Manila Standard - 2018 May 2 - Wednesday

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 76 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Truce village eyed for Trump-Kim summit WASHINGTON—US President Donald Trump said Monday he was confident his landmark summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will go ahead, as he talked up the idea of holding it in the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas.

Trump revealed last week that two or three locations were under consideration for the historic meeting— which would be the first between a sitting US president and a leader of North Korea—but had yet to publicly name a potential site.

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US President Donald Trump

‘Peppa Pig’ subversive icon for China slackers BEIJING—A Chinese internet platform has given the British cartoon “Peppa Pig” the chop as state media lamented that the series had become a “subversive” icon for slackers and anti-social young people.

At least 30,000 clips of “Peppa Pig,” whose heroine is a playful bright pink pig, were removed from the popular Douyin video-sharing platform, while the #PeppaPig hashtag was banned from the site, the Global Times reported on Monday.

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Peppa Pig

TOTAL BAN. President Rodrigo Duterte (inset) and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III discuss some of the provisions of the Executive Order prohibiting illegal contractualization during the 116th Labor Day Celebration at the IEC Convention Center in Cebu City Tuesday while militants from different labor sectors carry placards and effigies during their march toward Don Chino Roces Avenue near San Beda University and Centro Escolar University to meet with other groups celebrating International Labor Day. Norman Cruz

Duterte EO kills ‘endo’

Jobless ranks swelling—SWS; Bans all illegal contract labor So are part-timers—think tank RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte signed an

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

ALMOST 11 million Filipino adults were jobless in the first quarter of 2018, 8.2 percent more than the previous quarter, the latest Social Weather Stations survey shows.

The SWS Survey, conducted March 23-27, 2018, found adult joblessness at 23.9 percent or an estimated 10.9 million adults without work, up from 15.7 percent or 7.2 million in December 2017.

This was the highest recorded joblessness since December 2016, the survey said.

The joblessness rate was made up of 12.6 percent or 5.8 million adults who voluntarily left their jobs, 7.7 percent or

3.5 million who lost their jobs and the 3.5 percent of 1.6 million new job seekers.

The survey of 1,200 respondents showed a slight decrease in the rate of adult labor force participation, at 71.4 percent from 72.1 percent in December 2017.

SWS’ adult joblessness data refers to adults in the labor force. Those with a job at present, plus those without a job at present and looking for a job, are part of the labor force.

Workforce job optimism or the number of people who think there would be more jobs in the next 12 months decreased, Next page

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Executive Order imposing a ban on abusive forms of contract work on Labor Day, making good his campaign promise to get rid of the unfair practice of short-term employment and to protect workers’ right to security of tenure.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said “I remain firm in my commitment to the EO prohibits contracting and subcon- end ‘endo’ and illegal contractualizatracting when undertaken to circumvent tion,” Duterte said in his Labor Day the workers’ right to security of tenure, speech in Cebu City. self-organization and collective bargainThe EO is applied “to all parties, ing and peaceful concerted activities.

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PSG bars entry to Palace media

Rody restrains self on Kuwait, PH workers: So much at stake

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday uncharacteristically refrained from commenting on the diplomatic row between the Philippines and Kuwait to avoid further strains in relations.

“I’m not going to talk about it because so much is at stake,” Duterte said in a mix of English and Filipino during the Labor Day ceremonies in Cebu City.

Upon returning from Singapore Sunday, Duterte had said the deployment ban on Filipino workers to Kuwait would become permanent after the Gulf state expelled Ambassador Renato Villa over videos that the Department of Foreign Affairs posted on the Internet showing

Philippine Embassy staff rescuing distressed Filipino workers there.

In Cebu, Duterte said he wants those who wish to return to the Philippines from Kuwait to be able to do so.

“We will mobilize continuously until everyone who wants to be out of there would be able to come home,” he said.

The government, he added, will push for better protection for Filipino workers overseas, especially among domestics in the Middle East.

He said he was firm on the deployment ban, but said he would keep the door open to a compromise because so much is at stake.

There are more than 250,000 Filipino workers in Kuwait, at least 60 percent Next page

Revisors done with 1/6th of VP votes; prolonged recount feared

By Rey E. Requejo REVISORS of the Supreme Court, acting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, have finished the recount of votes in 16 towns in Camarines Sur, in connection with the election protest filed by former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo.

These areas constituted only one-sixth of the total precincts in the three pilot provinces so far after one month of the manual recount, a PET insider who requested anonymity revealed.

The source said the PET has finished the recount for 16 towns of Camarines SurBaao, Balatan, Bato, Buhi, Bula, Camaligan, Canaman, Ocampo, Gainza, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Magarao, Pili, Presentacion, Sangay and San Fernando.

Revisors started opening the ballot boxes from Minalabac town last Monday and still have to start the recount for 17 more towns and two cities in the home province of Robredo.

At the pace the revision of votes is going, the source said the manual recount may take six months to finish. Next page

PLENTIFUL JOBS. Jobseekers submit their biographical pen sketches during a Department of Labor and Employment job fair in Manila in time for the International Labor Day Tuesday. Norman Cruz

THE Presidential Security Group on Tuesday apologized for temporarily barring reporters from entering Malacañang, citing the heightened security that was implemented for the Labor Day holiday.

Labor groups on Tuesday converged in various venues for their annual Labor Day protests to demand higher pay and an end to contractualization.

“Because it’s Labor Day we are anticipating protest rallies here in Mendiola, so we are on heightened alert,” PSG Chief of Staff Col. Potenciano Camba said.

“We did not expect that there would be a lot of members of the MPC [Malacañang Press Corps] entering. If there was an inconvenience, we apologize.”

Camba denied there was an order to bar the reporters, saying the incident could have been avoided if there had been proper coordination between the PSG and the media.

PSG commander Brig. Gen. Lope Dagoy described what happened as a simple case of “misunderstanding.” Next page

Bishops support narco-list, invoke people’s right to know THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrant and Itinerant People on Tuesday praised the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s release of the names of 207 barangay officials reportedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

Bishop Ruperto Santos, CBCP-ECMI chairman, said the electorate needed to know the background of the people seek-

ing public office.

“We in the CBCP-ECMI support the publication of the narco-politicians, especially those running for the Barangay and SK [Sangguniang Kabataan] elections,” Santos said in a statement.

“The public has the right to know and be informed whom they have to vote.”

Santos made his statement even as the Philippine National Police said it will

work closely with the PDEA following the disclosure of the names village officials in the drugs watch list.

Speaking during Monday’s press briefing, Police Chief Oscar Albayalde said they could provide resources for the investigation of the people in the list.

“If an investigation is needed, we will coordinate with PDEA,”Albayalde said.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Dengvaxia report inked—Gordon

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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HE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Monday filed the report on its investigation into the Dengvaxia vaccine mess, which placed the lives of more than 830,000 children in danger.

Senator Richard Gordon, who heads the committee, said more than the majority of the members of the Blue Ribbon signed Senate Committee Report

No. 368.

“More than the majority signed the recommendations and we can debate it,” Gordon said. “I am happy it will be discussed on the floor because it is there that it should be debated and not outside. We should debate within the chamber and within the rules.”

A committee report may only be filed after at least the majority of the members of the committee had signed it.

Gordon said there was nothing political in the investigation or in the report submitted by the Blue Ribbon Committee.

Revisors...

Duterte...

“It will most probably take another month or even more to finish CamSur, so that’s two months per pilot province.

Based on this pace, our revisors will most likely complete the recount on three provinces after six months or by October maybe,” the insider said.

Aside from Camarines Sur, the two other pilot provinces identified by the Marcos camp in his protest against Robredo were Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

The source said the PET has already formed an exploratory team to retrieve the ballot boxes from the two other provinces.

The ongoing recount in the pilot provinces—which involves verifying the physical count of ballots, recount of votes of parties, recording of objections and claims, and marking of contested ballots—started April 2 and covers a total of 5,418 clustered precincts.

It will form the basis for the PET’s decision whether there is substantial recovery of votes to proceed with other provinces contested by Marcos.

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

Both camps have been seeking speedy disposition of the PET case, but the manual recount has encountered several delays.

It was supposed to start Feb. 8, but was postponed twice—to March 19 and then to April 2—until the PET was able to meet the required number of revisors.

The revision itself has encountered several delays. Just on the second day, four of the 40 head revisors resigned for undisclosed reasons.

There were also delays after both camps clashed over excess ballots that had shaded votes for Robredo and when all air conditioning units in the venue broke down, both resulting in suspension for hours of the recount.

The first month of the PET revision of votes has raised several questions.

Revisors have been finding wet ballot boxes, unused or excess ballots with shaded votes for Robredo, missing audit logs and missing voters’ receipts in Camarines Sur towns.

They also discovered ballots with what appeared to be cigarette burns on their edges and holes in the middle portion.

The same ballot box did not have accompanying election records like election returns, voter’s receipts and minutes of voting.

Last week, revisors found ballots that appeared to have been soaked in liquid chemical as well as jumbled election documents.

including cooperatives engaged in any contracting and subcontracting arrangements.”

In his Labor Day speech, the President said that more than a century that has passed since the very first Labor Day was celebrated and yet, the struggle for a better life for workers continues.

“Endo” or “555” refers to the abusive practice of companies to let go of employees before they complete six months of service so that they do not get regular employment benefits required by law.

Duterte said he would urge Congress to prioritize in amending the Labor Code, because “an executive order is not enough.”

Articles 106 to 109 of Presidential Decree 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines permits companies to enter into contractual arrangements with their employees.

“To those who march, [the EO] is not enough. I’m not a legislator. There are provisions that need to be amended. I am not allowed [to change], I can only implement. This executive order that I signed will help a lot in alleviating the problem,” the President said.

“I believe, in order to implement an effective and lasting solution to the problems brought about by contractualization, Congress needs to enact a law amending the Labor Code,” he said.

“It’s outdated. I think, Congress should come up with a new Labor Code to keep it at-

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Truce...

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Addressing a joint press conference with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, Trump confirmed that Singapore was under consideration as a location, but -- following on from a morning tweet—said the DMZ should be given strong consideration.

“There’s something I like about it because you’re there—if things work out, there’s a great celebration to be had on the site, not in a third party country,” Trump said.

“We’re also looking at other countries including Singapore,” the US leader added.

“Everybody wants us —it has the chance to be a big event.”

Other potential locations reportedly include Mongolia and Switzerland.

The Peace House in Panmunjom—the village in the DMZ where the 1953 armistice that halted the Korean War was signed—was where Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met Friday in a major step towards easing tension on the flashpoint peninsula.

In his morning tweet, Trump had already floated the site as a possible venue.

“Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country? Just asking!” he wrote.

Preparations for a Trump-Kim meeting have gathered further momentum since Friday’s Korean summit, which saw Pyongyang and Seoul promise to pursue the complete denuclearization of the peninsula and a permanent peace.

“The United States has never been closer to potentially having something happen with respect to the Korean peninsula, that can get rid of the nuclear weapons,” Trump told reporters, voicing confidence the summit would go ahead— and reiterating he would walk away if it failed to live up to his expectations. AFP

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Jobless...

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with 49 percent in March from 53 percent in December 2017, SWS said.

Those who expected fewer jobs were at 12 percent, while 25 percent said there would be no change in job availability.

Joblessness increased in all areas except in the National Capital Region where the number decreased to 19.0 percent from 19.5 percent in December 2017 and 24.9 percent in March 2017.

Among women, joblessness increased to 33.9 percent from 26.7 percent while joblessness in men also rose to 16.1 percent from 7.6 percent for the same period, the survey showed.

Joblessness in workers from 18 to 24 years old rose to 53.1 percent from 45.0 percent. For 25 to 34-year-olds, the number increased to 26.6 from 23.9 percent, SWS said.

The March 2018 Social Weather Survey was conducted from March 23-27, 2018 using

Rody...

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were employed as domestic helpers, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

Duterte said he would not utter a word against Kuwait which could trigger a backlash.

Earlier, he said the Philippines would no longer pursue an agreement with the Kuwaiti government to provide better protection to Filipino workers in the Gulf state.

But his remarks Tuesday indicated that this was not the case.

“There are on going talks between the Philippines and Kuwait. I will not not talk anymore [as this] may affect our interests,” he said to the thousands of job applicants and local officials gathered inside the IEC Pavilion in Cebu City.

“I will no longer pick up a fight. I will go for the soft landing. I won’t talk because so much is at stake,” he said.

But the President said that Filipino workers in Kuwait who are willing to leave that country can do so and vowed to shoulder their air fare back home.

He also said worker debts to their employers and agencies would be paid.

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday welcomed Kuwait’s willingness to work with Manila to iron out their diplomatic row.

On Sunday, Kuwait Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah conveyed Kuwait’s readiness to work with the Philippines to address the concerns of Filipino workers in the Gulf state.

Citing the “historic friendship” between the two states after Manila sent Kuwait assistance during the Gulf war, Al-Jarallah believed both will be able to mend strained ties.

PSG...

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“There was a misunderstanding. We declared a red alert because there were reports of threats that would take place there, so we only wanted to be sure,” Dagoy said.

“The aim of an investigation has always been the protection of the children, so we investigated in order to protect the children and to insulate the [Health department] from politics that endangers the health of the public,” Gordon said.

“What we are doing here is not political. It is precisely to prevent the [department] from being co-opted again.”

One of the recommendations in the report was to provide sufficient budget for monitoring, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of all children injected with Dengvaxia. The report pro-

posed to authorize the allocation of a portion of the P1.2-billion refunded by Sanofi Pasteur for the unused vaccines for such.

In the committee report, the Blue Ribbon committee found former President Benigno Aquino III, former Health secretary Janette Garin, former Budget secretary Florencio Abad, PCMC director Julius Lecciones and other officials of the Health department and the Food and Drug Administration liable for violating some laws in connection with the procurement and distribution of the Dengvaxia vaccine.

tuned to the realities of our time. I could only do so much and a mere executive order can only do so much because you have to change or modify or entirely aggregate some of the provisions,” he said.

The President instructed Bello to go after companies that continue to practice laboronly contracting.

“To all non-compliant and abusive employers who are engaged in labor contracting, your days are numbered. I will see to it that our laws are strictly enforced. The government will not rest until we end the shameful labor practice,” the President warned.

Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglungsod said the EO would guide the drafting of a bill to revise the Labor Code.

He added that the EO signed by the President was neither based on drafts submitted by employers or labor groups.

“It is the version of President Duterte,” he said.

Maglungsod said the President is standing pat on his earlier statement that he will certify as urgent the security of tenure measure pending before the Senate.

The Federation of Free Workers said they will use the EO signed by Duterte to advance their advocacy in the Senate.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said he supports Duterte’s call to amend the Labor Code to further strengthen workers’ security of tenure.

Senatr JV Ejercito said the Senate would push through with a law that will end labor abuses and promote workers’ right to security

of tenure.

“Let me emphasize that addressing the abuses and ensuring compliance by businesses with labor standards and occupational safety and health standards through clear and fair legislation is not anti-business,” said Ejercito.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said he wants stronger protection and enhanced welfare mechanisms for Filipino workers both here and abroad as a way of recognizing their valuable contribution to the country’s economic growth.

“Let us balance economic activity and development with the protection of workers’ rights as they are the hands and feet that move our country towards progress,” Angara said in his Labor Day message.

Senator Loren Legarda stressed the need to strengthen the protection of Filipino workers both here and overseas.

“The celebration of Labor Day is a recognition of the important role that our workers play in the development of our country. I salute our workforce for their significant contribution to our economy. Our country would not function without them. Thus, it is the duty of government to address their concerns and protect their fundamental rights,” Legarda said.

Legarda, who chairs the Senate committee on finance, also called on concerned government agencies to ensure that programs for livelihood and employment are efficiently implemented and reach individuals and communities that greatly need government interventions. With PNA

face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide. The survey had sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages, and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Meanwhile, the Ibon Foundation reported that more than 1 million people joined the ranks of the underemployed or part-time workers, bringing the total to 7.5 million in January.

The number of workers relegated to insecure and low-paying jobs has increased under the Duterte administration, the group reported.

The number of employed increased to 41.8 million in January 2018 from 39.3 million in the same period last year, with the employment rate at 94.7 percent and 93.4 percent, respectively.

At the same time, the unemployment rate declined to 5.3 percent in January 2018 from 6.6 percent in January 2017.

Despite the upturn in employment, there are now more Filipinos who are underemployed or seeking more work, Ibon said.

The number of part-time workers, or those working less than 40 hours per week, also went up.

The underemployment rate of 18 percent as of January 2018 rose from 16.3 percent the year before.

The number of underemployed Filipinos grew by 1.1 million or from 6.4 million the year before to 7.5 million in January this year.

There was also an increase in the number of part-time workers, Ibon said, growing by 1.3 million (9.3 percent) to 14.7 million in January 2018 from 13.4 million the year before.

Another indication of the worsening jobs situation is that informal sector workers, or the number of own-account workers and unpaid family workers combined, rose by 1.4 million (9.2 percent) to 16 million in January 2018 from 14.6 million in January 2017.

Ibon said the government must adopt and implement the “much-needed” reforms that give priority to the interest and welfare of the worker over the profits of big businesses. Vito Barcelo and Rio N. Araja

“This gesture on the part of Kuwait, a country with which we have a shared history and strong people-to-people ties, will allow us to move forward and hurdle the challenges we face,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a statement.

“We acknowledge with heartfelt thanks the assurances of Kuwait to work with us in protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of Filipinos working there,” he added.

Senator Richard Gordon also welcomed the gesture from Kuwait.

The DFA, however, has yet to give an update on their appeal for the release of the four drivers who were arrested and the status of the three diplomats who also face arrest if they step out of the embassy.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed that Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, along with some Cabinet members will head to Kuwait on May 7 to meet with counterparts.

High-ranking officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, meanwhile, said Cayetano must be held accountable for the violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and for causing a row with the distribution of videos showing the rescue operations.

“This is one case where whether one is aware of the act or not, he is still accountable,” one source said.

“It is a sensitive, high-profile issue. He should be monitoring it directly,” the source added.

A labor official agreed that Cayetano is responsible for the “undue publicity.”

“Yes, he should be accountable. For command responsibility by allowing undue publicity about the rescue,” the official added.

Another Foreign Affairs insider also said Cayetano was the one who selected the Rapid Response Team composed of some diplomats, his “minions,” and some bloggerpropagandists or spin doctors.

“He selected the top minion for that office who put together the RRT. Considering rank, his office should be dealing with the irascible spin doctors,” the insider added.

A former diplomat said it is up to President Duterte to decide whether or not Cayetano should be held responsible for the reckless uploading of videos over social media.

When DFA spokesman Elmer Cato released the two videos to the media, a blogger who was formerly appointed by Cayetano, RJ Nieto, reposted the rescue videos on his Facebook page.

There were also videos of Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson in Kuwait interviewing OUMWA executive director Raul Dado, telling the public that the RRT was about to rescue a Filipino.

Another video also showed that she was inside a car and telling her viewers that they were on the way to rescue Filipinos.

The videos, which angered the Kuwait government, showed a woman running from a home and jumping into a waiting vehicle while another depicts a person sprinting from what looks like a construction site and then speeding off in a black sport utility vehicle.

Kuwait had branded the rescues a violation of its sovereignty, adding fuel to a simmering diplomatic row between the two nations sparked by the murder of a Filipino maid.

The controversial rescue video resulted in Kuwait’s decision to recall its envoy in Manila; expel Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa and order the arrest or three diplomats involved in the rescues.

Cayetano, during a press conference in Singapore, admitted that the video added fire to the issue, but did not express any regret that the video was released to the media and social media bloggers. With Macon Ramos-Araneta, PNA

“Soldiers didn’t know that there would be media going there.”

In February, Rappler reporter Pia Ranada was barred from entering the New Executive Building in Malacañang, where the Palace briefings are usually held.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the online media site Rappler would

be barred from entering until it resolved its ownership issue at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The SEC earlier said Rappler violated the Constitution’s restriction on foreign ownership of local media, but Rappler said it was Filipino-owned. PNA

Senator: Probe P60-m DoT ad THE Ombudsman should look into the “highly irregular” P60-million advertising deal between the Tourism department and PTV-4, Senator Francis Pangilinan said Tuesday.

He said Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo’s explanation on the issue was unacceptable because the ad was placed in Kilos Pronto, a show produced and hosted by her brothers Ben and Erwin Tulfo.

“The P60-million Department of Tourism ad buy is on its face highly irregular and the Ombudsman should look into it,” Pangilinan said.

“The explanation that the DoT dealt with PTV 4 is unacceptable.”

The Tourism department last year tapped government station PTV-4 to air the ads. The network, in turn, released P60 million to the show Kilos Pronto despite the lack of a memorandum of agreement or contract, the Commission on Audit said.

But Teo said there was no conflict of interest in the deal because her department entered the contract with PTV-4, not Kilos Pronto’s producer. She said it was the station’s own decision to place the ads in her brothers’ show due to its high ratings.

“The contract was between PTV-4 and DOT because it was the President’s [Rodrigo Duterte] request that support the government station,” Teo told reporters.

Pangilinan called her explanation “totally ridiculous.”

“If we accept Secretary Teo’s explanation, then all Cabinet secretaries can now apportion millions of pesos worth of government projects and programs in their respective agencies for their brothers or sisters or their spouses.

This explanation is totally ridiculous,” he said.

Duterte has already ordered a probe into the issue. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the matter had reached the President, and that he wanted to get to the bottom of the issue.

On Monday, Roque said Malacañang would investigate the P60million advertising contract between the Tourism department and PTV-4.

“I would like to confirm that the Palace is looking into the matter. We will conduct an investigation,” Roque said.

He also confirmed that issue had reached Duterte, who like the Tulfos also hails from Davao City.

Bishops...

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But Senator Gringo Honasan objected to what he described as the premature release not only of the 1.5 narco-list but any list because of some people’s propensity to try and convict institutions, groups and personalities by publicity at the expense of due process and the rule of law.

Senator Win Gatchalian said the public release of the drug list would surely result in the crucifixion of those 207 alleged narco-politicians in the court of public opinion.

Santos said exposing those involved in illegal acts would be for the good of the community.

“To safeguard our children, to make our future secure and to make our country starting from the Barangay, it is for our common good to expose those narcopoliticians,” Santos said.

He said that, as public officials, their lives and what they did should be made public.

PNA, with Macon Ramos-Araneta

‘Peppa Pig‘...

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According to a document quoted by the newspaper, the BBC children’s cartoon is on a list of content censored by Douyin, in the same way as men disguised as women, excessive nudity or “erotic behavior.”

The series, introduced in the mid-2000s in China, has become extremely popular through episodes dubbed into Mandarin.

But this fervor intensified at the end of 2017 among a young adult audience. More and more Internet users including stars sported temporary “Peppa Pig” tattoos in selfies. Cups, watches and clothes appeared bearing the image of the main character.

The People’s Daily, mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, sounded the charge last Thursday— denouncing the harmful effect of the commercialisation of Peppa which was encouraged by web celebrities.

“A number of schoolchildren try to differentiate themselves by competing for Peppa Pig watches or accessories” to the benefit of makers of counterfeit goods, it lamented.

The Global Times on Monday referred to this “addiction” among children, which parents complained was encouraging some pre-schoolers “to oink and jump in puddles” after watching the cartoon.

In January, the same newspaper said social media users had been circulating “explicit fake versions” of the cartoon online, with references to paedophiles and sexual organs.

On Monday, the paper said the innocent pig “had become an unexpected cultural icon” for a “subculture” of idle youth, “people who run counter to the mainstream value and are usually poorly educated with no stable job, unruly slackers roaming around, and the antithesis of the young generation the Party tries to cultivate.” AFP

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Lawmaker wants 60-40 sharing pact with China

By Maricel V. Cruz AN OPPOSITION lawmaker on Tuesday backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s move for a joint exploration agreement with China in the South China Sea. “We fully support and appreciate President Duterte’s plan to forge a 6040 sharing agreement with China for the joint exploration of the South China Sea, rather than risk going to war with our superpower neighbor,” Buhay partylist Rep. Lito Atienza, a senior deputy minority leader, said.

Unlike the Benham Rise—which was undisputed and duly declared by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as part of Philippine territory—the islands in the South China Sea are still being contested with long-standing claims not just by the Philippines and China, but by a host of other countries as well, among them Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam,” Atienza added.

Atienza added that during his stint as Environment secretary, he led the team that prepared the comprehensive study and identified the territorial boundaries of the country’s claim on Benham Rise and presented this to the United Nations, which subsequently approved the country’s claim and declared it as part of Philippine territory.

“The islands in the South China Sea, on the other hand, are being contested by the Philippines and six other countries.

For any country to force its claim on these would mean war. Can we defend our claim against all other comers?

The Benham Rise, on the other hand, is clearly and definitely ours, no ifs, no buts,” Atienza said.

Atienza said President Duterte’s position for the joint exploration is a win-win situation and is expected to benefit both countries economically from whatever is discovered and developed in the area.

“If we listen to hotheaded politicians and naysayers, then we would all end up with nothing. Sometimes emotionalism is not the best and cannot provide any real and tangible benefits for our country.

Can they guarantee any beneficial effects if we go up against our superpower neighbor?” Atienza said.

PROTECTED AREA. Department of Agrarian Reform Undersecretary David Erro stresses that under Presidential Proclamation No. 1064, Boracay Island in the municipality of Malay, Aklan had been declared as forestland and is a protected area during a press briefing at DAR main office in Quezon City on Monday (April 30, 2018). It is also classified as Agricultural land (alienable and disposable) pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 705 (revised forestry reform code of the Philippines) signed by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on May 22, 2006. PNA

Govt defends legality of TRAIN Law before SC In a 74-page comment filed last April 19, the Office of the Solicitor General defended the legality of the TRAIN law, saying the petition filed last January by militant lawmakers led by Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate and consumer group Laban Konsyumer Inc. seeking to stop the implementation of the tax measure lack merits.

Solicitor General Jose Calida downplayed the main argument of petitioners that President Rodrigo Duterte signed R.A. 10963 into law with grave abuse of discretion simply because the House of Representatives did not have a quorum when it earlier passed the tax measure.

The petitioners alleged that only around 10 lawmakers—including them—were present during the ratification of the law in the House, supposedly in violation

of Section 16 (2), Article 6 of the 1987 Constitution and Section 75 of Rule XI of the House Rules that require a quorum of the representatives before they can do any legislative business.

However, Calida said that the claim is not true, citing official journals of the House during deliberations on the TRAIN Law on Dec. 13 last year where 232 out of a total of 295 members were present.

He said that the journals are “conclusive evidence of what transpired during the session.”

The chief state lawyer pointed out that the tribunal cannot inquire into or review such existence of a quorum in the House for the approval of the TRAIN Bill without violating the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers.

“Under the separation of powers, ‘courts may not intervene in the internal

affairs of the legislature; it is not within the province of courts to direct Congress how to do its work,” he emphasized.

Calida said the petitioners erred in filing the petition for review before the Court since such special civil action cannot be invoked against exercise of legislative power of Congress.

He said they also violated the principle of hierarchy of courts and committed a fatal mistake in not impleading Congress in the case.

With these arguments, Calida said the President correctly relied on the enrolled TRAIN Bill when he signed it into law, adding that Duterte cannot be impleaded in the case due to his immunity from suit while in office.

As to LKI’s arguments, Calida belied the group’s allegations that the TRAIN Law violated the equal protection clause and right to due process in the Constitution.

Petitioners said the new excise taxes on petroleum products and sugar-sweetened beverages, and its broader value added tax will hit poor and low-income earners.

But Calida insisted that RA 10963 does not specifically discriminate against the poor and unduly favor the rich in terms of increased taxes on goods and commodities.

By Rey E. Requejo

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

MALACAÑANG has not yet appointed the replacements to the undersecretaries and assistant secretaries of the Department of Justice who resigned to give Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra a free hand in selecting the members of his own team at the DoJ. Guevarra said he is still in the process of scouting for replacements for the officials of the DoJ he earlier asked to resign from their posts.

“I’m still in the process of looking for good and trustworthy people,” Guevarra said.

According to him, the DoJ officials who tendered their courtesy resignations will continue to perform their duties until replacements have been selected.

“We don’t need to replace them all and at the same time,” he said.

The DoJ chief said the changes might even come after the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections since there is an election ban on appointments.

Nonetheless, Guevarra admitted that while he can make recommendations to Malacañang, it is still up to President Rodrigo Duterte to make the final decision.

Guevarra said almost all of the DoJ undersecretaries and assistant secretaries have handed in their courtesy resignations, except for Assistant Secretary Adonis Sulit who is on vacation.

Sulit is a career official and the memorandum asking the DOJ senior officials to resign made an exception for career officials as defined by civil service laws, rules and regulations.

The department has five undersecretaries—Antonio T. Kho Jr., Erickson H. Balmes, Raymund L. Mecate, Reynante B. Orceo and Deo L. Marco. Kho, Balmes, Mecate and Orceo are fraternity brothers of Aguirre and Duterte in the Lex Taliones Fraternity while Marco is the son of a Lex Taliones member.

BEGINNING today, Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs will open passport online appointment slots from July to September 2018 at the consular Offices in the Philippines.

But in its advisory, the DFA said the opening of online slots however will not be available in DFA Aseana in Parañaque, as it is still conducting final stages for pilot testing of ePayment.

“Once finalized—and we hope this to materialize very soon—ePayment will be fully implemented in all Consular Offices beginning with DFA Aseana,” the advisory read.

So far, the DFA said that the pilot testing have shown “promising results” with 95-percent individuals showing up for passport appointment.

The ePayment was introduced to minimize the number of slots wasted through non-appearance.

“There are no bogus appointments as applicants now have to pay before an appointment is confirmed,” the DFA stated.

“The time applicants spend at DFA has been reduced considerably, with ePayment decreasing the usual processing time,” it added.

The agency, meanwhile, appealed for the public’s understanding and cooperation as they implement measures to improve the passporting services.

“The DFA seeks the public’s understanding and cooperation as we continue to implement measures to improve our passporting services and increase our capacity to serve applicants,” it said.

The DFA reminded the public that

OFWs, senior citizens, persons with disability, solo parents, minors 7 years old and below and those with emergency and urgent travels may apply for or renew their passports at any Consular Office including DFA Aseana without an online appointment.

Meanwhile, as part of its efforts to bring passport and other consular services closer to the Filipinos wherever they are in the country, the DFA Affairs will soon open two more consular offices in Northern Luzon.

The DFA said it will open a consular office in Ilocos Norte on May 8 and another in Isabela on May 15 at Robinsons Place in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte and Santiago, Isabela.

The new offices inside the shopping mall will operate from Monday to Saturday.

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE government has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition seeking to declare as unconstitutional the controversial Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN Law).

Palace has yet to appoint new Usecs and Asecs at DoJ DFA opens online appointments slots starting today

Australian nun to be deported vows to return SHE had spent decades helping the Philippines’ poorest people, but Australian nun Patricia Fox is fighting deportation after drawing President Rodrigo Duterte’s ire—but said that she will try to return even if expelled.

The 71-year-old Melbourne native is due to be kicked out of the country by May 25 after Duterte personally accused her of political activism that violates the rules of her visa.

Fox was singled out as Manila cracks down on foreign critics on its soil, where the President’s deadly anti-drug war has provoked a storm of international condemnation.

The government deportation order against the Australian nun sparked outrage from rights advocates and the religious community, but authorities are pressing ahead.

“I’m still hoping that somehow something will happen [to stop the expulsion],” she told AFP in Manila.

Even if her appeal fails, Fox said she would still like to return and resume her work in the nation that has been home since 1990.

“If I can come back as a tourist I’ll try and come back,” she said. “This is my life.”

She landed in the Philippines as a member of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, a congregation of nuns founded in France in 1847 and famed for harboring Jews fleeing from Nazi persecution in World War II. A former practicing lawyer who worked with indigent clients in Australia, Fox said she has been educating landless Filipino farm hands and factory workers about their rights.

Then on April 16, immigration service agents arrived at the congregation’s modest Manila office.

Fox, the country head of an eightmember missionary group, was hauled off to the government agency’s headquarters, where she was informed of the allegations.

She said she spent the night on the floor of the immigration service building, lying on a borrowed blanket and getting little sleep.

The nun said she apparently angered the president by joining a fact-finding mission in April to investigate alleged abuses against farmers, including killings and evictions by soldiers fighting guerrillas in the southern Philippines. AFP

Lawmakers weigh in on Grab decision

By Maricel V. Cruz

JOB FAIR. Jobseekers submit their resumes during a Department of Labor and

Employment job fair in Manila held simultaneously with the International Labor Day on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. Norman Cruz

TWO lawmakers have expressed opposing views on Grab Philippines’ decision to suspend its 500 Grab drivers for alleged cancellation of passengers’ bookings and other violations.

Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte said concerned government authorities led by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board must be able to file appropriate charges against at least 500 partner-drivers of Grab Philippines.

“Suspending these 500 Grab drivers won’t be enough. Charge them in court for shortchanging passengers and causing so much stress and inconvenience to them,” said Barbers, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, adding that mere suspension was not enough as this would only encourage drivers to cancel

more trips.

But Rep. Winston Castelo of Quezon City said the suspension was enough to discipline the erring Grab drivers.

Castelo, chairman of the House special committee on Metro Manila development, said “Grab’s policing its own ranks strikes a vibrant social balance and assures the public of a transparent organizational regulation.”

“Passengers should also be responsible by observing reasonable and valid booking cancellations,” said Castelo, adding that “while the LTFRB is tightening the noose on Uber and Grab drivers, it appears that the regulatory agency has itself to account for,” Castelo said.

This developed as Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte expressed dismay over the move by Grab Philippines to employ its destinationmasking feature in trip bookings to only 25 percent of its driver-partners.

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Money problems for Albayalde have been deemed illegal by the Department of Justice and that former PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa has ordered a stop to this practice. They also point to PNP Memorandum Circular 2013-009 which provides that autoPRESIDENT Duterte said the ban on matic deductions shall be allowed only the deployment of workers to Kuwait for payment of loans contracted by the was permanent. What he really meant PNP personnel while in the active serwas that it would stay until the Phil- vice and not for loans contracted after ippines and Kuwait came to an agree- retirement or separation. ment on what to do with the 255,000 But,my gulay, the much bigger issue OFWs working there. A fourth of this facing Albayalde is the possibly criminumber are domestic helpers who nal misuse of P59.8 million intended need protection. as subsistence and hazard pay allowHow many times has the President ance for the Special Action Force. said one thing, only to “clarify” it later SAF members have complained that on? they have not been receiving their alI am afraid, however, that the fre- lowances. Senator Panfilo Lacson has quency of these clarifications tells the sought a probe into the issue. people that he does not mean what he While P37 million of the fund has says, or does not say what he means. been reportedly returned by Senior The President must be reminded Supt Andre Dizon, former SAF budget that whatever comes out of his mouth and fiscal officer, no explanation has is a political or a policy statement. He been given for the rest of the money. must weigh what It must be of lithe says in public! tle consolation to Once the peoSAF members that ple stop believing charges of plunder what the Presiand malversation He promised a dent says, then his have been filed cleanup of the police credibility is at before the Office force. stake. of the Ombudsman *** against Dizon, Even before former SAF chief Benjamin Lusad he has warmed his seat, newly and two others installed Philippine National Police from the Finance Office.

Chief Oscar Albayalde finds himself Albayalde, being a former SAF confronted with money issues. commando himself, is outraged at the One involves complaints from po- blatant disregard for the welfare of the lice retirees that the PNP has been SAF personnel given the dangers they making substantial deductions from face. their retirement pensions. Supposedly, Albayalde has also vowed internal these are in payment for loans they in- cleansing of the PNP as part of his pricurred after retirement. ority list.

In fact, the complaints came out in *** several newspapers last week. The From the looks of it, PTV4 officials deductions are effected through the are as much to blame for the mess crePNP Automatic Pension Deduction ated by the ad placements, amounting Scheme, allegedly being exploited for to P60 million, of the Department of the benefit of certain savings and loan Tourism to a blocktimer. The media entities. company happens to be owned by the The reports said that the PNP retir- brothers of Tourism Secretary Wanda ees are appealing to Albayalde that Teo. the deduction should be stopped. The Martin Andanar, secretary of the practice has resulted in great financial communications office which overdistress for them and their families. sees the government television netThey claimed that the amount left work, has a lot of explaining to do. after deduction was insufficient to I think it’s just the tip of the iceberg. meet their basic living expenses.

Malacañang should investigate the ad The pensioners say the deductions Turn to A5

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

U

Besmirching the House

NDER new rules released late last month, journalists who besmirch “the reputation of the House of Representatives, its officials or members” may lose their credentials to cover the chamber.

The “institutional codified rules for media coverage,” says the House Press and Public Affairs Bureau (PPAB), will “give more teeth to the House’s efforts of ensuring a systematic and orderly media coverage that will be beneficial to both the House and the media, and ultimately to the citizenry.”

The press card of a House-accredited reporter, the new rules state, may be revoked “if the bearer besmirches the reputation of the House of Representatives, its officials or members.”

Sadly, the new rules reflect not only the new hostile environment under which journalists must

work today, but also the underlying disregard lawmakers have for the Constitution—the basic law of the land—and the role it reserves for a free press in our democracy.

Article III, Section 4 of the Constitution is clear: “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”

Section 7 of the same article adds: “The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.”

In a democracy, the more accurate information people have about the issues, the better

equipped they will be to make informed decisions. This is the role filled by a free press. Journalists are duty-bound to seek the truth and report it, and in so doing, give the public the information it needs to make sound decisions.

The new House rules seek to short circuit that function by dictating who may or may not have access to congressional sessions and lawmakers. Similar to the licensing of journalists, this is a form of prior restraint that goes against the very fabric of our Constitution.

It is not the job of journalists to make lawmakers look good. If, in the performance of their duties, they “besmirch” the reputation of some lawmakers, that’s part of the democratic process. Elected officials are accountable for their actions and they cannot dodge that responsibility by cherry picking the journalists who cover them.

Besides, from where we sit, some lawmakers are already doing a great job at besmirching the reputation of the House, so why single out journalists?

Not for love of labor in certain areas such as seasonal jobs and businesses that have a shelf life or are not established for the long run.

Donald Dee, president of the Employers Confederation of the PhilipALEJANDRO pines, warned that a total ban on conDEL ROSARIO tractualization might deter foreign SENSING a growing social upheaval, investors from coming into the counPresident Rodrigo Duterte yesterday try. In turn, this could depress the signed an Executive Order ending economy. Workers, on the other hand, contractualization. While the signing claimed that it is the foreign currenof the EO seemed like a fitting gift on cy remittances that overseas Filipino the occasion of Labor Day yesterday, workers send home that prop up what workers were still unhappy about the could be a sagging economy.

The more vocal of the protesting presidential action. A wide segment of labor see the President’s signing workers chanted “end endo!” even as as more of an appeasement to defuse they claim that the President signed a gathering storm of workers that was the EO not because of his love for labor. Nor was it a labor of love. The Kimassed at Mendiola.

President Duterte, however, was not lusang Mayo Uno said he signed the in Manila but in Cebu where he opt- EO because he was afraid that protest marchers which ed to mark Labor numbered in the Day before a less hundreds of thouhostile crowd. In sands might storm Manila, a splinter the Palace gates. group of workers This is why Labor is A job fair ormarched in front ganized by govof the Bureau of still unhappy with the ernment and the Immigration in executive order. private sector, Intramuros to promeanwhile, saw test the deportation of Australian hundreds of applinun Sister Patricia cants for work in Fox. Sister Fox is appealing the de- Canada and Japan. Amid this uneasy portation—punishment for allegedly state on the labor front, there are reparticipating in domestic politics. She ports of differences between Foreign denied the allegation as she claimed Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and she only attended events that called Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. for work among the unemployed and There are talks Bello is on the way out. food for the hungry. But as it becomes But the man is doing the best he can, criminal to criticize this administra- so why ease him out?

Adding to the unemployment probtion, she was brought in and detained lem are the thousands or workers disat the BI offices for a day.

Why is Labor still unhappy with the placed in the closure of the island reDuterte EO? Leaders of the working sort of Boracay. The government has masses said the EO does not totally ordered Boracay’s lockdown to foreign eliminate “endo” or contractualization. and domestic tourists for six months The workers who carried and burned to clean up the beach and its waters, effigies of President Duterte claimed President Duterte’s colorful and apt the EO still allowed contractualization Turn to A5

BACK CHANNEL

P151 billion CROSSROADS

JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ ONE hundred fifty one billion pesos.

This is the uncollected, or should we say un-surrendered, amount due the Philippine government from the operations of the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project in Palawan based on a Commission on Audit report issued in 2009.

That should be closer to P250 bil-

lion, more or less, by now after nine years of waiting—enough to fund a good portion of the Duterte administration’s ‘Build, Build, Build” centerpiece program. That should be reason enough for the government, especially the BIR, OSG and DoJ, to push for

Remember Malampaya?

the early resolution of the arbitration case(s) filed by the government’s partners in the Malampaya project, Shell Exploration and Chevron, which hold 45 percent each with PNOC holding the balance of 10 percent, before the arbitration bodies in Singapore and Washington, DC. Failing which, government should immediately position itself to take over the Palawan facility which was inaugurated in 1990 yet as the original tenyear period given to the partners to recover their investments profitably (and what windfall profits !!!#&%*) these Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

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PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018

The airports war

MECOnnect SO I SEE LITO BANAYO THERE are 640,000 foreign contract workers in this island of 23 million people. Of this number, 147,000 as of latest count are Filipinos. We constitute the third-largest number of foreign contract workers in Taiwan, the first being Indonesians, mostly caregivers and domestic household workers, and the second, Vietnamese, who like our OFWs, work in factories.

But MECO, our “de facto” embassy in Taiwan, has seen it best to have three offices servicing the needs of our OFWs. One is in the capital, Taipei, which serves the northern part, another in Taichung for the central part, and Kaohsiung to serve the southern part of Taiwan. The other representative offices maintain only one office in Taipei.

Aside from POLO or overseas labor offices with a labor attaché, and a welfare officer from OWWA, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office has a department called Assistance to Nationals to serve the Filipino population here in Taiwan. Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung all have such assistance desks.

Filipinos working mostly in Taiwan’s factories do not encounter as much problems as their counterparts in other parts of the world, such as the Middle East. Differences in language, culture and attitude towards foreigners often result in abuses perpetrated against lowly workers, as evidenced by a multitude of problems our kababayans working in Kuwait and other Middle Eastern nations have experienced.

Still, it behooves the “de facto” embassy to look for ways and means by which we could better serve our kababayans here in Taiwan.

We found out when we first came to Taiwan after being appointed by the president last June 30, 2016 that labor and tourism attaché offices were not housed in the same office where MECO and the trade office were. So after diligently searching for a better location and terminating our inherited lease contract, we consolidated all offices under one roof in Neihu, Taipei’s new CBD. The MECO office in the capital is just two minutes walk away from the nearest MRT station and is serviced by several bus lines, making it more convenient to access.

In Taichung and Kaohsiung, we also asked all offices representing the Philippines to make their work place visi-

P151...

From A4

companies have had from day one of operations. But that is another story.

For now, the administration needs to focus on the recovery of this unsurrendered amount before its too late given that early estimates show that the oil-and-gas reserve may run out in just a number of years. Worse, given the resources of Shell SPEX and Chevron and their continued salivating over this treasure trove, they will simply dribble this matter through various guises until President Duterte steps down.

As far as the COA and other concerned sectors are concerned, this case is actually simple, requiring just a strong ‘advisory’ from Malacanang that it will no longer becontent with its squeezed share of the proceeds from Malampaya. Too, it will not allow the continued misdeclaration of revenuesharing based on the partners’ misinterpretation of the project’s tax burden.

Under the terms of the contract, the Philippine government is supposed to get a sixty-percent share of the net proceeds from the operations with the partners (operators) getting 40 percent.

More importantly, the contract states that “...The foreign contractors pays the 32 percent Philippine corporate income tax on its 40-percent share of the net proceeds, including withholding tax on dividends or remittances of profits.”

This is where the dispute lies. From day one, the partners (contractors) have imputed the payment of the corporate tax and withholding tax on

Not...

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description of Boracay as a “cesspool” went viral worldwide. So it has become Boracay to “burak”—the Filipino word for the slimy mud one dredges up from the bottom of dirty water.

More dirt related to tourism. The Commission on Audit is questioning the payment of P60 million for the

tor-friendly and OFW accessible. Last weekend, the MECO Kaohsiung office was blessed by Fr. Nilo Mantilla of the Scalabrinian Missionaries. Fr. Nilo is a “kababayan” of President Duterte from Maasin in Southern Leyte.

We have also recently overhauled the MECO website, making it more interactive and informative for its users, both Filipinos and Taiwanese. A potential tourist will find it very easy to access the website and view the best destinations our country has to offer. Even the closure of Boracay is reported in our website in both Mandarin and English.

An OFW will likewise find information on how to renew his passport or attain consular services such as notarization of important documents, even through his cellphone.

This also made it easier for our Assistance to Nationals officers and Labor and Welfare Officers to coordinate the

handling and resolution of cases involving Filipino workers.

Take the case of the Hualien earthquake last February when MECO, labor and welfare officers efficiently handled the case of the lone Filipino casualty, coordinating assistance to next of kin and facilitating the swift repatriation of the victim’s remains to her family.

That experience likewise made us realize that all these efforts can be pushed to a higher level if only the Filipino community would establish a connection with the MECO family through constant exchange of communication.

This is particularly important in monitoring the concerns of our workers and extending timely assistance to them in times of great need such as disasters and other types of emergencies.

To encourage this, the office launched over the weekend the MECOnnect project aimed at bringing MECO closer to Filipino workers based in Taiwan. We organized a town hall meeting in Kaohsiung, the huge southern port city of Taiwan.

The initial town hall meetings were held last Saturday in Nanzhi District and St. Joseph’s Church in Kaohsiung, and thereafter, on Sunday, at the Queen of Angels Parish Church in the Xinying District of Tainan.

Coming from a predominantly

Catholic country, Filipino workers are known to congregate in Catholic churches in Taiwan during their off days to hear mass and socialize with each other. Fortunately, most of the priests here in Taiwan are Filipino missionaries, three of whom we personally met last Saturday.

During the town hall meetings, MECO offered off-site consular services such as passport facilitation and overseas voters’ registration, as well as other relevant services, for the Filipino attendees.

MECO also aims to propagate a massive information dissemination campaign about its plans and projects and establish stronger and closer relationship with leaders of the Filipino community through more town hall meetings in the future in Central and Northern Taiwan.

Some Filipino community leaders I met in Kaohsiung have so far reacted to the changes positively, extending their pledge of cooperation to ongoing and future projects of MECO. To them I sincerely express my gratitude, for the task of looking after the welfare of thousands of Filipinos in Taiwan is indeed a gargantuan task.

And as we share the President’s genuine concern for our OFWs, I believe it is also imperative that they cooperate with the Philippine government in ensuring their safety and well-being while working in another country. To operationalize this, we have to bring our foreign offices closer to them.

In the case of MECO, we designed the MECOnnect project, so that we can update them on relevant information, “connect” to them easily both ways, whether in “normal” times or during emergencies.

Indeed, the MECOnnect project was put to test last Saturday night. Just as we were preparing to sleep in our hotel room in southern Kaohsiung, a Batanguena OFW who had earlier registered her number with our Taipei office sent us a video recording she made on her cellphone. There was a huge fire engulfing a factory in Taoyuan in northern Taiwan. She informed us that there were many Filipinos occupying a dormitory in the eighth floor of the factory building, and in a crying voice, she kept praying for their safety.

Alerted, our labor attaché and our ATN officers checked with Taoyuan authorities, and found out, to our collective relief, that no Filipino was hurt in the fire. A national of another country, and five Taoyuan firemen were not so lucky however, and we grieve for them.

MECOnnect connects, indeed!

dividends or remittances of profits on the government’s share. Which should not have been done at all as it was, as one legal luminary noted, illegal and arbitrary from the very beginning.

That previous administrations have allowed this monstrous anomaly to happen remains a mystery up to this point. Again, that is another interesting story.

Suffice it to say that, finally, in 2009 the COA issued a notice of charge and ordered that the taxes imputed to be paid by government from 2002 (the end of the ten-year incentive period) to 2016 amounting to P151 billion be paid by the contractor-partners as the same should have been and remain to be the obligation of Shell SPEX and Chevron.

The sharing scheme as provided for under the contract and upon which the COA based its assessment is simple and straight forward. “...There is no question,” the Philippine advisory in the arbitral proceedings stated, that the State receives its rightful share, amounting to 60 percent of the net proceeds, in recognition of its ownership of the petroleum resources. In addition, Occidental-Shell’s 40-percent share in the net proceeds is subject to the 32% Philippine income tax. The Occidental-Shell FTAA also gives the State, through the DOE and BIR, full control and supervision over the petroleum operations of the foreign contractor. The foreign contractor can recover only the capital and operating expenses approved by the DOE or by the arbitral panel as provided for in the contract.”

Further, the Shell Spex-Chevron contract also contains other safe-

guards to protect the interest of the State as owner of the petroleum resources. While the foreign contractor manages the contracted work or operations to the extent of its financial or technical contribution, there are sufficient safeguards in the contract to ensure compliance with the constitutional requirements. Indeed, the terms and interpretation of the Philippine side in the arbitral proceedings emanated precisely from a Supreme Court ruling which ruled on the constitutionality of the operating agreement since given the strict 100-percent nationality requirement for the exploitation of minerals and other natural resources.

Given the nature of the business and the seeming inability of Filipino companies to undertake the implementation this contract at the time from exploration to production, it took the Supreme Court to come out with safeguards and other legardemaine such as the Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement or FTAA concept to come out with some opaque statement to skew the constitutional prohibition and advised that “...the terms of the Shell-Chevron FTAA are fair to the State and to the partners/contractors..”

What a stretch. But then again we should now move and insist that, as provided for by the COA, the partner/ contractors should now pay up.

Or, pack up.

As the Commission on Audit report stated, government is losing almost half of its share, emphatically stating that the private contractors are receiving undue benefits at the expense of the ordinary Filipino people.

PTV Channel 4 program “Bitag” of Ben Tulfo. The COA said it had not received a memorandum of agreement or a contract between PTV 4 and the Department of Tourism.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo said she is not aware of the deal. She is the sister of the well-known media commentators Ramon, Irwin, and Ben Tulfo. The COA found it hard to believe that the Tourism Secretary is not aware of such a big transaction between her

department and her brothers.

No comment from us. Ramon Tulfo is a friend and we will let this case be investigated by the Palace as Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said it would be.

While at it, the COA might as well also look into why the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. favor a certain media outlet for its advertisements.

This is how we can serve Filipinos better here.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

your flight.

Even if the present Naia were expanded, it could not expand that much because it is in a cramped place.

TONY LOPEZ So RSA wants to sell all the 650 hectares of Naia to generate revenues THERE are at least four airport pro- to develop it into a new central busiposals for the Philippines’ main gate- ness district 6.5 times the size of the way airport, Manila.

Makati CBD’s 100 hectares and 2.6 1. The consortium of seven tycoons times Fort Bonifacio’s 250-hectare and/or taipans to rehabilitate the Ni- CBD. noy Aquino International Airport at At current values, 6.5 million a cost of P102 million to P350 mil- square meters at P300,000 per sqm lion over five years to increase its could generate P2 trillion, enough to passenger handling capacity from 42 jumpstart President Duterte’s “Build, million (arrivals and departures) at Build, Build” or to lick the nation’s present to 47 million by 2020 and 65 21-percent poverty incidence for million by 2022. good.

With Changi Airports as partner, RSA wants to move the country’s the so-called “super consortium” in- gateway 27 kilometers to the north, in cludes the Aboitiz Group, the Ayala Bulacan where on 2,500 has. of land Group, Andrew Tan, Lucio Tan, John he commits to develop Asia’s most Gokongwei Jr., the group of the late modern airport, with four to six runAndrew Gotianun, and Manuel V. ways, and passenger capacity of 100 Pangilinan of PLDT and First Pacific. million by 2023, and double after that.

They want to Total cost of the rejig the decrepit “a e r ot r o p ol i s”: Naia by linking P735 billion to be and expanding raised and spent The Duterte its three major in tranches of terminals and de- administration seems P150 billion per veloping a second year, so SMC’s keen on the San Miguel runway. debt ratios won’t 2. The Indian- airport. be affected at all.

Filipino group San Miguel can GMR-Megawide, borrow six times its earnings bealready the operafore interest, taxtor of Cebu’s airport in central Philippines. Like the es, and depreciation. It has borrowed “super consortium,” this group will only twice its EBITDA. No funding also rejig Naia by improving effi- will come from the government. The ciency (but not build another runway) airport will come complete with a so that it could handle more aircraft seaport, a sprawling industrial estate movements (taking off and landing) (where electricity will be the cheapest from 45 to 60 per hour (or one flight in the land), a government center, a per minute). They promise to invest business center and will be linked to P156 billion.

Manila by five major expressways—a 3. Henry Sy Sr. in partnership with shoreline expressway, an airport exWilson Tieng. They want to build a pressway, the North Luzon Expressnew airport out of Sangley Point, the way, the McArthur Highway, and the navy base, at a cost of $12 billion for Radial Road 9 Extension, plus a ferry the new airport to handle 120 mil- service to Manila and Bataan. lion passengers on reclaimed area of RSA promises to deliver the first 2,500 hectares. two runways in five years, if not ear4. The San Miguel Airport in Bula- lier, assuming there is no Swiss chalkan town, Bulacan on 2,500 hectares lenge to his proposal before the end of flatlands. of 2018.

San Miguel Corp. president Ramon He originally proposed the proS. Ang wants to approach the crip- ject to the Aquino administration in pling congestion and traffic at Naia 2013. Had President Aquino endorsed the way Adam and Eve should have it, the first two runways would have solved the apple problem. Rather than been operational by now. digesting it, sell it. And of course, The Duterte administration seems Adam and Eve should have eaten the keen on the San Miguel airport. It snake which to the Chinese is a deli- has given San Miguel Holdings, the cacy, bar none. And there would have project proponent, no less than five been no original sin. approvals, including approvals by Naia’s design and location could be the Department of Transportation, considered the original sin for a ma- as a first proponent project status, by jor Philippine gateway. Today, it is in the Cabinet Investment Coordinating the wrong place at the wrong time. Committee, by the board of the Na“It has no room for expansion,” say tional Economic and Development aviation experts. Crucially, Naia has Authority (Neda) which is headed by safety concerns. North, south, east President Duterte himself. and west, pilots landing and taking If Duterte wants to be remembered off at Naia have to grapple with po- as a leader, builder and a modernizing tentially fatal aerial hazards, namely mind in the mold of Mustafa Kemal tall buildings within 4.2 kms of their Ataturk of Turkey, the San Miguel gaze. In case of trouble with the air- Airport offers that opportunity for a craft or with the weather, flights are leap into greatness. potentially 9-11 bombs that could In the past, nations were built by crash onto the buildings. So passen- building steel mills and car plants. gers taking flights at Naia have have In the 21st century, the flight to prosto be prayerful. This makes Naia perity and greatness is facilitated by the most religious airport in Asia. huge and modern airports of the kind You pray that your flight arrives or proposed by San Miguel. After all, takes off on time and without delay travel or tourism is the world’s big(15 mins is allowable). Average de- gest business. lay is 43 minutes. And you pray that nothing untoward happens to you and biznewsasia@gmail.com

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From A4

placements with PTV4 and elsewhere.

I smell a rat here. *** The action taken by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in divulging the names of barangay officials linked to illegal drugs raises a fundamental question.

The disclosure of the names demonizes the officials and pronounces them guilty without trial.

I am not saying the list is not authentic. But isn’t there a presumption of innocence guaranteed by the Constitution?

I am surprised that spokesman Harry Roque said the list was released to help voters choose wisely.

Sure, voters need to decide wisely.

But the release of the names sets a dangerous precedent.

*** If you are wondering why Roberto Ongpin has been included by Forbes Magazine as one of the Filipino billionaires, it is because at his ripe age of 81 he continues to think out of the box. He never runs out of ideas for developments under the banner of Alphaland.

He is behind Balesin, City Club, Aegle Wellness Center, Baguio Mountain Lodges and Alpha Suites.

Last but not least, he is putting up the Top of the Alpha at the top of Alpha Suites at the penthouse of the third tower of Alphaland.

There will be world-class performers, including jazz singers and exceptional bands performing each night.

The main feature is a 360-view of the entire city of Makati.

Bobby, who was my student at Ateneo in the 50s, said he looks forward to hanging out in his new magnum opus. That’s Bobby for you.

A6

News

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Customs snags P20-m goods from China

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Customs seized some P20 million worth of illegally imported goods from China which included used clothing or “ukay-ukay,” machine excavator, truck spare parts, agricultural products and fake branded rubbers shoes at the Port of Manila.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said Tuesday the shipments were consigned to Scuderia Enterprises, Scarlet Red Marketing, Santo Nino Market, and Imperial Foods and Agri Products, and will face appropriate charges for violating customs laws.

The BoC chief said a warrant of seizure and detention was issued after the Office of the District Collector of Port of Manila found that the shipments were all misdeclared to defraud the government of millions of rightful duties and taxes.

The importation of used clothing is banned by the government to protect the public’s health and to the detriment of local garment manufacturers.

“Importation of use clothing is prohibited to safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation by declaring it a national policy to prohibit the commercial importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags,” Lapeña said.

He said the shipments were declared as ribbon, yarn, footwear, and wearing apparel but found to be used clothing after the BoC conducted an inspection.

DRUG PUSHERS. Police from the Quezon City Police District arrest Tuesday three alleged big-time drug pushers in a buy-bust operation in front of a cellphione accessories store at Edsa corner Nonde de Piedad in Quezon City. Station commander P/Supt. Ariel Capucao (left) identified tdhe suspects as Alvin de Dios, Jane Lee Espinas and Jahlal Cariga Lalao. Manny Palmero

2 suspects in KFR case charged

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Department of Justice has ordered the indictment of two people involved in the kidnapping for ransom and the death of a policewoman and injuring several others in Quezon province.

The respondents were involved in the kidnapping of Ronaldo Arguelles in Candelaria, Quezon last April 9.

They took three cellular phones, laptop, gold necklace, bracelet, earing, ring, three watches, East West Bank passbook, gold money with an estimate worth of P50,000 and used the victim’s vehicle as their getaway car.

They demanded P1-million ransom money, but the amount was reduced to P800,000 after negotiation.

The pay-off was agreed on to be at a mall in San Pablo, Laguna.

However, before the pay off, a firefight took place where Police Officer 1 Ma. Zarah Jane Andal was killed and three other police officers were wounded.

After investigation, the police learned that the kidnappers rented a sports utility vehicle from the victim’s house and

traced the address of one of the suspects—Taningco.

The police went to Taningco’s house and he immediately surrendered and identified his co-conspirators including Barrios.

Barrios also corroborated the testimony of Taningco as well as identified Pamonag as the one who provided the firearms and police uniforms to the kidnappers.

On the other hand, the charge for robbery was for using violence when they took the valuables from the house of Arguelles, while the homicide and frustrated homicides were for the death of a police officer and injuries sustained by three others.

Since only two were arrested during the police operations, the DoJ will subpoena the other people identified by Taningco and Lalaine Barrios, namely Ricky Barrios, Camille Lesegues Bubudilla, Ricardo Arguelles alias Boyet and Joshua Magbanua.

In a resolution, the DOJ approved the filing of kidnapping for ransom with homicide, frustrated multiple homicide, robbery and carnapping charges against Glenn Taningco and Lalaine Barrios.

But the DoJ will conduct a preliminary investigation against the alleged mastermind, Senior Police Officer 2 Leo Pamonag, after signing a waiver of detention under Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code.

“Respondents...clearly conspired with

each other as their concerted acts showed their complicity in the commission of the crime of kidnapping for ransom as their acts were directed in achieving their goal of kidnapping Ronaldo Arguelles,” stated the resolution written by Assistant State Prosecutor Phillip L. dela Cruz.

Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon affirmed the prosecutor’s findings and approved by acting Prosecutor General Jorge G. Catalan Jr.

‘Job insecurity produces more self-employed’

2 soldiers slain in ambush in Bukidnon, Cotabato

A SIGNIFICANT increase among self-employed women sends a signal of caution for the general condition of labor in the country, according to the Center for Women’s Resources, a 36year research, training, and advocacy insitution for women.

The growing number of self-employed women indicates the lack of job opportunities, placing them in a more precarious condition with no security and benefits, it said in a press statement released Tuesday.

Based from the latest Gender Statistics on Labor and Employment (2017), an additional 304,000 women became self-employed in 2016 due to lack of job opportunities and liveable wages.

For the majority of working class women, the available jobs remain lowskilled, labor intensive, and non-regular.

The adverse effect of precarious employment due to the neoliberal scheme shows the growing number of women working in other service activities, which include personal services for wellness, laundry services, among others, it said.

The rising trend in the service sector draws on the pool of labor at the bottom of the working class population, it added.

Based on the latest data available from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA, 2016) on non-regular workers, over a million workers do not hold regular position.

This represents 27 percent of all 4.3 million workers in the recorded period.

Another growing number of working women includes those who work as kasambahay or househelp, comprising more than 1.7 million and those who work as unpaid family workers comprising more than 1.9 million.

Such jobs for women encourage individual efforts and entirely removes them from the collective production work.

THREE Army troops were killed while another was wounded in two separate attacks, one of which the military said was perpetrated by suspected New People’s Army guerrillas in Bukidnon and Cotabato City Monday alivend Tuesday.

Military reports said two of the slain soldiers were gunned down as they were returning to their company headquarters.

The other soldier was rendering

livelihood assistance when ambushed by still unidentified armed men, the reports said.

Two of the slain soldiers, members of the 12th Special Forces Company based in Barangay Making, Parang Maguindanao, were identified as Private First Class Nelson Paimalan, 27 and Private Richard Bendanillo while the identity of the other soldier was temporary withheld.

Capt. Arvin John Encinas, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said Paimalan and Bendanillo were heading back to their barracks and while traversing Purok Rajamuda, MB Bagua, Cotabato City, four armed men aboard a Honda XRM shot them several times.

Bendanillo who was wounded in the attack was rushed to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center for medical treatment but died later. Francisco Tuyay

Military searching for 2 cops THE military has deployed three battalions in the search for two female police officers reportedly abducted by armed men in Patikul town, Sulu last Sunday.

Joint Task Force Sulu commander Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said it was likely the two victims and their captors were still in Patikul.

“They won’t get out of Patikul and as we speak, we have three battalions looking for them,” he said Monday.

Earlier, the Philippine National Police said it was constantly monitoring developments on the abduction of Police Officer 2 Benierose Alvarez, Police Officer 1 Dinah Gumahad, along with two civilians, Jakosalem Ahamad Blas and Faizal Ahidji were on board a tricycle outside Camp Bautista near the Jolo Airport on Sunday when they were intercepted by armed men.

Alvarez is detailed with the PNPCrime Laboratory.

Meanwhile, over the last few days terror attacks were reported from Central Mindanao and nearby areas, as Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters unleashed its its firepower to divert the attention of government troops.

On April 25, troops found an an unexploded grenade in Barangay Labu-labu, Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao.

On April 29, an unknown Improvised Explosive Device exploded at St. Anthony Parish Church in Koronadal City.

PNA, Mark Navales

Imee’s son sees career move by mom

JUNCTION SHOOTING. Dead on the spot at dusk Monday at the Cainta, Rizal Junction are two unidentified riding in tandem men after exchanging fire with police authorities. There were other reports – unconfirmed by police – that two others inside a car were also killed in the tragedy which caused a traffic logjam from Rosario in Pasig along Ortigas Avenue Ext. up to the Junction 4 kms away. Manny Palmero

ILOCOS Norte’s senior board member Matthew Joseph Manotoc, son of Gov. Imee Marcos, said he saw his mother seeking a next career move in politics but stopped short of confirming if she was going to run for the Senate in 2019.

In an exclusive interview, Manotoc said “I wish her the best. I wish she does whatever she likes.”

But he refused to confirm directly if she was joining the senatorial race in 2019, following news reports she might be included in the senatorial slate of the Nacionalista Party, his grandfather’s political party when he ran for the presidency in 1965 against then incumbent President Diosdado Macapagal of the Liberal Party.

“I can’t say if she’s running. It’s always... there is a lot of speculation. Only time can tell,” he told the Manila Standard. “[But] I think she is positioning herself to do so. But I can’t speak for her...

As I have earlier said, it is always last seconds [when one finally would decide to run],” he said.

A lot of people have approached him and the family convincing his mother to run as senator. Rio N. Araja

Sports

A7

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Top matches usher in new Premier Volleyball season CROWD favorTacloban also Games Sunday ite Creamline and makes its debut in 2 p.m. – Tacloban vs PayMaya PayMaya, formerly the league organized 4 p.m. – Creamline vs Petro Gazz PLDT, brace for

by Sports Vision as an early challenge it tangles with the against two new Grethcel Soltones-led teams out to make an impact as action PayMaya at 2 p.m. in the second season of the Premier VolFormat is a single round robin elims leyball League gets going Sunday (May among eight teams with the top two gain6) with the Reinforced Conference at the ing automatic semifinal berths. The rest Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. will play another single round quarters With the league taking an extended with the top two clinching the last two break to give way to the UAAP women’s seats in the Final Four. volley wars, the eight participating teams Games will be shown live on Sports + hope to come out in top form in the next Action Channel 23 and via streaming at two-and-a half-months in pursuit of the www.sports.abs-cbn.com/livestream. season-opening conference crown of the Other teams in the fold are Navy-Iriga, league where it all started.

BaliPure-NU, BanKo-Perlas and defendAlyssa Valdez, for one, is thrilled and ing champion Pocari Sweat-Air Force. delighted that the long wait to strut her The league will also hold games in wares is over as she leads the Creamline the provinces during the elims as it Cool Smashers against the Jerry Yee- reaches out to its fans with Tuguegarao mentored Petro Gazz Angels in the 4 City hosting back-to-back games on p.m. main duel.

May 12 and 13.

Dungeons & Dragons revived in PH FROM a game for geeks in the ‘80s to a game that’s becoming mainstream in the present, Dungeons and Dragons is still reaping fans enamored of the tabletop game format.

Back when D&D was new to the Philippines, I used to play it with schoolmates in college. We’d hang out at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication tambayan of the UP Journalism Club, or at one of the concrete tables and benches outside the UP Main Library.

We’d cluster around a Dungeon Master, one of our friends who would run the game and keep track of activities and statistics. We blew on our polyhedral dice for luck as we shook and threw them hoping for higher points.

I still have my set of D&D dice from that time, but recently I gave it to my eldest daughter, who is among the growing community of players in the Philippines.

If I recall correctly, the game lost its popularity somewhat in the ‘90s and thereafter as video and digital games began their spectacular rise. But D&D is experiencing a resurgence this decade, particularly after it was featured in the Netflix hit ‘Stranger Things.’

Today there is a Dungeons and Dragons Philippines Community public group on Facebook, as well as other informal groups of students and young adults who meet at homes, cafes, or restaurants to play.

Among the venues is On Board at Circuit Makati, which provides the space and materials to play (as well as food and drinks). Last weekend, I saw a group of young adults playing at Casa Italia in BGC, while right now, as I write this, my eldest daughter and three of her friends are playing out a campaign in our living room.

Back in my day, the only video games were Game n’ Watch and Atari, which not everyone could afford, so tabletop games were all the rage, including the standards Monopoly, Clue, and Sorry.

We didn’t have much of a choice back then.

But why the popularity of readingand research-intensive D&D during this age of video games and online games?

“D&D is interesting because you can make it up, whereas video game narratives are already made for you,” says Rika, 19. “Some videogames have more of a choose-your-own-adventure style.

But all the alternate narratives are still devised for you, and you’re just choosing a pre-planned outcome.

“In D&D you have full creative control. The DM and players make it all up as they go along, and it challenges everyone’s creativity, imagination, and improvisation.”

There is more freedom nowadays in creating the narratives. You can invent your own backgrounds and worlds. I hear there’s a campaign based on Philippine mythology – that sounds interesting.

There are more resources nowadays then there were before. You can get D&D handbooks and game manuals at bookstores, and there are apps for the statistics, game narratives, and even the dice.

So here’s to the evolution of games, and their adaptation by a new audience. *** Dr. Ortuoste is a writer and communications consultant. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and @DrJennyO, Twitter: @hoarsewhsprr and @jennyortuoste

Terry Rozier (12) of the Boston Celtics grabs a rebound overErsan Ilyasova (23) of the Philadelphia 76ers during Game One in Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the 76ers, 117-101. AFP

Rozier sparks Celtics past 76ers

L

OS ANGELES—Terry Rozier scored 29 points as Boston outmuscled Philadelphia 117-101 to win the opening game of their Eastern Conference semi-final series on Monday.

Rozier was the top scorer in a dazzling Celtics offensive display at the TD Garden, with Al Horford and Jayson Tatum also making hefty contributions.

Horford finished with 26 points while Tatum added 28 points as Boston surged into a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with a statement victory.

Horford later praised Rozier’s superb contribution. “I’ve always seen that potential in Terry. I just think he’s taken advantage of the opportunity,” Horford said.

“It’s a great experience for him to come into a play-off game of this magnitude

and have such a great game,” Horford added.

“I just think defensively we did a great job tonight, really containing them and just trying to play with pace at the other end.”

The third-seeded Sixers had advanced to the semi-finals after a confident demolition of Miami in the opening round.

But the Celtics lineup look to be a vastly more challenging proposition for the Sixers, who saw Joel Embiid score 31 points while pulling down 13 rebounds.

J.J. Redick had 20 points for the Sixers,

while point guard Ben Simmons had 18 points from 41 minutes on the court.

Yet it was the shooting prowess of Celtics ace Rozier that caught the eye as the 24-year-old point guard kept Boston firmly on track for a well-earned win.

Boston, who advanced to the semi-finals after a grueling seven-game series win over Milwaukee, have regrouped superbly after a slew of injuries which means they are without stars Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward.

Rozier’s 29-point haul included 21 points from three-point range, a 77.8 conversion percentage from outside the arc.

Rozier credited his form to a determined training regime launched last year.

“Up early every day. Putting in a lot of work, watching a lot of film. A lot of hard

work over the summer,” Rozier said.

“We got together yesterday and we had a plan. No matter who it is out there, we’re going to play hard and take care of business.”

Sixers coach Brett Brown was left to reflect on a below-par night for his team while acknowledging the Celtics had simply been better.

“We did have an off night shooting but a lot of that you can attribute to their good defense and them getting to our shooters,” Brown said.

“We give them credit. I never really felt we were in the game. It sure felt like we were playing a good team today.

“But defensively, offensively, this isn’t who we are. This was a poor game from us. We’re going to have to fix some things.” AFP

World University Golf preparations underway Tigresses, LUBAO--The International Golf Federation, led by Nicholas Stewart Shan of South Africa, has completed its technical inspection of the Pradera Verde Golf Club in Lubao, site of the prestigious 17th World University Golf Championship from May 16 to 19.

In attendance during the technical inspection were National Golf Federation president Carlos Coscoluella Sr., member of Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab’s staff, led by her secretary Edith Rodriguez, Jose Marie Hernandez, and WUGC tournament coordinator Joey Seran of Pradera Verde Golf Club.

They were joined in by Mike Singgaran, the WUGC Organizing Committee CEO; Joseph Sy, the OC Deputy CEO; and members of the WUGC Secretariat led by Cecille V. Sarmiento and Annie Rodas.

The glitzy opening parade of Athletes and Participants on May 16 will be held at the Municipality of Lubao Hall, with Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda and her husband, sportsman-philanthropist Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda expected to grace the occasion.

The biennial competition features the top university golfers from around the world.

From security to entertainment of athletes and team officials to the four-day golf tournament itself, everything has been covered by the WUGC Organizing Committee and the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, the country’s sole member representative to the International University Sports Federation, which is the world university sports

Lady Titans edge rivals

Members of the WUGC Organizing Committee are shown during a meeting at the Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club in Lubao. They are (from left) Carlos Coscoluella Sr., Nicholas Stewart Shan, Annie Rodas, Jean Malanum, Cecille V. Sarmiento, Winnie Ventura, Edith Rodriguez, Jose Marie Layug Hernandez, Joseph Sy and Joey Seran.

body that sanctions such events as the biennial Summer Universiade and Winter Universiade and the various international university competitions for the different disciplines.

During the entire WUGC competitions, a medical personnel will be provided by the fast-growing Municipality of Lubao, with ambulance vehicles on standby on a 24/7 basis.

The four-day festival will include daily entertainment and cultural programs to be presented by the Municipality of Lubao under the Mayor’s Office as part of its tourism promotion not only of Pampanga

but the Philippines as a whole as well as Welcome-Closing Gala Nights and crowd-drawing activities.

Leading the list are Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda and her husband, sportsmanphilanthropist Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda, Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab, FESSAP Chairman Alvin Tai Lian, FESSAP president Baldomero Estenzo, FESSAP Honorary President David Ong, FESSAP Executive Vice President Robert Milton Calo, Philippine Golf team’s Head of Delegation Angel Ngu, Felix Tiukinhoy of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. and the State Colleges and Universi-

Guia, Bayking dominate Cebuana Lhuillier netfest DIPOLOG native Stephen Zion Guia and Negros Oriental’s Bliss Bayking emerged as big winners at the recent Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championship Series leg in Maasin, Leyte as they dominated their respective age groups and winning two individual titles apiece.

Guia, who has been ruling the boys’ 16-under group in the previous legs, won anew this time by beating Zamboanga del Norte bet Nik Alessandro Isagan, 6-1, 6-1, but made a big splash when he shocked Cebu City’s Marc Nicole Suson in the 18-under, winning 6-2, 7-5.

In past meetings, Guia was always thwarted by Suson,

who has made the 18-under practically a personal domain.

Suson consoled himself with a share of the 18-under doubles’ crown after partnering with Ashton Benne Villanueva to defeat Cedrix John Bravo and Lex Estillore, 8-5, in the finals.

Bayking faced different opponents in the finals of the girls’ 16-under and 18-under categories but with the same results.

She swept aside Ormoc City’s Mia Gemida, 6-1, 6-3, for the 16-under and duplicated it with a similar easy victory over Cebuana Shedel Aighey Gica, 6-0, 6-1, for the 18-under crown.

Bayking also shared the girls’ 18-under doubles’ crown

with erstwhile opponent Gica after beating Gemida and Ellaine Rose Bahonsua, 8-2, for the title, her third in the tournament backed by Dunlop as the official ball.

“When I see players finally winning over opponents who used to beat them regularly, it only means that they have improved their games through regular participation in tournaments. In the case of Guia, this was a breakthrough win for him in this leg,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President/ CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, which has been sponsoring this grassroots tennis program for the past 12 years.

Aside from perennial winner Guia, relatively un-

known players grabbed the limelight in Maasin by topping their age groups.

In the boys’ side, Manuel Jocson III not only won the 10-under unisex group over local bet Christian Angelo Estrada, 5-3, 4-1, but also shared with Estrada the doubles’ title in the same age group to become the third player in the leg to win two titles.

Boholano John Kenneth Jumamoy also drubbed Estrada in the finals of the 12-under, prevailing, 6-1, 6-2.

Villanueva won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, over Ormoc’s Hans Cabellon in the 14-under finals. Villanueva was one of the few players to win two titles in the leg.

THE University of Santo Tomas Tigresses and the Enderun Lady Titans came off with closely fought victories that put away separate rivals last Friday in the opening women’s matches of the 24th Fr. Martin Cup summer tournament at the La Consolacion College gymnasium in Mendiola, Manila.

Misaela Larosa scored the winning basket for the Tigresses in the last 20 seconds, sending the UST to a 52-51 win over Far Eastern University in this cagefest which is supported by Cocolife.

Larosa fired a game0high 11 points in leading UST to early lead with the Lady Titans.

Ella Rodriguez shot eight points for the Lady Titans in their 41-37 beating of the National University Lady Bulldogs.

Meanwhile, the National University Bullpups won over La Conscolacion, 7149, in the senior division, while the University of Perpetual Help Altas demolished San Beda Red Lions, 83-61.

In the junior side, Josh Gallano drilled in 16 points as the University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas prevailed over First City Providential College of Bulacan, 73-63.

A total of 39 school teams have joined the 24th Fr. Martin Cup summer tournament, which began on April 14, at the St. Placid gymnasium of the San Beda Manila campus in Mendiola.

Organizer Edmundo Badolato said the defending champion Diliman College Blue Dragons are among the 12 squads expected to join the senior division.

Commissioner Robert de la Rosa added that there are nine squads, including current champion National University that have tentatively signed up in the women’s division.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018

Sports

Bigger Le Tour de Filipinas set THERE are only four stages, but the Le Tour de Filipinas celebrates its biggest edition yet with 17 teams composed of 85 riders pedaling over four regions, seven provinces, 10 cities and 50 municipalities from May 20 to 23.

From the ninth edition’s Stage 1 start at the Quezon City Memorial Circle in Quezon City on May 20, the 15 squads—up by two from the traditional 15 teams of five riders each—would race to the Nueva Ecija finish in the capital Palayan City over Valenzuela City and seven towns in Bulacan, crossing the North Luzon Expressway in San Simon before passing through three more Pampanga and six Nueva Ecija municipalities.

Stage 2 on May 21 will send off the riders from Cabanatuan City again over Palayan City and four more Nueva Ecija towns before reaching the Balete Summit—or the more popular Dalton Pass—as the race enters three Nueva Viscaya towns before the Bayombong finish for a distance of 157.90 kms.

Organized by Ube Media Inc. and co-presented by Air21, Cignal and Hyper Channel, May 22’s Stage 3 traces the same route this time from the Bambang start. The cyclists then negotiate the 184.00km stage through Lupao before getting a warm welcome in Umingan, Pangasinan.

While in Stage 3, five towns and the cities of Urdaneta in Pangasinan will witness the race that is expected to wind up with another rousing finish at the Provincial Capitol in Lingayen.

The decisive 154.65-km Stage 4 on May 23 will send off the cyclists at the Pangasinan Provincial Capitol with the route covering flat roads on one city and 10 more towns in the province, before making a catapult ascent in Rosario and Tuba in La Union for the ever treacherous Kennon Road climb.

Pacquiao’s motivation: 11th world boxing title

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ENERAL SANTOS CITY—Am 11th world title.

That will be Manny Pacquiao’s motivation as he started training for his July 15 fight with World Boxing Association welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina at the Wild Card gym here.

After building enough stamina from his cardio workouts earlier in the week, Pacquiao reunited with long-time friends and trainers Buboy Fernandez and Raides “Nonoy” Neri and started slow, doing regular gym drills and plotting pre-fight strategies.

The Pacquiao Vs Matthysse fight dubbed “Fight of Champions,” is two and a half months away and is set at the glitzy Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on July 15.

“I am excited to return to the ring once

PH swimming factions unite

By Peter Atencio SWIMMERS, who are part of the Philippine Swimming League can now join the selection process for the national team.

Ral Rosario, whose group in the national sports association for swimming, Philippine Swimming Inc., is questioning the presidency of Lani Velasco, made this possible after they reached out to the PSL yesterday.

Talks with PSL president Susan Papa have led Rosario and his allies in the PSI into talks of peace and reconciliation.

“It’s time to bring this to an end. It’s time to bring in a new era in swimming. Unification. Yes, we should do it for the swimmers and the swimming community,” said Rosario after he and Papa shook hands during an early morning meeting at the Behrouz Persian Cuisine Restaurant, in South Triangle, Quezon City.

Joining them were PSI treasurer Akiko Thomson-Guevarra and PSL officer Susan Benasa.

In the past, swimmers not associated with the PSI cannot join tryouts for the national team because of their status as non-members.

Papa said the acceptance of Rosario’s group of the PSI is a historical

moment for their group.

“For me, this is something. This is history. For the longest time, swimming is not democratized. With Ral Rosario as president of the PSI, and with Akiko Thomson, we appreciation unification, and the message of Mr. Rosario that he is opening the selection process for the national team,” said Papa.

The group of Rosario is currently disputing of Velasco as president of the PSI last February.

In March last year, Rosario was elected president during the board of trustees. It came after previous president Mark Joseph brought in Velasco as his representative, while he was dealing with his numerous legal cases.

For now, former International Olympic Committee Frank Elizalde has been appointed as chairman of a caretaker body that will oversee the resolution of the leadership issues surrounding the PSI. The POC arbitrations and disputes commission, chaired by Robert Aventajado, recommended during the POC general assembly that the Feb. 17 election of Velasco not be recognized.

Rosario’s group is now awaiting a resolution of the case before the arbitration body.

La Salle tossers shoot for 11th crown PLAYING with a lot of confidence, De La Salle goes for the jugular against Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball Finals today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

While the Lady Tamaraws are trying to live another day, the Lady Spikers will enter the 4 p.m. match as favorites to claim their third consecutive title and 11th championship overall.

Meanwhile, National University seeks to end Ateneo’s three-year reign in the men’s division and reclaim the throne in the curtain raiser at 12 noon.

In between matches, the UAAP will honor Season 80 volleyball MVPs Jaja

Games today

(Smart Araneta Coliseum) 12 noon – NU vs Ateneo (Men Finals) 4 p.m. – FEU vs DLSU (Women Finals)

Santiago and Marck Espejo as well as the best individual performers at 3:15 p.m.

Using its vast championship experience, De La Salle swept FEU, 29-27, 2521, 25-22 in last Saturday’s series opener, stretching its winning run to 10 games dating back from the eliminations.

Definitely, the Lady Tamaraws’ focus in their training in the past few days is on how to lessen their mistakes, partly because of their being too overeager.

again and face a dangerous champion in a difficult and challenging fight,” said Pacquiao, the only eight-weight division champion in boxing.

“I am inspired as I am also excited to face the champion,” added Pacquiao, noting that Matthysse packs power on both fists, having won 36 of his 39 wins by knockout.

Pacquiao, the 39-year-old challenger, did mitts work with Fernandez, his boyhood neighbor and trusted lieutenant throughout his career. Both started slow and hoped to pick up steam in the middle stages of training camp. In his familiar

workout, Pacquiao pounded the heavy bags and finished with his usual abs work routine.

Also a senator of the Philippines, Pacquiao is taking full use of the Senate recess to train without distractions before resuming work on May 14 to June 1 when the Philippine Senate reconvenes.

Then, Pacquiao gets his final push for the whole month of June up until fight day, July 15 in Kuala Lumpur.

Pacquiao is also the promoter of this boxing extravaganza which promises to be the biggest boxing event in Malaysia in the last 43 years since Muhammad Ali faced Joe Bugner, also in Kuala Lumpur.

Aside from the Pacquiao-Matthysse headliner, three other world title fights are in store in the undercards as well as other intriguing supporting bouts being assembled by Pacquiao’s MP Promotions.

Azkals hoping for better schedule MEMBERS of the Philippine Azkals national men’s football team are hoping for a better scheduling in their games in the 2018 season of the Philippine Football League.

Having a good schedule will help the Azkals get ready for what awaits them in the latter part of the year.

“The schedule hopefully, can be improved from what it was last year to help us in our performances,” said Azkals’ ace scorer Phil Younghusband, who noted that the schedule of matches were quite

hectic last season.

Last March, the Azkals sealed their place as one of the 24 teams that will participate in the AFC Asian Cup at the United Arab Emirates in January, 2019.

That was after the Azkals defeated Tajikistan at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, 2-1.

The team, which earned its highest ranking ever of 113th this April, is also waiting for the AFF Suzuki Cup draw today in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 draw on May 4. Peter Atencio

Manny Pacquiao pounds the heavy bag as trainer Buboy Fernandez looks on. Pacquiao opened training camp in his bid to win his 11th world title against Argentine champion Lucas Matthysse, the WBA welterweight king. Aquiles Zonio / MP Promotions

Painters eye 3rd triumph

By Jeric Lopez WITH health and momentum finally on its side, red-hot Rain or Shine aims to snatch solo leadership as it goes for a third straight win in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. The Elasto Painters (2-0) will look to continue their hot start as they take on NLEX (0-1) at 7 p.m. when the action shift to the Ynares Center in Antipolo City tonight.

An equally intriguing opener precedes as GlobalPort (1-1) and ailing Blackwater (0-3) cross paths at 4:30 p.m.

The leadership of reigning Player of the Week Chris Tiu, the resurgence of big men Beau Belga, Raymund Almazan and gunner James Yap, as well as the perfect fit of burly import Reggie Johnson, have helped the Elasto Painters to ring the bell thus far.

“For as long as we move the ball well to find open shots and make them, I think we will have a good conference,” said Painters coach Caloy Garcia, whose Painters smothered Barangay Ginebra, 108-89, just last Sunday for their second win.

While Rain or Shine is gaining ground, NLEX immediately made a switch in hopes of getting its footing.

The Road Warriors will finally bring in original import choice Arnett Moultrie to take the place of Adrian Forbes, who under-performed in the team’s 103-123 opening loss against Columbian Dyip last Saturday.

Moultrie was NLEX’s original choice but his arrival got delayed after visa issues.

AGUILAS BACKED.

Leading Philippine carrier Cebu Pacific supports Mindanao’s homegrown football club, the Davao Aguilas, with an aim to aid in growing the sport in Davao, as well as in the whole country. Photo shows (front row, from left) Francis Go, President of DAFC; Candice Iyog, VP for Marketing and Distribution, Cebu Pacific Air; Michael Shaw, General Manager of DAFC; (back row, from left) DAFC players Phil Younghusband, James Younghusband, Jason De Jong, Tyler Mata, Angel Guirado, Simone Rota, Dennis Villanueva, and Matthew Hartmann.

Velez, Prulla top PPA Crankit Juniors’ net tourney TOP seed John David Velez posted a win and a runner-up finish while unranked Janaila Prulla topped the girls’ 14-andunder side as they shared top honors in the PPS-PEPP MAC’s Crankit Juniors tennis tournament at the PCA courts in Paco, Manila recently.

Velez stopped Andrei Lago’s giantkilling spree with a 6-4, 6-3 victory to claim the boys’ 14-U crown but the rising Davaoeño star fell short of his twotitle bid, dropping a shock 1-6, 4-6 setback to unfancied Alfred Directo from Sultan Kudarat in the 16-U finals of the Group I tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala and MAC’s Crankit Foundation

led by MCTA founder-coach Patricia Concon-Puzon.

Prulla, another gem of a find from Bulacan, worked her way up with victories over No. 4 Tennielle Madis, 6-2, 6-1, in the quarters, a 6-3, 4-1(ret.) win over top seed Alexa Milliam in the semis before trouncing third seed Justine Maneja, 6-1, 6-1, to snare the 14-U title in the weeklong event which produced different winners in all nine age-group divisions.

“With no player scoring a double victory only underscores the level playing field from among our age-groupers. A lot of budding players are catching up with the regular campaigners through hard work and desire to excel,” said Palawan

Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Bea Acena, from Dubai, foiled Tracy Llamas, 6-3, 6-1, to capture the girls’ 18-U diadem; unseeded Minette Bentillo, also from Sultan Kudarat, took the 16-U title with a tough 3-6, 6-1, 12-10 victory over Maneja; Valenzuela’s Eah dela Torre overpowered Ma. Sophia Moreno. 6-3, 6-1, in the girls’ 12-U finals; No. 6 Loucas Fernandez from QC outlasted Joseph Gadon in a grueling finale, 6-7(4), 7-6(8), 10-7, to clinch the boys’ 18-U crown; Makati’s Brent So thwarted JR Salangsang, 6-4, 6-2, for the 12-U diadem; and Urdaneta, Pangasinan’s John Price Lim took the 10-unisex title with a 4-2, 4-2 victory over sibling Kriz Roque Lim.

IN BRIEF Business optimism down in 1st quarter BUSINESS optimism in the Philippines dropped by 12 percentage points in the first quarter of 2018 from the last three months of 2017, according to Grant Thornton’s International Business Report.

“The drop in optimism across Asia Pacific contrasts with most other global regions. It is striking that the major contributors to this dip are China and Japan. That said, their confidence levels still compare favorably with those in recent years,” said P&A Grant Thornton chairperson and chief executive Marivic Españo.

The dip in the country’s economic outlook is in contrast to those of its Southeast Asian neighbors and can be attributed to a number of factors, including a decrease in employment expectations and investments in plant and machinery.

Both employment expectations and investments in plant and machinery in the Philippines fell 14 percentage points from a quarter ago.

Employment expectations are down by 10 percentage points in the Asia Pacific and have remained flat in Southeast Asia.

Othel V. Campos

Govt plans to issue new Samurai bonds THE government will push through before the end of the year its previous plan to issue Samurai bonds to raise additional funds for development and infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said over the weekend.

“We are planning on it. So far, there is no indication on why we should not.

We will still go ahead with the Samurai [bonds issuance],” Dominguez told reporters in a briefing. “... The Japanese calendar is different so it should be around September or October. The latter half of the fiscal year ending March, so it should be towards the end of their fiscal year,” Dominguez said.

He said the amount of Samurai bonds to be offered was not yet determined “but for one we have about 100 million dollars we can use because the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] is planning to invest in Japan to build up the embassy to develop the property there [Nampeidai].”

Julito G. Rada

Business Govt debt jumps to P6.9t as peso hits 52 per dollar

By Julito G. Rada

G

OVERNMENT debt jumped P689 billion or 11 percent to a record P6.88 trillion in March from P6.19 trillion a year ago, following the issuance of Panda bonds and as the peso fluctuated against other major currencies.

Data from the Treasury also showed the debt stock increased P58 billion or 0.85 percent from P6.82 trillion in February, as the peso sank to 52.25 against the US dollar as of end-March from 52.07 a month earlier.

The Treasury said in a statement Tuesday that of the total stock, 35.08 percent or P2.413 trillion were sourced externally while 64.92 per-

cent or P4.465 trillion were borrowed domestically.

Domestic debt increased 0.8 percent month-on-month to P4.46 trillion in March. It was also up 12.6 percent from P3.97 trillion a year ago.

“The increment was predominantly due to the net issuance of government securities amounting to P35.82 billion and peso depreciation. Domestic debt has risen by P24.52 billion or 0.55 percent since the beginning of the year,” the Treasury said.

External debt hit P2.41 trillion in March this year, or 0.93 percent higher than P2.39 trillion in February and 8.6 percent higher than P2.22 trillion in March 2017.

“Increment for the month was due to the combined effect of peso depreciation and the upward adjustment in third currency-denominated debt amounting to P8.26 billion and P1.72 billion, respectively,” the Treasury said.

Net issuance in March amounted to

P12.34 billion, including the successful inaugural issuance of Panda bonds worth $233 million in China.

The Treasury said that compared with the end-2017 level, the government’s external debt increased by P201.94 billion or 9.13 percent.

Government’s guaranteed obligations decreased by P1.86 billion or 0.37 percent month-on-month to P501.82 billion in March.

“The reduction in national government guarantees was due to net repayments on both domestic and foreign guarantees amounting to P1.33 billion and P2.28 billion, respectively,” the Treasury said.

“These outpaced the foreign exchange revaluation of foreign guarantees [local and third currencies] amounting to P1.03 billion and P0.72 billion, respectively,” it said.

Data showed that from the end-December 2017 level, national government guarantees went up by P23.71 billion or 4.96 percent.

Phinma mulling over off-grid solar projects PHINMA Energy Corp., a unit of the Phinma Group, is exploring opportunities in off-grid solar applications as part of a diversification strategy.

Phinma Energy said the company would engage in solar power generation and develop retail products through subsidiary Phinma Solar Energy Corp., combining expertise in the energy and roofing business.

The company said first solar installations would be on Phinma Education Network’s Cagayan de Oro College and University of Pangasinan, the information center of the 54-megawatt San Lorenzo wind farm in Guimaras and Union Galvasteel Corp. in Calamba, Laguna.

Phinma Energy last year signed a 25year solar energy service contract covering a 648-hectare area in Bugallon, Pangasinan for its 45-MW solar power project.

Phinma Energy is also looking at opportunities in LNG with its planned integrated 150-megawatt liquefied natural gas project in Cebu.

Phinma Energy president Francisco Viray said unit Phinma Petroleum and Geothermal Inc. has signed with three international companies on the pre-development of the project.

Alena Mae S. Flores

FRANCHISING SYNERGIES. The Philippine Franchise Association pays a courtesy call to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (sixth from left) to find ways on how the department and PFA can work together and create synergies for the advancement of Philippine trade. With Lopez are (from left) Dom Hernandez, representing Jose Magsaysay Jr., PFA director for homegrown food franchises; Ferdinand Negre, corporate secretary; Lorenzo Formoso, chairman of the Philippine Retailers Association; PFA vice chairman Bing Sibal-Limjoco; PFA vice chairman Robert Trota; PFA founding president and chairman emeritus Samie Lim; Trade Undersecretary Zeny Maglaya; Sherill Quintana, PFA director for MSME development and homegrown non-food franchises; Ann Edillon, assistant corporate secretary; and PFA executive director Chit Estrada.

Power shortage expected to hit Luzon in 4 years

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER industry executives expressed concern over potential supply problems by 2022 or 2023 amid the slow construction of new power plants and rapidly increasing demand.

Officials of the energy sector said while there was currently enough power in the Luzon grid, the low reserve margin, deteriorating power plants and regulatory delays should be addressed soon.

GE Philippines chief executive Jose Victor Emmanuel De Dios said power supply was “still healthy,” but new capacity would be needed over the next few years.

“My view is that the greater the reserve margin, the better, since it can easily take five years to develop large-scale power projects. Some of our Asean

neighbors have much greater reserve margins than the Philippines, ensuring energy supply security,” De Dios said.

The Luzon grid suffered two instances of supply “imbalance” last week, resulting in a few minutes of power outage after a large power plant went offline, reflecting the need for more power reserves.

Power demand also continued to rise with consumption growing 4 percent last year, according to data from the Energy Department.

Power consumption in the Philippines reached nearly 95 million gigawatthours in 2017, up 4 percent from 90.798 million gWh in 2016. Residential customers had the highest consumption at 26.792 million gWh last year, followed by industrial customers with 25.573 million gWh and commercial establishments with 22.767 million gWh.

De Dios said there were not enough plants being built to address increasing demand.

“Maybe Mindanao has more than its current demand but with the HVDC [high voltage direct current] project being planned, power can be exported to Luzon and the Visayas. We probably need more plants in Western Visayas and Luzon,” he said.

Joseph Nocos, vice president for power development of Alsons Power Group, said a power shortage in the future “would depend on the timing of the entry of new plants, the retirement of the old ones and the growth in demand for power.”

“The interconnection of Mindanao to Visayas and the rest of the country could also affect the speed at which the excess capacity can be digested by the country as a whole,” Nocos said.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018

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LBC Express raising P1.5b from sale of shares in June

By Jenniffer B. Austria

LOGISTICS company LBC Express Holdings Inc. plans to raise P1.5 billion from a follow-on offering in June.

LBC Express said in a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission it would sell up to 10 million primary shares and 59.1 million secondary shares at an offer price of up to P22 apiece to raise funds for expansion.

It tentatively set the offering period on June 25 to 29 and the listing date on July 9.

The company said it would use the net proceeds from the offering to fund strategic expansion, general corporate purposes and working capital.

“The company historically builds approximately 60 to 80 branches every year and for 2018 the company is targeting to build 70 to 100 branches.

These branches are typically located in mall developments, urbanized areas as well as developing locations across the country,” LBC Express said.

It said the average construction cost for each new branch was P800,000 to P1.2 million.

The logistics firm said it was interested in expanding in Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Southern Luzon and Bicol region.

It said that in the Visayas and Mindanao, it was looking to expand in Cebu, Mandaue, Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Leyte, Samar, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan, Surigao and General Santos City.

LBC Express said that aside from pursuing organic growth, it would selectively and strategically pursue acquisition opportunities.

It said that in evaluating acquisition opportunities, the company would consider synergies with existing operational platform, potential to grow its customer base and market share and expansion opportunities to new businesses.

“The company believes that prudent investment in strategic acquisitions will bring attractive returns to its revenues, profit, and growth over the medium to long term,” LBC Express said.

LBC Express announced in March it would acquire two logistics firms in a bid to strengthen its position as the country’s leading payments, remittance, courier products, mail, parcels and cargo logistics company.

MPCala seeks original proponent status for Cavite-Batangas tollway

By Darwin G. Amojelar MPCala Holdings Inc., a unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., said it expects to obtain the original proponent status for the P22.43billion Cavite-Batangas Expressway this month.

CTBex is a 49-kilometer expressway that will connect Cavite and Batangas, with a spur road to Tagaytay City and ultimately terminating in Nasugbu, with another spur road to Tuy, Batangas.

“As far as we are concerned, we already completed the required documents that they needed. It’s really up to the DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways] to review and issue the original proponent status. Our

expectation is by this month,’ MPCala Holdings president and chief executive Luigi Bautista told reporters.

MPCala Holdings is also the winning bidder for the P35.42-billion CaviteLaguna Expressway.

“After OPS, we have to submit it to Neda [National Economic and Development Authority] for review. If Neda approves it, there will be negotiations.

After negotiations, only time they will offer to Swiss Challenge,” he said.

Bautista said he expected the CTBex project to start construction by the first quarter of 2019.

He said that once completed, the project would cut travel time from Sta. Rosa, Laguna to Nasugbu, Batangas from 2.5 hours to just an hour.

Delays pushing the cost of Redondo power plant higher THE Korean contractor of Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc.’s 300-megawatt Subic coal-fired power plant in Zambales province raised the cost of the contract following delays in the project, a top executive of the consortium behind the project said.

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. Ltd. revised significantly higher the engineering, procurement and construction contract cost for the power plant, according to Meralco PowerGen Corp. president Rogelio Singson.

Redondo Peninsula, a joint venture of Meralco, Aboitiz Group’s Therma Power Inc. and Taiwan Cogeneration International Corp., signed the EPC contract with Doosan on Oct. 13, 2016,

but the supply agreement for the project remained to be approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Singson said the new proposal by Doosan now carried a “much higher” EPC cost, following the delays in the approval by ERC of RP Energy’s power supply agreement.

RP Energy earlier sent a letter of contract termination to Doosan and Azul Toree Construction Inc. after the validity of the EPC expired in December last year.

“Precisely because the PSA was not granted and keep in mind that the EPC contract for RPE was already on an extended term. That should have lapsed in 2016, but we’re able to get an extension until December of

2017 for some escalation provision.

Unfortunately, without the PSA, the contractor said we cannot continue honoring the extended EPC contract,” Singson said.

RP Energy and Manila Electric Co. jointly filed for approval of the PSA in April 2016 where the power retailer proposed to source 225 megawatts from the first phase of the project.

The public hearings, technical working group review, assessment of the PSA and the tariff and other processes were completed in April 2017.

A separate PSA for the balance of the 75 MW was also signed with Aboitiz Energy Solutions Inc. on April 21, 2016 but both PSAs remain pending with ERC. Alena Mae S. Flores

NTC ACQUISITION. AC Education Inc., the wholly-owned education arm of Ayala Corp., is selected as the winning bidder in the tender process for the sale of 96-percent shares in National Teachers College. Shown during the signing of the purchase agreement at Ayala Tower One in Makati City are (from left) NTC director Romeo Valte, NTC director and corporate secretary Veronica Fernandez, NTC chairman Rolando de Castro, AC Education president and chief executive Alfredo Ayala and AC Education director Solomon Hermosura. Manny Palmero

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Business

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Key inflation measure hits Fed’s annual target of 2% WASHINGTON―The US inflation measure most closely watched by the Federal Reserve hit the two percent annual target for the first time in just over a year, the Commerce Department reported Monday.

Although the index was flat in March compared to February, the two percent rise in the 12-month Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index is sure to feed concerns the Fed will have to raise interest rates at a more aggressive pace.

The Fed opens its two-day policy meeting on Tuesday but is widely expected to keep the benchmark lending rate unchanged this time.

Still, with signs wages are finally starting to rise, and pressure on prices, there is growing expectation the central bank could raise rates three more times this year, a prospect that has hit stock prices in recent weeks.

Wall Street closed lower again Monday, but investors were focused on

concerns about Iran and trade disputes, which overshadowed strong earnings and major merger announcements, pushing share prices higher early in the session.

Excluding more volatile food and energy components, the PCE price index rose 0.2 in the month and 1.9 percent compared to March 2017.

The so-called core 12-month index has remained below the Fed’s two percent target for nearly six years.

Central bankers scrutinize inflation measures to gauge when and how fast to raise rates in an effort to contain price increases.

In recent years, the problem they faced was stubbornly low inflation, so an uptick is a welcome development.

And while analysts agree the Fed will not overreact to one month’s worth of data, there are more factors building that are likely to push prices higher, including the stimulus from the huge tax cuts passed in December. AFP

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (right) sits next to UAE’s Minister of Economy Sultan Bin Saeed al-Mansoori during a Japan-UAE Business Forum in Abu Dhabi on April 30, 2018. AFP

US defers tariffs on EU, Canada, Mexico go into effect on Tuesday, as temporary exemptions granted in March to Canada, Mexico, the EU and other US allies exASHINGTON― pired.

London welcomed the “positive” deUS President cision.

Donald Trump on “We will continue to work closely with our EU partners and the US govMonday held off on imposernment to achieve a permanent exemping controversial tariffs on tion, ensuring our important steel and steel and aluminum from aluminum industries are safeguarded,” a Canada, Mexico and the British statement read.

“We remain concerned about the imEuropean Union, offering pact of these tariffs on global trade and them a 30-day reprieve after will continue to work with the EU on a fears of a trade war spooked multilateral solution to the global probWall Street. lem of overcapacity, as well as to manThe 25 percent tariffs on steel and 10 age the impact on domestic markets.” percent duties on aluminum were set to Europe had lined up its own punitive

By Delphine Touitou and Clement Zampa

W

tariffs on American imports, including iconic items like Harley-Davidson motorbikes, blue jeans and bourbon whiskey―but for now, instead, negotiations will continue.

The Trump administration is “extending negotiations with Canada, Mexico and the European Union for a final 30 days, the White House said in a statement.

In formal proclamations, Trump said the “necessary and appropriate means to address the threat to the national security” posed by the metal imports is to “continue these discussions and to extend the temporary exemption of these countries.”

The US also announced it had finalized a trade deal with South Korea,

In Venezuela, severance pay just buys a coffee

By Esteban Rojas CARACAS, Venezuela―When Yolanda Abreu got her check for severance pay after five years working as a cardiologist, she let out a laugh of sheer disbelief: it was barely enough for a cup of coffee.

Like her, millions of Venezuelans have seen their salaries decimated by rampant hyperinflation that is expected to drive prices up by 13,000 percent this year, IMF figures show.

Her story hit the headlines after she tweeted a photo of the check for 156,584.29 bolivars, which equates to about $0.20 on the black market.

“They called me from Caracas University Hospital to come and collect my check for benefits accrued over five years of service as a level 2 specialist in cardiology and electrophysiology,” she wrote on Twitter.

And what will it buy, she wondered indignantly. “A coffee?”

If she had received the check when she resigned in January 2017, it would have been worth $45.

But her severance pay was decimated by the country’s chronic hyperinflation and the accelerated collapse of the bolivar.

Within a week, her indignant outburst had been retweeted 11,000 times, and commented on more than 1,400 times, with many relating similar stories or empathizing: “Friend, they robbed you blind.”

“I never thought it would have such an impact. I wrote it because the check was so ridiculous that it made me laugh, and suddenly you find so many people who feel like you that all your work, your effort is just disregarded,” she told AFP. ‘Hopeless cause’ On the eve of International Workers Day, Venezuela’s embattled President Nicolas Maduro moved to double the monthly minimum wage, raising it by 95.4 percent to 2,555,500 bolivars―or $37 (30 euros), according to the central bank’s official DICOM rate.

But access to such a favorable rate is very limited for Venezuelan citizens and companies, meaning they have to use the black market where the same sum is worth just $3.20― just about enough for two kilos (4.4 pounds) of chicken.

It is the 22nd such readjustment by Maduro, the self- declared “workers’ president” who took office in 2013

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro holds a sign that reads the minimum wage increases during a press conference announcing a hike in the minimum wage in Caracas on April 30, 2018. Maduro on Monday increased 95.4 percent the minimum income in the middle of a hyperinflation that devours the pocket of Venezuelans. This is the third adjustment of the year, which places the income at 2,555,500 bolivars, equivalent to 37 dollars at the official rate and 3.2 dollars on the black market. AFP

following the death of Hugo Chavez.

“In times of revolution, as never before, the policy of comandante Hugo Chavez, which I have perfected... is to care for the working class,” said Maduro, who will seek reelection when Venezuela goes to the polls for a controversial presidential election on May 20―which the opposition is boycotting.

With the country facing its worst economic crisis in decades, the government has accused Washington and the opposition of waging an “economic war” on Venezuela in a bid to overthrow Maduro.

For Asdrubal Oliveros, an analyst with consultancy Ecoanalitica, the constant hiking of salaries is “a hopeless cause” in the face of such inflation without correcting the imbalances in the Venezuelan economy, which is running a fiscal deficit of an estimated 20 percent of GDP that the government is trying to resolve through printing money.

A graduate of the Central University of Venezuela―the country’s best― who went on to do specialized studies in Madrid, Abreu has borne the brunt of such a policy.

She survives through offering private consultations, but still works in public hospitals “to help train” junior doctors.

“You almost have to pay to work. It is painful to see them graduate and leave, but I understand. We are not a bunch of money-grabbing quacks, you just can’t live on these salaries,” she says.

According to a joint university study

carried out with the Medical Federation, 40 percent of graduate surgeons have left Venezuela over the past decade in an exodus driven by the socioeconomic crisis.

And a study by the country’s main universities found that in 2017, some 87 percent of the people were living in poverty, despite government statistics claiming the figure stands at 23 percent.

‘Delusion’ The cost the so-called fixed basket of goods―tracked to measure the cost of living –has just soared.

When Maduro took over in 2013, it was 32.4 percent of the monthly income. Today the figure stands at around 60 percent, although that has come down from previous highs of around 70 percent.

Speaking to AFP, Marcela Maspero of the UNETE, one of Venezuela’s biggest unions, described the measure as a “delusion” because it undermines the basis for calculation of employee benefits.

For this reason, after retiring from 16 years of work as a university professor, Mery Rojas could scarcely afford to buy two liters of ice cream with the money she invested in a ministry of education savings scheme.

And it was five years before she could draw on that.

Like Abreu, she let out a bitter laugh of frustration.

“I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry,” she told AFP. AFP

which includes several concessions made by Seoul, including extended tariffs on pick-up trucks and a quota on its steel exports.

Washington has “agreements in principle” with Argentina, Australia and Brazil, “the details of which will be finalized shortly,” the statement said.

“In all of these negotiations, the administration is focused on quotas that will restrain imports, prevent transshipment, and protect the national security.”

The Trump administration has told trading partners they must make concessions, but the EU has insisted it will not negotiate without first obtaining a permanent exemption.

Extensions for Canada and Mexico had been expected, as Mexico City, Ot-

tawa and Washington work on revamping the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Trade ministers from the three countries met last week to advance talks on revising the 24-year-old Nafta and made enough progress that they have set their next ministerial meeting for May 7.

Canada exported over $12 billion of steel and aluminum to the United States in 2017, with another $3 billion from Mexico.

But an extension for the EU was less of a foregone conclusion.

The bloc’s top trade official Cecilia Malmstrom was lobbying US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in last-ditch talks but prospects looked dim―and the EU warned it was ready to act. AFP

EU: Postponement merely prolongs market uncertainty BRUSSELS, Belgium―The European Commission said Tuesday the United States had merely prolonged “market uncertainty” by its decision to hold off on imposing controversial tariffs on steel and aluminum from the EU, Canada and Mexico.

“The US decision prolongs market uncertainty, which is already affecting business decisions,” the commission, the EU’s executive arm, said in a statement.

“The EU should be fully and permanently exempted from these measures, as they cannot be justified on the grounds of national security.”

US President Donald Trump on Monday held off on imposing controversial tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada, Mexico and the European Union, offering them a 30-day reprieve after fears of a trade war spooked Wall Street.

The 25-percent tariffs on steel and 10 percent duties on aluminum were set to go into effect on Tuesday, as temporary exemptions granted in March to Cana-

da, Mexico, the EU and other US allies expired.

“Overcapacity in the steel and aluminum sectors does not originate in the EU,” the European Commission’s statement said.

“On the contrary, the EU has over the past months engaged at all possible levels with the US and other partners to find a solution to this issue.

“The EU has also consistently indicated its willingness to discuss current market access issues of interest to both sides, but has also made clear that, as a longstanding partner and friend of the US, we will not negotiate under threat.

Any future transatlantic work program has to be balanced and mutually beneficial.”

The statement said the EU’s top trade official Cecilia Malmstrom had been in contact with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer over the past weeks on the issue, and the discussions would continue. AFP

Tokyo’s Nikkei climbs; Asian markets quiet TOKYO, Japan—Tokyo’s Nikkei closed higher on Tuesday in quiet trade during Japan’s Golden Week holiday period, as investors took to the sidelines ahead of key earnings and economic data in the US. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.18 percent, or 40.16 points, to end at 22,508.03 but the broader Topix index fell 0.17 percent, or 3.05 points, to 1,774.18.

Bargain-hunting replaced morning selling, with “appetite intensifying for individual shares with good earnings reports”, Yoshihiro Ito, chief strategist at Okasan Online Securities, said in a commentary.

Trade across the region was thin, with most markets closed for public holidays. Japanese markets are open just two days this week.

Sydney ended 0.5 percent higher but Wellington eased 0.1 percent.

Worries about US policy on Iran and trade pushed Wall Street into the red Monday, despite a strong start with good earnings from McDonald’s and several merger announcements.

The Dow closed down 0.6 percent,

with the S&P 500 off 0.8 percent.

On oil markets Brent edged up six cents to $74.75 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate was also six cents higher, at $68.64 as traders keep watch on developments in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had fresh evidence Iran was continuing with a nuclear weapons program, breaking an international agreement that US President Donald Trump will consider the future of this month.

“Netanyahu stoked the geopolitical fires by accusing Iran of lying about its past nuclear intentions,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia Pacific trade at OANDA. The “hawkish retort not only increases the odds the US will pull out of the deal”, a reference to a 2015 nuclear agreement, “but raises the specter of Israel taking military action against Iranian nuclear facilities.”

The dollar changed hands at 109.40 yen in late Asian trade, slightly higher than 109.20 yen in New York late Monday, providing some support to Japanese exporters. AFP

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World

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Fuji’s eruption could paralyze Tokyo, says study TOKYO—Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji could paralyze Tokyo with ash if it erupted, choking roads and halting water supplies, according to a government disaster planning study, a news report said Tuesday.

The snow-capped peak of the country’s highest mountain 100 kilometers west of Tokyo is a symbol of Japan—and is also an active volcano.

It last erupted in 1707, but while it has not shown any signs of life in recent decades a potential eruption now could shower more than 10 centimeters of ash on central Tokyo, according to a government study seen by the Kyodo news agency.

The ash would paralyze the capital, rendering roads impassable and stopping the flow of goods and people.

The study found just 0.5 centimeters of ash could cause mechanical problems for cars and more than one centimeter could cause mass power outages and the failure of water filtration systems, Kyodo reported. AFP

Dominican Republic dumps Taiwan for China BEIJING—The Dominican Republic and China announced Tuesday they were establishing diplomatic relations as the Caribbean country became the latest nation to dump Taiwan, leaving it with just 19 diplomatic allies around the globe.

Taipei said it was “deeply upset” at the decision, which it blamed on “dollar diplomacy”. The move deepens the island’s international isolation while its giant neighbor flexes its economic and political might on the global stage.

The Dominican Republic said it believed its switch to ties with China would be “extraordinarily positive for the future of our country”, in an official statement.

“The Dominican Republic recognizes that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory,” it added.

Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy which sees itself as a sovereign nation but has never formally declared independence from the mainland. Beijing considers it a renegade province to be brought back into the fold and is increasing international pressure to prevent any recognition of the island. AFP

Germany prepares for Marx’s 200th birth anniversary

DISASTER IN INDORE. This photograph taken on March 31, 2018 shows Indian police, rescue teams and residents taking part in rescue operations after a building collapsed in Indore, in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. Ten people died after a car crashed into a dilapidated building in central India, bringing down the century-old structure and burying dozens beneath the rubble, police said on April 1. The freak accident in Indore is the latest building disaster in a country infamous for poor construction and safety standards. AFP

Pope’s aide tried for sex offenses

M

ELBOURNE―The Vatican’s finance chief Cardinal George Pell Tuesday became the highest-ranked Catholic to be sent for trial over historic sex offenses, as the elderly priest vowed to fight the charges.

The 76-year-old was impassive throughout the hearing in the Australian city of Melbourne that ordered him to face a jury on “multiple” charges, although half of the allegations against him―including some of the most serious―were thrown out.

“Not guilty,” the top aide to Pope Francis said loudly and without hesitation when asked his plea, a stance he has taken since first being charged last year.

Melbourne magistrate Belinda Wallington said she was satisfied there was enough evidence to justify a trial on “multiple” charges. A hearing was due on Wednesday to discuss a trial date.

Pell, who entered the court surrounded

by a large police presence, was released on bail on condition he does not leave Australia. He has already handed in his passport.

The former Sydney and Melbourne archbishop has been on leave from the Vatican, returning to Australia to fight the allegations which relate to incidents that allegedly occurred long ago.

“Cardinal George Pell has at all times fully cooperated with Victoria [state] Police and always and steadfastly maintained his innocence,” said a statement issued through the Archdiocese of Sydney and attributed to Pell.

“He has voluntarily returned to Australia to meet these accusations. He will defend the remaining charges.”

The exact details and nature of the claims remain confidential, other than they involve “multiple complainants”.

But some of the alleged offenses were at a swimming pool in Ballarat in Victoria in the 1970s and at Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral in the 1990s, the court heard.

Several of the most serious allegations were dismissed due to inconsistencies in the evidence, including claims of offending at a cinema in Ballarat during a screening of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”.

Lisa Flynn, a lawyer who has represented hundreds of abuse survivors in civil litigation claims in Australia, said the ruling proved no one was above the law.

“The charging of Pell for these alleged crimes reinforces that people should be and are treated equally in the eyes of the law,” she said.

“This is a promising step forward for victims of sexual assault.”

Pell’s case has coincided with an Australian national inquiry into child sexual abuse, ordered in 2012 after

Mongolians sip oxygen cocktails to handle smog

TRIER, Germany—As Germany prepares to mark Karl Marx’s 200th birth anniversary, the revolutionary philosopher’s legacy remains divisive more than a quarter century after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

With scars from the Cold War still fresh, people from capitalist former West Germany and the once communist East are of two minds about the 19th-century philosopher.

Some hail Marx as a visionary scholar who foretold the ills of the market economy, while others revile him for inspiring Stalinist regimes.

In the western town of Trier, the icon’s birthplace which is planning 600 events for his bicentenary, it is not lost on critics that the centerpiece of the celebrations is a gargantuan statue offered as a gift from communist China.

“I never had a need for him,” retiree Helene Schmidt, 76, told AFP, voicing her opposition to the statue, which is 18 feet tall and is to be unveiled on Saturday, Marx’s birth anniversary. AFP

Netanyahu unveils Iran ‘nuke fi les’ JERUSALEM—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had new “proof” of an Iranian nuclear weapons plan that could be activated at any time, as the US considered whether to pull out of the atomic accord with Tehran.

The documents released by Israel on Monday were “authentic,” according to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, until last week director of the CIA. As he returned from a trip to meet Netanyahu, Pompeo said much of the information they contained was new to American experts.

In an elaborate televised presentation that included props, video and slides, Netanyahu accused Iran of lying about its nuclear ambitions, but he did not provide evidence that Israel’s main enemy had actively worked to obtain an atomic weapon since the 2015 agreement between Tehran and six world powers. AFP

a decade of pressure to investigate widespread allegations of institutional pedophilia.

The commission spoke to thousands of victims and heard claims of abuse involving churches, orphanages, sporting clubs, youth groups and schools.

Pell appeared before it three times, once in person and twice via video-link from Rome over the Church’s handling of complaints against pedophile priests.

He admitted he “mucked up” in dealing with pedophile priests in the 1970s, but said he was deceived by senior clergy about what was happening and vehemently denied any responsibility.

Australia’s Catholic leaders have previously spoken out in support of him, describing Pell as a “thoroughly decent man”.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne on Tuesday said Archbishop Denis Hart would be making no comment.

But it added that “Archbishop Hart expressed his confidence in the judicial system in Australia and said that justice must now take its course”. AFP

PARADE. Russian trade union members parade on Red Square during their May Day demonstration in Moscow on May 1, 2018. AFP

Nut rage sister faces fruit juice questions in S. Korea SEOUL―The stony-faced daughter of a Korean billionaire, whose older sister was brought low by the “nut rage” scandal, apologized Tuesday as she reported to police for questioning over allegations she sprayed a business associate in the face with fruit juice.

“I’m really sorry for causing concern,” Cho Hyun-min repeatedly told a crowd of journalists outside the Gangseo police station in Seoul, without admitting to any specific actions.

Cho, who police said is accused of using violence and obstructing business, is the daughter of Hanjin Group chairman Cho Yang-ho.

Hanjin is among the country’s 15 biggest business groups, owner of flag carrier Korean Air, logistics and transport firms, and with interests in information technology and hotels.

It used to own Hanjin Shipping, once

one of the world’s biggest shipping firms, which was declared bankrupt last year.

The younger daughter’s police interrogation is only the controlling family’s latest brush with the law, with a series of scandals making them some of the country’s most notorious superwealthy.

South Korea’s economy―the world’s 11th-largest―is dominated by a series of giant business conglomerates known as chaebols.

In the past, the chaebols contributed to the country’s fast economic growth, but as the founders’ sons and grandsons took over they expanded into every corner of business, and now stand accused of suffocating smaller companies and hampering innovation.

They have long had murky ties with political authorities―Samsung scion Lee Jae-yong was jailed last year for his role in

the corruption scandal that brought down president Park Geun-hye, although most of his convictions were quashed on appeal.

Many chaebol families retain only a small ownership stake in their companies, but maintain control through complex webs of cross-shareholdings between subsidiaries, and rapid promotions for family members―some of whose antics have battered the firms’ images.

“The Cho family is one of the most vilified chaebol families, with multiple family members implicated in alleged bad behavior,” Chung Sun-sup of online information service chaebol.com told AFP. In the most infamous incident, the chairman’s elder daughter Cho Hyunah made global headlines in 2014 for forcing two flight attendants to kneel and beg for forgiveness after she was served macadamia nuts in a bag rather than a bowl. AFP

ULAANBAATAR―Fed up with the smog in Mongolia’s capital, residents have resorted to sipping “lung” tea and “oxygen cocktails” in a desperate bid to protect themselves from pollution, despite health officials saying there is no evidence they work.

Ulaanbaatar topped New Delhi and Beijing as the world’s most polluted capital in 2016, UNICEF said in a report warning of a health crisis that has put every child and pregnancy at risk.

With the residents of so-called ger (slum) districts using coal stoves to cook and heat their homes in the world’s coldest capital, where temperatures can dip as low as -40 Celsius (-40 Fahrenheit), pollution has skyrocketed.

While most of the pollution comes from stoves in the gers, road transport and power plants add to the toxic mix.

On January 30, air pollution was 133 times higher than the safe limit set by the World Health Organization. UNICEF reported that cases of respiratory infections have nearly tripled and pneumonia is now the second leading cause of death for children under five years old.

Worried parents have held protests to press the government to take action.

But some businesses are cashing in, even though a WHO official says there is no evidence that such anti-smog products work.

Advertisements in Mongolia boast that “drinking just one oxygen cocktail is equal to a three-hour-walk in a lush forest”.

At the produce section of the State Department Store, blue cans of oxygen called “Life Is Air” are on sale for $2, and promise to turn a glass of juice into a foamy, sweet “oxygen cocktail” after spraying some into a glass through a special straw.

Other stores and pharmacies have oxygen cocktail machines that resemble coffee makers and can turn a juice into a frothy drink for $1. AFP

LGUs

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

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Belmonte: Govt must promote workers’ good

SUMMER MESS FEST. A

family enjoys the huge water slide as the Summer Mess Fest launches at SM City Masinag. The Fest is a fun, outrageous and messy event for kids of any age where kids can be creative building their own castles in a colorful beach setup, along with messy slides, and messy bubble party.

Manny Palmero

By Rio N. Araja AS THE nation commemorated Labor Day yesterday, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte called on the government to step up its efforts to promote the welfare of the country’s 42.5 million workers.

Labor Day should remind government leaders to assess if local labor laws still serve the interests of the lowly workers, she said.

“I think more than just celebrating the workers, it is a challenge to us leaders to make sure that our workers are given just and fair compensation and treatment,” she added.

Labor Day or not, it is the government’s duty to constantly study and review the existing labor laws and regulations and introduce reforms if the situation warrants it, Belmonte stressed.

A review of the labor laws would determine if such labor policies and regulations remain fair and sufficient enough to protect the workers’ rights and well-being, she said.

The vice mayor described the workers as the “backbone of the country’s economy,” saying “the country will never prosper if its labor workforce is not properly taken care of.”

“They [workers] must be happy for having enough wages and the opportunity to be able to uplift their lives,” she noted.

Management services group rejects ‘endo’ THE Philippine Society of Management Services, a concerned group of legitimate management service professionals and service contractors, recently released a statement detailing its position on the issue of “endo,” “555,” or contractualization.

The group, which boasts over two decades of experience in the industry, emphasized that service contracting is not the same as “endo” (short for end of contract), “555” or contractualization, the practice of hiring workers for short periods of five months or less to avoid regularization.

“We believe this to be wrong and do not support it. Our industry exists to produce regular, dignified jobs that uplift the lives of hundreds of thousands of Filipinos and help boost our economy—contributing 1.3 million regular jobs and 35 billion pesos in taxes every year,” it said.

The workers under PSMS’ care, it noted are all regular employees, with proper wages, full benefits, and security of tenure.

“They have access to support programs that will improve their lives in the same manner as the regular employees of our principals,” it said.

Service contracting provides regular jobs with the proper wages, benefits, and security of tenure that are required by law without the necessity or the limitation of direct hiring, the group noted.

“It is not necessary to directly hire to end ‘endo’ as all employees under legitimate service providers are already regular,” it said.

President Duterte’s promise of ending contractualization has been fulfilled and continues to be fulfilled, the group said. Through DO 174 and DOLE’s efforts, thousands of employees were given regular status—a positive development which is possible through service contracting, it added.

“We are one with the government in its desire to eradicate the practice of ENDO and we will continue to police our ranks to ensure compliance with the law,” they said.

Service contracting is a legitimate and respectable business model that has paved the way for more people to gain employment easily, PSMS said.

“Without service contracting, people with less educational attainment or no work experience will have difficulty to get a regular job and support their families. With service contractors, those that have less are now given more opportunities to get regular jobs becoming the source of their livelihood,” it said.

Makati nabs 45k traffic violators in 1st quarter

By Joel E. Zurbano

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ORE than 45,000 erring motorists were cited for various traffic violations in the City of Makati in the first quarter of the year, Mayor Abigail Binay said on Tuesday.

Binay urged motorists to be more conscious of road and traffic safety, noting that disobedience to traffic signs and signals topped the list of traffic violations recorded by the Public Safety Department from January to March.

During that period, the PSD recorded a total of 45,199 traffic violations. Of these number, 10,846 citation tickets were issued for Disobedience to Traffic Control Signs and Signals; 7,331 for Disregarding Lane Markings; and 5,764 for Illegal Parking.

Mayor Binay stressed that traffic disasters such as road crashes leave a big impact on Makati which is the country’s financial center and premier destination for urban tourism.

“We urge Makatizens, visitors and

workers, and passers-by to be mindful of traffic rules in order to avoid disasters caused by human error or carelessness,” the mayor said.

“A simple road accident or stalled vehicle can quickly lead to traffic jams, especially during daytime when our population quadruples, and cost millions in income loss and reduced productivity,” she added.

Mayor Binay underscored that traffic signs and signals as well as lane markings are installed to ensure safe and efficient movement of all road users—whether pedestrians, commuters, or motorists.

Disobedience to traffic control signals entails a fine of P2,500 and/or suspension of driver’s license, while, for a public utility vehicle, its Certificate of

Public Convenience will be suspended.

Stiff fines are also imposed for driving over a Yellow Box at an intersection: P1,000 for the first offense; P2,500 for the second offense; and P5,000 for the third offense.

For illegal parking, the fine has been increased from P400 to P1,900, following the enactment last year of City Ordinance No. 2017-086 approving the terms and conditions of a public-private partnership contract for the provision of towing, impounding and clamping services for illegally parked vehicles and those involved in accidents.

Under the agreement with Tokagawa Global Corporation, the said services will be made available throughout the city including the Central Business District, from Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day.

Other traffic violations cited include Obstructing Roads by Motor Vehicles and Stalled Vehicles, and No Safety Helmet for Motor Cyclists where 3,551 and 2,941 tickets were issued, respectively.

Davao creates group to desilt city’s rivers and streams

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte has ordered the creation of a technical working group tasked to facilitate the desilting of rivers and streams in Davao City.

Mayor Duterte issued Executive Order No. 09 series of 2018 to address the problem of overflowing of rivers and flooding the city.

“There is a need to allow desilting operations within the watershed areas to address the heavy siltation problem in rivers and streams, which could result in overflowing of water and flooding during rainy seasons,” she said.

The mayor identified City Engineer Joseph Dominic Felizarta as Chairperson and named the Department of Public Works and Highways, Davao City Mining Regulatory Board, Mines and Geosciences Bureau and City Environment and Natural Resources Office as members.

The technical working group shall be responsible for all operations.

They are also tasked to determine the need for the desilting operation, the amount or volume of materials to be extracted during the desilting process and determine the need to tap a private entity to conduct the desilting operations if the local government lacks the necessary equipment and manpower to conduct them.

All costs pertaining to the operation of the Technical Working Group shall be taken from the available funds of the City Government of Davao, subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

It can be recalled that Davao City has experienced several flooding incidents due to the over flowing of rivers located in different parts of the city.

On December last year, the city was struck by a big flood that displaced hundreds of families after Davao river overflowed.

In 2012, at least 20 died while 15 people were missing when Balusong river overflowed in the city.

K-12 ADVANTAGE.

While two years were added to the studies of students with the implementation of the K-12 system in the Philippines, Senator Cynthia A. Villar says this has prepared them to face the challenges of life and enter the labor force with the advanced training they need. Speaking during the First Senior High School Commencement Exercises of Moreh Academy, Villar tells the graduates that K-12 gives them the options or choices to immediately get employed or further continue their studies. Lino Santos

Central Luzon police tighten security on 162 village hotspots CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—Central Luzon police authorities had tightened the security of 162 barangays in the region which are considered hotspots in the coming national local election on May 14.

Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, regional director of the Police Regional Office III said they tightened the security of 162 villages by deploying more police-

men in the areas to ensure the holding of honest elections.

Corpus said insurgency and not illegal drugs is the reason behind more police visibility in the affected villages of the region.

The hot spots villages include 102 in Nueva Ecija, Bulacan 27; Aurora,19; Tarlac, nine; Zambales, five while Pampanga and Bataan are zero.

Police authorities reported the first poll violence in the region with the killing of a re-electionist barangay captain of Mabalasbalas, San Rafael, Bulacan yesterday.

Based on the 2015 national census, Central Luzon has a total of 3,102 barangays formerly called barrios until they were renamed barangays in 1974 by former President Marcos.

“We are currently undertaking our security preparation and proactive measures to attain our election goal”, Corpus said.

Also, being undertaken by the regional authorities is the holding of peace covenant aim to lessen to neighborhood tension among the opposing candidates who are mostly related either by blood or affinity.

GenTri brgy bets sign peace pact

PARTNERSHIP. A partnership agreement was signed between the Philippine International Trading Corp. and Microsoft Philippines Inc. in a ceremony held at the Microsoft office on April 24. PITC President and CEO Dave M. Almarinez (center) joined Microsoft Philippines managing director Hans R. Bayaborda (second from left) and director of Legal and Corporate Affairs Atty. Raul R. Cortez (right) in signing the agreement. PITC vice president for Corporate Governance Atty. Ma. Victoria C. Magcase (left) and Microsoft Public Sector Lead Joanna V. Rodriguez (second from right) were witnesses. Roy Tomandao

GENERAL TRIAS CITY—At least 612 bets for Village Chiefs, kagawads, Sangguniang Kabataan chairs and SK kagawads attended the ‘Peace Covenant Signing organized by Local DILG, Comelec and PNP held at two separate churches in the locality Monday, April 30, 2018, four days before the start of campaign proper of all candidates here.

Local DILG head Aladin Calanog, Local Election Officer Armando Vencilao and GenTri Police led by Officer in Charge Superintendent Gil Torralba spearheaded the Covenant Signing for Peaceful Barangay Election in May 14, 2018 held at historic St. Francis of As-

sisi parish in Barangay Bagumbayan and at Our Lady of Guadalupe in upland Barangay Javalera. (respectively).

Some 377 candidates from town proper swears and signed in front of Local Chief Executive Antonio ‘Ony’ Ferrer and Congressman Luis ‘Jon Jon’ Ferrer IV for the peaceful Barangay and SK elections here.

Ferrer Brothers and Atty. Vencilao and DILG also witness the Covenant Signing at Upland Barangay Javalera for the upland part Barangay of the locality.

Out of 33 Barangays, 26 Village Chiefs here are running for reelection and 9 of them are running unopposed.

By Bernadette Lunas

F

ashion label Guess may be turning 40 in a few years, but it wants to prove that it is still hip and relevant with its latest handbags and accessories collection.

Banking on this generation’s love of anything vintage, Guess encapsulates its youthful image—its 80s image— in graffiti backpacks, handbags, and cross-body bags for women. Cool doodles, sketches of rainbows, lightning bolts, and stars give these graphic bags a bold statement. sophistication and class, the two traits that, according to Guess officials, every Guess Girl should have, are highlighted in the lineup of structured handbags and satchels in bright red and hot pink, with trendy add-on details like industrial logo shoulder straps, furry pom-pom key chains, pearls, and other charms that infuse a hint of cool, street style. spring/summer’s quintessential floral prints and nautical stripes are also present in some Guess cross-body bags and clutches. other chic pieces come with embroidery, patches, and tassels.

The iconic bags with gingham print, made in collaboration with spring/ summer 2018 Guess Girl Jennifer Lopez, are also part of the collection.

The gingham print with embroidered floral patches is present in handbags, tote bags, cross-body bags, and vintage mini box bags.

This season’s collection of jewelry for women is a mixture of naughty and nice with leather chokers in blush pink, edgy leather braided bracelets, dainty pendant necklaces, and delicate stud earrings. statement shapes are a highlight in the collection through heart pendants, star charms, and a colored butterfly set of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Watches this season have a more feminine feel with rose gold tones and crystal embellished cases. other timepieces included are those with bracelet-like straps and those that come in pretty pastel hues.

Men’s handbag collection, meanwhile, embodies masculinity and exudes a vintage feel as well. The bags in red and black colors set a bold background for Guess’ iconic logos, from the huge GUEss print to the famous inverted triangle logo. included in the men’s collection are compact sling bags suitable for travels or a day for errands; the black duffel bag, designed with leather handles and edges; and statement backpacks in bright red and cool camouflage print. accessories for men consist of a silver timepiece paired with nautical elements of navy and red, an all-black metal watch that can easily match any outfit, and a timepiece in a gold case with rubber straps perfect for the outdoors.

This latest collection for men and women is available at Guess stores nationwide.

Life No guessing game

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

fashion and beauty

@MStandardLIFE

wEdnESday, May 2, 2018

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in accessorizing

CLASSY AND TRENDY. The Guess spring/summer 2018 collection of handbags encapsulates the brand’s youthful image and iconic colors and logos, while showcasing trendy details.

Authentic leather goods for modern Filipino gentlemen

ThErE are only a few things that add a hint of elegance to a man’s outfit quite like a leather accessory. May it be a bag, a belt, or a wallet, a good quality, authentic leather comes with status and class.

That is why homegrown label McJim Classic Leather takes enormous pride in the superior quality of its leather accessories. having evolved through the nearly five decades it has been around, McJim Classic Leather claims it is now at par with global brands. no one appreciates this more than young, multi-tasking male professionals who favor finely crafted and well-designed, durable, and stylish leather bags, belts, and wallets that suit their fashion styles—at work and at play.

These highly mobile men look for bags that serve various functions when they’re on the road—from toting their gadgets to stashing their grooming kits. and because men like to hang on to their dearest possessions, McJim Classic Leather offers them hardy leather accessories they can use for a very long time. all bags, from shoulder bags to cross body bags to gadget bags, are made to mature elegantly. adhering to international standards of quality, these are crafted from durable materials and designed along classic lines.

A good quality, authentic leather bag puts an elegant touch to any outfit.

Camouflage backpacks, stylish sling bags, and gingham printed handbags are some of the latest releases of American fashion label Guess.

Stash your cash like a true gentleman in a leather wallet

Leather belts are likewise an essential part of a gentleman’s corporate or casual wear. McJim Classic Leather offers belts with unique-looking buckles and styled to match any piece in his wardrobe. available in basic dark brown, basic modernist black, and reversible minimalist, McJim’s authentic leather belts give men a sleek and elegant look.

Last but not the least, the local leather label presents its collection of stylish leather wallets, from basic billfolds to chic wallets with multiple slots, in elegant black or classic brown and in various sizes and designs, too.

McJim products are available in leading online shopping sites and all major department stores nationwide.

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Fashion brand for youth Pull&Bear launches beachwear collection for boys and girls that are comfortable to wear in the water and versatile enough to match summer outfits.

a

Versatile beachwear for boys and girls s DaYs get hotter and the sun shines brighter, more and more young individuals are planning to take a quick trip to the beach or the pool.

Young fashion brand Pull&Bear presents its new range of beachwear pieces for boys and girls. This collection of swimsuits is comfortable to wear in the water and mixes nicely with other garments for a full outfit after a session in the water. one-piece swimsuits prevail in the girl’s collection, with a wide range of variations following the latest trends,

from cut-outs either on the front or on the back, asymmetric cuts, high waists, deep V-necklines, and more. iridiscent fabrics and soft velvet stand out among the collection’s materials, while thin stripes and tropical prints come alongside plain colors. several pieces from the collection can be used as bodysuits to complete the summer-y look after swimming.

The boy’s beachwear range features short swimsuits and fun prints, from all-overs using mini icons to flowers and tropical inspiration.

There is also the so-called “magic print,” a hidden print which emerges only when the garment gets wet.

Pastel tones are highlighted in this range’s color palette, where plain swimsuits match with tropical-flowered shirts and prints go well with basic or statement T-shirt.

Pull&Bear stores are located at Mega Fashion Hall and Ayala Center Cebu.

Shayne Oliver travels with Longchamp nEW York-based cult menswear label founder shayne oliver joined forces with French luxury leather goods brand Longchamp to develop a capsule collection of travel accessories and ready-towear pieces.

Taking the concept of travel gear into a new era, the collection Longchamp by shayne oliver merges Longchamp’s history of craftsmanship and French elegance with oliver’s transformative aesthetic, resulting in a dynamic offering for both men and women.

The collection includes leather goods, footwear, ready-to-wear, and garment bags, as well as a new iteration of Longchamp’s iconic Le Pliage tote, reimagined by oliver. “i really like the idea of working with brands that are masters of their craft,” shared oliver. “Longchamp has a prestigious history of providing luxury travel essentials with expert craftsmanship. it made total sense to work with them on my first all accessories project.”

Throughout the collection, proportions are challenged and silhouettes are altered, disrupting the preconceptions of modern day travel. Travel takes on a new art form, underscored by unwavering freedom and temporal mobility.

“While this is not the first collaboration for Longchamp or shayne oliver, it was a particularly energizing experience to work with shayne in order to

Kaizen salon offers express haircut service using a waterless process

Have you tried the 10-minute haircut?

Shayne Oliver collaborates with French label Longchamp

offer an unexpected collection to our customers,” said Longchamp artistic director sophie Delafontaine. she added, “Designing Longchamp product through shayne’s lens was an exciting challenge that allowed us to

The Longchamp by Shayne Oliver collection includes travel accessories

create product that is truly original.”

The capsule collection rolls out in Longchamp stores early this month.

Longchamp is available at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Rustan’s Cebu, and Greenbelt 5.

ThERE are many things that you can do in 10 minutes, but getting a good quality haircut is not one of those popular things.

Kaizen salon offers express haircut services using a waterless process that works perfectly for men, women, and children in need of a fresh, clean, and quick way to improve their locks in 10 minutes.

This novel concept originated in Japan and has since expanded to other countries particularly in indonesia where it is widely patronized. in the Philippines, the successful opening of the first Kaizen branch in sM Manila gained a huge following that led to the opening of its second branch in Market! Market! BGC. The salon showcases the brand’s signature gray and white interiors with modern

semi-cubicles and sleek barber chairs.

The stylists are skilled and up-to-date with the latest hair trends and techniques. They will give customers a “menu” of hairstyles, start prepping, and give their desired cut in 10 minutes. More complicated haircuts might take longer than 10 minutes but will be quick and no-fuss just the same.

Kaizen uses hygienic equipment that are sterilized in UV boxes and, in lieu of towels, it uses disposable neck papers. Customers can even take home the comb used for their haircut. and because of its “zen wash technique,” Kaizen haircuts don’t need water but instead make use of an air-washer vacuum that ensures no stray hair strands and a fresh-feeling finish.

The express haircut costs P150.

Call (02) 899-1656 for inquiries

Fashion show presents summer’s hottest trends Fashion lovers on the lookout for summer’s hottest trends and must-have pieces will be treated to a fashion feast as shangri-La Plaza turns up the heat at its sun Up to showdown summer Fashion show on May 5 and 6 at the Grand atrium. on saturday, May 5, at 6:00 p.m., catch the Kids & Teens Fashion show where young models will strut the runway sporting the hippest looks from Calvin Klein Jeans, Folded & hung, ForME, GaP, Gingersnaps, Great Kids, Joe Fresh, Just G, Mothercare, onitsuka Tiger, osh Kosh B’Gosh, Paul & shark, Penshoppe, Periwinkle, Rustan’s Department store, skycastle, superdry, Zara Kids, TRF, The Park, oxygen, Regatta, Memo, and True Religion. stock up on the following fashion trends that perfectly capture the summer spirit: Perk up basics with Crayolabright colors, achieve the hot athleisure aesthetic with sporty sneakers and The Sun Up to Showdown Fashion Show presents the trendiest pieces for kids a comfy pair of joggers matched with

a dressy top, and go for the Denim + White combo, a refreshing look that’s both functional and stylish. of course, summer staples like stripes and florals continue to be perfect style choices for the season.

The Teens & adults Fashion show on sunday, May 6 at 6:00 p.m. will present the trendiest pieces from anne Klein, armani Exchange, arrow, Bayo, Debenhams, Details, G2000, John herrera, K & Company, Lacoste, Mango, Marks & spencer, old navy, Plains & Prints, Polo Ralph Lauren, Rajo!, Rustan’s Department store, stradivarius, styled, The Park, Vise Versa, Zara, The Flower Collection, and Weave. highlights of this summer collection are trendy details like sheer, ruffles, fringes, and sequins, and sharply tailored colored suits that add a little fun to formalwear. Participating brands will have special deals over the weekend of shows.

Several fashion brands showcase their latest collection for teens and adults

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

F

ANS of hit television series Bagani will soon get to experience life in “Sansinukob” as ABS-CBN will soon launch a website version of the fictional world where users can create their own alter egos and perform challenges.

ABS-CBN creative manager Ays De Guzman revealed this during his recent talk at the “Pinoy Media Congress Year 12” (PMC) held at the College of the Holy Spirit Manila. Ays is one of the speakers that shared knowledge and wisdom to over 1,200 student and faculty delegates that attended the event organized by ABS-CBN and the Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE).

De Guzman shared an exclusive sneak peek at the online world of Bagani, where users will go through a click-based adventure across a digital version of Sansinukob with the goal of developing and protecting the tribes of their alter egos.

He explained that they tapped this platform to “explore other avenues to tell stories,” but more so to co-create and engage their audience.

ABS-CBN has previously supported its teleseryes with an online platform when it launched otwolista.com for On The Wings Of Love and “moonchasers. com” and “Youtopia” on iWant TV for La Luna Sangre.

Other speakers in PMC also shared how ABS-CBN has been extending its storytelling online as it transitions into an agile digital company.

Ben Ravina, head of digital strategy at ABS-CBN’s Digital Media Division, shared how else the TV viewing experience has spilled over online noting that ABS-CBN viewers compliment their TV viewing by consuming the same content on ABS-CBN video on demand platform, iWant TV. He added that the adaptation of digital does not leave behind broadcast media, but rather extends it, making it “a collaboration between TV and digital.”

Apart from iWant TV, ABS-CBN is also invested in original online content development through the Adober Studios.

According to Dennis Lim, head of digital media services of ABS-CBN Digital Media Division, the formula for success in building a career as an online star is platform support, content, community, and collaboration. The Adober Studios provides these through their network of creators and content

‘BAGANI’ to conquer the

World Wide Web Sunshine Cruz with co-stars David Licauco, Bea Binene, Benjamin Alves, Zoren Legaspi, Bing Loyzaga.

GMA's ray of Sunshine

'Bagani' lead stars Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil

platforms.

The second day of the 12th PMC also featured speakers who shared secrets behind hit ABS-CBN TV shows and films.

Vanessa Valdez, writer of hit Star Cinema movies like Four Sisters and a Wedding, and One More Chance, and Rondel Lindayag, creative head at ABS-CBN TV production responsible for shows like Asintado, and FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano shared what life in production is like and what goes into making teleseryes and movies.

Leo Katigbak, head of ABS-CBN Film Restoration, and Pia BacunganLaurel, sales head for Asia of ABS-

CBN International Sales and Distribution spoke about film restoration and bringing ABS-CBN shows abroad respectively.

Capping off Day 2 was a PMC version of I Can See Your Voice featuring students of the College of the Holy Spirit Manila, and performances from Jona and Darren Espanto.

Now on its 12th year, PMC aims to help prepare the next generation of mass communicators for the field they are about to enter by providing a venue where seasoned practitioners and subject matter experts can share their wisdom and knowledge with them.

DIGITAL MEDIA

Upgrade online streaming experience with SKY on Demand app SKY subscribers who want to watch their favorite SKYcable shows online can now stream more channels on the go using any internet provider with the upgraded SKY on Demand app.

The upgraded app also offers new channels for on-demand viewing to enable more Filipinos who have a SKYcable account to enjoy great content using any internet provider. The move also supports ABS-CBN, SKY’s mother company, as it transitions into an agile digital company.

Subscribers will be happy to know that they can now stream shows from Metro Channel, TLC, Discovery Channel, and Animal Planet with SKY On Demand.

More channels from different genres are also now available on the live TV selection including Discovery Asia World, Blue Ant Extreme, Eurosport, Nick Jr., Crime & Investigation, and belN Sports 1, 2, 3.

“With the new app, SKY is giving our subscribers the flexibility and convenience to watch their favorite cable TV shows on their mobile device, anytime, anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection using any internet provider,” SKY’s head for Digital and OTT Jerome Almirante said.

This summer, subscribers can also catch an array of shows from popular cable channels wherever they are

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, May 2, 2018

ACROSS 1 High mark (hyph.)

6 Disorderly crowd 9 Lecture 13 Domain 14 Bay of Pigs locale 15 John, in Russia 16 Hartford rival 17 Told an untruth 18 Wry face 19 Willful betrayal 21 Stand for 22 Milk option 23 German dessert 25 Raucous bird 28 Arden and Curie 30 Mouse alert 31 Lemon cooler 32 Casino city 33 Country 37 Hay unit 39 Periscope site 41 Loosen 42 Woodsy 45 Lumpy fruit 48 Baby fox 49 Kind of league 50 New England campus 51 Stadium cry 52 1920s style (2 wds.)

56 Tattered clothing 58 Storm drain

59 Treat on a stick 64 Bridge 65 First-magnitude star 66 — Kea volcano 67 Guitarist — Clapton 68 Sport of rowing 69 British Museum’s — Marbles 70 Get in shape 71 Charlotte of “Bananas” 72 Has to have DOWN 1 What the suspicious smell (2 wds.)

2 Look curiously 3 Not on time 4 Arm bones 5 Dollar, slangily 6 Sierra Club founder 7 Listens to 8 Counterfeit 9 Faraway place 10 Steer clear of 11 Magna cum — 12 Pay homage 14 Samuel Langhorne — 20 Bee shelter 21 Type of rug 24 Finger count 25 Pokes

26 Call it — — 27 Loud cry 29 Dense, as fog 34 Black as night 35 “Garfield” dog 36 — — chance!

38 Proof 40 Type of snowshoe (2 wds.)

43 State positively 44 U.N. locale 46 Anguished wail 47 Diet 52 Cash, for instance

53 Copy 54 Tom Sawyer creator 55 Puccini opus 57 Weighing machine 60 S-shaped molding 61 Kind of sled 62 Ms. Bagnold 63 Minus 65 Old taping device

including DC Legends of Tomorrow (Warner TV), Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (Discovery Channel), Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics (Food Network), Avengers Assemble (Disney Channel), and Glam Masters (Lifestime), among others.

The new and upgraded SKY On Demand app is available via Google Play or the App Store.

Meanwhile, SKY also offers an enticing treat to subscribers who will download the upgraded app until May 31.

Raffle prizes at stake are smartphones including the latest Samsung Galaxy S9+ model and SKY On Demand portable speakers.

AFTER appearing in ABS-CBN’s hit drama show Wildflower top-billed

by Maja Salvador, Sunshine Cruz will be seen next in the rival network where she is part of the main cast of GMA’s upcoming offering Karibal Ko ang Aking Ina. In the series, Sunshine will star alongside Zoren Legaspi, Bing Loyzaga, Benjamin Alves, David Licauco and Bea Binene.

Some quarters expressed their disappointment when she moved to the Kapuso ground after her considerably long stay in ABS-CBN. “Actually, I formally told the Kapamilya management about my decision to do a show with GMA. I owe them a lot since I was able to raise my kids well due to my inclusion in many of their previous projects.

But GMA’s offer is also good so I considered it. Anyway, I didn’t ink an exclusive contract with the station so I can work anywhere.

I’m just grateful that until now, I’m still being considered for meaty parts on TV. I consider it a blessing,” she says.

Sunshine hopes that people would understand her for arriving at such decision.

“For one, I love working. It’s imperative for me to have work consistently because of the needs of my children. I have three girls. I’m lucky to be given this opportunity so who am I to let this pass? At the end of the day, work is work.

“We should be grateful that we are busy with projects, considering that not all stars have work. As I’ve pointed out earlier, this is a blessing both for me and my kids. I thank GMA for tapping my services for

Karibal Ko ang Aking Ina. It’s very timely.”

Speaking of the forthcoming Kapuso afternoon drama, the actress couldn’t hide her excitement and enthusiasm to give life to her role.

“It’s something new for me. I’ll be a fashion icon in the story. I’m simply excited and looking forward to it,” ends Sunshine. *** In her latest flick My 2 Mommies opposite Maricel Soriano and Paolo Ballesteros, Solenn Heussaff is playing a mother role on screen for the first time.

“I accepted the offer because the story is relevant and contemporary. It really happens these days. I’m sure many can relate to it,” she says.

Directed by Eric Quizon, the movie has a light theme.

“Yes! It’s not the heavy dramatic type.

It’s light and entertaining. My character in the story got pregnant by accident.

She raised her child on her own. Then, she got married and came out to her gay best friend who doesn’t know that she’s already a mom. See, it’s so contemporary. I’m sure viewers will like it!”

Speaking of motherhood, many are curious to know when she will get pregnant. She married Argentinian businessman Nico Bolzico in 2016.

“It will come in perfect time! Of course, Nico and I talk about it. It’s just that there are still a few projects I’m finishing this year. We are still to move to our newlyrenovated house as well. Actually, we told each other to finish everything we’ve planned this 2018 and try to work on it next year. I really hope it’s going to happen soon since I’m already turning 33 this July,” Solenn states.

Solenn Heussaff plays a mother in a new film.

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

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018

‘Dobol B sa News TV’ marks first anniversary GMA News TV’s Dobol B sa News TV celebrates one year of delivering the country’s biggest news and commentaries simultaneously via AM radio and free television —“Radyo na, TV pa!”

Anchored by four of the country’s most trusted radio broadcasters— GMA News pillars Mike Enriquez and Arnold Clavio together with Joel Reyes Zobel and Ali Sotto, Dobol B sa News TV is the successful collaboration of GMA’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB and the country’s leading local news channel GMA News TV. It regularly provides the listening and viewing public with news headlines, weather bulletins, traffic reports, public service announcements, and even entertainment tidbits that only Dobol B can offer.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng patuloy na tumatangkilik sa Dobol B sa News TV tuwing umaga.

Ngayong naka-isang taon na tayo, hindi rin namin tatantanan ang araw-araw na pagahatid ng Serbisyong Totoo sa bawat Pilipino,” says Mike as he extends his gratitude to everyone who continuously support Dobol B sa News TV. And with Dobol B sa News TV helping to further strengthen DZBB’s radio broadcast operation, DZBB is now the number one AM radio station in Mega Manila.

Based on data from Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement, DZBB’s weekday morning time block (6AM to 11AM) held the top spot in Mega Manila during the fourth quarter of 2017 with 37.40 percent average audience share versus DZMM’s 30.20 percent. And in the first quarter of 2018, DZBB again led the competition with 35.40 percent as against DZMM’s 30.30 percent.

Dobol B sa News TV features DZBB’s top-rating morning programs beginning with Saksi sa Dobol B, Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide, Sino?, and Dobol A Sa Dobol B. At the same time, the program presents commentaries on national issues in an entertaining manner through the well-loved musical-commentary segments Jeng-Jeng and Balitawit.

Catch Dobol B Sa News TV on GMA News TV Channel 11 weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m..Viewers abroad can also catch Dobol B Sa News TV on GMA News TV International.

Helping indie films find their audience A

CCORDING to Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairperson Liza Diño, around 60 to 70 percent of the films released in the country every year are products of independent film festivals.

In this respect, FDCP recognizes the crucial role of indie films, and indie film festivals for that matter, in keeping Philippine cinema alive. Hence, the agency exerts efforts to help indies find more audience. It hosts workshops and other activities to assist filmmakers find their niche and widen their target audiences.

“The FDCP has what they call a festival partnership programme which allows CFFF and the FDCP to collaborate in several projects,” says Unitel Productions and Straight Shooters President and CEO Madonna Tarrayo during the official media launch of CineFilipino Film Festival (CFFF).

Miss Korea Philippines Candidates (from top) Bang Seon Hwa, Park SeEun and Kuk Son Yong.

Sari (Kate Alejandrino) is the perfect stage wife to his method actor husband (Joross Gamboa), until he gets the role of a lifetime and threatens to kill her ‘character.’

A depressive self help author(TJ Trinidad), and an anxious Filipina nurse (Yeng Constantino) cross paths in Incheon airport where, together, they attempt to elude time.

During the event, Cignal Entertainment and Unitel Productions, Inc. unveiled the eight feature length films that will be part of this year’s CFFF, which will run from May 9 to 15 with a grand awards night that will be held at the Kia Theater on May 12.

The eight feature length films are: Delia & Sammy directed by Theresa

Cayaba; Excuse Me Po directed by Ronald Espinosa Batallones; Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus directed by Dwein Baltazar; Hitboy directed

by Bor Ocampo; Mata Tapang directed by Rod Marmol; Mga Mister ni Rosario directed by Allan Habon; Poon directed by Ronie Supangan; and The Eternity Between Seconds directed by

Alec Figuracion.

Five years after its debut in the industry, the CineFilipino Film Festival (CFFF) continues to showcase new filmmakers churning out exceptional stories.

“We have five new filmmakers and three who have done feature-length films in other festivals. With this line up you can expect a rollercoaster of emotions in every frame,” Tarrayo says.

It comes as no surprise that in just a few years, the CFFF has become the center of championing new stories with fresh talents. It has always put an importance on the story above all else.

“Kwento ang hari,” the festival's mantra, is the belief that CFFF has always followed and imbibed in all of its efforts. This has definitely been noticed by Filipinos and also by the international community.

The past years’ winners have gained national and global visibility in several platforms, some even joining international film festivals. With Cignal Entertainment solidly backing up the efforts of the filmmakers, the festival is fast becoming the hub for the industry’s most creative minds. All of its finalists show a freshness of approach, strong potential for audience engagement, mass friendly without sacrificing quality, and are commercially viable.

More filmgoers will also have the chance to see the final entries. CFFF is offering more screening opportunities this year as its partner cinemas expands significantly. For the first time, CFFF films we be screened in selected cinemas from the North to the South. During the festival, CineFilipino feature length films and short films will be shown at Gateway Cinemas, SM Cinemas (under CineLokal), and Ayala Malls.

NSYNC gets Walk of Fame honor THOUSANDS of fans shut down Hollywood's Walk of Fame Monday as 1990s boy band NSYNC was recognized for a glittering chart run that catapulted Justin Timberlake to pop superstardom.

The heartthrob was joined by bandmates Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick to receive their star on the iconic thoroughfare, watched by talk show hosts Ellen DeGeneres and Carson Daly.

"For all of you who came from far and wide to be here to share this moment with us, thank you so much—this really means the world to all of us," Timberlake, an accomplished singer

and actor yelled out at the screaming crowd.

NSYNC sold more than 70 million records—30 million in the US—with a dozen singles making the Top 40, adult contemporary, dance, Latin, country or R&B charts.

The group are also among the most successful live acts in pop, with the first 52 dates of the "No Strings Attached" world tour selling out in record time.

The band's first single, "I Want You Back" (1996), became the longest Top 10 entry for a new group, while the self-titled debut album, released in 1997, sold more than 10 million copies. AFP

Members of the iconic 90's boyband NSYNC pose on their Hollywood Walk of Fame Star in Hollywood, California where (from) Chris Kirkpatrick, Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Justin Timberlake received the 2,636th Star in the category of Recording.

Pageant for the most beautiful Koreans in PH WITH over a hundred thousand Korean citizens residing and visiting the Philippines, which is home to numerous beauty pageants and Hallyu fans, the country will host the Miss Korea Regional Preliminaries for the second time.

This year, there are eight candidates competing for the title of Miss Korea Philippines. The pageant will be held on May 8 at the Grand Ballroom of City of Dreams Manila. The winner will have the chance to join the 62nd Miss Korea main pageant happening in July in Seoul, South Korea.

The official candidates are: Bang Seon Hwa, 21, a part-time graphic designer, model and student at De La Salle of Saint Benilde; Jung Youra, 22, a student at PATTS College of Aeronautics; Cho Hye Jeong, 23, a student at Miriam College; Park Yu Kyung, 21, a student at San Beda College; Park SeEun, 17, a student; Kwon Soo Jung, 23, a part-time interpreter and a student at Ateneo de Manila University; Kuk Son Yong, 25, an ABS-CBN TV personality; and Kwon Ji Hye, 24, an English teacher, intern at a law firm, and a student at De La Salle University.

Miss Korea Philippines, a franchise of the prestigious Miss Korea, is a nonprofit nationwide beauty pageant that selects Korean residing in the Philippines as candidate to the prestigious beauty tilt. The event, on the other hand, aims to nourish the blooming relationship between the Philippines and South Korea and to promote the rich and attractive culture of both countries.

Miss Korea has served as a gateway to showcase the many talents of Korean women in the midst of the country’s recovery after the Korean War in May 1957. For over 62 years, the Miss Korea pageant has been a platform for talented and young women from different regions of South Korea and around the world to represent what they stand for and to show what truly makes a Korean woman.

Not only the pageant will showcase Korean beauty, it will also exhibit the charisma and intellect of the candidates.

Together with her advocacy, the crowned Miss Korea Philippines will be able to help cultivate the Philippine norms with South Korea’s contemporary yet traditional culture like last year’s winner, Lee Hanna, who represented the Philippines and won first runner-up in the Miss Korea main pageant and then represented Korea in the 2017 edition of Miss Earth.