Pinoy Kapadyaks.” “It’s why we call it Bike as One, from the smallest to the biggest, or from the smallest sector of society who wants to buy, up to the highest level,” said President and Chairman of Phil-Bike Gaudi Quiballo. The Phil-Bike Convention Inc. aims to uplift the Philippine Cycling Industry and Communities through programs like the PHILBIKE EXPO, with more than 100 brands of cycling participating and up to 80% discount given on selected items. “It’s good for the environment and it’s good for your health, not that we want to eliminate the cars here in the Philippines, but we want to showcase the alternative mode of transportation and also, part of the advocacy of PhilBike is to uplift the cycling industry,” said Marketing Director Gian Quiballo. The event’s beneficiaries this year are Bantay Kalikasan of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation and CCF’s Godspeed Bike Ministry.

Future... From A8

More than just a race, Alaska IRONKIDS has become a venue for families to bond with parents showing their children that being physically fit and healthy is more fun. It also fosters the importance of starting the day right with a combination of exercise and proper nutrition. “I think it started with kids who like swimming biking and running. They got to see their parents who competed in the triathlon. Because these parents were triathletes, they encouraged their kids to try the sport. The children start with the play category. When they grow up, they then try to race,” said Alaska Associate Brand Manager Diane Guerta.

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Sports

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

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 , 2018

Woods seeks 15th major; Spieth a career slam at PGA ST. LOUIS—Tiger Woods stalks his first major win in 10 years and Jordan Spieth chases a Career Grand Slam at next week’s 100th PGA Championship while top-ranked Dustin Johnson hunts a second major triumph. The American trio is expected to contend in the year’s final major showdown over a 7,316-yard, par-70 Bellerive layout in the last PGA Championship to be played in August. The event moves to May next year. Woods, a 14-time major champion who hasn’t won a major title since the 2008 US Open, underwent spinal fusion surgery in April 2017 after years of back pain and began a comeback last December, rising from 1,200th in the world to 50th. The former world number one shared second in March at the PGA Valspar Championship, switched to a mallet putter in June and shared fourth at the PGA National and last month led briefly in the final round of the British Open before settling for a share of sixth at Carnoustie behind Italian winner Francesco Molinari. “I certainly can win again,” Woods said. “I feel like I’m starting to hit the ball a little more crisp. And since I’ve switched putters, I’ve started to make some putts. When you make putts here and there, it changes everything.” Woods, 42, has won 79 career US PGA titles but hasn’t won any event since the 2013 WGC Bridgestone Invitational. “I’ve had an opportunity to win a couple times this year,” Woods said. “My game has gotten better and good enough where I feel like I can win again out here.” Woods has won four PGA Championships, one shy of the record five won by Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen, but missed the cut in 2015 in his most recent appearance. He last won the PGA title at Southern Hills in 2007. Third-ranked defending champion Justin Thomas, trying to become the first back-to-back PGA Championship winner since Woods in 2006 and 2007, wants to see Woods win if he’s not in the hunt. AFP

Tiger Woods plays his shot on the 11th hole during World Golf ChampionshipsBridgestone Invitational - Round One at Firestone Country Club South Course in Akron, Ohio. AFP

Butcher quits as Azkals’ coach By Peter Atencio

RISH adviser Scott Cooper will take over the coaching chores of the Philippine Azkals national men’s football team. Team manager Dan Palami named Cooper as the interim coach of the Azkals after former England soccer captain Terry Butcher suddenly stepped down. The change came more than a month after Butcher was appointed last June 14 to replace Thomas Dooley. Butcher was supposed to prepare the Azkals for a first-ever Asian Cup appearance in January, 2019. “I’m sorry to announce that I will not be proceeding in the role as head coach of the Philippines national football team,” Butcher said in a statement released to the British press. Hours after stepping down, Palami put Cooper in charge of the Azkals. The 48-year-old Cooper was appointed as senior team adviser of the Azkals

last June. He will now oversee the national team’s training camp in Bahrain in September 2018. Since 1997, Cooper has been managing many football squads all over the world, including the Independent Schools Football Association England Under-15 National Football Team and the Buriram United FC in the Thai Premier League. “Regretfully, I’ve not been able to make this work in the way that I intended and I’ve decided not to continue in the role,” said Butcher. “As manager of the National Team, I

Future triathlon stars take part in Ironkids

was looking forward to working with Mr. Butcher as we build a strong team for the country’s first Asian Cup. It is unfortunate, however, that Mr Butcher had expressed difficulty in executing his plans for the national team program,” said Palami in a statement. Palami said that with Cooper taking over, the Azkals will remain focused on getting the best preparaButcher tion for the ASEAN Football Federation-Suzuki Cup and the Asian Football Confederation-Asian Cup. The Philippine Football Federation, through general secretary Edwin Gastanes, said they have accepted Butcher’s decision. “We wish Mr. Butcher good luck. The PFF will continue with the necessary team preparations,” said Gastanes

PH triathlon gets boost

By Reuel Vidal

By Lito Cinco

MACTAN, Cebu—Children studying at Mactan public schools as well as competitors of the 2018 Regent Aguila IRONMAN 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship joined a run out from Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa to the Mactan Shrine yesterday Friday, August 3. The run out gave the 2018 Alaska IRONKIDS Triathlon Cebu a meaningful start through the Dagan ug Sayaw, which started with the run out and culminated with a 90-minute Zumba exercise. Participants of the race—including 2016 world champion Tim Reed, threetime world titlist Craig Alexander and former XTERRA world champion and this year’s IRONMAN 70.3 Davao winner Mauricio Mendez—led the run out of students from Punta Engano High School and the Marigondon Elementary School as well as their parents, teachers and others who also joined the Zumba Exercises later in the morning. “Alaska Milk is all about developing a healthy lifestyle. I am glad these children joined the run out and hope that they also get the chance to join the Alaska IRONKIDS. I hope that one day they could aspire to be world champions like Craig Alexander,” said Sunrise Events President and CEO as well as Alaska

LEGAZPI City Mayor Noel Rosal is rolling out the red carpet for the expected 600 participants in the coming Mt. Mayon ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup on Aug. 12 and the 2018 Mt. Mayon ASTC Paratriathlon Championship set earlier on Aug. 10. This is the first time for this Southern city to host a paratriathlon race. “When we partnered with the Triathlon Association of the Philippines five years ago, we saw the opportunity that hosting the event will give to our city, sports tourism being a major niche in our local tourism campaign aside from Legazpi being considered as a national convention center. Prior to holding our first race, our tourist arrival was around 300,000, but now we have already exceeded the 1-million mark and these triathlon events have helped promote what we have to offer here,” said Mayor Rosal. He also cited the water leg venue is Albay Gulf as one of the best because of its clean and clear water and fine sand beach, with majestic Mt. Mayon as a backdrop. “We could have a bigger field of participants but we are controlling

Pro triathletes join the Alaska IronKids participants, the Alaska Tri Aspire team and students of the Punta Enganio Elem. School during the Alaska Run Out from the Shangri-La Mactan lobby to Mactan Shrine yesterday, one of the side events of Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Philippines Asia-Pacific. The school also received an Alaska Milk gift pack from each participant in the early morning run and those who took part in the ‘Dagan ug Sayaw (run and dance).

Milk Chairman Wilfred Steven Uytengsu as he led the Alaska Milk Toast. The 2018 Alaska IRONKIDS Triathlon Cebu is the culmination of a year-long calendar of triathlon activities for young boys and girls who are six to 14 years old.

Stellar field expects battle royale LAPU-LAPU CITY—A stellar field braces for a battle royale for top honors in what has been billed as a world championship-caliber field in the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship unfolding at Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa here. Australian 2016 world champion Tim Reed, three-time world titlist Craig Alexander, 70.3 Davao ruler Mauricio Mendez, and former regional champs Tim Van Berkel, Josh Amberger and Braden Currie headline an elite 19-man roster disputing the men’s pro crown while Mel Hauschildt, the reigning AsPac titlist, headlines the 14 contenders in the women’s side along with Radka Kahlefeldt, winner of IM 70.3 races in Davao and Subic, Caroline Steffen, a four-time champ in the IM races in the country.

“These are the guys I have much respect for and that also brings a different dynamic to the race. You know with these guys, it’s always hard to make a race strategy so I’m gonna go back to the simple strategy which is looking at what I can do and trying to get in the finish line fastest,” said Reed. The 39 world-class pros graced yesterday’s meet the pros presscon, where they were joined by VIPs led by Sunrise Events, Inc. founder Fred Uytengsu, Ironman Asia Pacific CEO Geoff Meyer, Regent exec Jennifer See, Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza, Cebu provincial administration Mark Tolentino, Tourism Sec. Bernadette Romulo Puyat, and acclaimed designer Kenneth Cobunpue, who created an exquisite pearl-studded trophies and medals for the winners.

The event had a modest start with about 60 participants and has grown to almost 400 participants in the Cebu IRONKIDS with the organizers expecting more to join before the actual race which starts today, Saturday. Turn to A7

in a statement. Butcher said he had come to the conclusion that he was unable to build a “robust” programme for the Philippines team. “The vital issue for myself was to carefully build a robust plan to meet the football ambitions of the national team,” Butcher said. Butcher was named in a shake-up to replace Thomas Dooley, who qualified the team for next year’s Asian Cup and guided them to an all-time high of 111th in the FIFA rankings in May. The Azkals’ next major test will be November’s AFF Suzuki Cup, the Southeast Asian championship, before January’s Asian Cup, where the Philippines are grouped with China, South Korea and Kyrgyzstan. With AFP

the number to ensure a high level of safety for the triathletes. But the past years have seen a steady increase in the number, including foreign entries,” he added. The Aug. 10 event will have the Asian Paratriathlon Championship, which has attracted 25 entries from five countries, including host Philippines, with the Philippine Paratriathlon Committee fielding blind twins Joshua and Jerome Nelmida in the visually-impaired category and Cebuano Alex Silverio in the PTS 4 category. Japan is expected to dominate as it is sending the biggest delegation of paratriathletes. Other countries entered here are China, Korea, and Kyrgistan. The age-group competition with 500 entries will also race on the same day. On Aug. 12, the men and women elite athletes compete in the fifth staging of the Asian Cup that has close to 100 participants. The Philippines is fielding its top triathletes John Chicanom Nikko Huelgas, Mark Hosana, Julius Constantino, Kim Kilgroe and Claire Adorna, according to TRAP President Tom Carrasco Jr.

Poulter leads World Golf tourney with 8-under 62 LOS ANGELES—Ian Poulter, gunning for a spot on the European Ryder Cup team, fired an eight-under par 62 on Thursday to grab the first-round lead in the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio. The English golfer, who won the Houston Open in April, had eight birdies without a bogey to hold a one-stroke lead over Americans Kyle Stanley and Rickie Fowler. Eight-time Bridgestone winner Tiger Woods, Northern Ireland Star Rory McIlroy, former world number one Jason Day and US Open champion Brooks Koepka were among the 19 players within four strokes of Poulter on a talent-laden leaderboard. “My whole game was great today,” said Poulter, who hit 12 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation.

“Whenever you shoot eight-under par you’ve generally done a lot of good stuff. “I did very well tee to green, proximity to the pin, I rolled a few nice putts in. As silly as it sounds, I would have liked to have nicked another couple. But any time you shoot eight-under par on this golf course it’s a great round of golf.” Poulter admitted he Poulter found extra motivation from his lack of success in previous trips to Firestone Country Club in Akron. In his last six appearances his best finish was a tie for 17th in 2015. “I looked at my stats over the last 15 attempts at this place, and they’re

not very good,” he said. “So today I was a bit more aggressive and it paid off.” After his lowest round ever on the PGA Tour, Poulter said a “good change in mindset” and “a good cleanup from behind the scenes” had contributed to a solid year that has seen him climb to 32nd in the world rankings. “It’s a Ryder Cup year,” he said. “I want to play in it and I need to play some good golf.” He’ll have to keep playing good golf to hold off a bevy of talented chasers. Stanley set the early target with his 63, and he was joined at seven-under by a bogey-free Fowler. AFP

IN BRIEF 2 solar companies eye dedicated power lines

TWO power companies asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to approve point-to-point infrastructure to connect their wind farms with a combined capacity of nearly 100 megawatts to the Luzon grid. Alternergy Sembrano Wind Corp. sought an approval to develop pointto-point limited distribution facilities to connect the 81-MW wind plant to the 115 kV Malaya-Teresa line. ASWC plans to start operations of the wind project in the second half next year. ASWC said the Sembrano wind farm under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 must enjoy the beneﬁt of priority dispatch as a generating unit utilizing an intermittent renewable energy source. ASWC said it would develop and construct a dedicated point-to-point facility connecting the Sembrano wind farm to the Luzon grid through Meralco’s 115 kV Malaya-Teresa line. Philippine Hybrid Energy Systems Inc., meanwhile, sought approval to develop, own and operate a dedicated point-to-point limited transmission line to connect the 16-MW PHESI wind farm to the 69 kV line of National Power Corp. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

DoE drafts circular on energy storage

THE Department of Energy issued a draft circular on the adoption of energy storage system in the electric power industry. The department in the circular cited different forms of energy storage system, adding there was a need to recognize ESS and its corresponding applications and beneﬁts to the power industry. It said the ESS technologies included battery energy storage, compressed air energy storage, ﬂywheel energy storage and pumped storage hydro. It said distribution utilities might consider owning ESS that would conform to the cross ownership rule of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 and its implementing rules and regulations. Distribution utilities can also procure ESS through a competitive selection process. Generation companies, meanwhile, can introduce ESS as a means of provision for ancillary services, subject to accreditation process and standard of the system operator. Alena Mae S. Flores

HSBC: BSP may increase rates by 50 basis points BRITISH financial giant Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to raise the policy interest rates by 50 basis points in its next meeting this month to rein in inflation. HSBC in a report cited the Philippine government’s earlier announcement of a wider deficit target of 3.2 percent of the gross domestic product next year, which is larger than 3 percent that was previously announced for the medium term. “... The main takeaway is that further fiscal impulse should be expected into 2019, adding to what is already strong growth. Continued fiscal stimulus is likely to slightly delay the return of inflation to the mid-point of the BSP’s target, among other factors... ,” HSBC said. “... Which is partly why we expect the BSP to take decisive, pre-emptive action in its upcoming meeting,” it said. The nflation rate rose to a more than five-year high of 5.2 percent in June using the 2012 price index, bringing the first-half average to 4.3 percent, which was over the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year. Bangko Sentral predicted last week that inflation in July likely accelerated to as high as 5.8 percent from 5.2 percent a month ago, driven mainly by higher prices of electricity, water, fuel and food commodities during the month. The Bangko Sentral Department of Economic Research saw the July 2018 inflation within the 5.1 percent to 5.8 percent range. The Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, on June 20 raised for the second time this year the policy interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.5 percent, wary of the possible second-round effects of inflation. Julito G. Rada

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018

PHILEX SCORECARD.

Philex Mining Corp., one of the oldest and largest gold and copper producers in Southeast Asia and a leader in right and principled mining in the country, garners top honors under the Asean Corporate Governance Scorecard for 2017, making it one of the top Philippine publicly-listed companies overall. On hand to receive the award in ceremonies held at the Tower Club in Makati is Danny Yu (third from right), Philex senior vice president for finance, chief finance officer and chief corporate governance officer. With him are Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. (leftmost), Philex assistant corporate secretary and members of the Philex Corporate Finance team. The ACGS is an instrument for the assessment and ranking of PLCs in six participating Asean countries. Philex garnered a score range of 100 and above, the only mining company to have done so.

IPOPHL opens 13th office in Zamboanga

THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines opened a satellite office in Zamboanga, its fourth office in Mindanao, to expand its presence and reach out to more businesses and individuals in the region. IPOPHL inaugurated IPSO Zamboanga, its 13th satellite office in the country. “In past years, we’ve seen micro, small, and medium enterprises, increasingly becoming responsive to our call to protect their trademarks, and gain a competitive edge in business. Gradually, they’ve been recognizing the significance and value trademark brings them in the cutthroat environment in the marketplace,” said IPOPHL director general Josephine Santiago. “This growing awareness explains the multi-year growth in intellectual property filings from satellite offices. IPSO filings have been on a growth path since 2013. With our continued expansion in the farthest areas of the Philippines, we expect this trajectory to remain on an uptrend,” she added. Othel V. Campos

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

Metro Pacific upbeat on tollroad settlement M By Jenniffer B. Austria

ETRO Paciﬁc Investments Corp. said it expects to reach a settlement with the government over the delayed tariff adjustment on its tollroad business within the year.

Metro Pacific president and chief executive Jose Ma. Lim said in a recent press briefing the Toll Regulatory Board was set to conduct a meeting on the company’s tariff issue in the first two weeks of August. “We have received signals from both from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Finance that they will support a settlement on this issue but we are not in the liberty to reveal the details yet,” Lim said. Once TRB approves the resolution on the settlement, Lim said the process would require publication and notification for collection, which would then allow Metro Pacific to implement the rates.

“We are really hoping that TRB will be able to pass this resolution,” Lim said. He said Metro Pacific would withdraw the notice arbitration case filed against the government for the nonimplementation of tollroad adjustments. Metro Pacific, through unit NLEX Corp., in April last year, filed a notice of arbitration against the government to obtain compensation worth some P3 billion for toll rate adjustments due to take effect for both January 2013 and January 2015. During the same month, the group through Cavitex Infrastructure Corp., also issued a notice of arbitration and statement of claim seeking compensation worth P877 million for government’s inaction on the toll hike petition for CAVITEx, which was due to take effect on Jan. 1, 2012, Jan. 1, 2014 and Jan. 1, 2015. Metro Pacific’s running revenues claims due to the freeze in tolls as of the first half of 2018 stood at P7 billion for the North Luzon Expressway and P1.6 billion for the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex). One of the options earlier considered by the government was a staggered toll

adjustment to cushion the impact to the motorists. Meanwhile, Metro Pacific chairman Manuel Pangilinan said a resolution on tariff adjustments would enable to infrastructure conglomerate to further support the government’s Build, Build, Build program. “I remain optimistic that settlement will be reached at the end of the day. Uncertainty is felt by investors in our financial market and by counter-parties unsure of such resolutions. In the meantime, we are doing our best to support the government’s Build, Build, Build program but tariff adjustment will certainly help the program be financeable,” Pangilinan said. Unit Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. earlier raised its stake in an Indonesian infrastructure company to more than 50 percent that would require them to conduct a mandatory tender offer. The company said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange MPTC, through Indonesian subsidiary PT Metro Pacific Tollways Indonesia, acquired an additional equity interest of 4.99 percent of the total issued capital stock of PT Nusantara worth P600.4 million.

Slovakian firm building first-class Cagayan hospital By Othel V. Campos A “RAPID deployment ﬁrst-class hospital” is expected to rise at the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport following an agreement signed by Slovakia-based Commerce Ltd., the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority said Friday. “The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding with Commerce providing for the development of the major hospital that will boost health care not just for Freeport but for our people in the region,” said Ceza president and chief executive Raul Lambino. The new hospital, Lambino said, would open new employment and income-generating opportunities in

the province and the region, including medical tourism and retirement communities. “This is the beginning of a new era of health care in our region. With it, we can attract new investors and spark tourism activities,” Lambino said. Commerce said in a statement it was conﬁdent it could provide health services that would “radically improve the quality of service and infrastructure for patients, workers, tourists and all the people in the region in the years to come.” Commerce did not give a timetable for the development of the health facility. It assured Ceza that “it will be done in record time as opposed to the average of 5-10 years to set up and

build a traditional hospital.” The company said it already started the “process of project development in relation to the services it shall provide immediately and will provide in the future.” The hospital will be operated “on the highest standards compliant with European and other world-class standards,” the company added. Lambino said Ceza was undergoing rapid development with its planned Crypto Valley of Asia in Sta. Ana, Cagayan, a big-ticket project that would be “home to a new wave of ﬁnancial technology companies.” The health facility would offer added convenience and conﬁdence to locators inside the economic facility, he added.

Ombudsman TRO stymies ERC job, says Devanadera By Alena Mae S. Flores ENERGY Regulatory Commission chairperson Agnes Devanadera said the agency cannot act on the pending power supply agreements of Manila Electric Co. due to the legal cases filed against the commissioners. “We are not acting on the seven PSAs (of Meralco) because there’s a case although you can always say... there’s no TRO,” Devanadera said. “But out of deference, both Congress and to the Supreme Court, we have not acted on them,” she said. The Office of the Ombudsman suspended four commissioners of the ERC for allegedly giving Meralco an undue advantage when it extended the submission of the company’s PSA applications. The Ombudsman, acting on the complaint of several groups, imposed a one-year suspension on all four commissioners of the ERC― Josefina Patricia Asirit, Alfredo Non,Geronimo Sta. Ana and Gloria Yap-Taruc—in December. The commissioners appealed the case to the Court of Appeals and obtained a temporary restraining order against the suspension. A new suspension on a different case, however, was imposed by the Ombudsman. Two out of the four commissioners, namely Non and Yap-Taruc, have since retired, but Malacanang has not announced a replacement yet. “We have not acted on any because of... we’re anticipating the action of Congress and we’re also anticipating the action of the Supreme Court. If there is none yet, we cannot resolve. Right now, the practical reason is I am the only one in the commission,” Devadandera said. Meralco president Oscar Reyes reiterated that the company’s supply agreements with the seven generators totaling over 3,000 megawatts underwent due process. “I think to us the important thing is providing the necessary assurance for energy security and supply as well as low or competitive prices. I believe that we had fully complied with the ERC circular on redefining the effectivity of the CSP,” he said. Reyes said there were 90 power supply agreements that were filed prior to the CSP.

Davao to become industry center soon

Cagayan Economic Zone Authority administrator and chief executive officer Secretary Raul Lambino (second from right), shakes hands with Tomas Ziak, Group Chief Executive Officer of Commerce Slovakia Corp., after signing a memorandum of understanding providing for the development of a major hospital at the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport that will boost health care for locators and people in Northern Luzon. With them are Vladimir Pristas (left) of Proxia and Ramon Garcia, CEO of I Wave Inc.

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the ambitious “Build, Build, Build”infrastructure program of the Duterte administration will turn Davao City into a manufacturing and agro-industry hub in the years ahead. Describing Davao City as “the hottest spot in the nation’s bright economic prospects,” Dominguez said the area and the rest of Davao had long been gearing for rapid growth, driven by the fact that President Rodrigo Duterte hailed from the region and because of its massive business potential. “The forthcoming infrastructure investments will catalyze the region’s growth potential. It will make the city a center for manufacturing and agro-industry,” Dominguez told businessmen who are members of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Inc. on its 50th anniversary celebration last week at the SMX Convention Center in the city. “Massive investments in property development have already begun, anticipating broad-based and sustained growth far into the future,” Dominguez said. Dominguez said among the road infrastructure projects already beneﬁting the people of Davao are the Miranda Bridge II at the Daang Maharlika in Davao del Norte, which now serves as the main access of motorists from Davao City going to other parts of the Davao Region, and the Davao River Bridge, which was completed in April this year. Both projects had signiﬁcantly reduced travel time within the Davao region, he said. Julito G. Rada

Business

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks up; Metrobank, AEV rise

HE stock market rose Friday on bargain-hunting, buoyed by reports that the government was considering measures to address rising prices.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 59.84 points, or 0.8 percent, to 7,819.39 on a value turnover of P5.7 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 126 to 67, with 51 issues unchanged. Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recommended at least ﬁve measures to address inﬂation during a recent meeting with the country’s top economic managers, even as the House committee on ways and means approved a bill lowering corporate income taxes and amending other provisions of the Tax Code. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest lender in terms of as-

sets, climbed 3.7 percent to P76, while Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., which is into power generation and distribution, banking, food and infrastructure, advanced 3.3 percent to P61.55. PXP Energy Corp., which has an exploration permit in West Philippine Sea, increased 5.5 percent to P14.24, while Transpaciﬁc Broadband Group International Inc. jumped 10.5 percent to P0.63. The rest of Asian equities were mixed on Friday after another painful week as fears of an all-out trade war between Beijing and Washington keep investors on edge, while China’s stock market was toppled by Japan as the world’s number two. Hong Kong lost 0.2 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai sank one percent, after both swung in and out of positive territory through the day, while traders on the mainland largely brushed off

promises of government support to the struggling economy. Adding to the pain of recent losses, China’s stock market was overtaken as the world’s second-biggest by Japan’s Friday, having been hit by trade war fears and slowing economic growth. Tokyo ended up 0.1 percent, while Sydney edged down 0.1 percent and Singapore slipped 0.2 percent. Seoul, Wellington, Taipei and Mumbai were all higher. While Apple provided a boost for Wall Street after hitting the $1-trillion market capitalization mark, the prospect of the world’s top two economies exchanging painful tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of goods is stunting optimism. Shares, which have been on the slide for several weeks owing to the increasingly heated trade row, took another hit

this week when the White House said it was considering more than doubling threatened tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports. Beijing responded by saying it would not give in to “blackmail.” “There are genuine concerns about this trade war underlying markets, which makes any genuine retaliation from China, rather than the current rhetorical approach, an issue for markets,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader. However, while he warned “the risks of escalation remain high”, he added that “the market still thinks (the latest US threat) is just a negotiating tactic.” Bloomberg News ﬁgures showed Chinese stocks were worth $6.09 trillion, compared with $6.17 trillion in Japan. The US market is worth $31 trillion. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.95 14,290 97 2,208,070 2.75 21,000 136.8 1,628,430 1.86 2,127,000 32.9 73,000 6.7 3,000 16.3 1,400 14.34 275,200 3.86 244,000 8.68 300 1.55 58,000 830 150 0.57 3,271,000 76 5,260,740 1.02 347,000 11.9 1,200 21 1,000 45.5 208,300 201 450 105.3 600 30 174,800 204 355,040 84.9 1,460 1.2 74,000

850,648 214,134,904.50 57,850 221,207,602 3,915,150 2,409,815 20,100 22,784 3,942,376 935,570 2,604 89,630 124,555 1,834,100 396,128,398.50 347,890 14,280 20,960 9,440,225 91,220 63,180 5,235,610 71,637,355 123,903 88,480

765,061 -70333091.5 40,608,098 -10,370 -389,235.00 -9,756 -196,532 69,301,173.50 2,000 -4,744,480 10,060 -4,233,000 14,539,365 0 -

37.2 15.44 0.76 1.16 0.235 112.5 3.16 15.48 38 21.05 49.8 68 1.82 5.06 7.45 10.4 15.9 10.6 7.35 5.02 1.61 15.32 63.05 23.85 7.45 14.6 2.42 273.8 4.9 3.21 26.3 12.42 19.24 368 0.18 6.82 2.26 4.15 8.9 5.45 1.18 11.76 56.4 6.11 4.64 2.56 1.76 13.4 67.95 5.28 1.12 129.3 2.46 1.47

INDUSTRIAL 38.2 1,280,500 15.5 525,300 0.79 4,164,000 1.17 763,000 0.235 1,750,000 112.5 230 3.2 6,515,000 15.5 865,700 39.3 591,200 21.1 7,700 50 306,600 70 590 1.83 71,000 5.06 22,000 7.55 25,800 10.6 1,724,500 16 2,293,500 10.8 115,100 7.42 1,667,800 5.02 1,318,400 1.61 1,000 15.56 1,308,000 63.4 34,860 24.4 59,700 7.45 461,900 14.8 361,100 2.42 1,055,000 277 442,350 4.9 6,000 3.21 1,000 26.45 573,600 12.8 1,181,400 19.24 788,900 370 334,340 0.18 100,000 6.83 7,700 2.26 231,000 4.17 46,000 8.97 466,900 5.5 182,500 1.18 191,000 11.98 82,200 56.5 123,700 6.11 33,900 4.72 151,000 2.66 2,262,000 1.76 430,000 13.4 94,000 68 150,460 5.28 7,500 1.17 1,021,000 130 1,080,900 2.48 3,289,000 1.52 3,019,000

48,513,475 8,129,572 3,226,520 885,860 412,610 25,877 20,823,240 13,404,224 23,110,820 163,085 15,329,948 40,800 129,920 111,320 194,055 18,232,122 36,713,722 1,238,660 12,378,104 6,637,879 1,610 20,267,276 2,208,859 1,450,295 3,441,182 5,347,396 2,586,830 122,275,610 29,400 3,210 15,185,940 15,126,006 15,295,474 124,304,588 18,000 52,582 539,870 192,200 4,185,729 999,854 226,570 979,516 6,995,992.50 208,468 702,000 6,011,380 762,260 1,266,342 10,238,803 39,600 1,167,560 140,260,834 8,165,710 4,544,850

5,736,150 44,920 -597,400 -6,618,650 -11,837,078 19,430 -13,219,474 91,500 3,810 107,732 17,732,186 -1,268,607 -5,290,524 739,794 1,737,774.50 -376,970 906,872 22,164,456 -4,839,090 -2,529,990 -3,859,136 -2,690,884 -48,570 2,659,216 -79,634 2,649,993.50 -49,155 0 270,636 -1,866,953 6,246,069 54,370 317,570

0.245 58.5 11.98 6.02 30.1 1.04 1.06 991 6.03 12.1 4.31 0.204 980 6.02 55.9 5.39 0.58 4.12 17.72 0.7 5 0.037 1.3 2.65 138 2.58 967.5 1.58 450 258.4 0.31 0.207

HOLDING FIRMS 0.245 510,000 61.55 1,566,350 12 3,402,400 6.1 45,200 30.9 31,000 1.21 97,659,000 1.2 35,552,000 1,020 357,440 6.15 3,407,900 12.4 3,821,300 4.31 1,000 0.204 120,000 998 77,100 6.02 5,000 57 1,695,930 5.39 100 0.59 515,000 4.19 6,403,000 17.82 870,800 0.71 13,619,000 5.03 40,514,100 0.037 29,600,000 1.34 625,000 2.85 1,831,000 139 72,550 2.58 40,000 986 222,280 1.61 680,000 475 80 259 770 0.31 14,230,000 0.207 10,000

125,210 94,555,053 40,826,992 272,545 952,970 111,391,390 40,519,220 360,025,840 20,924,345 47,019,094 4,310 24,630 76,503,905 30,167 96,243,772 539 305,710 26,879,790 15,499,830 9,787,160 204,410,030 1,098,500 814,510 5,045,220 10,085,793 103,400 218,135,975 1,088,150 36,250 199,418 4,439,900 2,070

26,098,403 -6,502,230 224,530 -5,537,060 15,384,450 4,412,660 25,628,792 5,403,425 42,842,964 561,550 -6,406,714 -3,030,510 29,367,009 415,010 -4,899,778 21,931,570 -54,374 310,000 -

4,949,582 1,293,130 628,316 61,800 1,150,880 367,619,825 11,532,710 1,977,760 783,200 154,190 463,940 1,575,610 127,000 2,923,325 40,163,410 2,802,770 9,430 36,893,650 267,520 14,889,330 65,710,520 72,460,860 613,850 1,216,590 3,207,920

-1,053,205 4,190 750 -117,814,635 10,163,690 -419,250 142,650 10,034,350 -606,520 -4,919,870 -45,380 -1,020,290 -24,437,920 63,590 129,000 439,880

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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

58 96 2.8 135.7 1.71 33.1 6.7 16.26 14.3 3.9 8.68 1.55 831 0.53 73.5 1.03 11.9 20.9 45.3 205 105.3 29.5 205.8 84.8 1.2

59.95 97.25 2.8 136.8 1.99 33.1 6.7 16.3 14.42 3.9 8.68 1.57 831 0.58 76 1.03 11.9 21 45.65 205 105.3 30.1 205.8 84.9 1.2

58 95.8 2.75 132.4 1.71 32.9 6.7 16.26 14.28 3.8 8.68 1.53 830 0.53 73.4 1 11.9 20.9 45.2 201 105.3 29.5 198 84.8 1.19

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

38 15.48 0.8 1.17 0.239 112.5 3.19 15.6 39.45 21.1 50 68 1.82 5.06 7.8 10.6 15.92 10.8 7.4 5.13 1.61 15.5 63.25 24 7.45 14.6 2.5 275 4.9 3.21 26.6 12.42 19.44 380 0.18 6.82 2.38 4.15 8.98 5.51 1.19 11.76 56.6 6.15 4.64 2.56 1.78 13.5 68.8 5.28 1.15 129.5 2.48 1.53

38.2 15.56 0.8 1.17 0.239 112.6 3.22 15.6 41.2 21.9 50 70 1.83 5.06 7.8 10.68 16.16 10.8 7.52 5.13 1.61 15.6 63.5 24.75 7.53 14.92 2.5 277.4 4.9 3.21 26.6 12.88 19.5 381.2 0.18 6.83 2.4 4.2 8.99 5.52 1.19 11.98 56.75 6.27 4.72 2.72 1.79 13.54 68.8 5.28 1.19 131 2.55 1.54

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

0.245 59.75 12 6.1 30.95 1.07 1.06 991 6.23 12.1 4.31 0.207 1,000 6.2 56.3 5.39 0.59 4.15 17.72 0.71 5.08 0.038 1.32 2.75 139.6 2.59 979.5 1.58 450 259 0.315 0.207

0.248 61.55 12.06 6.1 31.8 1.22 1.21 1,020 6.25 12.4 4.31 0.207 1,001 6.2 57.15 5.39 0.61 4.22 17.9 0.74 5.1 0.038 1.35 2.85 140 2.59 986 1.61 475 259.4 0.315 0.207

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

7.38 0.96 14.5 1.96 0.77 40.85 3.21 4.6 0.435 0.97 0.99 0.212 0.395 9.74 28 0.59 0.118 1.43 1.25 1.5 4.7 0.65 0.44 0.5 3.63

7.51 0.97 14.5 2 0.77 41.25 3.28 4.66 0.44 0.97 1.01 0.215 0.415 9.85 28.7 0.61 0.118 1.46 1.25 1.54 4.77 0.66 0.455 0.5 3.63

7.25 0.96 13.9 1.96 0.73 40.4 3.17 4.59 0.435 0.92 0.98 0.209 0.395 9.7 26.25 0.58 0.117 1.43 1.21 1.48 4.69 0.63 0.44 0.495 3.56

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

20.5 1.99 3.25 37.9 1.15 7.32 0.76 6

20.6 1.99 3.25 38 1.15 7.35 0.78 6.05

20.2 1.94 3.25 37.2 1.13 7.23 0.76 5.99

20.4 1.97 3.25 38 1.15 7.28 0.78 6.05

1,559,800 456,000 12,000 6,500,800 259,000 450,500 5,000 4,940,000

31,829,640 897,020 39,000 246,688,120 293,390 3,274,242 3,820 29,726,661

13,530,960 155,600 1,116,815 97,579 -1,557,509

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

14.6 23.95 0.465 0.047 13.12 4.5 10.24 0.055 69.95 7 6.82 2.13 25.2 901 1,850 5.42 272.2 3.8 2.07 85.6 13.4 7.88 0.134 3.36 3.76 15 4.09 1.03 25.95 4.89 7 2.78 2.26 2.2 17.68 9.01 10.98 8.9 3.52 119.8 5.48 1,360 0.91 0.37 46 88.05 8.42 2.18 1.11 0.57 5.07 0.75 12

14.6 24.7 0.47 0.048 13.5 4.5 10.28 0.057 70.85 7.08 6.82 2.13 26.4 901 1,875 5.44 282 3.98 2.07 86.55 13.4 7.88 0.136 3.61 3.83 15 4.09 1.06 25.95 4.99 7.06 2.82 2.37 2.4 17.68 9.02 10.98 8.9 3.55 119.8 5.5 1,380 0.91 0.375 46.75 88.5 8.42 2.23 1.11 0.64 5.1 0.75 12

14.5 23.9 0.46 0.046 13.12 4.3 10.06 0.055 69.65 6.91 6.73 2.13 24.85 900 1,830 5.4 272 3.77 2.07 85.5 13.4 7.88 0.133 3.26 3.5 15 4.04 1.03 25.55 4.5 6.97 2.78 2.26 2.2 17.64 8.83 10.98 8.9 3.52 109.9 5.42 1,351 0.89 0.36 46 88 8.36 2.15 1.09 0.57 4.99 0.73 11.8

SERVICES 14.5 24.4 0.46 0.048 13.5 4.3 10.08 0.055 69.95 7 6.73 2.13 25.65 900 1,850 5.41 279.8 3.98 2.07 85.5 13.4 7.88 0.135 3.54 3.8 15 4.05 1.05 25.8 4.73 7.05 2.82 2.3 2.4 17.64 8.91 10.98 8.9 3.55 113.5 5.44 1,380 0.9 0.37 46.5 88.45 8.36 2.2 1.1 0.63 5.08 0.74 11.86

4,100 69,400 4,390,000 13,400,000 507,200 137,000 41,146,500 5,260,000 472,740 623,400 800 2,000 130,700 2,430 20,195 67,800 8,770 4,516,000 14,000 637,730 1,100 16,500 4,180,000 34,769,000 22,000 900 569,000 582,000 474,200 379,000 3,554,200 1,300,000 849,000 50,000 200 1,910,900 14,100 400 89,000 141,390 308,400 85,735 6,067,000 1,200,000 1,184,900 503,380 22,100 6,217,000 1,729,000 199,376,000 704,200 2,640,000 1,283,500

59,656 1,687,130 2,029,900 626,500 6,847,124 600,190 415,210,222 290,240 33,049,535 4,361,662 5,402 4,260 3,330,710 2,188,025 37,535,290 366,781 2,417,464 17,603,030 28,980 54,681,526.50 14,740 130,020 560,440 122,289,030 82,620 13,500 2,307,970 602,590 12,210,955 1,820,760 24,987,692 3,648,320 1,956,850 117,050 3,532 17,017,274 154,818 3,560 314,680 16,086,389 1,682,139 117,166,870 5,475,040 439,050 54,759,315 44,515,981 185,039 13,648,550 1,898,590 121,512,320 3,551,721 1,936,770 15,249,872

7,300 6,844,500 -32,690,248.00 -14,031,475.50 26,547,030 -892,052 -345,020 -10,458,141.50 120,600 890,300 -12,250 -562,210 1,041,158 2,220,580 44,875 13,520 95,000 1,143,905 -429,930 5,343,400 -10,873,099 -175,270 -1,214,440 -2,714,410 82,430 1,720,322

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK CENTURY PEAK 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

0.0025 1.52 3.92 23.2 1.98 7.32 2.04 0.22 0.123 0.128 0.0082 1.52 4.51 1.19 0.54 1.11 0.012 0.013 0.011 3.05 4.42 13.62 32.8 0.0059

0.0026 1.59 3.92 23.75 2 7.68 2.07 0.226 0.133 0.135 0.0092 1.6 4.63 1.2 0.55 1.12 0.013 0.013 0.012 3.05 4.5 14.9 32.95 0.0059

0.0025 1.5 3.8 22.8 1.95 7.32 2.04 0.22 0.123 0.128 0.0082 1.51 4.51 1.17 0.54 1.06 0.012 0.013 0.011 2.95 4.38 13.6 32.55 0.0059

MINING & OIL 0.0025 81,000,000 1.56 5,130,000 3.8 309,000 23.2 49,900 1.97 1,283,000 7.68 6,400 2.07 5,421,000 0.225 250,000 0.13 41,910,000 0.135 4,850,000 0.0089 78,000,000 1.6 239,000 4.55 6,254,000 1.2 93,000 0.55 63,000 1.08 1,226,000 0.013 582,100,000 0.013 500,000 0.012 10,200,000 3.03 26,000 4.39 565,000 14.24 14,794,600 32.75 2,277,500 0.0059 1,000,000

202,600 7,974,210 1,181,620 1,166,200 2,536,610 46,912 11,161,630 56,000 5,426,210 642,010 692,600 362,070 28,576,300 109,890 34,500 1,329,700 6,987,200 6,500 112,300 77,180 2,503,770 214,464,328 74,552,410 5,900

-782,830 -60,860 -58,670 202,340 22,390 -105,300 1,090,060 -3,900 -218,050 284,676 -48,788,435 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

23.85 500 101.5 104.9 5.22 970 987.5 100.3 1.04 104.5 103.7 2 990 77.4 75 76.9 75.2 75.2 75.8

24.6 500 101.9 104.9 5.3 974.5 987.5 100.8 1.04 104.5 103.7 2 1,000 77.4 75.2 76.9 75.2 75.5 75.8

23.85 500 101 104.9 5.22 950 987.5 100.3 1.04 104.5 103.7 2 990 76.1 75 76.9 75.15 75.2 75.8

PREFERRED 24.3 132,400 500 130 101 12,750 104.9 25,000 5.3 82,500 974.5 1,320 987.5 110 100.8 13,080 1.04 1,000 104.5 170 103.7 10 2 4,000 1,000 1,100 77.4 26,080 75.2 34,700 76.9 380 75.2 14,050 75.5 28,620 75.8 8,800

3,209,775 65,000 1,292,565 2,622,500 434,710 1,256,330 108,625 1,311,929 1,040 17,765 1,037 8,000 1,094,850 2,018,423 2,606,100 29,222 1,056,196.50 2,159,460 667,040

2,089,285 -131,300 -434,710 105,750 -

LR WARRANT

2.45

2.47

2.4

WARRANTS 2.45 152,000

366,340

NAME

PROPERTY 7.43 0.96 14.3 2 0.75 40.5 3.18 4.66 0.435 0.93 0.98 0.213 0.415 9.82 26.9 0.59 0.117 1.45 1.22 1.53 4.74 0.65 0.45 0.5 3.56

676,200 1,344,000 45,000 31,000 1,552,000 9,024,200 3,542,000 426,000 1,800,000 167,000 472,000 7,460,000 320,000 299,000 1,453,200 4,790,000 80,000 25,513,000 218,000 9,791,000 13,884,000 111,306,000 1,370,000 2,450,000 896,000

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.2 3.17

5.28 3.19

5.17 3.15

FIRST METRO ETF

115.2

116

115.2

TRADING SUMMARY

FINANCIAL

16,350,997

INDUSTRIAL

43,698,792

HOLDING FIRMS

257,705,201

PROPERTY

214,348,862

SERVICES

342,080,521

MINING & OIL

840,184,269

GRAND TOTAL

1,715,879,967

5.27 3.18

SME

414,000 1,092,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116 3,810

2,160,489 3,453,900

-79,300

441,466

VALUE 1,885.01 (UP) 26.07 932,758,837.60 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,919.13 (UP) 17.04 749,594,516.38 HOLDING FIRMS 7,849.96 (UP) 103.82 1,500,376,293.41 PROPERTY 3,769.21 (DOWN) 20.70 1,504.86 (UP) 5.92 994,484,674.935 SERVICES MINING & OIL 10,298.05 (UP) 120.97 1,173,352,507.76 PSEI 7,819.39 (UP) 59.84 360,254,465.6702 All Shares Index 4,668.29 (UP) 23.61 5,716,883,039.86 Gainers: 126; Losers: 67; Unchanged: 51; Total: 244

Cebu Air adding 10 aircraft for North Asia By Darwin G. Amojelar CEBU Air Inc., the operator of Cebu Pacific and Cebgo, is adding 10 aircraft to its fleet in 2019 for new international routes. “Next year, we’re adding 10 aircraft. So, we’re gonna start the new areas... North Asia, especially, Chinese... to connect to the Philippines,” Cebu Pacific president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei said. “I think, there’s gonna be large opportunities to connect the secondary cities in China outside the Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai,” he said. Gokongwei said the airline planned to fly to Chengdu and Xi An in China. Data from the Tourism Department showed the number of Chinese arrivals to the Philippines in 2017 rose 43 percent to 968,447. Cebu Pacific earlier said it was on track to meet the target of 22 million passengers this year on strong domestic economy. “I think the Philippine economy continues to remain very vibrant with increasing income. Likewise, increasing interest from foreign tourists to visit the sites of the Philippines,” Gokongwei said. “Even with closure of Boracay we’re seeing tremendous growth in tourism, double-digit so you can imagine the increase when it reopens,” he added Cebu Pacific is the market leader with a 42-percent of total seat capacity in Caticlan, the gateway to Boracay. This includes a 14-percent share of its turboprop subsidiary Cebgo and 28 percent of its main jet operation. Data from the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation showed about one million of the 6.6 million overseas visitors to the Philippines in 2017 stopped in Boracay. Boracay is popular with Chinese and South Korean visitors, the largest markets for the Philippine tourism industry. The carrier operates out of seven hubs in the Philippines—Manila, Clark, Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Kalibo and Iloilo. Between 2018 and 2022, the airline expects delivery of six additional Airbus A321ceo, 32 Airbus A321neo and eight ATR 72-600.

ABS-CBN, GMA both claim higher television ratings ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc. both claimed higher television ratings for the month of July. ABS-CBN Corp. said it remained the undisputed number one television network in the country as it pulled in more viewers nationwide compared to other TV networks in July. ABS-CBN said it garnered an average audience share of 44 percent or an elevenpoint lead over GMA’s 33 percent, according to data from Kantar Media. Multinational audience measurement provider Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes that represent 100 percent of the total Philippine TV viewing population. ABS-CBN was also the TV network of choice for households in Metro Manila, where it scored an average audience share of 42 percent against GMA’s 28 percent. It obtained 39 percent against GMA’s 37 percent in Total Luzon and garnered 51 percent against GMA’s 26 percent in Total Visayas. ABS-CBN booked 53 percent against GMA’s 26 percent in Total Mindanao. GMA, meanwhile, said it widened its lead over ABS-CBN in nationwide television ratings based on the latest data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement. GMA posted an average total day people audience share of 41.8 percent in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement in July, beating ABS-CBN’s 36.7 percent. GMA strengthened its lead in the morning block, registering a 38.6-percent people audience share against ABS-CBN’s 34.9 percent. GMA also posted a bigger margin in the afternoon block with 43.4 percent, while ABS-CBN managed to get 35.9 percent. In the evening block, GMA was ahead of competition with an average of 42 percent versus ABS-CBN’s 38 percent. The network continued its dominance in the viewer-rich areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 72 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country. Darwin G. Amojelar

World

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF US says Russia still meddling WASHINGTON―The US government on Thursday accused Russia of carrying out a “pervasive” campaign to influence public opinion and elections, in a warning just months before crucial legislative polls. “We continue to see a pervasive messaging campaign from Russia to try to weaken and divide the United States,” said Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence. A slew of top US officials including Coats, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen vowed to investigate and prosecute those who were trying to sway US opinion or carrying out what Wray described as “information warfare.” “Our democracy itself is in the crosshairs,” Nielsen said in an unusually stark warning. “This is not just an election cycle threat,” Wray said. “Our adversaries are trying to undermine our country on a persistent and regular basis, whether it’s election season or not.” Coats pointed the finger of blame at the Kremlin: “Russia has used numerous ways in which they want to influence... through media, social media, through bots, through actors that they hire, through proxies.” The comments came in jarring contrast to the positions of Donald Trump, but the two men dismissed suggestions the president―who has repeatedly denied Russia moved to tilt the election in his favor―is not taking the issue seriously.AFP

Held for attempting to ‘overthrow state’ HANOI―A Vietnamese-American man is being held in Vietnam for attempting to overthrow the state, his family and a US lawmaker said, calling for his quick release from the communist country that routinely jails its critics. Michael Nguyen is the second US citizen arrested in Vietnam in recent weeks for allegedly brushing up against politics in a country where activism of any sort is quickly stamped out. The 54-year-old father of four daughters went missing last month on a visit to Vietnam, prompting a panicked search by his wife in California. US Consulate officials in Saigon confirmed to the family this week he was detained on July 7 under Article 109 of the criminal code―”overthrowing the people’s administration”―and is being held in a Ho Chi Minh City prison with no formal charges. “Michael is under investigation for Article 109,” Nguyen’s brother-in-law Mark Roberts told reporters in California Thursday, according to a transcript of the briefing provided to AFP. California congresswoman Mimi Walters confirmed in a statement that Nguyen has been detained and she is trying to secure his release. The maximum sentence under Article 109 is death.AFP

Climber found in the nick of time WELLINGTON―A climber trapped for seven days in freezing conditions on a New Zealand mountain has been found in the nick of time, with rescuers saying he was unlikely to have survived another night alone. Terry Harch, a 29-year-old Australian soldier, was spotted waving his arm in the snow on the South Island’s notorious Mount Aspiring, where more than 30 climbers have died over the past decade. His emergency beacon signal was picked up in the United States and the coordinates relayed to New Zealand rescue authorities. Rescuers managed to reach Harch late Thursday and he was airlifted out during a break in the bad weather on Friday afternoon. “It’s a great result, as we did not want the climber spending another night on the mountain. The aim now is to get him to hospital for immediate treatment,” senior rescue coordinator Neville Blakemore said. Search and rescue ofﬁcer Geoff Lunt said Harch had “clearly made some good decisions to be able to survive the bad weather, heavy snow and high winds.” AFP

FUN FAIR. Visitors walk past a merry-go-round and carousels at the annual fun fair ‘Cranger Kirmes’ in Herne, western Germany, on August 2, 2018. AFP

‘Spycam porn’ sparks protests

EOUL―Even a record heatwave will not keep Claire Lee from joining tens of thousands of South Korean women at a mass protest Saturday against secretly-ﬁlmed spycam pornography―as anger over the issue swells, prompting national soul-searching.

South Korea where the global #MeToo movement has unleashed an unprecedented wave of female-led activism. The target of their fury: the so-called “molka” or spycam videos that largely involve men secretly filming women in schools, offices, trains, toilets and changing rooms and which are so prevalent they make headlines on a daily basis. “Entering a public bathroom is such an unnerving experience these days,” Lee said, adding that she always looked around the walls to see if there were any “suspicious holes”. “You never know if there’s a spycam Since May, the monthly demonstration in Seoul has shattered records to become lens hidden inside... filming you while the biggest-ever women’s protest in you pee,” the 21-year-old student told

AFP, saying she sometimes stabbed the holes with a pen to shatter any secret lenses, or stuffed tissues inside them. The statistics are startling, with the number of spycam crimes reported to police surging from around 1,100 in 2010 to more than 6,500 last year. The offenders have included school teachers, professors, doctors, church pastors, government officials, police officers and even a court judge. In some cases, the victims’ own boyfriends or relatives were responsible for the crimes, in a troubling reflection of South Korea’s deep-rooted patriarchal norms. Fed up of living in fear, women are fighting back.

Poisonings leave Soviet defector’s family in fear

Critic silenced during live TV interview

BEIJING―A vocal critic of China’s government has disappeared without a trace after security forces strong-armed their way into his home in the middle of a phone interview with a US-funded television network. Retired academic Sun Wenguang, who is in his mid-80s, was speaking live to a Chinese-language TV show for Voice of America when the authorities suddenly showed up. “The police are here to interrupt again,” Sun said from his home in Jinan in the eastern province of Shandong, counting as many as eight intruders as he spoke in an audio broadcast on Wednesday. “It’s illegal for you to come to my home. I have my freedom of speech!” are the ﬁnal words heard from Sun. The dramatic recording highlights the increasing intensity of China’s efforts to silence critics of its policies as the ruling Communist Party aggressively nurtures a cult of personality around President Xi Jinping. Sun had written an open letter to Xi last month that criticized China’s checkbook diplomacy in Africa, releasing it just as the leader embarked on a trip to the continent, according to VOA and online screen shots that could not be independently veriﬁed by AFP. “Listen to what I say, is it wrong?” Sun asked the security detail in the recording. “People are poor. Let’s not throw our money in Africa,” he said, telling the intruders that “throwing money like this is of no good to our country and society” before the line went dead. AFP

OPENING NIGHT. Gina Gershon attends the opening night of ‘Mike Birbiglia: The New One’ at the Cherry Lane Theater on August 2, 2018, in New York City. AFP

Indian mothers campaign to end breastfeeding stigma

NOIDA, India―Clutching his elephant toy, Avyaan’s conversation is pretty much limited to a happy gurgle, but the ninemonth-old might be about to go down in history for helping make breastfeeding in public more socially acceptable in prudish India. Public breastfeeding carries a social stigma in much of the world―a situation that World Breastfeeding Week until August 7 hopes to change―but in highly conservative India it is particularly taboo. The country’s hundreds of millions of women are expected to dress modestly, and even a glimpse of a breast during feeding is a strict no-no, all too often inviting disgusted demands to desist and even unwanted sexual advances. So this is what a petition brought in little Avyaan’s name―by his middleclass lawyer parents Neha and Animesh

Rastogi―and currently before the Delhi High Court is aimed at chipping away at. “I was flying to Bangalore and my co-passengers were male. My son was exclusively on breast milk and it was so difficult to feed him there,” Neha Rastogi, 30, told AFP at her home in Noida, a satellite city on the outskirts of Delhi. “We want the government to set aside space in flights and at all public places because we can’t feed in the open simply because breast is just seen as a sexual organ.” The signs are good that the case may make some progress, with the court demanding city authorities come up with a response at the next hearing day on August 28. But setting aside special places is one thing. Getting wider acceptance for women to feed their babies wherever and

More than 55,000 attended last month’s protest in Seoul, according to its organizers, although police put the attendance at around 20,000. “The pent-up anger among women has finally reached a boiling point”, one of the protest organizers who only identified herself as Ellin told AFP. Asia’s fourth-largest economy takes pride in its tech prowess, from ultra-fast Internet to cutting-edge smartphones. But these advances have also given rise to an army of tech-savvy peeping Toms, with videos widely shared in internet chatrooms and on file-sharing sites, or used as adverts for websites promoting prostitution. AFP

whenever they like is a much bigger challenge. This was what Gilu Joseph, an actress from Kerala in the south, was trying to alter when she posed with a baby―not actually her own―at her bare breast on a magazine front cover earlier this year. The photo shoot, captioned “Mums tell Kerala: don’t stare―we need to breastfeed”, landed her and the publisher in court on charges of nudity, obscenity and endangering society’s moral fabric. The court dismissed the petition but Joseph found herself at the sharp end of torrents of abuse. “I don’t care what others say about me. The photo shoot was part of a campaign on how to be conﬁdent while feeding in public,” the 28-year-old told AFP. “Our society is so sexualized that men connect everything with sex. They are

having a problem [with my picture] because for them the body is only for sex.” Roopam Gupta, a working mother, also had a taste of how hostile society can be when she started expressing milk for her six-month-old daughter in the car coming home from work. The driver “tried to put up covers inside the car,” Gupta told AFP. “I told him he must change his mindset because I am not going to change mine.” Her place of work though is helping to ﬁght back―the Fortis La Femme hospital, home to Delhi’s ﬁrst “milk bank” for mothers, set up in 2016 but still only one of a handful. The Amaara facility collects breast milk from donor women who pump it at home. It is then pasteurized and provided to newborns in hospital or to mothers who are unable to breastfeed. AFP

LONDON―The family of a Soviet defector who died in Salisbury in 2001 is living in fear following the recent poisoning of a Russian ex-spy in the same English city, according to his son. Nikita Pasechnik, whose scientist father Vladimir Pasechnik defected to Britain in 1989 and suffered a stroke 12 years later, said his relatives were now “scared to death”. “Every normal person would fear,” Nikita Pasechnik told AFP in a recent interview in the southwest English county of Dorset where he lives, blaming the death on Russian security services. Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in Salisbury in March with the Soviet-made Novichok nerve agent. They spent weeks recovering in hospital. Britain has blamed the attempted assassination on Moscow, which has denied involvement. Dawn Sturgess, a 44-year-old English woman who also came into contact with the toxin along with her surviving partner Charlie Rowley in nearby Amesbury, died on July 8 and was cremated this week. “Even here in the UK I don’t feel safe―that was one of their goals with Skripal,” Pasechnik said. “These two cases are different but the similarity between them is that I believe they killed my father. “They poisoned him and they poisoned Skripal,” he alleged. Pasechnik, an IT specialist, wants his father’s death 17 years ago probed. But other relatives worry it could make them targets. “My family don’t want to be exposed. They’re scared to death,” the 53-year-old father said. Vladimir Pasechnik was a senior biologist who ﬂed the Soviet Union as the Cold War was ending and exposed its vast clandestine program adapting germs and viruses for military use. He defected in Paris and settled near Salisbury, working at a public health microbiological research center at Porton Down, where the British military also has research facilities. His family joined him in stages through the 1990s. In November 2001, aged 64, he was hospitalized after suffering a stroke and died within weeks. AFP

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018

Home renting, a preferred lifestyle

HOUGH buying your own home can offer a sense of security, it’s not always for everyone. Home renting is becoming a popular choice in the Philippines for people of different lifestyles.

If you’re just starting out, low on funds for upfront down payments and house repairs, and your ﬁnances or circumstances are likely to change soon, renting may be a practical alternative. There are many reasons why it might actually work better for your needs and preferences. GOOD LOCATION Homes in central locations tend to be pricier because these are near transportation hubs, ofﬁces, commercial centers, public facilities and other lifestyle destinations. Home buyers would sometimes end up purchasing homes in areas that are far from the city because these are more affordable and realistic—even if it means travelling several hours to get to work. If you’re a home renter, you have the liberty to choose to live near where you work or study. You can easily see and decide if your prospective home is close enough to what matters to you today., LIVING LIFE AS IT IS One of the advantages of renting is that you are not tied down to just one property and location. You may be single now but be married the next year, and grow your family in the next few years. You may be in Makati now in a studio unit, but in the next few years, you might need a place in Ortigas for a family of four. At work, who knows if you’ll be relocated to

VERSACE BY THE SEA.The Palladium Hotel, a resort hotel in Coron, Palawan, recently opened its doors to visitors who want to stay in a luxurious boutique resort without spending too much. “This is where luxury and value for money meets,” said Dino Reyes Chua, president of Palladium Hotels & Resorts International. “Our hotel offers intimate elegance inspired by designs by renowned Italian designer Gianni Versace, and affordable luxury.” The establishment features 40 rooms with queensized beds, an outdoor swimming pool, cafe and restaurant, poolside bar and seminar hall. In-house guests can enjoy guided tours of famous Coron sites such as the twin lagoon, Kayangan lake, Barracuda lake, as well as access to the exclusive Palladium Beach Club. Palawan has been consistently voted as number Island in the world by Conde Nast Travel Magazine.

Transforming industries

FREEDOM, FLEXIBILITY ON TAP. Eton Emerald Lofts offers executive

living in the Ortigas CBD, as well as homes in Manila at 8 Adriatico, Eton Baypark Manila, and One Archers Place.

a satellite office or your headquarters will transfer to a different city? In all these, home renting is a more flexible alternative to your developing lifestyle. Renting lets you live your life as it is. INVESTMENT OTHER THAN REAL ESTATE When you purchase a property, the financial obligation doesn’t end with mortgages. You still have to pay for regular taxes and usually, it fluctuates depending on the changing economic conditions. When you rent, you don’t have to assume a significant financial burden. With the money that you are able to put aside by renting, you can invest in other things such as stocks, mutual funds, foreign exchange, corporate bonds, cryptocurrency, a start-up business – anything. NO MAINTENANCE COSTS When you rent a property, the landlord is responsible for the cost of repairs and maintenance of your place. If

the roof or faucet leaks, as a renter, you do not have a responsibility over these things. Depending on the repair, these costs can be quite expensive. When you have finally made your decision to move out and rent, make your experience easy by engaging a leasing partner. One of these is Dwellings by Eton, a leasing program by Eton Properties Management Corporation. For example, you can choose units in the Makati Central Business District (CBD) at the Eton Residences Greenbelt, Eton Parkview Greenbelt, Eton Tower Makati, or Belton Place Makati. Leasing staff from firms such Eton can help ensure you get the most out of your living space, depending on your preference and budget. Convenience, flexibility, cost efficiency. When it’s time for you to move out, leasing partner firms can help you find your own space. Now that’s stressfree living in the city.

THE Philippines-Japan Forum on Investments and Cryptocurrency recently announced that Mindanao will be the ﬁrst region in the Philippines to be powered by cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. The announcement was made by Congressman Seth Frederick P. Jalosjos, 1st District Representative Zamboanga del Norte at the forum organized in Japan by the NOAH Foundation. Blockchain technology and cryptocur-

rency is currently transforming industries, including real estate, due to MLS property data which enables sharing data and processes. Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency is currently transforming industries including real estate, due to MLS property data which enables sharing data and processes. Blockchain technology streamlines the real estate ecosystem by enabling people to securely and efﬁciently share data and money, making information more accessible, taking out the middlemen and practically reducing the risk of fraud. The NOAH Foundation has lined up a series of joint venture developments using blockchain technology and cryptocurrency in the Philippines. One of them is the Horizon Manila, a 419-hectares project in Manila Bay’s reclaimed area.. Another is a high end resort community, in partnership with the Dakak Beach Resort in Zamboanga del Norte.

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE. Botanika Nature Residences, a

condominium complex by luxury real estate brand Filigree, co-exists with its environs, providing residents a home where they can enjoy close-to-nature living. The condominium units are cut into two-bedroom suites, three-bedroom flats, three-bedroom garden bi-level units, fivebedroom garden bi-level units, and grand penthouse units ranging from 123 to 343 square meters. Isabelle Miaja of Miaja Design Group, fuses a number of cultures in the common areas, which serve as the extension of the residents’ private suites. “When we design, we build every project around a story line that is connected to the place, the people, and its art, the whole cultural background,” Miaja explained.

C-5 LANDMARK. The Glaston tower, Ortigas & Company’s first office tower for sale, recently broke ground in Ortigas East. The 34-storey edifice is the first to rise at the new Ortigas East, the property firm’s P50-billion redevelopment of the estate formerly known as Frontera Verde. The Glaston Tower is providing office spaces for tech start-ups and more established, traditional businesses such as consulting and trading companies, law firms, and financial corporations. At the ceremony were Ortigas & Company president Jaime E. Ysmael (sixth from left) and Asya chairman and principal architect Albert Yu (sixth from right). Also there were Ortigas & Company executives (left to right): Trina R. Chan, head of office Leasing; John G. Bautista, head of technical and property services; Jayme T. Uy, associate marketing manager; Rose O. Morales, head of sales; Jojo S. Aligaen, head of project execution; Jenna J. Belardo, head of project development; Amabelle P. Dizon, head of design and planning; Thomas F. Mirasol, senior vice president and chief operating officer; Arch. Renee C. Bacani, vice president, shopping center division; and Atty. Mike I. Abundo, vice president and head of corporate resources.

LEVELLING UP AT CLARK.

Long the center of the Philippines’ commercial activities, Metro Manila is straining to accommodate a growing population and a myriad of business activities. Pushing outside the capital is now a national priority— and Central Luzon, with Clark as its hub, is ready to lead the next wave of growth. Atop one part of the old US Airforce Base, and adjacent to Clark International Airport, is a 177-hectare site that is morphing into an important commercial and logistics hub. Clark Gateway City is one of the largest development sites in Luzon and already has easy access to air, sea, and land connections. Clark Gateway City is the brainchild of the Global Gateway Development Corporation (GGDC).

LET THE ‘GREAT EATS’ BEGIN. Everscapes, a subsidiary of Ever group of companies, recently launched Calle Bistro -- a new lifestyle strip along Commonwealth Avenue which will host dozens of food spaces, from Chinese to Filipino restaurants, and cafes and wine bars. “As the newest food destination north of Manila, “Calle Bistro offers a variety of culinary options along Commonwealth Avenue, from dine to chill,” claimed Chie Arao-Santos, corporate marketing manager of the Ever group. Stores that have opened include Starbucks, Gerry’s Grill, ELM’s Kapihan and Bar, Hap Chan and Macao Imperial Tea. Soon, stores such as Tim Hortons, After Twelve Bar, Cook the Bread and Teriyaki Boy will join the roll, including JT’s Manukan Grille, Adobo Connection, Sisig Society, Ima’s Kitchen and PUB Express. Calle Bistro is located at the Ever Commonwealth parking grounds in Quezon City.

Life

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

young life

@MstandardLIFE saturday, august 4, 2018

ART IN FASHION. Guess denim jackets designed

by young Filipino artists displayed during the Art of Guess fashion and art exhibit at Whitespace Manila.

Fashion and art exhibit

doesn’t get more interactive than this

mericAn fashion label Guess has been a pop culture mainstay for 37 years what with its omnipresent triangular logo, distinguishable campaigns, and iconic models. And as purveyor of streetwear and fun, youth-inspired apparel, the brand celebrated its place in Philippine fashion with an interactive exhibit. Dubbed the Art of Guess, the exhibit, held on July 27 to 29 at Whitespace manila, featured creations exclusively designed by young Filipino graphic designers, illustrators, and mural artists. As a multi-sensory fashion and art experience, the three-day event had seven uniquely interactive booths that fed all senses. custom denim jackets by Anna Bautista, Anina rubo, Alessanda Lanot, Jessica Yang, monica magsanoc, Steph Alvarez, Kara Pangilinan, Lee cases, Soleil ignacio, and raxenne maniquiz were displayed at the Denim Jacket exhibit. meanwhile mural artists Archie Oclos, Dee Jae Paeste, and Anjo Bolarda incorporated the classic Guess denim designs into their artworks. each of the artists combined their signature art aesthetic with the brand’s classic, iconic style. The exhibited pieces were sold via a silent auction. All auction proceeds will be donated to World Vision, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of unprivileged families. Guests were also treated to a Guess fashion film showing featuring the

Indie band Over October (left) and rapper Curtismith (right) performing at the Art of Guess event.

trendiest Filipino looks directed by John Lozano. “everybody knows what Guess is all about. We all grew up with it so we know that it is cool and sexy. most importantly, Guess speaks the language of our generation,” Lozano said before he unveiled his film. Aside from the exhibit and the presentation of a fashion film, attendees and art enthusiasts were also encouraged to customize denim tote bags at the Denim Workshop station, take photos at the kaleidoscopic photo booth, and check out the summer 2018 collection line, which consists of trendy two-piece sets, sundresses, classic logo tees, and button-down tops, at the Guess merchandise exhibit The Art of Guess nights were also filled with musical performances by lo-

cal artists such as She’s Only Sixteen, Keiko necesario, Oh Flamingo!, Dante and Amigo, Saint Guel, and Kremesoda. Guests seen at the event included carla Humphries, Dionne mansanto, Jess Wilson, Ava Daza, Kim cruz, Angela martinez, Vina Guerrero, michelle Dy, Angel Dei, chelsea robato, Kc Del rosario, and ria Atayde, who were wearing fun, sexy, adventurous, Guess #OOTDs. mond Gutierrez, Will Devaughn, Luke Jickain, Lharby Policarpio, David Guison, Deegee razon, Kerwin King, and christian Busby likewise rocked the night in Guess street style looks. Paola Navarette From left: Ava Daza, Mond Gutierrez, Sean Go, Carla Humphries, and Ali Daza take a selfie at the exhibit.

Get a grip on your phone in 2010, Philosophy professor David Barnett had a problem: when getting his groove on listening to music on his phone, his earphones got tangled. in a moment of genius, he glued a button to the back of his phone to keep the cord neatly wrapped—this was the moment when the seed for PopSockets was planted. Fast forward to today, that simple button had expanded into a simple device that really did work great as a cord wrap, but also as a handy phone grip and a phone stand. So what’s a PopSockets Grip? it offers a secure grip when texting or snap-

ping selfie, and propping the phone up for catching the latest video. Double PopSockets Grips are great for competitive mobile gamers who want a solid grip on the base of their phone to put their twin thumbs into action. They are also a great tool to store untangled earphones by simply winding them over the knobs. When combined with the PopSockets mount, the phone can be hanged just about anywhere. PopSockets Grip slides easily into the mount for hands-free function while driving, video chatting, and more. it may have started out of Barnett’s garage but PopSockets soon became a commercial suc-

SMILE! The mobile phone grip allows users to hold their gadgets safely while taking a selfie.

PopSockets Gr ip comes in over 10 0 original designs .

cess. it is a huge hit with many fans including celebrities such as Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Fifth Harmony, Serena Williams, Gigi Hadid, and Jared Leto, as well as Olympian michael Phelps. According to reports, the company has sold over 35 million PopSockets Grips and mounts in 2017 and is on track to double that number to 70 mil mil-

lion this year, with its expansion into other markets including the Philippines. This mobile phone grip has over 100 original designs priced at P499. it is also available in designs made with premium materials such as vegan leather, metal, and real wood for P749. Licensed designs from well-known franchises such as Harry Potter and

Marvel, which will be available in the next coming months, are also priced at P749. it also comes in a combo pack composed of one black PopSockets Grip and one mount for only P749. PopSockets mounts cost P499. PopSockets is available at Urbanize, Elecom, Bratpack, and Rustan’s department stores.

Life

saturday, august 4, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Thesis on smart-shaming bags Student Quill award

“S

ige na, ikaw na matalino!” “Ang dami mong alam!” “Pabibo ka masyado.” Do any of these ring a bell?

These are the common responses of some Filipinos to thoughtful statements, insightful ideas, or basically anything they don’t have any knowledge about. It is as if the other person is hurling insults or curses instead of casually imparting information or stating facts. Don’t even get us started on “edi wow!” a sarcastic blow to a rather harmless comment or statement. In the Philippines, being smart is somewhat a curse rather than a blessing. There is a growing trend of anti-intellectualism, defined as hostility to and mistrust of intellect and intellectuals, in the country. But we are not alone. It has in fact been used by totalitarian governments in other countries to repress political dissent since the 20 th century. Suddenly ignorance is bliss and going with the flow is cool, lest one wants to be smart-shamed. Zoë Rosal, a multimedia arts graduate of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, featured this topic in her college thesis “Turtle Shells.” The 3-minute 22-second advocacy film tackles the culture of embarrassing someone for their display of intellect. “Turtle Shells” bagged the top award for Communication Skills at the 6th Philippine Student Quill awards held recently at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

The Jones Lang Lasalle Philippines booth

French embassy

hosts youth employability forum Smart-shamers consider English speaking as elitist even if it is in fact taught at school. (Screengrab from Turtle Shells/Vimeo)

The Philippine Student Quill awards is the counterpart of the Philippine Quill awards, which honors private companies and agencies. In the video, Rosal urges everyone to keep a broader perspective. She says, “after all, there’s really nothing wrong with knowing things. and I believe, it shouldn’t be something to be ashamed of.” edi wow? no, we really should retire that one, together with the culture of ignorance and hostility to intellect. In the Philippines, being smart is somewhat a curse rather than a blessing.

In a bid to find out the skills and qualifications applicants need to be hired, the Embassy of France in the Philippines, in cooperation with the French, Filipino-French nGOs, and the French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, recently held the Youth Employability Forum at SMX Mall of asia. a joint project of the French Embassy in partnership with SM, the day-long forum included talks from French and Filipino companies, as well as testimonials from nGOs and their beneficiaries regarding employment opportunities and the corresponding skills and qualifications in searching for an employer. The forum gathered beneficiaries from nGOs to connect with management from the private sector and give them chance to better understand the employment market, meet decision makers in the professional world, and broaden their horizons. Distinguished guest speakers included His Excellency nicolas Galey, ambassador of France to the Philippines. Department of Labor and Employment assistant Secretary alex avila talked about young worker development projects and programs. Former national Youth Commission Chairman Ice Seguerra, on the other hand, highlighted programs for youth integration.

Matthieu Cognac of International Labor Organization

Yves Zoberman, French Embassy Cooperation and Cultural Affairs Counselor and H.E. Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of France to the Philippines

Other speakers were Director Jerry Clavesillas from Department of Trade and Industry, Rebecca Calzado from Technical Skills Development authority, Matthieu Cognac from International Labor Organization, and Virginia Pascual of Sodexo. The speakers focused on and tackled different employment- and industryrelated topics like growth of Philippine trade and industry and providing new jobs, top in-demand skills in the Philippines, youth employment in different regions, and updates on the economic companies’ situation in the country. These talks were followed by panel discussions with question and answer portions, testimonies of the nGOs, round-table discussions, workshops for preparing curriculum vitae, and oneon-one mock interviews.

Multimedia Arts alumna Zoe Rosal (second from left) wins the top award for Communication Skills for her college thesis, a 3-minute video entitled ‘Turtle Shells.’

Student entrepreneurs to represent PH in international trade challenge THREE teams of student entrepreneurs are heading to Singapore to represent the Philippines in the FedEx Express/Junior achievement International Trade Challenge asia Pacific finals on aug. 12-16. The PH representatives are composed of teams Pawa niugini of De La SalleLipa, Carranam of St. Scholastica’s College-Manila, and Kawayan of St. Jude

Catholic School, which won 1 , 2 , and 3rd respectively, in the local competition. This year, 10 teams were shortlisted to present their market entry strategies to introduce an outdoor product in Papua new Guinea. They were tasked to provide details of their product’s unique value proposition, pricing strategies, marketing plans, market entry options, and sales and distribution channels. st

Teams Pawa Niugini, Carranam, and Kawayan will represent the Philippines in the 2018 FedEx/JA ITC Asia Pacific Finals happening in Singapore.

Team Pawa niugini proposed organic charcoal briquettes that burn longer than other types of charcoal and are a natural mosquito repellent. Team Carranam, on the other hand, created a market plan for a survival water filter to address the need for safe and clean water in Papua new Guinea. Team Kawayan drafted a design for the Bambambike, an affordable, durable, and eco-friendly mode of transportation since metal is expensive in Papua new Guinea. “It is an honor for me to be representing the Philippines. The journey was really difficult and challenging for the both of us as we had to rethink our product,” shared Janna Cuenca of Team Pawa niugini She continued, “I had no idea how to prepare a business plan at first, but thankfully, we were still able to make it. I hope to learn more about the business plan development process now that we are going to Singapore.” The three winning teams will represent Philippines in the Regional Finals in Singapore, with 54 counterparts from nine other asia Pacific markets: australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Nippon Paint officials (from left) Hazel Gotan, Shara Lyra Castillo, Gladys Goh, Michael Franciso, and TJ Ng announce the launch of AYDA 2018.

A search for innovative architecture, interior design students COaTInGS manufacturer nippon Paint Philippines, Inc. has launched this year’s search for the asia Young Designer award. Carrying the theme “FORWaRD: Challenging Design Boundaries,” aYDa 2018 encourages architecture and interior design students to depart from their usual comfort zones. They are tasked to challenge the vernacular archetypes and present design boundaries so they can come up with more creative creations in a variety of ways possible. The competition is open to architecture and interior design students (third year onwards). Each student is allowed to submit one entry. Deadline for submission of entries is on Sept. 28 at 10:00 p.m. Criteria for judging in the architecture category is Green and Sustainable Design Concept (20 percent), Design Innovation (25 percent), Color Concept (15 percent), Design Concept Statement (30 percent), and Critical and Forward Thinking (10 percent). For the Interior Design category, judging is based on

Green and Sustainable Design Concept (15 percent), Design Innovation (30 percent), Color Concept (20 percent), Design Concept Statement (25 percent), and Critical and Forward Thinking (10 percent). The Gold award winner will get P50,000 in cash, a learning program abroad to compete against other Gold awardees from 14 countries, and an all-expense paid learning experience at Harvard University Design Discovery for six weeks. The Silver award winner will receive P30,000, and eight other finalists will each receive P10,000 cash prize. Both Silver awardees and finalists will get an internship opportunity at Jose Siao Ling & associates (architecture students) and aidea Philippines, Inc. (interior design students). Other special awards include Best Color Choice, Best Green Innovation, People’s Choice award, Best Professor/ adviser (will go to the mentor of Gold awardee), and Best Supporting College/University.

Entertainment Simply... From C4

Celeb Athletes Feted in Hall Of Fame Awards The country’s top celebrity athletes was honored at the first Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) Hall of Fame Awards on July 31 at the Samsung Hall of SM Aura, Bonifacio Global City. The awardees were Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez (Fencing), Makati 1st District Rep. Monsour del Rosario (Taekwondo), Senator Miguel Zubiri (Arnis) and 11-time world boxing champion Senator Manny Pacquiao (Boxing). Baron Geisler and Kiko Matos, who made headlines with their impromptu cage match on June 25, 2016, also earned a citation as the URCC’s first celebrity fight. The URCC played a key role in popularizing mixed martial arts (MMA) in the Philippines, kicking off its inaugural event at the Casino Filipino Ampitheater in Paranaque City on Nov. 23, 2002. Founded by Filipino Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Alvin Aguilar, the URCC has since become a breeding ground for world-class Filipino fighters who have charted their own respective legacies in the global MMA arena. This year, URCC marks its foray towards global domination with the creation of URCC Global, spearheaded by its new chairman, Arnold Vegafria. Under its strengthened leadership, URCC Global hopes to penetrate the Southeast Asian region and forge longterm partnerships with its Asian affiliates, and eventually assemble a contingent of iconic fighters willing to compete head on with their Caucasian counterparts. VIP guests included former UFC legend Frank Shamrock and International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) President Kerrith Brown. Vlogger in Sarap Diva There are so many new things to watch out for in Sarap Diva! First, we have a brand new kapitbahay. Inday’s Tita Baby is coming to visit. And seeing how she is from her vlogs, Inday is bracing herself to love and hate this new Tita. And Tita Baby does have a lot to say about Ate Regine’s visitors. Starting with new mom, Kylie Padilla. Kylie will share how being a mom has changed her and her family’s life. One of which is that she learned how to cook. And one of the first dishes she learned is Aljur’s favorite - Pininyahang Manok. Newly-married Jan Manual is also joining and will share how married life is, so far. But this bonding won’t be complete with him not sharing how he proposed and planned the whole wedding. Such a sweet perspective coming from a groom. All things new are waiting for you this today in Sarap Diva after Maynila! on GMA7 Saturday mornings. Sarap Diva also airs on GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life. APART from the intense battles between its Clashers in GMA7’s The Clash, avid viewers like the program’s inspiring theme song entitled “Mangarap Ka, Laban Pa,” sang and composed by Filipino singer, rapper and songwriter Quest. At present, the theme song already reached more than 23,000 views after it was uploaded on reality talent competition’s official YouTube channel. Meanwhile, after two weeks of intense One-on-One battles, the number of Clashers have been drastically cut and the remaining 30 Clashers await their fate. The clashers remain clueless as they don’t know when they will be called to fight, or who their

DOWN 1 Variety of pear 2 VIP transport 3 an astringent 4 school subject 5 Jeweler’s measure 6 Wild feline 7 Paycheck abbr. 8 “saga of the greenlanders” hero 9 advance money 10 — -a-brac 11 Part of N.B. 12 Philosopher 15 tells the teacher 21 Held on tight 23 Blond shade 25 1066 conquerors 27 tailless marsu-

nickie.standard@gmail.com

for marketing excellence

Boy Abunda on the iconic iron throne, which was part of the on-ground activation efforts of Sky to promote the 7th season of ‘Game Thrones’ in the Philippines.

‘Halik’ not selling sex to lure viewers SKY representatives accepted the bronze award for Brand Builder Excellence in Marketing Innovation at the PANAta Awards held in Makati.

Ky earned an international recognition at the Faxies Awards in New York City for its marketing campaign for Game of Thrones Season 7.

The winning campaign dubbed as ‘#GOTOnSKY’ was recognized in the Marketing of a Continuing Series category for creating innovative multimedia publicity about the award-winning HBO series among Filipino fans at the respected Faxies Awards, which honors the finest marketing, advertising, and public relations campaigns in the cable industry. It competed against entries from international entertainment brands such as HBO (for Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 9 and Game of Thrones Season 7), E! Entertainment (for The Arrangement), WeTV (for Bridezillas Museum of Natural Hysteria in Times Square), and USA Network (for What’s Cooking With Julie Chrisley). Meanwhile, the same campaign won a bronze award for Brand Builder Excellence in Marketing Innovation at the PANAta Awards of the Philippine Association of National Advertisers. In order to create buzz about the return of Game of Thrones on Philippine cable television via HBO, SKY produced creative promotional stunts on various media platforms. Among

the executions of SKY was a commissioned cover of the Game of Thrones opening theme by Filipino folk group, Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino (Kontra-GaPi). Featuring traditional percussion aversion made rounds on social media and attracted the attention of both international and local news outlets. To further generate widespread interest to watch Game of Thrones on cable and online via HBO GO, SKY also implemented on-ground activations by featuring the iconic iron throne in select Philippine malls and in popular TV programs including Tonight with Boy Abunda and MYX “Daily Top Ten,” among others. An online video showing how a TV program like Game of Thrones can bring families together also created a lasting impression among netizens as it generated over 2.9 million views on Facebook. The milestone solidifies how SKY continues to achieve its mission to bring quality content closer to more Filipinos on cable and online. To learn more about SKY and its array of innovative services, visit mysky.com.ph.

inspiring theme song

MUSic iconS. ‘The Clash’ host Regine Velasquez (2nd from right) flanked by the reality singing competition judges (from left) Christian Bautista, Aiai delas Alas and Lani Misalucha.

saturday, august 4, 2018

64 Lhasa — 65 get the lead out? 67 Port near Kilauea 68 In — (as found) 69 IOus 70 guitarist Clapton 71 “Beat it, cat!” 72 Iceberg sites 73 Play a kids’ game

Sky honored in new york

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Flavorless 5 Eyeliner 9 diminishes 13 too smooth 14 Large lots 16 district 17 Overconfident 18 Lacquer ingredient 19 Chime 20 Funny 22 Future bride 24 rocker — John 26 Mao — -tung 27 reeves of “the Matrix” 30 Hot number (2 wds.) 35 Far East 37 go, team! 38 Quaker pronoun 39 Fortify 40 Eyelet 43 stock ending 44 Onion relative 46 Caught ya! 47 Buffalo skaters 49 Ells 52 Beauty’s swain 53 He pounds a beat 54 Move crabwise 56 Most submissive 60 Put up

saturdaY, august 4, 2018

pial 28 Went wrong 29 did target practice 31 rear-end 32 scarlett of tara 33 Centering points 34 Visitor 36 gadded about 41 taunting cry 42 Kind of tennis 45 Evict (2 wds.) 48 gray-barked trees

50 Finger’s opposite 51 Brief snooze 55 Formal, maybe 56 Huge crowd 57 spectacular 58 spanish pronoun 59 three, to Juan 61 retread 62 ducommun or Wiesel 63 Wharf 66 Homer simpson’s dad

opponent at the Clash Arena would be. As the number of available slots for the next round decreases, the pressure for the Clashers to deliver an amazing performance increases. With the battle becoming more intense every week, who among the remaining clashers will move on to the next round of intense competition? Who among them will impress Comedy Concert Queen Aiai Delas Alas, Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista and Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha? Find out in The Clash, hosted by Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, every Saturday and Sunday on GMA.

PLAYING lead in a dramatic project, whether in film or television, is no longer alien territory to Jericho Rosales. As a matter of fact, this columnist proclaims that Rosales is the greatest actor of his generation. Proving my declaration? His scintillating and truthful performances in Siargao, Lucky in Love, Alagwa or his earlier film forays in Santa Santita and Bagong Buwan. We all remember him as Angelo Buenavista in the original Pangako Sa ‘Yo, Tristan in the boob tube incarnation of Ang Panday and to add more wattage to his all scorching television characters is Lino Bartolome in Halik, the soon to be shown sizzling primetime drama. “My character Lino, exudes a lot of man heat because I play a married man in Halik. Normal lang naman ito since Yam (Concepcion) are newly married,” Jericho begins his tale. “We are not selling sex here, at least that is how I see it. Of course, some of the scenes are sexy but I am not trying to be sexy, we are not using sex as the main reason for you guys to watch this new show.” Rosales describes Halik as groundbreaking, “It is groundbreaking, in a way, because it is told in the point of view ng isang lalaki. Usually, when we present complicated relationships, from the women’s point of view. Dito, bigla naman si Lino ang center of the drama’s universe.” “You know, at the end of the day, this is still a melodrama that caters to a niche, ito ang gustong makita nina mommy, lola, tito at tita, mga kapamilya natin who are so accustomed and used to this kind of fare.” Rosales carries on. “I say that it is somewhat groundbreaking because we are introducing something new.

I tell myself or the people I work with to change the formula, you just Alwin cannot shove what ignAcio you like, pronto. You know, the teleseryes are for its niche market and I’m happy to serve them. Talking about his co-star Sam Milby, whom he’s working with for the first time, Rosales said that the actor is very cooperative. “He’s very collaborative. And I would rather work with a collaborative person than an amazing actor who doesn’t want to work with other actors and is oblivious of his peers.” With Yam Concepcion, on the other hand, his eyes lit up and did not deny his excitement. “With her, I see growth. She started na may kaba lalo na when we were just starting the shoot. Now, I can already see confidence in her. She is working hard to make her character real.” In conclusion, Rosales minces no words about playing lead in Halik,”I have no issue whether I play lead or not. When I do a certain project, I focus on what I can contribute to totality of it.” Halik will air on Aug. 13, replacing Since I Found You on ABSCBN’s Primetime Bida Block.

AriAS

‘Halik’ lead star Jericho Rosales

Entertainment

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

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018

Are you ready for Filipino animation series?

Where her HEART IS

ISAH V. RED Heart took to Instagram to thank husband Chiz Escudero for his support during difficult times. The couple has just celebrated six years of being together.

Celebrating a decade of world’s best with

‘Barangay 143,’ the 26-episode Filipino anime, is set to air this October on GMA 7.

MANY have tried, but not one succeeded. That’s the sad histoire du anime Philippin in the Philippines. Yet, we lap up those animes from Japan and in the movies, the animated features produced by the dream factory called Hollywood. In October, another Filipino anime comes to life on the screens via Barangy 143. Filipinos are talented animators. Proof is most animation companies, based either here or overseas, employ hundreds of Filipino illustrators. So, why not harness their talents and create a Filipino anime. With the support of Japanese Network TV Asahi and Singaporean studio August Media Holdings’ we will soon see the Filipino hands in an anime that will soon come alive on the GMA screen. Filipinos are crazy about basketball and that’s the jumpstart of the anime with Filipino characters in it. Barangay 143, by Quezon Citybased ASI Studios, is an anime about a Korean basketball player who comes to the Philippines in search of his father. He ends up in Tondo, Manila, where he finds an unusual family in a group of basketball-loving misfits. “It’s a story of human drama. It’s the coming of age of a young basketball hopeful but it takes you through the trials and tribulations of everything that’s very, very Filipino,” Jyotirmoy Saha of August Media said in an interview. The character designs were made with the help of TV Asahi, while most of the script, the storyline and the voice acting were done in the Philippines. Lending their voices to the anime are mostly Kapuso talents. The protagonist, Bren T. Park, is voiced by Migo Adecer. John Arcilla and Edu Manzano lend their voices to Coach B and the head of the Philippine basketball league respectively. The series has also cast Cherie Gil, Paolo Contis, Ruru Madrid and Julie Anne San Jose to voice other major characters. Music will also play a key role in the series. “There’s a lot of influence from hip-hop culture. We’ll feature a lot of original hip-hop music from Filipino stars here,” Saha said, adding that basketball and hip-hop tend to have a common theme of rising in spite of disparity. The first season of Barangay 143 is set to air this October on GMA 7, and will have 26 episodes. Barangay 143 also has a mobile game which is free for download on Android and iPhone. Barangay 143’s official website featured a countdown timer for the anime’s premiere along with the tagline “Handa na ba kayo sa liga ng buhay (Are you ready for the league of life)?” Continued on C3

PIA WURTZBACH

ALL SMILES. Heart Evangelista sharing some good laugh with GMA top guns during the renewal of her exclusive contact with the network.

N SHOW business, there are people who are just a little too talented. They are the ones who can merge their life and work into an interconnected space of ever-evolving creative exploration. Thus, it’s no surprise that a multihypenate actress like Heart Evangelista is now ready to work on TV again. After a brief hiatus following her heartbreaking miscarriage in June, Heart is finally returning to work as she renewed her exclusive contract with GMA Network, Inc. on Tuesday, July 31. The Kapuso star, who also celebrated six years of being together with husband Sen. Chiz Escudero, took to Instagram to express her gratitude. “A huge thank you to the people who have been with me since day 1. This year I celebrated my 20th year in show business. Today, we signed on for more exciting times with the network I call home. I can’t wait to see what’s next for us,” she wrote on her social media account. Also known as local art scene’s poster girl for staging successful solo exhibits featuring hand painted luxury bags, Heart said in an interview that she’s both glad and excited to renew her ties with the network that has been very supportive of her numerous endeavors. “I’m very content with my life. I’m very happy where I am. I’m very excited for what I have and what I will be doing with GMA,” she enthused. The actress, whose last project with the network was the first-ever Filipino-Korean romantic comedy series My Korean Jagiya together with Kapuso oppa Alexander Lee, also expressed her gratitude for the trust and support that GMA Network has given her all these years. “I’m very happy to be a Kapuso. Actually even if I don’t have a contract, I think I’ll still be a Kapuso. GMA has always been very understanding and they’re not selfish with schedules. When there’s a change of plans, that’s when we discuss but now, I want to work.” At the contract signing, she was warmly welcomed by the network’s bigwigs including GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, GMA President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., GMA Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong, GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, and Senior Assistant Vice

President for Alternative Productions Gigi SantiagoLara. Gozon expressed his gladness on Heart being loyal with GMA and has nothing but praises for the actress. “Heart is a very talented movie and TV actress. We are fortunate and gratiﬁed that she renewed her exclusive contract with us because she is really a very valuable asset for any showbiz organization.” Duavit, on the other hand, said he is delighted that Heart continues to stay with the network, “We’re glad that she remains Kapuso. We are thankful that she entrusts her career to GMA. From the time she joined us, she’s always shown loyalty. Nandun yung kusa at pagkakaisa na ehemplo sa ating lahat.”

AIRASIA has been named the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline for the tenth year in a row. AirAsia won the accolade at the 2018 Skytrax World Airline Awards, held recently at The Langham, London. Dubbed the ‘Oscars of the Aviation Industry’, the Skytrax Awards are the global benchmark of airline excellence with over 20.36 million customers surveyed worldwide by more than 105 nationalities, measuring standards across 49 key performance indicators of an airline’s frontline products and services. In true One AirAsia spirit, the win was celebrated across the group in AirAsia offices in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Bangalore and Nagoya, with a special live interactive show broadcasted on AirAsia’s Facebook page. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach joined the #WeAreAllChampions celebration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Filipina beauty queen and global model celebrity flew in to Malaysia via AirAsia flight from Manila with pilot in command AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador. “Pia exudes confidence and is never afraid to express her opinion. I am honored to be her pilot when she flew in from Manila to Kuala Lumpur via AirAsia flight this morning, and very proud that a Filipina, o u r queen, who poss e s s both beauty and brain, is joining our celebration,” Comendador said. For more information, visit our Instagram (instagram. com/airasia) and Faceb o o k (facebook. c o m / AirAsia).

Heart Evangelista with GMA’s Felipe Gozon

FORMER ‘THE VOICE KIDS’

contestant, now a Star Pop artist KYLE Echarri is the latest recording artist to join Star Pop—Star Music’s record sublabel for the younger market— and is currently making waves with the successful launch of his “Pangako” single followed by its music video premiere on MYX last Monday. A Top 6 contestant in The Voice Kids season 2 under Team Sarah, the now fifteen-year-old soloist reached the top spot on iTunes PH’s Top 100 Songs Chart when he first introduced his latest pop hit. The singer-actor first performed the song live in the MYX Music Awards 2018 held at the Araneta Coliseum and

launched it on radio through MOR 101.9. The single immediately joined the daily top hits survey, MOR Pinoy Biga10, and has stayed in the charts for weeks. “Pangako,” composed by Gabriel Tagadtad, arranged by Theo Martel, and produced by Rox Santos, will be part of the prince crooner’s upcoming album under Star Pop. Rox is also the overall album producer. “Pangako,” is now available for downloads in digital stores worldwide. Catch its music video on MYX, available on SKYcable channel 23. For more details on Kyle’s upcoming album and mall shows, visit starmusic.ph.

STAR POP. Teen singer Kyle Echarri is the latest recording artist to join Star Music’s record sublabel.

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the #WeAreAllChampions celebration.